Chapter 307 - 291: Is It Right or Not?

Chapter 307: Chapter 291: Is It Right or Not?

After the researchers gradually stabilized, they didn’t shy away from Lloyd’s data. Instead, they continued their research, beginning to analyze and discuss it.

"Look here, at the initial usage log for the brooch. This guy, Lloyd, casually tapped out a frequency. Then, on his second try, he managed to find the exact same spatial coordinate by tapping the *same* frequency? How is that possible?"

"I noticed that too. I can’t wrap my head around it. Spatial coordinates are constantly shifting and changing, like a turbulent river. Yet he managed to lock onto the exact same ripple twice in a row. It’s incredible. The only explanation is that he’s not human."

"Could it be some sort of physiological mutation? Something that makes him more sensitive to the concept of ’Space’? That would explain how he can do something without any specialized equipment that we’ve failed to do after years of research."

"I agree with your assessment. Look at the professor’s evaluation of this guy’s Attributes. It’s far beyond the scope of a Tier Three. That’s definitely not normal. I imagine the people over in the Biology System would be very interested in him, wouldn’t they?"

"I think we should be examining his brooch more closely. The problem might be with the brooch itself, you know?"

"Wait a minute. He used the brooch so recklessly. Why didn’t he suffer from Spiritual Contamination? How did he even pass the psychological evaluation? The professor just rated his risk factor a little higher."

"He’s not human... He’s not human..."

"This guy is a complete enigma. Forget the calculations, why don’t we just study him instead?"

"We can’t do that. We’re not from the Biology System."

Listening to their discussion, Lloyd felt like a sane person trying to understand the mentally ill.

’Someone just fell to corruption moments ago,’ he thought. ’Are they not afraid at all?’

Just then, the old professor beside him spoke up.

"Consider this your first lesson for matriculation."

Lloyd froze, then asked in return,

"You knew someone might fall to corruption over this, but you still gave them the data?"

The old professor replied with righteous conviction,

"Of course. Self-deception is merely a tool for self-preservation, not our true pursuit. Since you’ve chosen to join a high-risk field like the Space System, to walk on the cutting edge of our time, you must be prepared to learn the truth in the morning and die that same evening...

If you lack even that level of conviction, you’d be better off in the arts."

Lloyd pressed his lips together tightly, momentarily at a loss for a rebuttal.

He wasn’t a fish, so he couldn’t know a fish’s joy. And he wasn’t a scholar, so he found it difficult to comprehend their willingness to sacrifice their lives for the sake of knowledge. 𝘧𝓇ℯℴ𝓂

The professor then turned to the researcher who had answered Lloyd’s earlier questions.

"Have you recovered yet?"

The researcher was also staring at a light screen, browsing Lloyd’s data. Only after the professor addressed him did he lower the screen and reply,

"I’ve recovered. I was just thinking about a few things... but never mind, we can talk about it later. Did you need something, Professor?"

"Get him a student handbook and show him around the academy. Then, find out who his original guide was and award the fellow some academic credit."

"Ah, of course."

"I’ll leave him in your hands, then. I’m going to see the dean and have him invoke a special provision to get this young man directly into our Space System. It’s not the start of the academic season, but with his foundation, he’s already capable of joining our research," the old professor added, speaking as if to himself.

Hearing this, Lloyd quickly objected.

"Wait! I never said I wanted to join the Space System!"

Before the professor could even respond, the researcher cut in.

"Hmm? If you’re not joining our Space System, where else would you go? Do you have any idea how many people are dying to get in here? It’s the most advanced and cutting-edge department in all of Mizkatoke, home to the most brilliant and courageous students and faculty in the entire academy!

We’re not just researching and pursuing truth; we are searching for the future and hope for all of humankind! We bear the great responsibility of leading the world!"

"Even if that’s true, I still..."

Lloyd wanted to say that he couldn’t get used to their fanatical, self-deluding atmosphere. He didn’t like their cold indifference to a colleague’s death. As a normal person, he felt completely out of place among them.

But before he could get the words out, the old professor cut him off.

"You’re not going anywhere else. You can only come to our department. Otherwise, I’ll rescind your ’Matriculation Evaluation’."

Hearing such a threat, Lloyd’s first impulse was to stand his ground, but he thought better of it and asked cautiously,

"What happens if I don’t have a ’Matriculation Evaluation’?"

"Then you’ll only be able to enroll with the lowest possible evaluation, ’E-’. You’ll be restricted to the arts, and you’ll have to pay the highest-tier tuition every year, plus an additional surcharge," the researcher chimed in to explain.

"Er... and how much is the ’highest-tier’ tuition and surcharge, roughly?"

"The tuition itself isn’t too bad, only about a million Universal Coins. The surcharge, however, is unpredictable. It could range from several million to tens of millions, depending on your subsequent performance...

But with this ridiculously high evaluation form from the professor—all ’S+’—not only is your tuition completely waived, but you’ll also receive a special monthly stipend. So..."