The old man spoke with sorrow.
"If you had come a few hundred years earlier, I might have been able to provide you with some advanced knowledge, but the reactor has been extinguished for many years, the backup power is nearly depleted, and the database has been locked into low-power mode to extend its lifespan... In fact, even if you acquired this knowledge, you would need time to transcribe it, since there are no hard drives or anything like that out there, right?"
The old man used words Lorenzo didn't understand, but from the context, it was clear they referred to some sort of data storage device.
"Not to mention that much of the technology has been tainted by The Inexpressible. Once unlocked, it deepens the connection with it; if left locked... it's like you're crafting a weapon but a crucial step is missing, causing the entire system to collapse."
He spoke of these difficulties and limitations, and how humanity has done quite well despite these constraints.
