Without a doubt, as a qualified script writer, Lynn's promise was grand, captivating, and irresistibly tempting. Even Klein merely watching from the sidelines, couldn't help but fall silent for a few seconds upon hearing it. He recalled how the Angel of Secrets had similarly painted a grand picture for him, and suddenly felt a sense of fortune in comparison to Roselle.
Although Klein had to bear the banner of the "Savior" and was occasionally persecuted by Lynn, at least he hadn't been duped to such an extent... right?
Mr. Fool wasn't too sure, and in the end, decided not to dwell on it.
Roselle, on the other hand, was clearly moved by Lynn's promises. His breathing grew a bit more rapid, and without any hesitation, he said, "I-I will actively make up for my mistakes. Please give me a chance to join the Temporal Management Bureau."
Roselle's reaction was not surprising. Without solid evidence, he wasn't someone easily deceived. However, Lynn's perfect timing and well-coordinated actions were simply too impeccable to resist.
Lynn chose to appear right after Roselle had just crossed over, a moment when Roselle's mind was at its most vulnerable. With a display of supernatural power upon arrival, Lynn instantly intimidated him. Then, by throwing in the possibility of a "prison sentence," he successfully redirected Roselle's thinking, making it impossible for him to question the authenticity of the Temporal Management Bureau, thereby seizing full control of the situation.
In this state, Lynn followed up by revealing the truth behind Earth's civilization's destruction, shattering Roselle's previously stable facade. He then told him that, should he join the Temporal Management Bureau, he could possibly reunite with his parents.
This series of well-placed moves completely broke through Roselle's mental defenses, overwhelming his not-so-clever mind and leading him to abandon all critical thinking.
One couldn't help but marvel at Lynn's sheer talent for manipulation.
"Alright, since you've chosen to actively make up for your mistakes, I'll give you this opportunity," Lynn said with a warm and brilliant smile as he looked at Roselle. "Usually, when an unlicensed traveler who has made a mistake, they only has a few options to atone."
"Go on..." Roselle couldn't help but swallow nervously, suddenly feeling a deep sense of unease.
"The first option is to become an enforcer for the Temporal Management Bureau..." Lynn said, extending one finger and smiling. "The Bureau doesn't lack high-level combatants, but as a vast organization, we are always open to accepting more powerful fighters."
Lynn continued, "After all, you can probably guess that not every traveler is as weak as you. Sometimes, we encounter formidable violators who refuse to cooperate peacefully, and we have to use force to subdue them. Those who actively cooperate with their reform can take on some simple tasks, like assisting in the capture of these offenders, or perhaps helping with other missions requiring enforcers."
"But..." Lynn glanced at Roselle and shook his head, sighing without saying more, yet implying everything.
Roselle: ...
He suddenly felt that his so-called "weakness" had been gravely misunderstood.
Even though Roselle had mentally cursed Lynn's description of him as "weak" countless times, as an adult well-versed in life's hardships, he obediently followed his heart and asked, "What's the second option?"
"The second option suits you well..." Lynn looked at Roselle meaningfully, smiling. "The Temporal Management Bureau strongly encourages the positive development of civilizations. Although we rarely intervene violently, we fully support individuals from those civilizations in promoting their progress."
"While you technically belong to a civilization that has already perished, there's a fundamental connection between your former world and this one. In essence, this civilization is a continuation of the old one. Now that you've gained a new identity here, you can take part in this era's development and progress, pushing for change and making the world a better place."
Lynn adjusted his glasses and looked at Roselle. "Given that the era you came from was more advanced both technologically and culturally, you're naturally equipped with a template to refer to."
"And since your mistake wasn't too severe, with a sentence of only 200 years, your goal to make amends is quite simple. You only need to help this civilization advance to a level comparable to the Industrial Revolution you're familiar with."
Lynn's words carried a "you're getting a great deal" expression. "It's a simple goal. Someone who made a bigger mistake than you had to not only push for technological advancement but also reform society's class and ideologies, working tirelessly for decades. And then, a timeline shift occurred, erasing all their efforts overnight."
'But... but I barely passed my college entrance exams! How could I possibly lead a technological revolution? And what is this "timeline shift" nonsense? That doesn't sound remotely scientific!'
Roselle was dumbfounded. He looked at Lynn, then down at himself, desperately trying to recall the books he had read about steam engines and papermaking. In the end, he could only muster a smile uglier than a cry. "Is there a third option?"
Like many protagonists in time-travel novels, Roselle wanted to transform into a farming magnate, recreating the technology from his memories. Unfortunately, his memory wasn't nearly that reliable!
He wasn't like those protagonists with photographic memories. Although he had read many books on such subjects, he could only remember bits and pieces. He might be able to replicate a few things from his memories, but pushing an entire Industrial Revolution? That was simply impossible.
What could Roselle do? He was utterly desperate!
"The third option is simple. You know lab rats, right?" Lynn looked at Roselle with a radiant smile. "If someone is lacking in both combat prowess and intelligence but still wants to make up for their mistakes, their last option is to volunteer for experiments—as a lab rat."
Roselle's eyes widened instantly. He stared at Lynn and, after biting his lip for a long moment, cautiously asked, "What kind of experiments does the Temporal Management Bureau conduct?"
"Oh, there are many kinds. After all, the Bureau oversees countless worlds, ensuring the safety of numerous civilizations. You know that civilization's progress isn't always smooth, and these days, world barriers are like sieves. Unauthorized travelers can pop up anywhere. You're one of the better ones; some offenders are downright insane..."
Lynn's expression grew wary as he recalled something, looking at Roselle. "I once encountered someone who used a virus to turn all living creatures in a civilization into zombies. Although we eventually took him down, the mess he left behind? Yeah, that was on us to clean up."
(End of Chapter)
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