New Gods of North America

Professor Maisel was initially skeptical when he saw Emma in person and the piles of "draft papers" she had written.

Then he tried to verify it, "Emma, can you try calculating the sum of numbers from 1 to 100 to see what the final result is?"

Emma looked much like an ordinary child at the moment, seemingly focused on scribbling randomly on the drawing board.

However, this was actually a crude method Wayne had been using to keep the mischievous child quiet lately, because Wayne had finally brought out the classic "Four Color Theorem" from the history of mathematics.

Even in modern society, this problem was only tentatively verified with the powerful computing power of computers.

After hearing the strange old man's question, Emma reluctantly looked up and glanced at Professor Maisel, perhaps out of consideration for him being a guest brought by Wayne, and answered without thinking:

"The result of the calculation is 5050. Wayne has asked me this question before."

Professor Maisel already knew the answer in his heart, so he continued to ask for confirmation, "Can you tell me how you calculated it?"

Perhaps because Emma was still a young girl, Professor Maisel's tone became unconsciously gentler.

Although he still seemed unconvinced, it was at least better than his attitude in the classroom, where he didn't care about the students' well-being.

Emma was just about to continue doodling when her thoughts were interrupted again.

She pouted slightly and patiently continued to answer, "Just add them up one by one. It doesn't actually take much time."

"Only simple preliminary calculations don't count as 'mathematical thinking'."

Professor Maisel was clearly not satisfied with this answer, "Just like it's difficult for you to calculate the sum from 1 to 9876 using simple addition, learning mathematics requires learning to use more clever methods."

"48772626."

Emma almost tilted her little face up, and within a few seconds, she turned her head and gave the result.

She had helplessly put down the drawing board in her hand, intending to wait for this strange old man to finish asking all the questions at once before continuing, "Wayne also taught me the easy calculation method for this question. I'm not just good at addition."

Professor Maisel was clearly surprised.

He first looked at Wayne, saw the latter shrugging his shoulders there,

and then he picked up paper and pen from the side and quickly verified the calculation, followed by even more obvious surprise and "disbelief."

So Professor Maisel gradually began to increase the intensity.

"Emma, can you calculate at what position on the journey these two people will meet based on the known conditions?"

...

"Emma, can you solve for the unknown in this equation?"

...

"Emma, can you calculate the coordinates of the intersection points of these two functions in the coordinate system?"

...

Professor Maisel's worldview was refreshed again and again, and Emma gradually became interested from the initial impatience.

Wayne originally thought he had found a good way to solve both the professor's and the mischievous child's education problems, so he left them alone and went to the kitchen to see what was good to eat tonight.

After a while, Wayne suddenly slapped his thigh.

Oops...

Won't I be able to ask Emma to help with math homework and have Seth copy it in the future?

...

By the time Professor Maisel finished dinner and was about to leave the detective agency, Wayne's own education problem felt like it had been completely forgotten by him.

Professor Maisel was more worried about Emma's education problem at this moment:

"Emma is indeed a very talented child and deserves a better education. Unfortunately, I still have a teaching position and don't have much time to give her extra tutoring. I will help you look out for suitable candidates when I get back to see if there are any professors willing to be Emma's tutor."

Wayne didn't feel comfortable entrusting Emma to outsiders to take care of her, as it would be troublesome if her head fell off and was seen by someone.

It was also not suitable for strangers to enter and exit the detective agency for a long time, otherwise many things would become inconvenient.

So he thought about it, "Professor, if you don't mind, can I take Emma to audit your classes in the future? I will also communicate with the college about it and will not affect your normal teaching."

What Wayne was thinking about was actually another problem—if Emma could become a "student" at the college to some extent, then regardless of whether the detective agency would leave Virginia in the future, at least Emma would not be included in the scope of "deep management" by the Church for a relatively long period of time.

At least she can have a relatively normal childhood.

Then Wayne felt that he would be worthy of Damon McReady's entrustment.

It's just that some classmates may have to endure the intellectual crushing from the little loli...

Professor Maisel thought about it for a while, "This does not comply with the college's regulations... but I can try to communicate with the college."

"Thank you very much." Wayne seized the opportunity, "Because Emma is still young and an orphan, her identity may not be suitable for wide public disclosure. Too much attention may have adverse effects on the child."

"I understand. Children with such talent are indeed worth protecting."

After seeing Professor Maisel off,

Inesa happened to have finished brewing the potion and was directing Connal to pour it into a bottle, which seemed to contain the small piece of stone slab that Lena had "sealed" with a steel wool ball.

Miss Olivia was holding a test tube herself and scooping potion from another cauldron next to her, which didn't seem to be the same kind.

Wayne leaned over to take a look and was clearly more curious about what Inesa was doing, "Wasn't this thing locked in the safe? Can it actually be used to soak potions and drink?"

"This is not for drinking."

After pouring the potion, Inesa tied the bottle into a rice dumpling with a strip of cloth with runes, "The extraordinary influence on the stone slab seems to have 'leaked'. Perhaps because the extraordinary power is too weak, stable extraordinaries cannot feel it, but Miss Olivia happens to be in a special stage before awakening. I think what she said fits the signs of being affected."

No way?

Wayne was shocked, "This little piece is so troublesome, wouldn't the big piece in Simon Sherman's hands be even more dangerous?"

Inesa nodded:

"I have already asked Doug to try to contact Simon Sherman. He left Lena with a contact address before, so it shouldn't be difficult to find him. If there is indeed a problem, then even if he is not willing, we may have to report the matter to the Church or the Exorcist Association."

Doug came back at eight o'clock in the evening.

Before Wayne had time to ask him about the results of the contact, Doug took out a newspaper instead:

"Sir, this is what Seth discovered and reminded me through a carrier pigeon. I have bought back an identical copy. I think you may need to take a look first."

Wayne took the newspaper and unfolded it, and Doug pointed to the corresponding position:

"The priceless treasure that carries the century-old glory of the Duke's family!"

"According to insiders, the 'Dexterburg Ruby Necklace,' which was once praised by Queen Windsor, has been secretly sold by the Duchess, and the person who bought it is a wealthy American who does not want to be named."

"It is reported that this treasure is being secured by a small private detective agency and is currently being secretly transported from Virginia to Georgia by steam train. It is believed that many members of Atlanta's high society will soon be able to witness its brilliance and beauty."

The content of the text is not long, and it is published in the "Local Oddities" section. Above it is a relatively large realistic-style print depicting the style of the necklace.

Damn it?!

Treasure, route, plus "small scale" and "private," it's obvious that someone is making trouble.

Are they afraid that the bandits and petty thieves on the road won't be interested?