Chapter 512 The First Person to Sacrifice for "Science"
In the living room of Colin Estate, the thin morning light streamed through the windows onto the cashmere carpet, and the air was filled with the scent of citrus.
Sitting on the edge of the velvet sofa, Professor Keynes, dressed in a morning suit, stood ramrod straight, trying to overcome the awkwardness that made him uncomfortable.
He glanced nervously at the luxurious reception room, unsure where to look without appearing impolite.
Like Professor Hector, his worst skill was dealing with people, especially those of high status.
These cunning nobles were different from his students; they were not only difficult to manipulate, but they also wouldn't easily reveal their joys and sorrows to him.
Keynes glanced furtively at the maid standing in the corner, his gaze settling on the top of her head, and he couldn't help but sigh at how wonderful it was to be young.
Indeed, when it comes to enjoying life, it is the secular aristocracy who understand it better; the academic whizzes still lack a bit of depth.
I never imagined that dirty animal ears combined with a maid outfit could produce such a wonderful magical reaction. Why didn't I think of that when I was young?
Knowing that the prince he was about to meet was such a refined and elegant person, Professor Keynes couldn't help but feel a little more excited about the upcoming meeting.
The Colin family's wealth and influence directly determine the price his skills can fetch!
However, the professor from the Academy was unaware that the Campbell nobles did not actually have a tradition of employing demons as servants. They still trusted servants who had been attached to their families for generations, and were not even willing to use those Campbell people whose origins were unknown.
Hiring these "marginalized individuals" was entirely Prince Colin's own choice. After all, he himself was a temple orphan, and his greatest talent lay in uniting these marginalized people.
Just as Professor Keynes was waiting anxiously, steady footsteps came from the porch not far away.
His right hand instinctively gripped the worn-out top hat pressed against his chest as he stood up from the edge of the sofa.
At the same time, a gentle, soothing voice drifted in from the entrance of the porch.
"Professor Keynes, I apologize for keeping you waiting. I was dealing with some family matters, which took a little time. Please forgive me."
The newcomer was a dashing young man, his face as handsome as the rumors suggested. His deep purple hair outshone everything else in the lavish drawing room, even making the proud Professor Keynes feel inferior; this guy was indeed much more handsome than himself.
Of course, his nervousness wasn't entirely due to Prince Colin's handsomeness, but mainly related to his own current predicament.
Professor Keynes forced a gentlemanly smile and performed the courtesy befitting an imperial nobleman.
“What is it, Your Highness? It is I who have taken the liberty of visiting you… I hope my abruptness has not disturbed your morning.”
"You're too kind, Professor Keynes. The intellectual breeze you bring will only make my manor shine."
Seeing the uneasy Professor Keynes, Luo Yan nodded in return and smiled, gesturing for him to proceed.
"Please sit down and talk."
The two sat down on the sofa.
The maid waiting to the side stepped forward, poured tea for Prince Colin, and also refilled Professor Keynes's cup.
The tranquil aroma of tea filled the living room, mingling with the refreshing scent of citrus, creating a truly delightful atmosphere.
Seeing that Professor Keynes's tension had eased somewhat, Luo Yan began to speak.
"I studied at Xuebang for a while and heard about you. It seems... you've just returned from a long exploration?"
These words seemed to strike a nerve with Keynes, and a smile that looked more like a grimace appeared on his face.
“It’s a long time… Your Highness, it’s far too long.”
Luo Yan picked up his teacup and took a sip of tea.
"Could you tell me briefly?"
Keynes nodded, making no attempt to hide anything.
“I ventured my consciousness deep into the virtual realm, but the Solipus people there were too ignorant to sense my presence. I was like a flying insect, lost in a sea of flowers that didn’t belong to me… It was a long time before I finally found my way out.”
"And then you contacted them?"
"No, Your Highness, to be precise... I became them."
Seeing the surprised expression on Prince Colin's face, Keynes paused for a moment before continuing.
"You might not believe it, but I may have experienced several reincarnations in that world."
"...Reincarnation?"
“Yes,” Keynes nodded, his expression indescribable, “and as a Solipsian, sometimes a magician, sometimes a sailor, and sometimes the king’s cook and minister… those memories are like fragmented dreams, sometimes a second feels like a year, sometimes a few seconds feel like a lifetime.”
