Chapter 769: The Third Thesis (3)

It was still dawn, before the sun had risen.

District 49’s streets, far from being merely busy, were practically bursting with activity from early morning.

People were coming and going from all directions, and even those from other districts, drawn by curiosity, converged there.

Normally, they gathered because of the newly established magic tower and the artifact business that had begun operating, but today’s gathering wasn’t for that purpose.

Everyone knew that Evan Vylun’s seminar would be held today at Adamant Thunder’s magic tower, a place where external access was strictly prohibited.

“Everyone’s gone mad. Should this street really be this crowded?”

“Look at the sky. All you can see are drones and filming helicopters sent by the broadcast stations.”

Naturally, among the crowds that swarmed the magic tower like clouds, none were moving away, tired of the chaos.

Gathering here at this hour was, in itself, proof that they were highly sensitive to the hottest news in Vulcan.

Of course, they were all hoping to profit from it in some way.

“Look at this. The Vulcan stock market server has already crashed.”

“They’re relentless… It’s not even time for the market to open yet.”

“They’re probably just trying to get in first and manipulate stock prices beforehand. It’s obvious.”

“How foolish. Do you think the server will reopen today? Give up on that. We need to aim for other profits.”

Doo-doo-doo!!

Commercial anti-gravity airships filmed the densely packed people on the ground, and reporters with microphones were busy covering the scene everywhere.

A strange, indescribable fever seemed to envelop the entire street.

Other people, too, were caught up in the excited atmosphere, growing agitated.

“Is it really a seminar about the third thesis?”

“It would be strange if they set up a stage like this and it wasn’t.”

“I heard that not only the Central Council but also corporate executives and experts from all fields will be present. An ambiguous topic would only tarnish Vylun’s reputation.”

“If Rebatenon and the magic tower aren’t fools, it definitely won’t end ambiguously.”

The entire landscape of District 49 was filled with people eager for the ripple effects of today’s announcement, or just the commotion itself.

Lennok, disguised as Evan, silently watched them from inside the magic tower.

After checking the prepared prototypes and gazing at the sunlight streaming through the window, a knock echoed.

“It’s open.”

Bang!

A woman forcefully opened the door and entered, followed by several other individuals.

Their varied physiques and genders, and diverse appearances, made the room seem full just from their entrance.

The woman extended a hand towards Lennok, who was in Evan’s form.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you for the first time, Professor Vylun. My name is Jenisia. I oversee the tower’s administrative affairs.”

“…I am Evan Vylun.”

Come to think of it, this was practically the first time he had faced Jenny in Evan’s identity.

Though he kept his identities separate, it was proof that Lennok had meticulously managed the scope of his multi-identity activities.

Was this meeting a sign that the boundaries of those identities were blurring?

Or, conversely, was it proof that Lennok’s masks and alibis had become more perfect?

“You can just call me Jenny. More importantly…”

Jenny abruptly stopped speaking and stared intently at Lennok’s face.

Tatiana and Felix, standing nearby, were so startled by Jenny’s attitude that they tried to dissuade her.

“Jenny, why suddenly…”

“No, he just seems much calmer than I expected.”

Jenny waved her hand and laughed.

“It’s a rare feeling among those who are close to Van, you know.”

“Is that so?”

“He subtly likes noisy and cheerful people. Even if he doesn’t show it.”

“…”

Was that how Jenny perceived his usual demeanor when he was in his Van identity?

Lennok feigned an awkward expression and replied.

“We’re not close enough to call it a friendship. So, that’s not entirely wrong, is it?”

“You think so?”

“Isn’t it more accurate to think that my absence from today’s presentation is also part of that?”

After the agreement ended, he hadn’t appeared in public as Van at all.

After obtaining the Elixir and meeting Pyeonram while trying to solve the Guardian Spirit Beast’s appetite, he had barely visited District 49.

Since it was common for him to often be absent as Van, not many people paid much attention to it anymore.

In such events, Adamant Thunder’s unpredictable notoriety even made his unconventional actions and deviations understandable.

