Translator: _Min_ Editor: Caron_
There were a total of 6,217 freshmen that year. After half a year of prep courses, they would begin their first school year in early September that year.
Raphael Leif was the seventeenth dean of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who started in 2012. After his retirement, he was recruited by the headhunting company hired by Jiang Chen, paying 4 million US Dollar in annual salary. This was almost twice his previous annual salary. Even compared to the University of Chicago, which gave the highest salary, Jiang Chen’s offer was higher by 1 million.
In fact, the proportion of Han in Coro University was 65%. The school board recommended that Jiang Chen headhunt professors from Hua universities. However, after some thoughtful consideration, Jiang Chen vetoed this proposal. Not accounting for identity and ability, the bureaucratized management model of Hua universities wasn’t something he wanted to replicate in Xin.
As the first university in Xin, Coro University would serve as a model for future education in Xin. Academic bureaucratization was, by no means, a good phenomenon. After exchanging opinions with scientists such as Lu Yuan and Amos, Jiang Chen ultimately made this decision.
Compared to training a group of highly skilled technicians, Jiang Chen hoped to foster a group of highly innovative scientists.
After Raphael Leif arrived in Xin, Jiang Chen personally greeted him at the airport. Mr. Leif was also flattered by Jiang Chen’s attentiveness. Although he had a strong influence in academia, his experience was no way as fabled as the president of Future Group.
The grey-haired old man, dressed in a suit, looked healthier than Jiang Chen imagined.
“I watched your speech at the University of Mun.”
“Did you laugh?” Jiang Chen asked with a smile.
“Please don’t be so humble. No one in the field of artificial intelligence has more to say than you. Now there’s graphene too – I think the guys at University of Mun were very grateful.” Mr. Leif smiled and shook hands with Jiang Chen.
He paused then continued.
“To be honest, I was ready to retire, but after hearing about potentially leading Coro University, I suddenly felt I could still do it for a few more years. But before I start working, I have one condition – I don’t want the school board to interfere too much with my concept of education.”
“Rest reassured. The school board won’t interfere with your teaching principles. After you take the position, I’ll give you the dean position, and I’ll only take the name of the honorary dean. We’re only responsible for providing funds, and you’re responsible for helping us build an MIT on the Pacific Ocean,” Jiang Chen said with a smile.
Mr. Leif nodded, reassured.
Operating a university was different from operating a business; historical heritage and cultural accumulation couldn’t be accomplished overnight. It would be a while before Coro University really became a famous university known throughout the world – it would be at least four years until the first graduates left the campus.
The two talked for a long time, discussing the model of Coro University.
Before they bid farewell, Leif half-jokingly said:
“Oh right, are you interested in teaching at Coro University? I can only give you 100,000 US Dollar in annual salary.”
“Me? I’m afraid I don’t have much to teach.” Jiang Chen laughed.
His academic credentials were only completing an undergraduate degree. He knew himself well – he could talk nonsense, but you could forget about asking him to teach lectures. It would be like running the next generation of students.
“No, I think you have a lot of qualities that students can learn from, but you haven’t even realized it yourself.” Leif looked at Jiang Chen with a smile. “Coro University’s motto: discover, attempt, change.”
After a brief silence, Jiang Chen said:
“…I’ll consider your opinion. But just to be clear, I’ll only teach one elective course at most.”
“I bet it’ll be the most popular elective,” Leif said in a joking tone.
…
As Coro University gradually got on track, Jiang Chen shifted his focus to Future Group.
The completion of the city of Penglai, the Global Merchandise Exposition, VRcity, and the forthcoming mobile phone launched by Future Technology… When Jiang Chen personally got involved in these tasks, he truly realized how humongous his own company was. He also realized how tired Xia Shiyu, who picked up the weight of the entire group, must be.
According to Jean’s statistics, she always maintained an average of two meetings per day and had a 30 document approval rate. Fortunately, Jean could help now. Before, Xia Shiyu had to manually review these documents.
In the evening, Jiang Chen sat in the office of the president, held the coffee his assistant made, looked at the night view of the city from the windows, and thought about the future.
Tanaka had been sealed in the basement of New Moon Island. The Kurofune only existed in name. With Mitsui’s list, the Ghost agents arrested half the members of the Kurofune’s Asia Division, leaving only scattered sporadic parties to flee.
In the capture and assassination of these people, the Ghost Agents sent by Jiang Chen discovered some strange phenomena.
Many of Kurofune’s members showed incredible ability in dealing with the Ghost Agents… almost like they had superpowers?
According to the intelligence gathered by the agents, Ayesha summarized their capabilities. Among them, there were relatively normal skills such as strengthening of the five senses, enhancement of resilience, improvements in athletic ability, and so on. Unscientific ones were manipulative magnetization, discharge, mental oscillation, etc…
Jiang Chen’s intuition told him that these abilities were likely related to the hidden genetic code. And these people… how could they unlock the power of genetic code without a genetic vaccine?
Was the Kurofune transforming them or was it because they possessed these special abilities that they could become part of the Kurofune?
How could Tanaka gather these people together?
With a long sigh, Jiang Chen drank the remaining coffee in the cup. Originally, he was thinking about future development. However, he didn’t know why his mind drifted elsewhere.
“Forget it; these little pawns will be handled by the Ghost Agents. As for their superpowers… capture some and study them slowly.”
As he put his coffee cup on the table, Jiang Chen was about to call his assistant to make another cup, but he heard knocking on his door.
“Please come in.”
Xia Shiyu pushed the door open and entered with documents.
Looking at her working so late, Jiang Chen’s face looked apologetic.
“Thank you for working so hard.”
“Not at all, this is my job.” She combed her hair behind her ears and said lightly: “…This is a plan for a merchandise exhibition. Here is a project overview for VRcity. Although I’ve already reviewed it, it’s better for you to read it before signing.”
After receiving the documents, Jiang Chen started to review them under her guidance.
A touch of her fragrance lingered over the tip of his nose. Perhaps he was too close, but he could even feel her breath and her nervous heartbeat.