Luo Yan's surprise deepened, then turned into a look of great interest.
That's quite an interesting clue.
Although he is no longer pursuing academic research at Xuebang, it does not prevent him from being curious about "his children".
He put down his teacup and asked.
"Magicians and sailors, cooks and ministers... Do you know people with these identities?"
Keynes paused for a moment.
Are you referring to real life?
"certainly."
Looking at the prince, whose eyes were filled with curiosity, Keynes pondered for a moment, then nodded and said.
“Yes, Your Highness… My father was a sailor. Cooks are everywhere; I know quite a few skilled cooks on the artisan street outside the Great Sage’s Tower. As for the king and ministers… I did occasionally see them when I was at the height of my power. The Kingdom of Rhodes has close ties with the Academy, and we sometimes have dealings with the nobles there.”
"Do you dream about other professions? Something more fantastical, like... piloting a ship that travels through the stars."
What is that?
Keynes was completely baffled by the question, and after a long pause, he shook his head.
"No, Your Highness... Is it that important?"
Luo Yan smiled and shook his head.
"It's not important, I'm just curious."
Souls from world A enter world B and participate in the cycle of reincarnation in world B. Interestingly, however, the souls from world A remain within their own "framework" and do not truly enter the system of world B.
Its existence is similar to that of a "player," rather than the opposite of an "NPC."
This is actually a very interesting phenomenon, and it coincides with the most basic principle of the virtual realm—
The virtual realm can only respond to and amplify the resonance in people's hearts, but it cannot tell a person what they did not know before.
Professor Keynes's experience clearly fits this description.
In his hazy dreams, he could become the cook he had ever seen, the magician he had ever been, and the king and ministers he had ever met, but he could never become the captain of a research ship, or anything else.
This profession does not exist on the continent of Os.
Perhaps that's why he was able to wake up, instead of remaining there permanently.
If you want to turn "players" into "NPCs" and enter a reincarnation system in another world, you might also start from this angle.
Of course, this is just one possible approach.
Luo Yan never intended to keep his players in his world forever. He wasn't that controlling. The best situation was for both sides to get what they needed, so that they could maintain their positive feelings towards each other.
Unless a player applies for it, he might consider using it as a reward for completing the game.
for example--
Players can use the points they accumulated in their previous life to redeem their starting point in the next life.
Seeing the prince deep in thought, Keynes hesitated for a long time before finally coughing softly.
“Your Highness, I understand your interest in the 440th illusory realm. I heard that you… have done research on that illusory realm. In fact, I have to thank you for this; without you, I certainly wouldn’t have woken up.”
Luo Yan looked at him in surprise.
What does this mean?
Keynes said with a wry smile.
"To be honest, I woke up when the virtual portal was completely severed."
It's broken?
Luo Yan looked even more surprised.
He remembered that when he left, there was still a faint connection left in the 440th virtual realm, but he never expected that it would be completely severed.
He wanted to say that it was a pity, but then he remembered that Mr. Keynes had come back from the other side because the connection had been lost, so he stopped himself from making that untimely remark.
After a pause, he asked.
"Did you see anything before you left there?"
Keynes nodded.
"Yes, an old guy told me that we would meet again, and then everything disappeared."
We'll meet again...
Luo Yan pondered the words carefully.
If this was said to Keynes, then they did indeed meet again, after all, the person sitting in front of him was none other than the "Father of the Solipsians".
If this statement was addressed to the humans on the continent of Os, then its intention is worth pondering.
Is this a reminder?
That prying gaze from the void...
Seeing that Prince Colin had fallen silent again, Keynes continued to talk about his own affairs.
"Then I awoke from my slumber and what came into view was my... cough, your Corin Tower. Miller had grown up quite a bit; he wasn't this mature when I fell asleep. And then there were those blackboards hanging in the mage tower, and the formulas written on them—all things I'd never seen before."
"This is truly... a pity." Luo Yan's expression was somewhat subtle, but what followed made his expression even more subtle.
Professor Keynes sighed and continued speaking, muttering to himself.
