It could even be said to be a foolish act that departed from the basic logic of human confrontation.
"If that's what you're saying, well then, Qiao Ze, you've won. But I still want to say, not everyone in this world can possess that enviable mathematical intuition.
Maybe most people are doing futile work in your eyes, but in reality, their work is meaningful. Because they are doing the extensive work that you disdain.
Yes, you are exceptionally talented, and you can even guide us in the right direction when everyone else is lost. But Qiao Ze, there's one thing I hope you will always remember.
You can carve out a new path with your talent, but you can't widen that path completely on your own. Your theories ultimately need those whom you consider mediocre to be passed down from generation to generation."
Edward Witten's forceful words ended, and Qiao Ze nodded slightly, then shifted his gaze and ended the topic.
He felt some emotion, not wanting to gloat nor continue this 'talking past each other' mode of conversation. The only feelings were probably sorrow and caution.
In any team undertaking a task, there must not be any so-called dead weight.
United States, Washington.
"They agreed to sell another activation code, demanding that the amount and the method of obtaining the code be the same as last time."
"Impossible! Have the Huaxia people gone mad?" Romand Willy blurted out without thinking.
Admitting to stumbling at the same spot twice is one thing, but being seen as an easy mark is quite another.
The reason he agreed to that painfully high amount last time was because the situation was urgent. He couldn't really make a joke out of himself in front of all those important figures.
For the sake of face, he had to endure the painful cut.
"Actually, it has nothing to do with the Huaxia people. We can only contact them through the method used last time," the secretary reminded.
Romand Willy was stunned for a moment, then quickly calmed down.
After running the model, the contact method suggested for purchasing the activation code was to interface with what's called artificial intelligence.
Negotiating with artificial intelligence was a fairly novel experience.
Romand Willy could accept that people could not reason with machines, but he could not accept being extorted by a robot over and over again.
"If we tell it that we won't buy it at this price, will it lower its price?" Romand asked hesitantly.
The secretary didn't answer.
No expert dared to thump their chest and analyze the so-called artificial intelligence's thought patterns. Negotiation tactics tailored for humans clearly didn't work on machines.
This was probably what made Romand Willy feel most helpless.
If he could control the whole affair, if he had a choice, even if he was facing artificial intelligence, he could have stood his ground.
Unfortunately, he was dancing in shackles this whole affair.
He held enough secrets to be clearer than anyone that the entire upper machinery was serving the interests of capital.
So, many times so-called high positions and power were just a joke.
Thinking about negotiating with that machine again, which might result in the price climbing step by step until he had to reluctantly agree, Romand Willy gave up the idea.
"Then, let's do as they say. After we get the activation code, we'll no longer be involved. Let those experts go test the so-called new element," said Romand Willy coldly.
Since the last incident, Romand Willy could accept that the program itself presented no harm, but he didn't believe for a second that the model was as useful as the material model currently being used by Huaxia.
Romand Willy even suspected at one point that those from Huaxia sent this model to him just to extort money. Otherwise, he couldn't explain any of it.
What he couldn't understand was how the Huaxia people could calculate those fools would fall into the same pit twice.
European Nuclear Center.
Yang Xuanqing had gone yet another twenty-four hours without sleep, finally leaving the laboratory to rest in the adjacent lounge for a while at the urging of his students.
Edward Witten felt fortunate to work with him, but to Yang Xuanqing, collaborating with Edward Witten was equally a rare opportunity.
It's as if he were to apply for such a major project, who knows when it would get off the ground.
Chances are it could be when everyone else has already verified it and it's no longer valuable, or after countless failed attempts, that he might have his chance.
The reason for "might" is because if others fail to accomplish anything, the project could be directly scrapped, never giving him the chance to turn the tide.
The world operates with such cruelty.
But by connecting with Edward Witten, there would be access to more resources. Not just because of Edward Witten's own high status, but also because of the series of resources behind him.
And because of this, Yang Xuanqing cherished this rare opportunity that came out of nowhere even more.
He didn't even trust others to monitor the data, fearing that his students and assistants might miss important data in a moment of inattention or make some other mistake that would render all their efforts futile.
Furthermore, there was a time difference between CERN and Huaxia, meaning overtime was necessary to stay in constant contact with Edward Witten.
Staying in the lab allowed him to keep in touch with the experts, obtain the latest information, and be right there to oversee the data and harvest the results first hand.
When he could no longer hold on, he would rest in the small room next door for a few hours, then wake up and dive right back into work dealing with the tedious data.