"Hmm..." Adam scrutinized the tiny grain of white sand with utmost seriousness. It was a fine, white crystal, like a grain of salt, only barely larger than a speck of dust. If Sophia hadn't insisted it was important, Adam would never have noticed the inconspicuous sand resting quietly in her palm. To please Sophia, Adam put on a solemn face and performed all sorts of research, but in the end, he could only look up at her with a blank expression: "So... what is it?"
Sophia was concise and firm: "Genesis Sand."
"Huh?" Adam was clueless about Eastern mythology, totally missing the point that would make any Easterner tremble with excitement like they'd caught a fever.
Sophia gave a simple explanation: "This is the first hyperspace substance I've discovered."
That was simple enough—Adam understood immediately. After two seconds of stunned silence, all his flirtatious, scheming thoughts were swept away by shock: "This—this is a hyperspace substance? You mean, this is—"
"Ever since Tiberius Laboratory was built—no, ever since I first gained access to hyperspace—this is the first time I've seen a native substance in hyperspace." Sophia held up the grain of sand, her face full of excitement. "This means hyperspace isn't just a void—there are materials in there that can be recognized in three dimensions! Maybe there are other, even more abundant substances! We've made some progress exploring nature, outer space, life, origins, and mathematics, but today is the first time I've had a way to systematically study the hyperspace we're in!"
Adam's mind went blank. He stared at the grain of white sand, wanting to touch it but too afraid. In the end, a hidden trace of fear flashed across his handsome face. His voice was low: "So, does that mean... there could be life in hyperspace too?"
Native inhabitants of hyperspace? Or maybe the "owners" of hyperspace? If hyperspace really had owners, and if those owners ever came knocking, what would happen to the magnificent Zade Empire, built with so much effort, and its even grander ambitions for the future?
"Yep!" Sophia was absolutely thrilled, completely missing Adam's worried expression. "It's possible, you know! Look, I'm already starting research! This grain of sand is no ordinary thing—I've made all kinds of breakthroughs with it, including the possibility of identifying three-dimensional life forms in hyperspace. It's all written down in this notebook. Let me tell you about it..."
Buzz. It was like electricity zapped through Adam's brain. As Sophia turned away, a surge of wild, violent thoughts erupted in his heart.