§1

“So, how did the situation end up like this...”

Welt takes a furious sip of cola, and gives a vague towards the Finn, who is

carrying paper bags of all shapes and sizes. The girls have gone to a lingerie

store, and the young man had no choice but to pull away with the only other

male and make conversation outside --- the other man has no sense of

hesitation or impropriety: confronted with a décor brimming with pink bubbles,

he had almost decided to follow the girls and swagger inside himself.

“Does shopping really ever need a reason?” The short-sleeved man, ever so

calm in the face of the unexpected, spreads out both hands in a frivolous

gesture, “Not to mention, the duty-free stores here are indeed cheaper than

in London”

This guy is really good at carrying bags. Even with his posture, they still do

not fall to the ground. Can it be that he often played such a role in the past?

Isn’t his wife an archaeologist who is often away from home?

Women are indeed terrible creatures.

“...So, is this the reason that Doctor Tesla lives paycheck to paycheck?”
“You’re half-correct. To be honest, she has also been indulging in mail-

shopping recently, and I’ve heard that she has bought many useless things.”

“...It must be really hard for Doctor Einstein to deal with her.”

“Haha, you’ve got it completely wrong.”

“Huh?”

“Don’t you think that things are more fun and interesting because of people

like Tesla?”

“...”

“Don’t look down on the other girls,” The blond-haired family man winks

mischievously, “If you are too rigid, you may not find your other half in the

future, yes?”

“... That’s none of your business.”

“Oh, such an outwardly cold but subtly aggrieved reaction – how cute. If you
wish to be more solemn, perhaps in the future you can follow the footsteps of

Humphrey Bogart? I mean like ‘Rick Blaine’ in ‘Casablanca’.

“...?”

“Ah, you haven’t seen that film, have you? Next time in Lab 42, I’ll show it to

you, yes?”

“...”

“In other words, a good man should have a clear idea about his strengths.” Mr

Gold-rimmed Glasses gestures with an “OK” sign, and rounds up the topic

before Welt could get in another word.

“... Speaking of which, I have something else that I have been concerned about

for a while now.” Welt endeavors to dispel his negative impression of the Finn,

and begins to steer the subject of conversation himself.

“Oh? Is it about the Organization? Or is it something we are going to

investigate?” It seems that he won’t refuse any topic.

“Umm... I do care about those two issues ---” Welt looks towards the ceiling
helplessly, “But what I want to ask ‘you’ now is neither of those things.”

“You are asking ‘me’, specifically?” The look of Mr Gold-rimmed Glasses

reveals a hint of surprise. He seems to waver ever so slightly.

“Um... it’s just... that’s... ah...”

“No need to dilly-dally about it. Neither doctor has a boyfriend yet, okay?”

“Who asked you this!”

“Since you won’t ask directly, I can do nothing but guess blindly.” Mr Gold-

rimmed Glasses shrugs his shoulders in an exaggerated manner, “Age? Size

measurements? Preferred color of underwear?”

“Hey!”

“Haha...” Mr Gold-rimmed Glasses narrows his eyes and lets out a suggestive

laugh, “I think it’s better to wait for them to give you the answers themselves,

yes?”

“Hey!!”
“Don’t give me that expression, okay? I’m not making fun of you on purpose,

I’m not keeping the answers away from you --- I don’t know them ... But, you

see, with such secret and private matters, if by any chance you ask them

without thinking it through ...”

Finn makes a “beheading” gesture while keeping his grip on the paper bags.

“...” Welt gives the Finn a pointed glare, “Are you sick in the head?”

“You don’t say. But when I met my wife for the first time, I stupidly asked her

a silly question --- ‘Isn’t it silly to wear strawberry bloomers for your age’ ---

And then I was beaten to a pulp. It was quite an intense beating I tell you. Ha

ha ha ha.”

“...Who can help if you can’t control your own madness!?”

“But to be honest... if one day you meet a girl wearing strawberry panties as

well, don’t give up on this chance of a lifetime.”

“...”
“I mean it. If she happens to be a Finn, especially one who likes Ievan Polkka,

you can even invite her to a sauna...”

“...?”

“By the way, my full name is Elias Nokianvirtanen --- a genuine Finn.”