But Jenny’s expression didn’t seem to agree with Lennok’s words.

“Hmm, on the contrary, I thought it was his own way of being considerate…”

“…”

“Well, it’s not an important issue. Shall we go right away?”

Jenny casually wrapped up the conversation and immediately turned to walk.

“We’ve set up the podium, but I thought it would be good to hear the person’s opinion. Could you please take a quick look?”

“Of course.”

Lennok nodded with an unreserved smile and stood up.

Of course, he knew the magic tower’s internal facilities better than anyone gathered there, but there was no reason to refuse in Evan’s identity.

“Please let me know if there’s anything that needs checking.”

But Jenny, despite having made the suggestion herself, stared at Lennok strangely and tilted her head.

“Given his reaction, it doesn’t seem like they’d get along well… Is that why this kind of collaboration was possible?”

“…What do you mean?”

Jenny, who had muttered to herself, swept back her curly hair and laughed.

“It’s nothing. Shall we go?”

Behind the broker, who walked briskly, Tatiana and Felix gave a wry smile and looked back at Lennok.

Felix extended a hand to Lennok and said.

“My apologies, Professor Vylun. Jenny is quite a free spirit. Sometimes it’s hard to follow her thoughts, regardless of her work ability.”

“No, it’s fine.”

“Please call me Felix Magart. You’ve met this one during the last agreement, haven’t you?”

“Nice to meet you, Professor.”

Felix casually introduced themselves, leaving Tatiana, who nodded, aside.

“We are the personnel participating to represent the tower’s position at the seminar. Shall we discuss it in detail after you’ve checked the podium?”

Following the group’s guidance, they left the room and headed towards the magic tower’s main hall, where the seminar was scheduled.

Along the wide corridors they passed, various theses and models were displayed everywhere.

Lennok, casting a casual glance, realized that everything was related to the theses submitted under Evan’s name and slightly parted his lips.

The first thesis on the conversion of magic power and electricity.

The second thesis on anti-gravity technology and the recreation of updrafts.

All content was concisely summarized and displayed for easy viewing, and actual working engine models were also prepared.

Among them were models and blueprints that even Lennok had never seen before.

Walking behind Jenny, Lennok couldn’t take his eyes off his surroundings and quietly murmured.

“You’ve put a lot of effort into the preparations.”

Jenny glanced around and said.

“I requested related materials from your university in advance. Based on that, we manufactured models and procured samples to display.”

“…You manufactured the models yourselves?”

“No, of course, we outsourced it for money. I’m not that dexterous.”

“…”

Jenny pointed here and there casually.

“There’s more than just models. This is a next-generation anti-gravity engine being developed by Autoble. That’s a hovering drone scheduled for release next week, and there are even leaked photos of Vulcan’s official air routes that haven’t even been leaked to the deep web yet…”

“That’s truly amazing.”

Lennok, who had been listening to the explanation, unconsciously exclaimed.

Because Lennok also knew the value of the information Jenny was talking about.

He had thought the samples were unfamiliar, but it seems Jenny used her connections to bring in unreleased prototypes and blueprints to display.

She managed all this within a few days, and even arranged real samples plausibly throughout the corridors.

“You handled all of this within days of the seminar schedule being set?”

“Wouldn’t it look bad if the surroundings were empty?”

Jenny smiled broadly and waved her hand, asking.

“We need to firmly establish dominance over the guests coming today for things to go smoothly later. Just trust me.”

“…Understood.”

What was this peculiar sense of reliability, which Lennok had never felt before, despite knowing her well?

He knew she was good at her job, but sometimes her value was felt more acutely when seen from a different identity and situation.

While they talked, they passed through the vast corridor and arrived at the main hall.

A beautiful sight: golden concentric circles slowly spreading and rotating above a serene black void.

The hall, capable of accommodating hundreds of people simultaneously, was filled with far more models and samples than they had seen in the corridor.

Woosh…!!

