"How about it? What I've confessed now is enough to get me the death penalty, right?"

Another four hours passed.

In the interrogation room.

Ji Xinshui wore a gentle smile, calmly looking at the interrogator who was diligently taking notes in front of him.

All the cameras in the interrogation room were focused on recording him, and all the recording equipment was activated.

Of course, Ji Xinshui knew all of this.

But…

All of this was just part of his "fake death and rebirth" plan. He couldn't wait to join the Genius Club and meet Copernicus, whom he regarded as a god.

"Devil!"

The female police officer next to him, responsible for the interrogation, gritted her teeth, clenched her fists, and glared at Ji Xinshui.

"As long as all the evidence you've provided is verified, it's enough to execute you several times over!"

"Heh, that's the best."

Ji Xinshui closed his eyes, already beginning to enjoy the moment of coronation, entering the sacred hall.

The male police officer responsible for the interrogation was also extremely angry.

These bastards who disregard human life are still so arrogant and嚣张 even when facing death!

"Ji Xinshui."

The male officer suppressed his anger and continued the interrogation.

"According to your confession, all your criminal plans were executed by the Seven Deadly Sins organization that you established. This organization has a total of seven people."

"You, Zhou Duanyun, Zheng Chenghe, Academician Lyon, Sergeant Sam, Ji Lin, and Angelica. So far, you have confessed the criminal facts and evidence of the first five people. So what about the remaining Ji Lin and Angelica? You need to confess their criminal facts here as well."

Upon hearing this, Ji Xinshui closed his eyes and shook his head.

"They are both children I adopted. They have not participated in any criminal activities. The answer will be the same no matter how many times you ask."

"My confession ends here. Since it's already enough to sentence me to death, then expedite the trial and execution as soon as possible."

Afterward, Ji Xinshui stopped cooperating with the interrogation.

He seemed to already see himself bathed in boundless light…

For the omnipotent Genius Club, replacing the drugs in the death penalty injection, issuing a death certificate, and transferring his "corpse" out were simply as easy as flipping their hands.

Their powerful strength was far more than that, and it wasn't used for such trivial matters.

Finally…

He was also qualified to get a glimpse of the most mysterious secrets of this world, this time and space, and this Genius Club.

…

In the main monitoring room.

Lin Xian, Chu Shanhe, and Officer Liu were wearing headphones, also synchronously listening to the conversation in the interrogation room.

Lin Xian's notebook in front of him had his own records written on it:

Seven Deadly Sins.

Pride: Ji Xinshui, arrested and brought to justice, death penalty scheduled.

Envy: Zhou Duanyun, no entry information, whereabouts unknown.

Wrath: Zheng Chenghe, deceased.

Sloth: Ji Lin, arrested and brought to justice, still no incriminating evidence to date.

Greed: Academician Lyon, deceased.

Gluttony: Sergeant Sam, deceased.

Lust: Angelica, famous Hollywood actress, no facts related to any crime.

…

The above is all the content confessed by Ji Xinshui.

Including the previously unknown assassinations abroad, as well as the Xu Yun case, the Tang Xin case, and the Academician Lyon case in China, Ji Xinshui confessed everything clearly.

The main executor was basically Gluttony Sergeant Sam.

The planners were Ji Xinshui and Zhou Duanyun.

Ji Xinshui also admitted that Zheng Chenghe was indeed a death warrior he had raised, but he was equally disappointed with Zheng Chenghe… He didn't expect that this was the first time he had let him participate in an action, and he had created such a big mess.

"As expected, this kind of person can't achieve anything great."

When mentioning Zheng Chenghe, Ji Xinshui was very disgusted.

"I thought he was a loyal dog, but the result was the most disappointing one."

The overturning of the case of Zheng Chenghe's parents' death was also the same as Lin Xian had guessed, it was Ji Xinshui's powerful forces that had interfered behind the scenes; naturally, Zheng Xiangyue's medical expenses had also been funded by Ji Xinshui's foundation.

For Zheng Chenghe, his sister was his everything, and Ji Xinshui was his greatest benefactor, so he would naturally agree to help Ji Xinshui do some shady work.

Zheng Chenghe himself also thought so.

But…

Perhaps this man still underestimated the conscience in his heart.

Good will be rewarded with good, and evil with evil. He often said this sentence to his sister, teaching her to be kind. Perhaps unconsciously, Zheng Chenghe's heart, full of rage, revenge, and world-weariness, was also constantly being purified by kind and gentle people like his sister, Xu Yun, and Lin Xian…

Without Zheng Chenghe himself realizing it, his heart had long been extremely calm.

