Twin Cities: Who says scientists can't be conquerors?

Chapter 2 In their eyes, I am the black box

Current order count: 1 (Orderer: PLA)

[Cumulative Duration: 78851 hours 09 minutes 12 seconds]

[Current order completion status:]

[Your "Chengying Tactical Mech Replica Plan (Zaun Type) 272nd Revision" has been uploaded and is currently undergoing simulation testing in the black box.]

[Currently, during the simulation test, there were 87 error reports, indicating an energy transmission problem...]

Should this proposal be submitted to the black box immediately for physical construction?

"no."

[Submission cancelled]

"Close the black box."

[Closing the black box, we look forward to your next use!]

Aaron silently exhaled a breath of stale air, his eyes sweeping over Jinx with a slightly apologetic look.

His tone was perhaps a bit harsh; the blue-haired girl's disappointment was quite evident.

"I'm sorry, I was just..."

"Tch, don't apologize! I know you're just emotional, I didn't... I didn't blame you."

Aaron was about to say a few words of comfort when Jinx rolled her eyes at him and snapped back.

This wasn't the first time something like this had happened, and even Jinx's muttered words hadn't changed.

Aaron, who was protected by the Shadow Armor when he landed, was the only person of Jinx's age by her side after she lost her adoptive father, Vander, and other relatives and friends.

They were quite compatible. Growing up together, they both received fatherly care from Hilko.

It's no exaggeration to say that Aaron was the cure for Jinx's inner void.

Now, Jinx can openly reveal her vulnerability to Aaron without any burden, tearing open her scabbed wounds and recounting the mistakes she made that she herself cannot forgive.

But what about Aaron?

Jinx had been waiting for him, willingly giving up her fantasy about the Shadowcraft and the so-called "order".

We've waited a full nine years.

In Jinx's view, the "orders" Aaron mentioned, just like the sight of Vi that she often saw, were all hallucinations caused by her inner trauma!

"Hmph, I've already come to terms with reality, how come you're still so stupid?"

Jinx pondered silently, and when she couldn't stand it any longer, she couldn't help but nudge Aaron with her elbow.

"Are you still angry?" Aaron asked tentatively in a low voice.

"No!"

"It's good that you're not angry... Hey, look! Do you see that pink balloon?"

"Where? Wow!! It's so beautiful!"

After crossing the Bridge of Progress, the bustling city of Piltover unfolds before you.

Aaron casually pointed, and Jinx immediately forgot her earlier unhappiness. Excitedly, she pulled Aaron closer to see the giant balloons that the Piltover people had prepared in advance for the celebration.

At least with Aaron, Jinx is easy to please.

Sometimes Aaron even felt guilty—because Jinx was completely open with him, while he had to keep some secrets from her.

For example, the "orderer" that Jinx still has a grudge against.

"The black box..."

Aaron silently pondered the word, then shook his head and strode off to catch up with Jinx, who had already rushed toward the balloon.

Before his journey, Aaron had been chatting with his colleagues and mentioned the interesting physics term "black box":

Specifically refers to systems or devices whose internal operating mechanisms cannot be explained by existing scientific theories, but which do exist in reality.

Simply put, it means "knowing what it is, but not why it is".

For example, if the operator of the black box wants a glass of water at 900°C, the black box will provide a glass of water at the exact temperature, perfectly meeting the operator's requirements.

As for where this water comes from, how is the water temperature precisely controlled, and how does it remain liquid at 900℃?

Then none of them can be observed.

Some have proposed that the black box would simply provide the finished product, which is utterly unreasonable.

At the time, Aaron thought it was just an interesting science fiction, but when he traveled to Runeterra, he suddenly realized that things were not so simple.

because……

He himself seemed to have become that so-called "black box"!

According to the system's explanation, Aaron's bizarre time travel seems to have opened up some special channel connecting his former world with Runeterra.

The connection point is his nameplate.

The so-called "orders" are actually some divergent ideas or aspirations of people from the world before they traveled through time.

Like that Shadow-Transforming Tactical Mech:

In his original world, it was just a science fiction fantasy.

However, when Aaron traveled through time, it briefly became a reality, and provided Aaron with the only order he had yet to fulfill—

Based on the mecha sample provided by the system, it is the "orderer" PLA that is replicating the Cheng Ying tactical mecha!

That's right.

The Chengying tactical mech that protected Aaron and helped him land safely was just a sample provided by the system.

Otherwise, its lifespan wouldn't be only two years.

"Thinking about it carefully, I'm actually quite looking forward to it."

"If I actually build the mech and deliver the order through the system, wouldn't my colleagues be shocked?"

"A giant mech suddenly appeared where I disappeared, and it even has a Chinese operating system! Hahaha..."

Aaron pondered to himself, a slight smile involuntarily creeping onto his lips.

After nine years in Runeterra, he has gradually come to accept the reality of being separated from his parents and friends forever.

Aside from Hilko, who sheltered him as he grew up again, and Jinx, with whom he healed his inner wounds, the faint connection to his hometown was one of the few things that could still stir his emotions.

Even to the people of the original world, Aaron was already "dead".

But when Aaron thought about how he could be seen as the "black box" in their eyes, using that nameplate as a bridge to "come back to life" for a little while, he couldn't help but...hehehe.

For others, the greatest value of the "black box" system probably lies in the fact that the system provides users with an incomplete sample every time an order is received.

You should know that the prototype mech back then was enough for Aaron to roam freely in Zaun.

He could have completely ignored the defects found in the simulation test, submitted the order early, accepted the next order, and obtained the next potentially more powerful sample.

But Aaron did not do that.

For him, some things were far more important than showing off his power.

He chose the most difficult path—

He diligently studied the knowledge of the new world and revised his plans time and time again, all in order to design a truly flawless Cheng Ying tactical mech.

Then, it plays the role of the "black box" and hands it over to the "orderer" who imagines the mecha.

After all, this is an order from the PLA!

Just like what he said when he was vague about Jinx:

Jinx doesn't believe such an organization exists, but he never doubts it.

Even if Aaron were to travel through time, he would still strive to be an "excellent black box" with ideals and beliefs for the homeland and people he could never see again!

Uh... although his "black box" is still quite rudimentary, he has spent nine years and still hasn't been able to replicate that mecha.

"Forget it, let's not think about these things in the future."

Aaron patted his cheeks to focus his attention.

He brought Jinx to Piltover because he heard that the "200th Anniversary of Progress Day" was coming soon.

Based on his recollection of the storyline, the Piltover people will showcase their latest research achievement—the Hextech Gem, which can provide a stable power source!

He had no intention of seizing or plundering; he simply wanted to witness the splendor of Hextech gems and gain new insights for his scientific research.

The only thing that needs extra attention is probably...

"Jinx, you...you stole someone else's balloon?!"

"How can you call it stealing? I just borrowed it to play with."