Four hundred years can be divided into roughly seven generations (i.e., 7 cycles of 60 years). That means a family from four hundred years ago would have a child, parent, grandparent, great-grandparent… This continues up to great-great-great grandparents.
Most mortal kingdoms in my past life last for 300 years at best. Yet in the Federation, so long as they cultivated properly, even those with low-grade spirit roots could reach Foundation Establishment Realm, living for up to 500 years. The lack of conflict and brutal struggles—all thanks to the Federation's regulation—allowed most to live out the natural ends of their lifespans. This trend shows signs of continuing as the years go by.
In other words, those coming from my time might already have seven generations down their family line, becoming the great-great-great grandparents. Yet the news of Welt Yang having a daughter made me think so much.
Before I knew it…
I am already an old fossil.
"Since when?" I curiously asked.
"A hundred years ago. They got married a year before that…"
Seele answered my question. A strange glimmer of light flickered in her eyes. Kiana sported the same look every now and then. So is it because of that? Welt Yang's daughter?
I…
I might have to reconsider my thoughts in that part.
"I'll go and meet them later. It won't be good if it causes relationship problems."
Seele and Veliona tacitly agreed to not bring up the topic about it, evident when they proceeded to talk about other interesting topics. Though I know better not to ignore it now that it is brought up in front of me.
"Let's talk about it later… with others. You know… having a child."
The visible jolt on their shoulders was evident. They did not dodge my gaze, meeting it with a hint of guilt and gratitude.
"...We're sorry to have you put up with this."
Veliona's words caught me off guard. A conflicted look appeared on her face.
"Don't worry about it. Haven't we entered this relationship on the basis of mutual trust? We can't just ignore the other side… at least for me."
Before I knew it, I was already greeted with a double hug…
*****
The universe perceived the Solar System exactly as it was before. The impenetrable imaginary barrier remained steadfast despite the erosion from other Aeons' gazes. So long as they do not make any direct moves, nobody else could penetrate it… not even Emanators highly regarded by their Aeons.
Many organizations in the cosmos kept close watch over it, intending to find more about this 'mysterious' world that elicited several Aeons' gazes. Something that was comparable in scale to Nous'four instants—the events foretelling the two wars caused by the Anti-Organic Equation as well as Irontomb's eventual appearance in an attempt to push Erudition towards the path of Destruction.
Unsurprisingly, Herta did not stop digging for answers. Four years passed by with her main projects suspended in favor of investigating the peculiarities surrounding the solar system… and the special system it brought.
Immortal cultivation.
"Hm. To overlook something like this in the past four years…"
Her eyes narrowed as she stared at one of the data flashed by her mirrors. Its reflective screen turned into a projector. Wavelengths of varying colors and intervals overlapped with each other.
A nostalgic look flashed in her eyes. The Solitary Waves Theory was one of the things she discovered back in her childhood, leading to her recruitment as a member of the Genius Society. It tackles the question of whether the universe's future is predetermined or not. It led to the discovery of a constant wavelength symbolizing the universe's future.
As long as it remains within the stable levels, the universe heads toward the 'predetermined' future. Otherwise, it leads into an unknown future. Things are much more complicated than that, as it was something found to be one of Nous' extrapolations (i.e., doings). Its purpose goes far beyond what was seen on the surface.
"Four years ago…"
Nothing beyond the norm appeared within the dataset from the past three years. Interestingly enough, Herta found an anomaly from four years ago. It wasn't anything huge, but it exists.
A constant that once triggered a Knowledge Singularity for a split second.
It is akin to a nuclear bomb exploding, just that nothing seems to have changed. It is this quiet change that took Herta's interest, which led to her investigation up to now. She badly wanted to know what could alter the entire universe with this level of silence!
Four years of hard work bore fruit as she modified her mirror to unveil the truths hidden underneath this distortion.
Just then, Herta noticed something. Her surroundings turned eerily quiet. Lights flickered on and off as the room grew dimmer.
Hum-!
The surface of a virtual screen not far away gave away strange distortions… as a hand reached out from it. A silver scalpel gave a brief sheen before it left the hands of its wielder.
Herta moved slightly, her hat quivering as the blade nearly grazed her cheek. She herself seemed unfazed by the "greeting".
"Your presence validates everything. I suppose I ought to give my thanks to you, Lord of Silence."
A woman walked out from the virtual projection. Her face was covered with a virtual mesh from all angles. Her mature body, wearing something reminiscent of a female company CEO's uniform, left many things to the imagination. However, such is also the person infamous throughout the cosmos.
The Lord of Silence, Polka Kakamond, appears at the emergence of Knowledge Singularities. She holds the blood of fellow geniuses on her hands.
"Was it something that involved you? Or perhaps a singularity that you tacitly approved, whether it is a compromise or a wholehearted support?"
"You have too many questions. Not every question bids you good, doesn't it?"
"Then, have you had these questions yourself?"
Herta's counter-question made her pause for a while… before a 'smile' appeared on her face. The virtual mesh makes it impossible to see through her real face, but Herta still felt that 'smile'.
"I am leaving the choice to you. The consequences… you would never shy away from it, I believe."
True to her nature, Polka Kakamond drifted away like a ghost. One blink and she was gone; the room returning back to normal.
"Now…"
Herta looked at the mirror once again.
"...it is time to unfold the gift wrapper."