Chapter 377

Regardless of what kind of outrageous dream the Zeta people who were reincarnated as meat lizards had, the players from another world were still commenting on those brain-opening homework.

At first, they just participated in the activities released by the official with the mentality of watching the fun, intending to see what new tricks the artificial idiot of "Disaster OL" could make.

As a result, when they picked up the NPC's "homework" and looked at it, good guy, there were really many talents among these NPCs!

Could it be that the game updated secretly again?

One Cannon Shatters the Server: "Damn! You guys look at the homework of apprentice No. 1753! Using wind magic to create a pressure difference at the front end of the stone bomb, thereby reducing the energy loss during the flight of the stone bomb! Did our Demon King teach aerodynamics to the mages of the Academy?!"

Ash-level Non-Chief: "Awesome! This idea is a bit saucy! It feels like the game updated secretly, why did this generation of NPCs suddenly become so intelligent?"

Orthopedic Expert: "There is also this apprentice No. 2578, this big brother actually thought of using the 'echolocation' principle to improve the 'detection technique', saying that in environments with dim light like labyrinths, it is more useful than the mage's eagle eye technique!"

Hu Wan: "6666!"

Brick-moving Knight: "This homework is also awesome! Using the lever principle to improve the 'rock hammer', it is said that it can produce destructive power not inferior to steel-level with bronze-level spells! Really or fake? Has anyone tried it in the game?"

I'll rush first: "I'll go to the labyrinth to try it right now! Wait for me, brothers!"

King of Levers: "This 'rock hammer' idea feels not as good as the 'Rock Earth Flying Arrow Door Gate Effect Energy Gathering Armor-Piercing Bomb' on the forum. That thing can make steel-level puppets directly penetrated by a bronze-level magic. Is this the mage of the Academy? I feel it's still a bit short."

Rational Guest: "Cough, you can't compare NPCs with our players' brain holes. By the way, I think the earth magic of 'summoning coal balls' by apprentice 0005 is also awesome. This is the first time I've seen an NPC outside the Great Cemetery use magic like this, which belongs to using magic to open up advanced productivity."

The floors of the post are getting higher and higher.

Looking at the increasingly outrageous homework, the players on the forum were like discovering treasures, and while clicking their tongues in wonder, they were even more pleasantly surprised.

Due to the scalp-numbing casting threshold of this game, most players are not good at casting spells, and many times they can only practice their brain holes through the hands of Dark Elf NPCs.

However, Dark Elves are not always easy to use.

These pointed ears are often more stubborn than humans, and the key is that many times they simply cannot understand their brain holes.

And these mages of the Academy are different. They are not only proficient in magic, but their thinking is unexpectedly flexible, and they are even as good at dying as the players!

It's a pity that the Academy, as a force in the background of "Disaster OL," cannot be used as the player's initial camp during the closed beta period. Even let alone camp selection, when the teleportation array of the northern wilderness can be opened is a mystery.

Professional Passerby A: "Damn, is the quality of this generation of NPCs too high? Is the planner finally willing to spend money on AI?"

Gou Shi: "The logic is reversed, why do I feel more like the dog planner is using players to train AI, in fact, many things have been tried by the brother, right... although his magic is not good, most of them are trial and error. (Funny)"

I drank the chemical pool: "Damn! You say that, it's really true! I really tried that summoning coal ball with earth summoning technique! (Terrified)"

I come to form the head: "Don't mess with these virtual ones, hurry up and open the 'Academy' new map!!"

I come to form the legs: "Strongly suggest that Demon King open a labyrinth branch in the northern wilderness! Can't these promising lads be corrupted? (Funny)"

I come to form the crotch: "I also want to be a mentor! Give me ten magic apprentices of the Elf race! I want to train them myself! (Color) (Color)"

"..."

At noon on a day after the paper storm, in the apprentice cafeteria of the Tower of the Great Sage, the apprentices dining at the long table were whispering.

"Have you heard? This homework is not simple!"

"What's not simple? Isn't that thing credited if you hand it in? I even suspect that Prince Kelin might not look at it at all..."

"Who told you? If you really believe it, you will lose a lot!"

"What do you mean..."

"The apprentices who got 90 points in the last homework were recruited into his Magical Science Laboratory, which is the laboratory hanging in the collaboration unit column of the Kelin Tower paper! Compared with this reward, those credits are not worth mentioning at all!"

"I go—really or fake?!"

"Can this still be fake?! That was said by his laboratory assistant himself!"