“...??”

“Traditionally, everyone in a sauna room has to be completely frank and open

to each other --- you get what I mean?”

“...???”

“In that moment, let alone one’s choice of underwear – even one’s figure is

revealed for all the world to see. Not bad at all, right?”

“...Why do I feel like you are desperately promoting ‘saunas’ to me just now?”

“Oh, since it’s a question you wanted to ask me specially, I thought it must be

something I am very familiar with.”

“... Give me a break, I didn't even have any idea of this ‘sauna’ you speak of!”

“Oh? I thought it’s the only cultural practice from my beloved Finland that has

spread all over the globe, hmm?”

“Well, my questions have nothing to do with Finland, alright?!”

As a result, until the two doctors emerged from the lingerie store, Welt still

had not enquired about any of their personal hobbies or habits.

§2

When the group of people finally board the flight to Chicago, Einstein has

already changed into a set of newly-purchased clothes. A furred shawl coat

resembling a ferret, and an overflowing dress layered tier upon tier,

resembling a cream cake --- it is said to be a Victorian-era debutante dress.

It is difficult to describe, but the dress worn on her body gives off a strange

and incongruous vibe. Especially given that she is now sleeping, reclined on a

seat with that book about Riemann plastered to her face.

Needless to say, this could have only been a result of Tesla’s own personal

tastes.
Needless to say, this could have only been the result of Tesla’s own pocket.

Also needless to say, people like Tesla could never be caught reading

professional or technical literature on an airplane.

“Let’s play cards!”, announced the fashionable redhaired twin-tails.

Why doesn’t she wear that doll-like dress herself?

“Three people is a bit awkward though.” It seems that the Finn has already

started to seriously consider their options. ‘Three missing one’ – Mr Gold-

rimmed Glasses is definitely the type who likes to play bridge.

“Nothing awkward! Since we’re already in America, how can we not play Texas

Hold’em?”

“Ah, Texas Hold’em poker... But we don’t seem to have enough loose change.”

“What nonsense are you talking about, Finn! Don’t we have this?” The

redhaired twin-tails shouts and howls loudly, as if she were alone all by herself,

and pulls out that box of chocolates from Einstein’s bag.

Pooling chocolate balls and coins together as gambling chips – you really are

a child.

“Do you know,” the childish twin-tails nudges her glasses a bit, “once upon a

time, chocolate was considered as precious as gold. As early as during the

time of the Aztec Empire, cocoa beans had already become a kind of important

strategic resource, used as currency...”

“Oh...”

"... and after the landings at Normandy, the chocolate rationed by the US

soldiers became a hard currency on the Western Front, and it could even be

used as ‘ammunition’ for ‘night calls’!"

“Umm ...”

“... Modern chocolate is produced by some kind of special crystallization

technology, which can preserve its hardness and taste at the same time. That

is why chocolate, once melted, will taste worse when it is refrozen. It

generates changes at the molecular level, yo.”

“Ah...”

“... Anyway, we should be thankful for today’s industrial civilization, for making

it possible for us to follow our hearts’ desires, and eat as heartily as we please.

Amen.”

“Excuse me...”

“Yes, Assistant Welt, what is your question? You have permission to ask.”

“This Texas Hold’em poker you mentioned, I don’t know how to play it.”

“... What’s the matter? It’s not hard, you’ll get it as you play.”

“Umm...”

“Gosh, have you never heard of ‘fake it till you make it?”

“How you can give such a long-winded explanation of the origins of chocolate,

yet when it comes to ...” Welt mumbles in a voice only he can hear.

“What? Do you harbor some dissatisfaction with me --- a doctor?”

“No no no, I wouldn’t dare.”

It’s not a real gamble after all --- Even it were a real gamble, I have nothing

to lose anyway.

As he arrives at this new train of thought, Welt makes up his mind to harden

his resolve, and bite the bullet.

§3

“Fold.”

“Fold.”

“Wait, Wait!” Tesla fiercely snatches the two cards from the top of the discard

pile, and forcibly shoves them back into Welt’s hand. “No fold!”

“Umm... Why?”

“No particular reason. Just NO CONSECUTIVE FOLDS!”

“But...”

