Nobita's Time Heist

"Do you really want to pilot an EVA?"

……

"Eh?"

good question.

Almost from the moment he boarded Unit-01, Shinji kept asking himself this question. Even if things had followed the original world's trajectory, and all the Angels had been destroyed, bringing humanity's crisis to a close, he still hadn't figured out the answer. It seemed that until the very end, he was still struggling with the responsibilities and obligations, the glory and the pain behind this event.

Do you want to? Or don't you want to?

It would be much simpler if there were only two options.

Unfortunately, people are complex beings, and even the same individual's thoughts can change over time. Later, piloting the EVA ceased to be the act itself; Shinji imbued it with profound meaning. Step by step, he stepped onto the stage Gendo Ikari had built for him through various means, receiving a script that belonged to him. Even with resentment, pain, and confusion, he had no choice but to act out this script.

Fortunately, after he first drove this behemoth, someone asked him that question.

There were no glaring lights in the command center, no condescending gazes, no tense face of his father, no deafening heartbeats... All the people and things that would force him to make an immediate choice were absent in this cozy little tent.

At least at this moment, this question has nothing to do with those heavy responsibilities and obligations; it is simply a question that he needs to think about.

Rei Ayanami goes to pilot the EVA because there is a "bond" between her and everyone else in that position.

So, why would he go and pilot an EVA?

……

Rei Ayanami turned around as well, her beautiful red eyes fixed on him, and asked in a soft voice, "Don't you want to come with me?"

“No, Ayanami, I just…” Shinji’s first reaction was to deny it. After shaking his head, he slightly raised the corners of his mouth and revealed a bitter smile. “I don’t understand either. Maybe? Perhaps… I’m just that kind of terrible person, unwilling to make sacrifices for others, only thinking about protecting myself.”

"I... I might not be able to trust my father like Ayanami does."

The girl turned her head slightly and looked at him quietly, as if she could personally feel the complex emotions he was experiencing.

"Well, don't overthink it. There's still time before the negotiations begin. Take your time thinking it over." Nobita patted the raindrops off his knees, slowly stood up, then bent down and gave Shinji a gentle smile. "No matter what others think of you, and no matter what your final choice is, Shinji, remember this..."

"You were really great last night, standing up for others. You were so manly!"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"This must be the most complicated apocalypse I've ever handled..."

High above the clouds, Nobita finally had a moment of peace, free from the worries of the complicated interpersonal relationships and conflicts of interest.

He'd seen plenty of villains clamoring to destroy the world, but most of their motives were relatively easy to understand.

On a larger scale, groups like Demacia and the Iron Legion are clearly aiming to conquer Earth and enslave humanity; they are enemies on a racial level. There's absolutely no need to be lenient with such enemies; use whatever you have to nip them in the bud.

On a smaller scale, the dragon hunters encountered in the Cretaceous period and the smugglers in the South China Sea (the villains in "Doraemon: Nobita's Great Adventure in the South China Sea," time criminals who created many synthetic creatures) are all minor offenses. These people take risks and engage in illegal activities in pursuit of profit. Generally, after appropriate punishment, they are handed over to the Time Police for processing; those who deserve imprisonment are sentenced, and those who deserve jail time go to jail.

However, the complexity of the situation this time made it impossible for Nobita to simply categorize it based on past experience. He even felt that in this countdown to the end of the world, he had more than one enemy.

Apostles. Humans.

And then there's the "Human Instrumentality Project," which sounds like a trap waiting to be solved... Based on the information we have so far, it seems that none of the parties involved are entirely trustworthy. Humanity, facing imminent doom, is still pursuing its own selfish interests. NERV and SEELE, who should be of the same lineage, are now sleeping in the same bed but dreaming different dreams.

A storm is brewing, and a subtle atmosphere hangs over the city.

Nobita already sensed that his usual adventurous approach was highly unlikely to succeed. This was an exceptionally realistic world, and to contain the undercurrents swirling in Tokyo-3, he had to demonstrate absolute power.

……

"【Cloud-Freezing Gas】————!!"

Chapter 355: Winning hearts and minds is the best strategy, while conquering soldiers is the least effective.

Gendo Ikari has been working non-stop since last night and is feeling quite tired.

To maintain a clear mind and make sound decisions, he was a meticulous person who didn't stay up late, requiring eight hours of sleep every day, not a minute less. Breaking this long-established habit caused him intense discomfort. At this moment, he could no longer maintain his upright posture, but leaned back in his conference room chair, took off his glasses, and wearily rubbed the bridge of his nose.

The good news is that Misato Katsuragi, who had been missing for a long time, has returned. Although she returned empty-handed, she brought firsthand information about her contact with the other party.

The bad news is...

“Stop for a moment, Commander Katsuragi, there’s no need to continue.” He picked up the iced coffee meant to stimulate his senses, drank it all in one gulp, and took a rare deep breath, as if to ease the weight on his heart. “I am fully aware of the technological gap. In his presence, all our methods are probably no better than those of primitive people. At this point, even if we knew more, we wouldn’t be able to come up with a solution for the time being.”

"The Second Impact brought us not only disaster, but also a leap forward in biotechnology. This base, including the entire Project E, was almost entirely built on the results of this technological leap. But now it seems we still have a long way to go."

"At this moment, what I care about more is, what kind of person is he?"

"What kind of..." Misato felt an instinctive aversion to the question. She disliked simply labeling people, categorizing them into a certain range like tools to be used.

"He has the same appearance, language, and roughly the same thought process as us. The fact that we can communicate with each other is already a stroke of luck amidst misfortune. Let's just assume that he is a person from the future who traveled back from some point in the future and possesses advanced technology."

Gendo Ikari subtly guessed the truth and said in a deep voice, "Technological progress may be rapid, but the evolution of human nature is incredibly slow. The people of the Bunjo era and us in modern times are not fundamentally different; they are simply born in different eras."

"A game needs a fulcrum. To do that, I must understand what kind of person he is, whether he has universal moral values, whether he can use any means to achieve his goals, and whether he will put his own will above the masses?"

……

“He was very dissatisfied with the E-series plan, and he kept emphasizing it during the conversation.” Misato subconsciously resisted saying these things, but a soldier’s duty is to obey orders. Faced with her direct superior’s question, she had to answer truthfully. “Dao Xiong believes that it is irresponsible to send such young children to the battlefield without any training.”

“Irresponsible…?” Gendo Ikari sneered. “What an arrogant fellow.”

"Ikari, what are you planning to do?" Fuyutsuki sensed the dangerous hostility emanating from him and warned, "At a time like this, cooperating with him is the best option to maximize our benefits. One apostle is already enough for us to handle; it would be unwise to have to step aside and deal with such a troublesome enemy as well."

“Whether it’s wise or reckless, he’s already there,” Gendo Ikari warned with unwavering conviction. “Don’t lose your bestiality, Fuyutsuki.”

"When facing him, this is the only weapon we can rely on."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

After solidifying large swaths of clouds, the "sky base" finally took shape, leaving Da Xiong drenched in sweat. The few clouds floating above the city were clearly insufficient; to create a base large enough, he had to roll up his sleeves and get to work himself, pulling in other clouds from different airspaces and piecing them together.

Nobita has always been fascinated by the concept of the "Cloud Kingdom." Initially, he wanted a place where he could take a nap anytime, anywhere, undisturbed by noise. Later, this evolved into a desire for his own "sky territory," which became the starting point for a thrilling and exciting adventure in the Cloud Kingdom.

"The foundation is laid, now..."

He picked up the White Hole Pen and drew a circle on the cloud-made ground. As expected, the "gift" his friends had prepared for him flew out. This time, Nobita was much more experienced; he dodged and avoided being hit on the head by the flying object.

Two tightly sealed containers, and a very fancy-looking letter.

Upon opening the envelope, Xiaofu's boastful handwriting came into view, and it was as if I could hear him chattering in my ear.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Hey, Nobita, you didn't expect this, did you? This time it's my turn to write you a letter.

I don't know how fast time flows where you are, but anyway, four days have passed here. The events in the demon realm are completely over, and we're back in town. The New Year's Eve festival ended abruptly, but no one really had enough fun. I promised to take everyone to Gunma Prefecture for hot springs, and we're leaving tomorrow! Kosuke, Gian, Shizuka, and Asur will all be coming. Everyone's been so busy for so long; they need a good rest.

Haha, that's such a shame. We finally wanted to take you along, but you weren't here. In conclusion, you won't be joining us this time. We'll mail you the travel photos.

Shizuka told me you've run into trouble elsewhere. Kosuke and I have discussed it, and instead of having you write for help repeatedly, we'd rather get it done for you once and for all. We've included two packages with treasures we obtained during our previous adventures; hopefully they'll be helpful.

Besides, as the saying goes, "When you're out in the world, your clothes make the difference," and your outfit is really unconvincing. Thank me, young master, for this battle suit I stayed up all night to make especially for you, all to help you save face! It includes 1000 words of related background information; please read it patiently and grasp the spirit.

I wish you all the best in this other world. I hope you finish this soon and come back. Before school starts, let's go have some fun at the Four-Zhang Peninsula.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"No wonder this letter paper feels so thick. Suneo always likes to do unnecessary things." Nobita took out a neatly drawn design drawing, which was densely covered with design concepts, making him both amused and exasperated.

Xiaofu's dream has always been firm: to become an excellent time designer.

Of course, given their family's circumstances, he will definitely follow in his father's footsteps and become the company president. But the wealth accumulated by his parents is enough to support him in indulging in this not-too-expensive hobby. Since he was a child, he has held fashion shows in town from time to time, with Gian always serving as the model. If Suneo were to choose his favorite 22nd-century gadget, he would probably take the "Clothes Changing Camera" home with him.

However, compared to this embellished outfit, the remaining two packages are what Nobita really needs right now.

Upon opening the first package, there was a cylindrical container containing a walnut-shaped seed, resting in a pale green nutrient solution.

The second package contained a compressed cube, half a meter in length, width, and height, with a metallic bluish-black surface that faithfully reflected the surrounding clouds and sky.

"The seed of Yggdrasil... and also, a streamlined, compressed version of the fully automated battle fortress. Let me see the installation instructions..."

Nobita stared at the instruction manual for a long time, and just as he was about to scratch his head, his gaze swept past the long passages of text and landed directly on the last word, "fully automatic," and he immediately burst into laughter.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

High in the sky, in a place beyond the sight of mortals, a multi-functional, fully automated sanitation fortress that can meet almost all needs is about to take shape.

Chapter 356: Nobita's Weakness

The moment it was decided to attend the negotiations, the fog dissipated, and the long-awaited sunshine shone on the city that had been shrouded in gloom.

"..."

Although NERV's headquarters are underground, it also has above-ground facilities for social interactions and inspections by superiors. In essence, the secrecy priority of this project is no less than that of a military stronghold, and it is naturally not open to ordinary people. However, Gendo Ikari is unwilling to let this unknown adversary into the underground, even if his security system is completely incapable of preventing him from coming... But rationality is one thing, and emotional acceptance is another.

All of NERV's mid-level command personnel, including himself, Kozo Fuyutsuki, and Ritsuko Akagi, were prominently displayed, basking in the blazing sun. Unit-01 and Unit-00 remained stationary in the city center, showing no sign of moving. To bolster his forces, Commander Ikari had Asuka bring Unit-02 to the plaza, demonstrating that he wasn't short-handed. All missile vehicles, tanks, and even the fleet units stationed far away in port were on standby, loaded with live ammunition, ready to fire at any moment.

If a real fight breaks out, these things will be nothing more than Lego toys to the other side—he is well aware of this, and this arrangement is simply to show his attitude.

You and I are two opposing camps.

Fuyutsuki tried to dissuade him many times, but to no avail. He seemed to have a stubborn insistence on this. He could never fully trust outsiders who suddenly appeared; deception and testing were his way of life.

……

"Seriously... since they've already let me operate Unit 2, why not just let me stay up there? What's the point of coming down?" Asuka, standing in the crowd like a wilted cucumber, swayed unsteadily, completely oblivious to the stares of those around her, and complained, "The Japanese are so strange. Do they really have to wait outside in the sun? Since it's all negotiations anyway, wouldn't it be better to go inside and talk?"

"Asuka, just bear with it a little longer." Kaji, dressed in military uniform, smiled gently and comforted her softly, "The Commander stayed up all night and is still holding on to his post."

“Mr. Kaji…you look so handsome in your military uniform. I’ve never seen you dressed like this in Germany.” Asuka was initially delighted to see Kaji in his rare military uniform, but then, realizing something, she pouted, “So, this meeting is really that important?”

"A battle between masters never begins the moment their blades clash. Before that, the contest of their auras has already begun." Kaji looked at Gendo Ikari, who was in charge of the overall situation and standing at the front of the group, and explained to the foreign girl, "In the previous exchanges, the Commander has realized that, at least in the field of technology, we are no match for him. Therefore, at least in terms of 'aura,' which can be determined by human will, he does not want to be at a disadvantage."

"Huh?" Asuka looked confused. "But... what's the use of momentum if we can't compete in terms of technology? This isn't the world of a shonen manga. Do you think shouting slogans about bonds and friendship will defeat the enemy?"

