Genius Club

Uh oh.

Lin Xian narrowed his eyes, sensing something was wrong. Could it be… this so-called Godfather was actually Copernicus?

No way. Not again. Not another time-traveling assassin from 2024 coming back to kill me.

This guy was like a ghost, haunting me everywhere.

But then Lin Xian quickly dismissed the thought. It didn’t quite add up.

Copernicus was too skilled, and unless he had lost a battle somewhere in history, there was no way he’d end up mixed up with someone like Xu Yi Yi, a “rebellious thief.” Right now, they were trudging through a stinky sewer. Did Copernicus have to sneak through this underground tunnel every time he entered the city? That would be too pathetic.

In the fourth dream, Copernicus had been all-powerful, controlling both the Time Police Bureau and the Time Court. There’s no way that, in this dream, he’d fall from the “Master of Time” to the “Lord of the Sewers.”

“Do you know who this Godfather wants to kill?” Lin Xian asked directly. “You said he wants to time travel back and kill the mastermind—who exactly is this mastermind?”

“I don’t know,” Xu Yi Yi shook her head. “If the Godfather says so, he must have a target, but I’m not someone who’d be privy to his plans.”

She looked determined, her eyes full of purpose. “That’s why I’ve been trying so hard. I want to join the gang, join the Godfather’s plan, and do what I can for this world!”

Hearing Xu Yi Yi’s resolute words, Lin Xian felt a twinge of relief mixed with guilt. Maybe Xu Yi Yi wasn’t so bad after all. Not just a thief, gangster, or thug like he had thought moments ago.

Still, her actions earlier didn’t match her righteous talk now. There was a stark contrast there. What could be behind it?

“I also wanted to ask, the city above, the one you called Donghai City—what’s it really like?” Lin Xian continued. “Everyone seems so tense. People walk carefully; they don’t dare litter or even speak loudly, afraid of losing points.”

“Like earlier—you lost over forty points in one go, putting you into the negatives. What’s the total score? What happens when someone loses all their points?”

Xu Yi Yi led Lin Xian into another tunnel. As they walked, she looked back to explain.

“There’s no maximum score. Everyone starts with a hundred points. Like every other city, Donghai City runs on a system of adding and subtracting points,” she said. “But earning points is much harder than losing them. Like you saw—spitting, being loud, swearing, damaging property, even stepping on the grass—the robotic enforcers catch you, and they deduct points.”

“You probably noticed how people hardly dare speak. If someone curses or bursts out laughing, they lose points.”

“To be safe, people just stop talking altogether. It’s not just talking—people follow all the rules, never litter, always park properly, and no one dares break traffic laws. Violating those could cost dozens, even hundreds of points. No one dares commit a crime.”

Lin Xian listened to Xu Yi Yi’s explanation. He felt conflicted.

It sounded like an ideal society with effective management. The system targeted uncivil behaviors, and even point deductions were backed by clear rules—not arbitrary at all.

But still…

It felt suffocating. The whole society was bound by rigid rules, devoid of vibrancy or spirit. Everything was lifeless and gloomy.

“It’s like they’ve gone overboard,” Lin Xian said.

“It seems like in this era, law and morality have become one. Throughout history, law was always the bare minimum for morality. Society requires people not to break the law, but it never punishes them for moral failings. They might get criticized, but there was no real punishment.”

“The rules in Donghai City seem too much. Like you said, kids under six don’t lose points, but I bet any mischievous seven-year-old would blow through a hundred points in a week.”

Lin Xian thought of his relatives’ rowdy kids during New Year’s—shouting, running around, saying silly things. Forget a week; they’d lose all their points in ten minutes.

“What happens when someone’s points hit zero?” Lin Xian asked. “Everyone seems terrified of losing points. Does something terrible happen if they lose them all?”

“It depends,” Xu Yi Yi said as they continued. “Generally, the first time you hit zero, you’re subjected to criticism, education, and re-education activities. Only after earning back a hundred points can you return to normal life.”

