AE VN Chapter 2

Imperial Institute.

The poor and sad young man who got “kicked out” by a violent redhead, aimlessly wondered in this college who had almost 70 years of history.

Tesla: “Ok, now hurry up and get used to the places around here!”
Tesla: “Don’t come back before noon.”

Not sure why, they’re all people who belongs to Schicksal, but being treated violently by this girl, doesn’t feel as bad.

Welt: “Ooo… What am I think right now.”

The Imperial Institute.
Inside this organization, with many small housings similar to Lab 42, contrasted with many who paints running dry, towers who speak their age and wisdom.
Not too far away, the Queen’s tower with it’s iconic green dome covered in dust and rain, as if mocking the miserable air in a rare sunny day.

Used to those dustless, clean and modern high level research institutes, something old like this calmed the young man named Welt.
Even though he does not have the absolute freedom, but at least this “all mighty all known” organization has finally given him a break.
Probably.
It’s getting into the autumn, the sunlight is no longer sufficient to warm up the cold air that swept across the street.
Leaning against the stone pillars on the side of the road, Welt clapped his own face.
Try to think of something more positive.
Deep breath—
……
— The world is a beautiful place.

The northern side of the institute is covered by a vast greenland, the famous Hyde and Kensington parks — But those 2 genius young girls most likely don’t have any interest in those.
For those elites who are locked in the ivory tower, the most common thing for them to relax is to close their eyes and lie down in park.
So uncreative, Einstein might be fine but Tesla will definitely find this boring.

I should take them to some place more fun.
There should be a lot of amusing places in London — Welt thought like this, and took his toll to the library for some better luck.
— He wouldn’t know, in the near future, this world will have something much more convenient known as the internet.



Librarian: “Hello”

The Liberian, a seemingly frivolous male who wore strip patterned shirt with glasses that had a golden frame.
The blonde male who seemed roughly 30, adapted a weird accent to start this conversation.

Librarian: “Muster, would jou like to burrow a pook.”
Welt: “Ehh…… Umm…… Ok……”

Welt feels like he won’t be able to deal with this strange fellow.

Welt: “Are there any books regarding travelling or sightseeing?”
Librarian: “Travel?”
Welt: “emm…… Those that describes where it is fun to play around in London.”
Librarian: “…… I don’t seem to recall anything similar.”

The golden framed glasses waved his hand out of pity.

Librarian: “Maybe you want to take a direct look in the archives?”
Librarian: “My humblest apologies but we really don’t have something similar to the yellow pages.”
Librarian: “A better way to say this, out of our “hunting range”.”

The golden framed glasses had an expression of trying to laugh but holding it back with all he can, for a moment Welt thought he was the weird one.

Welt: “That’s ok, I never had much expectations in the first place.”
Welt: “Would you direct me the way to the archives?”
Librarian: “Ummm…”
Librarian: “It might be hard for you to understand if I say this straight…”
Librarian: “Just follow me.”
Welt: “Ok, sorry for this inconvenience.”

This guy seems phony, but still a nice person regardless.

Librarian: “Wait a minute.”

The golden framed glasses was about to lead the way, but seemingly remembered something and came to a sudden stop.

Librarian: “Do you have a Library card?”
Welt: “…….AH!”
Librarian: “What’s wrong?”
Welt: “Ummm…”
Welt: “Sorry, but I don’t have one.”
Librarian: “Oh? this might complicate things.”
Welt: “…… I’m the new assistant for Lab 42… Therefore…”
Librarian: “What? Lab 42?”
Welt: “Ummmm, yes?”

Welt doesn’t understand why the golden framed glasses suddenly got so serious.

Librarian: “I see I see, is the old man Dr Einstein well?”
Welt: “Ol… Old?”
Welt: “What are you talking about! How can the professor be an old man!”

The term “old” has almost made Welt’s jaw drop.

Librarian: “Ahahaha…… Sorry about that, recently here has been flooded with frauds, we were asked to keep our guards up.”
Librarian: “That was just a test, sorry.”
Welt: “……”
Librarian: “Dr Einstein spoke to me of you earlier, but she didn’t have a photo, so…”

The golden framed glasses shrugged with his normal smile.

Librarian: “To tell you the truth, she recommended this way to test out people… haha.”
Welt: “……”
Librarian: “I will give you a library card exclusive to research personnels, feel free to borrow any book you would wish to.”