“Hmph, how can you be so tight with a beginner’s hand? Only playing when you

see a face card or a pair, and just ‘pass’ ‘pass ‘pass’-ing at every other

occasion — if everyone does that, how is it fun at all? Assistant Welt, do you

know what the biggest problem with gambling is?”

“Err... losing money?” Welt looks at the empty space that is the depleted

earnings of the young Doctor.

“No no no... for people like you, it’s caring too much about your winnings, and

losing all sense of fun from the game itself! Look at you, always so

conservative, always hesitating, always cowering, always stuttering! Are you

even a man, you ...?”

“God does not play dice.” A familiar inorganic voice transmits from beneath

that Riemann book. It seems that Tesla’s loud voice has finally stirred Einstein

from her dreams.

“...You, you are awake.” Even without looking at Tesla, Welt can still feel the

blush on her face.

“Don’t worry.” The upside-down Riemann is casually tossed to a corner, “I will

join as well.”

“Eh?”

“Chocolate.” The girl, whose hair looks even more messy than before, ignores

the others’ astonishment and reaches out with her hand. Twin-tails has to

grab several “gambling chips” from the two gentlemen, and hand them to her.

“Just then … didn’t you say, ‘God does not play dice’, or something?” Welt asks.

“You are indeed correct, Welt.” The girl quickly strips off the wrapping paper

from one piece of chocolate, “God does not play dice ---

“ --- But God does eat chocolate.”

§4

By the time the airplane carrying the group finally lands in Billings, Montana,

the sun has already set for a while. In fact, if it weren’t for the difference in

timezone and location, they will have probably seen a bright and splendid

morning sun hovering above London right now --- well, if the London haze isn’t
so heavy this time.

Billings is a small city --- and coupled with the fact that it is currently

offseason for tourism --- there seem to be barely any people in the otherwise

large terminal. But, perhaps because of this, once someone starts a greeting

or says hello, it remains clearly audible for a hundred meters and beyond

“Einstein! Tesla!” A tall lithe woman with waist-length hair greets them loudly

from a distance. Next to the “sisterly” woman is a young girl with a single

corkscrew pigtail dressed in a down jacket, with an expressionless face,

waving her hand at them in a perfunctory excuse for a greeting.

“Tsk. Sure enough, the old hag is also here.” Tesla is biting her nails with some

resentment.

“That tall woman is Professor Planck, my doctoral supervisor, and the nominal

head of the North American branch.” Einstein explains to Welt and the Finn.

It seems that the other girl must be Schrodinger, the one who sent the

mysterious letter — she seems to be about the same age as Tesla. Is she also

a doctor?
Also, what does “nominal” mean? Can it be that there is some “boss behind the

curtain”?

“Hey hey hey, my Baby Lieserl is so cute in that dress! You’ve grown a little

taller, ja?” Welt is still in the middle of reflecting on the information from

Einstein’s words, when, mid-sentence, she is suddenly pulled by Professor

Planck into a tight embrace.

Her face is suddenly buried deep within the voluminous folds of the others’

bosom. Perhaps because of this, Curly-head makes a sad noise that sounds

very much like she is being smothered and suffocated.

“It’s unfortunately very cold in Montana. My little Lieblings, have you brought

enough warm clothing?

“... Hmph, you don’t need to remind me.” Tesla gives Plank a sour look. “As for

you, aren’t you afraid of murdering your most beloved student, even as we

speak ...?”

“Oh, one is inclined to believe that Baby Lieserl is quite enjoying herself ...”

The long-haired sister relaxes her arms ever so slightly, and as Einstein’s

forehead squeezes out from her bosom, she gives her a light kiss.
“Ahhhhhhh! What are you doing!!!!!” Tesla blows her top, exploding in a fiery

rage.

“What’s wrong? Aren’t we all girls?” The older sister throws a wink at the girl

wrapped in her left arm, while bringing her right index finger to her lips.

*Cough Cough*

The poor Mophead can only give a muted response, as she has not yet

recovered from the shock of the assault.

“Oh dear me,” The Finn smiles as usual, but Welt can now clearly read that his

utterance of shock is closer in meaning to: “this scene happened exactly the

way I had expected it to.”

