Einstein gently draped a suit jacket over Edison's shoulders. "By the way, about Nancy's condition... Miss Vill-V, is there any way to resolve it?"
Whenever there was a problem, one looked to Dora-V-mon.
This time, they were once again hoping Vill-V would produce a solution.
Tesla and the others all turned their gazes toward her, waiting for her answer.
Yet this time, the "omniscient and omnipotent" Vill-V in Tesla's eyes frowned as well. She shook her head. "Troublesome. I'll be frank. Given her current state... I'm afraid even I am powerless."
Vill-V walked over to Edison, loosened her clothing slightly, and pulled out the talking banknote from her pocket.
"Are you wondering why this dollar bill can't speak anymore, Miss Edison?" Vill-V flicked the bald-headed bill.
Edison had already noticed this on the train. At the time, she had asked "Franklin" who Vill-V truly was, but "Franklin" had given no response whatsoever.
"Of course, I'm not targeting this bald dollar specifically. Rather, I deployed a field across Miss Edison's body."
"In truth, Miss Edison can revert to a human form. But I have solidified her current state."
Seeing Tesla about to interject, Vill-V quickly added, "Don't worry, Mentor Tesla. I'll explain the reason."
"Miss Edison conducted a transaction with a higher-dimensional existence... Yes, this dollar bill represents the concept of transaction and exchange. In other words, a part of Miss Edison has been completely exchanged away."
"For example... take a look at Miss Edison's shadow."
Welt lowered his head, then cried out in shock, "Edison's shadow... it's gone!"
Everything under light casts a shadow. And now, with not a cloud in the sky and the sun directly overhead, how could someone standing in sunlight have no shadow?
The others gradually revealed astonished expressions as well.
Einstein stepped to where Edison's shadow should have been cast and looked toward the sun. Yet she did not see the sun in her eyes—nor did she see Edison. It was as though a sheet of frosted glass stood upright in Edison's place, rendering everything indistinct.
This was not a mere reduction in light transmission. What kind of phenomenon was this? It completely violated the principles of light propagation.
"In fact, Miss Edison overdrew her future. All of her 'future' was condensed into this single moment. That is what granted her such peculiar power."
"If we wish to reclaim her future, we must conduct another transaction with that higher-dimensional existence. But judging from her current state, that form of communication has already been severed. I have no way of reestablishing contact for her."
This was not Vill-V shirking responsibility. After all, Occultist had always attempted to establish contact with those existences—and even she had failed entirely.
Upon hearing that Miss Edison had no future, the surrounding air fell into silence.
Reanna clapped her hands lightly and comforted everyone. "Don't worry. As long as there is something I can do, I will certainly give it my all."
If Otto allows you to give it your all... Vill-V thought.
That was also why Vill-V had not allowed Reanna to immediately use Abyss Flower. Who knew whether Otto might seize the opportunity to tamper with something?
But now was not the time to say something so tactless. Vill-V followed Reanna's lead and added, "That's right, that's right. After such a disaster, the fact that everyone can still gather together is already worth celebrating, isn't it?"
Vill-V nudged Welt in the back, signaling for him to say something—after all, he was the "mood-maker" of Tesla's team.
Welt froze, failing to grasp Vill-V's intent. Instead, he poured cold water on the mood. "Uh... as long as no one died, that's a good thing, right? Look, maybe Miss Edison won't even need Aide's assistance anymore. She might have a computer's capabilities herself."
"You call that comforting?" Tesla snapped irritably, smacking Welt on the head and making him yelp.
Having finished absorbing the electricity, Edison smiled and closed the sports car's trunk. "Alright, alright. Welt, I appreciate the thought. Mm, tonight I'll cover the bill. We'll book out Eleven Madison Park in Manhattan for a celebration banquet. Please be sure to honor us with your presence."
"But..." Tesla glanced at the Rolls-Royce with the blown tire and scratched her head. Without the sports car, they were still dozens of miles from Manhattan. They could hardly walk there.
"Hehe, don't worry, Mentor Tesla." Vill-V snapped her fingers, drawing everyone's attention. "Isn't this conductor still here?"
Driving a derailed train into Manhattan? Just imagining the ticket made one wince.
...
Outside Eleven Madison Park in Manhattan, a majestic locomotive stood parked, attracting the attention of passersby.
The police issued a ticket for it. This was the first time Vill-V's Cosmic Juggernaut had ever received a fine.
But such a minor penalty meant nothing to a wealthy magnate like Edison. With a grand wave of her hand, she declared she would reimburse everything.
"Speaking of which... aren't you going to introduce this conductor Vill-V? Who exactly is she?"
Using her newly acquired electromagnetic ability, Edison levitated a wine glass and floated over to Tesla.
Although she already knew that the imposing locomotive, the Cosmic Juggernaut, was a Divine Key with spatial authority, she was still curious how a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old girl could control such an artifact.
"Oh, she's my disciple. Well? Impressive, right? Jealous?" Tesla, reeking of alcohol, boasted proudly, as if her disciple's achievements were her own.
The twin-tailed girl cast a skeptical glance. "Since when have you ever taken on a disciple?"
Clearly, any normal person would remain cautious toward such a sudden stranger. Only carefree Tesla would be so unconcerned.
Edison sighed inwardly. If Tesla continued like this, sooner or later she'd be swindled down to her underwear.
"Hehe, of course, hic—because my disciple here comes from the future."
"The future?" Edison widened her eyes in astonishment. Though she had encountered an eleven-dimensional existence, this was her first time meeting someone from the future of her own world's timeline.
Compared to traversing spatial dimensions, time was an even more elusive existence.
Hearing this claim, Nancy grew more cautious. She pulled the twin-tailed girl into a quieter corner and, after glancing around, asked carefully, "What did she come here for?"
"Uh... no idea..." Tesla thought for a moment, then shook her head.
"No idea?"
To keep someone of unknown purpose at one's side—Tesla was far too careless. Fortunately, Vill-V harbored no hostility.
Still, what exactly were her intentions? That remained to be seen. Even if she had saved her, caution could not be abandoned. One matter was one matter. At worst, she could repay the debt with her life—but she could not allow Vill-V to harm Tesla and the others.
Swaying slightly, Tesla interrupted Edison's thoughts. "Maybe, hic—maybe I sent her to clean up your mess?"
Every time Tesla drank, she became unruly. Yet each time she sobered up... she had no idea how disgraceful her conduct had been.
"Heh." Nancy lowered her gaze to the girl only slightly shorter than herself and said with a mischievous smile, "From what I see, it's more likely the disciple came to save the master. Maybe before long... you'll die an untimely death."
"Iron Rooster, who are you cursing to die!" Tesla retorted drunkenly, pressing a finger against Nancy's chest. "Don't think being a bit older makes you impressive. My disciple is much older than you!"
...
The banquet was lively. Though, in essence, they had merely resolved a disaster Edison herself had created, the joy and lingering sorrow of surviving catastrophe still needed release.
Yet there was one person in the restaurant who remained especially silent. He stood at the edge of the venue with his head lowered, as though everything had nothing to do with him—almost as if he had lost his beloved, his very soul.
"What's wrong? Aren't you going to join them for a drink?" Vill-V had been observing this silent Finn the entire time.