"Hey! Did you hear that? Recently, there seems to be a big move in the Chinese mathematics community! ”

“…… What's the big move? ”

"I heard from the new international students that the Ministry of Science and Technology over there seems to have issued a document offering a reward of 100 million scientific research funds for the ABC conjecture......

"How much?! 100 million!? Zimbabwean coins? ”

"National currency, of course...... It is said that many of them who study number theory have gone crazy! All kinds of public institutions are even more crazy to poach people, as long as they study number theory, they are invited to pay high salaries. There seem to be a lot of Chinese mathematicians here in Princeton, who recently got an offer to return to China, right? It seems to have something to do with this rumor. ”

ABC conjecture...... 100 million ...... Crazy, just crazy. ”

Cafe in Princeton.

As one of the most famous gossip hubs in the world of mathematics, there are always some bizarre rumors about the world of mathematics.

One of the more popular gossips recently is probably the internal document suddenly issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China. As long as you sit here, you can see someone whispering about this with envious expressions.

100 million scientific research funding......

With so much money, they couldn't imagine how to spend it. I am afraid that the only ones who can be indifferent to this are those who stand at the top of the academic world and no longer care about worldly money at all.

There are many versions of the origin of this 100 million, but most of the explanations are quite far-fetched.

After all, the thing itself is a bit bizarre.

Everyone was confused as to why the Chinese Congress had suddenly shown such an interest in a purely mathematical problem, and even offered such a jaw-dropping bounty.

So much so that many foreign number theory scholars in public research institutes in China are now asking how to become naturalized and whether there is a way to take shortcuts.

"There seems to be a big move in the Chinese mathematics community recently," Sitting by the window, looking at Professor Feverman sitting across from him, Professor Peter Sanak, the former editor-in-chief of the Annals of Mathematics, said in a casual tone while drinking coffee, "I have been hearing a new version almost every day in the past two days...... Have you heard? ”

"I've heard a little bit...... But the thing I'm trying to say may not be the same thing as you think. ”

"Oh?" With a hint of interest in his eyes, Professor Sanak, who was leaning back in his chair, sat up straight, stared at Professor Feverman with blazing eyes, and asked with interest, "Are there other big moves?" ”

It wasn't just Professor Sanak who smelled the gossip.

Several scholars sitting at the table next to them also subconsciously lowered the volume of their speech, pretending to be drinking coffee, but in fact, their ears were already erected.

"lspm," Professor Fefferman continued, taking a sip of his coffee, "I don't know if you've heard of it, I only saw it on Schultz's blog last night. ”

“lspm？” Professor Sanak's brow furrowed slightly, and he asked suspiciously, "...... I probably haven't heard of it, do these four letters have any special meaning? ”

"L is an acronym for Lu Zhou, S is for Schultz, and Perelman and Shinichi Mochizuki have recently set up a research group to study the ABC conjecture."

Hearing this explanation, Professor Sanak was shocked.

"ABC conjecture?! Are they ......?"

"Sounds surprising, right? I was also quite surprised, this is definitely the most luxurious lineup in the history of modern mathematics. By analogy, it's like putting the best players in the world on a team," Professor Feverman smiled and continued, "I bet it's going to be a great game." ”

"Is it for the 100 million yuan bonus? No, it can't be," muttered to himself, Professor Sanak bewildered, "I've heard that only national scholars can apply...... And Lu Zhou doesn't seem to be short of money. ”

It's not just Lu Zhou who is not short of money.

Including Shinichi Mochizuki, Schultz, and Perelman, none of them seem to be interested in money.

"Of course it can't be for the money," Professor Feverman continued with a smile as he took a calm sip of his coffee, "but my gut tells me there must be something else behind it." Trust me, it won't be too long, we'll find out soon. ”

It's like the ABC conjecture won't take long to be solved.

Professor Feverman, who had worked with Lu Zhou, had no doubt about this.

He knew very well how powerful that man really was.

Moreover, this strength is not only because of his talent, this guy is also terrifyingly diligent. Especially when it comes to eating and sleeping, even Princeton's most diligent scholars are probably sorry for themselves.

If he had to find someone from this world who was more likely to solve the problem than he was, Feverman felt that the only way to find it might be to go to the universe beyond Earth.

"There's one thing I don't understand."

Looking at Professor Sanak, who still hadn't recovered from his surprise, Professor Feverman said casually.

"What's the matter?"

"Shinichi Mochizuki, how could his name be in this group......" Professor Sanak continued, with a strange expression on his face, "Didn't he always insist that he had fully proved the ABC conjecture?" With his 'Far Abel Geometry'. ”

Feverman was slightly stunned, and the expression on his face became strange.

That's right......

Shinichi Mochizuki, why is this guy in this research group?!

He hadn't been aware of the problem before, and now that he thought about it, it was a bit strange.

It's like spitting out something and eating it back......

"Shhh...... It's a bit unusual indeed, wait, I'll look for that paper. ”

As he spoke, Professor Feverman took out his newly replaced smartphone from his pocket and opened Shinichi Mochizuki's personal blog, preparing to find the paper that had puzzled the mathematical community for more than ten years.

However, the unexpected thing happened.

Professor Feverman, who looked at the screen of his mobile phone, was suddenly stunned.

Acutely noticing the change in the expression on his old friend's face, Professor Sanak immediately stood up and leaned closer, "What's going on?" ”

"That paper...... It's gone. ”

Suddenly realizing something, Feverman immediately withdrew from Shinichi Mochizuki's personal blog and logged on to the official website of the Department of Mathematics at Kyoto University.

Really!

Just as he had a hunch!

The 512-page paper, which has been on the homepage of the Department of Mathematics at Kyoto University since August 30, 2012......

It's gone?!

……

Since 2012, Shinichi Mochizuki's proof of the ABC conjecture has been controversial. It is for this reason that the 500-page paper was removed from his personal blog and the homepage of the Department of Mathematics at Kyoto University that it attracted the attention of the entire academic community.

At first, many people thought it was a network problem.

It wasn't until he saw his name appear on the list of LSPM research groups that the incident caused an uproar in the mathematical community.

Especially at Kyoto University, almost everyone, whether they were students or professors, whether they studied mathematics or philosophy, was shocked by the news.

All along, this professor, who single-handedly challenged the entire mathematical community, was a god-like existence in their eyes. Ever since he announced his proof, someone has come to the door almost every once in a while, but it can be said that he has not tasted defeat in the past ten years.

At least none of the people who refuted him could produce any evidence that others could understand.

But now, the idol in their hearts actually admits their defeat?!

There must be something wrong here!

"I can't take it!"

Kyoto University, in the office of Professor Mochizuki.

Yuichiro Hoshi, who couldn't get through to the professor's phone, pinched his phone and roared like crazy.

"Professor Mochizuki must have been coerced! Or maybe there's something else going on! Until he clarifies this to his face, I won't admit that the professor actually threw in the towel! ”

"Senior Xingyu, please calm down."

"Get out! Don't pull me! I'm going to Huaguo to find a professor! ”

At this moment, sitting in the inconspicuous corner of the office, Yuichiro Hoshi, who looked a slightly younger student and looked like crazy, raised his right hand tremblingly.

“…… That, Professor Mochizuki just updated a blog. ”

"Where? Let me see! ”

Throwing himself in front of the computer desk, Yuichiro Hoshi skillfully opened the browser and entered Shinichi Mochizuki's personal blog. Including Mochizuki's proud protégé Yamashita, others in the office also leaned over and stood behind the office chair to watch.

It was a video, less than twenty seconds long.

Professor Mochizuki, who was sitting at his desk, looked pretty good, at least not like he had been coerced. Noticing this, Yuichiro Hoshi breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, but soon his nerves tensed again.

If you are not under duress......

That means Ming......

In an instant, Yuichiro Hoshi's face turned pale.

At about the same time, as he had a hunch, he saw the professor he admired sitting at his desk, nostrils to the camera, making a concise statement.

"There are some problems with the process that can be difficult to fix, so let's just think it's an immature attempt."

"Thankfully, we found new ideas."

"During this time, I'm causing trouble for everyone!"

Yuichiro Hoshi: "??? ”

Tsuyoshi Yamashita: "??? ”