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Before him stood a tall electronic gate blocking the transition from the platform to the bustling plaza below. This explained the stark contrast: the lively crowd on one side and the deserted space near the statue. Lin Xian recalled his unconventional entry from the sky, which allowed him access to this otherwise restricted area.

Inspecting the gate, he found no visible mechanisms to open it—a keypad or any sort of control was conspicuously absent. It was apparent he couldn’t exit this way, but this wasn’t a concern for him. Remembering the trash robot that had been ejected off the platform, he utilized his parkour skills to climb down the wall, mimicking the robot’s accidental path.

Upon landing with a soft thud, he saw the dismantled parts of the robot scattered around. A thought struck him: If one needed to access the platform again, they’d face the impenetrable gate he had inspected earlier. Yet, how had the trash robot, known as VV, gotten through? He briefly entertained the idea of a special passage for maintenance robots but discarded it as the robot was beyond any functional check now.

Leaving the confines of the statue area, Lin Xian strolled through the plaza, his attention caught by the eclectic fashion around him. Unlike any typical city, the residents of Sky City donned attire that appeared to be crafted from high-tech fabric acting like a display screen. Children’s clothing shifted in color and design, mimicking animations, while adults wore subtler but equally dynamic outfits featuring patterns that moved like natural elements. Some clothes even showcased animated characters that interacted playfully with their environment.

“These clothes… If only we had them back in 2023,” Lin Xian mused, appreciating the convenience of technology that allowed for such dynamic personal expression.

His simple attire didn’t draw any stares in this diverse fashion landscape, affirming the inclusive nature of Sky City. As he ventured beyond the plaza, the city’s true essence unfolded before him. It was a stark contrast to the superficial charm of New Donghai City; here, the prosperity was underpinned by genuine advancements in technology. The skies buzzed with agile vehicles and operational robots, all part of a highly efficient system. Buildings displayed ever-changing 3D imagery that, despite causing significant light pollution, showcased impressive technological prowess.

Robots designed to blend with the city’s futuristic aesthetic zipped through the streets, efficiently cleaning up without a trace. Lin Xian, hailing from 600 years in the past, could barely grasp the underlying technology—everything seemed to border on magic.

His thoughts wandered back to the enigmatic Genius Club. Initially, he had believed their objective was to hinder technological progress, based on his experiences in earlier dreams. But the evident technological explosion in Rhine Sky City challenged that notion. Was there a deeper, unseen agenda beyond merely stifling innovation?

“The more I think about it, the less sense it makes,” he confessed aloud, puzzled.

Another lingering question was the relevance of the number 42 in this context. Previously, Big Cat Face’s father, a notable mathematician, could have shed light on this mystery, but his early demise from radiation sickness left many questions unanswered.

As Lin Xian left the plaza, he noted the solemn respect accorded to the area, signified by the prohibition against honking and the absence of vehicular traffic. A statue of Zhao Ying Jun marked her significant legacy in this city.

Reflecting on his own identity, he realized he was the founder and CEO of Rhine Company. What transformations had occurred over these six centuries? Determined to uncover more, he decided the local bookstore might hold historical records—if they hadn’t been altered—to provide the insights he sought into the city’s past and his role in it.

Unfortunately, after searching and asking around, Lin Xian couldn’t find any open bookstores.

Many people gave him puzzled looks. “Bookstore? Do people still read books?”

Though he didn’t find a bookstore, Lin Xian stumbled upon a pharmacy and decided to inquire about something else that was on his mind—radiation sickness treatment. The pharmacist, a middle-aged woman with a kind face, explained that such illnesses were rare now. “Immunity is passed through breast milk, and even formula has the necessary antigens,” she informed him. According to her, the medication they had was seldom used and often expired on the shelves.

As Lin Xian left the pharmacy, he took a moment to observe his surroundings. Life in Rhine Sky City seemed laid-back, with lax law enforcement—a stark contrast to the strict patrols back in New Donghai City. He felt invisible here, blending in without any suspicion.

Curious about the city’s history, he returned to the friendly pharmacist. “Excuse me, where can I learn more about the history of Rhine City?”

Without hesitation, she recommended, “The Rhine Museum is the best place. It has a lot of historical information. There’s also a personal exhibition hall for Ms. Zhao Ying Jun with many precious relics.”

Her face lit up with respect as she mentioned Zhao Ying Jun. “But the museum is closed now. You should go during the day.”

Lin Xian’s interest was piqued. Zhao Ying Jun’s personal exhibition hall might hold important clues. He thought about sneaking in at night, confident that if he needed help, Big Cat Face and the others were just a call away. The real threat was the laser defense grid, but once past that, it should be easy.

Checking his watch—it was 00:40—Lin Xian decided to call it a night. Despite the advanced technology around him, he noticed people were oblivious to the impending catastrophe. It was now 00:42, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary, which made him question his earlier assumptions about the mysterious blinding light.

“Could this be a simulation?” he wondered, thinking of movies like The Matrix. To test his theory, he planned to deposit something in a Time Bank safe in 2023 and check it in his dream. But first, he needed to locate Time Bank.

Rushing back into the pharmacy, he asked the pharmacist about Time Bank. After a brief pause, during which she might have been accessing some internal database, she responded, “Sorry, sir, there’s no Time Bank in any part of Rhine Sky City.”

This revelation shocked Lin Xian. Time Bank and the safe were supposed to be constants, unaffected by temporal shifts. Now, everything seemed uncertain—even CC’s whereabouts were a mystery. In previous dreams, she always appeared, seeking her truth related to the safe left by VV.

“What on earth is going on?” Lin Xian muttered as he stepped outside. Suddenly, the sky exploded with blue-speckled butterflies, their chaotic fluttering like a string snapping loudly.

BOOM!!! BOOM!!! BOOM!!!

The familiar searing white light engulfed everything, turning it to ash.

…

…

…

Lin Xian jolted awake in his bed. It was exactly 00:42.

“Why doesn’t Time Bank exist anymore?” he pondered, his mind racing with theories about temporal shifts and the unpredictable nature of time.

The concept of temporal elasticity echoed in his thoughts, a concept Yellow Finch had mentioned as crucial. “Temporal elasticity… is just resilience in time and space, right? A tolerance within certain change limits? What else could it mean?”

Frustrated but exhausted, Lin Xian decided to rest. Tomorrow would be another busy day, starting with picking up Liu Feng from the airport, who claimed to have a new invention to show him.

“I wonder what it is,” Lin Xian mused as he drifted back to sleep, the mysteries of Rhine Sky City lingering in his dreams.