“My misfortune doesn’t stop there, Your Highness. I’ve lost not only the mage tower, but also my laboratory. My former colleagues see me like I’m a plague god, and they don’t even dare to talk to me.”
"I've been thinking about it and I haven't done anything that's morally wrong. The only person I've hurt is myself. Even the Council of Sages hasn't said anything. What are they so self-righteous about?"
"Later I learned that because of my background in Corinth, they all regarded me as a founding member of the 'Scientific' school, while Professor Uriel, now a candidate for Sage, regarded the Scientific School as a thorn in his side..."
"Oh, Saint Sis, I was completely dumbfounded! I had just woken up from the virtual world and didn't even know how to spell the word 'science.' How come I didn't know I was a founding member of the school of science? And no one told me?"
At this point, the middle-aged magician, who was over fifty, had red eyes and his lips trembled.
He could tolerate them dividing his inheritance while he was asleep, but he really couldn't tolerate this inexplicable big jerk.
If he really had someone protecting him like Professor James Wally, that would be one thing, but the key point is that he didn't take any benefits from Prince Colin.
Later, it was his former student Miller who helped him out and wrote him a letter of recommendation.
After making some inquiries, he learned that His Highness the Prince was in the Duchy of Campbell in the south, so he traveled all the way here.
Luo Yan coughed softly.
"This... I'm sorry."
While Keynes' situation wasn't entirely his fault, it would be irresponsible to say he had absolutely nothing to do with it.
“Your Highness, I don’t blame you. You don’t need to apologize to me.”
Looking at the prince's sincere apology, Keynes took a deep breath, nodded slightly, and continued.
“I’ve been in Xuebang for decades, since I was a child. I know all too well what it’s like there.”
Luo Yan gently comforted him.
“Uriel did go a bit too far in this matter.”
Keynes shook his head.
“I don’t even blame Uriel. He wouldn’t have time to care about a washed-up, unlucky guy like me. Even if he’s petty, he would never personally persecute me… It’s just his enthusiastic servants. They would rather kill ten thousand innocent people than let one guilty person go free.”
This is called a gambler's mentality.
Most of the magicians in the Academy come from impoverished backgrounds. With no way out, they stake all their talents and life's work on the tower. Their exceptional intelligence inevitably makes them extremely selfish and cold-blooded.
Professor Keynes knew this very well, because he knew he was that kind of person too.
At least it used to be.
Professor Uriel is him at the height of his fame, while he is Uriel who has lost everything.
Although they have different life scripts, they are all the same kind of people.
This cannot be blamed on their impoverished background; the problem lies in the tower that drove them to their doom, and the sage sitting atop it looking down on them.
Luo Yan glanced at him in surprise, a hint of approval in his eyes.
“I’m surprised you think that way… To be honest, that’s exactly why I left there. Compared to those self-proclaimed sages, you are more deserving of that title in my opinion.”
“You’re joking, Your Highness,” Keynes said with a wry smile. “I’m not even a professor anymore.”
Some people see through everything before they even step into the tower, while others only understand it after they've lost everything.
He belongs to the latter.
It was because of this that he felt disheartened and had the idea of leaving.
However, for the magicians of Xuebang, taking off their magic robes is not an easy choice.
Their abilities and talents may be "rare," but they are not "scarce" on the continent of Os. And there is no other academic community that can allow him to continue to shine as brightly as before.
Not all nobles were willing to pay for his wand; their authority did not come from the supernatural, but rather from something else entirely.
Magic is not a technology that can be quickly converted into cash; it just seems mysterious to the general public.
Keynes, a professor of magic, couldn't possibly make a living by drawing magic scrolls, or go to the front lines to fight demons like the young men of the Empire.
The only way to quickly convert magic into cash is probably through robbery.
However, he definitely couldn't beat a high-ranking noble. He could bully a low-ranking noble once or twice, but at most the third time, his name would be at the top of the Adventurers' Guild's list.
The Adventurers' Guild is backed by the Holy See, and it has many heroes like Gaunt who have already established legends or are in the process of establishing legends. They just lack his experience.
Unlike the extraordinary beings of the First Era, the extraordinary beings of the Second Era could not use their extraordinary powers to do whatever they wanted.
