"What performance did you mean?" Zhang Tianyuan crossed his legs. "The Spacetime Tunnel?"
At the mention of it, Bai Xu nodded repeatedly.
That's it, that's the one!
But Bai Xu immediately realized that this was a little flippant and disrespectful, and hurried to make amends. "You don't know this, but what happened that night caused a lot of controversy. A lot of people have doubts about it."
"That's why I thought that if you demonstrated your ability again, it should make communication between us much smoother. That would help you achieve your goal too, wouldn't it?"
Zhang Tianyuan raised his eyebrows and said with a smile, "You've worked out my goal?"
"Yes, we have some ideas." Bai Xu took a deep breath, as though facing an extremely important exam. His three colleagues beside him also held their breath and focused, not moving a muscle.
"You told me about the end of the world that day, and you also said you intended to save me and other people. So you must want to save enough people from the apocalyptic crisis you believe is coming, perhaps even everyone in the country, or everyone in the world?"
Bai Xu's gaze burned.
These were not his own deductions, but the most reasonable conclusions drawn by psychological experts based on that day's conversation.
Clap, clap, clap.
Zhang Tianyuan clapped his hands. "Exactly. Your deductions are correct. You picked out all the information in what I said before, including my intentions."
Bai Xu smiled without taking the credit. "I wasn't the one who worked it out. It was the psychological experts at State Security."
"Then have you thought about why I want to save you?"
Bai Xu hesitated, but the veteran instructor beside him, Yin Hongda, answered first. "Because you need us."
"You need our strength. That's why you approached us."
Zhang Tianyuan rubbed his chin. That explanation seemed sound enough, but it was not the whole picture.
I also want your people...
He did not say that aloud.
Instructor Yin continued, "If you really do have some unusual abilities, I suggest you have an open and honest discussion with us. That way, we can help you better."
"If this is just a prank, though, there's still a way back at this point."
Apart from Bai Xu, everyone in the team looked at Zhang Tianyuan with great curiosity.
Was this man truly a visitor from another world?
Could what had happened in the bar that day have been some kind of magic trick?
"To be honest, I do need you to help me with a few things, but I feel that you need me more."
Zhang Tianyuan pointed at Bai Xu. "Ever since the day I appeared, I've never concealed the fact that this world is about to experience a massive disaster that could be called the apocalypse."
"In four years, tsunamis caused by the continents drifting and colliding will even submerge Mount Everest. In the face of this disaster, under normal circumstances, no more than a million people in your world will survive."
"Only if I open the Spacetime Tunnel and let you leave this world to take refuge will it be possible to save more people."
"I didn't tell a single lie that day. Under these circumstances, I'm the only one who can save ordinary people like you."
The people opposite him fell silent, doubt flickering in their eyes.
Zhang Tianyuan spread his hands and said helplessly, "Clearly, you don't believe what I'm saying."
Bai Xu thought for a moment before saying, "The end of the world is a matter of enormous consequence. Without concrete evidence, it's difficult for us to believe it."
"If a disaster on that scale really is coming, I don't even know what we should do..."
"You don't know this, but we've already organized several physics conferences to discuss your apocalypse theory. The final conclusion every time was that it cannot hold within the existing framework of physics. New nucleons won't mutate, nor could they heat the Earth's core..."
That was already putting it very tactfully.
Bai Xu still remembered how the leading physicists gathered for the discussion had complained that it was a waste of their time the instant they saw the topic, then provided... over a thousand reasons why the theory did not hold up.
The theory had so many holes that it could not even be called a sieve. It was practically a hydroelectric power station's spillway.
Instructor Yin chimed in beside him. "Or if you have other evidence that can prove the apocalypse is coming..."
Zhang Tianyuan shook his head. "No, but if you're interested, you could first go and acquire that deepest copper mine over in India next door.
"Of course, finding somewhere of roughly the same depth should work too. Then monitor the data inside regularly, and you'll be able to spot the first signs next year."
Bai Xu quietly noted down what Zhang Tianyuan had said.
Zhang Tianyuan glanced around and felt that it was getting late. "It looks like we won't be reaching a consensus on the end of the world anytime soon. How about finding me somewhere to stay first?"
Bai Xu nodded repeatedly. "That's easy. I can arrange it right away."
With that, he arranged for Zhang Tianyuan to get into the car.
Just as Bai Xu was about to follow him inside, Instructor Yin grabbed him from behind and motioned for him to move farther away to talk.
Only after all the team members who knew about Zhang Tianyuan's deeds had gathered did Instructor Yin light a cigarette and speak:
"Old Bai, we all feel this man doesn't seem very reliable. He seems a bit like a charlatan."
Bai Xu gave a wry smile. "That's how he talks. You should know that at first, I took him for a cult leader and was planning to arrest him."
"His words might sound bizarre, but you've all seen the video. That was absolutely not something any magic trick could accomplish. He vanished right in front of me."
"I already had a feeling he was going to run at the time, and I was watching him like a hawk..."
The other three team members had heard similar remarks many times already. In the end, Instructor Yin paced and said worriedly, "A lot of people are keeping an eye on this matter. Waiting until next year is far too long. We have to establish quickly how much of what he says is true and how much is false."
"You know how outrageous his claims are. We're under a lot of pressure too. If the way he disappeared hadn't been so bizarre, he'd be put straight into prison."
To prove his point, the veteran instructor grabbed at his head. Pulling out his hair was as easy as pulling up scallions.
"I'll do everything I can!" The sight made Bai Xu's scalp go cold, and he keenly felt the pressure his colleagues were under. He had only managed to land the position of team leader thanks to that phone call. In terms of actual authority and responsibility, he might not even rank as high as these colleagues of his.
Once they had all gotten into their respective cars and left.
A woman came over to the seat Zhang Tianyuan had just occupied, silently picked up a slip of paper, and left.
Bai Xu's phone number was on it.
Only after this woman left did the people remaining at the farmhouse restaurant finish their assignment, pay their bills, and leave.
The car slowly drove into the recuperation area.
Bai Xu invited Zhang Tianyuan out of the car, deftly leading him into a small villa as he spoke.
"This is the living room, this is the master bedroom, and the bathroom is over there..."
The villa was furnished quite nicely, but Zhang Tianyuan paid more attention to the few trees planted in the backyard.
In the game world, his little island had no trees, and therefore no wood, leaving him unable to test the Construction System's functions all this time.
[Building blueprint]: Elementary School [Attributes]: Memory increased by 30%, comprehension increased by 10%, language-learning ability increased by 100% [Construction resources]: 3 tons of wood [Construction time]: 6 hours