Rhine Lab Sciences does not have a large staff, and most of those present are students of the lead researchers. Since the company’s headquarters is based in Trimount, the majority of its employees are either current students or graduates of Trimount University.

Kristen and Saria both graduated from Trimount Polytechnic Institute. Muelsyse had once been their student, and it was Yara who recommended her to Rhine Lab Sciences. She currently serves as an ecological observer, focusing on the relationship between plant ecology and the land beneath our feet.

She herself is an elf—a race that has nearly vanished in modern times. This extinction is largely due to their inability to adapt to the harsh environmental changes and the harmful effects of Originium. As for what Muelsyse aims to study, Felix didn’t even need to look at her records to know. Her research must be centered around creating an environment where elves can once again live in peace.

He met the final senior executive—and researcher—of the company in the conference room: Ahrens Parvis. He had only recently joined Rhine Lab. An elderly Leithanian gentleman, Ahrens had the air of a learned mentor, with a scholarly appearance, glasses perched on his nose, and eyes that gleamed with wisdom.

His research focuses primarily on the structure and morphology of biological base particles that form Terra’s organisms, and how structural variations affect their fundamental functions. It wasn’t quite aligned with Felix’s specialty of “mechanical dynamics,” but as future colleagues, the two still engaged in meaningful conversation.

To put it in modern terms, Ahrens is a biologist. He has been active in the field for nearly forty years. His areas of study also include the human body’s adaptability to Originium, the tolerance levels of the infected, and the extent of damage mineral diseases inflict on the human body.

“Well, I ordered pizza,” Kristen said cheerfully, setting down her phone. She glanced over at Felix, who was in deep discussion with Ahrens and Muelsyse about the principles of mechanical kinetic energy. Both were listening intently, thoughtful expressions on their faces. Saria stood nearby, her expression calm as always.

As for Yara, she was currently away—acting as Rhine Lab’s representative in negotiations with several venture companies over equity discussions. By tomorrow evening, Felix would officially become one of Rhine Lab’s shareholders.

“That’s wonderful, Saria,” Kristen said warmly.

“Everything at Rhine Lab is gradually falling into place. Our dream is no longer far off.” As she spoke, her eyes reflected the starlight from the far side of the sky, though she wasn’t looking upward. Her gaze remained on the three people nearby, filled with gentleness and warmth.

Saria remained silent. The current Kristen reminded her of the early days—when Kristen had first shared her dream with her. With boundless vision for the future and a heart full of love for science, Kristen would often glance at the sky from the corner of her eye. But more and more, she now turned her attention back to Earth, chatting and laughing with Saria and the others.

That’s really wonderful, Saria thought with a faint smile. All she could do was stand beside Kristen—shielding her from harm, always.

When the pizza arrived, Felix was in the middle of disassembling his mechanical power leg for Ahrens and Muelsyse. As a mechanic, breaking down a fully assembled mechanical limb into a pile of components—and then recombining them into a piece of mechanical chest armor—was second nature. The theories he shared were mostly drawn from books. After all, as a player, one didn’t need to truly understand a profession manual. The existence of the progress bar meant players didn’t have to read through dense texts like they would in real life.

As Felix glanced over at the boxes of pizza laid out on the table, he noticed one topped with pineapple. A tropical pizza. Hm, it seemed the tradition from Siracusa had made its way here.

Music began playing—melancholic melodies from Leithania. This was clearly Kristen’s taste. The playlist seemed to be a recent blues compilation from Leithania, carrying with it the charm of a bygone era.

Young people often gather for fleeting moments drawn by mutual affinity, and over time, they come to truly know one another. Regardless of what lies ahead, there is always some sincerity in the act of meeting.

It’s inevitable. But who can say what the future will bring?

Felix sipped a low-alcohol drink and stood by the window, watching the four of them laugh and talk in the small conference room.

In his mind, Rhine Lab had always been cold, vast, and impersonal. The researchers wore white lab coats and walked briskly through the corridors, resembling nine-to-five office workers more than scientists. That’s the Rhine Lab of the future—inevitable and irreversible. The company will grow, researchers will multiply, and everything will fall into place. But will the hearts of its people still remain as they were in the beginning?

