#526

Second thesis (4)

"This is unbelievable! This is slander! I'll speak to the other representatives—this cannot be allowed!"

Haider Barzel's voice faded as he was dragged away, protesting loudly even as he was taken from the room. John Mayer watched his outburst impassively, then calmly took the seat Haider had just vacated. Leaning back in the chair with a weary sigh, Mayer spoke in a heavy tone.

"He’ll be stuck in the basement of the auditor's office for about two weeks. That nuisance is finally out of the way."

"Thank you for your cooperation, Representative Mayer," said Dean Syollus, bowing respectfully. Mayer waved a hand dismissively.

"I simply went along with your script. You were the ones who set up the entire board."

"…"

"So, where is the one who handed this information to the auditors?"

Just as he finished speaking, the back door of the laboratory swung open. Vaila and Cassia strode in, shaking their heads as if brushing off the performance they had just staged with the meddling old man. Both held dual roles as chief and assistant researchers at the Carlisle Research Center and were also temporary faculty at Rabatenon University.

At the request of Lennok and the Dean, they had reported internal corruption within the Bureau of Technology to the auditors, successfully sidelining Haider Barzel and securing a private meeting with John Mayer.

"Vaila, you might want to watch your words," said the Dean with a hearty laugh, stroking his beard. "Half the people here are old folks. Don’t make them feel uncomfortable! Ha ha ha!"

Despite the attempt at humor, nobody laughed. Feeling slightly awkward, the Dean cleared his throat and turned his gaze away, awkwardly petting a spirit resembling a mountain goat that had wandered near his feet to change the subject.

"Anyway, let’s get down to the main topic. The fact that the Bureau of Technology was expelled by the auditors indicates that they’re considering the impact of this issue quite seriously."

"…"

"The paper by Researcher Vylun, along with the derived technologies and their potential applications, will be made available without restrictions."

The Dean’s eyes glinted sharply.

"Would it be fair to say that the Central Council has reached some kind of conclusion on the matter?"

There was a reason why Lennok and the Dean had refrained from giving any press interviews so far.  

'This is a very different case from the first paper. The Dean would have known that.'  

Lennok's first paper had yielded significant improvements in energy efficiency, leading the city government to eagerly support its commercialization. However, the second paper presented a completely different story. It pertained to the high-altitude city of Vulcan, where an unknown magnetic storm had prevented any kind of flight in the area.

The second paper essentially held the potential to open a new path in the skies above that vast city. Mayer, who had been silent in contemplation, finally spoke up.

"Even if it hadn’t been due to Commander Carrasco’s missteps, Assistant Professor Vylun's presentation would have been made public in due course."

"Why do you say that?"

"Presenters whose work wasn’t considered relevant to the Air Force theme were still being broadcast for the event's promotion. So, his involvement wouldn’t have made much difference."

"…"

"The achievements of Assistant Professor Vylun, along with the economic benefits they generate, aren’t issues that can be resolved by simply controlling or monopolizing them."

"You mean…?"

"In this case, no organization or individual will be held accountable for Assistant Researcher Vylun’s paper presentation. I can guarantee that much."

"That’s a relief."

The Dean’s calm demeanor suggested he wasn’t surprised. Mayer’s eyes glinted as he noted the Dean's expression.

"Of course, you must have already known that, Dean. You’re aware there are divided opinions on the Air Force project within the Council?"

"…"

"It hasn’t been officially announced, but Vylun’s paper has already undergone peer review in academia. While the process isn’t completely finished, the consensus is that anti-gravity technology is indeed feasible for commercialization."

Mayer glanced at Lennok.

"Its effectiveness has been proven to far surpass that of the technology applied in the Air Force fleet, and opinions have unified around that."

"It seems a conclusion has been reached."

"At this point, it’s impossible to monopolize anti-gravity technology with so much information already circulating. Soon, your paper will be formally registered with the academy, and companies will be recruited for R&D projects."

Mayer's gaze lingered on Lennok with a faint hint of ambition.

