Truth Machine

This was the most bizarre stand-in battle Li Qing had ever witnessed since his transmigration.

Despite it being a battle between stand-ins, the two sides acted like contestants on a TV variety show, sitting there haphazardly comparing their knowledge.

From the movement of celestial bodies to the trajectory of ocean currents, from Eastern and Western history and literature to the geographical environment of the entire world.

Adam and Fugo bombarded each other with questions, each one more bizarre and outlandish than the last, leaving those around them utterly bewildered.

Unbeknownst to many, this strange question-and-answer challenge has already reached its seventh round:

Briefly explain what the time dilation effect in special relativity is.

"Let me think about it. In relativity, the scales of space and time change as the observer's speed changes."

"Correct answer."

"Panakoda Fugo may ask his question. He has one minute."

Fugo's name reappeared on the screen, but Fugo had just successfully answered the seventh question, was already covered in sweat.

How come this bespectacled uncle across from me seems to know everything?

At first, Fugo was somewhat confident about this challenge:

Because human knowledge has developed to such an extent that its content is far beyond what a single human brain can contain.

There is no omniscient or omnipotent person in the world. At most, a person has a good understanding of their own professional field and can only have some knowledge of other areas.

Adam was the same way.

Indeed, his understanding of most subjects was only superficial, roughly equivalent to having read popular science books.

The questions he asked Fugo were mostly basic science knowledge that ordinary people could learn on their own, not so specialized that only academic experts could answer them.

The problem is that this guy has "heard" far too much.

Like most children from wealthy families, Fugo studied law, a humanities-oriented subject, in college.

To Fugo's embarrassment, Adam seemed to possess knowledge in his area of expertise that was in no way inferior to his own.

With no other option, Fugo had to abandon the idea of using his strengths to attack the enemy's weaknesses, and then do his best to bring out all the obscure knowledge he knew from various fields to ask the other party questions.

But even now, there's nothing Adam can't answer.

Meanwhile, the questions Adam posed to him became increasingly obscure and tricky, leaving him increasingly powerless to respond.

"Damn it."

"Who would bother learning so much useless scientific knowledge when they have nothing better to do!"

Fugo clutched his hair tightly, his expression incredibly grim.

"This can't go on any longer."

"If I want to win, I need to come up with at least one question that he can't answer!"

Meanwhile, the countdown on the 3D screen was ticking away second by second, silently urging Fugo to make a decision quickly.

"What, can't think of a suitable question?"

Adam urged, adding fuel to the fire, in his unhurried tone.

"I"

Fugo held his breath tightly, and finally forced out a question:

Please answer: How far is the end of the universe?

As soon as he finished speaking

The heavy book titled "Do You Know?" suddenly began to tremble violently in mid-air.

The beam of light projected from the open pages instantly became a hundred times stronger, and the chain connecting Fugo's brain began to slowly pull outward, as if it would drag his soul out of his body in the next second.

The following image was then displayed on the 3D light screen.

"The question was submitted in violation of regulations."

"Pannakoda Fugo, challenge failed."

"What?"

Fugo's face turned deathly pale.

The feeling of having your soul pulled out isn't painful at all, but it can make you feel a kind of terror from the depths of your soul.

"What are you doing?!"

"Wasn't it supposed to be a fair challenge?"

Feeling his body grow cold in an instant, Fugo struggled to concentrate his fading consciousness and roared in despair:

"You clearly didn't answer my question, so why am I considered the loser?!"

"This"

Adam was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Hahaha, because you fouled!"

"Asking a question that you don't know the correct answer to will result in an immediate failure."

"Nonsense!"

Fugo's soul had already been partially pulled out of his body.

The ethereal spirit, radiating golden light, appeared before everyone in a daze.

He could no longer control his body, but just as a stand-in as a "soul clone" could speak, this did not prevent Fugo from speaking directly with his own soul:

Who says I don't know the answer?

"I know the answer to this question perfectly well:"

"According to scientists' speculation, the diameter of the universe is finite, with a maximum diameter of 156 billion light-years."

