Objective-Imprisoned

"Mm... that's right." Hermann could only sigh helplessly.

However, Hermann's personal show was clearly not over yet.

"But I have some good news as well." Hermann continued, "Although the wormhole's concealment has been greatly enhanced by the kaiju's modifications, a wormhole is still a wormhole. Its essence is still atomic energy."

Hermann extended a fingertip again and tossed a small kaiju icon into the wormhole.

"Every time a kaiju passes through, it forces the wormhole to stabilize. Think of it as a bridge—no one would want to drive onto a floating bridge that kept swaying from side to side. The same principle applies to wormholes, whose method of passage is even more precise and complicated... It's a terrible analogy, but I think it gives you the general idea. Broadly speaking, in order for the kaiju to arrive safely on Earth, the atomic energy forming the wormhole will stabilize and remain immobile for a period of time."

Hermann then dragged an icon representing a nuclear bomb into the wormhole.

"When that happens, we can repeat the process that saved the world last time."

Under Hermann's control, the bomb in the hologram suddenly exploded. The passage shattered apart, and the two worlds were separated once more.

Jiang Tianzheng and Lin Yin watched the scene without blinking.

Turning everything that happened in the simulator into reality—

That was why they had come here, and the purpose of their existence.

"Then... how much time will we have to launch an attack?" Jiang Tianzheng asked solemnly. He seemed already prepared. "I need an exact timeframe."

"Seventy-two hours." Hermann wrote a large 3 on the hologram, then circled it. "That is the time we will have to launch an attack. After every transmission, they will need at least three days to gather and adjust the atomic energy again before relocating and deploying the wormhole."

"And the exact location and time of the next kaiju appearance..." Jiang Tianzheng suddenly froze mid-sentence. Only then did he remember that no one could possibly know the answer to that question, and Hermann was no exception.

"This..." Hermann indeed looked troubled. "I have only deduced the wormhole's operating pattern. As for the exact location, perhaps we can only make a rough estimate once the next kaiju appears."

"Very good." Jiang Tianzheng showed no intention of blaming him. He gave Hermann a slight, approving nod. "Organize all the data and submit it to me as soon as possible."

Then he turned to Newt.

"As for you... Kunlun and Shandong were both recovered today. Based on your proposal, I will begin repairs on Kunlun." Jiang Tianzheng paused. "Then I will reconsider Kunlun's pilot selection. Rosen is definitely out. It may be Mike Kane, or the position may remain vacant for now. And I hope nothing like what happened yesterday will occur again, Dr. Newton. Understood?"

Jiang Tianzheng's tone was heavy and full of warning.

Newt was angry and somewhat dejected. He was like a child who believed he had come up with a brilliant solution, only to be told by the adults that it would not work.

Hermann, on the other hand, looked smug, and he had no sympathy whatsoever for Newt's predicament.

"All right, then, Doctors, get to work. Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth, isn't it?"

Jiang Tianzheng nodded to the two doctors, then turned toward the door. Lin Yin quickly followed, though before leaving, she deliberately turned back to look at the two doctors' reactions.

Newt had wanted to catch up with Jiang Tianzheng and say something more, but Hermann stopped him.

"Admit defeat, Newt." Hermann patted his shoulder. "I know you want to prove that you're right, just like when you proposed the theory of 'drifting with kaiju' long ago. But Lady Luck will not always stand by your side."

"The commander's attention is simply elsewhere!" Newt said angrily but refused to give up. "As long as we summarize and analyze the phenomena that occurred with Kunlun, we'll definitely discover something different!"

"You heard him." Hermann continued, "The commander told you to stay put in the laboratory. If you cause trouble again, your little life may not be safe. Besides, you won't be able to see Rosen at all. He's currently a key surveillance target of the Shatterdome."

Newt had no retort for the moment. He could only sit back down in his seat with disappointment written all over his face.

But a voice from the doorway suddenly lifted Newt's spirits.

"I can take you to see Rosen." Lin Yin had returned. With her arms folded across her chest, she stared directly at Newt.

"But... you have to tell me everything you knew before. And everything you learn afterward, too."

Rosen had a rather strange dream.

He dreamed that he was kneeling on the seabed of Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour, while icy waves continuously battered his body. Yet strangely, the seawater that should have been bottomless could not even submerge his thighs.

At that moment, countless small boats drifted beneath him, like toys in a bathtub.

In the distant sky, a Titan-class airship and numerous transport helicopters were slowly flying toward him.

Was this... what Kunlun saw?

Rosen was stunned.

His drift with Kunlun had ended long ago, yet the neural bridge effect seemed to remain. He could even control Kunlun's eyes and focus them...

Everyone on the boats looked up at him, their eyes filled with awe and expectation.

Was this how I looked when I gazed at Kunlun?

The image did not last long—what Rosen saw quickly changed from the bustling sea surface back into a cold white ceiling.

"This is... a hospital?"

Rosen struggled to sit up, but the dizziness clouding his head made him feel unsteady. He nearly fell out of bed.

Fortunately, a large black hand reached out in time and steadied him.

"Thank you..."

Rosen hurriedly thanked him, but when he saw the owner of that large hand—his words of gratitude stopped at his lips.

The one who had helped Rosen up was a fully armed soldier. The letters P.P.D.C. were printed across the black bulletproof vest on his chest. He held a Type 95 Assault Rifle in his right hand, and every inch of him was covered in gear, from tactical goggles to tactical harnesses.

The soldier was currently staring at him without expression, and Rosen immediately read a message in his eyes—

Keep an eye on this guy. Don't let him escape!

Damn it. Rosen cursed inwardly. It seemed Jiang Tianzheng had no intention of letting him off.

Just as Rosen was considering how to pry some information out of him, the soldier spoke first.

"Mesaral." The soldier handed him a small tin box and explained, "This will protect you from radiation when you aren't wearing a combat suit. Commander Zhang Delin brought it for you earlier. You were still asleep when he came."

"Zhang Delin?"

Rosen accepted the pill. While considering how to escape his current situation, he tilted back his head and swallowed it.