2014, City of Baymack
The blazing hot sun in June was heating up the ground as if it were trying to evaporate every last bit of water from the asphalt roads.Blake Watson listened to the sound of cars honking and looked at the busy people rushing along the streets. He stood in front of the Com Business Hall as he stared straight at the roads. Although cooled air occasionally blew across his back, his thick costume prevented him from experiencing the luxury of air conditioning.Someone might ask, why was he here?Of course, it was for survival...Okay, let’s clarify.Telecom Business Hall partnered with Vivo phones to do a promotion over the summer holidays. Workers were paid 40 dollars an hour to stand outside the door in a puppet costume. The pay was almost double the pay of him handing out flyers and not to mention, he did not have to suffer from people rolling their eyes at him. Additionally, because the temperature outside was over 30 degrees, he would receive a 10 dollar per hour bonus. This added up to a total of 50 dollar per hour.After Blake Watson heard about the salary, he did not even hesitate before accepting the job.Analyzing it logically, if on average he worked five hours a day, that amounted to 250 dollar a day. If he worked thirty days a month, that would add up to 7,500 dollars.Who would have thought that a this kind of job was actually located at the entrance of the Telecom Business Hall?Of course, Blake knew that even the rich and powerful Huawei could not afford to do promotions every day, much less a company like Vivo.However, even if he only worked for a week, he would still earn 1750 dollars.Just as Blake got so bored that he started to count the number of leaves on a parasol tree, a fat and dark-skinned man who was wiping the sweat off his face walked towards him.The fat man’s name was Steve Woggs, and like Blake, he also majored in mathematics at the University of Baymack. However, Steve was two years older. He was in his third year and would be going into his fourth year in a couple of months. He was the manager of these part-time working students. It was him that introduced Blake to this puppet costume wearing job.“Blake, are you okay? How about we find someone to replace you? You can go rest in the Com Business Hall for a bit,” said Steve. His physique was not made for this kind of horrible heat. His whole body was drenched as if someone just lifted him out of the water.Even though he really wanted to rest, Blake shook his head and said, “I’m okay, I can still maintain for a bit.”“I said, are you really okay or not? You’ve been standing here for a whole afternoon,” said Steve with a worried expression on his face.He was actually scared that the guy was going to get a heat stroke.“I’m fine, honestly. You don’t need to worry about me,” said Blake . As he firmly shook his head, he added, “I’ll finish in an hour. I’ve already been here for so long, I can do an hour more. Don’t you agree?”Wu Dahai looked at Blake and hesitantly said, “Okay... I won’t worry about you then.”“Yeah, go and do your own stuff.”Steve saw how firm Blake was, so he did not persist.Actually, Steve felt lucky.After all, it was difficult to find someone who would be willing to work in this hot weather. There were quite a lot of part-time workers, but most were not as hardworking as Blake. Otherwise, it could have resulted in Steve having to wear the “puppet costume” himself.After the fat guy walked away, Blake turned back and continued to stare at the parasol tree outside of the Com Business Hall.Suddenly, Blake felt the view in front of him was looking kind of weird.Why are the people on the street... flying towards the sky?His legs felt weak and his entire body fell onto the ground.With what remaining consciousness that he had, he heard the sound of footsteps hurrying towards him and shouting coming from the Com Business Hall.“The mascot at the front door is having a heatstroke!”“Quick, take off his helmet and bring him some water!”“F*ck me, Blake, please tell me you are okay!”No response, not good. Quick, send him to the hospital!”“Use my car!”“...”The last ray of light vanished from his sight bringing forth endless darkness......Blake was a first-year student that majored in mathematics at Baymack University and he would be going into his second year in a few months. In the beginning, he applied for software engineering, but he was a few marks short from the requirements. In the end, he had to compromise and went to the unpopular mathematics department.Sometimes Blake could not help but asked himself, what was the point of studying this horrible major for four years?It seemed like there was no answer.There were two standard paths for math majors, either going into further academic studies (overseas or graduate studies), or switching into another major.Actually one could also work at the University, but