Noble individuals will always have nobility to match them, and prestigious objects ultimately cannot escape the fate that belongs to them.

It seemed aware that its death was destined, the exhausted Gui Xu finally could not endure this final "humiliation," and let out a hysterical roar towards the Alliance Building that was gradually fading away.

"Utterly foolish! Handing over the world of civilized people to the wild people of the Wasteland!!! You are simply unworthy to be Residents of the refuge! You betrayed the United Human! Betrayed those who built the refuge!! Just wait, wait and see, you won't have a good end!!"

Tears and snot covered that twisted face.

The hysterical roar and resentment were not only unbecoming of the wild man but seemed inhuman altogether.

The Soldier holding his shoulder gave him a disdainful glance, didn't want to dirty his clothes with the disgusting liquid, but had to grip him tightly to prevent him from committing suicide.

For someone with no hope to live on, it wasn't impossible.

Though this guy might lack such courage anyway.

"Wasteland wild men, hehe... If you let those who built the refuge know that people living in the refuge call their kids like this, do you think they would still build the refuge?"

"Who's the real traitor, who's betraying who, facing death yet still clueless."

Glaring at those eyes half full of timidity and half of hysteria, the Soldier holding his shoulders spoke fiercely.

"When you die, you better open your eyes wide to see clearly who's living in the repercussions, who won't have a good end!"

...

The judgment of Gui Xu will proceed alongside the trial of the upper echelons of the Enlightenment Society, including the judgment of its accomplices.

The Sticky Community will establish a dedicated court and investigation agency to settle scores with its various crimes, and sentences will be handed down based on evidence.

As the evening sun gradually descended, Chu Guang finished work as usual, placed the documents aside, and punctually pushed open the door to leave the Manager's Office, sat in the specially waiting car downstairs of the Building, and returned to the southern part of City of Dawn's refuge.

Usually, at this time, he would choose to close his eyes for a break, but today he found himself whimsically gazing out the window, even instructing the driver to take a longer route to the city center for a look.

The city center of City of Dawn has always been north of the Alliance Building, quite a distance from the southern Linghu Wetland Park.

And with the development and expansion of the new district in the east, the city center gradually has a trend of developing towards the "road town old site."

That place used to be watered with the blood of the Alliance's Army, and now it has transformed into rows of towering buildings and bustling plazas.

Chu Guang found himself enraptured for a while, until the reflection of the row of buildings on the car window drifted away, he suddenly came back to his senses and said to Lu Bei who was sitting in the passenger seat with a smile.

"The changes here are quite profound, sometimes at first glance, it feels quite like ages past."

Lu Bei, always diligently watching the roads ahead and the streets to the side, didn't carefully appreciate the scenery outside the window, paused for a moment, then laughed and said.

"The development here is indeed quite fast... but actually, the area we just passed, it's been a while since it was built."

"Is that so?" Chu Guang laughed heartily, remarked, "Perhaps I don't wander around often enough. You should take me around in a few days."

"Yes!" Lu Bei nodded seriously, showing a stance promising to complete the task.

Seeing this young fellow's high level of concern, Chu Guang spoke with a relaxed tone and a smile.

"Just strolling around, no need to be so tense... also, don't disturb others."

Originally just generally nervous, Lu Bei became more tense upon hearing these words...

...

At the entrance to the refuge, the plaza bustled with a continual stream of players, some were newcomers who had just entered the Game and came to register, and some were seasoned players who had been around for a while.

The northern snack street was even more crowded and lively, with traveling merchants exchanging information about various regions, and players sharing their unlucky deaths from Three days ago.

He didn't head back to the refuge immediately.

Chu Guang still went to the ramen stall he often visited, sat down and ordered an extra-large bowl, watching the noisy young players eating, he quietly ate until The Sun completely set.

Always feeling like the Manager was thinking about something, sitting across was Lu Bei, who was embarrassed to ask, only silently waited.

But unfortunately, Chu Guang did not share what was on his mind, merely counting out some change and placing it on the table as usual, exchanging a few friendly words with the sweating ramen-cooking owner, and left.

Honestly, Chu Guang was a bit puzzled by his current frame of mind.

Clearly, the mystery he had longed to unravel for so long was right in front of him, yet he wasn't in a hurry to reveal the answer that lay concealed, instead hoping for time to pass more slowly.

However, he also knew he couldn't indefinitely avoid facing the memory beyond that period.

"Just drop me here, I plan to head back."

"Yes."

Watching Chu Guang walk towards the refuge, Lu Bei nodded slightly but did not leave.

Gazing at the figure moving further away, he hesitated for a moment, finally spoke up.

"Sir."

Chu Guang stopped in his tracks, glanced back, seeing the young fellow's earnest expression, couldn't help but smile and said.

"Do you need something?"

Lu Bei nodded, speaking earnestly.

"I have no father, nor other relatives, it was you who taught me to write, to count... and many other things I didn't understand. You might find it offensive... but I have always regarded you as my father."

"Offensive is not the right word, but surprised is true," Chu Guang coughed lightly, smiled, and said, "Why are you suddenly saying these things?"

"Nothing..." Lu Bei gently shook his head, continued with a serious tone, "I just wanted to tell you, you are always the Manager in my heart. And... I believe many other people think so too."

That sincere face bore no trace of falsehood, he indeed meant every word.

Putting away the joking tone, Chu Guang also showed a serious expression, solemnly said.

"I understand, thank you."

With that, a tender smile spread across his face again, he stepped in front of Lu Bei, patted the young fellow's shoulder.

"I'm just going home, don't make it sound like I'm heading somewhere really far."

"Remember to pick me up tomorrow morning at 8, take me for a stroll in City of Dawn."

"Yes!" Lu Bei saluted excitedly like a soldier, but this time he wasn't as nervous as before.

Chu Guang waved his hand, indicating no need to wait here, then faded into the crowd on the plaza, heading back to where everything first began...

...

Leaving the players attempting to "bug stuck" on their butt in the elevator, Chu Guang instructed Xiao Qi to send them back to Level B1, then he alone stepped into the long-sealed Level B5.

The elevator doors faced a wide circular space.

The layout here was very similar to Levels B2 and B3, the only difference being the absence of living quarters and the hundreds or thousands of single dormitories surrounding the circular corridors.

This place is somewhat like the citizen reception hall of the Alliance Building, presumably the administrative functional area of Shelter No. 404.

Not only that.

Unlike the pristine appearance of other floors when first opened, the alloy floor here was covered with a thick layer of dust, even the softest shoe soles couldn't avoid making a creaking sound when stepping on it.

It was evident no one had visited here for a very long time, to the extent there was no need for cleaning.

Chu Guang stood in place, glanced at the surroundings, then stepped towards the corridor directly facing the elevator.

On Levels B2 and B3, this corridor connects to the warehouse area.

But here it was different, what should be here is the Manager's Office.

Chu Guang placed his hand on the door handle, quickly passed the iris and facial recognition verification.

Accompanied by a light "click," the alloy door sealed for two centuries finally lifted its seal, revealing an inconspicuous corner of those unknown years.

And just as the door opened, a deep and distant voice passed through at the same time, like distant wind chimes blowing towards him.

"You've come."

Chu Guang raised his eyebrows.

"Are you saying I shouldn't have come?"

Hearing this atmosphere-lightening joke, a dry laugh drifted from ahead.

"Hahaha... that's not the case."

In the banter exchange, Chu Guang glanced at the room in front.

It was a circular room.

The furnishings inside were simple, almost crude—only a wide curved screen and a chair facing directly toward the screen.

The chair seemed to be occupied by someone.

Yet the person was sitting with their back to Chu Guang, rendering the face indistinct, and it was uncertain whether the person was still alive.

The hoarse, low voice came floating from the curved screen directly opposite.

"I've waited for you for a long time."

A pair of eyes looked at him from an unknown place, as if gazing at a child, or staring at oneself in a mirror.

Chu Guang once experienced a familiar sensation during a conversation with the Observer.

Only that, intriguingly, he read something completely different from the two glances.

Gazing at the screen flickering with fluorescence, Chu Guang asked in a calm voice.

"Are you the 'Professor'?"

Against his expectations, the voice made no attempts to conceal its identity and admitted quite casually.

"Yes, I didn't think I'd hear that name again after so many years... Actually, I didn't originally have this name. It just became a term people used frequently over time, and gradually, it became my name."

Chu Guang could detect a trace of nostalgia in that voice, akin to lamenting the passage of time.

He could understand this sentiment.

Though he had only just begun to understand it.

"I often hear people say you created the Prosperity Epoch."

The curved screen hanging on the wall displayed a blurry figure.

He couldn't discern the person's face, but imagined it might be quite handsome, albeit not quite as good as his own.

The person looked at him, nodding first and then slightly shaking his head, speaking in a profound tone.

"That's not exactly accurate. At most, I'm a spark plug. The real combustion comes from the gasoline in the tank. Even without me, the people of this world would ultimately usher in their own Prosperity Epoch—my presence only brought forward that day... Of course, that's another world's story."

Chu Guang raised his eyebrows slightly.

Indeed—

It was just as he had speculated!

This fellow, who had been respectfully addressed as Professor by the three doctors of principle, method, and conclusion, had long since touched upon the secrets of the void, and that was the prerequisite for his mass-scale use of "Morphogenesis Field" technology.

"You're aware of the things from another world?" Chu Guang asked knowingly.

"Of course," the figure in the screen seemed to chuckle lightly and continued in a warm tone, "You already know the answer, don't you? The soap bubble theory... I bet you've met the Observer. I'm curious if it mentioned anything about the 'Heart of the Galaxy' to you."

Chu Guang shook his head.

"It didn't mention anything about the Heart of the Galaxy, it only spoke of Celestial Warehouse Five… speaking of which, what is that thing?"

Seemingly recalling distant memories again, the silhouette floating in the void trembled slightly, and after a long while, it offered a vague answer.

"It's nothing, just one way to become a Breaker. If that snooping guy didn't mention it, either it's absent in this universe, or the time hasn't come yet... you don't need to worry."

No need to worry, huh.

How could anyone not care?!

Suppressing his curiosity, Chu Guang steadied himself and continued.

"In my impression, the Observer mentioned you... although it didn't explicitly say who you were, intuition tells me you're the one."

The figure on the screen suddenly seemed interested and asked curiously.

"Really? What did it say?"

Recalling the conversation from that day, Chu Guang slowly spoke.

"It said part of the reason this world became what it is, is because of you."

Apparently unsatisfied with this evaluation, the blurry silhouette let out a laugh, mocking in response.

"That fellow certainly didn't tell you its perspective on causality is similar to a butterfly flapping its wings and a hurricane in the Pacific Ocean. There might indeed be some relation between the two, but definitely not a direct one... there might be an entire Pacific Ocean in between."

"What it meant is the Wasteland Era is the ultimate fate of the Prosperity Epoch, so I, who laid the foundations for the Prosperity Epoch, can't escape responsibility. But don't you think this logic is quite strange? Would you blame someone's parents for bringing them into the world just because they lived a full life and died naturally?"

"That does sound a bit forced." Chu Guang nodded, glancing at him somewhat curiously, "You two seem to be quite familiar?"

"I suppose so."

The person on the screen seemed to fall into reminiscence, slowly speaking after a long pause.

"Long, long ago... it gave me a 'System'."

Chu Guang remarked with a strange expression.

"System? Like the shelter system you gave me?"

The Professor standing in the screen shook his head.

"No, completely different things. What I gave you is at most a beginner's guide, whereas what it gave me was an actual 'System' capable of enhancing mental capability and inspiring me when my research hit a bottleneck."

Chu Guang: "Sounds impressive."

"It is quite impressive, but... truly, it's just that. The Observer isn't all-knowing, all-powerful. The information it can convey to us is limited to what we know or are about to discover. Even when I no longer needed it, besides getting flustered, it was helpless."

The Professor chuckled gently, continuing in a warm tone, "It's similar to the beginner's guide I gave you. Once you familiarize yourself with the shelter's operational procedures, you won't need its guidance anymore. Without the restrictions defined by that thing, you might do even better."

"It's the same for me. Initially, I relied on the system's guidance. But as my research progressed, I needed its help less and less, until eventually, it was no longer me who needed it, but it who needed me."

Which is to say, this Professor once conducted extensive research with the assistance of the Observer.

However, due to a disagreement between them regarding a particular matter, the cooperation ceased.

This disagreement likely occurred in the early Prosperity Epoch, possibly even before entering the Prosperity Epoch.

Chu Guang tried analyzing it from a motivational perspective.

The Observer clearly hoped human civilization would play a certain role in the distant future, thus accelerating humanity's civilization progress at the expense of human potential.

However, its interference was limited.

Not surprisingly, it didn't wish humanity to advance too quickly—just a little faster, ideally stepping into the Star Sea at the perfect moment.

However, perhaps due to the interference of the Indescribable Mist, perhaps due to humanity's rebellion, curiosity, and greed for the material world, its plan encountered variations, resulting in the marble meant to run on a predetermined path veering off track.

At least, its deduction results shifted in this universe or worldline.

The revered "Professor," in a crucial matter, didn't follow the system's guidance to brake but instead firmly slammed the accelerator to the ground.

An infinitely prosperous epoch was born.

United Human realized an infinite prosperous Utopia using only resources from a single Star System.

However, correspondingly, this gravity-defying "carnival" laid the foundation for paradise's collapse.

The Observer long predicted this universe's conclusion decades of millennia after human civilization entered the Prosperity Epoch.

This was also why it ultimately abandoned this universe.

As for the later "delicious" and "didn't expect you still survive," those are distant tales.

It indeed didn't expect humanity, fallen from heaven to abyss, to stand back up, nor did it expect the Morphogenesis Field to be used this way, or for a young civilization more cohesive than United Human to emerge from the ruins.

The Professor was right.

The Observer sure isn't omnipotent.

If it could predict everything, it wouldn't be led around by the Indescribable Mist like a dog nor would it need to snoop around.

Chu Guang nodded thoughtfully, tentatively continuing to ask.

"The Observer mentioned to me it anticipated you becoming a 'Breaker,' yet you seem—"

"There's no need to guess."

The Professor on the screen interrupted his probing, affirming with a complex tone.

"I don't know what choice you'll make, but I... did give up back then."