There are only two outcomes to going down a dark path: either you end up in hell, no longer human, or you lose yourself in the killing and become a puppet of chaos.
This is why, when Prince Colin waved, Professor James, who was tutoring a nobleman, immediately packed his bags and flew back without a second's hesitation.
Even though the Academy has many problems, it is still the most suitable place for magicians on this continent.
At least, that's true for now.
"...So, what are your plans next?" Luo Yan picked up his teacup and took a small sip.
From Keynes's uneasy gaze, he had already guessed what the professor was thinking. However, rather than speaking up, he preferred to hear the professor say it himself.
Keynes took another deep breath, nervously touched his collar, then took out a letter from his pocket and gently handed it to His Highness the Prince.
"...This was given to me by Miller. I heard that Your Highness is eager to find talented people, so I shamelessly came over. Please forgive my rudeness on my first visit. I didn't actually receive an invitation from you, but...I really hope to see you."
“Professor Keynes, you’re too kind. Such things are not important. Besides, I did instruct my friends at the Academy to help me find truly talented people. Without a doubt, you are the guest I invited.”
Reassured Professor Keynes, Luo Yan smiled and accepted the letter on the table, then opened it and glanced at it.
The letter was indeed written in Miller's handwriting.
His teaching assistant spoke highly of the former professor, calling him a top scholar in both virtual reality research and magical research.
Actually, these are all secondary.
Luo Yan valued his other qualities more.
A person who has been through the harsh realities of feudalism knows better than anyone else where the evils of feudalism lie.
If he hadn't intended to let the children of Thunder City get wet in the same rain he had, Mr. Keynes could certainly have built a real university in Thunder City.
Instead of building a "guild-style" school and simply copying the Xuebang model to fool the citizens of Thunder City.
While Xuebang's model has its merits, it can only adapt to the new era by being improved.
Looking at His Highness, who seemed to be still thinking, Keynes rubbed his hands, which were calloused from holding the staff for a long time, with a hint of hope and trepidation in his eyes.
"...Your Highness, although I am down on my luck, I am still a genuine Platinum-level spellcaster, and I believe you can see that with your discerning eye."
"Not only that, I have been studying the Source Law School for a long time. Whether it is Source Law theory, alchemy, or potion making, I have decades of expertise... and the Void Realm, uh, you may not look down on this, but if you or your relatives have children of school age, I can teach them a little. If they plan to study at the Academy in the future, this knowledge will definitely be of great help to them."
At this moment, he sounded like a grocer selling out-of-season goods, his tone so humble it was hardly like a magician.
He even forgot that it was none of Professor Hector's business to make things difficult for Prince Colin's child; a letter of recommendation would have sufficed.
Only those who lack the ability need to guess what's in the virtual realm.
"I don't aspire to any high position, a tutor position would be fine, or even a guest monk position would be acceptable."
"As for the treatment... I only need a small mage tower as my laboratory, enough for me to meditate in a high place where people gather. It's not a hobby of mine, but the meditation technique of the Source Law theory does require such an environment."
He hesitated for a moment, then cautiously held up three fingers.
"Also... I don't need a salary, but I do need research funding, around 3,000 gold coins per year. I'll tell you where every penny of this money goes and what results it produces. Is that alright with you?"
Keynes' heart pounded wildly after he finished speaking.
Three thousand gold coins is no small sum; for ordinary people, it's a fortune they could never spend in several lifetimes!
However, he didn't mean to ask for an exorbitant amount; it's just that researching magic is indeed expensive, and the amount of money required is on a completely different scale compared to other fields.
Many rare materials must be purchased through the Adventurers' Guild, and adventurers risk their lives to obtain them.
Moreover, purchasing many basic consumables, such as magic crystals, on a large scale is extremely expensive.
After all, the reserves of magic crystals on the surface are not many, and the level of development is not high.
Most of the magic crystals in the Academy were bought from the dwarves in the Ten Thousand Ren Mountains. Those dwarves only recognized the gold coins of the Empire and didn't really recognize the silver coins issued by the various kingdoms.
However, he had heard that the Duchy of Campbell seemed to have some kind of magic crystal mine? It was said to be in the hands of some Baron Guts, and Prince Colin had connections to get his hands on it.
