Year Fifty-Six of the Father God.

Charlene and her research group had already done the verification and validation process of their hypothesis. And the result was that it was valid. It meant that their discovery could change the way humans look at their reality.

Furthermore, Tesna as the president of Hinon Science Institute had also approved of the result.

So she had to make an appointment in which she could demonstrate to the academic world her current discovery.

“Between the discovery of the microorganism and the discovery of the smaller thing called an atom, it is so close because we experimented with the device that can magnify the small object we observe.” Charlene sighed as the two discoveries were the result of her and her research group.

Both were important discoveries since they could alter the perception of everyone toward the reality the humans were currently in.

However since her research group was focused on finding an alternative energy source, Charlene had to relegate the discovery of the microorganism to another group that would develop it.

So she came to the Hinon Science Institute President’s room. She gently knocked on the door.

“Come in.” the reply came from the other side of the door. Charlene knew that Tesna was inside so she opened the door gently.

Seeing the person who came to his room, Tesna knew that Charlene had something she wanted to convey.

“President, it is about the discovery that my research group has discovered…” Charlene could see the room. The room had a table at the other end of the room where Tesna sat down on a chair and checked some documents. In front of that table was another chair which Charlene got closer to.

“Which one? The atom one or the microorganism one?” Tesna raised his head and gestured for Charlene to sit down.

“As a research group that has the goal of finding an alternative energy source, we can only focus on one project. We decided to give the discovery of the microorganism to someone else to develop.” Charlene sat down and said that.

“I see. So what are you going to do next? The small units that form the thing around us, what can you develop from it?” Tesna asked. He wanted to know what kind of change this discovery could do to human civilization.

“If we can find out how they interact with each other, we can even create an energy source better than the current oil-based fuel. Not only that but we can create new materials if we can know about the transformation that occurs if we do something to it. That is what I believe, sir.”

“So material and energy is covered. Good enough to me.” Tesna looked at Charlene and was satisfied to see the growth of such a prodigy. He also believed what she said since that kind of understanding would come out sooner or later.

“Other than that…I believe…” Charlene apparently was not finished as she continued.

“…that this discovery can lead us to a new kind of weaponry. If we know how the atom is structured, we can also discover ways to split it apart, changing its material composition.”

“!” Tesna realized that could be possible and stared at Charlene with his eyes. It could also lead to progress in the creation of the world-destroying weapon.

“But this is still theory. As for what will truly happen in the field, it is not for us to decide.” Charlene let out a breath before she said this. It was still a hypothesis that she found about the potential other discoveries with the atom as the subject.

“That is true. We are currently going through the phase of trial and error. Your presence here reduces the risk of going into a detour, making it easier for us to discover many things that we don’t know about while the resources allocated will not go to waste. It is delightful.” Tesna looked at the document on his desk once more.

He then realized that Charlene had gone silent. But from her expression, he knew that Charlene had something to say.

“Do you have something to say? It’s fine to say it here.” Tesna’s tone became softer.

“If a weapon could be developed through my research group, will the Federation use it?” Charlene asked in a voice that could be counted as a whisper.

“Actually, the Federation will use it. The best way to use a weapon is through deterrent effect. That way, anyone would think twice before doing something major. That includes weapons based on your discovery.

“But if the deterrent is not enough, I am afraid that we really have to use it.”

Hearing what Tesna said caused Charlene to clench her hands tighter. She felt a chaotic feeling stirred in her heart. She knew that there was potential to use the knowledge she had discovered to create a weapon from it.

Even though it was just a theoretical weapon, if it were to be realized, Charlene did not know what to do. At this moment, Charlene had a realization. It was a bit faint but that realization allowed her to see what kind of power knowledge had.

And that was, ‘What can create heaven can also create hell’.

 

-

 

Charlene had a routine. She would go to school in the morning, go to the Hinon Science Institute in the afternoon and go home in the evening.

She had done this for several months and this suited her.

One day she was escorted home by Butz, she looked outside the car’s window and saw the bustling city she lived in. She had numerous thoughts that all of the scenery she saw would change one day.

She also thought about her recent discovery. Though it was only small, the implication the discovery could cause in the future was expected to be big.

‘What should I do? Should I continue this path or change to another?’ Charlene thought as she was afraid of the implication of her discovery.

