An Old Friend in Time

Qin Yiguan instantly understood the hidden meaning in Song Miao's words.

According to the inscription on the Qin Dynasty stone tablet, the Ring Research Institute would appear here in seven days to search for meteorites, and it was at that time that Song Miao was killed.

She died within time.

This kind of death is indescribable.

In an instant, all sorts of thoughts surged through Qin Yiguan's mind.

How should he tell Dr. House the truth, or should he tell him the truth at all?

"The so-called 'betrayal in 7 days' is actually the perception of the Ring Research Institute."

"I saw through their true nature a year ago and made preparations in advance."

"My death seven days later was part of my plan, to lower their guard."

Song Miao looked at Qin Yiguan, "The only person who can stop that Sinful Ring Research Institute is you."

The amount of information was quite overwhelming, and Qin Yiguan was slightly taken aback.

But then Song Miao added, "The Ring Research Institute is not a conventional entity; there is only one way to defeat it."

Song Miao's slender, white fingers handed Qin Yiguan a small projection device. Qin Yiguan knew very well that it would contain a large amount of information.

Immediately, Song Miao's beautiful eyes fixed on Qin Yiguan, her gaze filled with expectation and hope.

Qin Yiguan was also watching her, and suddenly asked, "When did you realize the true nature of the Ring Research Institute?"

Song Miao pondered for a moment, then recalled, "At that moment, I suddenly thought of a quote from House: 'Truly kind people don't have that kind of light in their eyes. Kindness is an inner strength, more often than not, it's as calm as still water.'"

Qin Yiguan remained silent for a long time, his eyes as calm as still water, just as Song Miao had just described, before asking, "Then, are you dead or not?"

Song Miao smiled softly, raised her hand to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear, and said with a hint of relief, "Dead."

The next moment.

Song Miao turned around and walked into the distance, merging with the illusory figures she had left behind. She walked further and further away until she finally disappeared.

Jiang Yizhou approached Qin Yiguan and sighed, "So you have more than one friend in this timeline. This timeline of the Battle Ring Research Institute seems even more interesting now."

Qin Yiguan looked down at the projection device in his hand, lost in thought.

Click.

He pressed the only button on the projector.

Song Miao's voice rang out slowly, "Qin Yiguan, you are House's friend, so I trust you completely, but that's not the whole reason why I place all my hopes on you."

"About the Ring Research Institute."

Have you heard of the Ship of Theseus?

"The Ring Research Institute is like a Ship of Theseus."

"This is a philosophical concept. Imagine a ship that sails endlessly on the ocean. As time goes by, it will develop more and more damage. So, wherever the ship is damaged, the crew will replace the corresponding parts: deck, anchor, sails, rudder..."

"A thousand years later, this ship is still sailing the seas."

"But in the process, all of its parts were completely replaced."

"So, is it still the same ship?"

The answer is, it is, and it is not.

"This is the 'Ship of Theseus'."

Upon hearing this...

Jiang Yizhou sighed slowly, "Oh, it's philosophy. At work, that philosophy professor is my arch-enemy. He always tries to explain my historical issues from a philosophical perspective."

Qin Yiguan remained silent.

Jiang Yizhou's comment might actually have hit the nail on the head.

Song Miao's voice continued.

"The Ring Research Institute is like a 'Ship of Theseus'."

"The Ring Research Institute, with its white, spherical building and 3-square-kilometer grounds, continues to fly through the river of time."

"Just like that ship, it often gets damaged."

"Therefore, the Ring Research Institute often dwells on a particular moment in history."

"In order to collect repair materials."

"The meteorite you are transporting now is a key material used to manufacture the building's outer shell."

"It contains various rare metals from outer space, as well as special gases from primordial nebulae."

At this moment, Qin Yiguan slightly opened his eyes, "So that's how it is!"

"After the Ring Research Institute lands at a specific point in time, it can travel to other, more distant points in time at any time, but it cannot land again in a nearby time because it needs a certain cooling-off period, approximately 3-4 years."

Song Miao's voice continued, "In other words, after they discover the meteorite is missing in 7 days, they will be powerless to do anything and can only watch helplessly as they wait another 3-4 years."

"Qin Yiguan, you have unintentionally taken the first step in destroying the Ring Research Institute."

Qin Yiguan narrowed his eyes slightly at this moment.

In other words, the 'time machine' of the Ring Research Institute has run out of repair materials. If it continues to fly, it will eventually break down to its limit and crash!

Qin Yiguan suddenly felt that this matter was truly mysterious, a kind of indescribable twist and turn.

"Very interesting."

Qin Yiguan muttered to himself, "I'm actually engaged in a battle with the Ring Research Institute that transcends time and space."

"To completely crush the Research Society Institute, simply removing the meteorite beforehand is far from enough."

"Meteorites are just one of the materials they need; their overall proportion will not exceed 5%."

Song Miao's voice continued, "You also need to take more things ahead of time."

But...

Qin Yiguan frowned slightly. "I have no idea what the Ring Research Institute needs."

However, what Song Miao just said about "preparing a year in advance" was not just empty talk.

The next moment.

The projection device in Qin Yiguan's hand emitted a blue, empty screen.

Among them was a 3D diagram of the entire Ring Research Institute.

From building materials to a single screw, and even a decorative item, nothing is overlooked. Everything is clearly labeled, specifying its material, origin, and era.

Qin Yiguan was somewhat taken aback.

The entire Ring Research Institute comprises 40,000 components, and almost none of them are ordinary materials. They come from various periods of Earth's history, and many of them are unique. For example, the meteorites are clearly marked as originating from the ancient Qin Dynasty ancestral region, belonging to Mars fragments, and there is only one of each.

For example, the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Jade) from the Tang Dynasty, an extremely rare type of jade, was used by the Ring Research Institute to make an optical lens.

At the same time, Qin Yiguan was even more surprised by Song Miao's behavior.

She single-handedly ventured into the lion's den, enduring hardship and biding her time, and gathered such a vast and crucial amount of information under absolute secrecy!

Moreover, what happened next was completely unexpected by Qin Yiguan.

On one side of the 3D graphic of the Ring Research Institute, a list slowly emerges, with rows of names indicating their current positions and origins, including the historical time of their birth.

In other words, not all the staff at the Ring Research Institute are modern people!

"The Ring Research Institute, this 'Ship of Theseus,' needs frequent replacements not only of its materials but also of its personnel."

Song Miao's voice came through, "But this personnel list is missing several employees at level 8 or above."

"My past self is working hard to collect this list, and if I succeed, it will be updated in real time due to 'cause and effect'."

"But if it doesn't update, then I've failed, and it's up to you now."

Qin Yiguan silently examined the long list. Many of the names matched those he had seen in the 'dream,' but the names of the Dean of the Ring Research Institute and several vice deans were blank.

now.

Qin Yiguan couldn't help but ask in confusion, "How do we 'repair' personnel damage?"