Chapter 1168: Chapter 37: Race Against Time

This answer.

The entire room erupted in amazement.

All the members of the club exchanged glances, unable to believe… this question would actually be refused!

How unexpected.

Where Einstein’s ashes were scattered was, in itself, a question of little significance.

The world knows: the renowned physicist Einstein passed away in 1955, his brain stolen by doctors, his body cremated, and the ashes scattered in a place kept secret by his children.

He’s already dead, so it hardly matters where the ashes were scattered.

What’s more, seventy years have already passed–wherever they were scattered, they’ve probably long since nourished flowers, grass, and trees.

Yet for such a trivial question…

Why would the president of the Genius Club, the elderly man wearing Einstein’s mask, refuse to answer?

“Could it be… that our club itself has some connection with the historical Einstein?”

Galileo was the first to analyze:

“According to the club’s question regulations, there are only two situations where a question would be refused. One is when the question involves another club member. The other is when it relates to the club itself.”

“It can’t possibly be that Einstein’s ashes were scattered by one of us here, right? Apart from that, I can’t think of any scenario that connects this question to a club member.”

The slender Gauss sat up straight in his chair:

“Perhaps… this Genius Club… was founded by Einstein back then…”

“Impossible.”

Jask interrupted Gauss directly:

“The club charter states that membership is lifelong, meaning there’s no possibility of inheritance. If Einstein were once a member, then there would certainly be an empty chair reserved for him now–just like Turing and Copernicus’s chairs.”

Miss Da Vinci lowered her head in contemplation:

“But Einstein has been deceased for so many years. Logically, he should have no connection with the club itself or its members. The only explanation I can think of is…”

“Perhaps the location where the ashes were scattered is of crucial importance? Or, perhaps Einstein’s ashes weren’t scattered at all, but rather hidden somewhere? And this location… might very well be the residence or secret spot of one of us here.”

“Heh.”

Newton chuckled slightly and said softly:

“Now that would be intriguing. Who would collect Einstein’s ashes? From the perspective of age, it seems like I might be the best fit, doesn’t it?”

“But let me make it clear–I don’t carry that burden. I have absolutely no interest in something like ashes.”

“I feel that when guessing the answer, why do we always have to make things so complicated? Fine, I won’t keep everyone in suspense any longer. In fact, I know the reason the question was refused.”

With that.

He turned his head to look at Einstein on the elevated stage:

“Old friend, do you want to explain this, or shall I do the honors?”

On the elevated stage.

The elderly man wearing Einstein’s mask scanned the room, his voice deep and commanding:

“This really isn’t something worth overthinking. I will refuse to answer any question related to Einstein.”

“And not only that… Questions about Copernicus, Newton, Galileo, Da Vinci, Gauss, Tesla, Turing, and even… Rhein Cat, I will also refuse to answer.”

“Because for each of you, including the mask I wear, your masks are not only your code names but also a part of your identity. Even though the lives of these great figures are recorded in history and books… there are still countless unknowns about their pasts.”

“I believe each of you chose your masks after careful thought, with meaningful intentions. This is how other geniuses grasp something about you and form their first impression of you.”

“Therefore, the masks themselves, along with the information tied to the figures they depict, are also a kind of privacy for members. Take your question, Tesla, for example. If you ask me about Tesla’s past, I’ll tell you everything in detail. But if you inquire about the pasts of Einstein, Galileo, or Gauss… that would be considered asking about other members’ privacy and would certainly be refused.”

…

After Einstein finished explaining, Newton leaned back against his chair and spread his hands:

“That’s the reason–it’s far simpler than you all imagined. When Copernicus and I were the only ones in the club early on, we asked Einstein questions too, and we were similarly refused.”

“In other words, the masks we wear on our faces are also part of our hidden identities. Perhaps they even represent the direction of our future plans… That’s how Einstein sees it.”

Ah, so that’s it.

No one had expected it to be for this reason.

Lin Xian, however, narrowed his eyes, feeling something odd.

Why does it feel…

Like this excuse was somewhat forced?

But on this matter, he had no right to criticize others.

Because his mask, the inexplicable Rhein Cat… was indeed chosen casually.

Perhaps the others’ choices of masks truly had been deeply considered.

He simply listened quietly as the discussion continued.

At the beginning, everyone speculated on many ideas, yet not a single person considered the possibility that Einstein was still alive and that the president’s real identity was Einstein.

As Jask pointed out.

A 140-year-old zombie would indeed defy logic.

Even taking time travel theories into account, it remains inexplicable.

[Who could ignore the passage of time, never age, never die, and persist eternally in this world?]

Lin Xian shook his head.

That’s truly unscientific.

But.

He still believed that the reason Einstein refused to answer this question was far from simple.