Engines operating with a quiet whirring sound were visible everywhere.

A strange spectacle unfolded: drones and airships slowly floated overhead, and hoverbikes and boats circulated around the central podium.

It felt less like Evan Vylun’s seminar and more like an exhibition of his achievements.

As Lennok’s gaze was drawn to the chaotic yet strangely organized atmosphere of the main hall, Jenny rubbed her shoulder and said.

“It wasn’t a difficult task at all. Professor, you’ve done so much work that simply selecting and displaying what we had made the setup look quite good.”

“I don’t think I’ve done that much…”

“What?”

Jenny’s eyes widened as if she had heard an unheard modesty, and Lennok closed his mouth.

“…Anyway, doesn’t it look quite good now that it’s displayed? I almost wish we could keep it like this even after the seminar.”

Jenny’s eyes sparkled as she looked at Evan’s face, as if she smelled money.

“It’ll also help with businesses looking to move into the magic tower in the future- Oh, I’m sorry. Was I talking too much?”

Jenny smiled and stepped aside for Lennok.

“If you need to adjust any facilities or interiors for the rehearsal, please tell me right away. I’ll do my best to accommodate you.”

“Then I won’t decline.”

Lennok said that and immediately headed towards the podium that filled the main hall.

Jenny’s expression, which had been admiring Lennok’s retreating figure, suddenly turned strange.

“…Professor?”

Lennok, who was heading towards the podium, abruptly turned around and found a hidden control panel on the main hall wall.

Jenny said hesitantly as she watched Lennok unhesitatingly open the control panel installed on the wall.

“Th-that, I apologize, but that’s not the podium; it’s the tower’s heating system management facility.”

“I know.”

Lennok pointed to the hundreds of circuits and wires installed beneath the control panel and said.

“You’re circulating the entire magic tower’s air using built-in insulating magic power, aren’t you?”

“…Did I ever explain the tower’s heating system to you?”

As Jenny questioned with a surprised expression at Evan’s immediate insight into the tower’s facilities, Lennok spoke again.

“This kind of heating is inefficient in a magic tower with distinct floors. Warm air tends to accumulate mostly at the top, where people don’t stay.”

“That’s…”

“I would say the indoor temperature is not very suitable for a seminar venue.”

Lennok opened the laptop he was carrying and immediately connected it to the control panel’s junction.

Only then did Jenny realize what Lennok was about to do and reached out with a flustered expression.

This magic tower was directly designed and had all its security barriers installed by Van himself.

No matter how excellent Evan Vylun was as an engineer, if he tampered with it without permission, an unavoidable situation could arise.

“Wait, Professor. If you tamper with the tower’s facilities, you could be in danger–!!”

“Oh, that’s fine.”

Lennok typed on his laptop and replied nonchalantly.

“I got direct permission from Adamant Thunder himself. There shouldn’t be any problems.”

“…What?”

As Jenny paused with a bewildered expression, Lennok immediately summoned a spirit with a mental message.

‘Davi.’

[Yes!]

While he casually typed on the laptop, Davi immediately updated the tower’s heating system in real-time.

At that moment, the quality of the air flowing in the magic tower’s main hall began to change instantaneously.

Whoosh…!!

The lukewarm air that hadn’t quite filled the vast space transformed into a warm breeze brushing past their ears.

A subtle scent of cool air that even a high-tier physical ability user like Felix would only notice if he paid close attention.

“How…”

“Amazing. How can simply tampering with the system change it this much?”

“By precisely calculating the wind direction circulating within the magic tower and dispersing it by clashing it at an imperceptible level.”

Lennok shut down the updated heating system and stood up, replying.

“If you mix the magic power accumulated within the tower and individually guide the dispersed directions, you can arbitrarily control the temperature of the space within a few meters from the ground.”

“I-I see?”

“…I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Unlike Jenny and Felix, who subtly averted their gazes, Tatiana immediately understood Lennok’s words and asked with a surprised expression.