The golden framed glasses with his normal smile pushed “himself” up on his nose





"The Times" is too serious, and “The Financial Times" is totally not fitting for the requirements. Some everyday papers like the “Morning Herald” or “Daily Mirror” dose provide some insights.

At noon, Welt begun returning from the newspaper room, reviewing his notes while consulting a borrowed directory.

The British Museum——Great Russell Street;
The National Gallery——Trafalgar Square;
The Theatres, Casino and Chinatown——Leicester Square;
…
Starting with famous tourism attractions should get at least a pass, right?

During the tour, I can also invite them to dine at some outside restaurants. — The working day "communal meals" delivered by the research institute really
don't taste that great, the perfect chance of improvement while going out.
Though the local British cuisine is nothing too spectacular beside their
seafood, but other cuisines like French, Italian, Turkish and Indian are also convenient to reach. There’s also the choice of Chinese if we do end up at Chinatown.
…… Although I am penniless, since this is my job, it should be paid for… right?
— Drifting in his thoughts Welt unknowingly returned to the small courtyard infront of Lab 42.

The detached Lab 42 is a working villa built after the war, an avant garde design that integrated both work and life.
The ground floor is equipped with a study, work room, guest room, various
kitchen and bathroom facilities, and even compacted with a secret warehouse behind a
security door;
The second floor is a residential area where men are forbidden to enter. Welt is
unsure what that area looks like.
Pink curtains? Cream coloured furniture? A room filled with nothing but sweets and  toys?
…… No, no, no. Doesn’t matter how you think about it, a researcher's room can never be along that line. Their private laboratory also seemed to be on that floor.


Welt: “I’m home.”

Gently opening the front door, the young man politely greets the empty living room.
He has maintained this strange habit ever since he could remember, it reached a point where Schicksal seriously investigated the possibility of him being Japanese.

Einstein: “Hmm, you came back at the right time.”
Welt: “Eyy??”

Unexpectedly, from a blind corner, the girl with the natural curls emerges into the open after closing a book.

Einstein: “Did that scare you?”
Welt: “Ah…… No…… Not really……”
Einstein: “That's good. How’s your information preparation?”
Welt: “Hmm…… it’s ok. London really does have many places to see”
Einstein: “……”

The naturally curl girl's expression is stale, as if not satisfied with the young man’s response.

Einstein: “So, what's for lunch today?”

With ease, she tosses out a universally notorious difficult question.

Welt: “Ehh…… Huh?”
Einstein: “I want to have something interesting nearby for lunch. Any suggestions?”
Welt: “…… Ugh.”

The entire morning was used to obtaining information.
The young man whom had not done any on field investigation dripped in cold sweat. How can he figure it out, in this completely new place, what restaurant are worth going to?

Einstein: “Seems like you can't answer this……”

The girl confirms with a blank expression.

Welt: “……”

The young man shaked his head out of awkwardness.

Einstein: “Lunch, your treat.”

The girl coldly delivered the method of punishment.

Welt: “…… I’m sorry.”

The young man depressingly bowed his head. I’m so useless.
At this moment, even if she wanted a star in the sky—

Einstein: “Don’t be, you’re losing this month's allowance.”
Welt: “…… Eyy?”
Einstein: “What, does this not count as messing with you on purpose? How could you
even have the time getting to every corner of the Kensington suburb?”

The young girl pitied yet mocks the fool who had just been played.

Einstein: “Today we shall have pasta!”

While speaking to herself, she takes off her white coat, and puts on an ordinary trench coat.

Einstein: “Tesla is having her wake up sleep, we don’t need to worry about her. It’s normal for that person to be either awake or asleep at any point of the day — There are some frozen food in the fridge and we’re also equiped with a microwave. No problem at all.”

The young girl spoke out much more than usual. She picked up her purse with one hand, and pulled the doorknob with the other.

Einstein: “It’s ok. Today is just the first day. Please, do not think I will get mad over this.”

She took out the key, and locked the front door.



……
……

Einstein: “This is the V&A Museum.”
Einstein: “That is the Holy Trinity Church.”

Having her messy hair swaying about, expressionlessly guiding alongside the young man. Those not familiar with the situation will probably mistake them for a pair of long lost siblings with a somewhat unfamiliar relationship.

Welt: “Mm…..”
Einstein: “The A is for “Albert". From my name.”
Welt: “...…Eyy?”
Einstein: “Just kidding.”
Welt: “Eh……”
Einstein: “Hehe, not exactly untrue though.”
Welt: “……Huh?”
Einstein: “Forget it. just a boring coincidence.”

How many times has the same conversation repeated.

From the Royal College of Music, to Princes Gardens, then to the Science
Museum, the Natural History Museum……

…… Maybe she’s enjoying this?

Einstein: “Ah. It seems like it's already been half a year since I've walked this far.”

The girl stretches, and spoke without looking back.

Welt: “…… Work sure seems busy.”

The young man quickly thought about it, and realised that the pair of them had only walked a little over 1km.

Einstein: “Emm. 3 to 4 hours everyday.”

The young woman does an even lazier yawn than before.

Welt: “…… Isn't that only half a day of work!”
Einstein: “You wouldn’t understand it.”

…...

Maybe for occupations like scientists, the ones that requires a lot of brain taxing, working for four hours a day is already tiring enough.
…… But in the previous labs, didn’t those people work day and night?

Einstein: “Here.”

While the young man is confused, the bundle of messy hair beside him came to a sudden stop.

Welt: “Caffè Concerto……”
Welt: “…… Didn't we say we were going to have pasta?”
Einstein: “This is an Italian restaurant.”

The girl points to the tiny blackboard infront the entrance of the restaurant. The dishes displayed are indeed Italian.
…… But what’s an Italian restaurant doing with such a name?!



The decorative artwork, bottles of champagne, dessert shelves…… With a strange name like "Caffè Concerto", the place does indeed looks like am Italian restaurant.
The young man and young girl finds a two seater and sat down. The interior
is rather warm, so they both immediately take off their coats.

Einstein: “Ah! I rather fancy that strawberry cake!”
Einstein: “……Emm, just this one. That'll be enough.”
Welt: “I’ll have……”
Welt: “…… Didn't you say you wanted to have pasta?”
Einstein: “That was just a abstract.”
Welt: “But……”
Einstein: “I just felt like having cake all of a sudden.”
Welt: “……”
Einstein: “The waiter’s looking at you.”
Welt: “Uhhh…… I'll have this baked snail…… and the seafood pasta. Em, that's all.”

The satisfied waiter walked away. The young girl with nothing to do gazed out of the window, as if she were contemplating some philosophy question. Deep blue eyes, doll-like face, plus her light coloured natural curls — if were not for that terrible hairstyle, she could easily be considered as an exceptional beauty.

While having such random and disorganized thoughts, the young man given the name Welt has finally realized, this is his first time he took attention in the looks of the young genius — Lieserl.Albert.Einstein. She undoubtedly had the smell of a “crazy scientist”, yet at the same time, she also seemed to be the girl next door that’s teasing himself.

Welt: “Ein……”
Einstein: “…… Me?”
Welt: “Sorry…… It's just…… I…… accidentally spilled it out.”
Welt: “I felt like having a nickname may help to ease the conversation…… but pulling apart someone's surname, it’s obviously very strange right?”
Einstein: “…… Up to you. Call it as you like.”
Welt: “Really…… Thanks for that.”

The young man glances left and right, while rubbing his ears and cheeks —

Welt: “Actually…… I have a potentially impolite question to ask……”
Einstein: “Hiding your words before a lady is even more impolite.”
Welt: “…… Sorry.”

The young man felt like his brains were wired wrong just then.
Just asking for daily hobbies, why is he being so embarrassed?

Einstein: “Dr Einstein, 51 years old.”

It seems like that she has misunderstood what i meant by “impolite” —
Wait?
51 years old?

Welt: “…… Huh?”

The young with a long reaction curved supported his falling jaw with both of his hands.

Einstein: “Just kidding. Should be accurate if you divid that by 3.”
Welt: “……”

Wait?
51 divided by 3……
6 times 8 is 48 — 48 divided by 3 is 16; 6 times 9 is 54, 54 divided by 3 is
18……
So 51 divided by 3 is 17…… Dr Einstein is 17 years old……”