"At the same time, you will receive tremendous acclaim as the presenter of the top achievement at this expo."

"…Is that so."

It was, essentially, a confirmation of Lennok's goal for the expo. As Mayer's near-assurance fell, the expressions of those gathered in the lab brightened visibly. They, too, understood the impending rise in Rabatenon University's prestige, the support funds for research, and the new privileges and powers awaiting them as faculty members.

While most of the credit would go to Evan Vylun, Lennok didn’t particularly mind that at the moment.

"…"

He merely met the elder’s intense, almost predatory gaze with a wry smile—a gaze filled with naked ambition and a desire for talent that Lennok, having met with him before on behalf of the Council, was all too familiar with.

"We appreciate the difficult decision made by the Central Council."

The Dean nodded slightly in a respectful tone. Essentially, the Council had agreed to forgo monopolizing anti-gravity technology. Even if it hadn’t been entirely their choice, the swiftness with which they acknowledged this and adjusted their course was an impressive move.

However, Mayer merely smiled, as if entirely unfazed by the Dean's words.

"Not only the Council but also government agencies like the Bureau of Technology, Advisory Committee, and the Patent Office are all on edge. Anti-gravity technology holds too much weight for any one institution or faction to monopolize. Surely you were already aware of this?"

Neither the Dean nor Lennok responded to his statement.

"Formal contact will soon be made with Rabatenon University, so I suggest you prepare the necessary administrative procedures in advance."

With that, Mayer slowly stood up from Haider's seat, leaning on his cane. Supported by his surrounding guards, he glanced at Lennok and smiled before shutting off the hologram.

"Researcher Evan Vylun. I’ll see you again at the Central Council’s Technology Advisory Committee."

Pop!  

With that, Mayer's hologram vanished. Cassia, who had been standing nearby, finally let out a light sigh as if the tension had lifted.

"Whew... Representatives from the Audit Office certainly have a different air about them."

"He’s considered the most competent politician in the House of Representatives," Vaila responded curtly, crossing her arms. "His personal reputation and approval ratings are high, so despite his age, many think he'll soon make it to the Senate."

"…"

"It wouldn’t be surprising if he becomes the oldest politician to enter the Senate in the shortest time."

"There's even a rumor that he accepted the Audit Office position to shorten his path to the Senate… no doubt he's a remarkable figure," added Syollus.

For the Dean to say this much implied that Mayer's influence within the Central Council was indeed substantial. It was fascinating to see how he managed to keep drawing attention both inside and outside the Council, maintaining his path despite starting in the back alleys of the city and now aspiring to reach the heights of Vulcan.

Lennok, too, had managed to step closer to the Council, albeit through a different route. Now, it was merely a matter of striving to seize what each desired by their own means.

"In any case, welcome formally to the Technology Advisory Committee, Assistant Professor Evan," the Dean said, grinning and patting Lennok on the shoulder.

"The qualification to join the Technology Advisory Committee granted to the top award recipient at the Vulcan Arcane Engineering Expo… you’ve finally achieved your goal."

"It’s all thanks to your unwavering support, Dean."

"Oh, don’t flatter me," the Dean laughed heartily, stroking his beard with satisfaction as he leaned back in his chair. "While I may have greased a few wheels for the expo, the real credit lies with your abilities."

He wasn’t wrong. In the end, all the Dean did was pave the way for Lennok to participate in the expo. The rest—presenting the paper, unveiling new theories and technologies, and shifting the balance of power—was all Lennok’s doing. Nonetheless, it would be hard to deny the Dean’s assistance in smoothly navigating the tug-of-war between the City Council and government agencies. With his extensive network across government institutions, various research centers, and academic towers, the Dean had facilitated the process.

But rather than dwelling on his contributions, the Dean seemed eager to discuss what lay ahead.

"With this, there will be no one left to criticize Rabatenon University’s research achievements, so all that’s left is to wrap up the remaining formalities cleanly."

"Remaining formalities?"

