Chapter 657: Extra 8

"So, what was the result?"
In the futuristic conference room of the Gaia Research Center, the air seemed to solidify.
Zhou Yi's voice wasn't loud, but to the two project leaders, it sounded like the death knell, each syllable carrying a crushing pressure.
"Um..."
Even without listening to the rest of the nonsense, their utterly dejected expressions, as if they'd just been struck by lightning, were enough to guess the result—a utterly hopeless "crushing defeat."
"That newbie... he got it all right?"
Hearing this, the two men shrank back like quails, their voices barely audible, filled with dryness and shame:
"Yes...yes, all right."
"So, that core problem that plagued your two elite teams for weeks, that racked the brains of dozens of the world's top researchers, that burned through countless funds without a solution...
was solved as easily as drinking water by that newbie who just started working, who hadn't even warmed his employee badge yet?
Is that what you mean?"
"..."
Silence.
A deathly silence.
But behind this silence was the resounding crash of their shattered hearts!
This was utterly absurd, enough to make one want to die of shame and indignation!
Where was this place?
The Gaia Research Center!
A concentration camp of humanity's highest intelligence!
You could throw a brick down here and hit either a Nobel Prize nominee or a powerful figure in academia.
This is the region with the highest density of intelligence on Earth, the Olympus of the scientific community!
Even the cleaning ladies and doormen here are calculus geniuses who could solve problems in a second!
These people walk with an air of superiority, their noses in the air, and they even think of themselves as gods of science.
However, this group of "gods" standing on their pedestals received a resounding slap in the face from a fresh-faced college graduate.
That newcomer seemed to have X-ray vision, instantly identifying a variable correlation that the elites couldn't even fathom.
He uncovered a causal chain that no one dared to imagine, one completely invisible within existing logical systems!
“Didn’t you guys claim to have worn out the simulation system?” Zhou Yi scolded, exasperated.
“What? Are your brains filled with mush? Such a huge correlation flaw, and nobody saw it?”
One of the managers finally wiped the cold sweat from his brow, trying to salvage his crumbling dignity:
“Director, you know we’re attempting a monumental project unprecedented in human history.
Since it’s the ‘first time,’ it’s naturally a wasteland, with absolutely no historical data to refer to.
Even the super AI assisting our calculations, because its database is full of old information from the past, naturally can’t detect this crucial logical flaw, like an idiot…”
“Oh, I see. Because the AI ​​didn’t tell you, you couldn’t think,” Zhou Yi sneered.
“Then, you fed in that newbie’s new logic, and this damn correlation just magically appeared?”
"Yes... ultimately, it's because our imagination is lacking."
The man explained, forcing a smile.
"After all, these projects are cutting-edge technologies introduced to combat global warming. The technology is too new, the variables too unpredictable; we really didn't anticipate them..."
Although it sounded like an excuse, there was indeed a hint of helpless truth in his words.
The technology currently being advanced by the Gaia Research Center is too advanced, too wild; it's both the sharpest blade and an unknown abyss.
They are attempting to "cool down" this Earth, which has been driven to fever pitch by humanity, through technological means, trying to return humanity to an Eden where summers can be survived without air conditioning.
To this end, countless cutting-edge technologies have been forcibly matured and put into use all at once.
Without accumulation, without inheritance, everything is being done by trial and error.
Driving where there is no road, of course, you don't know where the potholes are.
No one can predict what kind of bizarre chemical reaction these violent torrents of technology will trigger when they converge.
This is the norm in scientific exploration—if it were for ordinary people.
But Zhou Yi wasn't an ordinary person, and he wouldn't allow his subordinates to be either.
“Easier said than done! A top-notch researcher, huh? I think you're just a scapegoat researcher!”
Zhou Yi sneered, a mockery of incompetence.
“Is this your excuse?
As project leaders with sky-high salaries, you couldn't even find such a fatal flaw? Do you know how much funding was wasted?
That money could bury your entire team if it burned to ashes!
Even worse, if that newcomer hadn't pointed it out, and this flawed technology had been rolled out globally, have you considered the consequences?
That wouldn't be an ordinary research accident; it would drag all of humanity down with it!
You would be the sinners of humanity!
You would be condemned to death!”
“…I'm very sorry.”
The two men hung their heads, practically burying their faces in their pants.
"What good is an apology!
Since you know you're wrong, then pay up.
Get back now and send me a list from each team."
"Huh? A list? What list…"
The two were completely bewildered, a sense of foreboding washing over them.
"An exile list! I'm going to build a new team and pick out all the researchers whose brains haven't completely hardened."
"You're planning to… build a new team?"
"That's right."
The two exchanged bewildered glances.
This is insane!
The Gaia Research Center is already short-staffed; everyone practically wants to learn shadow clone techniques.
And now they want to divert elite personnel to build a new team?
"So...who will lead the team?"
Zhou Yi picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and dropped a bombshell:
"Who else could it be? Of course, it's that newcomer who slapped you all in the face today—Su Yun."
"What?!"
The two leaders looked up abruptly, their eyes almost popping out of their sockets, staring at Zhou Yi with a strange and suspicious look.
"What are you thinking? Stop looking at me like that."
Zhou Yi didn't need to read minds to know what these two seasoned veterans were thinking.
"You think I'm doing this sycophancy because that kid's a prince?
Do you really think I'm that much of a treacherous minister?"
Zhou Yi's voice was filled with disdain.
"This is a matter of human survival!
The earth is about to explode. Would I risk humanity's fate to please those above?
Have you all lost your minds in office politics?"
Although Zhou Yi had a bad temper, he was known for his unwavering impartiality at work.
The reason Fanghuan Group stood at the top of the world was because of its ironclad rule:
Heroes are not judged by their origins, only by their abilities.
This is a wolf pack, not a retirement home, and certainly not a feudal court where nepotism reigns supreme.
As long as you have the ability, whether you're Chairman Su's son or his enemy, as long as you can make money for the company and produce results, you'll be treated with respect!
As a manager nurtured by this corporate culture, Zhou Yi was naturally a staunch believer in this principle.
He can swear to God that there is absolutely no selfishness or impurity in his decision!