Genius Club-Chapter 1197 - 46 Humanity and Tea (Bonus Chapter for monthly votes!)_3

In an instant.

Da Vinci understood everything.

Galileo didn’t lie. He truly anticipated her future plans. Naturally, her inquiry about global catastrophes was also easily deciphered.

She intended to use global disasters to build credibility for the perfect prototype robot and reshape the structure of world civilization.

But unexpectedly.

She only wanted to exploit natural disasters, yet inadvertently "exposed" Galileo’s scheme.

As for Rhein’s exchange of intelligence with her.

Galileo’s reasoning process was completely wrong, yet by sheer accident, his conclusions were entirely correct.

Perhaps.

This was why he came to find her.

At this point.

Everything.

Was tacitly understood.

Whoosh!!!!!!!

The kettle emitted an ear-splitting shriek.

The water had boiled.

The sound was piercing and heart-wrenching.

Da Vinci rose and took the kettle off the burner.

The blazing flames spread from the stove, accompanied by the kettle’s diminishing heat as the whistling sound gradually subsided into silence.

"What kind of tea would you like?"

Da Vinci smiled, turning back as though greeting an old friend.

"Of course, black tea."

Galileo shed his earlier seriousness, his face lighting up with the smile of meeting an old companion:

"I’ve told you before, the cup of black tea in Brussel in 1982… I’ve never again tasted anything like it."

"Even though I’ve tried Lapsang Souchong… Yes, I’ve tried it. Over the years, I’ve sampled every black tea in the world—every single one… But none have captured the reminiscent flavor of that time."

"Is that so."

Da Vinci approached the tea cabinet, took out a canister of tea leaves, and chuckled lightly:

"Well, today you’re in for a treat."

Though the room was plain.

The preparation of the tea was anything but mundane.

Da Vinci retrieved pristine tea wares, placing the teacup on a white porcelain tray. She meticulously followed specific brewing steps, finally pouring aromatic black tea into the teacup.

And then...

Out of Galileo’s sight, she discreetly pinched a bit of [brown powder], kneading it into the tea cup.

She picked up a silver teaspoon, stirring the cup gently.

At last, she held the porcelain tray with both hands.

Walking to the table, her gaze fixed on the seated Galileo...

The rich aroma of Lapsang Souchong permeated the room, filling the space between the two of them.

Da Vinci looked into Galileo’s deep-set eyes.

And spoke softly:

"[Do you believe in human nature?]"

Galileo faltered.

He gazed at the steaming cup of black tea in Da Vinci’s hands and replied in a low tone:

"If I say I don’t believe, would I still get to drink this tea?"

Da Vinci laughed:

"Of course you would. This tea is specially brewed for you, in hopes that you find the flavor of 1982—the taste from when we first met."

She leaned forward, presenting the tray with its small teacup on top, placing it before Galileo.

Galileo extended his elderly, wrinkled fingers and pulled the tray closer to him.

Rotating it half a turn.

Staring at the crystal-clear tea in the cup, he savored the smell he had been searching for all these years.

"This is the taste…"

He closed his eyes.

Inhaled deeply.

It was as if he’d aged backward by 40 years.

When he opened his eyes again.

He saw his trembling reflection on the surface of the tea.

It seemed as though he’d returned to the snowy winter of 1982, back to when a shy, reserved young man received a cup of black tea from an exuberant, sweet-voiced woman. In that moment, he had been both tongue-tied and utterly flustered.

"[You once said… you wouldn’t kill me.]"

Galileo’s voice quivered.

He lifted his gaze, his eyes flickering as he looked at Da Vinci:

"So this is human nature, is it?"

Da Vinci froze on the spot, silent.

Yet at that moment!

Galileo hooked his index finger around the teacup handle, raised the tea, and cupped it with both hands.

Tilted his head back.

Drank it all in one gulp!

"You…"

Da Vinci’s eyes widened.

"Haha."

Galileo’s mouth burned from the heat, but his smile was utterly satisfied:

"This flavor… I’ve been searching for it my entire life. It’s truly identical to the taste from that day."

He extended his hand.

Handing the teacup back to Da Vinci:

"Can you make me another?"

"You still want more?"

"I’d like another cup."

Da Vinci lowered her head, her hands taking the cup, still warm from the tea it had held.

She didn’t turn around.

She didn’t move. freēnovelkiss.com

"Galileo." She called softly.

"Hm?" The old man lifted his gaze.

He saw Da Vinci’s charming yet compassionate smile:

"I ask you, please, be kind to the children."

She stepped back, slowly turned, and walked toward the tea cabinet—

BANG!!

A resonant gunshot!

A frail body instantly lost balance, collapsing forward!

Crash.

The porcelain tray and tea cup fell to the ground, shattering into fragments.

Thud.

The lifeless corpse of Da Vinci sprawled over the shattered porcelain, her blood painting it red, glistening and clear.

Near the table.

Galileo stood coldly, the barrel of his gun still smoking.

He sighed deeply.

Holstering the gun.

Picked up the black hat resting on the table and pressed it heavily, deeply onto his head, stepping out the door.

Outside.

A frantic, large emergency ambulance sped over the muddy terrain.

Its lights and sirens were turned off.

This was a privately hired ambulance. The crew aboard were all Galileo’s—private guards, private doctors, and his personal team.

The ambulance had been waiting at the foot of the mountain all morning.

Inside the rear compartment were the most advanced gastric lavage and intestinal cleansing equipment.

Screeeech—

The jarring sound of abrupt brakes.

The driver’s cab and the rear compartment doors swung open simultaneously. Two doctors rushed out to help Galileo:

"Quick! Hurry up, sir!"

"The gastric lavage equipment is ready to start immediately!"

Galileo felt like a lifeless puppet, supported by the doctors as they ushered him inside. Everything around him was blurry—the bed he was laid on, the unfamiliar machines inserted into his mouth, the panicked shouts of the doctors as they worked feverishly.