73 Trial 03

◎Dr. Xu's second trial is destined to go down in human history◎

Dr. Xu wasn't surprised by Zhu Heng's questioning. "What you're saying about seeing the future by entering a higher dimension is theoretically possible. We can combine three-dimensional life forms into four-dimensional life forms simply by finding a way, like folding six flat squares to form a three-dimensional cube. This is the simplest way to move from a low dimension to a higher dimension."

"It still sounds like trouble."

"Not bad, not bad," Dr. Xu laughed. "Due to our limited visual field, we live in three dimensions and cannot imagine what higher-dimensional worlds are like. Therefore, even if we understand the principles of dimensional transformation, we can't transform ourselves into four-dimensional beings. If you can't understand this, imagine drawing a two-dimensional ant on a piece of paper with a square next to it. To the ant, the square, which is on the same plane as it, is just a straight line. Only if it jumps out of the two-dimensional plane and looks down from the three-dimensional world can it see the square in its entirety."

Dr. Xu paused at this point.

Zhu Heng raised his eyebrows slightly.

After a while, there were light footsteps in the corridor and a patrol officer passed by. Everything was normal in the rooms on both sides of the corridor.

After the patrol, the corridor returned to silence. Dr. Xu continued, "At this point, if you draw five more squares, you'll be able to fold a cube. In other words, the two-dimensional ants must enter the three-dimensional world to transform their two-dimensional patterns into three-dimensional shapes. And just like us three-dimensional beings, we must first enter the four-dimensional world to transform our three-dimensional creatures into four-dimensional creatures."

Zhu Heng asked, "What about Liu Qiao'er?"

Dr. Xu explained, "Even Xiao Liu and her kind are still only three-dimensional creatures. For some reason, they briefly passed through the fourth dimension."

"Some reason?"

"For example, being lifted up from the three-dimensional world by a fourth-dimensional being and then put back down again."

"Is there no way to enter a higher dimension without external help?"

"It's basically impossible. Unless this person is originally a four-dimensional creature, and after being unfolded, he is reduced to the three-dimensional world. In this case, he only needs to fold himself up again to return to the higher dimension." Dr. Xu said meaningfully.

Zhu Heng asked: "Since this method is so difficult, how do you foresee the future?"

Dr. Xu smiled and said, "I have always believed that there is no method simpler than using our brain. It is humanity's most powerful weapon."

"you mean?"

Dr. Xu pointed to his head. "I use calculations, lots of calculations. Any event can be successfully predicted through extensive calculations, from big things like my student Augustus rescuing me by providing you with clues, to small things like the patrol patterns of this high-ranking prison, like how often the patrol officers appear in the corridor outside."

Zhu Heng looked around the cage, which was becoming increasingly tight. He was silent for a moment, then suddenly changed the subject: "Why are you imprisoned here?"

"Same reason as you," Dr. Xu said. "They think you and I will destroy human civilization."

"What did you do?"

"I destroyed the fragments of civilization in order to suspend the 'Universal History' project. I believe you would do the same if it were you."

Zhu Heng said, "If the fragments of civilization are lost, we can find them again. If the 'General History of the Universe' is shelved, we can find a new project. I'm afraid they arrested you for more than just this reason."

Dr. Xu laughed silently. "That's right. They're afraid I'll betray humanity. They think my life's research is about becoming the creator of a new human race."

"What about the real situation?"

"This is the truth. I did build a brand new ecosystem without telling humans, but this was just my experiment. In reality, I don't intend to betray humanity as they think. Just like you, as the protagonist of the prophecy, don't necessarily intend to destroy civilization."

Zhu Heng frowned. "I don't quite understand. If you can predict every possible future event through calculation, why are you still imprisoned here? Unless you..."

"Intentional?" Dr. Xu continued, smiling and shaking her head. "Every choice we make could lead to a completely different future. The probability of each future occurring is different, and the sum is 1. If I want to take the path with the highest probability, I won't interfere. However, if I don't want to see that future become a reality..."

"You will make new choices, making the probability of another future greater than the original one?" Zhu Heng continued her words.

"Yes. But there always comes a time when you realize that no matter what choice you make, there is only one path before you, and that is your destiny. Whether I am judged by humans, or you are captured and brought here, it is the inevitable future for you and me. There is no one in this world with such magical powers. You are not, and neither am I, but we can find a way out of the shackles. For example..."

She turned her head to look out the window. A ray of light appeared in the dark night, heralding the arrival of a new day.

"For example, someone will take you away later and escort you to the Galactic Human Inquisition for questioning. But don't worry, you will soon pose no threat to them."

"How fast is fast?"

"Right away. One minute." Dr. Xu said.

At this time, a group of fully armed law enforcement officers appeared at the end of the corridor, followed by a black-robed judge.

They quickly arrived at the door of the room where Zhu Heng was imprisoned. Just as they were about to open the door, Dr. Xu suddenly looked at the judge and said, "I've figured it out."

