"Oh, right, Ms. Makise, you can read English," Hashida Itaru said with a smile.
Now, even images could be translated.
"Excellent work, Assistant!" Okabe Rintaro couldn't help but exclaim, "Your trip to America was all for this very moment!"
"As if," Makise Kurisu retorted casually, then continued translating, "…in other words, to create a utopia encompassing the past to the future."
"This will become SERN's raison d'être for the 21st century."
Okabe Rintaro quickly caught the keywords:
"Utopia? Dystopia!"
"No way, skip the preface, let me see the main text," Makise Kurisu said.
"Though you say that…" Hashida Itaru muttered softly.
He had no idea where the preface ended and the main text began.
"…Since this experiment is classified, no, that's not it."
"…For programmers, no, that's not it either."
"Found it. project z is to conduct space-time migration experiments by utilizing high-energy proton collisions…"
Makise Kurisu froze.
"Space-time… migration…?"
"Isn't this Time Travel?!" Okabe Rintaro, on the other hand, was incredibly excited.
"Nonsense!" Makise Kurisu instinctively retorted.
"Not nonsense. As expected, SERN started researching Time Travel forty years ago!" Okabe Rintaro joyfully clenched his fist with great force.
Makise Kurisu raised her hand to quiet him, still saying incredulously:
"Wait, it's too early to draw conclusions."
She leaned closer to the screen and continued translating.
"Phase One of the plan: Construction and practical application of the Large Hadron Collider."
"Phase Two of the plan: Practical application and adjustment of the lifter…"
"Lifter? What's that?" Okabe Rintaro began to display the limits of his knowledge.
Hashida Itaru casually replied, "Didn't that thing called an 'ion lifter' become somewhat popular for a while?"
As he spoke, Hashida Itaru clicked open 'MEW Tube' and started a video.
In the video, a white-lined triangle hovered in mid-air.
"It's floating?" Okabe Rintaro was astonished.
Makise Kurisu explained the basic principle:
"It seems that applying high voltage to aluminum causes this phenomenon."
"Does this have anything to do with the Time Machine?" Okabe Rintaro didn't really want to show his ignorance.
But he truly knew nothing about it.
"I don't know, but that's what it says here," Makise Kurisu shook her head, "meaning, it utilizes the power of black holes and lifters."
"And then?" Okabe Rintaro pressed.
"Phase Three of the plan: Animal experiments," Makise Kurisu continued to translate:
"Phase Four of the plan—"
She abruptly stopped speaking, covering her mouth with her hand.
"What is it?!"
"…" Makise Kurisu's eyes flickered, and she said softly:
"Human experimentation."
All three of their pupils wavered in unison.
"…Experiment subject deceased, matching failed," Okabe Rintaro murmured the report he had seen earlier.
Makise Kurisu: "What?"
"Part of the email that appeared when the intrusion was successful," Okabe Rintaro replied, "It seems to also say…"
"For details, please refer to the 'Jellyman Report,'" Hashida Itaru said.
"In the third episode, I wanted to ask, why are people so agitated about a death?"
"Here we go again. Haven't we already explained it? Whether someone dies or not is one thing; human experimentation is another. This violates moral bottom lines, and anyone would be shaken by it."
"Okabe… no, Mr. Hououin's level of knowledge is completely exposed at this moment."
"Makise Kurisu is a genius girl who studied Science, Hashida Itaru is a super hacker who infiltrated SERN, and Okabe Rintaro is a chunibyo who calls himself a mad scientist."
"Lol."
"Someone has to ask, otherwise, how would these concepts be explained to you? It's just that Brooch took on this role, there's nothing to say about it."
"You're right, but this is Okabe, this is Mr. Hououin."
"Why are your changes of address so stiff?"
"Who told him to say it himself? From now on, should we call him Mr. Hououin, or Brooch?"
"Why is it Brooch and not Kyouma?"
"Because this is steins;gate's (input method's) choice."
"Assistant, just accept it. The theme of the competition is Time, so even if you don't admit it, there are Time Machines."
"Three AM, two men and one woman, Australian hotline, passionate SERN."
"Your phrase is perfect for an uncle's clickbait ad."
"Uncle is dead! It's the aunt's era now!"
"Tonz! Can you look into this?" Okabe Rintaro said in a deep voice.
"I should be able to," Hashida Itaru hesitated a little, "but it's very dangerous, isn't it?"
Although he had no right to say anything now that they had already infiltrated, there was a huge difference between actually looking at important reports and just casually hacking in to peek at some data.
"If this is truly fact, it's a national-level top secret."
"Are you still scared now?" Makise Kurisu scoffed.
They had already infiltrated to this extent.
"Think about it, our opponent is SERN," Okabe Rintaro covered his mouth, adopting a thoughtful posture, "The report has also been hidden for over 40 years, a top-tier secret."
"So, you're not going to look at it?" Makise Kurisu smiled.
"…" Okabe Rintaro turned his head, glanced at her, and suddenly said, "You should go back first."
Makise Kurisu: "Eh?"
"If you know what happens next, you might be in danger."
"You're a genius with a promising future, aren't you?" he said.
"…" Makise Kurisu was stunned for a moment, "Are you… concerned about me?"
Okabe Rintaro turned his head back: "Isn't that obvious? You are…"
Although he had been resolute at first, halfway through, Okabe Rintaro inexplicably became hesitant.
As if ashamed to say it so straightforwardly, he turned his head back to the screen and mumbled, "…my Assistant!"
"Well, thank you very much," Makise Kurisu let out a sigh of relief, rejecting his concern, "But I won't go back, because if I do, I won't be able to sleep."
"You won't regret it, will you?" Okabe Rintaro raised an eyebrow.
"No," she said.
"What about you, Tonz?" he asked again.
Hashida Itaru withdrew his gaze from Makise Kurisu, grinned, and said with immense self-satisfaction:
"It's fine, I'm a super hacker. Just looking shouldn't leave any traces."
"I understand," Okabe Rintaro closed his eyes, and a moment later, abruptly opened them, saying in a deep voice, "Then, let's begin deciphering the Jellyman Report now."
"And! From now on, this operation will be named 'Rægjan's Box'!"