Extra: The Fontaine Research Institute, Where Talents and Geniuses Abound

The Fontaine Research Institute has been dedicated to solving the Fontaine flood crisis, and Edwin and Raimondo are among the best at it.

Their proposed sky city concept outperformed Bravais's advocacy of an underwater city and gained widespread public approval.

However, the anti-gravity device needed to realize the idea of a sky city requires injecting a large amount of energy into the Arkhium to power the sky city.

However, Raimondo and Edwin were divided into conservatives and radicals regarding whether or not to conduct experiments with full energy input to the Arkhium.

Edwin and his conservatives believed that the radicals were too conservative.

The radicals, led by Raimondo, believe the conservatives are too radical.

Edwin thought, "A conservative approach? That's cowardly! How am I supposed to know if this thing will explode without experimenting?"

Raimondo believes that we are all ordinary people, completely incapable of controlling any potentially uncontrollable powerful energy. What if it explodes?

How will I know if it'll explode if I don't try?

What if it really explodes?

How will I know if I don't try...?

In short, the two had a big argument about whether to conduct the experiment, but Edwin insisted on going his own way and decided to ignore the risks and continue the experiment.

"Zao Shanghao! And you? Raimondo?"

"... Good morning, Edwin. I still don't recommend you do today's experiment of fully energizing the Arkhium."

"Don't worry, Raimondo, as long as this experiment succeeds, I will never do another risky experiment. Just think, if we succeed, we'll be big shots on par with Alain, the Ingenious!"

Edwin waved, his heart filled with anticipation for the future. Before Raimondo offer any further advice, his footsteps faded away around the corner of the passage.

"Well..."

Raimondo felt that Edwin was like an old general on a theatrical stage, covered in flags.

Hopefully, nothing goes wrong with this experiment.

Then... unsurprisingly, the experiment went wrong.

Boom!

The young man from Fontaine has tremendous energy.

A deafening roar swept across the entire building of the Academy of Sciences.

Before the researchers at their workstations could even react to what was happening, a violent tremor traveled through the floor and metal beams. Test tubes, gear parts, and manuscripts on the desks crashed to the ground, and a large red alarm light instantly filled the entire corridor.

Many people were stunned by the sudden explosion and froze on the spot. Some were still holding pens, staring blankly at the mushroom cloud in the distance, unable to even think of taking cover.

"What happens?!"

"It's Edwin's experiment! Damn it!" someone finally snapped out of their daze and shouted.

Dust was falling from the seams of the walls, and the emergency alarm bells were blaring shrilly. Some people hurriedly bent down to protect the equipment, while others rushed towards the safety exits. The chaotic shouts mixed with the noise of the instruments malfunctioning, echoing throughout the Academy of Sciences.

"No!!! My carefully nurtured yellow and purple little fish! Why are you suddenly practicing swimming on your back?!"

It's a pity that Xingsu didn't get to see this latest hybrid fish species, otherwise he and Xingsu would definitely have become close friends with a certain rural lad who didn't belong to this world.

"I've only written half of my paper!!!"

My research report!!!

"My latest research is the Armstrong Cyclotron Armstrong Cannon!"

"Get out of here immediately, it's on fire!"

"Which side is on fire? Quick, quick, let me throw the bill in!"

"My assignment from my advisor is also like that!"

When disaster strikes, everyone has their own things to do.

This vibrant scene, where all things flourish, is still vivid in my mind.

"Oh no, oh no, this is great!"

Raimondo stood frozen at the end of the corridor, staring blankly at the gray-white mushroom cloud rising from the experimental area on the ground floor. His eyes were cold, and his heart was filled with mixed feelings.

Edwin ultimately caused an irreparable disaster. The out-of-control Arkhium energy severely damaged the Academy of Sciences, destroying years of research data and sophisticated equipment.

Just as everyone was at a loss and the chaos was about to spiral out of control, a wisp of clear and gentle Hydro energy slowly descended from the sky.

The clear water flowed over the broken beams and pillars, and the restless, rampant residual energy was gradually soothed by the invisible power. The falling pebbles suddenly stopped, the piercing alarm gradually subsided, and the churning dust slowly settled. All the out-of-control and chaotic phenomena returned to peace under the supreme authority of water.

Neuvillette stood silently in the center of the ruins, her cold gaze sweeping over the ravaged experimental area, silently taking over the aftermath of the accident.

With the controversy resolved, the Fontaine Research Institute immediately issued a public notice.

Edwin Eastinghouse should be held entirely responsible for this horrific explosion, and permanently stripped of all honors and positions.

To stabilize public sentiment and end the chaos in public opinion, the Chinese Academy of Sciences issued a unified announcement: Researcher Edwin died in the explosion during the Arkhium energy experiment.