"Damn! If I knew, I would have written it seriously!"

Noisy discussions filled every corner of the cafeteria, some people shouting excitedly, and some sighing regretfully.

Barrett was still gnawing on bread like a whirlwind, not letting go of every minute and second on the plate, preparing to finish eating and go to the classroom to occupy a seat.

Kuersi, sitting at another table, stared at the empty bowl with a gray face, looking lost, as if he had lost his soul.

Ilana completely ignored him, science had lost its meaning to him, and even the entire snowfield had turned gray.

Finn sat beside him hesitantly, not sure if he should comfort him, and even less knowing how to comfort him.

He really couldn't understand what was going on with this senior. Clearly, his attainments in magic were very good, but as soon as he encountered emotional problems, he became an idiot.

"Senior Kuersi, the science class in a while... are you still going?" Finn asked tentatively in a low voice, while secretly glancing at the wall clock, he should go to the classroom to grab a seat.

Kuersi raised his head and sighed sadly.

"No, Finn, you go... that has no meaning to me anymore."

Finn: "..."

Near the dejected Kuersi, two bronze-level senior apprentices were also sighing dejectedly, feeling uneasy about the homework they had handed in a few days ago.

They regretted the homework about "using the fireball of the second explosion to produce a suffocation effect to kill the target" not long after they handed it in.

Especially now, the more they think about it, the more they feel that the "whimsical" idea is absurd, and it is probably already circulating privately as a joke by the teaching assistants.

Thinking of this, even the frosted bread became bitter.

"Think about it carefully, our homework was written too casually," Bain poked the bread powerlessly, dejected, "Actually assumed a 'magic beast that is not good at jumping'... How could I come up with such a stupid assumption."

"Ha, indeed," Hade sighed and said frustratedly, "It's stupid enough to think about it now. It's also my fault, I should have stopped you at that time. Knowing you for so long, I should have known you were an idiot."

"What do you mean, you guy!!" Bain raised his head suddenly.

"Okay Bain, don't worry about such small things," Hade waved his hand and said in a lifeless tone, "Compared to what I mean, I hope the respected Prince will not see our homework."

"No, I think you need to explain what you meant just now!"

Just when the two were about to quarrel, a cadence voice suddenly sounded beside their table.

"Cough cough! Excuse me, are you Mr. Bain and Mr. Hade?"

The two raised their heads in unison, first seeing the teaching assistant badge on the collar, and immediately stood up with a "swoosh."

"It's me... we are."

Bain answered stammeringly, while Hade standing beside him was obviously much higher in emotional intelligence, and immediately answered enthusiastically.

"Mr. Teaching Assistant! May I ask what you are looking for us for?"

"Call me Mr. Koji, relax, it's a good thing!" Koji smiled all over his face, patted the two on the shoulder enthusiastically, and then solemnly handed over an envelope with the exclusive seal of the "Magical Science Laboratory," "This is a letter from Mentor Kelin to you, the details are all inside! I wish you a happy life, I have something to do, go first!"

Koji congratulated them casually, and then hurried away like a gust of wind to find the next "lucky one."

The task Prince Kelin gave him was not easy.

There were more than eighty letters in total, and in order not to affect Prince Kelin's "science class," he had to finish sending them before class.

Watching the back of the teaching assistant leaving, Bain and Hade then looked at the letter on the table in a daze, and didn't come back to their senses for a while.

"For... for us?" Hade pointed to the envelope in disbelief.

"Seems... right?"

The two looked at each other, and saw the same shock and disbelief in each other's eyes, as if they were in a dream.

Hade reached out first, trembling and opened the envelope.

When he saw the few clear lines in the letter, inviting them to join the "Magical Science Laboratory," he felt his heartbeat stop.

Then it stirred violently!

"Saint Xisi is above..."

"We... were hired by Prince Kelin?! Laboratory!?"

"Hade, give me a punch—damn, you really hit it?!" Bain, who was punched, didn't have any meaning of anger, but excitedly hugged his good brother.

Seeing the movement here, the apprentices around cast curious eyes.

And when they found out what happened, those pairs of eyes suddenly turned into the shape of jealousy.

A scene that was familiar was staged in every corner of the cafeteria, pushing the enthusiasm of the students for "science" to a peak.

Although many magic apprentices and even teaching assistants had different understandings of "science," at least in terms of results, this strange word was indeed popularized.

And at an incredible speed...