as a bachelor student, one would have to be very close with the teachers. However, even if one stayed to work, one would only be doing miscellaneous work. It would be better to stay and do a Master’s degree instead.However, it was not realistic for Blake to do a Master’s degree.Blake’s family was located in Baywatch. Even though the name sounded similar to Baymack, they were thousands of miles apart. His middle-class father was working at a metal factory in Baywatch. His sick mother was retired at home and spent quite a lot of money on healthcare.His entire family relied on his dad’s income. He also had a little sister in high school and it was going to be expensive when she went to university.His father’s intentions were to not let Blake worry about money. Instead, he wanted Blake to continue his studies and get a doctor’s degree.However, Blake clearly knew that this was not possible.Given that he had already set half a foot into the society, he had to consider other more realistic issues.To be more specific, he had to consider his money problems.He did not want to be a burden for his family or an encumbrance to his little sister’s future. Therefore, ever since he entered the university, he wanted to become financially independent. While others were out celebrating their youth singing at clubs or studying hard at the library, he was handing out flyers, installing routers, and delivering food.Sometimes he could not help but ask himself what was the point of university life. The jobs that he was doing did not require any skills that even a high school student could do it. A high school student might even do it better. At least, they would not get a heat stroke merely from standing for a few hours outside an air-conditioned room.Yet, like the question of a “mathematics major’s career”, there was no answer to this question.At that moment, he fell down...When his consciousness finally returned, Blake was stunned as he looked around at the white surroundings.What... is this place?No one answered.With his memory being in some kind of foggy state, he recalled that he had a heat stroke at the Com Business Hall and that some kind individuals carried him into a car before sending him to the hospital. However, the place did not look like a hospital at all. It did not even look like real life.Just as Blake was feeling anxious about this situation, a semi-transparent screen suddenly emerged in front of him. He was so scared that he jumped backward.High tech... system? What the hell?!Blake was shocked as he looked at the black texts that gradually emerged on the semi-transparent screen. He immediately felt excited.Could it be... I was selected by the legendary system?He had read novels online that was about this.With a gulp, Blake asked, “System... what can you do?”Although there was no mysterious voice answering his question, words started to appear on the transparent holographic screen.[High tech system:This system is dedicated to improving the level of the user’s education level. As for the system’s secrets, please explore them yourself. As for the system’s functions, detailed instructions will be given to the user.The main interface of the system is as follows:※Core science: The trunk of the technology tree focuses on theory. There is a level 10 limit. Experience points can be only earned from missions and cannot be redeemed from general points. A completed technology tree will unlock futuristic options and giant engineering missionA. Mathematics: The basis of all subjects. It will determine the level limit for other science subjects.B. Physics: Can help you understand the universe.C. Biology: Can help you understand yourself.D. Engineering: Transform tools, the environment, and the world.E. Materials Science: Materials and engineering cannot be separated.F. Energy Science: From fossil fuels to Helium-3, from lithium batteries to antimatter batteries, from the wireless transmission to ultra-long distance laser transmission, all life feeds on using entropy. The development of energy is at the distant stars of the sea.G. Information Science: Genetics is God’s code, whereas the ultimate goal of the code is to create a god.———–※Technology branch: These are the branches of the technology tree. After unlocking a specific technology branch, experience points are needed to level up. 1 experience point can be exchanged by 1 general point.For example: Genetics level 1 requires biology level 1, but you can also unlock genetics level 1 by consuming 100 general points. (0/1000)Genetics level 2 requires biology level 2, engineering level 1, and 1000 experience points. Only then you are able to go from level 1 genetics to level 2 genetics. (0/?)———–Technical Blueprint: As what the name implies. Easy to understand technical blueprints. They contain small projects such as a nanochip, to giant projects such as a Dyson sphere.If you meet the manufacturing requirements, they can be produced by following the instructions of the blueprints.