The man in the white coat stood awkwardly outside the door, scratching his head.

He had black hair, black eyes, and yellow skin, with messy hair that looked like a bird's nest. His gold-rimmed glasses gave him a bookish air. He wasn't tall, about 5'10", and wore an ill-fitting white coat that made him look somewhat comical.

Not far from him stood a small girl, about 5 feet tall - just the height of a corporal. She had white hair and black eyes, with slightly curly hair that fell to her shoulders. Dressed in blue clothes and boots, she was cute but had an air of aloofness about her.

The girl spoke with a slightly childish voice, full of reproach:

"Director, you shouldn't have told him the time. He might not be able to accept the current situation."

The Institute Director in the white coat grabbed his messy hair, looking very troubled. His expression was conflicted as he stammered:

"But... but... he told me to trust my comrade!"

His conflicted tone even carried a hint of joy and pride.

Trust your comrade.

These four words meant that the other party had accepted his identity as a comrade.

Those who share the same ideals are called comrades.

We are comrades now.

The feeling of being accepted felt good.

"Alright, alright, you've already said it anyway. I didn't expect you to keep your mouth shut when I first asked you to welcome him..."

The blue-clad girl waved her hand dismissively, speaking with a maturity beyond her years:

"The most important thing now is to keep him alive!"

The Director immediately said, "I've examined him. His body is very healthy, his mind is clear. Although his Ability is still in a sealed state, his life should be safe!"

"That's not what I meant!" the girl said irritably.

"I'm worried he might commit suicide, understand? Suicide!

If you woke up from a nap and suddenly found yourself 1200 years in the future, where you don't know anyone, and the world has become incredibly dangerous, could you accept it? How long would it take you to adapt? What if your beliefs crumble?

We've finally managed to save one, if he dies, all the money I've spent will go down the drain!"

The Director was stunned by the girl's words, not knowing how to respond. He could only stand there anxiously, grabbing at his messy hair.

He wanted to say that he didn't think this comrade was so fragile, that he seemed quite optimistic...

But the Director was also afraid that this optimism might just be a protective facade.

Suddenly, a third voice spoke up.

"You don't need to worry about suicide," Jiang Bai said, appearing at the doorway without warning. He spoke seriously:

"I still have one thing to do. I can't die before I accomplish it."

As he said this, his expression was particularly solemn. There was a kind of sacred quality about him, as if he carried a holy mission.

This mission was above life itself, above everything!

The Director and the girl were struck silent by his aura, unable to speak for a moment.

A few seconds later, the Director weakly asked, "Um... ahem... Comrade, may I ask what this thing is?"

Jiang Bai answered smoothly:

"To use the remaining time to break through my own limitations, to do more valuable things in the limited time I have, and to strive to leave no regrets!"

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

He didn't forget to add, "Due to the need for confidentiality, I can only disclose this much to you. Please understand!"

Hearing these words, the Director was filled with respect!

As expected of an old comrade from 1200 years ago, his ideological awareness was indeed high!

Even the girl felt a bit ashamed, lowering her head with slightly reddened cheeks.

While he had such high ideological awareness, she had been suspecting that he might commit suicide due to a collapse of faith. A sense of shame welled up in her, feeling as if she had judged a gentleman by her own petty standards!

The old comrade from 1200 years ago had given the two of them a small taste of culture shock.

After a moment, the Director's excitement finally calmed down. "Comrade... are you done being alone?"

Jiang Bai nodded and asked:

"Yes. I heard you say earlier that there are others like me?"

The Cicada Project was top secret. Even as a participant, Jiang Bai's access was very limited. He could only view information about domestic participants.

Jiang Bai remembered that there were nine people in total who participated in the Cicada Project domestically, and he could recite the files of each one.

If these people were like him, they might also awaken in this era!

One of life's four great joys is meeting an old friend in a foreign land.

Now, Jiang Bai was truly a stranger in a strange land. If he could get news of his old companions, that would be the best.

"Well, it's a bit complicated," the Director said, scratching his head nervously.

"Comrade, I don't know why you were sealed, but based on the information we have, we can only deduce that you must have been involved in a highly classified project.

From what we understand, there weren't many participants in this project, and even fewer who knew about it.

But one thing is certain: we found eighteen capsules like the one that sealed you. Seventeen of them were already empty, having been opened before the fifth Mysterious Tide arrived..."

Is that so?

Jiang Bai's gaze deepened, lost in thought.

The Cicada Project had no more than twenty participants. Jiang Bai's Ability was the strongest, so his sealing took the longest time, and he would need the longest time to awaken.

In other words, the other seventeen people had all successfully awakened at the correct time?

If they had all succeeded, why had this era turned out like this?

Jiang Bai shook his head slightly.

Regardless of whether the previous seventeen had successfully awakened, from the perspective of results, the Cicada Project had come infinitely close to failure.

They had not managed to complete the plan to save all of humanity.

Now, this heavy responsibility fell on Jiang Bai's shoulders alone.

Bzzt—

As the three were talking, the overhead light made a strange noise.

The next second,

The entire room was plunged into darkness!

In the darkness, Jiang Bai held his voice recorder, the only weapon he had on hand. He vigilantly scanned his surroundings.

An enemy attack?!

Had it come so quickly?!

He had just awakened, the Cicada Project had already come infinitely close to failure, and Jiang Bai might be the last spark of hope, the sole executor of this world-saving plan. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call himself a savior...

In such a dire situation, the enemy had still managed to find him and launch an attack at the first opportunity!

This showed just how important Jiang Bai was!

But... it didn't matter!

A cold glint flashed in Jiang Bai's eyes. No matter who the enemy was, he was confident he could repel them!

This was the confidence his three Abilities gave him.

At this moment, the training Jiang Bai had received in the special camp came into play!

Quick as lightning, Jiang Bai stepped forward in the darkness, precisely shielding the Director and the girl. He instructed them in a low voice:

"Stay against the wall and protect yourselves!"

Every action, every response, was textbook perfect, beyond reproach!

Even if Old Ma were here, he'd have to give Jiang Bai full marks for this reaction!

"It's not an enemy attack..."

The Director, protected behind Jiang Bai, scratched his head embarrassedly and said:

"We... haven't paid the electricity bill. The power's been cut off."

Jiang Bai: ......

Director: ......

Holding his voice recorder, poised for combat, Jiang Bai didn't know how to react.

They had... lost power?

In the darkness, only the sound of the three people breathing could be heard, making the situation feel particularly awkward.

To break this awkwardness, the Director decided to say something.

What should he say...

He cleared his throat and said solemnly:

"Welcome to the Ninth Research Institute!"