Bab 249: Visitation of Quantum Technology (9)
Later that evening, around eight, Yasushi and Jingliu returned to the concealed facility hidden beneath Buckingham Palace. Inside, they found their parents and friends still engaged in various tests involving advanced quantum technology and artificial intelligence.
"Have fun on your little outing?" Xinyi said, her arms crossed, puffing her cheeks slightly as she spoke.
Yasushi didn't hesitate. "We had a reason to leave early, but yeah, after that, it turned into a date. And yes, it was fun," he replied casually, earning an exaggerated roll of her eyes.
Without another word, Xinyi handed him what looked like the handle of a sword. "Try this out," she said, stepping back. "I gave it a shot, but it felt strange. Yinhaie and Nandini didn't have an issue, but the rest of us did." She paused for effect. "It's basically like one of those plasma swords from Star Warz, just so you know."
Curious, Yasushi inspected the handle before pressing a button. A glowing plasma blade extended from it, humming faintly as the weapon came to life in his hands.
"This is neat, so what did they want me to try with it?" he asked, tilting the handle slightly as he examined it.
His father, Yuji, approached, motioning toward a set of training dummies arranged in a neat line. "Just go at those and let us know how it feels when you're using it. Same as last time — any adjustments, tweaks, or general feedback."
Yasushi gave him a quick glance before nodding. "Got it," he said, heading toward the nearest dummy. He raised the laser sword, gripping it firmly, then swung it downward in a sharp arc. The blade cut through the dummy like paper, leaving the halves to topple to the ground. He stepped back, eyeing the remains. "Uh, was that supposed to happen?" He turned to look at Yuji, raising an eyebrow.
Yuji scratched his head, laughing uneasily as he glanced between his son and the dummy. "Not really. Even Yinhaie didn't manage that on her first try — she struggled a bit before cutting through. Nandini got it in two swings, maybe three, tops." He jotted a few notes onto his clipboard, muttering something under his breath.
"Guess I'll keep going then," Yasushi said, moving to another dummy. He lined up his stance, swinging again with precision. The laser blade sliced through the second dummy, then the next, each time requiring only one or two hits. The fragments scattered around him as he stopped and glanced back at Yuji.
Yuji chuckled, the sound light and easy as he leaned back slightly. "As expected from my son, the Miracle Boy!" he said with mock pride, shaking his head. "Alright, those were the last ones for the day. How about we grab some dinner before you all head home, yeah?"
Yasushi gave a small nod, pressing the button on the device once more and carefully handing it back to his father. Without being asked, he moved to help with cleaning up, making sure everything was in order before the group left for the dining hall.
When they arrived, they took their seats at a table that was already set up, their conversation continuing without pause. Nearby, the quantum-based robotic assistants moved efficiently, delivering food to other tables. They ordered through sleek electronic menus built into the table, their choices appearing on the holographic interface. Soon after, steaming plates of food were placed in front of them.
Xinyi picked up her chopsticks and began eating, speaking between bites. "We used one of those AI vacuums earlier. It's leagues ahead of those little ones we've got at home. When they work out the kinks, I'd like to get one. The potential is huge." Her tone carried the casual enthusiasm of someone already envisioning its uses.
"Those AI glasses were something else too," Nandini added, gesturing slightly with her fork as she spoke. "They're basically phones you wear, but with immersive capabilities, almost like a VR setup. It was a fascinating experience." She glanced at Xinyi, who nodded in agreement, her expression reflecting the same intrigue.
Yunxue crossed her arms tightly, her expression tense. "It feels like we're gradually being edged out. Sure, those things are helpful, but it's starting to feel like I'm going to be out of a job soon," she said, her voice tight with unease.
"AI, androids, robots — whatever advancements we create — they're not ready to replace people entirely, Yunxue," Liang Yang said, his tone calm. "We haven't reached a point where they're indistinguishable from humans. For now, you're not at risk of that. Someday it might happen, but even then, the demand for real people won't just disappear. There's always going to be value in the human element," he continued, giving her a reassuring smile.
Yunxue stiffened slightly, dipping her head in a quick nod. "Y-yes, sir!" she replied, her words rushing out as her nerves spiked, a fresh wave of self-consciousness washing over her when she remembered exactly who she was speaking to.
