Chapter 174: A Mix of Good and Bad - Part 1

"Evelyn, Ethan, this is where I usually work."

After giving Ethan and Evelyn a tour around the dilapidated house at Five Corners, satisfying their curiosity, Vinton Cerf then led them to visit his office.

It was a spacious square room located at the very end of the floor, featuring windows on three sides. Upon drawing the blinds, one could enjoy a 180-degree view of the greenery below, gaze at various fountains, and feel the immediate transition from concrete jungle to the touch of nature. The experience was incredibly wonderful.

"Oh, Vinton, this environment is so much better than Stanford."

Evelyn looked around and shared her thoughts, "No wonder all the top universities say their rival isn't their academic peers, but the federal government."

"The work environment here is truly irresistible."

"Hahaha…"

Evelyn's words brought laughter from Vinton Cerf and Ethan Jones.

They understood her point, a joke that had been circulating for years, and even decades later when Ethan traveled to the past, this jest still existed, though the narrators had changed.

In the future, many American tech companies complained not about competitors poaching their staff, but about the federal government's covert recruitment being a nuisance.

For those scientists engrossed in research, federal government projects were far more interesting than any public plans in the private sector. Although the salaries from the federal government might not reach the top pay scales of global giants, anyone recruited by the government was already financially secure.

However, even if the salary couldn't compete with the world's best, the facilities certainly could reach the top global standards. The environment Vinton Cerf enjoyed wasn't something future corporations or current universities like Stanford could offer. This wasn't about whether enterprises or universities had enough funds; it was about the federal government not needing to worry about finances when undertaking these projects.

Such widely known unspoken rules didn't need to be discussed, so after their laughter, the trio moved on to other topics. Vinton Cerf inquired about their situation, and when he learned that "Star Wars" was a rushed project, he immediately praised the quality of work accomplished under such pressure.

"You mean you developed this game in just ten weeks?"

"Wow, to produce such a complete game in such a tight timeframe is incredible! And I'm not just flattering you; I truly mean it!"

"Although technically, the game wasn't difficult to make, leading the project with creativity was no simple task, as it's hard to perfect everything in a short period."

Vinton Cerf offered his evaluation with a cheerful grin.

Ethan and Evelyn graciously thanked him.

Shifting the topic, they also inquired about his work. Although it might involve classified information, Vinton Cerf didn't mind and openly shared, "Barbara said she was busy?"

"Oh, I'm actually busier than her. They called me to DoD hoping I could develop a unified communication system, integrating our country's Army, Navy, and Air Force tactical communication systems to enhance coordination and efficiency among the services."

"Since March, I've been busy with this."

"Though the agreement makes integrating computers across various bases relatively simple, you know military technicians aren't as professional as us. They can't accurately distinguish the data sent by different parties. So, our current priority is to create a tool that supports multiple users, transaction processing, and rollback functionality."

Despite Vinton Cerf's clear explanation, his face showed concern, prompting curiosity from the siblings. Having known Vinton Cerf for years, Evelyn didn't hesitate to ask, "Vinton, is this project challenging?"

"You look troubled."

"Not at all," Vinton Cerf quickly shook his head. "This is quite simple for us. What upsets me is that while we were designing this tool, we found out the CIA was considering creating a tool for public use."

"And they're outsourcing it."

"To private entities."

"At first glance, this doesn't seem to affect us directly. Although the CIA's needs and our development are the same, we're in different systems. However, the problem arises when we learn their outsourcing costs are significantly lower than our development budget, stalling our project…"

Vinton Cerf's explanation made it clear to Ethan and Evelyn.

His frustration stemmed from the unique way the federal government handles projects.

Each project requires a budget proposal. If the quote meets the expectations of higher-ups, the project moves forward smoothly. However, if the quote falls short, delays of a year or more are common.

While these budgetary stalls are often just talk, when technicians estimate project costs, those relying on their work rarely dispute their figures. But everything changes when comparisons arise. If the CIA's new project and their development have the same goals but differ in costs, embarrassment ensues. Even if the final accounts are in order, they could still face scrutiny from Congress.

