Chapter 763: One-Man Show (15)

The three-dimensional modeling workshop, located deep in the basement of the academic building.

It was a place used by university researchers to create samples before presenting their results. While it couldn’t produce high-quality artifacts or items, it was sufficient for checking if there were errors in basic designs.

“Originally, this was something prepared for a demonstration of the Elemental Studies department’s project during the last agreement…” Lennok began, standing before the equipment’s remote screen and inputting data.

“As I proceeded with the research, I found the performance differed greatly from what I initially expected, so I gave it some thought.”

Hiss! He activated the press, placed a solid object inside, and compressed it with heat to solidify it. Lennok slowly pressed down on the equipment, holding the handles with both hands, and spoke again.

“I’ve been thinking, it might be best to structure this topic as a third thesis altogether.”

The signing of the agreement between Rebatenon and the Magic Tower, and the inspection of the university’s projects. While a necessary procedure, it was also the result of careful consideration to include the Magic Tower’s name in the research achievements presented under Evan’s identity.

However, the agreement unexpectedly concluded abruptly, preventing Evan’s research achievements from being presented on time.

‘The Department of Necromancy recognized the Guide’s Ghost, so I had to hastily clean up the traces.’ Recalling how his attempt to quickly erase his tracks had only inflated his infamy pointlessly, Lennok turned around.

Thanks to this, he could now attach a plausible justification to the ‘invention’ he had conceptualized but not completed. Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise.

“I plan to be away for a while to conduct related research. Would that be acceptable?”

“Why wouldn’t it be, Evan?” The Dean, who had been watching with a pleased expression from behind, readily nodded.

“From the start, I had no intention of interfering with your schedule, no matter how you arranged it. Just like last time, I’m sure you have it all planned out.”

“…”

“However, if you need anything, I’d appreciate it if you told me in advance. Then I’ll use all my connections to get you whatever you need, be it items or people.”

“I’m not sure if any special preparations are needed. For an official presentation, we might have to coordinate the schedule later.”

Last time, he could use the grand stage of the Vulcan Magic Engineering Expo, so there was no need for separate preparations. However, it was uncertain if an event of that scale would be on the schedule when Lennok presented after returning from Military City. To arrange a stage for a thesis presentation later, they might have to prepare it themselves.

“You still don’t seem to care what kind of treatment you receive in academia.”

But the Dean shook his head as if dumbfounded by Lennok’s words.

“Derivative research based on the two theories you presented has long become one of the mainstream currents in academia. What kind of reaction do you think you’d get if you announced your next thesis?”

“…”

“There’s no need to specially arrange an official event or venue. Just a hint about your thesis, and they’ll be falling over themselves to send their intent to participate.”

“While I can’t avoid being in the spotlight, I still think it would be better to use an official venue…”

Moreover, Evan’s identity, unlike Van or Victor, is one where he must be mindful of his reputation. Appearing overly self-promoting or having such a disposition could lead to complications later.

As Lennok mumbled, appearing troubled, the Dean immediately changed his approach.

“In that case, how about completing the thesis and then participating in a seminar that’s held around that time?”

“…A seminar?”

“Our university regularly schedules and conducts three to four seminars every month. They’re for discussing topics where opinions diverge in academia.”

The answers flowed smoothly, as if questions and replies had been prepared in advance. It was a natural reaction, as if he had considered other options from the very beginning.

“We won’t announce it as a thesis, but we’ll put your name down as one of the presenters. Then, during your presentation, you can simply unveil your thesis, can’t you?”

“…Is it really alright to proceed without officially calling it a thesis presentation?”

“Of course not,” the Dean chuckled.

“But procedures aren’t what’s important, are they? If necessary, I can simply adjust the regulations temporarily myself.”

“The professors and researchers preparing for their thesis presentations…”

“We’ll adjust the timing somehow. If you say you’ll participate in the seminar, everyone will want a piece of it.”

“…”

Lennok looked back at the Dean’s face, which glowed with anticipation, and fell silent.

The very purpose of mentioning a third thesis to the Dean was to create an alibi for his departure to Military City. It would be problematic if the Dean got too excited, as if the thesis could be presented immediately. It seemed necessary to temper the Dean’s expectations at an appropriate time.

