Genius Playground

”I hope you will disband the Regrets Mutual Aid Association, or go directly to the police and turn yourself in... If you insist on continuing, then I’m sorry, but I will have to be ungrateful and report you to the police department!”

Heh heh heh.

Across from her, Wu Yuanzheng gave a dry chuckle, toying with the gold coin in his hand.

”Li Yini, all this talk about whether we’re a cult or not... let’s not jump to conclusions. Even as a police officer, you need evidence to make a judgment, don’t you?”

”I haven’t deceived a single one of my followers; they all work for me willingly. I have never broken my word, never engaged in any deception. For every follower who completes their task, I fulfill their wish and remedy their regret, just as promised.”

”Right now... it seems you’re skeptical of my abilities. You even seem to believe these so-called ’miracles’ are limited to the realms of power, wealth, and connections.”

”If that’s the case, why not be a little more patient and wait a few more days? On September 16th, I hope you’ll come again. I will show you... what a true miracle really is!”

...

「September 16, 2023. Weather: Sunny.」

It’s too astonishing.

I can’t believe any of this is real.

That important man... Wu Yuanzheng... He can even grant wishes that are this outrageous, this contrary to all common sense!

Is this... is this even scientific?

But.

If this isn’t science, then what is it that I’m seeing with my own two eyes?

...

”Li Yini, how are you feeling?”

In the lavish conference room, Wu Yuanzheng spread his hands.

”Let’s just get straight to the point. I know your life’s great regret. You lost your younger brother when you were five... even though it wasn’t your fault. A trafficker forcibly snatched him from you.”

”Your family, your parents, and indeed your own life were all devastated by it. Hearing your story pains me, just as it pains me to listen to the regrets of my followers... exactly the same pain.”

”But by joining the Regrets Mutual Aid Association, you gain the opportunity to remedy life’s regrets. Did you see the smiles on my followers’ faces? Did you hear their joyous cheers?”

”This place isn’t some cult, and of course, it’s not a charity either... We have a noble philosophy. We want to make the world a better place, to plan a more beautiful future for human civilization.”

”Therefore, we must take a higher perspective to punish the criminals the law cannot convict! You’re a smart woman; I’m sure you understand... the law, in its creation and its judgments, always lags behind.”

”If, for every major crime, we have to wait until after it has had a devastating effect before we legislate, research, and convict, then it’s no different from locking the barn door after the horse has bolted.”

”From the grand perspective of history, from the river of time, eras change and society progresses. Many sacrifices are inevitable, and necessary. So... have you made up your mind? Will you call me Priest and become my follower?”

Li Yini’s lips tensed.

”Is this... truly a just cause?”

Wu Yuanzheng spread his hands.

”These are things I can prove to you.”

Li Yini fell silent.

Slowly, she lifted her head.

”Can you really remedy any regret? Fulfill any wish?”

”Can you really... help me get my brother back?”

Wu Yuanzheng chuckled, flicking the gold coin at his fingertips and sending it spinning across the table.

”Nothing could be simpler.”

...

「October 11, 2023. Weather: Light rain.」

I’ve officially joined the Regrets Mutual Aid Association.

Because the Priest has proven to me that what they do is, in fact, just.

There are truly too many outlaws in this world who escape justice, just like the trafficker who stole my brother...

If I get the chance, I want to arrest him myself!

...

”So, Priest, what do I need to do?”

Li Yini looked at the older man before her.

”What kind of task do I have to complete for you to remedy my regret and bring my brother back?”

Wu Yuanzheng nodded.

”This may... be a very long task. It will require great sacrifice, great effort, and you will have to endure great pain.”

”I don’t care.”

Li Yini’s gaze was resolute.

”I just want to see my brother! I want my parents to find their strength again, for my family to be whole and happy once more... I don’t care what sacrifices I have to make for that.”

”Ever since the day I lost my brother, the one and only thing that has kept me going—my only conviction—is finding him! That’s the entire meaning of my life!”

Wu Yuanzheng gave a slight smile.

”What your task is remains unclear for now. Let’s just say... we have obtained a key, but we have no idea where the lock is.”

”However, in this world, if there’s a key, there must be a lock. And that lock will turn up sooner or later.”

”So, while we wait for this lock to appear, what you need to do is become that key... Become its perfect replica, so perfect that no one can tell the difference. Only then can you seize the opportunity to open that lock.”

”I understand.”

Li Yini narrowed her eyes.

”You want me... to impersonate someone. Or rather, to become someone else. To imitate everything about her, learn everything about her, until I’m her exact duplicate.”

CLAP. CLAP. CLAP. CLAP. CLAP. CLAP.

The middle-aged man beside Wu Yuanzheng applauded and stood up.

”A top student indeed! You catch on so quickly. It was worth the effort of finding you in a sea of millions! You really are the perfect girl for this. We weren’t mistaken about you!”

Li Yini looked at the middle-aged man.

”So, out of all the girls in the world, why choose me? Is it because I’m a student at the Imperial Capital Police University? Because I’m suited for this kind of mission?”