"Oh, Vinton, encountering such a situation is truly unfortunate."

Ethan expressed his sympathy.

He casually asked, "Can I know which company took the CIA project? It's not IBM, is it? If it's them, that would be quite troublesome."

Outsourcing services to federal agencies is common in any era, and companies that secure federal contracts vary in size. If it's a giant like IBM, their quotes are unlikely to change. But for smaller companies…

There's much more room for negotiation.

Small companies can't afford to offend.

However, Vinton Cerf shook his head, "IBM? Impossible! If it were them, such a situation wouldn't arise. They would coordinate with various departments to avoid duplicating projects. Only a small company would act so recklessly!"

"As far as I know, that company was established only after receiving the project."

"That's why I said the CIA is outsourcing to private entities!"

"Sometimes I even wonder if the CIA is using this as a way to embezzle funds!"

With a furrowed brow, Vinton Cerf exclaimed, "Oh! Fxxk!"

"It's indeed possible this could happen!"

"I need to have someone investigate this!"

"What was that company's name again? Something like Software Development Laboratories? Oh! Sxxt! Just hearing that name sounds like a scam!"

Vinton Cerf frantically searched through his desk papers, seemingly eager to find evidence against his adversary and turn the tables.

Watching his flustered actions, Ethan and Evelyn couldn't help but shake their heads and smile. Recognizing that Vinton Cerf was busy, they didn't wish to disturb him further and took their leave.

Vinton Cerf didn't stop them but took the opportunity to ask for a favor. Initially, Ethan thought it was a significant request, but when Vinton Cerf revealed his true intentions, Ethan realized he was simply asking them to gather intelligence.

"The company I mentioned is in Santa Clara."

"The founder previously worked at Ampex in Redwood City."

"So, if you have time, could you visit Santa Clara and see what the company is really up to? If they're developing the tool I mentioned, that's one thing. But if they're embezzling funds…hmph…"

Pausing, Vinton Cerf's vengeful yet adorable demeanor amused the siblings.

Though Vinton Cerf's approach seemed somewhat childish, as CIA personnel could embezzle funds without such complicated schemes, they agreed to his request, nodding repeatedly. After leaving Arlington and feeling it was still early, they decided to visit other friends.

They flew from Washington to Boston to meet with Professor Ralph H. Baer, who, despite his age, had no desire to retire. During their chat, the professor was overjoyed to learn that Destiny Game's next target was home consoles.

"You're finally going to develop home consoles? Oh—this news is fantastic—"

"Honestly, I've always believed that home consoles are the most suitable devices for gaming because they offer players choices. However, due to certain era constraints, they might appear too expensive, not meeting the public's demand standards. This was my oversight, not considering the details carefully. It's not the machine's fault; it has no flaws…"

"Since you're developing the machine, as a consultant to the company, I can't just watch from the sidelines. If you encounter any issues during development, call me directly. I'll help you solve them or even fly over…"

"Don't think you'll bother me by doing this because this is my dream. Just as you've repeatedly told the world, my initial intention in making games was to bring joy to people. I truly hope this goal can be achieved…"

The siblings arrived in Boston in the morning and left by plane in the evening, only having lunch with the professor.

Though this form of socializing might seem akin to a commando checking in, Ethan admitted that he was indeed maintaining his relationships in a commando-style manner.

There was no choice; he was genuinely busy. If not for the time required for recruitment and relationship maintenance, he would have been buried in work at the company.

Previously, he thought there was nothing to fear from the locals, but he ended up being kicked twice in a row. After experiencing such setbacks, he dared not take months-long vacations as he did last year, unsure when enemies might appear.

To prevent further forced promotions, he had to take proactive steps.

Yet, even with the tight schedule, he didn't immediately return.

After leaving Ralph H. Baer, he and his sister visited MOS Technology.

As the success guarantee for Destiny Game, maintaining a relationship with the 6502 development team was crucial. However, upon arrival, he discovered several team members were missing.

"What's going on?" Ethan looked at Chuck Peddle, puzzled.

"Are they sick?"