Did the world end today?

Chapter 223 Passing the Baton
Waking up in bed, Lin Xu quickly went to the table and wrote down the new clues he had gathered.

First, some of Ayana's personalities may originate from other worlds, possibly due to the "cross-world" influence of a higher-dimensional channel.

[Secondly, the Error Correctors restart the world by hunting butterflies, but their main objective should be to "restart Ayana".]

Third, the disturbance is likely created by the error corrector, but the mechanism and location are currently unknown.

After finishing writing, Lin Xu realized that the outline of this world was finally basically clear.

As long as the "starting point" of the error corrector organization is found as soon as possible through the subsequent "cross-space relay" activity, and then this starting point is eliminated, or the "space-time disturbance device" is directly eliminated, one will most likely be able to return to normal operation.

It's been a tough start.

But thankfully, we're finally close to a successful landing.

He raised his hand and glanced at the bracelet; the number on it was a consistent "1".

One more chance!
This time, I don't have much to do; it's just a matter of "passing the baton."

Hopefully, we can find Jiang Xingye successfully and pass the baton to him smoothly.

Lying back down on the bed, Lin Xu gently touched the bracelet.

Consciousness was quickly drained, and then it plummeted again.
"At noon today, in Zhuzhou, Hunan, the world's largest high-energy particle collider, the EAST (Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak) 4, was officially started."

The news broadcast rang in my ears.

The moment Lin Xu opened his eyes, he jumped up.

I rely on!

Why does it look so familiar?!

Will we travel back to the same point in time?
The thought flashed through his mind, but then the news continued.

"The pre-launch testing has officially begun, and it is expected that all testing will be completed and the system will be put into operation within 6 months."

"This equipment is the largest spacetime symmetry breaking test facility in China and the world, and will inject strong momentum into the development of fundamental physics in my country."

Ok!

The content is different.

Lin Xu glanced at the time.

2031 12 Month 1 Day.

This timing is not bad.

To be honest, he really panicked a little when he heard the time in the news just now.

Although I know in my heart that the "time disturbance" created by the error corrector will not disappear so easily, even if I am just unlucky and fall into a time point that is too close, it is still a very difficult situation for me to deal with.

If the timeframe is too short, Jiang Xingye won't have enough time to prepare, and he'll have to go back to the official verification process.

However, once official verification is involved, it inevitably means that one is completely exposed, and one would have to commit suicide at the end and start over, pushing the timeline forward.
-
Ok?
Why not just confront the authorities directly?

If we let them take action to completely eliminate those who correct mistakes.
Wouldn't that achieve the same goal?

That seems to be true.

I do have some reasons that can persuade them to a certain extent.

Regarding the "right and wrong" distinction between the error corrector and the butterfly, I have developed a sufficiently convincing and basically self-consistent logic.

In that case, perhaps Jiang Xingye and the authorities could act simultaneously?
It's not just Jiang Xingye who will participate in the relay.

Let the authorities get involved too!

Double insurance!
With that in mind, Lin Xu decisively put on his smart glasses and prepared to call Jiang Xingye.

Just then, he suddenly heard a knock on his door.

Lin Xu instantly became alert—he truly couldn't accept any unusual events right now, not even the slightest accident.

He walked quietly to the door and looked at the screen of the smart doorbell.

On the screen, he saw someone he never expected.

Jiang Xingye.

She was still carrying something in her hand.

It looks like a late-night snack?

Lin Xu didn't hesitate for long and opened the door directly.

Upon seeing his face, Jiang Xingye asked with a hint of confusion:
"Why this expression?"

Lin Xu didn't know how to answer for a moment.

He looked Jiang Xingye up and down, then asked:
"What are you"

Didn't I already send you a message?

Jiang Xingye became increasingly puzzled.

"I just happened to be passing by, so I brought you some food."

"Your health is important because you have a very important mission to fulfill."

"what?"

Lin Xu was stunned for a moment.

"So, when I'm not around, this is all the empty promises you make to me?"

"What the hell?"

Jiang Xingye looked at Lin Xu with a puzzled expression, but then suddenly realized what was going on.

Her eyes widened, and she asked:
"Zeroth?? Butterfly?"

".That's right."

Lin Xu nodded.

"I am Zeroth now."

"Why are you back so soon?"

Jiang Xingye slammed the door shut and continued:
"I thought I had to wait for you for 17 years!"

"Obviously, no need."

Lin Xu gently shook his head.

"Moreover, I have obtained a very important clue."

"We have to go now. I don't have much time. I need to go to the Joint Intelligence Command Center."

"no problem!"

Jiang Xingye raised his hand.

"Are you bringing a late-night snack too?"

Her expression already showed a hint of urgency, but she still didn't forget the late-night snack in her hand.

Lin Xu was both amused and exasperated, and replied:

"You can eat by yourself when you get back. Let's go, let's go open the EVTOL first."

"You can drive an EVTOL?"

As Lin Xu walked upstairs, he asked:
"What, is Lin Xu a stupid person when Zeroth isn't around?"

Jiang Xingye behind him fell silent.

The two quietly entered the elevator and ascended to the top floor.

