Chapter 44: Help Request: A Genius Girl

“Louis, can you come see me?”

On the other end of the phone was a girl’s plaintive voice.

Louis was surprised; during this time, he had maintained contact with Mary and knew much about her.

According to him, her life should have been quite good.

Her uncle treated her well, and his professional knowledge was sufficient to teach her; their communication was pleasant.

Most importantly, Frank, besides repairing boats, also cared deeply for his family, often taking Mary out on a yacht along the coast, playing on the beach, and doing his best to meet her learning needs by buying many study books and teaching her himself during free time.

Mary’s life there was fine, aside from having few friends and having to endure schooling with lessons she found rather foolish—oh, no, she had made a friend: a one-eyed cat named Fred.

So what was going on now?

After Mary’s explanation, Louis’s expression gradually cleared.

According to her, the incident began when a twelve-year-old boy at school bullied her same-age desk mate; she stood up for him, smashed a book over the bully’s head, and successfully got herself called in to see her parents.

Frank was firm—he believed his niece hitting someone was wrong, but standing up for her desk mate deserved no blame; in fact, he was proud of her!

Of course, the main issue wasn’t that—it was that the teacher and principal thought she should attend Oakwood Academy for Gifted Education.

Frank disagreed; he believed Mary should grow up like an ordinary child, not be locked away in a cold world of mathematics with a bunch of old men, and he rejected the principal’s proposal. After negotiations failed, the school principal resorted to other tactics—he contacted Mary’s grandmother, a British woman named Evelyn.

Upon hearing the school’s account and learning of Mary’s genius, Evelyn flew over immediately; the principal’s scheme had succeeded completely.

Now, Evelyn was preparing to sue Frank for custody of Mary.

But Frank had no money to fight a lawsuit—the costs involved were not small.

Although Evelyn was quite kind, bringing Mary a brand-new portable computer filled with math problems.

But she didn’t want to leave Frank; she felt wronged and wanted to speak out, yet here she had only Fred the cat as a friend, very few companions, none of whom could understand her thoughts, leaving her with no one to confide in.

That was why she called Louis.

Louis fell silent; family matters like this shouldn’t be meddled with, but Mary was a good child, and their bond had grown strong during her time at Emilia Manor.

Now that she was in trouble, as someone with an adult soul, he felt he could intervene—especially since he had the ability to do so.

“Alright, Mary, wait a few more days—I’ll come over soon. I might as well see the beach too; I’ve never seen the ocean before, and when I get there, can your uncle take me out on the sea?”

Louis spoke in a light tone.

“Really? That’s great! I’ll make sure Frank takes us both.”

The girl’s voice instantly brightened.

After hanging up the phone.

Louis suddenly remembered something—he recalled someone once saying that mathematics was the most essential tool for human observation and deconstruction of the world!

Though math seemed useless, chemistry and physics were core sciences capable of changing the world; language, geography, sports—all seemed to have their place—but math, on the surface, appeared utterly useless, with no clear job prospects.

Yet in reality, without mathematics, the foundation of science would collapse instantly!

Aerospace, national defense, biomedicine, information technology, energy, materials, oceanography, the internet, big data, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing…

Every major scientific discovery is inextricably linked to advances in mathematics; thus, internationally, every recognized mathematician is universally regarded as a human treasure.

Of course, this is on a macro level; on a personal level, mathematics sharpens logical and rational thinking, and a math genius’s strength in this area likely exceeds imagination.

Moreover, in Louis’s impression, alchemy and pharmacology also had subtle connections to mathematics—many components in alchemical potions that enhance the body required extreme precision; had he not possessed an adult soul, he might never have mastered the exact data involved.

If Mary were to take this path… perhaps in the future she could become a Potion Master? An Alchemy Master?

“I remember, the opening of the Civil Code says this inherited text was brought by the Divine Lord to establish a sect…”

To establish a sect means to spread it widely and take in disciples.

“Alright, talent reserves must begin early.”

Louis gave himself another justification.

But before setting out, he had to complete his final training.

Looking at the lone prairie wolf before him, and the prey hidden in the trees, relentlessly watched by Gold and Khrone, Louis pulled the trigger.

Blood sprayed.

…

Tampa.

As a coastal city, its tourism and shipbuilding industries were highly developed, especially with nearby Amity Island, a newly risen tourist hotspot in the past two years, which had spawned a host of industries supporting countless people.

Frank was one of them.

Yet as a boat repairman, his salary was not high, and he had never minded it before.

Every day he ate, drank, repaired boats, sailed out, basked in the sea breeze, occasionally went to bars at night to win some drink money with his superior math skills, and even flirted to attract women, spending wonderful nights in bed.

Unfortunately, all good things come at a price.

Once, he had given up a university teaching assistant position and severed ties with his cold, emotionless mother, feeling not the slightest regret.

Now, without money to fight his mother in court for Mary, he felt regret for the first time—what if he had kept his university position? Or if he hadn’t been so reckless, and saved even a little money—would he now have enough to fight the lawsuit?

Glug glug…

Bitter wine down the throat, pain in the heart.

He couldn’t bear to imagine what Mary would become under her grandmother—his mother’s control.

Would she follow the same path as her mother, his sister?

At that moment, a woman walked over and took the glass from his hand—a blonde woman with an air of scholarly grace: Bonnie, Mary’s teacher.

“Can you tell me about Mary’s mother?”

Frank picked up another glass. “Oh, that’s a long story…”

“Mary’s mother, Diane, was a genius—or rather, many in our family were geniuses, including my mother, who graduated from Cambridge University, specializing in mathematics. Unfortunately, she lacked the talent to solve the seven great world problems, and under family pressure, she married.”

“Later, she discovered Diane’s potential and transferred her own dreams onto her. Diane had no freedom, no childhood, no friends—only math problems and endless lectures; even the slightest hint of romance was forbidden. I remember Diane’s first love at seventeen was driven away by her mother; Diane cried bitterly, but it didn’t matter…”

“After that, Diane became more rebellious. One day, she strayed and had relations with a man. You know? Her taste was terrible—the man vanished the moment she became pregnant. And her mother? She only said Diane had been careless, then forced her back onto the ‘right path,’ until she finally drove her to bed…”

Frank grew increasingly agitated when a hand suddenly gripped his—two alone, dry tinder and flame.

ps: Posted late—I was on duty today

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(End of Chapter)