Lin Xian didn't know why Zheng Chenghe slammed on the brakes and turned the steering wheel at the last moment before crashing into him.

Was it because he heard Ji Lin shout his name?

Or was it that he didn't know the person in front of the car was him, but rather that his conscience emerged at the last moment of crashing into someone?

He didn't know.

It wasn't clear.

But Lin Xian would feel fortunate for such a man with a tragic childhood and a scarred face, fortunate that he had made the right choice at the end of his life, and was still as clean as moonlight in Zheng Xiangyue's eyes.

So far.

Ji Xinshui's matter was roughly settled.

Lin Xian had instructed Officer Liu and Chu Shanhe not to let him come into contact with anyone during the time before his execution.

In any case, the criminal evidence he had spewed out now was enough to sentence him to death, and because the nature was extremely serious and the impact was extremely bad, this kind of death penalty would inevitably be carried out immediately. The procedures were very fast, saving a lot of time and trouble.

Then next…

There were only two issues left.

Lin Xian looked at the white paper in front of him with the names of the Seven Deadly Sins written on it, looking at Ji Lin's name on it.

Ji Lin…

To this day, there was still no evidence to prove that he had participated in the crime.

He himself was extremely clever, not leaving a trace of a flaw.

Even the trap that he had set up for him by entering the game himself was ultimately withdrawn because of a twist of fate.

Moreover, on Ji Xinshui's side, because the evidence he had vomited out was already enough to sentence him to death, he insisted that Ji Lin and Angelica were innocent.

This led to…

In a few hours, the detention time for Ji Lin would reach 24 hours. Because there was no evidence to prove that he was guilty or involved in the murder, the police had to release him.

Lin Xian was also clueless about this point.

Was Ji Lin really innocent?

He personally thought that it was absolutely impossible.

But could he find a trace of evidence?

For example, the evidence that he participated in the murder of Xu Yun, the evidence that he participated in the murder of Tang Xin, these things couldn't be found either.

It was all his subjective judgment and conjecture.

This was the first problem, and there was a second problem.

Lin Xian picked up a red pen and circled Zhou Duanyun's name behind the word Envy in red.

"Zhou Duanyun."

Lin Xian silently recited the name of this former classmate.

Unlike Ji Lin.

Zhou Duanyun's criminal facts were a foregone conclusion. Not only had Ji Xinshui fully confessed, but he had also personally witnessed him participating in the murder of Tang Xin. This revenge had to be taken.

Moreover.

If Zhou Duanyun was allowed to wander outside, it would also be a huge threat to his safety.

Soon, he was going to bring Liu Feng to Donghai to push his overall plan to the next step, and start getting closer to the cosmological constant and the Genius Club.

At this time, Lin Xian was really uneasy about leaving such an unknown risk as Zhou Duanyun outside.

To cut grass, one must remove the roots.

Otherwise, there would be endless troubles.

He had to wipe out all of these Seven Deadly Sins in one fell swoop in order to ensure his absolute safety and develop his own power with peace of mind.

Of course, the matter of the Genius Club also needed to be considered.

It was just that Huang Que himself was from the Genius Club, and so far, Lin Xian felt that he didn't have any substantial intersection with the Genius Club, nor any friction. There might still be some reasons that he hadn't noticed… It was just that these things needed to be thought about later.

Right now.

He had to find a way to solve these two big problems of Ji Lin and Zhou Duanyun.

Lin Xian took off the headphones on his head.

Looking at Ji Lin sitting safely in the interrogation room on the monitoring screen, looking at the time subtitles jumping above it.

May 4th, 22:30 at night

There were only 3 hours left before Ji Lin was released without charge.

He had to think of a way.

Lin Xian closed his eyes… and began to think deeply again.

He found.

Ji Lin was much more difficult to deal with than Ji Xinshui.

To put it bluntly, Ji Xinshui was able to get caught in his plan because of the endless desires in his heart.

Arrogance.

In the Tianzhu doctrine, arrogance is the first of the Seven Deadly Sins.

Facts have proven.

Ji Xinshui was indeed arrogant.

Today's invitation letter, if it was used to deceive Ji Lin, it would definitely not work. Ji Lin's reason would definitely not allow him to make this kind of mistake.

Even if it was used to deceive people like Zhou Duanyun, it wouldn't work either, because Zhou Duanyun's desires were still obviously stuck in the real world, more money, fame, status, respect, etc…

Only those standing at Ji Xinshui's level and height would be so obsessed with the Genius Club.

Because the real world could no longer satisfy their inflated desires. Only the Genius Club, a mysterious and powerful organization that runs through the long river of time and has more unfathomable goals, was their ultimate pursuit.

So…

What should he do with Ji Lin?

After thinking for a while, Lin Xian opened his eyes and looked at Officer Liu.

"Officer Liu, when we announce Ji Xinshui's confession tomorrow, can we erase Zhou Duanyun's name as well?"

Officer Liu was very surprised when he heard this.

"Lin… Lin Xian, what does this mean? Zhou Duanyun has done so many excessive things. I have already planned to contact the country to list him as a globally wanted criminal. Erasing his crimes… it doesn't seem appropriate no matter how you think about it."

Lin Xian shook his head.

"It's just temporarily erasing it. I have a plan, maybe… I can hook him."

Lin Xian smiled.

"I won't hide it from you. Zhou Duanyun and I were high school classmates, and we usually have some interaction. I still know this person relatively well, and I also know what he has always wanted… Please cooperate with me."

Officer Liu and Chu Shanhe looked at each other, and then nodded together.

During this period of time, they had truly witnessed Lin Xian's tactics and mind.

Whether it was this arrest plan, or the magical move just now that made Ji Xinshui honestly confess all the criminal facts, this was all proof of Lin Xian's strength.

"No problem, Lin Xian."

Officer Liu nodded heavily.

"I believe you! Next, you just proceed according to your plan, and I will bear the rest!"

…

Early morning.

Ji Lin meditated in the interrogation room, feeling the passage of time.

He knew that 24 hours were coming soon.

He was about to leave here soon.

Squeak——

The heavy door of the interrogation room was pushed open, and someone walked in.

He looked up…

It was Lin Xian.

The two men's eyes met, and they were speechless.

It was like the gaze between the two men in the fireworks-like explosion on the previous dawn. You know me, I know you, but there is an uncrossable galaxy between them.

Lin Xian pulled out a chair, sat opposite Ji Lin, and looked at him.

"Ji Xinshui has confessed everything."

Ji Lin was amused and shook his head gently.

"Impossible."

Lin Xian took out the video and written records that he had prepared earlier for Ji Lin to see.

In the video, Ji Xinshui was cheerfully narrating how he had killed Dr. Ponsmer in Wolfsburg, Germany.

Ji Lin's face changed slightly.

He knew Ji Xinshui too well. This was not something he should be able to do.

This was tantamount to sentencing himself to death.

Why would he do this?

Ji Lin couldn't figure it out.

"However, Ji Xinshui did say that you and Angelica were innocent."

Lin Xian put away the tablet that was playing the video and looked up at Ji Lin.

"This is quite beyond my expectations. I didn't expect such a ruthless person who would attack his own student, no, to be precise, his own son-in-law… to still choose to protect his children at the end of his life… even if they were not his own, but adopted."

"It's hard to imagine that the matter of 'even a venomous tiger will not devour its cubs' would actually happen to Ji Xinshui."

Ji Lin spread his hands when he heard this.

"That's because Angelica and I are innocent."

He smiled and looked around the narrow interrogation room, which was tightly wrapped in soft sponges.

"Lin Xian, this is the real birthday present you wanted to give me, right? Seriously… compared to that Gothic Rhine cat, this gift is more of a surprise."

Snap.

Lin Xian snapped his fingers.

噔, a familiar muffled sound.

The one-way viewing glass went out and turned into a black screen. All the monitoring electronic equipment in the interrogation room was turned off. All the conversations inside became secrets that no third person knew.

Ji Lin looked at the cameras around him with their heads down, and turned his gaze back to Lin Xian, wondering what tricks he was trying to play.

He saw…

Lin Xian took out a brown file bag and bypassed the white cotton thread on it.

From it.

He took out a folded white drawing paper.

He put the white drawing paper on the table and pushed it in front of Ji Lin.

"This is the real birthday gift that Chu Anqing and I wanted to give you."

Whirr…

Lin Xian opened the drawing paper.

Ji Lin took a deep breath and looked at the highly skilled pencil sketch in front of him—

The clean paper and smooth pencil lines depicted three young men and women who were warm and harmonious.

