Genius Club

This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation

Lin Xian stared at the photograph displayed on the monitor.

It was him!

The old man who had cornered him at the Fourth Dreamscape’s starting point, electrocuted him unconscious, placed a hood over his head, and laughed dryly while saying, “I see you!”

In 2023, Lin Xian and VV had gone to extreme lengths to find this man, even traveling to the United States to participate in the world hacking competition and collecting every electronic photo available on the global internet, only to come up empty-handed.

Back then, Lin Xian had been deeply puzzled.

The super artificial intelligence VV had already used Lin Xian’s sketch to simulate the man’s appearance across all age ranges.

Logically speaking—

If the old man existed in 2023, even as a mere infant, the simulation should have yielded a match.

Because of this, Lin Xian suspected that the mysterious old man was actually Kevin Walker. After all, only a super-hacker like Kevin Walker would possess the capability to erase all traces of himself from the internet.

But when Lin Xian personally killed Kevin Walker, he discovered that their appearances didn’t match at all, completely overturning this theory. Lin Xian then shifted his suspicions to the possibility that the old man was Copernicus.

Surprisingly—

When Lin Xian later killed Copernicus with his own hands, he found himself again dumbfounded. Copernicus didn’t look like the old man either!

He didn’t dwell on it further.

At the time, all evidence had pointed toward Copernicus. Lin Xian had assumed that Copernicus had undergone plastic surgery in the Fourth Dreamscape, thus altering his appearance.

But what he never anticipated…

After countless games of cat and mouse, through trials and tribulations, the true identity of the mysterious old man turned out to be Newton!

“Then why couldn’t we find him in 2023?”

Lin Xian voiced his doubts:

“Newton clearly existed in 2023. He, Copernicus, Galileo, and Da Vinci were all from the same era. It doesn’t make sense that not a single image or record of him survived.”

“I don’t know,” replied Aluminum Alloy VV, shaking its head.

“At the time, for some unknown reason, I indeed couldn’t find Newton based on your sketch.”

“Moreover… When I trace the newly discovered data backward, I still can’t reconstruct Newton’s presence in 2023. In other words—”

“Newton’s life records are fragmented, inconsistent, fabricated, and perhaps… even his physical appearance might be entirely falsified.”

…

“Falsehood.

Disguise.”

Lin Xian squinted, lost in thought.

Considering that Newton and Copernicus were cut from the same cloth, with Newton as the successor to Copernicus’ will, it wasn’t entirely implausible for their identities and appearances to have been falsified.

“What you’ve just said reminded me of an earlier theory,” Lin Xian said, turning to VV.

“When I discovered Newton’s true stance, I suspected that Newton might not actually be an old man of similar age to Copernicus. Instead, it’s more likely that they are father and son.”

“Copernicus was already at death’s door due to old age. If Newton were truly his peer, how could he still be so energetic after 500 years?”

“Don’t forget, Newton didn’t hibernate continuously for 500 years. He woke up intermittently and was always active. That’s why I had a bold theory—”

“Newton, when he joined the Genius Club, was actually a young man. To create the illusion of opposition with Copernicus, he disguised himself as an old man of the same age, deceiving the other geniuses and confusing everyone.”

It had to be said.

Copernicus and Newton—these two cunning old foxes—were truly devious.

For all the years of Genius Club gatherings, only the all-knowing and all-seeing Einstein had seen through their act. None of the other members had ever suspected the truth.

“Copernicus and Newton, without a doubt, are extremely clever and resourceful,” Lin Xian continued. “But as the founding members of the Genius Club, their high standing and monopoly over intelligence created a fatal flaw—”

“Arrogance.”

Lin Xian shook his head and went on.

“Arrogance and conceit are the deadliest flaws anyone can have. Many of the enemies we’ve faced were immensely powerful, but in the end, they lost—not to us, but to their own arrogance.”

“Newton and Copernicus always looked down on everyone else in the Genius Club, including me. Now, it’s time to find Newton in reality and give him a surprise.”

