Genius Club-Chapter 1207 - 49 Who is Real and Who is Fake_3

"You’ve said so much, yet you still haven’t told us what the so-called most beautiful future truly looks like. But... I suppose even if we asked, you’d refuse to answer on the grounds of involving other members or upholding the stability of the future trajectory."

"So, let me clarify once more: For this final gathering, the last opportunity to ask questions, are the rules still exactly the same as before?"

"Yes."

The elderly man wearing the Einstein mask nodded:

"Rules are rules. Even if the Genius Club gatherings are concluding, it doesn’t mean the Genius Club is disbanding, nor does it mean your obligations disappear. The charter clearly states it: Regardless of life or death, stance, or changes in belief, your seat in this club is forever reserved, and the door will always remain open to you."

"Therefore, even for the final question, the three principles must still be adhered to... No involving other members, no involving the Genius Club itself, and the question must be sufficiently specific."

"However... there will be some changes in how questions are asked."

Einstein straightened his posture and gazed ahead with solemnity:

"To further stabilize the trajectory of the future, the questions for this gathering will no longer be conducted in an open format, but rather in a one-on-one format [private Q&A]."

With that statement.

Newton and Gauss showed little reaction.

But Lin Xian and Jask exchanged subtle gestures.

Both deliberately made their reactions visible to the other.

Private Q&A.

This means no one else will be able to eavesdrop on your questions and answers, but at the same time—

[Others cannot hear your questions and answers either!]

Perhaps to Newton, such an opportunity isn’t rare. As the second member to join the Genius Club, while he hasn’t had as many chances as Copernicus... any month Copernicus fails to attend, Newton could ask freely.

But for Lin Xian and Jask, this private Q&A opportunity is extraordinarily rare!

Especially for Lin Xian.

The Millennium Stakes, the cosmic constant 42, the World-Ending White Light...

These are questions one couldn’t comfortably ask in public, but in a private setting with only Einstein in the room, he could now ask without fear of being overheard.

However...

The situation has undergone profound change.

And there is only one chance to ask.

He wants to uncover the truth about the Millennium Stakes and the cosmic constant 42, ascertain the reality of his recurring dreams, and understand whether the World-Ending White Light truly exists in Einstein’s glimpses of the future.

This...

How should he decide?

The singular, final opportunity.

What.

Should he ask?

"Then, let us begin the questioning segment, oh great and respected geniuses."

Einstein rose from his high-backed black wooden chair.

Behind him, a decorative red curtain began to part to the sides, slowly revealing an intricately carved red wooden door.

At that moment. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

As the curtain fully pulled back, the red wooden door opened gradually on its own, without any visible force...

Inside.

Was a small meeting room.

Only a single tea table, and on either side of it, two plush leather chairs.

Private Q&A.

It seemed the session would take place in this intimate chamber.

"Newton, come with me."

Einstein spoke calmly, turned without looking back, and shuffled into the private chamber.

From the frontmost seat, Newton—whose virtual avatar resembled a young man—stood, bowed slightly toward Gauss, Jask, and Lin Xian, and said:

"Farewell in advance, my fellow geniuses. What a lengthy yet fleeting journey it has been."

"I hope we’ll meet again in the future world. And I also hope... we never do."

With that,

he straightened his posture, followed Einstein into the chamber, and closed the door.

Bang.

The red wooden door shut gently.

Newton turned his head, looking toward Einstein, who was now seated in one of the leather chairs.

"Take a seat, my old friend."

Einstein extended a thin, bony arm and pointed to the opposite chair:

"This is our last meeting. What do you plan to ask?"

Newton slowly walked over,

sat down,

and smiled faintly:

"Truthfully, I have no need to ask anything. It’s not because these private Q&A opportunities are unremarkable to me, but because... I already know..."

"[I have won.]"

Leaning back into the soft chair, he met the eyeholes of the Einstein mask directly:

"Unlike the others, I know far too much that they don’t. In fact, save for the newest member, Rhein, I can even deduce everyone’s plans..."

"That’s the advantage of joining early, I suppose. Before many topics became unaskable, before critical matters would be refused answers... Copernicus and I had nearly asked every key question there was."

"Now that Copernicus is dead, only I know the real truth, the true secrets, the actual predicament humanity faces."

"So, it’s simple, Einstein... Only I can save this world. Only we can secure humanity’s future."

He chuckled softly and shook his head:

"You, more than anyone, understand these aren’t empty boasts or arrogance. Because that which you first revealed to Copernicus and me now falls within the scope of ’refused answers.’"

"This means... as much as I respect the efforts of the later geniuses, they are, sadly, doomed to ineffective pursuits because they lack the truth."

"Thus, Einstein, I need only verify one thing. My final question is—"

"[In the end, did humanity perish?]"

Einstein lifted his head.

Straightened his back.

And slowly shook his head:

"No."

"Heh heh heh heh..."

Newton wore a satisfied smile, rose from the soft chair, and said softly:

"As one who can see the future, Einstein, if you claim this is our final meeting, then it must be so—we shall never meet again."

"Decades of camaraderie, it’s hard to let go. But alas... all gatherings must come to an end. Old friend, I wish you well."

He offered Einstein a gentlemanly bow, then made a motion as if removing VR goggles, causing his virtual avatar to turn translucent, gradually fading and vanishing...

Creak.

The red wooden door to the private chamber reopened, and Einstein’s deep, steady voice carried out to the main hall:

"Gauss, it’s your turn."

Wearing the Gauss mask, the frail man stood trembling, looking across at the two nearby figures:

"This time... could you... not interrupt me?"

Lin Xian and Jask nodded.

It was the last gathering, and courtesy would be extended. Besides, they were curious to hear what this mysterious man—who had always been denied or skipped his questions—wanted to say now.

"Equality."

Gauss spoke softly:

"In this world... there is no absolute equality, nor relative equality. But... everything, at its origin, holds the truest equality."

He nodded at the two in turn:

"Farewell, Jask.""Farewell, Rhein."

"Farewell, Gauss," Jask replied.

"Until we meet again," Lin Xian added.

At Lin Xian’s words,

Gauss chuckled softly, shaking his head:

"Until we meet again... I fear not."

With that,

he slowly turned, entered the private chamber, and pulled the red wooden door shut.

Bang.

The door closed.

"Please, take a seat, Gauss."

Einstein gestured to the opposite chair.

Gauss moved haltingly.

Once seated, he spoke slowly:

"So... did I succeed, Einstein?"

The man opposite remained motionless:

"Gauss, is that your question?"

"No, no, no."

Gauss hurriedly shook his head:

"Just... making conversation. Pretend... I’m talking to myself."

He paused.

Then continued:

"[I know... I succeeded.]"

His speech quickened:

"Because... just a few days ago, after much hesitation, I finally made a decision—irreversible, unalterable, irredeemable, irreparable."

"I’ve thought it through completely, Einstein."

He lifted his head.

His gaze fell on the face of the elderly man’s mask, which bore the expression of The Sorrowful Einstein:

"[Equality in death, that is... true equality!]"