My buyer was torn between joy and terror. "It's unbelievable! But we'll honor our commitment under the existing terms and conditions.

"200 digits! You've got a special computer, or perhaps a special method...? You know, we'll accept anything, even voodoo magic, ha ha!"

I told him honestly we had a powerful device, and he acquiesced.

"Maybe, since you like challenges... This may sound crazy but... if you provide us with two primes of 300 digits, separated by at least an order of magnitude, we could pay a bonus of, let's say... an amount with five zeros on the end. Let's be clear though – that is for two numbers."

I agreed, but insisted the bonus be fully paid in cash on delivery. The professor mopped his brow with a trembling hand, and nodded.

I liked this new balance of power.