Super God-Level Top Student

The real problems were only just beginning.

When a forceful character makes a suggestion, especially when it could touch upon core interests, whether to listen and to what extent has always been a matter of finesse throughout history.

But at this closed-door meeting, no one was discussing; they were watching a video.

The video was of someone giving a speech...

"...I have just learned a secret, yes, a secret revealed to me by a wronged patriot. Our networks, your most prized personal privacy that should have been well protected, is being leaked. And the culprit behind all this is artificial intelligence.

Yes, what was supposed to be a technology to protect us has, under the leadership of that weak and incompetent fellow, become a tool for our enemies to grasp the privacy and secrets of all of us! He cannot be forgiven...

Empty promises, failed policies... All these have led to the embarrassing situation we now face. You might wonder where my information comes from. The good news is that today, right here, I have invited the former director of Langley..."

"Snap..."

The television was switched off.

Everyone involuntarily looked towards the old man holding the remote control.

Everyone understood that the situation was grave.

Though the two sides were fighting fiercely, they were united on a certain point, hence natural allies were hard to come by.

A very real situation lay before everyone.

How to respond to the allies' request.

"Is this year's Crafoord Prize winner decided yet?"

"Yes, Your Excellency, unless something unexpected happens, it will be Huaxia's Qiao Ze. The committee has basically settled on him."

"Oh, have you contacted him to submit those materials?"

"In fact, no. But half of the inviting institutions and individuals recommended him, and ninety percent of the committee's votes went to him."

"Then now here comes the unexpected. If we remove him from the list, who do you think is the most qualified to win the award?"

No one answered the question.

Indeed, a dilemma. The coincidence was that the Crafoord Prize, although awarded every year, was not always given to the discipline of mathematics. It rotates among four disciplines, occurring for mathematics only once every four years.

From the first mathematics prize in 1982 to 2020, it had been awarded nine times, including many familiar names to the public.

Such as Edward Witten in 2008, Terence Tao and Jean Bourgain in 2012.

It just so happened that this year was the year for mathematics...

Had it been last year, or next year, there would have been enough time to maneuver or think of other ways.

But now the awardee is about to be officially announced, suddenly throwing a spanner in the works would annoy anyone.

"How about rotating it? Announce the biology award first this year?" someone suddenly proposed.

"It's already June, it's too late. The nominations from the institutions and individuals have been sent out. To reselect and go through the whole process would take at least half a year." This bad idea was dismissed right away.

"We need a suitable reason."

"What suitable reason? I just said, half of the institutions and individuals have recommended Qiao Ze! In fact, half is already very conservative. If you calculate carefully, it would certainly be much more than half! Not to mention the opinion of the committee! Qiao Ze's contributions to mathematics last year are well known."

"Alright, I'm well aware of that. But emphasizing these things won't solve the current problem! We need a plan B, so that in case they break off completely, we can smoothly get past this! Please give me some constructive suggestions, thank you!"

The conference room once again fell silent.

After a long while, someone suddenly spoke: "Well, actually Qiao Ze is still young... and in the history of the Crafoord Prize, there has never been a female recipient. Maybe..."

"How many female mathematicians are among the nominated candidates this time? Um, I mean in the biological sense of female."

"Three."

"Who has the most support?"

"Camille Dubois, a researcher at the French Juxier Mathematics Research Institute. Her contributions to geometry are substantial."

"Then, let's start by talking about the opinion of the committee members. First, include Ms. Dubois in the final list of candidates, the difference in the final vote can be smaller."

Most remained silent in the face of such a see-no-evil approach.

But some raised concerns.

"Isn't using gender as a reason a bit far-fetched? Shouldn't our award be based on academic achievement? Can such a reason be convincing?"

"Enough, Mr. Anderson."

The old man promptly stopped the other speaker, then said solemnly, "Unless you have a better solution, please refrain from such unconstructive questioning. Don't you understand? The issue is that we have no choice but to be prepared for both scenarios.

If I were you, I would already be thinking about how to communicate with the members of the judging panel, not questioning these decisions repeatedly. Do you understand? Of course, if you have the capability to resolve the problem we are currently facing, I might even give up my position to you! Can you do that?"

After these words were spoken, no one else objected.

That's right.

Every family has its own hard book to read.

"Well, remember not to disclose what happened in this meeting. I don't want to hear about today's decision at any time, and I will never acknowledge it. Whoever leaks will bear all the responsibility.

Gustav, make sure to communicate well with the members of the committee. Buck up, things might not be as bad as they seem. Maybe they can strike a good bargain after all? Alright, let's leave it there for today."

The old man waved his hand, signaling that the closed-door meeting had come to an end.

...

In Huaxia, at the Xilin Institute of Mathematics, a typical afternoon in June, the rivers and mountains at peace, and the sunlight just right.

It was just that the early summer season always made people feel a bit lethargic.

But to be honest, with spring drowsiness, autumn fatigue, summer lethargy and winter hibernation, people always like to find ample excuses for their laziness.

In the office, a beauty with bright eyes and white teeth was propping up her chin and dozing off, while the young man on the other side was sitting in front of the computer, earnestly looking at a complex diagram.

Until a dialogue box suddenly popped up on the computer.

"Daddy, daddy, someone wants to trade with us and says if we don't accept their terms, you will miss out on many honors. The funniest part is, despite knowing to contact me, the trader still used anonymity, Dou Dou finds it hilarious."

"Honors?" The young man was slightly taken aback, then directly closed the dialogue box.

This Dou Dou was really becoming more and more boring.