For the whole day, Bain and Hade spent their time in a state of anxiety.

On the one hand, they were pleasantly surprised that Prince Kelin recognized their unremarkable talent, and on the other hand, they were worried that their bronze-level strength would live up to the Prince's expectations.

They were not powerful mages, just inconspicuous apprentices. Until this morning, no one had looked at them more...

At dusk, the bell of the high tower rang, interrupting the complicated thoughts of the two.

After finishing dinner in the cafeteria, Bain and Hade didn't rush to the crowded dormitory tower with the crowd, but came to the legendary "Magical Science" laboratory with the precious invitation letter in their arms and a feeling of pilgrimage.

Compared with other laboratories in the Tower of the Great Sage, this place looked a bit shabby in terms of personnel and facilities.

However, I don't know when it started, this inconspicuous laboratory had become a holy place for academic study in the eyes of countless magic apprentices and even teaching assistants.

To be honest, it was even more lively than they imagined.

In the spacious hall, there were young apprentices like them everywhere.

Some were recording data in front of precision brass instruments, some were discussing fiercely around a huge drawing, everyone was in a hurry, but their faces were filled with a kind of light called "hope" that was rare in other parts of the Academy.

This is actually a bit of an exaggeration.

After all, those rookies who had just stepped into the Academy were full of hope, but most of them were smoothed out after the preparatory period ended.

By the time they became mages, they were basically qualified apprentices.

Just when the two were looking around, a young teaching assistant on duty noticed them and walked toward this side immediately.

Seeing the teaching assistant walking toward them, the two were afraid of being misunderstood that they had gone to the wrong place, and hurriedly took out the invitation letter they had just received in the morning.

"Sir, Prince Kelin called us here."

"This is our recommendation letter!"

"Bain and Hade, right? Welcome." The teaching assistant's attitude was gentle and professional, and he said with a smile, "I have heard Mr. Koji mention you."

"Yes... yes!" Bain answered stammeringly, and Hade also nodded. Although the two were not brothers, sometimes they were as tacit as twins.

The teaching assistant couldn't help but smile, and repeated Prince Kelin's original words to them with a smile.

"The respected Mentor Kelin is very interested in your idea of 'using fire to exhaust air to cause a suffocation effect to kill the target.' He thinks this is a genius concept. You know, the Empire's main enemy is hell, and the demons of hell happen to be underground... although it is not certain whether this weapon is effective against demons, it is definitely effective against goblins."

Just this recognition of the retelling made the two young people blush with excitement, nervous to the point of incoherence.

"We, will work hard!"

"That's right! I, we will never live up to the mentor's expectations!"

Looking at the nervous lads, the teaching assistant smiled and gave them an encouraging look.

"I am glad to see you so energetic, of course, I think the respected Mentor Kelin will be even happier!"

Pausing for a moment, he continued to open his mouth and said the words that made the two lads blank with happiness.

"Also, the respected Mentor Kelin not only recognized your concept, but also personally took a fitting name for this concept, called 'Thermobaric Explosion Bomb'."

"In addition, he also approved a research fund for your independent research project, five Os Empire gold coins per month. Of course, this is not the full fund, but the 'application-free' quota."

"As long as it doesn't exceed this number, you can decide the use of funds yourself without additional declaration. If it's not enough, submit it to the group leader for application according to the quota... as long as it is a reasonable use, no one will embarrass you. Currently, the Prince's laboratory's funds are still quite abundant."

Five gold coins is not a small amount.

Ordinary magic scrolls are only 10 silver coins, and common magic materials can basically be bought from adventurers with silver coins.

Hearing that their "whimsical ideas" not only received the recognition and personal naming of their idol mentor, but even received independent project funds, both were speechless with excitement!

In the Academy, for two inconspicuous bronze-level apprentices, this could be said to be an honor that they didn't even dare to dream of!

Bain and Hade were moved beyond words. They looked at each other, and saw the burning flames in each other's eyes.

They both knew what those burning flames were—

That was no matter what, they must not live up to Prince Kelin's expectations!

"Sir! Please tell the Prince for me, we will definitely use this money on the blade, and will never waste a copper coin of his!" Hade took a deep breath and said solemnly to the teaching assistant.

Bain nodded quickly and added behind him.

"That's right! We can swear to Saint Xisi!"

Looking at the two energetic lads, the teaching assistant smiled and said.

"Okay, I will tell them for you. But I think that gentleman probably doesn't care about this little money. Compared to this, he might prefer to see your results."