Lin Xu thought she wouldn't answer him anymore.

After all, the answer to this question might be
Kind of embarrassing.

But, just as the elevator doors opened, Jiang Xingye spoke up:
"No."

“Lin Xu isn’t stupid when you’re not around.”

"On the contrary, in many ways he is actually becoming more and more like you."

Lin Xu turned to look at Jiang Xingye, whose expression had become somewhat complicated.

"Becoming more and more like me?"

Lin Xu opened the EVTOL's hatch and sat down, with Jiang Xingye following closely behind.

"What does it mean to become more and more like me?" "The way you speak, the way you do things, and the way you think about problems."

"Anyway, most of the time, I even feel that you are all one person."

"It's just that there's a difference in the amount of information we have—seeing you is like seeing him in the future."

Lin Xu activated EVTOL and said with amusement:

"But we are one person."

"That's different."

Jiang Xingye shook his head, set the navigation, and replied:

"He is you in this world, and you are him in another world."

So, it's still different.

"But it's okay."

"Let's talk about business."

"Do you think it's necessary for me to tell this 'you' about his mission as a 'butterfly' when you're not around?"

"No."

Lin Xu answered without hesitation.

He had already figured this out long ago.

Although she wasn't a person who "didn't understand the bigger picture" in terms of personality, according to Jiang Xingye's description, her "stand-in" was indeed not much different from herself.

However, I cannot allow any accidents to happen.

What if?
What if, after obtaining this information, Lin Xu in this world were to turn evil due to some event and become a troublesome enemy? Wouldn't that turn into the plot of some cheesy fantasy novel?
So, I'll keep it from him, or rather, from "myself" for the rest of my life.

To allow oneself to play a role and make one's own contribution in another way.

Isn't this good?

Lin Xu firmly believes in one thing.

The reason I was chosen by the bracelet was not due to luck.

Even if you have nothing, you can still make a difference and contribute to the survival of humanity.

He has such ambitions.

Even before receiving the bracelet, even before joining Sky Dome Technology, I already thought this way.

After Lin Xu finished explaining his thoughts to Jiang Xingye, the latter sighed in relief and then said with a smile:

"It really is you."

"Actually, I had already probed you about this question before."

"But your answer is the same as yours."

"So you are you, there is no difference."

"This is too convoluted! This is too convoluted!"

Lin Xu gripped the control lever tightly.

"Hold on tight! We're about to take off!"

EVTOL rose from the ground, and this time, Lin Xu did not risk lowering the altitude.

The traffic was much better than the last time he entered the area. According to the navigation, it would only take him 8 minutes to reach his destination.

Along the way, Lin Xu quickly conveyed to Jiang Xingye the contradictions between Ayana, the error corrector, and the butterfly, as well as the difference between "finding the standard answer" and "creating the answer."

He spoke very simply and very quickly.

But Jiang Xingye understood.

She did not answer immediately.

At this moment, the city lights kept passing by below.

Jiang Xingye suddenly sighed and said:
"This is truly a wonderful world."

"At that time in 2027, I thought we had everything."

"Until I met you."

"You're telling me that these beautiful things are destined to be destroyed."

"This feeling."

"I can't explain it."

As Jiang Xingye finished speaking, Lin Xu asked curiously:
"What does it feel like? Is it fate?"

"Not really."

Jiang Xingye shook his head and said solemnly:

"mission."

It's just a difference of one word.

Lin Xu took a deep breath, remained silent for several seconds, and then spoke:
"Thank you."

"On behalf of my world, thank you."

"You're welcome."

Jiang Xingye's expression suddenly turned sly.

"Between husband and wife, there is no need for many words."

Lin Xu was almost choked to death by his words.

But that seems to be true.

There's no need for further words between us.

A few minutes later, the two landed in the "parking area" in front of the Joint Intelligence Command.

The two then walked into the command post side by side and found Qin Feng still working.

Based on his previous experience, Lin Xu explained the situation to Qin Feng and used the information from the Chaos System's solution to verify his identity.

He then explained his plan and why he had to find Ayana.

This time, however, he spent more time discussing in detail with Qin Feng the mistakes of the Error Correctors organization itself.

Qin Feng also directly accessed a higher level and brought in more people to listen to this crucial conversation.

Over the course of 40 minutes, more and more people joined the conversation, and their levels rose higher and higher.

Until finally, the roof was capped.

Time is running out.

Lin Xu raised his hand and glanced at the time.

Last 10 minutes.

He opened his mouth and said:
"So, that's the situation."

"This time, I can't die again."

"You must protect me, and you also need to protect Jiang Xingye."

"The next time we come, we will meet in the same world—but also a newer world."

"At that time, I needed to get more information about the Error Correctors organization, and then destroy the organization and completely change the world."

"I'll say it one last time: I'm not just here to save my world, I'm here to save all the worlds."

"See you next time, everyone."

"We have to go. I need to go back to my room."

After saying that, Lin Xu got up and left with Jiang Xingye.

It took the two five minutes to get back to their residence through a special passage.

After opening the door, he leaned back on the sofa.

His consciousness gradually faded away.
(End of this chapter)