Chapter 420: Seeing the Future

After Einstein spoke, silence filled the room. One by one, the members returned to their seats. Da Vinci cast a regretful glance at the mask that Elon Musk had left behind. He already suspected what might have happened to Elon Musk.

Everyone there was clever enough to understand what kind of person Copernicus was. No one believed his smooth, deceptive words.

So... it seemed likely that Elon Musk was in deep trouble.

With a soft sigh, Da Vinci looked up at Einstein. “If Elon Musk really is gone, will you leave a virtual version of him behind, like you did with Turing?”

Einstein shook his head slowly. “No. The reason you still see Turing here is because he serves as a guide for this VR system and cyberspace. Without him, new members wouldn’t be able to connect, answer questions, or enter the meeting space.

“The model of Turing isn’t a memorial or proof of his death,” he added. “The charter of our club says that membership is for life, and members should always have the right to attend meetings, regardless of their situation. So, whether a member is alive or not, we treat them the same.

“For Elon Musk, it will be the same. Whether he survives or not, his chair and mask will remain here. Now that all nine geniuses are present, Turing’s role as a guide is no longer needed.

“All the invitations have been delivered, all the badges are gathered. There will be no new members, so Turing no longer has to stay.”

With that, Einstein turned towards Turing’s virtual figure, who was sitting silently in the last of the four chairs to his left.

“You may leave,” he said. “You are no longer needed here.”

In an instant, Turing’s figure became transparent, and only his mask remained. It dropped from the air and landed softly on the chair.

And just like that, two geniuses were now gone. Only seven remained, including Einstein.

“Now then...” Einstein’s raspy voice broke the silence. “There are seven members present today. Let the meeting officially begin.”

“Fewer people... that’s... kind of nice,” Gauss murmured slowly. “When there are too many... they always... interrupt me...”

“Quiet, Gauss.” Einstein’s tone was firm. “Don’t interrupt when I’m announcing the agenda.”

A sigh came from a middle-aged man sitting nearby—Galileo. “Gauss, it’s no wonder people interrupt you all the time. Could you stop butting in every moment? When it’s your turn to speak, everyone will listen.”

Lin Xian sat quietly, listening to the conversation. He realized that none of them were actually speaking the language of X Country. Their words were being translated in real time by the VR system.

The difference between translated speech and natural speech was easy to notice. Lin Xian figured that his own words were probably being translated into clunky English, French, German, or whatever language the others spoke.

The system was advanced enough to translate everyone’s words into their preferred language, making the communication smooth.

Lin Xian could tell that Gauss and Da Vinci were definitely from X Country—their speech was perfectly natural without any hint of translation. Even Gauss’s slow, deliberate way of talking made complete sense in their language.

As for the other members, Lin Xian wasn’t sure which countries they were from, but he knew they weren’t from X Country.

His eyes moved to Einstein. He was curious about what would happen now that the meeting was starting for real.

Einstein walked back to his seat—a grand black wooden chair—and announced, “Since we have a new member today, we will begin, as always, with introductions.”

His gaze turned to Lin Xian. “Rhine... every new member of the Genius Club must answer one question.

“As someone destined to shape history and create the future, what is the most important quality a genius should possess?

“This is a way for you to share your thoughts and for us to understand you better. But before you answer, you should hear what the others have said before you.”

Einstein straightened in his chair and took a deep breath. “I will start, as No. 1. This is the eighth time I’ve given this answer, and no matter how many times I repeat it, it remains unchanged.”

Lin Xian looked up at the small, hunched figure in the large chair. The mask on Einstein’s face was modeled after the painting “Sorrowful Einstein”—a portrayal of him with tired eyes, messy hair, and a sad expression.

Lin Xian wondered why Einstein, the leader of the Genius Club, would choose such a haunting image for his mask. There were plenty of other, more lively depictions of him to choose from.

“I have always believed that the most important quality for a genius is—”

Einstein spoke clearly, with weight behind each word: “Height.”

After a pause, he continued, “What sets a genius apart from ordinary people is the height from which they view problems. A true genius must see things from a great height and have a long enough perspective to make the most rational decisions.

“As they say, the higher you stand, the farther you see. Only by standing tall can you know what matters and what doesn’t. Height naturally gives you the answers.”

Einstein then turned to No. 2, Copernicus, who sat on his left. The mask worn by this frail old man depicted a young man with wild curls and a serious face—Copernicus.

The elderly figure gave a weak sigh. “This is the seventh time I’ve answered this question, and I’m glad it will be my last.

“My answer hasn’t changed: the most important quality for a genius is—”

“Equality.”

He swallowed nervously before continuing, “I know that inequality is part of life—family background, parents, environment—all of these create inequality. Even in the fairest times, inequality exists.

“Some are born strong and healthy, destined to lead, while others are weak and live in misery.

“But does inequality have to exist? I don’t think so. And if anyone can strive for a balanced and equal world, it’s us—the geniuses.

“Ordinary people might think it’s impossible, but geniuses do the impossible. That’s what makes us geniuses.”

Lin Xian finally understood why Gauss was always interrupted. He had felt sorry for him before, but now he understood—the man’s slow pace was exasperating.

But it was Gauss’s turn, so Lin Xian endured it.

When Gauss finally finished, Einstein gestured to Lin Xian. “No. 9, Rhine—since Tesla and Turing aren’t here, we can’t speak for them. Even though we know their answers, who can say if their thoughts have changed?

“Now it’s your turn. We’re all curious—as the newest genius, what do you think is the most important quality for a genius?”

All eyes turned to Lin Xian.

He took a deep breath, giving the answer he had already decided on.

“Honestly... I hadn’t thought about this question before today,” he admitted. “But after listening to all of you, I feel honored to share my answer.

“I’m a bit puzzled. Everyone here seems to see themselves as gods or higher beings. But in the end, aren’t we all just human? Besides being a bit smarter, what’s the real difference between a genius and anyone else?

“Is a genius really necessary? Does a genius have the right to shape history or the future?

“Would there be no history without geniuses?

“Would there be no future without us to guide it?

“In fact, I think maybe the best history is one untouched by the hand of a genius. Likewise, the most genuine and beautiful future might be one without our intervention.”

“So, my answer is this: the most important quality for a genius is—”

“Respect.”

Lin Xian looked around the room before continuing, “Respect others, respect history, respect humanity, respect the future.

“Maybe geniuses aren’t as great as we think. Perhaps leaving the future in the hands of humanity would lead to the best possible future.”

When Lin Xian finished, no one spoke.

Only Einstein let out a soft chuckle. “Well said, Rhine. But this is the first lesson you will learn here, and the very reason the Genius Club exists—humanity has no future on its own.”

Lin Xian looked at him. “Why are you so certain?”

Einstein’s voice was hoarse. “Because... I can see the future.”

See the future?

Lin Xian narrowed his eyes. It was the same claim Turing had made before.

The leader of the club could indeed see the future! That explained why he commanded such respect. If he could truly see the future, he certainly had the power and authority to lead.

But Lin Xian was still curious. What kind of future did Einstein see? Was it like his own visions? Did he see it through dreams?

So, he asked, “What future do you see, exactly? Is it a specific day, decades, centuries, or millennia from now? Or is it some other kind of future?”

The man in the black wooden chair sat up straight. “All of it.”

The word was short but powerful.

Einstein smiled faintly, his voice raspy. “From now on, every day, every moment—I see it all.

“I see... all the futures.”