Liang Yang chuckled lightly, waving off her nervousness. "Relax. I'm glad my employees feel comfortable enough to talk about these things with me. That openness matters. Still, I do plan to integrate many of the technologies you saw today into my home and Jingliu's, as well as Yasushi's. It will simplify things for everyone, and that's what progress is about," he added, his expression growing serious as he spoke.
She nodded in agreement, their conversation effortlessly going from one subject to the next, weaving through topics about their work and other anecdotes. The meal went on smoothly, with laughter and chatter filling the time, leaving everyone at ease as the evening progressed.
Once the dinner wrapped up, Yasushi and Jingliu approached their parents with a clear sense of purpose. The two quietly led them to a vacant room, exchanging subtle glances before Yasushi spoke, his tone direct and firm.
"We overheard an older couple talking about something strange," he began. "They said the queen has been missing for a while. Do you know anything about it?" His eyes fixed on their parents, waiting for answers.
Their parents exchanged uneasy looks, a brief silence hanging between them. It was clear that they had been bracing for this moment, though reluctant to face it.
Liang Yang exhaled deeply, his hand coming up to press against the bridge of his nose as though to steady himself. "The truth is," he began slowly, "we don't know much ourselves. But before Lord Shiva departed earlier this week, he mentioned a curse — something powerful. It's possible that seeking mages or even gods with stronger abilities might be necessary to break it."
"A curse… oh, is that why Merlin was here?" Yasushi's voice carried a mix of skepticism and curiosity as he turned toward his father, Yuji, who nodded in response.
"Yes, that's right," Yuji confirmed. "But Merlin wasn't just focused on the curse. He's been fascinated by our projects and the advances we've made in science. While his primary reason for being here is the queen, he's also been testing some of the tools and items we've developed. That's part of why he's been hard to track down lately. He's still investigating the curse, working with a few gods — ones native to this country and even a few from Ireland."
Jingliu, standing nearby, leaned forward slightly, her interest clearly drawn to the discussion. "Do we know anything specific? Like what the curse actually is, or who might have created it?"
Yuhan, her mother, stepped into the conversation, her tone calm but firm. "Sir Merlin has confirmed the origin. The individual responsible for cursing the queen is of English descent and resides in this country. So, there's no risk of this leading to tension with other nations or their pantheons."
"Gods still fighting wars?" Yasushi asked, looking over at Liang Yang. His tone carried the curiosity of someone trying to piece together a puzzle that didn't quite fit.
"Not anymore," Liang Yang replied. "Haven't for decades — since around World War II. Even then, they kept it contained. Separate dimensions, different spaces, ensuring humans weren't caught in the crossfire. That's the rule. But this situation? This is different. A human got involved, and not just any human — the queen. If it had been someone from another country or pantheon? Let's just say, tensions would be climbing. But actual war breaking out? No chance. Not with the treaty in place. Nobody wants to repeat that disaster."
Yuji, standing nearby, stepped closer and placed a hand on both Yasushi's and Jingliu's shoulders. His voice was calm but firm. "Listen, we've been over this. There's nothing you can do about it. So stop overthinking. Make the most of your time here, enjoy it. You're heading back to Japan soon, right? Focus on that."
Yasushi dropped his gaze to the floor, his expression shifting as he wrestled with the thoughts swirling in his mind. After a moment, he nodded. "Yeah… Alright, Dad. Thanks. Let's just hope she pulls through."
With that, Yasushi and Jingliu turned and walked out. Neither spoke, their silence filled with unspoken thoughts twisting and turning as they processed everything.
+-+
"…huh?" Yasushi muttered, his eyes darting to every corner of the empty space around him.
He turned in place, observing his surroundings, but all he could make out was endless white. It was the same unnerving blankness he remembered from when he encountered his "older" self after Peter killed him at the Banquet of Gods. He frowned, unsure if he was alive or if death had somehow claimed him again without him realizing it.
Before he could voice his irritation, an unfamiliar sensation prickled at his consciousness. Instinctively, he spun around. His breath hitched as his gaze fell on the figure standing there. The face and body were unmistakably his, yet something intangible marked it as different. It wasn't just another version of him; it was something… else. Recognition came almost immediately.