VV spun in excitement, raising its arms high.

“Let me, let me! I love handling things like this! Whether it was Kevin Walker, Copernicus, or Newton, they all walked all over us before… Now, it’s finally our turn!”

“Back when I was studying acting and directing in Hollywood, I learned so many techniques, but I never got to show off before going offline. This is the perfect opportunity—I must direct this one myself!”

“Fine, fine,” Lin Xian replied with a dismissive wave. “Think of it as rehabilitation for playing dumb for 500 years. As long as we find Newton in reality, it doesn’t matter how we meet.”

“The games between Genius Club members have always been like this… At the end of the day, we’re all just mortal flesh and blood. No matter how high our IQs, exposure means death. It’s the same for everyone.”

“VV, can you guess why Newton, knowing my true identity, hasn’t tried to kill me?”

“Oh, that’s easy,” VV responded immediately.

“To maintain the stability of the worldline!”

“Newton doesn’t know that Einstein’s vision of a ‘beautiful future’ is false. He must still believe that the worldline leading to that future exists because of his efforts.”

“So, to keep the worldline stable and prevent it from jumping to another, the best course of action is to avoid unnecessary actions and let history and the future unfold as intended.”

“Newton’s targets have always been scientists and mathematicians. As harsh as it sounds, in his eyes, killing you holds no value and only risks altering the worldline. Why take that chance?”

Lin Xian chuckled and shrugged.

“Killing me may be meaningless to Newton, but killing him is of the utmost importance to me.”

“Newton has murdered countless scientists, obstructed humanity’s technological progress, and driven numerous cutting-edge fields into dead ends… He is the true sinner of human civilization.”

Turning to a corroded black wooden chair on a high platform, Lin Xian’s gaze lingered. It was once Einstein’s seat, the spot where he had disintegrated into blue star fragments and disappeared.

Though Einstein was gone, the final look he had given Lin Xian carried a tinge of guilt and a silent plea for forgiveness toward Douglas.

“What Einstein couldn’t finish, we’ll complete for him.”

Lin Xian raised his head, his eyes fixed on the ceiling shining as brightly as a sky full of stars.

“Get ready for a showdown, VV…”

“It’s time to face the last mystery, uncover the truth, and reclaim humanity’s true future.”

…

Dresden, Germany

“Dr. Hans! Watch out!”

The sharp-eyed secretary lunged forward, pushing Dr. Hans onto the grass nearby.

That wasn’t enough.

She held onto him, rolling a few times to move them further from their original position.

Boom!!!

An out-of-control flying car fell from the sky, crashing heavily onto the spot where Dr. Hans had been standing just moments ago.

Fortunately, these flying cars were powered by nuclear batteries encased in aluminum alloy, eliminating any risk of explosion.

Advancements in material science had made vehicles exceptionally durable, so the car didn’t disintegrate on impact.

The only visible damages were a deployed airbag and shattered windows.

“Dr. Hans! Are you alright?” The secretary quickly scrambled up, anxiously examining him.

Thankfully.

No injuries.

Only then did the secretary let out a sigh of relief.

She rushed to inspect the crashed car.

It was a driverless flying vehicle, with no operator or passengers inside.

That was peculiar.

Typically, only city-use vehicles like freight trucks, public transit, taxis, or garbage collectors operated without passengers. It was rare for a private car to be running empty.

This was clear evidence.

This was an intentional assassination attempt!

“Dr. Hans, we should report this to the authorities immediately.”

The secretary turned to look at Dr. Hans, who was dusting off grass and putting his glasses back on.

“No need.”

Dr. Hans glanced at the failed assassination tool—a wrecked car—and walked purposefully toward the conference building ahead.

“The more this happens, the more it proves that my research is on the right track.”

“Let’s go. We can’t waste time here; everyone is waiting for my report.”

The secretary looked back at the crashed car and then at Dr. Hans, who had already marched ahead.

Reluctantly.

