Genius Club-Chapter 229 - 55 Gluttony and Greed

At the same time, in the conference room of the Xu Yun Special Case Team at Donghai City’s police department.

"Tomorrow will be April 12th, and we must make a decision regarding the operation at midnight."

A male team member pointed to the photos on the projection screen with a pointer stick:

"All five of these scientists are at risk of being exposed on the streets at 00:42 tomorrow night. However, to keep the operation confidential and avoid alerting the murderer to our ambush, our team can only stake out at two locations simultaneously... I’m not comfortable deploying additional police resources from other departments."

"After gathering more intelligence today, we now have to make a decision. Let’s begin voting. Who do you think is the scientist most likely to be assassinated at 00:42 tomorrow night?"

Unanimously, the team members in the conference room pointed to those scientists who researched in the Hibernation Field.

It was obvious.

Be it guides left by Ji Lin or the commonalities found in the cases of Xu Yun and Tang Xin, all pointed towards the murderers targeting these scientists in the Hibernation Field.

And Lin Xian.

At this moment, also resolutely pointed his finger at one of the Hibernation Field scientists:

"I believe the two scientists at the airport are unlikely to be the targets because the foot traffic at Donghai City Airport is simply too high. Additionally, internal roads are sealed off, taxi waiting areas are organized in orderly queues, and vehicles for pickup are parked in the underground parking lot. The chance of a traffic accident is slim."

"I think we should focus our attention and police resources on the two scientists attending the science banquet."

The team members nodded in agreement with Lin Xian’s opinion.

So, the male team member operating the smartphone, instantly removed the pictures of the two scientists arriving at the airport at midnight.

Now, only the two Hibernation Field scientists attending the academic banquet and Academician Lyon from the Room Temperature Superconductor field remained on the screen.

"I think we can rule out Academician Lyon as well."

The male team member said:

"Firstly, he is not a scientist from the Hibernation Field; secondly, he has been traveling all over the world recently, attending many scientific banquets without any harm coming to him. It’s unlikely the murderers will insist on killing him in Donghai City, right? And so far, there haven’t been any murders of scientists from other fields. Given our limited personnel, let’s focus all our attention on these two Hibernation Field scientists. What do you think?"

"I agree."

Lin Xian was the first to raise his hand, concurring with the male team member’s view, and said with a smile:

"We won’t consider this one. Based on Ji Lin’s previous deductions... Academician Lyon does not fit the characteristics of the victims. He should be safe, and we do not need to concern ourselves with him."

...

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"I understand, Ji Lin."

In a traditional Japanese architectural style building in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan.

Lyon ate the pastries on the wooden table with gusto and chuckled:

"So, are you saying that all I need to do is to extend my time at tomorrow night’s banquet and to stand on the zebra crossing at 00:42?"

"Exactly."

Ji Lin smiled satisfactorily:

"That’s roughly the idea, but you must remember the specific location. After all, we are just putting on an act, not really trying to cause an accident."

Ji Lin took out a tablet, opened a picture, and showed it to Lyon:

"This is the zebra crossing on the road behind the venue of tomorrow night’s science banquet. Remember, it has to be the back door. When you go to the banquet tomorrow, you must remember to check the spot in advance and memorize the location."

"This zebra crossing, count from the south, it’s the fourth white line. You must stand on this fourth line at 00:42 without moving. I’ve already made arrangements with ’Gluttony’; he will drive the taxi past right next to the fourth white line. As long as you don’t move, you won’t get hurt."

"To lure out the person who is disturbing history, we must put on a convincing act. So, when you stand on the fourth white line, don’t move an inch; ’Gluttony’ will turn the steering wheel in time to avoid you."

"No problem!"

Lyon slapped his chest in assurance:

"My acting has always been up to par, how else could I have acquired my wealth and status? By the way, Ji Lin... I want to confirm once more, the rights to the Room Temperature Superconductor patent are indeed at my disposal, right? Hehe... Several international companies have already approached me about the license, and the offers they have made are simply irresistible!"

"’Arrogance’ didn’t say much when he handed me the manuscript, but since he didn’t specify, that means I can deal with it as I please, right? Today, you two must witness this for me, I did consult with you!"

Ji Lin chuckled and nodded:

"Of course, you can do whatever you like with all the patents we’ve given you. You’re free to deal with them in any way you wish. Just focus on doing what you have to do. Don’t disappoint ’Arrogance’."

"Great, great, great, that’s a load off my mind, haha! Leave tomorrow’s matter to me! It’s just prolonging the time to 00:42 and then standing still on the fourth zebra crossing~ No problem at all!"

After saying this, he got up from beside the low table, stretching languidly:

"Is there anything else? If there’s nothing more, I’ll be leaving... It’s rare that I visit Japan; I’ll enjoy myself before flying to Donghai in China for the meeting tomorrow."

"That’s all, you can go."

Lyon squeezed his portly body through the sliding door, his footsteps fading into the distance as the sound of a car engine starting up disappeared into the night...

"Truly worthy of ’Greed’," Zhou Duanyun chuckled softly:

"This is his last night of revelry, tomorrow night will be his end."

"Exactly, no matter what, we have to ensure that he dies tomorrow night."

Ji Lin also rose from his seated position on the tatami mat:

"If we are to verify Lin Xian’s ability to foresee the future and disrupt history, we must ensure that the event of ’Academician Lyon dying in a car accident at 00:42’ definitely occurs. Only then can we prove that Lin Xian indeed possesses some means of predicting the future."

...

"The groups are set, we can divide them just like this."

In the conference room of the Donghai police station, a male team member pointed at the PPT on the projection screen, which divided the team members into two groups:

"Group A will be in ambush near Scientist A, and Group B will be in ambush near Scientist B, setting up concealed blocking nets on the road ahead and concealed roadblocks behind. The primary goal is to protect the scientists’ lives, and the secondary goal is to capture the offending vehicle; we cannot let the criminals get away again."

"How come Lin Xian’s name isn’t on here?"

A female colleague noticed that Lin Xian’s name was not on the list of group members.

"That’s because Lin Xian is not an official member of our staff; he doesn’t have law enforcement authority and cannot participate in police operations according to regulations," the male team member explained.

"Sorry, I’ll just coordinate remotely then," Lin Xian laughed apologetically:

"I’m not formally trained, and if I rashly appear on site, I might not only give myself away but also slow everyone down. I’ll take care of the work from behind."

"I believe that everyone will definitely reap rewards this time. Once we catch the criminals, we can follow the trail and nab all the culprits behind the scenes in one fell swoop!"

...

"So, all we need to do is wait here for the answer?"

Inside a wooden Japanese-style building, Zhou Duanyun was also seated in front of a low table, picking up a teacup and taking a sip:

"The Donghai police force’s attention is all on the scientists in the Hibernation Field. If Lin Xian really can foresee the death of ’Greed,’ then he will definitely try to prevent it, to catch someone."

"As long as he shows up at the scene, no matter the reason, we can conclude that this is evidence of his ability to foresee the future and disrupt history."

Ji Lin fell silent for a while before responding in a low voice:

"Yes."

He stared at the teacup in front of him; a tea stem standing up in the cup began to sway slowly with the rising steam before finally sinking to the bottom.

Dinglingling dinglingling dinglingling dinglingling dinglingling dinglingling—

The ringtone of a cell phone sounded.

He picked it up and saw the incoming call was from "Gluttony."

Beep.

He pressed the answer button and put the phone to his ear:

"You’ve scouted the route at the banquet hall, right? Yes... make sure you count the zebra crossings accurately. At that time, the scientist will stand promptly at 00:42 on the fourth white zebra crossing from the south..."

Ji Lin picked up the teacup, took a sip, set it down on the table, and nodded:

"That’s right, just floor the accelerator; you don’t need to turn the wheel..."

"Just hit and kill him."

...

April 12th, 2 p.m.

There were 10 hours left until the Xu Yun Special Case Team began its operation.

Lin Xian drove a Ferrari LaFerrari to the Donghai University Affiliated Hospital, picked up a small bunch of lilies from the passenger seat, entered the inpatient building, and pressed the elevator for the 17th floor.

He arrived at Xu Yiyi’s hospital room.

He threw away the wilted bouquet in the vase, replaced it with fresh water, and then inserted the pure white lilies into the vase, placing it on the table in the room.

He turned his head towards Xu Yiyi’s bed.

This girl, who had been in a deep sleep for ten years and, though emaciated, looked as pure and clean as the lilies under the sunlight.

"Yiyi, tonight, everything will be over."

Imitating Xu Yun, he tucked in Xu Yiyi’s blanket corners and, feeling that the wind was strong today, went over to the window to close it a bit more.

"I will catch the murderer of your father."

Lin Xian, leaning on the bedside handrail, promised Xu Yiyi:

"One by one, I’ll drag them all out... none will escape!"

He took one last look at the peaceful Xu Yiyi.

And turned to leave—

"Huh?" "Hmm?"

Unexpectedly, a man entered from outside the door.

A robust figure, a face full of scars, a gentle smile:

"Mr. Lin, you’re here to visit Yiyi."

The man who came was none other than Zheng Xiangyue’s older brother from the next room, Zheng Chenghe.

Lin Xian glanced outside the window; the sun was shining brightly.

It’s daytime now...

He turned back to look at Zheng Chenghe:

"Aren’t you working today? At this hour... shouldn’t you be on the daytime shift?"

"Ah, the night shift driver had something come up, so we switched shifts."

Zheng Chenghe smiled, his facial scars bunching together:

"I’ll be driving the taxi tonight."