Genius Playground

”Not all problems are the same. What you just described? That’s completely impossible under any circumstances.”

”If a person has been medically declared dead, you can rest assured—I am one million percent certain—that person can absolutely not come back to life.”

”If a dead person truly stands before you again, you can immediately and definitively conclude—that person is absolutely a fake!”

The doctor picked up his teacup, preparing to take a sip.

Finding it empty, he stood and went to get some hot water.

Before leaving the room, he looked at Jiang Ran and smiled.

”Tian Xiaoli has a lot of tests today, and she still needs time to recover. Plus, with what just happened to her father... considering everything, we’d rather she not have any visitors.”

”So, Jiang Ran, please head back for today. Once Tian Xiaoli’s condition stabilizes, I’ll have Teacher Zhang Yang inform you.”

”Okay.”

Jiang Ran nodded.

”Thank you, Doctor.”

He left the office right after, went downstairs, and hailed a taxi back to East Sea University.

...

「East Sea City. Inside a luxurious conference room.」

A middle-aged man pushed open the door and walked in. He looked at an old man in a Tang suit, who was sitting at the conference table, deep in thought.

”It looks like the East Sea City Police Department has found a fair number of clues about us.”

”It doesn’t matter.”

The old man in the Tang suit replied with his eyes closed, seemingly resting.

”Lilith will handle everything.”

The middle-aged man walked closer.

”I’m not worried about the police. I know Lilith can handle trivialities like that. She handled the business in Hang City, and everything before it.”

”But things are different now. Police aside, we’ve run into a very dangerous individual.”

He pulled out a chair and sat across from the old man, his voice low.

”Jiang Ran!”

He paused before continuing.

”Jiang Ran ran straight to the scene of Old Tian’s and Yan Chonghan’s Divine Punishments and witnessed everything.”

”He couldn’t stop the Divine Punishment in the end, but don’t you think it’s strange? How did he know the exact time, place, and target for our Divine Punishment?”

”It’s more than just knowing; he was even able to get to the scene in time.”

”So, my earlier suspicion must be correct—”

”Jiang Ran must have some kind of time-traveling Time Machine, or some other way of getting information from the future!”

The middle-aged man frowned.

”Otherwise, there’s no way to explain how he appeared at the scene of the Divine Punishment with such perfect timing.”

”This means he knows exactly who we’re going to kill, when we’re going to kill them, and who we’re sending to do it!”

The old man in the Tang suit still had his eyes closed.

He rolled a gold coin between the fingers of his right hand and shook his head.

”I know what you’re thinking, but I believe we need to wait a bit longer.”

”We can’t wait any longer.”

The middle-aged man was adamant.

”We’ve been moving too slowly. That’s why, to this day, we still haven’t figured out who’s backing Jiang Ran...”

”Since you’re sure it’s not the Witch, then who is it? We always thought we had the upper hand, that our enemy was in the light while we were in the shadows.”

”But now, the tables have turned. If Jiang Ran really possesses a piece of advanced technology like a Time Machine... we don’t stand a chance!”

”The fact that Jiang Ran and his master haven’t made a move can only mean that we’re well-hidden and haven’t been exposed... for now.”

”But ’for now’—how long do you think that will last? I must remind you of two things—”

”First, you’re not the only one in the world with a Lilith! Other people have them. Everybody has them!”

”Second, not even Lilith can stand against a Time Machine! The power to change history and know the future is too strong. Once they lock onto us, we’ll be utterly defenseless!”

The old man in the Tang suit slowly opened his eyes. ”So, what do you want to do?”

”Speed up our progress.”

The middle-aged man answered without hesitation.

”This is a race against time...”

”Either we uncover them first, or they’ll have us by the throat!”

The old man in the Tang suit sat up straight.

He placed the gold coin on the table, setting it on its edge. Then, with a flick of his finger, he sent it spinning.

The King gold coin WHIRRED, spinning rapidly. As it lost momentum, it wobbled and finally... landed face-up. The sceptered King stared up at the ceiling.

”If they really do have a Time Machine, that would be a serious problem.”

The old man narrowed his eyes.

”I think the probability is low... but scientifically speaking, the possibility of building a Time Machine is not zero.”

”Very well. This time, you can do as you see fit. But, as I’ve told you countless times, be patient. Stick to the plan. And be prudent.”

”Don’t worry.”

The middle-aged man chuckled and stood up.

”I know what I’m doing.”

...

For the past two days, East Sea University had been on lockdown. Not only were all classes suspended, but all club activities were required to be put on hold as well.

Two days later, the state of high alert was finally lifted. However, several police cars remained parked outside the campus gates, on standby. Special police officers were now stationed at the entrances and exits, where metal detectors had been installed to screen everyone coming in.

Currently, only students of the university could come and go freely using facial recognition; all outside personnel were barred from entry.

Today, September 19th, was the first day the lockdown at East Sea University was lifted. It was also the day of Teacher Yan Chonghan’s memorial service.

At the East Sea City Funeral Home, a black-and-white photograph of Yan Chonghan sat on the memorial altar. In waves, mourning teachers, students, and friends bowed once, twice, a third time... their hearts heavy as they mourned the passing of a young life.

As students of Teacher Yan Chonghan, Jiang Ran, Fang Ze, and Cheng Mengxue naturally went to the funeral home to pay their respects.

Although they hadn’t known Teacher Yan for long, the sudden news that he had been murdered was difficult for anyone to accept.

Cheng Mengxue, who was naturally empathetic, had been completely distraught ever since hearing the terrible news three days ago.

Especially when they were bowing three times to his photograph at the funeral home... Jiang Ran could see her entire body trembling.

Leaving the funeral home.

The three of them didn’t rush back to the university. Instead, they walked aimlessly along the banks of the Huangpu River. With no destination in mind and nowhere in particular to go, they simply walked on in silence.

When they grew tired, they found a set of stone steps and sat down. They gazed at the Huangpu River surging eastward before them, its glittering waves reflecting the light of bygone years.

This scene...

...seemed strangely familiar to Jiang Ran.

’It was just like on World Line 0. After the three of us saw Xu Yan’s body at the hospital, we sat by the Huangpu River just like this, lamenting how fragile life was, and discussing...’

’...whether to use the newly-tested Positron Cannon to send a message back in time and save Xu Yan.’

”Teacher Yan was such a good person. Why did something like this have to happen to him?”

Cheng Mengxue sat to Jiang Ran’s right. A few stray strands of her hair were lifted by the wind, dancing before his eyes.

”He didn’t do anything wrong. He was a good person, yet he met such a fate.”

Her voice choked with sobs, Cheng Mengxue quietly reached out with her left hand and clutched the corner of Jiang Ran’s shirt.

”This world... is so unfair...”

Jiang Ran nodded.

’It’s true.’

’What happened to him was truly unfair.’

”Jiang Ran...”

Cheng Mengxue slowly lifted her gaze, the corners of her eyes already red from crying.

Her eyes, brimming with tears, locked onto his.

”Is there... any way to prevent tragedies like this...?”