"You're the original soul of this body, aren't you?" Yasushi asked, his tone flat yet edged with tension. "The 'real' Yasushi?"
The figure inclined its head in confirmation. There was no hesitation, no ambiguity in its acknowledgment.
Yasushi folded his arms, his expression hardening. "So, what's this supposed to be? Are you here to try and take the body back or something?" He paused, letting the weight of his words hang. "This is the first time we've actually met face-to-face, huh?"
The Yasushi before him, the "real" one, met his stare head-on, his expression calm but unrelenting. His voice came measured, even. "I've been keeping tabs on you from the start. I held back, stayed quiet, because you've improved things. For me. For us. To be blunt, I was supposed to die at birth. But your soul — the one that ended up in my body — changed that. We lived because of you," he explained, his tone devoid of blame but carrying the weight of something unspoken.
Yasushi exhaled slowly, the movement barely perceptible, though his mind churned with the revelations. The tangled mess of his existence loomed larger now: his current self, his past life's soul, and the "real" Yasushi's identity, all twisted together like threads in a knot that refused to loosen.
"I figured as much," Yasushi admitted, his voice low. His words carried an edge that seemed involuntary, a bitterness he couldn't quite suppress. "So let me ask you — what's the deal now? Do you want to take over this body because I've done the hard part? Is that it? Are you stepping in now that the struggle's mostly behind us and the payoff's finally in sight?" His tone stumbled on neutrality, failing as irritation bled through.
The "real" Yasushi hesitated before responding, his expression unreadable. Finally, he turned to face him. "I intend to observe what you'll do next. Don't worry — I'm not here to take control. That goddess — Freyja, wasn't it? She fell for the bait I set up. I made it appear that way so she'd tell you and, in turn, grab your attention," he explained, his tone devoid of emotion, before vanishing without a sound.
Left alone, Yasushi replayed the cryptic words in his mind. They seemed direct enough on the surface, but their meaning left him questioning. If the other Yasushi had no designs on taking over, what exactly was he after? His reasoning felt incomplete, riddled with unspoken motives that Yasushi couldn't quite piece together.
"Whatever. I'll handle it when it becomes my problem," he muttered under his breath, his voice low and barely audible as he stepped away, his presence fading until there was no trace left.
+-+
As time passed, their final day in the UK arrived. Yasushi and his companions were prepared to leave, but their farewells were taking longer than expected. Parents lingered nearby, conversations with the scientists they had come to know stretched out, and the atmosphere carried the tension of an impending goodbye.
Jamie approached Yasushi, who stood alongside Jingliu. His expression carried a seriousness that was hard to ignore as he crossed the distance to them.
"So," Jamie began, his tone low, "did you figure out what you're going to do about that thing we talked about?"
Yasushi exchanged a glance with Jingliu before answering. "I did. I spoke to the real one. It was direct but not exactly helpful. No clear answers. For now, he said he's just going to watch. I take that to mean my older one is okay with how I'm handling things, so he didn't step in."
Jamie considered this, nodding slightly. "That's something, at least. You've avoided the worst outcomes so far. Most people in those situations…" He hesitated briefly. "It doesn't end well. Schizophrenia. Suicide. It gets ugly fast. So, yeah, good on you for keeping it together."
He patted Yasushi's shoulder in a rare gesture of approval before stepping back.
He turned his back to them, giving a brief wave over his shoulder. "Once you finish college, make sure to come back here, alright? It'd be great to work alongside all of you, and having people my age around would make things a lot less dull," he said. He let out a short laugh before disappearing into another room.
Yasushi exhaled, his lips curving slightly upward. He couldn't deny the relief he felt — Jamie wasn't the obsessive figure their parents had painted him to be. Instead, he seemed like someone who'd simply been misunderstood.
He turned his attention to Jingliu, who looked just as at ease. "Well, should we head home?"
She nodded. "Yeah, it's time we get back to our regular lives," she replied.
Not long after, they left the facility. Boarding their private jet, they flew back to Japan to settle back into the routines they'd left behind.
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
Haruki_Murakami
Haruki_Murakami "Sačuvaj se što možeš, ali ne zaboravi druge" – Serbian proverb
"Save yourself what you can, but don’t forget others."
Meaning: Look out for yourself, but remember those around you.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone