Including the Q&A, the presentation had lasted a full five days.
Even on the final day, no one had been able to find a fatal flaw in the entire proof that could overturn the theory.
For now, it seemed Lu Zhou had answered every question.
And naturally, there was no longer any suspense about the outcome.
In the conference room borrowed from Jinling University, the twelve-member Review Committee, chaired by International Mathematical Union President Professor Shigefumi Mori, would deliver its final review opinion here.
Though they could not represent the views of everyone in the mathematical community, they could at least represent the position of the International Mathematical Union.
Professor Shigefumi Mori rose to his feet and spoke solemnly.
"Everyone, since the turn of the millennium, this is the first time we have faced such a momentous decision."
"I hope you will swear by your beliefs, your names, and your honor that every one of us standing here will cast an honest vote."
"Then let us vote."
The vote was not anonymous.
Even a single vote against it would make the International Mathematical Union reconsider more cautiously whether it should accept this result so quickly.
Time passed quietly, and the clock on the wall ticked through the most significant two minutes of its existence.
After everyone had checked their answer on a sheet resembling stationery and signed their names, the staff collected the papers one by one.
The ballots were tallied, with International Mathematical Union Secretary-General Professor Holden responsible for reading out the votes.
When the results emerged, Professor Shigefumi Mori faced the unanimous opinion of the Review Committee, opened his mouth, and stood motionless for a moment, at a loss for words.
After a long while, he raised a thin, bony hand to adjust his glasses and said in