"Quantum Cannons powered and controlled through very advanced AI that's nearly AGI," Kraften said. He was the lead scientist, his demeanor calm yet focused as he delivered the explanation.
He glanced up briefly and observed the snowfall, noting how it wasn't too heavy. The area had been cleared for this exact purpose, making sure nothing interfered with the test.
"Care to elaborate?" Yasushi asked, his tone flat but his attention fixed on Kraften.
"The original idea for the experiment involved deploying the Quamble of the Quaffers onto manmade, controlled forest fires. However, Ginsukimura doesn't have suitable forests for that anymore. Even the ones nearby aren't large enough to serve our needs," Kraften said, his words deliberate as he gestured toward the Quantum Cannons.
He continued, "These cannons have a significant operational range — around Three hundred kilometers. Using the AI system, they can identify fire outbreaks from that distance, aim autonomously, and extinguish the flames using the Quamble. Naturally, they're designed to differentiate between harmful fires and controlled sources, like fire pits or other minor heat signatures, leaving those untouched."
"Three hundred kilometers? That's... the stretch from Dublin on the eastern edge of Ireland to the Cliffs of Moher in the west. That's insane," Yasushi muttered, his voice tinged with disbelief. He leaned back, letting out a slow breath as he tried to wrap his mind around the idea. "AI has made crazy strides, but adding quantum tech into the mix? That's just on another level," he said, shaking his head.
Kraften laughed, the sound short and dry. "True, but the real kicker is that this might push humanity forward by a thousand years in just a handful of decades — assuming, of course, people don't outright reject it and cling to how things are."
Jingliu tilted her head, picking up on the edge in his tone. "What do you mean?" she asked, her eyes narrowing as she studied him.
Kraften's expression grew harder. "If I'm being honest, we're wasting too much time and resources on things that don't matter. Some of it? Sure, fine. But a lot of it gets way more funding and attention than it deserves. Meanwhile, the stuff that could actually change everything? It's sitting on the backburner."
Kraften exhaled deeply, his eyes fixed on the cannons once more. "I'm all for safe spaces, LGBTQ rights, and mental health awareness. They're important, and I support them — my nephew came out as pansexual, and I stood by him along with the rest of my family. But honestly, we're putting too much focus on these issues compared to scientific advancements. That's where our attention should be."
He leaned back slightly, his expression firm. "If we redirected even half the energy and funding from these initiatives into scientific fields, imagine what we could accomplish. The support for those causes is already widespread in many parts of the world. Sure, some places are lagging behind, but that's a slow-moving issue compared to the pressing challenges humanity faces elsewhere."
Pausing for a moment, he turned to meet their gaze directly. "Progress demands sacrifice. Everything we've achieved up to now came at a cost, and sometimes ethics and morality have to take a backseat when the survival of our species is at stake. That's what people need to focus on — what secures the future of humanity as a whole."
Xinyi absorbed his words, her expression tightening. "So you're—" she began, but Kraften raised a hand, cutting her off mid-sentence.
"I'm not saying to dismiss it, Miss Xinyi," Kraften interjected, his tone measured. "What I am saying is to redirect our priorities. Shift the focus. Pour energy, manpower, and resources into science. The areas you mentioned — the ones that hold so much attention right now — are stable in most first- and second-world nations. They're less so in some third-world regions, but progress will come there too." He pulled his phone from his pocket, scrolling for a moment before turning the screen toward them.
The image showed him standing at a crowded LGBTQ+ parade alongside a younger man. "I went to this with my nephew," Kraften said, gesturing to the photo. "So don't twist my words. My point isn't about taking anything away from people's struggles or identities. It's about ensuring humanity doesn't lose sight of the bigger picture. The gods back us now — they've said as much. We're not in danger of being wiped out by them anymore. But eventually, this planet won't sustain us. The sun will explode. It's not an if'; it's a when. We need to put every ounce of effort into finding solutions — building ships, discovering new planets, ensuring survival far into the future."
He slipped the phone back into his pocket, the conversation hanging between them.
Xinyi exhaled deeply and let her shoulders sag. "I'm sorry for snapping earlier. Two of our friends are lesbians, and they're dating. It's a bit of a sensitive topic for me. But yeah, I overreacted, so I'm sorry again. I get why you said what you did," she admitted, her voice softer now.