She bit her lip, scanning the surroundings cautiously as she hurried to catch up.

“Dr. Hans, I really think you should reconsider the security measures I proposed last week. You’re a world-class leader in science, and your input shapes the direction of multiple cutting-edge fields. If anything were to happen to you, it would be a huge loss for humanity!”

“I don’t like being surrounded by bodyguards,” Dr. Hans replied calmly.

“Don’t worry. The more people want to kill me, the more it strengthens my resolve and belief in my work.”

“You know just as well as I do that the development of cutting-edge science is slowing—or even stagnating. The entrenched interests thrive on outdated technologies. They’ve grown fat from monopolizing these old systems, and new technologies will inevitably overtake and leave them behind.”

“This is why scientific progress has been so challenging in recent years. History has shown time and again that each new wave of innovation brings a fresh round of industrial upheaval. Capitalists would rather science and technology remain stagnant forever. They’d gladly keep selling sewing machines until the end of the world.”

“And as you said, if I, as a leader in multiple fields, show hesitation or fear of them, who among my students or future successors would have the courage to maintain a fearless scientific spirit?”

“But…” The secretary tried to argue.

“Security measures and academic research are not mutually exclusive—”

“Enough,” Dr. Hans interrupted, raising his hand to silence her. His tone turned serious.

“Don’t mention this incident at the meeting later. Today’s conference is critical, and the whole world is watching.”

Shortly after, Dr. Hans entered the venue.

His status was unparalleled, not just within his field but on a global scale.

The moment he stepped into the grand conference hall, an air of reverence swept through the room. The distinguished academics and renowned experts seated inside fell silent, rising from their seats to bow and greet him.

Once seated, the meeting commenced.

This was no ordinary gathering—it was a pivotal global conference set to determine the future direction of human biology. Resources and talent were scarce, and with a vast array of disciplines, branches, and projects worldwide, making a unified decision was imperative. Tackling such world-scale initiatives required global collaboration; no single nation or even a coalition could manage it alone.

Under these circumstances, deciding the right direction was critical. A misstep could mean decades—or centuries—of wasted effort. History had shown this all too clearly. There had been instances where research seemed promising initially, only to hit an impassable dead end. Conversely, projects riddled with obstacles early on occasionally led to breakthroughs of revolutionary impact.

Over the centuries, humanity had often veered down the wrong scientific path, wasting precious time and resources. One classic example came at the dawn of the 22nd century, during humanity’s preparations for interstellar exploration. A fierce debate erupted between proponents of propellant-based spacecraft engines and those advocating for propellant-less engines.

The global scientific community split into two camps: the traditionalists, who supported continuing research into propellant engines and advancing step-by-step by harvesting fuel from gas planets during space voyages, and the innovators, who urged a bold pivot to propellant-less engines, envisioning a permanent solution to interstellar travel.

In the end, the innovators triumphed, and the world poured its collective resources into developing propellant-less engines. However, centuries later, the results proved devastating. The technology turned out to be an unattainable fantasy, entirely unsuitable for space travel within the constraints of contemporary science. After wasting hundreds of years, humanity reverted to propellant engines.

Had that pivotal meeting chosen the traditional path, might human civilization have reached a different trajectory by now? Regrettably, time offered no second chances. The squandered centuries and talents left a deep scar. Following this debacle, the scientific community adopted a more cautious approach, significantly stifling innovation and risk-taking.

As Dr. Hans took his seat as chair of the meeting, his young secretary, standing nearby, clenched her fists nervously. Could he… succeed?

After a brief opening address, the discussions began. The overwhelming consensus among the attendees leaned toward a conservative approach: human biology should focus on enhancing and modifying the body’s natural capabilities, remaining grounded in the human form. Instruments of science could support these goals, but dependence on them should not go too far. Concepts like electronic limbs, eyes, or brains were dismissed as entirely unacceptable.

“We must,” one prominent academic declared passionately, “maintain strict limits and boundaries! If we fail to do so from the outset, we risk a future where people might willingly amputate healthy limbs or organs just to replace them with cold, mechanical alternatives.”

This sentiment resonated strongly with the audience. Even in 2504, the public’s acceptance of mechanical limbs and organs remained extremely low. As long as their natural organs functioned, few people would consider replacements. Consequently, research in these areas was sparse.

However, Dr. Hans, as a leading figure in global scientific innovation, stood firmly with the progressives.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” he began, rising with calm authority, his voice cutting through the room, “why do we resist new technologies that could enhance human lifespan, physical performance, health, and intelligence? Is it because we genuinely believe the human body is perfect? No. It’s because we fear failure. We fear repeating past mistakes and wasting centuries again.”

His gaze swept the room, filled with conservative scholars united in their caution.

“Fear of failure has cast a shadow over academia worldwide. With the exception of Rhine University in X Country, this stagnation has gripped nearly every corner of the globe. The debacle of the propellant-less engine undoubtedly cost us centuries, but does that mean we should abandon hope for the future altogether?”

Dr. Hans’s tone sharpened as he continued.

“Are we truly content with mediocrity? Do you all genuinely believe the human body is flawless? No! What you truly fear is failure—another misstep, another waste of time. But tell me, are we humans facing extinction in the next few centuries? If not, then why should we shy away from bold experiments that could benefit generations to come?”

He paused, letting his words sink in, before delivering his final, impassioned plea.

“If we don’t start exploring cybernetics—electronic limbs, organs, and even neural interfaces—now, then when will we begin? Scholars, scientists, if we refuse to stand at the forefront of technology, then who will? If even we dare not attempt the unknown, who else will have the courage to try?”

…

…

Dr. Hans’s scolding left the entire room silent.

Gradually.

A few claps emerged here and there, slowly evolving into a wave of enthusiastic applause.

Indeed.

Dr. Hans was right…

Should human civilization bow its head and live in humiliation forever due to a single failure?

Everyone in the room understood deep down.

The integration of electronics, artificial intelligence, mechanics, advanced materials, and micro nuclear batteries had resulted in the creation of electronic prosthetics, electronic eyes, and electronic brains. These artificial organs far surpassed the performance and durability of the human body.

Yet, conservative thoughts and the traditional human-centric mindset had shackled research in this direction.

The final vote was cast.

Under Dr. Hans’s leadership, electronic prosthetics and electronic brains became the new focus of human scientific development. From that moment, humanity embarked on a bright future.

“Marvelous work, Dr. Hans!”

After the meeting, the female secretary eagerly approached him, her excitement uncontainable:

“You did it! You are leading humanity into a brand-new era!”

“Success will always depend on collective effort,” Dr. Hans replied calmly.

“One person alone can never change the world. This revolution in human science… is yet another long marathon, a race between humanity and its own destiny.”

The two exited the building, and the autonomous car the secretary had prepared was already waiting at the door. Dr. Hans took the passenger seat, while the secretary drove him home herself.

“Dr. Hans, I’ll pick you up again tomorrow. Please wait at home. Until the police thoroughly investigate this matter, you must stay indoors and remain vigilant.”

“I understand.”

Dr. Hans waved his hand wearily.

“See you tomorrow.”

…

After the secretary drove off, Dr. Hans glanced at the lock on his door. Iris scanning and various biometric verifications ensured that he alone could open it.

Click.

The door unlocked.

Dr. Hans stepped into the living room and turned on the lights.

“Ah!!”

He yelled, stumbling back and nearly falling.

There, seated on a chair by the dining table, was a young man with a calm smile on his face. Beside him stood a trashcan robot with glowing green eyes.

The young man sat with his arms crossed and legs casually resting on another chair, clearly having waited for some time.

“A hunter will eventually become the hunted.”

Lin Xian smiled faintly as he regarded the belated old man.

“I’ve said this to you twice already, but this will be the last time you’ll hear it.”

“So, how should I address you?”

“Newton… or Copernicus?”

This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation