Nobita's Time Heist

"Wait a minute, you're confusing me..."

This was a lie. At this moment, Nobita was more lucid than ever before. But precisely because he was so lucid, he felt a cold sweat running down his back, as if he had heard a terrifying story on a hot summer day. It was so horrifying that he didn't even want to think about it.

"What does this have to do with whether I join the Time Police or not?"

"Then why are you asking about the Foundation? I thought you knew." Flock was baffled, and then, in the tone of explaining common sense, he slowly introduced, "The ancient Greek philosopher Anaximander first proposed the concept of 'apyron.' He believed that the world originated from it and returned to it; it is matter without fixed limits, form, or properties."

"The Apairon Foundation is named after this ancient, simple materialism. Rather than a foundation, it is more like a school of thought that possesses a wealth of knowledge."

"The foundation doesn't accept applications, it's by invitation only. Every year, they hold a private banquet and send out three to five invitations. If you attend the banquet after receiving an invitation, it means you've joined the Apairang Foundation. Otherwise, if you don't attend, it means you've declined... But generally, no one would be that foolish."

"This...school? What exactly do they do?" Nobita sensed the respect in Floch's tone and immediately felt something was wrong. "Do they have some special purpose in getting together?"

"Nobita, have you ever wondered about this question...? Who am I?"

"Who are you?" Nobita was taken aback and instinctively replied, "Floch, what are you talking about?"

“Floch D. Teach is just a name. I can call it that, or I can not. I mean, besides this name, who am I? Is there some unchanging origin that unifies everything?”

As he spoke, Floch's tone gradually took on a pilgrimage-like quality, revealing that even in the technologically advanced 22nd century, this school of thought still possessed a certain almost religious appeal.

"In order to find the origin, almost all knowledge since the birth of mankind has turned into rain, watering a tree that reaches the sky—this is the essence of the Apairang Foundation. Sharing knowledge, exploring the origin, and transcending all the chaos of the world. Money, power, or anything else are not valued there, only 'wisdom' is valued. Being able to join the foundation is itself a great recognition for scholars."

"I'm just daydreaming, but what if one day, an invitation with a blue hummingbird printed on it were delivered to me..."

"No one will refuse, no one!"

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.

"Thank you for your repeated invitations, but..."

Akahiro's gaze swept over the tall figure across the long table. He held the envelope with the hummingbird pattern between his two fingers and gently pushed it towards the other side.

"I reject."

Across from him sat a tall man.

In the 22nd century, with increasingly diverse aesthetic elements, the boundaries between men and women are gradually blurring. Beauty, as recognized today, should be angelic, existing between the sexes.

But... the man opposite him seemed to have stepped out of an Indian action movie from the last century, exuding a tough guy vibe.

He wore a loose-fitting, high-necked white shirt that looked quite tailored. Over the shirt was a dark red Tibetan robe, and over that, a warm-looking blue leather robe. This combination made his physique appear even more robust.

Her long, lion-like hair cascaded down her back, braided into a flowing plait with beads of turquoise, amber, and malachite. A protective vajra rope hung from her shoulder, its main body adorned with several large yellow jewels, from which hung smaller bells and trapezoidal pendants. A pair of sturdy riding boots, their patterns and style closely resembling Mongolian designs, completed her outfit.

Besides that, what truly catches the eye is the ornament wrapped around his neck like a scarf—a five-colored hada (ceremonial scarf). White, blue, red, green, and yellow, wrapped around him, giving him a certain otherworldly quality.

At this moment, faced with Akahiro's repeated refusal, the man did not speak immediately.

A smile appeared on his weathered face.

Chapter 85: Reshaping the Past, Changing the Future

"...Upon receiving this invitation, there are always many different reactions. Some are overjoyed, some remain calm, and some bombard you with questions. But I've never seen anyone refuse without even glancing at the contents."

The yak-like man smiled, his broad shoulders slightly swaying forward, and asked, "Nobi Akao, the Dean of the Time-Space Management Institute stationed in 2050, what is it that makes you so dismissive of the journey to find the origin? Even with me as your introducer, you are unwilling to reconsider?"