"The so-called end of the universe is 78 billion light-years away from the center of the universe!"

"Oh?"

Adam's expression remained completely unchanged upon hearing Fugo's indignant defense:

"The answer is there."

"But are you sure that the knowledge you stumble upon in a third-rate popular science book is necessarily the 'correct' answer?"

"Can mere humans really predict the future of the universe so accurately and precisely?"

"What you're saying is just a scientist's prediction; that answer may not be correct!"

Fugo's soul had been completely pulled out of his body.

He felt like a cockroach that had accidentally encountered a vacuum cleaner on the floor, being pulled by a powerful suction into that open "book":

"Asshole!"

"Do you think you know more about physics and mathematics than those scientists?"

"Their prediction is 156 billion light-years, so what makes you say that answer is incorrect?!"

"Hehe."

Adam pointed to the glowing book floating in front of him:

Don't misunderstand.

"The challenge is absolutely fair. I am just a contestant and do not have the authority to act as a referee."

"The one making the judgment isn't me, but my stand-in—this book titled 'Do You Know?'"

To tell you the truth—

His voice became incredibly excited:

"This book is actually a Truth Machine."

"It knows the answers to all the world's questions and will make judgments based on that one truly correct answer."

"If the answer you believe in is wrong, even unintentionally, it will directly result in a foul and a loss."

So that's why.

"When asking questions, never ask overly grand questions about the universe, time, or space."

Adam gave a very sly smile:

"These are questions that modern humans cannot answer."

"Using mortal minds to presume to define the truth of the universe will only result in humanity being devoured by its own arrogance."

Hearing these words, Fugo's resentment still hadn't subsided:

Why didn't you say so sooner?

"This is cheating, cheating! You treacherous rat who can't stand the light of day, I won't!"

The furious voice hadn't even had a chance to spread through the air.

It was as if someone had suddenly pressed the flush button on the toilet; Fugo's soul was suddenly swept into a turbulent vortex of light.

In an instant, the vortex swallowed his soul and swept it, now powerless to resist, back into the open book.

Finally, the vortex subsided, and the light faded away.

Above the open pages of the book, suspended in mid-air, the silhouette of Fugo's soul faintly appeared.

There's simply no way to stop it.

They could only watch helplessly as their companion's soul was sucked away by that strange book, turning into a lifeless, sleeping silhouette within it.

Li Qing took a closer look:

In that thick book, there is more than just the silhouette of Fugo.

There are four silhouettes of souls on just one page, making it look like a thick card collection book from a distance.

"Ha ha."

Adam said with a hint of smugness, "Did you notice?"

"They were all challengers who lost to me because of insufficient knowledge, and of course, they are all my beloved collections."

"Appreciating the bewildered expressions of their ignorant souls on the pages of books is my favorite way to relax after a day of tedious technical work!"

"Damn it!" Narancia rushed forward in a rage, grabbing Adam by the collar. "Let Fugo out right now, or I'll..."

"Kill me?"

Adam said without changing his expression:

"I said, violence cannot solve problems."

"Your friend's soul has now become one with this book called 'Do You Know?'"

"If you kill me, his soul will disappear from this world along with my substitute."

"If you don't believe me, you can try it yourself."

When he said this, there was no trace of guilt or lying in his voice.

Narancia tightened his grip, even grabbing Adam by the neck, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.

But the violence and harm did not cause him any pain; instead, they ignited a fanatical emotion within him. "Go ahead! This barbaric behavior cannot defeat me. I will die with the pride of Homo sapiens, along with the soul of your friend!"

"You're insane! You're a madman!"

Faced with Adam, who was as stubborn as a mule, Narancia was at a loss for what to do.

"So what exactly do you want? What do you want us to do to get Fugo released!"

"It's very simple."

Adam shrugged:

"Defeat me, defeat me in the quiz challenge."

"The challenge is absolutely fair. As long as I fail in the challenge and die, the souls of others will be liberated."