Kraften gave a slight shake of his head. "It's fine, Miss Xinyi. Honestly, the way I put it came across wrong, so I should apologize too. Let's just set that aside and deal with what's in front of us." He gestured toward the Quantum Cannons, where firemen and Furuya's group were starting to gather.
Pulling out a microphone, Kraften spoke into it with a clear tone. "We're moving on to the final experiment for today. The targets are positioned further down the field. Your task is to be as accurate as possible. Use your goggles to input the proper coordinates and hit the targets!"
Another ringing pierced the air as the two groups began their experiment.
"Adjusting this manually would mess up the results," Yinhaie instructed, keeping her tone firm but not rushed. "We'll find the exact coordinates with the goggles first, then feed them into the cannons. Double-check the area to make sure nothing's in the way."
Both Furuya and Catherine got to work immediately. They lifted their goggles, scanning the field with extreme focus, while Laura and Reina used their zoom functions to pinpoint the location of the dummy they needed to hit. They relayed the data to Nandini, who stood at the control panel of the cannon, ready to input the coordinates.
This experiment wasn't following the usual remote setup. Instead, a control panel had been built directly onto the cannon, making adjustments faster and more direct.
"Coordinates are in. The Quambles are loaded and primed," Nandini reported, her fingers hovering over the button as her eyes flicked toward Yinhaie. "Ready on your command."
Yinhaie glanced over everything one more time, checking the numbers and scanning the field. Satisfied, she raised her hand in a quick motion, signaling to fire. "Fire!"
As Yinhaie's words rang out, the dummies erupted into flames. Moments later, the cannons roared, sending projectiles streaking forward. Unlike the typical Quambles, these moved at a breakneck pace, tearing through the air with mechanical precision. They struck the nearest dummy, detonating on impact.
The fire that consumed the first dummy extinguished immediately. Simultaneously, the flames licking at the adjacent target were snuffed out just as effectively.
"Good job! Looks like you calibrated the coordinates perfectly," Kraften said, his voice amplified through the microphone. "Alright, let's test for varying heights and angles!"
Without warning, more dummies were launched skyward, drawing gasps of surprise from the onlookers.
"These will remain suspended using our tech," Kraften explained, his tone carrying an edge of excitement. "Once again, they'll ignite. Your job is to put out the flames. After this, we'll increase the difficulty. They'll start moving — slow at first, but we'll ramp it up."
Afterward, each team quickly adjusted their coordinates, recalibrating and taking aim again. The projectiles launched almost in unison, each hitting the marked dummies and snuffing out the flames without delay. As the next phase began, the dummies shifted slightly, moving in irregular patterns that added a layer of unpredictability but not enough to make them entirely evasive.
"How are we supposed to land a hit when they keep moving like that?" Furuya asked, his brow furrowing as he tried to follow the erratic movements.
"I'd guess these models of Quambles are equipped with some sort of tracking or self-correcting mechanism," Nandini replied, her arms crossed in thought. "They're likely designed for long-range precision, unlike the earlier ones."
"That checks out," Furuya said as he finished loading his device. "Ready to go!"
At that moment, Yinhaie called out the command, her arm cutting through the air like a conductor leading an orchestra. "Fire!"
The Quambles shot forward, streaking toward the moving targets. The group watched as the projectiles adjusted mid-flight, subtly changing their paths to compensate for the dummies' movement. One after another, they struck their targets, exploding on impact and extinguishing the flames.
"We're ramping up the pace, so keep it together! The final target will be as high as the top floor of the abandoned building!" Kraften barked into the microphone, his voice commanding attention as new dummies appeared and began darting through the air with increasing speed.
"This is starting to feel like some over-the-top anime!" Furuya blurted, barely keeping pace as they adjusted their gear and prepared to fire.
Each shot hit the mark, the bursts extinguishing the flames on the dummies. But as soon as one set disappeared, another batch emerged, each group moving faster than the last. The team stayed sharp, syncing their movements with precision, refusing to let the challenge overtake them. They kept landing their shots until finally, the sequence stopped, the test apparently completed.
"Alright! Now for the final round. This one's solo, and there's no guarantee you'll hit it. Make it count!" Kraften called out. As he finished, a single dummy appeared far above, almost seeming to defy logic with its altitude.
"It's way up there," Laura muttered, craning her neck to see it clearly. The group exchanged looks, momentarily awed by the sheer distance of the target. They didn't waste much time marveling, though. They knew the challenge was as much about focus as skill.