Welt: “…… Underage?”
Welt: “A doctoral degree…… underage?!”
Einstein: “Am I not allowed to?”
Welt: “…… Eh, it’s not a matter of being allowed.”
Einstein: “While we're on this topic, Dr Tesla is an adult who’s 4 years old than me — If you wanted to know.”
Welt: “Why does the way make her EQ score seemingly to be in the negatives.”
Einstein: “It's not like Welt is any better.”
Welt: “Eh...”
Einstein: “……”
Welt: “……”
Einstein: “I intend to keep looking at the scenery for now, so please don't talk
to me.”
Welt: “…… Eh. Ok.”
Einstein: “It is rare for the weather to be as good as today's.”
Welt: “…… Eh.”
Einstein: “You probably don't know this, but recently I've been trying to keep myself from  speaking unnecessary words.”
Welt: “……”
Einstein: “My grandfather once said, “Success is equal to genius plus sweat plus not speaking nonsense.’”
Welt: “……”
Welt: “…… You’re the only one that’s speaking nonsense for a while! Is your character troupe quite and reserved or talkative chit chat?”
Einstein: “…… Dr Einstein doesn't quite understand what “character trope” means.”

In a brief moment, the young man known as Welt felt like he saw the smile of a devil.



…...
Returning from "Caffè Concerto", Einstein and Welt found the blonde haired librarian, who wore a striped short sleeved shirt and golden framed glasses, at the doorstep of Lab 42.
Hard to say…... But he even dresses like that outdoors.

Librarian: “Ah, dear Einstein! You’re back!”

This man waved to the girl in a familiar fashion. Somehow, Welt felt a sense of discomfort.

Einstein: “…… What is it? Finn.”

Finn?
No wonder this guy wears only short sleeves in winter, speaks English with a strange accent — It’s not weird at all if his Finnish.
It is said that when the temperature reaches 0, they are still flipping summer sausages in their backyard —
— Even though that's probably just a joke on the newspaper.
No…… For this frivolous man…… Maybe……

Librarian: “An urgent file regarding Lab 42.”

The frivolous man pulls out a mail envelope from his folder.

Einstein: “Understood.”

With a little enthusiasm, Einstein reaches for the letter with her
left hand, while taking out the keys with her right.

Librarian: “They sent a telegram earlier, they wish you to look at it as soon as you receive it —”
Librarian: “— They said you will definitely be entertained.”

Einstein’s right hand that’s grabbing for the key came to a stop. Her expression
seems a little impatient.

Einstein: “Open if for me.”
Welt: “Ehh…… Is it okay? My security clearance level —”
Einstein: “I said — “Open if for me”.”
Librarian: “Haha, it may be strange for me to say this myself…… If it were a highly-classified letter, it wouldn’t be delivered by someone with my rank.

Finn pushed his golden framed glasses, informing in a pretentious manner.

Welt: “…… I’m opening it.”
Welt ignored the attention seeking man.


To My senior colleague, Einstein:

It has been a while. Recently, we have found a rather excellent ancient game at our site. If you are interested, please make sure you find some time to come and play. I guarantee you all will be ecstatic.

As for work related matters, [][][] [][][] [][][][] [] [][][][][][][] [][][][] [][] should be able to help you right?

Your junior colleague, the one that looks forward to welcoming you,
Schrodinger
10.16. Billings, Montana

Welt: “……”

How to put this in words, the letter content seemed rather casual. But it contained some unrecognizable symbols.

Einstein: “Why so specific……”

To Welt's surprise, Einstein with a solemn expression handed the letter back to Finn.

Einstein: “This is…… This is Ada's real name?”

Her thin finger pointed towards the string of unrecognizable symbols. “[][][] [][][] [][][][] [] [][][][][][][] [][][][] [][]”

Librarian: “…… em”
Librarian: “She should know the name “Ada”…… Why……”

Why consult this person? Is he some expert in some fields?
Who’s “Ada”?
What happened?

Einstein: “Schrödinger would never make something happen if there wasn't any in the first place.”

Einstein suddenly seemed to have realized something.

Einstein: “Finn, go and arrange this, we need to board the next plane to Billings —“
Einstein: “Welt!”
Welt: “Yes!?”

Most likely influenced by the sudden change of atmosphere, the new lab assistant tensed his body like a solider taking order —
— And subconsciously saluted. But he is quick to put his hand back
down.

Einstein: “Don’t worry about the small details — Quickly go upstairs and wake up Tesla! 203!”
Welt: “Me?!”
Einstein: “Ein's too busy for it.”

Ignoring the dumbstruck Welt, Einstein opens the lab door, and sprint down the corridor on the right.

— There’s nothing else but a giant security door.