“Are you saying you completed the difficult calculation for magic particle trajectory guidance, which is challenging even for high-tier wizards, right here with just one laptop?”

“I had a few algorithms created previously.”

Lennok retorted.

“I just modified the values appropriately and used them.”

“That’s impossible. I can’t even fathom what level of expertise in magic theory programming would be required–”

Tatiana stopped mid-sentence, realizing what she was saying, and let out a hollow laugh.

The assistant professor standing before her was precisely the scholar who had gained recognition and built his reputation through that unique talent.

How could she even question it if Evan Vylun readily accomplished something that was incomprehensible even with the experience and common sense of an arch-wizard?

“For this seminar, I received permission from Adamant Thunder himself to modify the magic tower’s internal facilities and environment.”

Leaving Tatiana, who had lost her words, Lennok shifted his gaze.

“I’m a bit particular, so I’d like to create an environment optimized for the presentation before the seminar. Would that be alright?”

“…”

The reason why a seminar presentation was decided at the magic tower, even though the location wasn’t crucial for presenting a thesis.

While there was the justification of benefiting both Adamant Thunder’s magic tower and the university, it was also because they knew that opportunities to apply Evan’s recognized talents and abilities to the magic tower wouldn’t come often.

Evan Vylun’s abilities as a researcher, analyst, or brilliant system designer.

Even though he borrowed Davi’s power, his ability to create algorithms and programs was widely known as Evan’s.

Lennok intended to use Evan’s identity to completely overhaul the magic tower’s inefficient systems on this occasion.

“If you received Van’s permission, then it’s not something I should interfere with, but…”

Jenny’s response, as she fiddled with her phone with an uneasy expression.

Even if she understood that Evan had modified the heating system right before her eyes, was she finding the circumstances themselves suspicious?

“Could you tell me what other facilities or systems you plan to modify? It’s also important whether they can be restored later.”

“Adamant Thunder told me that all facilities within the magic tower were constructed to be remotely operable.”

“What?”

Jenny unconsciously retorted, then nodded with a bewildered expression.

“No, that’s true, but it’s only a design for emergencies, and it’s never actually been properly used–”

“I have an image in mind for stable research activities. Would you mind taking a look?”

Lennok said that and typed on his laptop again.

He directly accessed the tower’s facility control algorithm based on the heating system’s connection log.

Using Davi’s abilities, he modified the values and data in real-time and added changes to the facilities.

Kugugugugung!!

“It’s, it’s moving…?!!”

At that moment, the entire main hall shook violently, then instantly fell silent.

As Jenny looked around with a flustered expression, Lennok closed his laptop and stood up.

“I’ve only modified the internal environment of the main hall for now. Beyond this, I’ll need the consent of the relevant parties.”

“…Um, Professor?”

Tatiana, who had been looking at Lennok with a satisfied expression, questioned with a complex face.

“What kind of environment did you create to cause such a tremor– Wait, hold on.”

At that moment, Tatiana’s eyes widened when she casually checked the appearance of the stairs unfolding above Lennok’s head.

The passages connecting the tower’s floors.

The dozens of stairs tightly packed to fill the space between them.

Because the entire staircase connecting the first and second floors had instantly turned into a flat ramp.

Since the stairs on other floors were intact, it seemed he hadn’t touched them yet.

But wasn’t the implication that if they agreed, he might just flatten all the stairs in the tower?

Felix, belatedly realizing Lennok’s true intention, stammered with a dumbfounded expression.

“No, is this… is this really that important…?”

“Of course.”

Lennok nodded firmly.

“It’s an essential environmental adjustment for stable research activities and ideal seminar progression.”

“…”

“I’m confident that Adamant Thunder will also be very pleased.”

No one could easily reply to those words.

Because everyone was convinced that this researcher, who unhesitatingly sold out Van’s name, possessed an eccentric aesthetic comparable to Adamant Thunder himself.

“No wonder Van was so eager to sign a contract with this professor…”

Felix’s unconscious murmur reflected the sentiments of the other two as well.