Chapter 52: The Special BBS

"Have you heard of it? That very special BBS."

"Which university built it?"

"It's not any known university, nor is it some lab big shot's doing."

"So what's so special about this BBS?"

"Once you connect, you only have ten minutes to prove yourself. As soon as the ten minutes are up, your computer will be hacked, and a virus will immediately paralyze the entire system. I heard even a certain professor fell victim to it."

"So? What's so impressive about that? At best, it's just a poison pot; you win the prize the moment you connect."

"What virus would obediently wait ten minutes before launching? Either it executes or it does nothing—that's the normal state, okay. Don't be so ignorant that people think computer viruses are transmitted by syringes."

"Alright, let's not talk about the virus. I still have that question: what's so special about that BBS? Is it worth risking a ten-minute connection?"

"After connecting to that BBS, there's no introduction; you only see three posts. The first one reads: 'To whoever sees this text, you have only ten minutes to protect yourself and gain the right to stay. Otherwise, you can only choose to leave.' The poster is CK."

"Oh, then what is the second post?"

"'There's nothing but shit here; don't fall for it.' The poster is KM."

"KM? Could it be the legendary one... then what is the third post?"

"'That guy above is the shit; this place is the greatest treasure.' The poster is LT."

"Fuck! If the latter two are truly the two I suspect, then who is CK?"

"I don't know. That's why everyone wants to risk the ten-minute system crash to find the BBS's secret."

Across universities throughout the United States, messages like this were quietly spreading.

The rise of personal computers had become an irreversible trend of the times; quite a few people were unwilling to remain mere users and were constantly challenging the limits of this new product.

Just as the appearance of automobiles gave birth to racing competitions simultaneously.

Seeking limits and thereby breaking through limits is like a human instinct.

But to put it plainly, it's just seeking pleasure in courting death, just like those extreme sports players. Only extreme sports pursue the ultimate in physical ability, whereas here it is a contest of the ultimate in wisdom.

So this special BBS spread rapidly among these death-seeking college students.

Especially in top institutions strong in science and engineering; not only the arrogant college students, but even professors in information departments threw themselves into it.

However, most people couldn't figure anything out within ten minutes. They could only watch helplessly as their computers were hacked, system files wiped clean, and then a terrifying clown bitmap on the screen made a laughing expression.

If the computer had a sound card installed and speakers connected, one could even hear eerie MIDI laughter.

Such rumors naturally reached the ears of a doctoral student in aerospace physics at Caltech, who was currently studying leisurely.

He was admitted to MIT's Electrical Engineering Department at fourteen and eventually earned a PhD in Engineering Physics.

Coming to Caltech, it was less out of interest in the Jet Propulsion Laboratory cooperating with NASA and more out of interest in Hollywood's female stars. He was just getting the degree on the side.

As an MIT graduate, in this premier institution no less distinguished, he was not entirely out of place, yet he was regarded as a thorn in the eye by quite a few people.

... Perhaps the reason he was seen as a thorn in the eye was not his university background, but his origins, and the Misses surrounding him.

Tony Stark, the sole heir to Stark Industries, rarely walked through this sunny campus. His wealthy face instantly became the focus of many women, and was then surrounded by the envious, jealous, and hateful gazes of men.

Of course, the gazes of those little radishes brought no trouble to Tony Stark.

Whether admiring or jealous, the fact that they could enter this university proved they had enough intelligence not to provoke this young master of the Stark family.

Even a single disdainful glance would have subsequent consequences too heavy for them to bear.

Money equals power; in America, this is an identity equation. If someone feels this formula doesn't hold, it only proves one thing: his money isn't enough.

In such a place, only two things would catch the young master Stark's eye.

One is a beauty who makes his heart flutter, even if that fluttering lasts only until the sage time, but at least it made the young master hard.

The other is the unknown that interests him. It could be knowledge, or something he hasn't seen before.

So when he heard the conversation of two sleazy guys nearby in the public dining area, he became interested in that 'special BBS'.

Swallowing the burgers sold in the school cafeteria whole, putting aside the thought of digging up a chef from somewhere to replace the school cafeteria cooks, Tony Stark plopped down beside those two scruffy students whom no one wanted to approach.

He opened his mouth and asked: "The IP address of that BBS?"

"You are... Tony Stark?"

"Yes, I am. I don't give autographs. I just want to know the BBS IP you mentioned, or is that something unspeakable that I have to find myself?"

"No, Mr., certainly not." The college student being questioned fumbled around on his person. "Let me find a piece of paper to write it down for you. I should have some sticky notes on me."

"No, no, no, just say it directly. I can remember. If you write it on something and give it to me, I might throw it away the moment I turn around." Tony spoke a hurtful but truthful statement.

"Oh, alright." The speaker directly recited an IP address. For people like them in the information field, such things were memorized directly in the brain; no one would write them on paper.

Because important and commonly used things are naturally remembered; things that are forgotten represent that they are not important at all, and forgetting them doesn't matter.

After getting a string of numbers, Tony Stark did not say thank you; he just knocked his fist on the table twice, didn't even look at the two of them, and stood up to leave.

Watching the person walk far away, the two sitting dazedly in their original seats looked at each other. One of them said: "Do you think I might get hired by Stark Industries in the future?"

"For such a thing, you should have asked directly while he was present, then signed a contract in black and white. Who doesn't know that what that guy says on the spot, he might forget the moment he turns around, let alone something he never said."

"Sigh, missed a good opportunity."

The two sighed at each other.

For them, who came from ordinary families to get into Caltech, envying that person was impossible. Because they knew they didn't even have the qualification to envy.

But that didn't mean they didn't want to cling to this golden thigh. It's just that when the opportunity came before their eyes, they seemed unable to grasp it...

The new book has been signed; seeking continued reading, favorites, and recommendations. Thank you~~

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(End of this chapter)