———–General points: Can be used to activate the mission rewards, or consume 200 points to generate a new random mission. Can be consumed to solve technical problems. (Price of solving the problem depends on the subject level, technical difficulty, and the difficulty in solving the problem)Missions: Three random missions are generated every time. You can choose to execute one of the missions. Upon completion, the rewards from the respective mission are given. After the completion of the mission, the mission panel would be reset immediately.]Blake did not even know what facial expression to use. He thought that mathematics was useless but the system conveyed that mathematics was the father of all other subjects. The feeling of redemption had rendered him speechless.Blake was about to encounter something that was going to surprise him even more.After the instructions disappeared, his characteristic panel immediately appeared.[High tech system:User: BlakeCore science:A. Mathematics: Level 0 (0/1000)B. Physics: Level 0 (0/1000)C. Biology: Level 0 (0/1000)D. Engineering: Level 0 (0/1000)E. Materials science: Level 0 (0/1000)F. Energy science: Level 0 (0/1000)G. Information science: Level 0 (0/1000)Technology branch: NoneTechnical blueprints: NoneGeneral points: 0Mission: None]“Even though I wasn’t a straight A student, but I was still in one of the best universities. Isn’t this row of zeros a bit insulting?”Blake did not know if he should laugh or cry as he looked at the row of zeros.This system must have made a mistake!Just as Blake was thinking about it, his shoulders started to shake violently and his consciousness was immediately pulled out from the pure white dimension.“Blake, wake up!”With his shoulders violently being shaken again, Blake slowly opened his eyes and saw Steve’s fat face.“F*ck! You’re finally awake,” said Steve before letting out a long sigh as he let go of Blake’s shoulders. He laughed apologetically, “Hope you don’t mind. I didn’t mean to disturb your rest. I saw that you were snoring and guessed that you were okay.”Blake looked at the surrounding white walls and the bedsheet covering the hospital bed before asking, “Where am I?”“Don’t you remember? You had a heat stroke at the Com Business Hall!” said Blake as he sat back down onto the chair. He sighed and patted his stout thighs before saying, “Ah, I told you not to be stubborn and you didn’t listen. We’re only doing this part-time. We’re not professionals. What’s the point of working so hard? Look at you now. You’ve sacrificed your health. Is it worth it?”Reluctantly, Blake smiled as he asked, “What did the doctor say about my health?”“Not much, just a bit of dehydration,”
Mission begin!”Blake closed his eyes and whispered the words. He did it two more times just in case it was not enough.When he opened his eyes, he saw a line of semi-transparent words floating in front of him.[Mission three begins. Current time: 0 hour. Timer stops when exiting the library.]Blake was startled by the words that appeared suddenly. He looked around the area and when he saw a student walked right through the semi-transparent words, he started to relax.It turned out that no one else could see the system’s words.Anyways, spend 24 hours reading a couple of books in the library and the mission should be completed, right?Blake walked towards the mathematics section as it was better than nothing. He was about to browse through the books when he suddenly noticed that the books had number labels. In addition, there was a pattern in the color of these number labels. As the numbers went from large to small, the colors went from red to gray.[Di Donne’s Foundation of Modern Ana
It was six o’clock in the morning when he felt his bed shaking softly. Jack squinted his tired eyes and tried to figure out where the shaking was coming from. When he saw Blake climbing down the ladder, he asked dramatically, “Blake, you’re awake this early?”Blake replied quietly as he was afraid of waking up his two other roommates.“Yeah.”Jack persisted and asked again.“Working again?”Blake hesitated before shaking his head and replied, “Not going. I’m resting for a few days.”“It’s so early. Where are you going then?”“The library.”Suddenly Jack was no longer sleepy.Blake went to the toilet to brush his teeth. When he came back and saw Jack climbing down from his bed, he asked curiously, “Are you not sleeping anymore?”“Study,” said Jack as he took his toiletries and swiftly walked towards the toilet.Blake did not know whether to laugh or cry at his overly competitive roommate. In the end, he shook his head and did not say anything. He put on his shoes and took his backpack