Felix wasn’t sure. But with his presence, the future of Rhine Lab might not follow that path. Look around more, Kristen, he thought. You’ll find that you are not alone.

“If you need any equipment or materials, just let me know. Rhine Lab will handle it for you,” Kristen said, approaching him. The two clinked their glasses before she downed her drink in one gulp. “If there’s a chance, Felix, I’d like to recommend you to my advisor.”

“My mentor specializes in high-energy physics. I think it overlaps somewhat with mechanical dynamics. If you’re interested, you could pursue a doctorate at Trimount Polytechnic University.”

Kristen smiled and suggested, “Getting a PhD will open many doors. Although it may sound ironic, what you said earlier was true—without a doctorate, it’s incredibly difficult to survive in Columbia’s scientific community.”

“I’ll think about it, Kristen,” Felix replied with a smile. He wasn’t even sure if “physicist” existed as a sub-class. After all, when he time-traveled in his previous life, the game was still in operation. By the time he crossed over, players had already uncovered hundreds of sub-professions. And that list kept growing—five or six new ones were added to the strategy websites every quarter as more discoveries were made.

It wouldn’t be surprising if no one had yet found the physicist sub-class. After all, while some players would enroll in Victoria’s Military Academy for its gameplay experience, no one in their right mind would choose to attend Columbia University to study science. This is a game, not a classroom. Who wants to study while playing a game? That was the common sentiment among players.

Felix wasn’t sure whether pursuing further studies at Trimount Polytechnic University would be a blessing or a burden. What he lacked most now was time—and wouldn’t a doctorate consume nearly all of it? Yet Kristen’s point stood: the identity of a PhD holder could open shortcuts across many paths.

Not far away, Muelsyse and Saria held hands and danced an ancient waltz, while Ahrens clapped his hands cheerfully in rhythm.

“Kristen, may I have this dance?”

Felix extended his hand toward the 23-year-old Kristen. His height wasn’t far off from hers. At a glance, one might mistake Felix for a university student—he looked that young. The five-year age difference between them barely showed.

It was the prime of life.

Kristen smiled and placed her hand in his. Felix bowed politely and kissed the back of her hand like a true gentleman. If he were still a player, a system warning would probably have popped up by now. But it seemed that life was more comfortable as an NPC.

“Do you want to fly into the sky? Like your parents?”

The music gradually shifted into a passionate tango. Now, Ahrens had taken over as Saria’s dance partner, while Muelsyse stepped aside to get some water, watching Kristen and Felix swaying under the lights with curious delight.

“You seem to know everything,” Kristen said with a smile.

“Of course. You’ve got to do your homework before coming here, right?” Felix led her a step forward. “Kristen, do you know what my goal once was?”

“What was it?”

“I wanted to build a large mobile city—by my own hands. A place where science, democracy, and art could flourish. Even the Infected could live like ordinary people. And through research, we could find a cure for Oripathy.” Felix spoke softly. “It was just the doubt—and a little rebellion—buried in the heart of a Sankta who once walked this earth.”

He spun Kristen lightly. She wasn’t much for physical activity—after all, she was a researcher. After just a few moves, her face flushed, and sweat began to bead on her forehead.

Felix wasn’t a skilled dancer either—he was, frankly, a complete novice. Kristen was no better. Their clumsy, uneven steps earned chuckles from Muelsyse.

“My thinking changed after I came to Columbia and read the Wright family’s files. When can we build a city in the sky?” he asked. “At the very least, it would bring us one step closer to the heavens.”

Kristen’s eyes shimmered with a strange light. The corners of her lips curled upward. “That’s a beautiful goal. I hope you succeed.”

“No,” Felix said. “I hope we succeed.”

As the music faded, Felix adjusted his tie and extended a hand to Saria.

The welcome party had, by then, completely transformed into a dance party. Yet none of them really knew how to dance. They simply paired off and moved with the music, however awkwardly.

When Felix took Saria’s hand, he felt a powerful sense of security. Ah, he thought, so this is the kind of reassurance the Rhine’s Queen of Fighters brings.

Muelsyse’s hands, by contrast, felt smooth and pure—like the still clarity of water.

Ahrens… ahem. Dancing with an old goat was out of the question.

