The establishment of the Time Travelers Alliance began in the first year of Conan

Chapter 227 The Alliance must face the fact that Lin Sheng has disappeared.
For the Alliance, the surface of the moon, which lay in endless silence, had completely transformed into something else entirely.

With the aid of the matter recombination device, a sense of almost solemn holiness and order now reigns over the core of the moon—

Area A-03, the execution layer area.

This region is located almost at the center of the moon. Structurally, the executive layer is like the cerebral cortex, tightly attached to and wrapping around the core layer at the very center.

This nerve center, deeply embedded in the heart of the moon, has the most important function of distributing everything provided by the core layer to various places under the allocation and command of the executive layer councilors.

The extensive network of energy pipelines and information pathways extends from that "sphere" to various areas, forming a complex neural network that connects all the functions of the entire base.

The core of the executive layer is undoubtedly the conference hall, which remains at the deepest part of this core area and is still the original long oval shape.

On either side of the hall are towering, silver-white walls, where the names of those who sacrificed their lives and those who received the "Alliance Star" are still in their original places.

The interior decoration and style also maintain the Alliance's style within the [Circular Base]—

The symmetrical spiral pattern, symbolizing the "dual timeline," is projected in the very center, displaying all changes on the dual timeline since the Alliance began recording.

However, many things are still different.

Those dimensional folding devices that could once expand space at will and create the desired scenarios as needed have disappeared.

Those multi-dimensional time displays that could simulate the entire timeline on Earth in real time and "project" real cities or even planets after being connected to a time display device have disappeared.

The dome of the conference hall, which was originally a real sky, has now been transformed into a specially treated projection dome.

During the day, those silvery-gray "clouds" drift back and forth under the "sun's" radiance.

As night falls, the colors of the clouds darken, eventually turning into darkness that envelops what lies below.

The lawmakers were able to see several streaks of blue and gold light flashing in the night sky through the projection, and sometimes even hear the sound of "stars" breaking apart.

Whenever that happened, they knew that another [loop computer] had "died".

The silvery-gray clouds form the outer shell of these computers.

Those starlight and lightning bolts are the sparks emitted by the strong artificial intelligence "thinking" when the [Cyclic Computer] is operating.

With the help of APTX-4869, these city-sized, closed time-like curve computers with unlimited computing power floated and roamed in the gap between the core layer and the execution layer.

Their entire lives are spent in the "sandwich" between the core layer and the execution layer.

These city-sized computers can self-replicate and repair themselves using built-in material recombination devices.

Furthermore, before they "die" due to dual timelines, time radiation, or any other accident, they "pass on" the valuable information they have recorded to their descendants.

Countless bundles of information and the "resources" that need to be allocated are exchanged between the core layer and the execution layer.

The primary responsibilities of these computers are to stabilize the time radiation emanating from the core layer, maintain the normal operation of the central "perpetual motion machine," and balance the CYZ effects in various regions to ensure the survival of Alliance members.

At the same time, they are also responsible for "incidentally" calculating the data sent from "below", as well as analyzing and providing suggestions for the decisions of the execution layer.

However, that's all there is to it.

The consequences of Lin Sheng's disappearance and the demise of [Cycle] are clear and significant.

This incident directly shook the foundation of the alliance, in any sense.

As mentioned earlier, the alliance has fallen to the point where it needs to rely on strong artificial intelligence and "cyclic computers" to barely maintain its operation.

There were reasons why the alliance had not chosen to involve AI or strong artificial intelligence in its research in the past.

After moving into the "loop", no AI analysis can compare to seeking a direct result from the "future".

Even AI's thinking can sometimes be an obstacle, because they don't have a physical entity or a timeline to accommodate the CYZ effect.

Therefore, contrary to the naive assumptions of many, no matter how sophisticated these instruments and devices are—

None of them can provide a real scientific breakthrough on their own, nor can they provide substantial guidance in timeline simulations on their own.

They can offer countless "possibilities," but they are only "possibilities"—and only those possibilities based on the current timeline logic.

These may just be a collection of countless assumptions, failing to grasp the deeper mysteries of the dual timelines.

Without the "three-out-of-three research method," the alliance completely lost the possibility of developing a technology truly suitable for dual timelines.

In fact, many timeline research departments at the research level have stated that future timeline simulations will be "for reference only".

Just like now, in the executive meeting hall, Bai Zichen's tired face, along with the results he projected, appeared somewhat pale under the cold lights overhead.

In fact, everyone in the hall now has varying degrees of anxiety and fatigue on their faces.

The time display in the center of the hall has lost many of its functions.

It can only project the timeline structure currently observed by the Alliance, much like a holographic projector.

That's yet another loop structure.

But unlike those, those interwoven nodes and curves show nothing at all.

The alliance seemed to exist in a non-existent space-time.

Standing before the time display device, Bai Zichen solemnly reported the final conclusions of the Time Research Department to the executive team:
"Currently, all our research findings are limited by the reality that the alliance is trapped in a single timeline, making them extremely unreliable and unusable as a valid reference."

"We can only see a blank spacetime structure."

He pointed to the projection and slowly added, "Logically speaking, there shouldn't be anything inside."

"It contradicts both the concept of historical inertia and the characteristics of cycles, and of course, it does not conform to the theory of reality."

This unusual phenomenon has awakened a sense of helplessness in many people regarding the familiar "timeline reversal event" of the past.

"But we're already in it."

An executive member slowly rose, his gaze fixed on the blank projection, and he tried to offer some explanation.

"This shows that this loop structure must have 'content,' but it is shielded or hidden in some way—such as by the dual timeline."

"Maybe……"

In response, Bai Zichen let out a sigh.

In reality, everyone knows this is impossible; a dual timeline cannot achieve this.

"But we can no longer truly find out the truth."

Bai Zichen pointed out a reality that is difficult for everyone to face.

"After all, ZC-01 is still out of contact."

He retrieved the remaining records from the time display device.

The light in the entire hall dimmed slightly, and tens of thousands of time points were marked on the time floating in the air.

That was a crucial turning point in the three days of the "Shiho Miyano Contest," a pivotal moment in all events.

“We carefully analyzed every key time point.”

"The time display instrument did not detect the CYZ interference effect generated by ZC-01. We are checking each possible overlooked abnormal area one by one."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over each member of the executive team present, his tone even lower than before:
"From the current situation, the timeline structure is normal. We have conducted several rounds of cross-validation with the timeline reconstruction design bureau, and all simulation results... are normal."

The air seemed to freeze.

Bai Zichen's words made everyone's gaze even more somber.

And all those heavy gazes eventually converged on the figure at the head of the conference table—

As Shigenobu Hitomi stood there, a hint of weariness flashed in her eyes.

But she kept her eyes glued to the projected data suspended in the air, staring at the final results of the analysis, as if trying to glean some conclusion.

She was the first person to discover that Lin Sheng had gone missing.

After Dr. Agasa successfully met up with Ai Haibara and the Alliance system updated to show that everything was going smoothly, she immediately tried to contact Rin Shin to request the next instructions.

However, the only response she received was a persistently silent channel.

Since midnight today, the Alliance has not received any further instructions from His Excellency ZC-01.

The gazes that fell on Shigenobu Hitomi made her back seem to bend slightly, and an invisible pressure poured down on her shoulders.

She looked at Bai Zichen and asked in a low voice, "What about the traces on the timeline?" "We can't find anything."

Bai Zichen shook his head. His words were as heavy as an anvil hitting the ground, making everyone's hearts even heavier.

"The timeline development before entering the [loop] structure has been imported into the system, and everything is normal."

He raised his head again, a look of bewilderment and suppressed frustration flashing in his eyes.

“That’s the scariest part. Everything is ‘normal’—even too normal.”

He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, his voice even lower.
"From the current situation, the timeline structure is normal. We have already cooperated with the timeline reconstruction design bureau, and the simulation results show that everything is normal."

He paused for a moment, as if emphasizing the weight of each word.

"Furthermore, our plan to guide the team at Beika Hotel and to tie down the main forces of GSSRA and the Black Organization in Tokyo Bay and the western suburbs of Beika Town respectively were both successful."

"Based on the time display and RSI data detector, the dual timelines did not react in any way that was beyond the plan."

"Although Professor Agasa's side, Ran Mouri's actions caused some unexpected situations."

"But at exactly 1 a.m. today, Ai Haibara appeared at Professor Agasa's doorstep according to the predetermined [historical inertia]."

He paused, then concluded, "From the current perspective, the 'battle for Shiho Miyano' has been a complete success."

"And according to the data fed back from the Reality Analysis Department, the Cosmic RSI Background Index has remained stable at 103, which is very stable."

Bai Zichen repeated the conclusion he and his team had reached through analysis: "Everything is in line with the final conclusions given in the contingency plan."

He had intended to continue expressing his guess.

However, before he could speak, Shigenobu Hitomi interrupted him with a cold and unquestionable air of authority:
"Yes, the timeline is normal, but the Alliance has indeed lost contact with His Excellency ZC-01."

She leaned forward slightly, placed her hands on the conference table, and scanned everyone present with her eyes.

"The requirement of the execution layer is to have the research layer find out the reasons behind it."

Another member of parliament added, "Moreover, according to the relevant theories of the CYZ effect, we are still within the sphere of influence of His Excellency ZC-01, and it is impossible for the coalition to lose contact with ZC-01."

