It's not possible to become the scientific titan that bridges past and future eras, but having such a titan earnestly plead for your assistance is itself a rather enjoyable experience. To Roth Dugan's surprise, Edward Witten actually indulged him in this childish bit of dark humor.
"If you insist, well, Mr. Dugan, I humbly ask for your help in handling a few matters after I depart."
This instantly made Roth Dugan lose interest, and he said, "Actually, I was just joking."
"I know, but what we're about to discuss next is no joke."
What followed was a serious conversation.
For a titan like Edward Witten to seek new ground to realize his life's value, a lot of matters naturally needed to be settled beforehand. In this regard, there was tacit understanding between the two of them. After all, in the current climate, this decision couldn't be disclosed publicly, nor could it be known by too many people.