"Of course, I’m referring to the new degree that will soon be conferred upon you," the Dean replied as if it were obvious. "Based on your accomplishments alone, you’ve already exceeded the qualification requirements. If limited to the energy sector, it wouldn’t be surprising if you were awarded a doctorate right now."

A new degree conferment? Although this was the first time he had heard it explicitly, Lennok wasn’t particularly surprised. Until now, he had flown under the radar as a researcher at Aris, without needing to list his personal credentials. But naturally, various titles were necessary to formally enter the Central Council’s Technology Advisory Committee.

"While the integrated process technically requires a separate thesis submission, with your record, meeting the requirements will be a mere formality. You can take your time preparing it."

"Understood," Lennok replied.

The Dean chuckled to himself, murmuring, "Normally, this would be handled by your mentor, Professor Aris Richellen, but since we can’t reach her at the moment…"

"…"

Vaila added with a somewhat concerned expression, "In the early days of her sabbatical, we were still able to contact her occasionally, but now even the communication lines are unreliable. I wonder what kind of research she’s conducting in the Mage Tower…"

"She’ll be back," the Dean reassured them. "She’s not the type to abandon her responsibilities without a word."

Listening to their conversation, Lennok took out a small bookmark from his pocket. It was a gift from Aris, who had stopped by the city briefly out of concern for his health. The fact that this item, crafted with Aris’s magic, remained intact meant that she still had tasks to complete. With plenty of his own responsibilities, Lennok felt that simply knowing this was enough for now.

"Anyway, rest assured, you won’t be lacking support or assistance with handling this matter," the Dean said, raising his phone.

Beep-beep-beep-beep!

The screen rapidly scrolled through an endless list of incoming messages and calls, almost like a fast-forwarded reel. Cassia and Vaila looked slightly overwhelmed, prompting the Dean to laugh heartily.

"It seems we’ve got literally hundreds of friends eager to help us out since the day before yesterday."

  *

After spending a few days under the guise of Evan Vylun, Lennok was back in his laboratory. He had left the external affairs in the Dean's hands, confident that he would handle any media or professional collaboration requests that came their way.

The anti-gravity technology introduced in his second paper would take some time to reach full commercialization. Meanwhile, Lennok planned to work on his personal research projects, which he hadn’t yet completed.

Creak!

The lab ceiling opened, and a mechanical shelf descended, displaying cases filled with various drugs and catalysts. A holographic window appeared, visually outlining the properties and combinations of the ingredients. By simply gesturing in the air, he could convey commands through motion recognition.

In an instant, the materials needed for catalysts and alchemy ingredients were arranged around the spacious workstation. Auxiliary equipment emerged around the workstation, delicately measuring out precise amounts and placing them at the center.

Swish!

The pigments and catalysts ground down in real time, forming an intricate alchemical array. Lennok didn’t need to draw the array himself; the equipment was programmed to follow a set pattern and implemented it like a 3D printer. All he had to do was supply his magic to keep the equipment powered.

Once the alchemical formation was completed on the workstation, Lennok took out an artifact from his pocket.

"Let’s get started."

Thud!  

Lennok placed a rainbow-colored gem and a staff with a pair of wings onto the alchemical array.

[Over-barrel artifact insertion confirmed. Specification analysis through mana flow synchronization.]

[Detected: holy augmentation technique and spatial transfer formula of high-grade characteristics.]

[Cannot analyze specific operational principles. Identified as advanced techniques of at least seraphic level.]

The research equipment Lennok had acquired wasn't designed to do the impossible for him. Extracting the techniques relied solely on Lennok's alchemical array, his refined understanding of spatial concepts, and his unparalleled control over mana. The new lab equipment's purpose was to observe, record, and allow Davi to manage the process meticulously.

[Confirmed synchronization between material and alchemical realms through the array pattern. Codename: 'Compassion of the Archangel.' Beginning first attempt to extract the technique.]

Whirr!!

