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Today, the lab was especially quiet. The staff had taken on all the tasks that required working in the farthest corners of the lab—either everyone had suddenly become concerned about the problems piling up there, or nobody simply wanted to incur Dottore's wrath today.
I didn’t really need them anyway.
Dottore looked irritably at the bright lilac puddle that had burned through yet another container and was now spreading slowly across the floor, losing its original color with every passing second. The deathly silence was broken only by the quiet clicking of the instruments on the table, as well as the occasional tapping of fingers—Dottore was trying with all his might to understand why he kept failing time and time again.
All previous attempts to transfer the substance into transportable containers had failed due to an unexpected reaction between the contents and the container materials. And attempt No. 257 had exhausted all possibilities for altering the nature and composition of the container. No matter what I do, a container made of any material reacts with the substance, leading to leakage and the spoilage of an important product.
Dottore gritted his teeth and looked back down at the table.
The substance accelerates its decomposition and breaks any material it touches. The potential applications for this compound are simply enormous, but what good is that if I can’t take it outside the lab?
He leaned over a blank sheet of paper to make another entry.
Attempt No. 258. The use of…
His hand froze over the paper as he frantically tried to come up with a solution. What else could he possibly replace, when every option had already been tested several times? No matter what he changed, the product refused to be preserved in any way outside of laboratory equipment that maintained the required temperature, pressure, concentration, and purity of the environment. Creating a compact container that mimics laboratory conditions is simply unrealistic. What good is a substance that requires a container the size of a sumpter beast for storage?
Attempt No. 258. The use of… the use of…
Gritting his teeth again, he crumpled the paper and angrily threw his notes aside. The papers scattered across the room, falling on him and the lab table like a rain of sad, fruitless ideas.
“What’s going on here?” a familiar voice came from behind him, and Dottore turned sharply.
“I didn’t hear you come in. What are you here for?”
Pantalone stood in the doorway, thoughtfully examining the papers scattered on the floor. With a quiet clatter of his shoes, he stepped closer, trying not to walk on the papers.
“Sorry, but you were so deep in thought that you wouldn’t have noticed even if a frostarm lawachurl had attacked you,” he said, bending down to pick up one of the papers. “‘Attempt number one hundred forty-six.’ Looks like you’re having trouble with something?”
“There have been more attempts,” Dottore snapped. “Are you here on business, or just to chat?”
Pantalone placed the paper on the table and sighed.
“You didn’t show up at today’s Fatui meeting, and you haven’t come to see me in over a week. I started to worry.”
“I had more important things to do.”
That answer seemed to upset Pantalone.
“Is that so? Well, I understand that your work is your life. Forget about the Fatui meeting, but couldn’t you have at least sent one of your subordinates to inform me that you wouldn't be attending our meeting? I turned down a promising contract for it.”
Dottore looked at Pantalone for a moment, then sighed.
“I suppose I really should have warned you. I completely lost track of time.”
They were silent for a while, and finally, a smile returned to Pantalone’s lips.
“I know I’m not in a position to help you with your work. However, maybe this will cheer you up?”
Pantalone took out a light-colored box and held it out to him. Dottore opened the lid slightly, revealing…
“What is this, chocolate candy?” he snorted. “My experiments keep failing one after another, and you think some candy will comfort me?”
Pantalone shook his head.
“‘Some candy’ won't. But candy with a Padisarah filling absolutely would.”
Dottore swallowed.
“With a Padisarah filling…?”
“I knew you’d be interested,” Pantalone said, smiling even wider. “Try it. They were delivered from Sumeru especially for you.”
Dottore looked at the candies in confusion. He had never admitted to anyone just how much he actually loved sweets. In fact, he generally preferred to keep his preferences to himself so as not to become the subject of unnecessary discussion and gossip. But Pantalone…
They often spent time together. And Pantalone had probably long since noticed that during their meetings, Dottore barely touched the normal food, but instead enjoyed every sweet treat that happened to be on their table. Perhaps that was one of the reasons why the pastry shops and cafes near the Northland Bank had begun to flourish so much lately.
You probably know me all too well by now.
Unable to resist, Dottore picked up a piece of candy and bit off half of it. There was a pleasant crunch, and he examined the candy's contents with interest. On the outside was a delicate layer of sweet chocolate, and inside was a light lilac-colored cream filling that was about to start dripping onto the floor. And between them, separating the delicate chocolate and the even more delicate cream, was a layer of crispy, firm wafer.
Delicious. The filling is delicate and light, and the chocolate is smooth and very rich. And the firm, crispy wafer preserves the integrity of the Padisarah cream like a tiny time capsule.
Dottore froze, staring at the light lilac cream.
Like a tiny time capsule…
Like a tiny time capsule!
“That’s obvious!” he exclaimed, stuffed the second half of the candy into his mouth, and bent over the papers.
Attempt No. 258. The use of time-freezing technology to prevent the substance from reacting and changing state after being transferred to another container.
“Oh, I see,” said Pantalone, glancing at the papers. “Did the candy give you the idea?”
Dottore looked up at him.
“Normally, I’d prefer to lie and say something else gave me the idea, just to save face. But today, you deserve to know that it was your candies that helped me solve the problem that kept me from coming to Fatui meeting or seeing you.”
Pantalone looked at him intently, then laughed softly and touched Dottore’s face with his fingers. His gloves were velvet and very soft, and Dottore stared at Pantalone in surprise as the man gently wiped the corner of his mouth with his fingers.
“I'm sorry, but it's hard for me to listen to you talk about your research with chocolate all over your face.”
Dottore continued to stare at him in silence. For some reason, a strange sensation swept through his body, and the skin on his face still seemed to feel the warm touch of fingers in black gloves.
What is this strange feeling?..
Pantalone, however, stepped aside, sat down on the edge of the table, and lit a cigarette, as if this moment did not bother him in the slightest.
“Promise me that when you’re done with work, you’ll come over for tea.”
Dottore swallowed hard. For some reason, something strange was still happening inside him, but he pulled himself together and promised,
“I’ll get you the very best tea I can find.”
Pantalone exhaled a cloud of smoke and smiled.
“Well then. I’ll be waiting.”
They remained silent while Dottore set up the equipment and began the experiment again. He was certain—this time, he would succeed. Maybe it was because the sweet candy had sparked new ideas and helped him think more clearly. Or maybe it was for some other reason.
There was still a pleasant sensation on his cheek, and Dottore smiled.
The sugar in the sweets always helped him to think clearly.
But, for some reason, it was even easier to think when Pantalone was nearby.