“It’s problematic if you expect too much. I’m not saying I’ll present it immediately; I’m just beginning the preparations…”

“Alright, just prepare the abstract and bring it to my office when it’s ready. Understood?”

His face seemed to light up with vitality from the moment Lennok first approached him. Regardless of the Magic Tower alliance, which hadn’t concluded smoothly, he genuinely anticipated this new achievement.

Watching the Dean swiftly adjust the passwords and security of the systems throughout the workshop, Lennok suddenly seemed to remember something and spoke.

“Oh, and I forgot to mention, I met a member of the Central Council Technology Advisory Committee the other day.”

As the press’s power was turned off, the workshop instantly fell silent, and their voices echoed.

“She mentioned that quite a few people don’t approve of my research achievements or me.”

“…Hmm. That would be the case.”

The anti-gravity thesis presented under Evan Vylun’s name had caused an enormous sensation, but not everyone could embrace its achievements positively.

Once new routes opened in Vulcan’s skies and airships began to circulate, various businesses responsible for transportation would be shaken.

Not only the automobile industry, but also engine manufacturers and countless subcontractors below them would inevitably suffer some losses.

Even those not directly involved would surely dislike the market being greatly disrupted.

Unlike last time, there was a possibility they would take action to rein in or undermine Evan.

The Dean also guessed what Lennok was implying and immediately hardened his expression.

“If I inquire through my friends in the Central Council, I can identify them to some extent. If we hire experts separately—”

“No. That’s not what I mean.” Lennok immediately shook his head at the Dean’s words.

“The city council members hold such diverse interests that it’s highly likely the Central Council hasn’t taken a firm stance. I felt that clearly during the last thesis presentation.”

During the expo presentation, some senators had reacted negatively to the anti-gravity technology.

It wasn’t because they didn’t know the value of anti-gravity technology, but rather, on the contrary, because they were all too aware of the changes and repercussions the thesis would bring.

Powerful figures, enough to hold key positions in the Central Council, were old hands accustomed to viewing all city affairs from a macroscopic perspective.

While some might react hostilely, fearing new technologies or theories would encroach upon their vested interests, many council members were also wary of changes sweeping across Vulcan that were beyond their control.

Aside from their personal acquaintance with the Dean, there were likely several senators who, in their own right, were reluctant about this particular matter.

Even if he gained information through them about who disliked Evan, it was unlikely to be of much help.

“Instead, please actively share information with those stakeholders who are likely to openly check or dislike me.”

“What…?”

“Weren’t you planning to broadcast the news across Vulcan once the thesis was complete anyway?”

“Ahem, well, not exactly. Of course, if you don’t wish it, I certainly wouldn’t force you…”

Despite his words, it seemed clear he had already decided how the seminar would proceed.

“Such matters are safer the more eyes are watching, you see.”

Lennok smiled, watching the Dean clear his throat as if hit by a direct truth.

“Therefore, rather than those whose reactions are hard to predict, I find it more comfortable dealing with those who are openly hostile to me. That’s what I wanted to tell you.”

“…”

The silent Dean looked at Lennok, then shook his head.

“How astonishing… I can confidently say there isn’t a single researcher who would talk about their own thesis like that.”

“Is that so?” Lennok slowly turned off the press’s power and stood up, retorting.

Lennok, after checking the shape of the solid object inside the compressor and pressing the ventilation button to release the heat, spoke.

“I just think of it as something I’ve been doing since I first joined this university.”

“…”

The days when he was first thrown into this city and aimlessly searched through library books. What kind of presence Lennok, who had become an assistant professor with Aris’s help at the time, was in this school. The Dean also understood the meaning of Lennok’s words and his expression faintly hardened, but Lennok mumbled casually.

“Perhaps it’s due to the theme of this thesis. Strictly speaking, it’s not entirely my own achievement I’m presenting.”

“…What on earth did you choose as the thesis topic?”

“Isn’t it a thesis presented to mark the completion of an integrated master’s and doctoral program?” Lennok chuckled.

