Lassen stared at his phone screen, chuckling at the latest memes about "Monsieur X."
One image showed a disheveled mathematician, hair in disarray, with the caption: "When you spend 20 years on Collatz, but some random guy solves it overnight." He burst out laughing, almost knocking over his bag of chips.
[Such maturity, host. Laughing at your own disguised genius.]
"Obviously! It's not every day you become a cultural phenomenon by solving something I don't even fully understand," Lassen replied, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
[And yet, mathematics owes its advancement to your… unique skill in delegation.]
"Exactly, that's my superpower. So, what are the experts saying?" Lassen asked, stretching lazily.
[They're organizing seminars, speculating on your identity, and debating your method. Some call you a genius, others a secret team.]
Lassen burst into laughter again. "A secret team? They clearly overestimate the amount of collective effort I'm willing to tolerate."
He set his phone down, but a thought crossed his mind. "Alex, do you think they're trying to find me?"
"Most likely, master" Alex replied calmly from his makeshift desk. "The scientific community isn't fond of mysteries. Speculations about your identity are reaching a fever pitch."
"Perfect. I love it." Lassen grabbed a chip, crunching it loudly. "You know what? I should give them another bone to chew on. System, create an anonymous account under the name Monsieur X. Something secure, obviously."
[Another brilliant idea from you, host. Creation in progress.]
Seconds later, the system announced:
[Account activated. Encrypted email linked. You are now ready to give the impression you have a genuine sense of communication ethics.]
Lassen pondered for a moment before murmuring, "Okay, what should I write for the first post?"
[Write anything. No one knows who you really are, anyway.]
Lassen nodded. "You're right. Fine, post this:
> 'First, I am neither an AI nor a group. I am just one person.
And second… it wasn't that hard.'"
---
Within seconds of its posting, reactions poured in by the thousands:
"WHAT? It wasn't that hard?! I spent five years on this conjecture!"
"This has to be a joke. No single person could write that article AND post this."
"Monsieur X, you're either a genius or a troll. I can't decide."
Within an hour, the Monsieur X account had already gained a million followers. Hashtags like #WhoIsMrX and #CollatzSolved were trending worldwide. Even celebrities outside the scientific community joined the conversation.
A famous actor tweeted: "Monsieur X, if you're solving the universe's mysteries this easily, could you explain why my coffee cools down so fast?"
Even Elon Musk chimed in, tweeting: "Monsieur X, if you're free, SpaceX could use a genius like you."
Replies poured in, ranging from admiration to humor to sheer frustration.
---
In a Princeton conference room, an intense debate was underway. On a large screen, an excerpt from the article signed "Monsieur X" was projected.
"This guy is either an absolute genius or an alien" declared a young professor, visibly agitated.
"Or an entire team hiding behind a pseudonym" retorted another, skeptical. "No single person could produce a demonstration this perfect."
"And that tweet…" added an older researcher, visibly irritated. "The arrogance is insufferable."
Similar debates echoed in Cambridge and the Max Planck Institute. Experts analyzed every detail of the article, but no flaws were found.
"It's frustrating" said a Cambridge professor. "The style… so direct, like the author didn't even try. But it's also… beautiful."
A Max Planck researcher concluded: "Whether it's an individual or a team, they've changed the landscape of mathematics forever."
---
The scientific press was ablaze.
Scientific American headlined: "Who Is Monsieur X? The Mystery Behind the Solution to Collatz."
The Guardian speculated: "A lone genius? An advanced AI? Or a collective of researchers? Theories abound."
On television talk shows, the discussions intensified. An expert guest declared:
"This tweet might seem arrogant, but it reflects absolute confidence in the validity of the demonstration. And so far, no one has proven it wrong."
On YouTube, videos explaining the Collatz Conjecture and the mystery of Monsieur X garnered millions of views in hours. Tech influencers dissected every word of the tweet, searching for clues about the author's identity.
Even conspiracy forums jumped on the bandwagon. Some claimed Monsieur X was a secret AI developed by a government. Others speculated it was an extraterrestrial.
---
Lassen, still sprawled on his chair, scrolled through memes and reactions on his phone. "They're really overdoing it. All this fuss over numbers that eventually become 1."
Alex, seated at a small table, looked up at his master. "Master, you've stirred up a storm. Perhaps it would be wise to communicate a bit more seriously."
"Why bother?" Lassen retorted. "They're doing fine without me."
"But they're seeking answers," Alex insisted. "It could solidify your legend while curbing unnecessary speculation."
Lassen thought for a few seconds. "Hmm… You have a point. Okay, I'll give them something to chew on."
[Another moment of brilliance in your illustrious career, host] commented the system.
Ignoring the jab, Lassen began drafting a new tweet. "Let's see… How can I keep them busy a little longer?"