The alchemical array around the Compassion of the Archangel began to pulsate as if it were alive, softly enveloping the artifact and glowing gently. The light emitted from the array absorbed into the artifact, and droplets of liquid began to fall from the rainbow-colored gem, as if it were being brewed like a medicinal herb. Lennok, watching this phenomenon, turned to Davi.

"How long do you think it will take?"

[It will take at least 90 hours to quantify the data. Extracting the technique into liquid form without altering the artifact’s core functionality requires a slow pace to prevent circuit burnout.]

The extraction process wasn’t about stripping the artifact of its embedded functions; rather, it was a precise duplication of the mana mechanism within the Compassion of the Archangel, creating a replica without damaging the original. This painstaking process was bound to take time. Lennok set up a protective glass barrier over the workstation and activated a holographic timer to show the remaining time.

Watching the liquid slowly drip into the glass container, Lennok nodded.

"So, even with all this precision, we still won’t know if it’s successful without repeated trials."

[You could just use the artifact as it is, but since Master insists on extracting the technique, there’s no helping it.]

"I just don’t want to depend on artifacts alone. And if this research succeeds with ancient artifacts, it might lead to…"  

Beep!

An alarm sounded behind him, and Lennok paused.

"…It’s time."

The spatial transfer extraction would need time to complete, so he set up a protective barrier to guard the process, donned his coat, grabbed his staff, and left the estate.

Lennok’s face shifted naturally into a neutral expression as he walked through the bustling city center. Blending into the crowd heading in a specific direction, he soon arrived at his destination.

[Vulcan Aerospace Defense Industry Exhibition]

The exhibition was set up to showcase various aircraft, floating structures, and aerial transport methods. Recently, exhibitions on such themes—previously unheard of in the mega-city—had surged in number. Every citizen of Vulcan knew why: the anticipation surrounding the new anti-gravity technology announced at the Arcane Engineering Expo had been eagerly adopted by the city’s powerful capital.

This stadium displayed an impressive range of real aircraft from across the continent—winged boats from the Floating Island Cluster, snowmobiles from the Northern Continent, and even single-seater flying machines like hover bikes used on the Central Front. Larger vehicles included multi-seat tactical bombers and reverse-flow shuttles capable of transporting multiple passengers and cargo.

While not all skies across the continent were open to humankind, regions with favorable conditions still permitted flight, and the mega-city, with its vast resources, had imported these flying machines for its citizens to see. This exhibition strongly captivated the attention of those who lived here, highlighting the significance of aerial transport.

"Before the world meets its end…"  

A quiet voice murmured from behind Lennok as he gazed at a massive rocket resembling a space shuttle.

"…there were nations that didn’t have land."

"…"

"There was once a wandering nation that made an eternally flying vessel its homeland, roaming through the world’s skies."

A young man with long hair stepped forward to stand beside Lennok and spoke.

"It’s a story about records and memories that no longer exist."

"Are you well-acquainted with the three cycles?"

"Not at all," replied Antares. "Rather than looking back at the past, I’m fixated on a future that hasn’t even arrived."

Lennok chuckled at that.

"You're saying things you don't truly mean."

The foresight that Antares had acquired in exchange for glimpsing his own fate—Antares himself knew best how powerful, useful, and dangerous that gift was. Yet, despite Lennok’s cool response, Antares quietly shook his head.

"No, it’s really not much of a talent. Not when compared to everything you've achieved so far."

"…"

Silence settled between them, both understanding that the achievements Lennok had made were not merely as Van.

Around them, the vast exhibition hall bustled with thousands of citizens. Standing with his back to the crowd, Antares looked steadily at Lennok.

"I’d like to continue the conversation we couldn’t finish at Jenny’s Tavern, if that’s alright?"

Antares tilted his head slightly as he spoke.

"It’s about Evan Vylun."

For the first time, he mentioned that name in front of Van. But rather than looking surprised, Lennok raised his head with a quiet smile. He had known all along that everything Antares had done and all the advice he had given pointed toward one single truth.

"…So, you knew."