Everyone worked quickly, confirming with one another as they went. The tension in the air was unspoken but undeniable. As Bacaro's team, leading the effort with the firefighters, prepared their first attempt, the others watched intently. The shot went off — a precise, calculated attempt — but despite the dummy's stillness, the Quamble completely missed.
"What the hell? We had the coordinates down to a T! How did it miss?" one of the firefighters burst out, his frustration barely contained.
Bacaro's group repeated the process, their confidence giving way to visible confusion as Furuya's team observed from the sidelines. By the third attempt, something clicked in Nandini's mind. Her expression changed as she exchanged a knowing look with Yinhaie. Both women smiled slightly, their suspicions aligning.
Nandini made her way over to Laura and Reina, who were responsible for inputting the coordinates using the goggles. She leaned in close, keeping her voice low. "Account for wind resistance, gravity, anything that could nudge the trajectory. Adjust for the dummy. When you're done, give me the revised numbers."
The two operators paused for a moment, their eyes flicking to the equipment before they nodded in understanding. They immediately began fine-tuning the goggles, incorporating the suggested variables into their calculations. Every factor, no matter how small, now became part of their formula. It wasn't just about locking onto a target anymore — it was about predicting every possible influence that might change its position.
After spending a few minutes running calculations and revising the data, Laura darted over to Nandini, a look of urgency on her face. She handed over the updated coordinates without hesitation.
Bacaro's team, however, remained in disarray, their shots flying wildly in every direction. They seemed to be aiming without any clear strategy, firing purely out of frustration. Bacaro himself hadn't issued any further commands, leaving them to act on impulse.
Meanwhile, Furuya's group stayed focused. With the new data in hand, they promptly adjusted the targeting system and prepared to fire again. Nandini stood near Yinhaie, quietly watching the preparations unfold, her expression unchanging as she waited for the critical moment. When the time came, her voice rang out.
"Fire!"
The command triggered an immediate response. Furuya's team launched the Quamble, the cannon's roar shaking the air. The projectile shot forward; its path carefully aligned to the new coordinates. Across the field, confusion broke out among Bacaro's crew.
"It's too far left," one of the firemen muttered.
"No way it's gonna hit like that," another added, their skepticism spreading through the ranks.
But as they watched, a sudden, unexpected gust of wind surged across the field. The flames on the distant dummy swayed, and then, as if drawn by the very trajectory of the Quamble, the target shifted into its path. The impact extinguished the fire completely, leaving Bacaro's team stunned into silence.
Yinhaie explained to the firefighters what they had done. The group collectively groaned, slapping their foreheads as they processed the simplicity of the solution, each of them silently questioning how they hadn't thought of it earlier. With renewed focus, they spent some time organizing their next steps, ensuring they accounted for every necessary adjustment.
When everything was ready, they launched the next attempt. This time, factoring in the details Yinhaie pointed out, the projectile struck the target squarely. The success brought a quick exchange of nods and murmurs among them, their earlier frustrations replaced by a sense of progress.
They repeated the process over the next several minutes, refining their technique with each attempt. Eventually, Kraften stepped forward and declared the experiments complete, signaling the conclusion of their efforts.
+-+
Two hours later, most of the firemen had departed, leaving Yasushi's group behind with Bacaro. The remnants of the earlier chaos had been cleared, and the area had settled into an uneasy calm.
"I want to apologize for what happened earlier with the rowdy ones," Bacaro said, his voice direct. "I'll visit them in jail and figure out how to move forward. Will you be pressing charges?"
Kraften shook his head. "I'll leave that decision to you."
Bacaro nodded, offering a brief word of thanks before turning to leave. As his figure disappeared from view, Kraften faced Yasushi's group. His tone carried the weight of authority as he spoke.
"Now that this is settled, we'll head back to London and start processing the data," Kraften said. He paused, making sure they were paying attention. "But before we go, there's something I need to share."
They stood silent, anticipation cutting through the air.
"Next summer break, you'll be returning to Yuwu, Miss Xinyi's birthplace," Kraften continued. "There are several projects lined up, aimed at transforming the town. Both Sir Xingyu Cheng and Madame Yaqi Cheng have given their approval for these plans."
Xinyi's reaction mirrored the group's — caught off guard by the sudden announcement.