If that's the case, then we could save a lot of money.
In fact, this is one of the reasons he came here.
Keynes thought to himself, while Prince Colin finally finished reading the letter and looked at him with an elegant smile.
“Mr. Keynes, I regret that I have no children, and I probably don’t have any children among my relatives who need enlightenment.”
The light in Keynes' eyes dimmed instantly, and his straightened back slumped down.
Too……
How could an imperial prince with immense power lack people to serve him?
The glory of nobility is not the glory of a single family, but rather the glory of a group of families dependent on the nobility. It is not uncommon for a few extraordinary individuals with noble souls to emerge from these families.
Even a platinum-level mage might just be icing on the cake for top-tier nobles like this...
“I…I understand.” Keynes forced a smile, reached for the bowler hat, and prepared to get up and take his leave. “I’m so sorry to have bothered you.”
Just as his hand was about to touch the brim of his hat, Luo Yan's voice rang out again, his elegant smile carrying a hint of pleasure.
“You misunderstand, Mr. Keynes. I didn’t say you were unsuitable to work for me. I just meant that… it would be a waste to have a former professor of the Academy, a platinum-level mage, as a babysitter for a child.”
Keynes paused in his movements.
He raised his head blankly and looked at the young prince, a glimmer of hope seeming to sprout in his cloudy eyes.
Luo Yan leaned forward slightly, sat up straight on the velvet sofa, and stared intently at the down-on-his-luck scholar before him.
“Mr. Keynes, as you saw when you arrived, this city is undergoing tremendous changes. We have carriages faster than those in the Holy City, and bell towers taller than those of the Holy See of St. Clement, but we still lack a wise man who can truly help our young people stand at the top.”
“We are building a secular comprehensive university that will open its doors to all talented young people, whether nobles or commoners, so that they can receive an equal education there, as long as they can prove to us that they have the talent.”
"In order to establish this university, I need a leader who can build a teaching system from scratch and has sufficient prestige and knowledge in a specific research field."
Looking at Professor Keynes, whose eyes were wide open, Luo Yan still had a warm smile on his face, but his tone became more serious than ever before.
"Professor Keynes, as the future Chief Director and Honorary Chancellor of Thunder City University, I formally invite you to serve as the first Chancellor of Thunder City University! As for salary and laboratories..."
He paused, then said with a smile.
“We will provide you with the resources and support you according to the standards of a renowned scholar. As long as you can establish this university, there will be no limit to the funding.”
It's not like he hasn't studied at Xuebang before. The research funding there is expensive for two reasons: one is that the empire's printing press covers it, and the other is that magic crystals are indeed scarce.
Would Councilor Luo Yan from Hell lack magic crystals?
Magic Crystal Cannons are all his business!
As for rare magical materials?
The Demon King is just worried that the players have nothing to do, so he's bored and wants to give them something to do. He might as well just print some ghost money and let the players do it!
Keynes was completely stunned.
He stared wide-eyed at Prince Colin, his mind completely blank.
He only came here to apply for a job as a tutor, but he never expected to be appointed as the president of a national university.
Moreover, there is no upper limit to the funding...
This huge gap left him speechless for a moment, as if he had fallen from the mire of reality into another unreal, illusory realm.
A full half minute passed before Keynes snapped out of his daze and shakily stood up from the sofa. His eyes shone with ecstatic joy, and even more so with gratitude for someone who would die for a true friend.
"Your Highness..."
He bowed deeply, performing the most standard Buddhist monk's salute.
"I am willing to dedicate all my wisdom to you and to this city!"
"I look forward to your performance." Luo Yan nodded with delight, feeling gratified to have gained another platinum-level demon general under his command.
The Dragon family is really too weak. They lost all eighteen demon generals, leaving only a few, and they blamed humans for being too cunning and their territory being too far from the demon capital.
What does it mean to expand the territory of hell?
This is what you call expanding the territory of hell!
Meanwhile, outside the window of the manor's reception room, two restless little heads were pressed together, their eyes shining brightly.
As expected of my elder brother—
In just a few words, he brought a platinum-level expert under his command!
It's simply unfathomable!
(End of this chapter)
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