“This applies to adults and kids. Usually, kids over six end up losing all their points quickly, even with leniency for minors. Every child goes through the re-education process at least once.”

“If someone loses all their points a second time, it’s much more serious. Depending on the severity, they could face fines, more re-education, or even jail time. Eventually, they’d have to earn points through labor, but it’s much slower for repeat offenders—each point counts for half.”

“That’s why everyone’s so scared of losing points. If they lose them all again, it’s extremely hard to recover. Some people spend years trying and still can’t regain their freedom.”

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“And if someone loses their points for the third time…” Xu Yi Yi gave a mocking smile and stretched her arms lazily. “They end up like me! If it’s minor, they’re exiled and lose their residency rights. If it’s serious… they’re eliminated.”

She formed her right hand into the shape of a gun and pointed it at her temple. “Bang! And it’s goodbye to this world.”

Lin Xian quickened his pace, catching up to Xu Yi Yi.

“If it’s that severe, why commit crimes at all?” he asked. “Life under this system might be suffocating, but it surely beats prison, exile, or execution?”

“It’s pointless, Lin Xian,” Xu Yi Yi said, her voice bitter. “From what the elders say, the point system wasn’t always this strict. At first, only serious actions resulted in deductions. Bad habits or minor mistakes were overlooked.”

“But over time, the rules became more detailed, turning into what they are now. The first thing I had to do after waking from cryosleep was study ‘The List of Deductible Actions.’ It’s absurd—every aspect of life is laid out.”

“You can’t use certain words or phrases. It’s considered ‘uncivilized,’ and you lose points for it. You can’t stop it; it’s only a matter of time before you lose all your points.”

“So everyone becomes a slave to their score. They have to find ways to earn points just to maintain balance and avoid hitting zero.”

“Honestly, if the requirements weren’t so strict, people could accept it. After all, curbing bad behavior is supposed to make society harmonious. But it’s gone too far and lost sight of the original goal.”

Lin Xian nodded, agreeing with her perspective.

“When did all this start? What era?” he asked.

“The ‘2400 Super Catastrophe,’” Xu Yi Yi replied. She turned into a wider tunnel, her voice echoing. “History books say it all began after the catastrophe in 2400.”

Oh?

Lin Xian was surprised. He had thought there were no more catastrophic events in this world. In the previous dreams, the future was bleak, with sparse populations and little technology. There was no way such a world could build a modern city like Donghai City or create advanced tech and robotic enforcers.

Why were the technology and society so different, despite both being post-2400 worlds?

Suddenly, Lin Xian thought of something important—

“The Mars Colonization Plan.”

Could that be the reason?

Because humanity didn’t go to Mars, they focused on Earth instead, rebuilding civilization and advancing technology?

“Mars…” Lin Xian asked. “Did people still go to Mars?”

“Huh?” Xu Yi Yi turned back, baffled. “Mars? What are you talking about?”

Just as I thought.

Lin Xian narrowed his eyes.

“So the Mars Colonization Plan was canceled. Humanity never left Earth—they stayed and focused on rebuilding. That’s why civilization grew without splintering. All resources, talent, and effort were put into restoring life here.”

“If everyone worked together from 2400 to 2624, reaching modernity makes sense.”

Xu Yi Yi rolled her eyes. “What are you rambling about? Mars? I’ve never heard of anything like that. People have always been on Earth.”

“Besides, it’s written in history—humanity rebuilt quickly thanks to the ‘Savior Company.’”

She continued, “After the catastrophe, countless robotic enforcers emerged from underground and started leading humans in rebuilding.”

“I might dislike the Savior Company now, but to be fair, during those days of global despair, those millions of robots were like a beacon of hope. You can’t deny that.”

“The robots ran on micro nuclear batteries, never tired, always worked hard, and held vast knowledge. They quickly gathered survivors and led them in reconstruction.”

“Historians say without the Savior Company’s foresight, humanity would’ve been stuck in endless wars over resources after the catastrophe—maybe even wiped out.”

Lin Xian smiled slightly. “Yeah, that’s definitely true.”

He knew what he was talking about. In the previous dream worlds, after the super disaster, humans had fought a long, brutal civil war. The chaos and famine almost wiped out civilization.

And then, according to Xu Yi Yi, millions of robotic humanoids suddenly appeared, like mushrooms after rain, and acted as saviors, “descending from the sky” to save humanity. They stopped the fighting and started rebuilding society immediately.

From this point of view, the “Savior Company” really lived up to its name. They did something remarkable.

“I think I’ve figured it out.”

Lin Xian finally made sense of the worldview of this Eighth Dream and tried to summarize it:

“The Savior Company obviously knew about the Super Disaster of 2400 long before it happened. Maybe… they knew it was coming a very long time ago. You can’t build millions of robots quickly—that needs massive resources, time, facilities, and storage.”

“I’m guessing the Savior Company spent decades, maybe centuries, preparing. Then, when the disaster came, they activated the robots to lead people in rebuilding.”

“If they could prepare so many robots, they must have done other preparations—like putting scientists into cryosleep or preserving key research data…”

“That would explain why the Savior Company now holds so much power. After all, today’s society was saved by this company. It makes sense that they’d have a huge say in everything.”

“But… if their original intention was good, why did things change? Why has the company turned into something different now?”

“That, I don’t know.” Xu Yi Yi shrugged. “I only woke up six years ago, so I can’t understand all these things. And the history they teach in Donghai City leaves a lot out. If you really want the truth… maybe we can ask the elders in the gang after we leave the city.”

Lin Xian nodded. Xu Yi Yi was still young and only knew a rough version of history. For the more complex stuff, he’d need to ask someone else.

Like… the Godfather?

Such a respected figure would surely be able to give Lin Xian a detailed answer. But there was one thing Lin Xian felt sure about—

“The Savior Company has to be connected to a member of the Genius Club.”

There was no doubt.

Turing had said the Super Disaster of 2400 was caused by Galileo. Even if that information wasn’t entirely accurate, it indicated members of the Genius Club had known about the disaster in advance.

In previous dreams, Elon Musk had also made preparations and avoided the disaster.

So, who was the mastermind hiding millions of robots and planning this grand future for centuries?

Newton? Gauss? Da Vinci? Or… was Galileo actually being framed by Turing?

Right now, there were too few clues. Considering the cunning nature of those geniuses, it was hard to tell what was true.

“Who owns the Savior Company?” Lin Xian asked. “Do you know anything about it—like the founder or any famous executives?”

Xu Yi Yi shook her head. “I don’t know… and it’s not just me. No one knows who controls the company.”

“It’s mysterious. All anyone knows is they made the robots, they built the cities, and they saved humanity. That’s about it.”

“Some people even say the Savior Company isn’t run by humans anymore… that the robots are in charge, which is why the world is the way it is.”

As she spoke, Xu Yi Yi handed Lin Xian one of the two metal tags she was holding.

“Here, take a look. This has the robot’s serial number and the Savior Company’s logo on it.”

Lin Xian took the metal tag. It was about the size of a lighter. The sewer was dark, so he couldn’t see what was on it. He ran his thumb over it, feeling the raised numbers and letters on the right, along with a smooth, round symbol on the left.

He couldn’t make out more than that. “I’ll check it out properly once we get back to the surface and have some light.”

Lin Xian remembered something then. Xu Yi Yi had been caught earlier because she tried to steal a robot’s metal tag. And even when they were running away, she’d gone back to grab the tag from the robotic police officer.

Did the tag have some special meaning?

“Why did you steal this metal tag?” Lin Xian asked, waving it in the dark. “It’s pretty thin. I doubt there’s advanced tech inside. It just looks like an ordinary tag. Why take such a big risk for it?”

“Hehe,” Xu Yi Yi grinned proudly. “You don’t understand, Lin Xian. This is a real treasure! With this metal tag, we can join the Godfather’s plan and work for him!”

“Oh?” Lin Xian raised an eyebrow. “So this tag is like a trial, proof of strength, or a symbol of loyalty?”

“Exactly.” Xu Yi Yi nodded. “If you want to join the Godfather’s plan, you need a gang to recommend you. And to join a gang, you have to get a robot’s metal tag to prove yourself.”

“That’s just the way things are. You can use any method, but as long as you get a tag, it shows your strength. Any gang will accept you.”

“Once you join a gang, they can recommend you to the Godfather’s plan… We’re lucky. The plan is happening tonight, and we just managed to get these tags in time!”

“Interesting,” Lin Xian chuckled.

It seemed wherever there were people, there were rules. Even in this strange, grim future, humanity still grouped together based on beliefs and goals. That, perhaps, was one of the unique charms of human society.

Now that he thought about it, Lin Xian found himself getting more interested in the mysterious Godfather. He couldn’t wait to meet him. But, of course, there was a process—one step at a time.

Luckily, he had an ally in Xu Yi Yi. As her first and only little brother, she’d help him set up a good future.

“Here we are, Lin Xian. We need to climb up here.”

They reached the end of the passage. Ahead was a huge pipe outlet, with water gushing out like a waterfall. An iron grate blocked the way forward, so they had to use a ladder to climb up.

Finally…

They could leave the sewer and see daylight again.

Xu Yi Yi jumped up and started climbing, with Lin Xian following her.

Bang!

With a muffled thud, Xu Yi Yi kicked the manhole cover open with ease. Bright sunlight streamed in, making Lin Xian squint. After being in the dark for so long, the sudden brightness was overwhelming.

Xu Yi Yi climbed out first, and Lin Xian followed. Standing up, he looked down at the chaotic village below—countless shacks and cabins scattered across the yellow earth; buildings of all shapes and colors, roads crowded with people.

Clothes hung outside every home, wet patches everywhere, with women washing clothes, vegetables, and dishes, splashing dirty water carelessly. Kids ran around playing, falling, and rolling over; bare-chested men swaggered around, laughing loudly and shouting.

This was… Lin Xian blinked. This was a world completely different from Donghai City!

He turned back and looked at the silent city they’d just escaped from. Beyond the walls, he could see clean, orderly buildings, spotless glass, the stillness that covered the entire city. But then, looking down again—at the noisy, bustling village below, full of life, chaotic but alive.

“Hahaha! What do you think, Lin Xian? It’s totally different from Donghai City, right?” Xu Yi Yi laughed. “This is the real world—a place where humans can truly live freely!”

“Here, you don’t have to worry about anything. You don’t need to be afraid. You can do whatever you want, say whatever you want, be whoever you want to be!”

She stretched out her arms to the chaotic village below, taking a deep breath of the fresh air. “Welcome, Lin Xian… to the City of Sin!”

Just then, Lin Xian remembered he hadn’t gotten a good look at the Savior Company logo on the metal tag since it was dark below. He took it out of his pocket to examine it.

On the right side, there were indeed numbers and letters making up a serial number. And on the left… it was a colorful picture.

A man in medieval clothes, holding a crystal orb in his left hand, with his right hand raised in a blessing gesture. His eyes shone with the light of wisdom.

It was rare to see artwork used as a company logo. But Lin Xian, with his background in art, recognized it at once—

This painting was created in 1500 AD. It was the most expensive artwork ever auctioned, selling for 450 million dollars. It was the only painting by that legendary artist to enter the auction market.

That’s right.

The painting was called “Salvator Mundi”—“Savior of the World.” And the artist’s name was none other than—Leonardo da Vinci.