Shigenobu Hitomi slowly straightened up, her gaze sweeping over everyone present, her voice trembling slightly:

"I believe everyone knows what this means, if His Excellency ZC-01 really disappears..."

She paused, her Adam's apple bobbing slightly, forcing herself to regain her composure.

"We must find Lord ZC-01; he is the soul of the alliance."

Everyone present nodded. They all knew in their hearts that Lin Sheng was the soul of the alliance. This was not just a description, but a fact.

The executive layer then gave the research layer, or rather, the entire alliance including themselves, a final deadline.

"In short, Minister Bai, I'm giving you three days to investigate. You must find the cause, no matter what method you use!"

Bai Zichen's eyes darkened, and his lips moved as if he wanted to say something.

But in the end, he just nodded heavily.

“I understand,” he said.

Verifying the situation regarding Lin Sheng's disappearance is an incredibly massive undertaking.

Besides the necessary maintenance of the base, monitoring of Earth, and attention to [Shinichi Kudo] and the dual timelines—

The majority of the alliance's resources were focused on investigating the reason for Lin Sheng's disappearance over the past three days.

First and foremost, the most direct approach is to go to the core level and investigate what exactly happened.

This method was proposed by the CYZ effect research institute.

The institute's director, Liu Ran, calmly analyzed the current situation.

"Since the perpetual motion machine is still operating, this means that the CYZ effect in the ZC-01 office is still maintaining an extremely high level."

"The Narrative Studies Department also believes this is the most likely method, especially for those [loop computers]..."

The Narrative Department was the first to discover the irrationality of the [Loop Computer].

They had absolutely no reason to be there.

"Therefore, we can try to get people into the [core layer] to see if we can make any new discoveries."

Liu Ran's proposal ultimately failed, of course.

However, he now projected the last data measured by the loop computer, which had been damaged due to being too close to the core layer.

“In the area within 20 kilometers of the core layer, the RSI value has dropped below 50, which is even lower than previously recorded values.”

"Currently, even if we use a spacetime bubble to separate a portion of the space, breaking into a range of 5 kilometers from the core layer is already the limit."

One of the executive councilors stood up, but his focus was on something else entirely.

"In other words, we now have a damaged [cyclic computer] that has been infected by the CYZ effect. Can we directly use the CYZ effect to improve it?"

"These machines could obviously store relevant information if we were to trace it back to its initial state..."

"The Alliance will acquire a [Cyclic Computer] that is unaffected by dual timelines or even the universe itself."

"At the same time, we can obtain information about them before they were manufactured."

After all, no one would believe that the league created these behemoths; it was practically a loophole deliberately left for the league to see.

So--

It is quite clear who manufactured these machines and what their significance is.

However, Liu Ran rejected the proposal without hesitation:
"Frankly speaking, it is almost impossible to apply the CYZ effect in a closed timelike curve computer."

"To completely replace a city-sized computer with CYZ-effect materials would require an astronomical number of strings."

Shigenobu Hitomi's voice rang out: "How many strings do you need?"

Liu Ran paused for a moment, her tone filled with deep helplessness:
"Given the league's current surplus resources, this is far from sufficient."

“Then let’s use brute force,” Shigenobu Hitomi said finally, her voice filled with a hint of determination.

The method used to decipher pointer names was employed once again.

Finally, by utilizing a time-series stable container, and even when restarting in that low-value RSI range, while isolating external interference—

The information left behind by Lin Sheng was finally revealed by the damaged [Loop Computer] without being seen by the dual timelines.

At that particular point in time in the "Hoshimi Tower Case".

Sensing a glimpse of the future, the string of numbers he had left within the "ripples" was stirred—

Lin Sheng finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Although the process was somewhat bumpy, thankfully the result has finally come together.

This is also why Lin Sheng didn't directly hand over the CYZ effect to the Alliance, but instead created a batch of [Cyclic Computers] to adjust it.

He is well aware of his current "importance".

If you were to unrestrictedly hand over those CYZ effects to the alliance from the very beginning.

The league will definitely prioritize rescuing themselves.

And that's exactly what happened.

Accompanying the release of the "Summary Report on Interference in the Timeline of the ■■■ Case" (numbered CYZ-ST-4869) was a top-level joint statement from the alliance's executive level—

“We once thought it was just a ‘loss of contact’ or a ‘delayed return’.”

But now we acknowledge that Your Excellency ZC-01 has become part of the current [loop] structure and cannot escape.

Faced with dual timelines and cosmic threats, all members of the alliance have reached a consensus:
Regardless of the cost, we will launch a full-scale advancement process for the [Pointer Case Ritual].

At the same time, any proposal that “ZC-01 should be permanently remembered as a price for the past” will not be accepted.

He is not the price, he is the beginning. We will not let him disappear from our memories.

(End of this chapter)