“It contains the experience I gained while teaching undergraduates. I hope it yields good results.”

“…Alright. Ultimately, it’s your decision to proceed with the presentation.”

The Dean sighed softly, reviewed the workshop’s security one last time, and then departed.

Even if Lennok wasn’t presenting the thesis immediately, the Dean must have intended to make sure he could prepare thoroughly.

Despite accumulating considerable experience and status, he was a person who had not yet lost his academic integrity.

There must have been a reason why Aris chose to be an endowed professor at this university.

Clunk! Only after the thick workshop door closed did Lennok take his eyes off the press and look up.

‘Since I made a promise to the Magic Tower during the agreement, I’ll need to slightly change the conditions during the thesis presentation process.’

Evan’s research achievements, the promise to exclusively present the previously planned ‘invention’ to the Magic Tower. Since he intended to change that into a third thesis, he would need to convince the Magic Tower officials of this fact and seek their understanding.

Naturally, there was no need to convince Lennok himself, but he should at least briefly explain it to those who knew the terms of the agreement, like Jenny or Tatiana.

‘I have about a week until I depart for Yorta. By then, I need to finish organizing things and create a plausible external justification for both identities to be absent.’

The Headrain River, which he needed to cross to get to Military City, floods at specific intervals, so he had to schedule his trip to match the timing.

So, for now, he would pretend to work on the thesis, go into seclusion, then give the Magic Tower a suitable excuse to make them understand, and discreetly disappear.

Hiss! As heat escaped the compressor and air circulated, sweat dripped down.

As the heat dissipated, Lennok picked up the solid object, which had changed form in the press, and gazed at it, lost in thought.

It was small enough to fit comfortably in one hand. While seemingly portable, its weight made it feel inconvenient to carry around.

If he wanted, he could install the pre-designed system into it and conduct experiments, but…

“No, this won’t do. The size is fine, but it’s heavier than I expected.”

Lennok tossed the solid object he had just made into the trash and turned his gaze towards the manufacturing device.

“Once I install the internal components, it’ll be even heavier than this. Let’s choose a design that allows for more weight reduction.”

‘I’ve been continuously selecting only the relatively lighter designs for you from the start,’ Davi grumbled, perched on the design blueprint.

‘To make it lighter than this, we’d have to reduce the capacity or output further. That’s impossible if we want to leave room for updates, isn’t it?’

“Indeed… building the hardware separately makes things complicated.”

Both of Lennok’s previously published theses were research achievements focused more on theory than on physical prototypes.

At the time of his anti-gravity thesis presentation, an engine based on Lennok’s first thesis had already been commercialized, so there was no difficulty in acquiring a sample for demonstration.

This time, as he was experimenting with new technology and theory, Lennok had to design and create the sample himself.

Of course, Davi assisted by retrieving the necessary formats from the central network, so there were no blockages from the start. However, the process of adjusting the implementable values between ideals and reality was unavoidable.

Before departing for Yorta, he had to refine the results to at least the point where an abstract could be submitted.

“…It can’t be helped.” Lennok, deep in thought, looked at the blueprint, picked up a pen, and quickly began erasing internal components.

“I’ll redesign it, leaving only the essential components. Considering the thesis’s theme, the sample I’m creating now needs to be very light.”

‘I’m doing all the design error adjustments, you know. If you keep this up, I’ll rearrange everything however I want,’ Davi grumbled, but immediately began modifying the blueprint inputted into the press.

“…Hmm?” Lennok tilted his head, watching the real-time changes on the design blueprint.

Because as he looked at the blueprints Davi was shuffling, it felt like something was clicking into place in his mind.

If the process in the circuit conversion was refined to the extreme, matching the output didn’t seem as difficult as he thought. Since Lennok planned to personally handle the process anyway, that wasn’t a big issue. The main problem was the modules Lennok couldn’t create. If he slightly reduced the capacity, as Davi suggested, just enough to prove that the thesis’s theory could actually be implemented—

Lennok mumbled, gazing idly with his chin in his hand.

“This… if I just procure one or two more parts, I think I could present it right now?”

‘…Huh?’