The library closed at 10 o’clock. Blake had just enough time to finish “Advanced Algebra” and “C Language Fifth Edition”.On the way out of the library, Blake glanced at the mission panel and saw that there were only nine hours left. He felt a little disappointed.He barely felt that fifteen hours had passed by. He had never felt time passed by like this while reading textbooks before.After a full day of studying, he discovered an issue. When he finished reading a book, that book’s value score would decrease to a single digit. Not just this, but other similar books’ value scores would also decrease to different amounts. On the other hand, books that were previously at a very low or even zero value scores started to increase to various amounts.For example, the “Di Donne Foundation of Modern Analysis” book only had a value score of 10 in the beginning, but now it had more than doubled to a value score of 30.As he walked home, Blake could not help but think of what would happen to his
As a mathematics major, Blake was obviously familiar with the Mersenne prime numbers.Of course, one would have to mention a famous Chinese mathematician when speaking about Mersenne prime numbers. In 1992, he published “Mersenne prime numbers distribution formula” and his paper was able to illustrate an equation for Mersenne prime numbers. It was then famously named “Zhou’s approximation”.Previously, the British mathematician William Shanks, French mathematician Tartaglia, German mathematician Luders, Indian mathematician Ramanujan, and American mathematician Gillies had all speculated on this problem. Although they had a common theme, which was the approximation of the equation, the closeness of their research to the exact answer was unsatisfactory.Zhou’s approximation formula was very simple. When 2^(2^n) < p < 2^(2^(n+1)), p has 2^(n+1)-1 prime numbers.Simple, right?Anyone could do this, right?However, the equation had not been proven or disproved. It had become one of the mo
At last, logic overcame greed. Blake dispelled his unrealistic idea.There was nothing special about a freshman publishing in a scientific journal. Not to mention, a lot of papers in the mathematical journals were subpar. As long as one’s English was good, one could probably sneak your way through even with subpar work.This type of masquerading behavior was exposed by an individual who ranked the journals by inferiority. The one ranked at number one was Applied Mathematics (AMC) as it was infamous for publishing subpar work.Some universities had published hundreds of AMC theses just in four years. It was not unusual for someone to publish 20 subpar theses in a year.To protect the academic integrity of the theses, some old-fashioned journals would often strictly limit the yearly published theses to 100 or less. However, this “monster journal” did not care. It published more than a thousand theses every year. This coupled with the phenomenon of overlapping resonance made the impact f
Since having the system, Blake felt his life becoming more structured. Every morning, he would carry his second-hand laptop and headed towards the library. He had never experienced this style of living before.Sitting at the usual same spot, Blake opened his laptop and plugged his charger in the wall outlet. He contemplated for a while before typing a line of big words onto a Word document.[The Optimal Inversion Theory of Linear Operators and Linear Functions ][Abstract: Researched a few types of inversion problems of linear functional and linear operators when given full and part information. Introduced the basic results of optimal inversion theory. Especially the construction of the optimal construction method.]Blake thought about this problem while lying in bed going through his notes. When their mathematics analysis professor, Professor Phil, talked about the Fourier inversion formula, he mentioned this briefly. It was one of the few unpopular but still cutting edge fields.Bla
The consultation room did not even have a single empty seat.The third-year students preparing for graduate entrance exams were all focused on studying.Next to the lectern, sat the professor of University of Baymack’s mathematics department, Phil Thomas. He put the newspaper in his hand down and started to meticulously look at the question on the draft paper. His right hand flipped the pen cover repetitively.Blake stood next to him. He clearly understood that this little gesture meant that he was in his deep thinking mode.“Where did you get this question?” asked Phil Thomas suddenly after staring at the draft paper for a long time.“The textbook mentioned the Fourier series, so I went to the library to find related materials. I found variants of the Fourier inversion theorem and a few applications for the variants. I tried to derive them and was stuck on this one step,” said Blake with an apologetic smile. His facial expression was full of gratefulness.Phil looked at Blake for a s