Lin Xian and Ji Lin stood behind, looking down at Chu Anqing, who suddenly jumped over.

And Chu Anqing, who was already prepared, smiled with her eyes curved into two shallow crescents, and squeezed in front of the two with two cute scissor hands.

At that moment, the shutter was pressed, taking a warm group photo of the three of them.

"In that case… let's exchange gifts! Let's agree that we will give each other gifts every birthday! In this way, everyone can guarantee at least two gifts on each birthday!"

"Since we are good friends, of course we have to celebrate together until the last birthday of our lives!"

"Ji Lin, just wait, Anqing and I will definitely prepare a big gift for you! We will make up for all the birthday gifts you haven't received in the past few years!"

"Ji Lin… You can't tell your wishes, if you tell them, they won't come true!"

"There is a word that generally refers to two people who have a good relationship and share the same interests. It is the name of the most classic representative song of the famous singer Zhou Huajian, and it is also the code name of the villain in the famous comic adaptation film *20th Century Boys*! May I ask what this word is——"

…

Looking at this sketch.

The words that Chu Anqing had once said came from the depths of his memory like a tide… echoing in Ji Lin's ears with laughter and joy.

"Originally, Chu Anqing planned to color the sketch with watercolor and then give it to you."

Lin Xian said softly.

"But later, there wasn't enough time, so she gave you other gifts instead."

He leaned back on the chair, changed his posture, and looked at Ji Lin.

"It doesn't mean anything else, and I'm not here to play any emotional card with you. I just think that after today, we probably won't have any more contact. Since this painting is already finished… then I'll give it to you."

Raising his wrist.

Lin Xian looked at the time.

"There are still a few minutes left before your detention time reaches 24 hours. All the surveillance here has been turned off, and besides, I'm not a professional interrogator. The confession information I get has no legal effect."

"I'm here today just to ask you one question."

He raised his head again and looked into Ji Lin's eyes.

"Did you participate in the murders of Xu Yun and Tang Xin?"

…

A brief silence.

Ji Lin shook his head.

"No."

Lin Xian just looked at him like this.

He paused for a long time.

Neither of them spoke.

Ji Lin's eyes were always fixed on the sketch on the table, while Lin Xian kept staring at the silent Ji Lin.

Didi.

Lin Xian's digital watch made a soft sound.

That was the time reminder he had been setting all this time.

Turning his wrist over.

00:42

Whirr.

Lin Xian took out a bunch of keys from his pocket and threw them on the drawing paper in front of Ji Lin.

"You are free."

Those were the keys to his handcuffs and shackles.

Lin Xian stood up and walked towards the door.

"Lin Xian."

Just two steps away, with his hand on the doorknob, Ji Lin behind him called out to him.

Lin Xian didn't look back.

Ji Lin's voice came from behind.

"Are we friends?"

Lin Xian stared at the doorknob below, not turning it.

"What counts as a friend?"

Ji Lin smiled.

"I don't know how to define it. This kind of thing seems easy, but it seems difficult. Just like what I told you last night… if you are sad after the other person dies, then you probably regard him as a friend."

"I have another view."

Lin Xian's right hand left the doorknob and turned back.

"I think that being able to not lie to each other is a true friend."

He looked into Ji Lin's eyes again.

"Tell me, Ji Lin, did you participate in the Xu Yun and Tang Xin murder cases?"

This was the second time Lin Xian had asked this question.

At this moment.

He didn't even know what answer he wanted to get.

Was it still a denial?

Or a reversal of admission?

However…

Faced with this question again, Ji Lin was silent.

For a full minute, the two men just looked at each other like this, time seemed to stand still, without a single word.

Lin Xian sighed lightly.

At this time, silence was basically equivalent to affirmation.

He couldn't describe how he felt now.

But this was the answer he wanted to find out the most, proving that he had not guessed wrong or wrongly accused anyone all along.

At least this time, Ji Lin didn't lie to him.

"Lin Xian."

Ji Lin chuckled and opened his mouth.

"If I die one day, will you be sad?"

He also asked the same question for the second time.

It seemed that he also wanted to know Lin Xian's answer.

But…

Lin Xian turned his head, turned the doorknob, and walked out.

Bang.

The heavy door closed, leaving Ji Lin in the dim interrogation room. Lin Xian strode through the brightly lit corridor and came to the brightly lit main monitoring room under the fluorescent lights.

"Let's start the plan."