Genius Club

“Did the police check your taxi company after those accidents?” Lin Xian asked Zheng Cheng He, who was bundled up and focused on driving. “One taxi was involved in Professor Xu Yun’s death, and another in a recent incident with a female scientist. Were your company’s drivers investigated?”

“Absolutely,” Zheng Cheng He responded, maneuvering the steering wheel. “Every taxi in Donghai City has a unique identifier, and the newer ones are equipped with real-time tracking. It’s simple to verify their whereabouts through the platform.”

“I’ve been closely following Professor Xu Yun’s case. The taxi involved was counterfeit, modified to look authentic but wasn’t a registered cab… so they never found it.”

Lin Xian watched Zheng Cheng He in silence, taking in his serious demeanor.

…

After Lin Xian was dropped off at the Donghai City Police Department, Zheng Cheng He returned to his usual duties.

Lin Xian quickly got involved with his team’s investigation. They were sticking to the plan Ji Lin set: predict the next scientist’s murder for 00:42 and lay a trap to thwart the attack, safeguard the scientist, and apprehend the driver.

Predicting the next victim and the exact timing of the attack was the real challenge.

Since Ji Lin’s departure, Lin Xian enjoyed more autonomy. He briefly entered his dream world to see if anything had altered, but everything was as usual. Both old and new versions of Donghai City appeared unchanged, leaving Lin Xian puzzled.

He expected some alterations in the timeline due to the invention of room-temperature superconductors. Maybe this technology was always meant to be, he thought, confused by the intricacies of time-space.

Their team had set several traps already, but the scientists crossed the street at 00:42 unharmed, with no murder attempts. Although relieved, the team was anxious to catch the perpetrator soon.

…

April 10th, morning.

Inside the task force meeting room at the Donghai City Police Department, a male team member highlighted the photos and profiles of five scientists on a projection screen.

“Donghai City is hosting two major scientific banquets and a symposium on April 12th. The next day, a significant hibernation lab will have its inauguration, attended by several leading scientists,” he explained.

“We’ve been monitoring these potential targets with no incidents so far, but we can’t relax on the night of April 12th at 00:42. We suspect these five scientists might be at risk.”

Pointing at the first two photos, he continued, “These experts in hibernation will be at the banquets. It’s uncertain if they’ll be targeted at 00:42, but they are crucial for our surveillance.”

Next, he highlighted a middle-aged, overweight scientist. “This is Professor Leon from Canada. His work on room-temperature superconductors has been groundbreaking. He’s attending the symposium and a dinner afterward. We can’t dismiss the chance of an attack on him.”

Finally, he focused on the last two scientists. “They’ll be at the ribbon-cutting on April 13th. Their plane lands at midnight on the 12th, making them especially vulnerable at 00:42.”

…

A female colleague beside Lin Xian chimed in, “It’s simple to protect them—just avoid the 00:42 timeslot, and they’re safe.”

“But if we don’t give the culprits an opportunity to strike, we can’t catch them. It’s a catch-22,” she added.

“Exactly,” the male colleague agreed. “We’ve set up roadblocks and barriers, but if the attackers are prepared, they’ll notice and possibly abort their plans. Could our presence be why we haven’t caught anyone?”

Nods of agreement followed his statement.

The culprits were daring yet cautious. Sensing an ambush, they might delay their plans, making the police’s task increasingly reactive.

“We face two main challenges,” he summarized. “First, we need to ensure our protective measures and setups don’t tip off the culprits. Otherwise, they won’t engage. Second, without setting traps, we can’t safeguard the scientists, and the aftermath of a potential attack would be disastrous. Balancing these aspects is tough. If we cover all five locations too obviously, it’ll alert the attackers, and they’ll withdraw.”

…

Lin Xian listened intently, twirling his pen. He was also concerned about potential leaks within the department, considering the possibility of spies or informants from Ji Lin still lurking around.

“Lin Xian, what’s your take?” the male colleague asked with a smile. “Ji Lin said your instincts at crime scenes were sharp. Who among these five do you think is most likely to be targeted?”

Pausing his pen twirling, Lin Xian pondered. “I need more time to think it over.”

The colleague nodded and addressed the room, “This isn’t trivial. One mistake could let the criminal slip away and cost a life. Think on it, and we’ll regroup tomorrow. Keep this all under wraps. Dismissed.”

…

That afternoon, Lin Xian returned home for the first time in days. After locking his door, he went straight to bed.

He felt as though Ji Lin’s surveillance extended even here, monitoring every move he made at the department.

But this situation also offered an opportunity. If only he could predict which scientist was the next target.

The only place to find that foresight was in his dreams, specifically at a chain bookstore in New Donghai City.

“It’s time to take a chance,” Lin Xian muttered, closing his eyes to sleep.

…

Nighttime at the bookstore in New Donghai City.

Lin Xian was familiar with the place. He used the cashier’s computer to search for the names of the five scientists arriving on April 12th.

The book search system was advanced, capable of searching within the content of books, not just titles—a stark contrast to libraries in 2023.

Given New Donghai’s advanced technology, this was not surprising.

First, he searched for the four scientists linked to hibernation research but found nothing noteworthy.

It seemed that over 600 years, their relevance had faded to nothing.

Curiously, Lin Xian searched for Xu Yun and found numerous entries describing him as the pioneer of hibernation, with extensive commentary. One entry mentioned his death in a traffic accident but no more details.

Next, he tried searching for Tang Xin but found nothing.

“600 years is long enough to erase any trace,” Lin Xian mused. Only historic figures like Xu Yun and Einstein endured over centuries.

He even checked his own name, finding nothing and chuckled to himself.

MX Company and even the popular Rhine Cat were insignificant compared to the legacies of Xu Yun’s hibernation technology or Einstein’s theories.

With little expectation, Lin Xian entered Professor Leon’s name and hit enter.

The screen refreshed with numerous entries, more than for Xu Yun.

“This guy was important,” Lin Xian noted. Leon’s work on room-temperature superconductors was a stepping stone to controlled nuclear fusion. Though not the pioneer of nuclear fusion, he played a critical role in its advancement.

However, Lin Xian’s anticipation turned to confusion as he read through the entries. Contrary to his expectations of praise, the references were overwhelmingly negative. Leon was labeled a fraud, a thief, despicable, among other harsh criticisms.

“What’s happening here?” Lin Xian wondered. In 2023, Leon was celebrated as a visionary, his theories and data validated by numerous institutions. How had his reputation plummeted in future histories?

Digging deeper, Lin Xian found a revealing entry:

“… Three years after Leon’s accidental death, Dr. Ponsmike vindicated him, prompting a reevaluation of his life and work. Once the truth was uncovered, Leon’s deceitful actions came to light…”