“Greetings to the two of you. I am Dr Elias Nokianvirtanen, a scholar in ancient

manuscripts. This is Welt Joyce, our research assistant. Ah, and I’m sure Dr

Tesla does not need a formal introduction, right?”

It turns out that this person is also a doctor ... It looks like it’s really hard to

find a proper job these days.

“An expert in ancient writing ... that will most certainly be helpful to us.”

Professor Planck finally releases poor Einstein from her grip. She takes a long,

seemingly-earnest look up and down at the Finn, but then her eyes turn to

rest upon Welt. “Research assistant ...?”

“Uh ... Nominally-speaking, yes.” Being inspected with an unnerving gaze by

the strange — but admittedly rather sensual and alluring — older woman, Welt

feels a chill run down his back.

“The specific details involve a confidentiality agreement with the European

branch. Professor, you need not bother to ask.” It is Einstein who comes to the

rescue of the poor young man.

A thousand thanks to you, Einstein! You’re my guardian angel! Long live

Einstein!

“Really ... even when the North American branch always tells you everything

we know without reservation?” It is not clear if she is trying to tease her

student, but the Sisterly Professor appears to quite deliberately put on an

anxious and sullen expression.

“Well then ... Professor, your three measurements, and your age, please?”

Neither does Miss Mophead pull back on her punches.

“94, 62, 92 — 17 years old, 17 years ago.” The Sisterly Professor boldly

responds in kind, “Einstein is finally concerned about her teacher’s wellbeing.

I am so happy ~ ” She proudly makes a heart gesture with her hands.

“...”

“...”

“...”

“...”

“Ah ... Did I say something strange?”

“Surely you’re joking, Miss Planck.”

Amidst the awkward atmosphere, it is Schrodinger, the only person who had

not uttered a word before, who breaks the silence. “I say, ... we decide what

to eat for dinner first, then we can continue our conversation.”

With a poker face, she waves her right hand like a Japanese Fortune Cat,

motioning them forward.

§5

“What is this?”

In a tavern near the airport, Red Twin-tails blinks at a plate of fried meatballs

on the dining table.

“Rocky Mountain oysters,” the mischievous big sister introduces them with a

smile.

“...” For some reason, the girl with the single corkscrew ponytail sighs

helplessly. “The Professor, she prefers to eat these. But I don’t know if you

lot can ever get used to them.”

”Aren’t these just oysters ...? It’s not something I haven’t already had before.

That said, these do seem a little strange.” Twin-tails takes a fork, prods

disapprovingly at a piece, then carefully places it into her mouth as if she were

eating dessert.
“Uhhh... Ermmm...”

Although she had already felt something fishy when her fork pierced the

meatball, it was only after it enters her mouth that she really begins to feel

her heart thump and palpitate with anxiety. The rubbery elastic texture is

completely unlike the rich, complex flavour she’d expect from good seafood ...

This is definitely not some “oyster” --- but then it is also unlike any other

chicken, beef, liver, or heart she had ever tasted --- so what the hell is this?

She’d admit: the meatballs aren’t exactly “unpalatable”, but even then, doubt

begins to etch itself onto Dr Tesla’s face.

“The ‘Rocky Mountain oyster’ is an affectionate nickname.” After seeing that

she had swallowed the meatball completely, Professor Planck begins to

explain without a moment’s hesitation.

“As you see, this area is mountainous. During a time when technology for food

preservation wasn’t that well-developed, there was no way for the cowboys

here to eat real oysters.

So these morsels, that people from a coastal region would otherwise rarely
ever eat --- they decided to call them ‘oysters’; half out of consolation, and

half out of amusement.

“In everyday life, we have a lot of names for these things; however, if we want

to be accurate ...

“Biologically speaking, we’d call them testicles.”

“What?” Twin-tails simply cannot believe her ears.

”Testicles,” Professor Planck repeated with a smile. ”These are testicles taken

from young bulls.”

At the same table, Einstein and Schrodinger shrug helplessly. Welt and the

Finn both hold riveted gazes at the forks in their hands, wondering what to do

with the “fried meatballs” that have already been delivered right to the edge

of their gaping mouths.

Indeed.

As for poor Tesla -

- Her face has turned completely green.

Quite literally.

§6

Within the confines of a tavern, it is easy for people to ignore any “change”

occurring in the outside world. In every sense of that word.

By the time Welt and his party have eaten and drunk to their hearts’ content,

settled their bills, and are just about to check out, snow has already started

falling outside, having begun some time prior. There is not a trace of moonlight

in the night sky --- instead, snowflakes swirl and float down gently under the

tangerine-orange street lights, reflecting the shimmering brilliance of the

starry sky, as if it were all some sort of illusory dream.

“So, this is snow ...” Carrying a drunk-as-a-skunk Tesla, Welt painstakingly

lifts his head, and looks up at the night sky. “I don’t remember seeing it

myself ... and I don’t know why, yet I feel a sense of nostalgia.”
“Deja vu.” Einstein opens up an umbrella and falls into step beside him.

“Erm... pardon?”

“A hallucinatory memory. I don’t think you’ve ever seen snow before. It may

just be that your hippocampus is overstimulated at this moment.”

“Umm...”

“There are times the human brain sometimes deceives itself.”

“But...”

“Your emotions may be sincere, but their origins may be fake.”

“...”

”Sorry, it seems I’ve ruined the moment.”

“No ... I sort of like it when someone says something aimlessly like that, so

casually and without a care in the world. At least, it’s certainly more

interesting than not saying a word.

“Ah, it seems you two have quite a good relationship.” The long-haired sister

had managed to catch up from behind some time ago, without anyone noticing,

and is now pulling a silly face at the two of them.

“Professor, elders shouldn’t interrupt when young people are talking to each

other.”

“Boo hoo hoo ... Baby Lieserl is too cruel!” Planck weeps in a feigned and

exaggerated manner, ”Now Sister is truly broken-hearted! I had even planned

to tell you some good news!”

“Professor, it’s silly to pretend to be cute when you are clearly not.”
“Hmph, I am earnestly trying to be kind!” The twice-seventeen-year-old girl

suddenly puts on a pose, much like a model in an advertisement, and mimes

‘firing shots at their chests’. “All of you must be prepared for the

nighttime raids!”

“Huh?!” The poor young man is clearly taken aback by the words “nighttime

raid”.

“... Einstein has no particular interest in stargazing.” With this statement,

Mophead pierces through and nails the true meaning of the so-called

“nighttime raid”. The two women seem to be familiar with each other’s manner

of speech, as if they were family.

“Uh huh? When you get back to downtown London, you won’t be able to see

the stars even if you want to.”

“... Hmm.”

“ Hmm-ing and ha-ing, Your mouth may disagree but your heart yearns for it!”

The longhaired sister wags her index finger provocatively. ”But you’ll have to

sleep well tonight --- everyone needs to get up early tomorrow to travel to

the site.”
”So long-winded. You were the one who raised the idea of a ‘Nighttime Raid’

in the first place.”

“Of course, us elders always tend to be a bit more long-winded.” Suddenly, for

some reason, Planck raises her head, gazing over Einstein’s head, to stare at

Welt. “What do you say to that? Do you agree?”

“Uh ... huh?”

“Lieserl is such a lovely girl --- as an older brother you should not bully her,

ja?”

“Hum, brother?”

“Oh, guess I’m not actually right ...” Long-haired Sister responds pretentiously,

as though she had already anticipated this, “Fair enough, in that case, a pet

perhaps?”

“Pe-pe-pets? What is this all about?!”

“I mean it literally. If I had to exaggerate a little ... a slave? A living toy?”

“... That’s outrageous!”

“Hey, as long as you have a good master, you can undoubtedly live carefree

and without worry, pampered like a prince --- what’s wrong with that?”

“...” Schrodinger had discreetly squeezed herself within their company, and

now gazes disdainfully, with an unremitting ice-cold stare, at the pretentious

expression on Plank’s face. “Professor, I have something to say, but I don’t

know whether I should say it or not.”

“... Here comes my wet blanket Schrodinger, who can only ever speak ill of

things!”

“Thank you for your compliment, Professor --- but I think, for you to say those

things in a country whose foundations were rebuilt by Lincoln, it is grossly

inappropriate.”

“... I knew there was never going to be any fun coming from your mouth! Hmph!”