After a night’s rest at the hotel, Felix and Yara attended the Rhine Lab board meeting the following day. In addition to Kristen, the founder of Rhine Lab, the meeting was attended by representatives of the Columbian military, members of the Maylander Foundation, and delegates from various venture capital firms.

The business negotiations had already been concluded. Today’s agenda was purely procedural—a formal handover. Felix hadn’t touched the original 55% stake in Rhine Lab. Of the remaining 35%, the military and the foundation each held 20%, and Felix had acquired 15% from dozens of venture capital firms. From that moment on, the power behind that 15% was concentrated in the hands of one man.

As for the discontent among the venture capital companies? There was none. Felix hadn’t used any underhanded tactics. The influence those firms once wielded was cleanly converted into Colombian currency. Whether some of them were unwilling to sell was no longer relevant—Yara was easy to negotiate with, and money was never an issue.

The challenge was in keeping the money. Only the money you spend can create more.

After the meeting, a representative of the military approached Felix for a conversation. Their tone was friendly, but their eyes carried a mixture of curiosity and caution. They were clearly interested in Felix’s background and wary of the powers behind him.

“I’m not an executor from the Laterano Notarial Office, nor am I a senior official of the Vatican,” Felix said, extending a hand cordially. The military representative shook it. “I simply believe in the future of Rhine Lab—and in the future of Columbia. Your open-mindedness is what attracts investors like myself.”

“Columbia welcomes young people like you—capable and well-capitalized,” the representative responded.

Felix wore a pleasant expression throughout. Naturally, the military wouldn’t antagonize someone so cooperative. Besides, in their eyes, Rhine Lab was merely a small tech company. One extra stakeholder didn’t change much. In recent years, many wealthy individuals from Victoria had chosen to invest in Columbia—Felix was just another name on that growing list.

The military’s stance reflected Columbia’s official attitude. Rhine Lab was, at its core, still a Columbian enterprise.

There wasn’t even time to part ways with the military rep before a new figure stepped forward—the representative of the Maylander Foundation.

“The Maylander Foundation sponsors scientific awards, hosts academic conferences, and organizes public lectures. It’s had a long-standing presence in the scientific community…” Yara stood quietly behind Felix, her demeanor now more like that of a personal secretary, offering a soft-spoken explanation of the Foundation’s background.

Felix gave a slight nod. Truthfully, he only had a superficial understanding of the Maylander Foundation. In his past life, while he was busy forging iron in Rhine Lab, he had speculated that the Maylander Foundation might serve as a white glove for the Columbian government. Publicly, they maintained a neutral and nearly invisible stance—but behind the scenes, they wielded quiet influence in the scientific world. Many renowned scientists owed them favors. It was a force backed by Columbia’s state apparatus.

Everything above was merely Felix’s speculation. Still, he shook hands warmly with the representative from the Maylander Foundation, both of them smiling like old friends reunited.

Yara’s lips twitched subtly as she watched the scene. She glanced over at Kristen, who was seated beside her, clearly on the verge of yawning herself to sleep… Despite being older than the other two, Kristen still had much to learn when it came to handling affairs like these. Felix had become a shareholder of Rhine Lab at such a young age—where exactly had he acquired so much capital? Yara wasn’t thinking with suspicion, only sighing inwardly at how Felix’s youth and success were clearly no coincidence.

“I heard you’re considering enrolling at Trimount Polytechnic University. If there’s anything the Maylander Foundation can assist you with, Mr. Felix, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

“Thank you. If I do need anything, I’ll be sure to reach out.”

Felix chuckled. Good memory—Kristen had only mentioned that in passing, but the representative had remembered. It truly showed how deeply the Maylander Foundation had embedded itself into Colombia’s scientific community.

Once the dull formalities of the handover ceremony were finally complete and the three other parties had been seen off, Kristen turned to Felix, extending a hand.

“Come, let me take you to see your office.”

Felix accepted with pleasure. He now held an additional identity. He considered himself lucky—if he had arrived even a few years later, this opportunity would’ve long since passed him by.

In her younger days, Kristen did possess a charming, girlish heart—but her eyes were always on the skies above.

Yet she should have her feet on the ground.

A lone walker?

Felix had always walked his path alone.

But when lone walkers begin walking side by side with other lone walkers—can they still be called lone?

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep