Chapter 1 Lin Xian

Lin Xian stared at the photo on the monitor.

It was him!

The old man who had cornered him at the fourth Dreamscape's spawn point, then stunned him with electricity, put a hood over his head, and said with a dry laugh, "iseeyou!"

In 2023, Lin Xian and VV had gone to great lengths to find this old man, even participating in the World Hacker Competition in the United States and collecting all electronic photos on the global internet, but they had ultimately found nothing.

Lin Xian had been puzzled at the time.

The super AI VV had already simulated the old man's appearance at various ages based on his sketch.

Logically speaking,

As long as this old man was alive in 2023, even if he was just a baby in 2023, they should have been able to match him.

Therefore, Lin Xian suspected that the mysterious old man's true identity was Kevin Walker. After all, only a super hacker like Kevin Walker had the ability to delete data from the entire internet.

But later, when he personally killed Kevin Walker, Lin Xian discovered that the two looked completely different, debunking this conclusion. Lin Xian then suspected that the mysterious old man's true identity was Copernicus.

Unexpectedly...

Later, when he personally killed Copernicus, Lin Xian was still speechless to discover that Copernicus's appearance was still different from the mysterious old man!

He didn't think much about it.

Because all the evidence pointed to Copernicus, Lin Xian guessed that Copernicus in the fourth Dreamscape had undergone plastic surgery, which was why he had changed his appearance.

But in the end, he never expected...

After a long and arduous cat-and-mouse chase, the mysterious old man's true identity was actually Newton!

"Then why couldn't we find him in 2023?"

Lin Xian asked:

"Newton clearly lived in 2023. He, Copernicus, Galileo, and Da Vinci were all from the same era. Surely there should be some kind of image or video footage left behind, right?"

"I'm not sure about that."

Hafnium alloy VV shook her head:

"I really didn't find Newton back then based on the portrait you gave me, and I don't know why."

"Moreover... tracing back from the information I found now, I can't normally trace it back to 2023. I don't know where Newton was in 2023. In other words—"

"[Newton's biographical data is incomplete, discontinuous, forged, and even... his appearance may be false.]"

...

False.

Disguise.

Lin Xian narrowed his eyes in thought.

Considering that Newton and Copernicus were birds of a feather and that Newton was the heir to Copernicus's will, it was possible that they had forged identities and appearances.

"What you said reminds me of a previous guess."

Lin Xian turned around and looked at VV:

"When I learned about Newton's true stance, I thought that Newton might not be an old man of a similar age to Copernicus. Instead, he might be his son."

"Because Copernicus was so old that he was on the verge of death. If Newton was his peer, how could he still be alive and kicking after 500 years?"

"Don't forget, Newton didn't just hibernate for 500 years in one go. He woke up intermittently over the years and has been active all along. So, I had a bold guess at the time—"

"[When Newton participated in the Genius Club, he was actually a young man. But in order to create the illusion of opposition with Copernicus, he disguised himself as an old man of the same age as Copernicus... thereby deceiving the other geniuses and confusing the public.]"

It had to be said.

Copernicus and Newton, those two old geezers, were truly cunning.

The Genius Club had been meeting for so many years.

Except for the omniscient Einstein, who knew that these two were putting on an act, everyone else had failed to discover the truth.

"Copernicus and Newton were indeed very smart and resourceful, but as the first two members of the Genius Club, they were in too high a position and monopolized information for too long. This led to a fatal flaw in both of them—"

"[Arrogance.]"

Lin Xian shook his head and continued:

"Arrogance and conceit are the most fatal flaws a person can have, without exception. Many of the enemies we've faced in the past have been very powerful, but they still lost in the end. They didn't lose to others... they lost to arrogance."

"Newton and Copernicus have always looked down on everyone in the Genius Club, including me. Now, it's time to find Newton in reality and give him a surprise."

!

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VV spun excitedly, raising her hands high:

"Let me do it, let me do it! I love doing this kind of thing the most! Before, whether it was Kevin Walker or Copernicus and Newton, they all stepped on our heads and acted all high and mighty... now, it's finally our turn!"

"It's a pity that I majored in Hollywood back then and learned so many acting and directing techniques, but I went offline before I could show off my skills; now that there's such a good opportunity, I must direct a show!"

"Okay, okay."

Lin Xian waved his hand:

"Just consider it a rehabilitation exercise for your 500 years of playing dumb. As long as we can find Newton in reality, it doesn't matter what form our meeting takes."

"The game between the members of the Genius Club has always been like this... everyone is just an ordinary mortal. No matter how high their IQ is, they are still just a sad mass of flesh. Exposure means death, and everyone is the same, there's no difference."

"VV, can you guess why Newton knows my true identity but doesn't come to kill me at all?"

"That's not hard to guess."

VV immediately replied:

"For the stability of the world line!"

"Newton doesn't know that the beautiful future Einstein saw is false. He must still think that the beautiful future world line appeared entirely because of his efforts!"

"So, in order to maintain the stability of the world line and prevent it from jumping to other world lines again, the best way is not to do anything extra and let history and the future continue to develop according to their original trajectory."

"Newton's target has always been those scientists and mathematicians; although it might sound hurtful, in his opinion... killing you has no meaning and only risks changing the world line. Why do something so unnecessary?"

Lin Xian chuckled and shrugged:

"Killing me is indeed worthless and only risky for Newton; but for me, killing Newton is the greatest significance."

"Newton killed so many scientists, hindered the development of human technology, and led a group of cutting-edge fields into dead ends... he is the real sinner of human civilization."

Lin Xian turned around and looked at the black wood seat on the platform that had already corroded into slag. It was once Einstein's seat, and it was also the place where he turned into blue stardust and disappeared.

Old friends were gone, but Einstein's last look at Lin Xian still contained a trace of regret and entrustment to Douglas.

"Let's complete what Einstein didn't."

"Get ready for a big fight, VV..."

Lin Xian raised his head, looking at the ceiling that was as bright as the stars:

"It's time to face the final mystery and truth and take back the real future that belongs to humanity..."

...

Dresden, Germany.

"Dr. Hans! Watch out!"

The female secretary reacted quickly, throwing herself forward and pushing Dr. Hans onto the grass beside them.

That wasn't enough.

She hugged Dr. Hans and rolled a few more times, away from their original position.

Boom!!!!

An out-of-control flying car fell from the sky and crashed heavily into the spot where Dr. Hans had been standing.

Fortunately, these flying cars were all powered by nuclear batteries, and the shells of the nuclear batteries were made of hafnium alloy, so there was no risk of explosion.

Advances in materials science had also made the vehicles extremely sturdy, so they didn't fall apart.

The only damage to the entire car was the deployed airbags and the shattered car windows.

"Dr. Hans! Are you alright!"

The female secretary quickly got up and checked Dr. Hans up and down.

Thank goodness.

He wasn't injured.

The female secretary breathed a sigh of relief...

She quickly ran to the out-of-control car to check.

It was a self-driving flying car with no driver or passengers inside.

That was strange.

Generally, except for trucks, public transportation vehicles, taxis, and cleaning garbage trucks... it was unlikely that a private car would be running empty.

So, it was obvious!

[This was a deliberate murder!]

"Dr. Hans, we should call the police immediately."

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The female secretary turned around and looked at Dr. Hans, who was getting up from the ground:

"This kind of out-of-control situation with self-driving cars is too rare. It's obvious... this should be a premeditated murder, and you're the target!"

The elderly Dr. Hans stood up, brushed the grass clippings off his body, and put his glasses back on:

"It's alright."

"The more this happens, the more it proves that my research direction is correct."

Dr. Hans glanced at the fallen car that had attempted to murder him and walked straight towards the conference building ahead:

"Let's go, we don't have time to waste here. Everyone is still waiting for my report."

The female secretary looked at the crashed vehicle, looked at Dr. Hans, who was walking far ahead...

Helpless.

She could only bite her lip, be alert to her surroundings, and quickly follow:

"Dr. Hans, I suggest you reconsider the security plan I proposed last week. You are a world-class scientific leader, and your opinions are related to the development direction of many cutting-edge fields. If something unexpected really happens, it would definitely be a loss to the entire human society!"

"I don't like being surrounded by people."

Hans replied lightly:

"Don't worry, the more people want to kill me, the more I will stick to my ideas and beliefs."

"You also know that the development of cutting-edge science is slow or even stagnant today, and many interest groups are deeply entrenched. They rely on the monopoly of old technologies to make a lot of money, and the emergence of new technologies will definitely overtake them and leave them behind."

"This is also the reason why the development of the technology field has been difficult in recent years. Countless historical events have proven that every time a new technology appears, it will definitely usher in a new round of commercial reshuffling. Capitalists wish that science and technology would never develop. They can even keep selling sewing machines until the end of the world."

"As you said, as a leader in multiple fields, if I retreat here or show fear of them, my students, successors, and who else will have the scientific spirit to be fearless of everything?"

"But..."

The female secretary tried her best to persuade:

"Security issues don't conflict with academic research..."

"Enough."

Hans waved his hand, interrupted the female secretary, and said solemnly:

"Don't mention this matter at the meeting later. Today's meeting is very important, and the whole world is watching."

Soon.

Dr. Hans entered the venue.

His status was very high, even in the world, he was one of the best.

The moment he stepped into the large conference room.

The academic giants and experts sitting inside immediately quieted down, all stood up, and bowed to Dr. Hans to say hello.

After taking his seat, the meeting began.

This was a global conference to determine the direction of human science.

Resources and talents were limited.

There were so many disciplines, so many branches, and so many specific projects in the world.

Especially world-class, global projects like this, which could not be done by one country or even a few countries, required global collaboration to develop together.

In this case, direction was especially important.

It was very possible that a certain direction would go smoothly in the early and mid-term, but in the end, it was found to be impassable; it was also possible that a certain direction would encounter obstacles and make no progress in the early and mid-term, but once it broke through the bottleneck, it would be smooth sailing.

In the past few centuries, there have been cases of misinterpreting the technology tree and taking the wrong technology selection path, taking many detours.

The most typical case was the dispute between propellantless spacecraft engines and propellant spacecraft engines when humans were preparing to face interstellar space travel in the early 22nd century.

Global scientists formed two equally powerful factions.

On the one hand, the traditionalists believed that they should continue to develop propellant engines; and in the process of space travel, take a step-by-step advance plan to continuously use gas planets to replenish fuel.

On the other hand, the reformists believed that they should take a gamble and gather global efforts to research propellantless engines to solve the problem of interstellar space travel once and for all.

In the end, the reformists won with their epoch-making ideas, and scientists around the world began research on propellantless engines.

As a result, hundreds of years passed...

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In the end, it was confirmed that propellantless engines were just a fantasy, a dream, completely unsuitable for space travel; at least, completely unsuitable under the technological blessing of the current era.

Hundreds of years were wasted in this way, and humans turned back to propellant engines.

If... at that meeting, they had firmly chosen the traditional but reliable propellant engine to continue research, would human civilization have embarked on another path hundreds of years later?

Unfortunately, time cannot be turned back.

Hundreds of years of time and talent were wasted in this way.

After this incident, the scientific community generally became conservative, and innovation and daring to innovate suffered a great setback.

The female secretary watched Dr. Hans sit in the presiding position, also clenched her palms, a little nervous.

Could he...

Succeed?

After a brief speech, the meeting began. It was almost overwhelmingly, with the vast majority of participants believing that human science should still be human-centered, strengthening and genetically improving on the basis of the human body, and not deviating from the human body itself; it could rely on scientific instruments, but not rely on them excessively; electronic prosthetics, electronic eyes, electronic brains, etc. were completely undesirable.

They believed that the limit that the human body could accept for mechanical energy was simply simple prosthetics for the disabled and some mechanical organs for medical use.

"But we must grasp this degree and limit!"

Below the stage, a scientific giant spoke:

"If we don't grasp this degree from the beginning and develop prosthetics and artificial organs too powerfully, it's hard to imagine... will there be people in the future who specifically cut off healthy limbs and organs to install those cold machines?"

His views were recognized by many participants.

Rather, even in 2504, human acceptance of mechanical prosthetics and electronic organs was still very low. As long as their own healthy organs could be used, no one was willing to replace them with mechanical ones... naturally, very few scholars studied this area.

But.

At this meeting.

Dr. Hans, as a global technology leader, was a staunch reformer.

"Everyone."

He stood up, unafraid of the conservative group huddled together for warmth:

"If the development of a technology is really beneficial to human lifespan, physical fitness, health, and even intelligence... why should we stubbornly stick to the old and not accept new things?"

"Nowadays, the atmosphere of fearing failure and not daring to innovate is spreading throughout the academic community. Looking at the world, except for Rhine University in Dragon Country, they are basically all in this negative attitude."

"The disastrous defeat of the propellantless engine did waste hundreds of years of precious time for mankind, but can we overturn and abandon all hope for the future because of this one failure?"

Dr. Hans's eyes were sharp, and he slowly scanned around, saying in a deep voice:

"[Do you really think the human body is perfect? No, you are just afraid of failure, afraid of taking a detour again, and wasting hundreds of years.]"

"What's there to be afraid of! Are we humans going to be extinct in just a few hundred years? It is meritorious in the present and beneficial in the future. Someone always has to try this! If we don't start research on electronic prosthetics, electronic organs, and electronic brains now... then when will we start?"

"Scientists, scholars, if you can't always stand at the forefront of technology, then it will be meaningless! If you don't dare to try to fail, who else will dare to try to fail?!"

...

...

Dr. Hans's rebuke silenced the audience.

Gradually.

Applause began in one or two places, and then slowly evolved into enthusiastic applause from the entire audience.

Yes.

Hans was right...

Could it be that human civilization should cower and be wretched for the rest of its life because of one failure?

Everyone knew in their hearts.

Electronics, intelligence, mechanics, advanced materials, and the integration of micro-nuclear batteries created electronic prosthetics, electronic eyes, electronic brains, and other organs, whose performance and durability were definitely far superior to the human body itself.

It was just that conservative thinking and the traditional human-centered concept bound everyone from researching in this area.

Final vote.

Under the leadership of Dr. Hans, electronic prosthetics and electronic brains became a new direction for the development of human science in the future. Humans would begin to move towards a bright future from this moment on.

"That's great, Dr. Hans!"

After the meeting, the female secretary excitedly greeted him, very excited:

"You succeeded! You will lead mankind into a new era!"

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"It still depends on everyone's joint efforts."

Dr. Hans said calmly:

"One person, after all, cannot change the world. This revolution in human science... is another long marathon, a race between mankind and its own destiny."

The two walked out of the door, and the self-driving car prepared by the secretary was already parked at the door. Dr. Hans sat in the passenger seat, and the female secretary drove him home.

"Dr. Hans, I'll pick you up tomorrow, you just wait for me at home. Before the police investigate this matter clearly, you must go out less and pay attention to safety."

"I got it."

Dr. Hans waved his hand tiredly:

"See you tomorrow."

...

After the female secretary drove away, Dr. Hans looked at the door lock, iris scanning and various biometric verifications, ensuring that only he could open the door lock.

Click.

After the door was opened.

Dr. Hans walked into the living room and turned on the light.

"Ah!!"

He shouted, took a step back, and almost fell!

Only to see...

On the chair next to the dining table in the living room, sat a smiling young man, and next to him stood a trash can robot with green eyes.

The young man crossed his arms and legs, obviously waiting for a while.

"[The hunter will one day become the prey.]"

Lin Xian smiled slightly, looking at the late old man:

"I have said this to you twice in total, but you can only hear it this time."

"So, what should I call you?"

"Newton... or Copernicus?"

(End of this chapter)

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