"I'm sorry, Jaqen Herma."

Despite being almost a head shorter than his opponent, Akio was not intimidated in the slightest. "My brain isn't very good to begin with. If I join the Foundation, it would be bad if I lowered the average IQ there."

“Excessive modesty can be annoying, Dean Chi Xiong.” Jia Kun smiled indifferently, not dwelling on the matter. He clasped his hands together, his voice like a gentle, firm bell, “If that’s the case, why contact me at all?”

"Didn't you already have that trump card, the one that could turn everything around, firmly in your hands?"

……

Upon hearing this, Chi Xiong's expression changed slightly. In the dimly lit and empty conference room, the shadows of the two men were projected onto the wall, as if they were constantly moving.

"Wantonly rewriting history will have extremely serious consequences! Everything we know about the present, the past, and the future could be wiped out by a tiny difference," Chi Xiong said solemnly. "You should know this better than I do!"

"The Apairon Foundation should have no shortage of scholars who are well-versed in spacetime science. Knowing the consequences, they still did something so crazy..."

His voice gradually turned angry, "What exactly do you want?"

However, Jia Kun's smile did not diminish in the slightest. It was like the smile of a seasoned teacher who had heard a student ask a question for the umpteenth time. Patience, yet a hint of numbness shone through his dark eyes.

“Dean Akahiro, the reason you're asking this question right now is simply because you're at a ‘segment’,” he said, making a backward gesture. “You can't hear what we hear, or perceive what we perceive. It's like an ant in a two-dimensional world that can't understand a washing machine. In its eyes, the edge of the washing machine, that huge height difference, might be the end of this world. If it falls in, it will be smashed to pieces.”

“That is certainly true for ants,” Akao replied coldly. “Even if you use it to refer to humans, the fact remains the same.”

"History is history, something that should be written in books so that children can learn from it." Akio's voice deepened. "You must immediately stop this behavior, otherwise, the Time and Space Administration will ban all gatherings of the Apairang Foundation and arrest those involved on charges of 'falsifying established history'!"

"..."

Jia Kun was silent for a few seconds, then looked at him with a slightly mocking gaze.

"Are you serious? At this critical juncture, you still think this is how it can end?"

His figure gradually faded away, transforming into a halo-like ray of light.

"If you hope to gain nothing, why not give it a try... The members of the Foundation are not bound together by interests. Strictly speaking, we are merely seekers loyal to our own paths, like companions met on a journey, temporarily traveling together because we happen to be going to the same place. Such a loose organization is probably difficult to be manipulated by power, isn't it?"

"A holographic projection?" Akahiro narrowed his eyes. "I'm here in person for this appointment. Isn't this a bit insincere?"

"Hahaha... Don't be in such a hurry, Dean. We'll have a chance to meet again someday." Jia Kun waved his hand with a smile. "Or rather, the 'trump card' in your hand and I will have a chance to meet. I have a feeling that this moment will come very soon."

"Timelines have the ability to self-correct, as evidenced by your successive failures in 1615 and 1899. What's meant to happen will happen in the end!" Akio slowly rose, staring intently at the disappearing figure. "Evil cannot prevail over good; a false history can never defeat a true history!"

“You still don’t understand, Akio. We’re not trying to ‘correct’ the past…”

As Jia Kun's figure faded completely, turning into a wisp of quicksand-like light, his voice also dissipated, becoming indistinct. It was like the faint cry of an eagle mingling with the cold wind of a snow-capped mountain.

"Instead, we need to 'reshape' it into the correct form."

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.

"Why do we have to wait outside? It's so cold in the hallway."

Pushing open the door, she saw Asur huddled up in a ball, constantly rubbing the back of her hands, her cheeks pale. Shizuka quickly stepped forward and, without a word, took Asur's small hand in her grasp. Not only did she grasp it, but Shizuka also gently stroked the back of Asur's hand, trying to warm it with the warmth of her own palm.

Because of this action, the two girls were almost forehead to forehead. Asur stared at her blankly, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he just murmured and said nothing.

"Don't worry, Nobita reported your situation too, Flock will be lenient." Suneo immediately saw what she was worried about and comforted her, "No matter what, you've helped us save Guo Shijie, and you haven't done anything serious before, so there won't be any problems."

“From now on, stop doing things that skirt the edge of the law. Just live like a normal person.” Da Xiong squatted down, intending to pat her head, but after hesitating, he patted her shoulder twice instead. “I’m so happy to go on an adventure in the West with you. But adventures always come to an end… You should go home too.”

……

"I don't have a home."

A simple, yet slightly melancholic sentence plunged the group of four into silence.

“…Hiss…Logically speaking, this shouldn’t be the case…” Xiaofu gasped. “With such advanced productivity, social welfare should have risen accordingly.”

"Compared to your generation, productivity may have improved a lot, but human nature doesn't change. Rather, it's more accurate to say that concepts like blood ties, morality, and family have become increasingly weak."

Asur sighed. Though still a little girl, the innocence in her eyes had faded, and she spoke words that children her age might not even understand: "You're right, social welfare is indeed very good. Even abandoned children can receive an education. Anyway, robots do everything, and the robots in the welfare home aren't necessarily any worse than those outside. What's wrong with that?"

"but……"

"I chose to leave because I wanted to be with real 'people'."

She smiled and shook her head, her tone filled with a helpless melancholy after recognizing reality.

"Among the scavengers, although their overall education level is not high and they mostly operate independently, they can still get together several times a year. They are divided into many gangs, and there are unseen territorial consciousness and creeds between these gangs. Everyone is willing to help and depend on each other, just like..."

Her gaze swept over the crowd.

"Just like you."

Chapter 86: So you're the one who took on the role of a hero from another world?

I must say, I've never encountered this situation before in any of my previous adventures.

Although he would encounter other companions, after the adventure ended, they would generally go their separate ways and not have any further contact. His companions were scattered across different points in time; for Nobita, some were not yet born, and some had long since become part of the earth, leaving their stories in the cracks between the pages of the book.

Asur is the first person who doesn't even have the concept of "home." Perhaps, to her, the scavengers are like a big family; although they engage in activities that are close to illegal and involve a lot of gray areas, they are still flesh-and-blood human beings. Compared to social welfare institutions that are completely handed over to machines, life here may not be as healthy, but it is definitely more interesting.

It's hard to judge whether her pursuit is right or wrong. At least, in Da Xiong's eyes, she's just like him, with a deep-seated yearning for the unknown world.

"Since you haven't decided yet, how about this?"

Da Xiong squatted down, bringing his eye level with the girl's, and said in the gentlest voice possible, "You should still remember Xiao Shan, right? After encountering the time-space turbulence, he lost contact with our group, and our next step is to use some kind of model from the Time Police..."

"A neural network retrieval model for cross-temporal and spatial information," Shizuka whispered a reminder from the side.

“That’s right, this is it.” Da Xiong nodded. “We’ll find Xiao Shan’s whereabouts, no matter what era or place he’s ended up in, we’ll bring him back. In the meantime, we welcome you to join us again. We’ll also give you some time to think about how you want to spend your future. When we find Xiao Shan and return here…”

"No matter how unwilling we are, we are afraid we have to part ways with you."

"What do you think of this arrangement?"

In fact, Nobita didn't need to wait for her answer; he could easily understand her meaning from the girl's excited eyes.

after all……

Regardless of age, time, or place, who can say no to a thrilling and exciting adventure?

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.

"Dong dong."

"Dong dong."

"Dong dong."

……

In the waiting room, Dekisugi sat cross-legged on a straw mat, eyes slightly closed, his expression composed, a stark contrast to the tense peers around him. Clothes make the man, and clothing is supported by the man's spirit. Just like now, the same plain robe, the same emerald crown, the same bright silver bracelet—on Dekisugi, the more you looked at him, the more he resembled a wise man in his sixties or seventies, having swallowed an APTX4869 and shrunk to his current age.

"Your heartbeat is still exactly the same as before."

"Are all foreigners like you, so composed?" A tall girl, dressed in plain linen and with striking red hair, stood beside him, looking at him with a hint of curiosity. "Or is it just you?"

“I don’t think there’s anything to be nervous about, Mira.” Dekisugi didn’t get up, but nodded politely to her and smiled. “I’ve memorized everything I need to. As for the outcome, let fate decide.”

“You’re a monster… You learned our language in just three days… and passed the written exams for both the beginner and intermediate levels of the ‘Elemental Magic Basic Theory Course’ and the ‘Elemental Transmutation Beginner Course’ in a week. If you wanted to participate in the ‘Give Ring to the Sun’ ceremony, you only needed to pass the beginner exam…” The girl shook her head, and her wavy red hair swayed as she did so.

A wondrous pendant with seven gilded copper rings jingled around her fair neck.

"I still remember my first day of the year, the sky was clear and the sun was blazing... Although the climate is like this almost every day in the desert, it still left a deep impression on me."

Mira gently stroked the six-ring pendant around her neck, a slight smile playing on her lips as she drifted into sweet memories.

"I was so nervous at the time, I felt like my heart was going to jump out of my chest, and I kept thinking, what if I don't have elemental affinity?"

“Life goes on even without elemental affinity,” Dekisugi said calmly. “People outside don’t have elemental affinity, but they can still create value, can’t they?”

"Is elemental affinity something dispensable to you?" Mira asked, utterly puzzled. "If that's the case, why bother putting in so much effort to pass the exam? The knowledge you've learned in these past few days would take our school at least a year to teach."

“Mira, you only feel tired when you study for exams.” Dekisugi smiled gently, uttering the standard words of “other people’s children.” “If it’s for the knowledge itself, the more you learn, the happier you will feel.”

"If I have elemental affinity, it means I can further practice the knowledge from these books, which is certainly better. If I don't have elemental affinity, I won't lose anything; I can still take more courses, prepare for advanced exams, and further study theoretical knowledge..."

"Knowledge is endless, Mira. To me, whether or not I have elemental affinity, the result is the same."

This time, Mira really looked at him like he was a monster. After a long silence, she shook her head and sighed, "...You and Lady Hylia are truly a match made in heaven."

"Waaaaaah!!"

"Waaaaaah!!"

"Waaaaaah!!"

Three long, drawn-out horn calls announced the imminent start of the ceremony, and everyone waiting in the waiting room felt as if their hearts were gripped by an unseen hand. Some trembled, some prayed incessantly, some were pale-faced… each person had their own unique level of tension.

"For them, this National Day celebration is like the college entrance exam," Dekisugi thought to himself, feeling utterly out of place in the crowd. "The turning point in life is actually determined by whether or not one possesses some kind of innate 'talent'..."

Is a society that takes blood ties to the extreme ultimately benevolent or cruel?

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.

"boom------"

The heavy doors were pushed open, and it felt more like a grand carnival than an "exam." They stood at the entrance of a huge arena, surrounded by spectators who were already cheering and shouting, their voices shaking the sky and almost making the dusty ground boil.

"Four, five, four, six, four, four..."

With a quick glance, Chu Mushan noticed that all the onlookers wore at least four magic rings around their necks, symbolizing their affinity with the elements.

“Status and class in society are determined by the degree of elemental affinity,” Dekisugi pondered to himself. “By the same token, in this closed [Golden Land], the highest-ranking person is…”

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.

"Silence! Silence!" The priest raised his staff and shouted, "Welcome, everyone, from all walks of life in the Golden Land. Under Lady Hylia's guidance, we will witness together the young generation, representing the future of the Golden Land, taking their first steps in life!"

And so, amidst the attention of the crowd, the girl, sitting atop the highest platform, clad in a robe and with an indifferent expression, raised her staff high.