The well-trained law enforcement officers present turned a deaf ear to Dr. Xu's words, and only the judge glanced at her.

Dr. Xu stared into the judge's eyes and said calmly, "I will tell you the truth about my betrayal."

The judge stood still.

On one side is Zhu Heng, who is predicted to destroy human civilization in that important prophecy, and on the other side is Dr. Xu, who has betrayed humanity to an extent no less serious than the former. He cannot decide at will how to balance the two.

Dr. Xu lowered his voice and said, "This concerns the survival of mankind. You must take me to see your chief judge now."

The judge's eyes moved slightly, and he slowly raised his palm: "Wait."

The law enforcement officer stopped and looked at the judge.

The upright hand suddenly turned, with the palm facing inward, and the arm and palm moved downward in the direction of Dr. Xu.

The judge's face was stern, and he said in a deep voice, "Take her away."

-

The second trial of Dr. Xu is destined to go down in human history.

First came the representatives from the various trial seats who came for Zhu Heng. It was not until they sat down in the audience that they unexpectedly learned that the subject of today's trial had become Dr. Xu.

Secondly, before the trial officially began, Dr. Xu requested that the trial be broadcast live to the entire galaxy, including colonies and prisons.

The judges were somewhat hesitant about this request.

Dr. Xu stood in the center of the courtroom, his shrewd gaze fixed on the presiding judge. "I believe that everyone in the galaxy needs to know what I'm about to say. If you disagree with the live broadcast, I won't reveal a single word. Of course, if you're worried about me saying something inflammatory, you can interrupt the live broadcast at any time."

Thus began the trial of the century, broadcast live to all of humanity.

Inquisitor: You said the truth behind your betrayal of humanity concerns the life and death of humanity, so what is that?

Dr. Xu: First of all, I want to correct you. From the beginning to the end, I have never betrayed anyone. Everything I did was to save humanity.

Judge: I remember you mentioned the "real disaster" in the last trial. Is the salvation of humanity that you are talking about now related to this disaster?

Dr. Xu: Yes.

Inquisitor: Is it worse than the destruction of human civilization?

Dr. Xu: Of course, a greater disaster than the destruction of civilization is the destruction of humanity itself.

Inquisitor: When the sun died, our ancestors panicked, fearing humanity's demise. But this also prompted humanity to leave the solar system and settle in the vast galaxy. We lost one home, but also gained a greater world. We have such a glorious past; nothing can defeat us.

Dr. Xu: But all this will end, and we will not have a new home.

Inquisitor: I don't understand what you mean. We have the Milky Way. Even if we lose this place, we can always leave the Milky Way and head out into the universe to find a new base...

The Inquisitor continued to ramble on, and Dr. Xu finally dropped his first bombshell of the day: "Humanity has no future. The lifespan of the universe has reached its end."

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire courtroom fell silent.

Inquisitor: What of the universe?

Dr. Xu: The lifespan of the universe. Even if we develop into a Level 3 civilization, we cannot escape the catastrophe of the universe's own demise. No one can reverse this trend. Our civilization has developed over hundreds of billions of years to reach this point, but in the end, it will disappear along with the universe. This is a tragedy for all of humanity, but we all have no choice but to face and accept it.

Some people in the audience gradually began to sob quietly.

Inquisitor: How did you discover this?

Dr. Xu: About a decade ago, through extensive calculations, I discovered that countless stars in the universe are irreversibly consuming their nuclear fuel. Within a decade or even decades, they will soon exhaust this energy, cease to shine, and die. Soon, they will become black holes, and all matter in the universe will disintegrate into electrons and neutrons. At that point, not only will we lose our homes, but even our bodies will be gone.

Inquisitor: Have you found a way out?

Dr. Xu: Sorry, no. When humanity loses its home and disintegrates into tiny particles, perhaps we will have new bodies, but they will definitely not resemble our current form. Without stars, we will wander the universe in a new form, relying on the power of black holes to barely survive. Humanity can continue to survive for a while, but eventually, the universe will collapse and perish completely.

Inquisitor: It sounds like there is no hope, but you just said you were preparing to save humanity.

Dr. Xu: Yes, finding a way out in desperate situations is the key to human development and civilization.

Inquisitor: By doing this, can you save humanity?

Dr. Xu: No. I simply calculated and looked at countless possible futures for humanity and selected the optimal solution. The probability of its success is 0.01%.

Inquisitor: 0.01 percent?

Dr. Xu: Please don't be surprised. This is the path with the highest probability of success among all the options available to humanity. And this is based on the premise that there are variables. If this variable fails, then the probability of successfully saving humanity is zero.

Inquisitor: What do you mean by variable?

Dr. Xu: It’s one person.

Inquisitor: Who?

Dr. Xu: Zhu Heng.

The whole audience was in an uproar.