Genius Club

Ji Lin kept his gaze fixed on the laptop screen, scrolling through news articles with a steady flick of his mouse wheel.

“I’ve reviewed the list you provided. None of the entries match,” he stated.

“The list must be incorrect… you need to dig deeper for more clues,” the old man responded, his tone exasperated yet filled with unwavering trust in Ji Lin’s judgment.

Ji Lin’s insights were beyond reproach. This young man had never erred or let him down. The old man continued, “Now that you’ve ruled out everyone on the list, it’s time to find new leads. Track down this individual who’s tampering with history. You won’t solve this by sitting at home. Do you expect him to simply show up at our doorstep?”

Ji Lin let out a soft sigh, a slight smile appearing on his lips. “Pride… you must really underestimate the person disturbing history to suggest that.”

“Why do you think that?” the old man questioned, his brow furrowing.

“You mentioned this person assisted Xu Yun with the hibernation pod fluid. Now, with Xu Yun’s unexpected death, unless they’re a fool, they’ll be extremely cautious, avoiding any exposure.”

The old man turned away. “So, you’re suggesting we shouldn’t alarm him? You want him to lower his guard so he’ll make a mistake?”

“That’s not my point,” Ji Lin coolly retorted, shutting his laptop and facing the old man. “I’ve been pondering… how can we confirm someone is actually distorting history?”

He paused, letting the question hang in the air for a moment before adding, “How do we define the original course of history? And what constitutes a disturbance to it?”

“It’s complex, not easily summed up in a single sentence. Your guidelines stipulate we cannot harm the innocent. If we mistakenly kill someone, we forfeit any chance of receiving an invitation from the Genius Club.”

“Exactly,” the old man agreed. “We must be absolutely certain that he’s interfering with history and gather solid evidence before taking action.”

“Do you know the original historical timeline?” Ji Lin pressed, scrutinizing the old man.

“Of course not,” the old man admitted with a shake of his head. “If I did, I wouldn’t need your investigative skills. I could handle it myself by comparison.”

“That’s where you’re being arrogant,” Ji Lin remarked, spreading his hands. “Without knowing the original history or its path, how can we ascertain someone is altering it? Are we to rely on mere intuition?”

“No,” the old man asserted. “We need concrete proof.”

“See, that’s an impossible demand,” Ji Lin chuckled, reopening his laptop and returning his attention to the screen. “You complain about my slow progress yet provide no information or clues. I have to scour the internet thoroughly. Perhaps I’ll stumble upon something in a forum.”

Realizing Ji Lin’s laughter, the old man frowned, finally understanding the youth’s tactic. He didn’t trust the old man’s words, suspecting he was withholding information. This was Ji Lin’s way of coaxing him into revealing more.

“Ji Lin, are you trying to provoke me into revealing more?” the old man asked as he pulled up a wooden chair and sat down. “It’s futile. I’ve shared everything I know.”

“No, no… you haven’t shared nearly enough,” Ji Lin countered, eyes flicking across the screen. “There’s much you haven’t told me. For instance, your odd requirement for causing a car accident between 00:42 and 00:43.”

“This method is risky, indiscreet, and difficult to execute. Sometimes we wait months for the perfect opportunity to enact your plan. 00:42, most people are asleep then. How do you expect us to orchestrate a car accident at that time?”

“Is it really that difficult, Ji Lin?” the old man leaned back, his smile returning. “Every mission you’ve completed was flawless, despite the challenges. Didn’t you pull off the most recent one?”

“With inside help,” Ji Lin calmly responded. “I’m curious, what exactly did you tell Xu Yun before he went to the celebration banquet?”

“Exactly what you instructed,” the old man’s smile faded as he locked eyes with the young man. “Ji Lin, do you see yourself as a moral person? Pretending reluctance to harm Xu Yun. Over the years, your hands are stained with blood. Trying to adopt a righteous stance now is too late.”

“Even though the idea to eliminate Xu Yun came from me, you executed it! You knew it would hurt me to proceed, so why do you continue to bring it up?”

“If you truly seek justice for Xu Yun, then identify the person distorting history! And think carefully! How can we prove he’s actually doing so?”

“Let me ask you then, Pride,” Ji Lin said quietly. “How did you prove Xu Yun was altering history?”

“He couldn’t possibly have developed the hibernation pod fluid on his own. He lacked the expertise!” the old man exclaimed. “Isn’t that clear?”

“Is such a subjective assessment valid proof?” Ji Lin spread his hands. “I could accuse anyone of distorting history. You forced Xu Yun into a relationship with my sister, despite it being unsuitable. Isn’t that also an alteration of history?”

The old man’s expression darkened, and he remained silent. He didn’t wish to discuss Xu Yun, as it resurrected painful memories he preferred to leave unaddressed, wounds that Ji Lin kept reopening.

“Speak up, Pride. Without clear standards, how can I begin my investigation?” Ji Lin chuckled, looking downward. “You see, you’re still concealing something crucial from me. Your knowledge about the Genius Club isn’t as limited as you claim.”

“Since you refuse to disclose more, let me guess.” Ji Lin stood up, paced towards the old man, and circled his chair.

“Every time you justify an execution with ‘distorting history,’ yet you never provide solid proof. It’s as if you’re shooting arrows without having drawn the targets, or perhaps… you don’t actually know what the evidence is, what it means to distort history. Instead, someone has instructed you—”

“This person is distorting history, go eliminate them.”

“And each time, your methods are strange, even outlandish. You insist on car accidents at precise times. It’s as if you’re deliberately drawing attention. So, I see two possibilities.”

Ji Lin paused, placing his left hand on the old man’s shoulder, peering into his dry eyes.

“Either you’re imitating someone else’s methods, hoping to earn a spot in the Genius Club by doing so, blindly adhering to these tactics without understanding their purpose.”

“Or you’re performing for an audience, making it evident you carried out these killings, like a test orchestrated by the Genius Club.”

The old man closed his eyes, maintaining his silence.

Ji Lin smiled, straightening up. “There’s a third possibility.”

He wrapped his arm around the old man’s neck, placing three fingers on his carotid artery.

“These individuals you claim are distorting history are targets assigned by someone within the Genius Club. They promised you something in return, which is why you blindly follow their commands, like a dog obeying its master.”

The old man’s heartbeat quickened as Ji Lin whispered in his ear. “Pride… who are you serving like a dog in the Genius Club?”