She had a strong feeling that her discovery would be the basis for the world-destroying weapon and that caused her current thought.

‘World-destroying weapon…the powerhouse of the continent is researching that right now and I feel like I opened a door to something I should not open. But my discovery is also necessary to understand our everyday reality.

‘Should I hinder the technological progress just because it potentially could make a world-destroying weapon out of it?’

Charlene was so lost in thought that even Butz realized it. He did not interrupt her however fearing that it would be something important.

Her feelings were not without reason. From the books she had read, many discoveries also led to the improvement of the weaponry of humanity. But to be the one who was responsible for so many potential lives to be taken was not something she could easily dismiss.

‘Is this how those inventors feel when they find out that their discoveries are used for killing, especially toward a fellow human?’ Charlene could feel that her breathing became a bit heavy as her heart beat faster.

But Charlene wanted humanity to triumph in the Star Battle. From what she had learned of the Star Battle through the Father God Congregation, it was a moment where humanity was tested. At least the higher-ups of the Father God Congregation thought as such.

Therefore, the human race as a whole needed to be united and developed. That was the intention of the Father God Congregation upon its creation.

Anything hindering that progress would be swept to the side if not eliminated. The method of the Father God Congregation was actually rather straightforward.

At that moment, Charlene realized that the organization had developed talents so that they could be of use to the human race. Tesna told her that the organization always wanted the human race to thrive and they mostly spend their time in the shadow of civilization.

 

‘There is also an issue with the Heavensend Kingdom. The Father God Congregation is alert whenever something from that kingdom comes up. Is the Heavensend Kingdom that obstructive toward the development of the human race?’

Charlene could only think like that because she was not there with her own body to see it for herself. But according to what Tesna had seen from the report, it was actually far worse than even the lowest powerhouse in the Comberth Continent.

When it said worse, it was in society, technology, military, medical, and even planning.

They looked as if they had lost the reminder of their predecessor regarding Star Battle.

But all of that was not a thing Charlene could affect directly. Strangely though, she thought that sooner or later the influence of the Heavensend Kingdom was going to reach Hinon Federation. When that time happened…

She shook her head, clearing her head from distracting thoughts.

Back to the issue, Charlene was hesitating and she needed more time to contemplate.

“We’ve arrived.” Butz suddenly announced that and Charlene was stunned. She did not expect that she would think about something for so long.

“Oh, yes.” Charlene nodded and opened the car’s door. Butz followed as he also secured the nearby perimeter. Returning to her home made her mind calm down.

The familiar scene of the front of her house caused Charlene to think about her family. How the structure of the building was using the latest construction method as well as new materials. This was told by her father when she asked about the house.

Then she also thought that the construction of the fortification at the strategic location as well as the border was also using similar methods and material.

“It is actually the two sides of the same coin.” Charlene murmured in realization before she opened the door to her house.

Opening it, she saw that her father was reading the last part of the newspaper while her mother prepared dinner in the kitchen as the smell of something delicious spread to the entire room.

“Welcome home, dear. How is your day?” her father saw that Charlene entered the house so he greeted her. He also noticed that Mister Butz was following behind Charlene.

“It is as usual, Dad. What is it for dinner?” Charlene replied calmly while asking.

“Hmm, it is actually mushroom soup with some giant beast’s meat!” her father said with a smile.

“That is a bit unusual. What’s the occasion?”

“Well, it is actually for you.” Her father looked at Charlene with warm eyes and expression.

“For me?” Charlene tilted her head. She did not understand why but this made her feel the warmth of family.

“Truthfully we are concerned about you. You’ve been out of it lately so we thought that we have to do something to lift the burden that you shoulder no matter how small it is.”

Charlene was stunned. Was her condition noticed by her parents?

She was powerless about it and that caused her mind to think about it constantly, trapping her in a thought loop but finding no solution whatsoever.

‘No, actually the answer is obvious.’ Charlene had a sudden realization and knew what to do onward.

“Ah, Charlene. Dear, you are already here.” Her mother’s voice came from the kitchen as she emerged from there.

“Hmm.” Charlene nodded as she felt that she finally had the answer she needed.

‘I will carry the burden, even if that burden is the life lost through my discovery! I will make it so that knowledge creates a heaven for everyone. Everyone, including my family. I am truly indebted toward them.’

She took a deep breath before saying, “I want the meat!”

 

-

 

The time Charlene spent with her family passed quickly. After that, she proceeded to inform the academic world about her discovery. It would be the paradigm change for the human and the rest of the civilization.

But when the day came…

“The preparation is done. All we have to do is to report it.” Charlene had convened with her research group. Even though they were a bit tired, they felt proud of this discovery.

“Yes! With this, all our efforts so far will be acknowledged by the academic world and even humanity!” a man in his thirties clenched his hand as he said this.

“This is the moment we have been waiting for. Charlene, do your best.” A woman looked at Charlene with a smile.

“I will.” Charlene said as she prepared one last time for her presentation to the academic world.

The paper had a noticeable title on it.

[Possible Energy Source]

That was the title of Charlene’s presentation. In it, she presented how the small unit called an atom came to be and some of her hypotheses regarding some of the energy produced by atoms reacting to something.

For her, this was not an invention since this was already in effect but a way for human to change their perspective regarding how they saw the current situation with more precision.

But then Charlene felt that the ground on which she stood shook slightly. Not only that but she also heard something like a loud noise came from outside.

She and her group had felt the same and came out from the room. In the hallway, they could hear some people screaming and also saw some people running away in fear.

‘There is something going on!’ Charlene thought as she noticed that her bodyguard was coming to her location from the hallway.

“It’s good that you are here, Miss.” Butz said in a grave tone.

“What’s going on!?” Charlene went straight to the case and asked directly.

“The Snatcher has launched an attack right here! Miss Charlene, it would be best to go to a safe place immediately. I will escort you.”

“How about the other people? My group?”

“I am sorry but you are my priority. They will be here in a few minutes so please be quick about your decision!” Butz urged as he looked back at the place where the Snatcher was supposed to strike.

“Damn!” Charlene then informed her group about the attack and decided to spread out so that they would be harder to catch.

As for help, they would only be available in ten minutes at the fastest. Charlene knew from Butz's urgent voice that the security was probably eliminated from the attack.

‘To think that the Snatcher will be directly attacking this place now of all times. Is it because of the large number of talented people gathering here?’ Charlene thought as she moved away from her previous location with Butz escorting her out.

Butz was currently wielding a pistol that he always carried. Charlene noticed the grave expression on Butz’s face and knew that the situation was not good. But she refrained from asking as that would waste some time and probably distract them from the situation.

Butz and Charlene moved from one end of the hallway to another before Butz positioned himself at the corner of the crossroad in the hallway, using it as a cover. Right behind him, Charlene saw that Butz had gestured for her to stop.

Then Charlene realized that the Snatcher had arrived at their current location and moved around searching for something. Probably people that they had targeted.

Butz was not moving for a while. As the one who was behind Butz, Charlene could see two people moving to the crossroad in the hallway, right to their position!

Butz kept the pistol in his hand tight as he waited. Charlene’s heart pounded from nervousness but when the two people from Snatcher already right in front of them, Butz moved like lightning.

He slammed the blunt part of his pistol to the neck of one of the two people. Charlene finally could see the appearance of the two.

Their attire was that of a militia with some mask protecting their faces. They carried with them a rifle and something that Charlene knew to be an assault rifle from the military book she had read. Butz was taking down one with the rifle swiftly while Charlene tackled down the one with the assault rifle that probably was smuggled out from somewhere.

Both of them unexpectedly succeed as both men fell down. The one with the assault rifle grunted while the one with the rifle was knocked unconscious by Butz. Butz made his hit count by hitting the man on the neck with precision.

Then he helped Charlene knock the second man easily since the man was down on the floor.

Butz took their weapon and wielded it for his own use while Charlene could only look at the scene with a blank expression.

“Thank you, Miss.” Butz was smiling at Charlene for her assistance. Then Butz thought of something and gave Charlene the pistol he had hold before.

“Here, take this for self-protection.”

The moment Charlene was holding the pistol that she always dreamed of holding, she suddenly felt like she was familiar with how to operate with the pistol. She spun the pistol around before she held it according to the experience she suddenly had.

“Well, now I feel more secure.” Charlene truly felt that and did not expect another help to come in the form of a pistol-wielding experience. Now, she was sure that she would not lose to the professional.

Butz who had seen that was surprised to see it.

‘Is it true that the afterlife model Miss Charlene has told the academic world could help someone gain experience they never have before?’