Joyce froze, looking at John. For a moment, she didn't know how to answer.
John's tone wasn't one of doubt, but of seeking confirmation. He already had a rough answer in his heart, but he still clung to a sliver of hope, hoping to hear the answer he truly wanted.
Should I tell them they succeeded? They did succeed… Given enough time, the cluster computer, running at full capacity, would find the answer within the pre-screened samples.
But time was precisely what they lacked… Whether the cluster computer in the real world was still functioning, whether it had preserved the sample range, those were still unknowns.
The sudden eruption of the Honkai had made the outcome of this gamble, one that had cost countless lives, uncertain. The chances of their success were slim.
Joyce sighed. "I don't know if it succeeded… A disaster called Honkai erupted in the outside world. It's unprecedented, and I've only just scratched the surface of understanding it…"
John lowered his gaze. He didn't ask what the Honkai was, even though he knew that if he did, Joyce would tell him everything she knew.
But what was the point of knowing? Over the years, he had come to understand the limits of his own abilities.
He knew he had difficulty even comprehending new concepts, let alone tackling them. He was trapped in this remote corner of consciousness, and his physical body in the real world would likely be in eternal slumber due to the experiment's failure…
It was pointless… better not to waste time…
Except… except…
He was unwilling to give up…
So many years of effort, all for naught because of this "Honkai"? The results they had staked their lives on, about to be within their grasp, now slipping away?
He was unwilling! Truly unwilling!
Life had three stages: childhood, to understand the world; youth, to change the world; and old age, to accept the world…
When he chose to come to Siberia, he had truly felt like his younger self again. He had thought he could change the world once more…
John clutched his chest, then suddenly let out a laugh, both bitter and relieved.
Bitter because of his unwillingness, relieved because he was still capable of feeling unwilling…
He had thought that unwillingness was a privilege of the young.
He sighed deeply, looking up and down the long corridor.
"Lady Joyce… you're here for Sirin, right?" he asked. Joyce nodded.
"This is Sirin's inner world, the most direct manifestation of her heart…" Joyce said, also looking at the room at the end of the hallway.
"I need to find her, help her overcome her predicament. This is very important for us, for our entire civilization."
John paused, looking at Joyce intently. "Sirin… has she done something?"
"A terrifying existence has been born within her. Some call it a 'Herrscher.' Now, Sirin's choices and mentality will determine whether we can take the final step and eliminate the Herrscher."
Though John didn't understand what a Herrscher was, he understood that it was likely deeply connected to Sirin.
"I see…" John sighed, stepping aside to clear the path to Sirin's room.
From the beginning, John had been standing in front of Joyce. Though Joyce could have easily bypassed him, and John certainly couldn't stop her, it represented John's attitude, and Joyce's respect.
It proved that Joyce respected John and wasn't taking an extreme approach to resolving Sirin's issue.
"Mr. Joyce…" But as Joyce passed by him, John spoke again. "If there's no other way, I have one last request… will you grant it?"
Joyce paused, then turned to look at John seriously.
"Tell me. I promise you, in the name of Welt Joyce."
To make a promise before hearing the request was the highest form of respect. And John deserved such treatment. He had done what Joyce couldn't, what she hadn't done.
"If the situation becomes irreversible, I want you to tell Sirin…"
Listening to John's gentle words, Joyce froze slightly, then smiled.
"No matter what, I will relay your message to Sirin."
John nodded, watching Joyce turn and walk into the darkness. He remained standing there, the furthest he could go.
A hand patted John's shoulder from behind.
"Didn't you say you always wanted his acknowledgment? Why didn't you ask for it, with such a good opportunity?" Henry asked, a hint of regret in his voice.
John smiled. "We both know whether he acknowledges me or not… he used the name 'Welt' when he made that promise…"
"Hmph, you're thinking about yourself. What about me?" Henry grumbled, slapping John's back, not worried about hurting his old friend.
"Hahaha…" John was stunned for a moment, then, as if discovering a new world, he doubled over with laughter. "I can't believe it, you were waiting for his acknowledgment too?"
"If that's the case, why didn't you come out just now?" John raised his cane and poked Henry's foot, smiling.
Henry just snorted and turned his head away like a petulant child.
"You think I care? If I cared about that, I wouldn't have done this in the first place. Even earlier, I could have chosen a different path instead of becoming a doctor. If I had become a researcher too, maybe you'd be the one fetching tea for me."
"Hey, you quack…" John's eyes widened, and he slung an arm around Henry's neck, pulling the taller man down to his level. "Apologize to all the scientists and researchers in the world, and to my hair that you killed with your medical malpractice!"
"Your hair has nothing to do with me!" Henry felt deeply wronged, immediately retaliating by pressing a hand on John's head.
The two old men started bickering and jostling in the hallway, not acting their age at all.
Just like they used to be…
Ambitious young men who met in Future City, finally reaching the destination of their long journey after so many years of wandering.
["Hello, my name is John Rabe, and I'm about to become someone the world will remember."
"I'm Henry Norman Bethune. I think I should examine your brain first."]