"Yes, but for now, only the two of us can hear him." Einstein nodded.
"Have you tried transmitting his voice through equipment?" Edison continued.
"Experiments have shown that modern devices simply cannot record Mr. Liu Bai's voice."
Over the past month, Einstein had already conducted all the basic experiments.
"Oh... now that's interesting." Edison rested her chin on her hand, deep in thought. "His voice can't be recorded, yet force can be transmitted... truly worthy of a 'ghost.'"
Where was the Edison who had looked ready to turn around and leave?
"What other experiments have you conducted?"
At Edison's question, Planck and Schrödinger both pricked up their ears.
"They hardly count as experiments. Most of it was simply what Liu Bai told us himself."
Einstein picked up the little blackboard again, speaking as she scribbled across it.
"First, Liu Bai claims to be Tesla's and my spirit, our guardian spirit. He cannot move more than fifty meters away from either of us. If he exceeds that range, he is instantly teleported back to our side. The latter has already been confirmed through experiments."
"You calculated independently?"
"That's right, independently. As long as he remains within the range of either one of us, it works." Einstein nodded. "If he leaves the range of both of us at the same time, he will randomly teleport to the closer person. There is no margin of error in this teleportation method."
"This teleportation mechanism..." The scientists present all lowered their heads in thought.
This was a new possibility.
"Quantum Mechanics might be able to achieve something similar someday." Schrödinger pondered deeply. "But that would be in a future far too distant to know. As for Mr. Liu Bai's current situation... it feels like an extremely mature and complete mechanism. Let's call it the 'Guardian Spirit Mechanism' for now."
The scientists present all nodded, having no objections to Schrödinger's statement.
Einstein also wrote the words "Guardian Spirit Mechanism" beside the first point on the blackboard.
"Second, this also comes from Liu Bai's own account." Einstein spoke as she wrote. "According to Mr. Liu Bai, once per day, he can block one fatal injury for Tesla and me."
"Hmm... this seems to be somewhat beyond the scope of explanation." Planck, one of the founders of Quantum Mechanics, fell into thought as she looked at Einstein's messy handwriting on the blackboard.
"Have you tested it?"
"No. Considering the safety concerns, we did not conduct any related experiments."
"A very cautious approach." Edison nodded. "The criteria for what constitutes a fatal injury are still unclear. Does an injury that causes physical death count as 'fatal,' or does one that causes the death of consciousness count as 'fatal'? Or is it based on the severity of the damage?
Likewise, what kind of protective measure is this supposed protection? If someone is poisoned, how does the mechanism work? Does it detoxify them? Or does it grant instant immunity to the poison?
Many deaths do not even come from instantaneous damage, but from severe injuries that worsen gradually."
Edison's string of questions made Liu Bai's head spin. This was truly the first time he had heard such extensive analysis of his own skill.
"Furthermore, it is unknown whether this ability is calculated independently for the two of you or shared between you."
"It should be shared among all hosts, right?"
Liu Bai glanced at the skill description. Edison's words had made even him lose confidence.
Einstein relayed Liu Bai's words to Edison.
"In any case, that is another matter requiring experimentation."
"But wouldn't that be difficult to test?" Planck raised her hand and spoke. "I cannot accept any one of us getting hurt."
Among those present, only Liu Bai and Edison were not her students. She would be heartbroken if any of the others were injured.
"Hmm... that's true. Still, if possible, I will create a safe simulated environment."
There was something Edison did not say.
Would Honkai corruption count as fatal?
Unlike Otto, whose mind was filled with Kallen, Edison was one of the rare people in power who wholeheartedly wanted to fight Honkai.
The reason Edison and Schicksal had become estranged on the surface was that her parents had died to Honkai. But the more direct reason was that Edison had discovered Otto's mind was not focused on fighting Honkai at all.
—Schicksal was not an organization that put people first, nor was it even sincerely trying to fight Honkai.
As she grew older, Edison became increasingly aware of that fact.
Otto merely used the name of fighting Honkai to achieve his own goals.
"I have no objections."
Einstein said softly.
"Neither do I." Though Tesla had plenty of flaws as a young woman, she was still a competent scientist. "With enough funding, creating a theoretically safe experimental site would not be difficult."
Tesla glanced at Edison.
Though she hated to admit it, this woman was no worse than her in any respect. If Edison was willing to lend a hand...
Edison noticed Tesla's gaze and gave her a friendly nod—scaring Tesla half to death.
Edison was a scientist who believed in putting people first. Even if Einstein herself agreed, Edison would not conduct this experiment without a ninety-nine percent certainty of success.
If nothing unexpected happened, this experiment would become the project's final test.
"Third."
This meeting had successfully reached its third item.
"Possession. Liu Bai can possess nonliving objects without intelligence, thereby controlling them accordingly. We have only conducted rough experiments regarding this, but the actual experimental equipment is already prepared."
"Oh?"
Edison's eyes lit up. She was genuinely interested in this ability of Liu Bai's.
After all, she was the one who had invented the most machinery in this era.
"You're planning to test a mech?" Edison immediately realized something.
"That's right."
"Pointless. The rule that he cannot be more than fifty meters away from you still applies even while possessing something, doesn't it?"
Edison recalled Schrödinger's earlier definition of Liu Bai's fifty-meter rule and analyzed the situation.
"That's right." Liu Bai nodded, and Einstein relayed his response.
"So there is little point in possessing a mech... Hmm, I imagine you also had him possess devices capable of producing sound. It seems that failed."
Einstein nodded. "The sounds produced by vocal devices all turn into 'ghost' sounds."
In other words, only she and Tesla could still hear them.
"It is very likely due to the nature of possession itself. Possessed objects can make collision sounds, but any sound produced by them gains ghost-like properties."
"The research approach is wrong."
Edison made her judgment. "In that case, you only need to create a sound-producing device he can operate—preferably something like a typewriter that can be used by hand."
"That would transmit information far too slowly." When it came to inventions, Tesla was no longer afraid of Edison. "It would still be impractical. It would be better for Einstein and me to relay his words, or even just give him paper and a pen to write directly."
"Every invention needs to be optimized step by step. Besides, typing is much faster than writing by hand."
"Don't argue, don't argue. How about making a portable typewriter first?" Seeing the two seemingly on the verge of arguing, Planck stepped forward to mediate.
"...Good idea." Edison stared at the wryly smiling Planck for a moment before nodding. "I was being too narrow-minded. That would allow possession to be useful as well... Hmm, this method could perhaps also be applied to computers—like a super AI."
At that, Tesla instinctively looked toward Einstein.
A super AI... Einstein happened to have one.
"Tch. I have no objection either." With that in mind, Tesla no longer had the inclination to bicker with Edison.
Having persuaded the two of them, Planck let out a sigh of relief. She had not expected her suggestion to be accepted, then turned to look at Einstein.
"For now, these are the only researchable points." Einstein poured herself a glass of water and waited for the others to summarize.
"That's already quite a lot. As experiments go, nearly every one of them is extremely difficult—this is practically opening up an entirely new field." Schrödinger adjusted her ringlets as she commented.
"Then, if we arrange them according to experimental difficulty, we should first study possession, then teleportation... and finally damage resistance." Planck frowned at the blackboard. For secrecy's sake, she had not even taken notes.
"I have a feeling we'll get stuck on the second one."
Planck offered that assessment from the bottom of her heart.
Although Schrödinger said future quantum technology might achieve teleportation, everyone knew that was merely a genius's distant glimpse of the future.
How distant... no one knew.
"Anyway, now that we have set our goals, let's get to work."
The role of moderator shifted from Einstein to Edison.
"I'll be responsible for developing a typewriter for temporary use. Everyone else will handle the research for the official project."
"In other words, 'Changes Brought About by a Ghost Possessing Modern Equipment and the Principles of Possession.'"
Einstein helpfully added—the name they had decided on long ago.
Einstein, Tesla, Planck, Schrödinger, and Edison—five great scientists remembered by history—had gathered around you at the Imperial Research Institute, Lab 42. After a meeting, they had thoroughly established the project's research goals.
This also meant that, from today onward, living together with two beautiful scientist girls had become living together with five beautiful scientist women.
"So, how should we assign the rooms?"
Planck, the oldest among them, wore a troubled expression.
"There's still one room on the second floor. As for the first floor... most of it is storage rooms. There are no vacant rooms left."
The only empty room on the first floor was Room 105, but that was Liu Bai's room, so Einstein had not counted it—though Room 105 was not much different from an empty room anyway.
"Originally, there would have been enough room as long as Dr. Tesla slept on the couch."
"Why do I have to be the one sleeping on the couch?! Let her sleep on it instead!"
Tesla pointed at Edison with an annoyed expression.
"Besides, isn't she rich?"
"There's really no communicating with someone like you." Edison sighed. "I'll make do with a storage room... Room 105 near the living room, perhaps."
"Huh—?"
Room 105 was Liu Bai's room. Even Tesla had never gone inside!
"? Even a storage room won't do?"
"Room 105 is Liu Bai's room... Mr. Liu Bai says he doesn't mind."
"You should mind a little, you idiot!"
Tesla angrily pointed at the air beside her.
"You only want to take advantage of Edison when she isn't looking because you think she's pretty, don't you?!"
"Since Mr. Liu Bai doesn't mind, it would be rude of me to refuse."
Edison looked with interest in the direction Tesla was pointing.
"Please take care of me from now on, Mr. Liu Bai."
Edison extended her hand again.
"Likewise."
The two shook hands again. Although Edison could not hear Liu Bai's voice, that gesture alone meant he had accepted her.
"You shameless woman!"
"Living with a ghost..." Planck wore a thoughtful expression. "It sounds rather interesting..."
As she spoke, Planck extended her hand toward Liu Bai. "My name is Emma Planck. I am Liesel and Tesla's mentor. Thank you for taking care of my children."
Very soon, Planck felt her hand being grasped by another, steady and strong hand.
"Liu Bai says, 'I'm actually the one being taken care of.'"
"Mr. Liu Bai truly is a proper gentleman."
Before you continue