“Of course not.” Kaji was amused by her idea. Seeing the surrounding gazes gathering, he coughed twice awkwardly. “Anyway, I just learned about this inside information myself—the being who is about to negotiate with the Commander is almost identical to us in terms of physiological and psychological composition. You could say that he is just a human who has mastered some kind of high technology, and even the language he uses is the same as ours.”

"This means that various tactics developed to target human psychology may still be effective against the opponent."

"Tsk..." Asuka's focus wasn't on that. Her gaze swept across the crowd to Misato Katsuragi, who was also standing at the front. She was slender with shoulder-length hair and clicked her tongue. "What internal information? It must have been brought back by her again, right? It's clearly a military secret, but she's spreading it around everywhere."

“Commander Katsuragi is a very brave person.” This time, Kaji didn’t agree with her. Instead, he suppressed his smile and said seriously, “Without any intelligence support, she went alone into the enemy camp to gather intelligence. At that time, she didn’t even know if the other side could communicate… It was a sense of responsibility that drove her to do this. Even this opportunity for negotiation was won by her.”

"..." Asuka's face still seemed to show dissatisfaction, but in the end she opened her mouth but said nothing.

This is true.

You don't even know if the other side is human, yet you dare to drive at 70 mph into someone else's occupied territory. This level of firepower is utterly inadequate; how can you be sure they'll communicate effectively? What if you stumble into a thick fog and are met with a curt "Friend, delicious food!"?

Thinking about it this way, the girl had to admit that she was indeed quite brave, but her disgust for her did not lessen in the slightest.

"..." Seemingly sensing the intense gaze, Misato turned her head and met Asuka's eyes, giving her a sweet smile.

"Hmph~~" The girl didn't buy it, gave a soft hum, and turned her head away, refusing to meet her gaze.

"Remember this moment well, Asuka." Kaji had been holding back for a long time, but he couldn't resist. He secretly took out a cigarette from his pocket, put it in his mouth without lighting it, and just chewed on it to satisfy his craving. He muttered to himself, "Perhaps in the history books many years from now, this will be the moment that changed history."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Beep beep—!!"

The trumpet that changed history.

Regardless of the sound, it slightly eased Gendo's tense nerves. He was still worried about what would happen if the other party realized his intentions and schemes and suddenly disappeared. It seems that the worst-case scenario has been avoided.

"All units, be on high alert," Deputy Commander Fuyutsuki ordered over the channel. "Target spotted, an old-fashioned black military jeep without cameras. Do not fire without orders from headquarters. I repeat! Do not fire without explicit instructions from headquarters!"

……

The city was still under martial law, and the roads were wide open and empty of any cars. Even so, the black Jeep strictly adhered to traffic rules, stopping at red lights and going at green lights, deliberately waiting for one red light. It took nearly five minutes before, under everyone's watchful eyes, it slowly drove into the NERV base's above-ground buildings and came to a stop in front of everyone at a leisurely pace.

“…Heh.” Gendo Ikari pushed up his glasses and actually laughed.

"Commander?" At this moment that would go down in history, Ritsuko could only find it unbelievable. "You...aren't you nervous at all?"

"He drove here." Gendo Ikari's tone was like that of a student who had encountered a difficult problem in an exam, but then suddenly found the solution. "Don't you think that means something?"

“You mean…” Ritsuko was also an exceptional talent, and with a little hint, she understood the deeper meaning, “His familiarity with human society might be far greater than we anticipated?”

“Driving to the appointment, waiting at a traffic light, and pulling over are all rules of human society. At least subconsciously, he is willing to act in accordance with these social norms.”

Gendo Ikari raised a finger, revealing his classic "I'll win" confident smile.

"The more people follow the rules, the easier their behavior patterns are to predict, which is a great advantage for us."

Chapter 357: You and her are actually no different.

The moment Shinji stepped out of the car, he felt a sense of unreality.

When he arrived, he was practically forced into sitting in the EVA that was inextricably linked to his fate. In the vast base, apart from his father who was looking down at him, everyone was busy with their own things. This busyness gave him a sense of insignificance, as if even if he didn't do anything, many alternatives would immediately come up, and it was not his turn to save the world.

When he returned, almost everyone in the base was standing outside, so quiet you could hear a pin drop. That familiar yet unfamiliar face stood at the front of the crowd, his gaze still sharp, his eyes still serious. On the way back, he was filled with unease, worried that his father would scold him for deserting his post, for being bribed by outsiders with a few words, and for not returning in an EVA.

However, what is truly tragic is that this man, with whom he shared blood and flesh, never even glanced at him.