Pausing, he added another sentence.

"Also, compared to the title of Prince, he prefers you to call him mentor or sir."

Leaving this last sentence, the teaching assistant took them to the vacant oak table, and then hurried to the door.

There were quite a few new apprentices reporting today. Bain and Hade were not the first, nor the last. They noticed that several young new faces were poking their heads at the door, and one or two of them seemed to be preparatory students who had just entered school.

It seems that this Prince really doesn't care about their level. As long as it is the talent he recognizes, he will invite them into his laboratory.

Watching the teaching assistant leave, the two apprentices immediately devoted themselves to the "Thermobaric Explosion Bomb" project with 120,000 points of enthusiasm.

In fact, they were discussing it last night, discussing until the dormitory lights went out and other roommates were asleep.

"Hade, I have a new idea, I want to hear your opinion," Bain picked up a blank piece of parchment and wrote the name of their project on it with a quill, "Compared to designing spells, we need to clarify one thing first... How much magic power does it take to burn the air in a standard-sized room? And, how long can the suffocation effect last!"

"Indeed," Hade also calmed down and devoted himself to thinking, "And I think the saying of a standard-sized room is too general. We should further consider... quantitatively consider the room size and magic power consumption ratio, and further promote this empirical ratio to labyrinths, castles, and open areas, etc., and consider factors such as weather, wind speed, etc."

This sentence almost instantly awakened Bain, and he suddenly thought of a sentence that Mentor Kelin mentioned in the classroom before—

【Not all important things can be calculated, but data that can be measured has rules to follow on a certain scale.】

Although he couldn't fully understand the meaning of this sentence in the classroom at that time, at this moment he had a feeling of enlightenment!

This feeling was the same as when he accidentally caught a glimpse of the flickering light of the magic flame on the training ground yesterday, pushing open a window in his mind!

He made a further extension on Prince Kelin's point of view—

"There must be a formula in this, just like the function formula that Prince Kelin taught us!"

Bain looked at Hade with burning eyes, looked at those bright eyes, and continued with an incomparably affirmative tone.

"We only need to conduct a large number of experiments, record the data every time, and we will definitely be able to find this formula!"

"Then, it's how to fill it with magic!"

Just when Bain and Hade were gearing up for their new project, the "veterans" of the laboratory who had joined Kelin's command two months ago were also curiously observing their new colleagues.

"Ram, look over there," Jamie said while carefully assembling the parts in his hand, and gestured toward the door, "Another few new faces... I feel like we don't recognize half of the people in the laboratory anymore."

Ram raised her head from a pile of precision brass parts, looked in the direction of his gaze, and a gratified smile appeared on her red face.

"Yeah, our laboratory is really getting more and more lively."

Her words were full of joy for this increasingly prosperous big family, and it was a joy from the heart.

Although some apprentices might think that the newly joined apprentices would share the opportunities in their hands, Ram didn't think so.

First of all, Prince Kelin didn't clarify what they must study, or assign tasks to apprentices like other professors, but encouraged them to study things they were interested in or good at, so there was no such thing as opportunities being shared.

The more people, the more ideas there will be. With the growth of the "Magical Science" laboratory, their opportunities will instead become more than before.

Compared to competing with each other, fighting for food in the same trough, or fighting for favor in front of the mentor, Mentor Kelin obviously preferred them to cooperate with each other, and would even actively match them to cooperate.

Secondly, the funds of the Magical Science laboratory are very sufficient. Mentor Kelin has expressed more than once that they don't need to worry about money. Even if one day the Academy is unwilling to pay this money, he will use his own purse to satisfy everyone's thirst for knowledge and desire for exploration.

Ram had no doubt that that Prince was a truly noble person, much higher than those professors and sages who treated apprentices like slaves.

He should be the real sage!

By the way, since the publication of the Kelin Tower paper, Mentor Kelin's reputation has also lived up to her expectations, rising to the height he deserves.

And influenced by this, the status of the "Magical Science Laboratory" in the Tower of the Great Sage has also risen, and there is no lack of many mages rushing from distant mage towers by reputation.

In the past month, Mentor Kelin has successively recruited many apprentices with great potential and teaching assistants with a future.

In order to manage this increasingly large team, that gentleman announced the brand-new organizational structure of the laboratory not long ago.

He divided the entire laboratory into two major departments, one is the "Basic Department" focusing on theoretical research, and the other is the "Application Department" focusing on applied technology development.

And under the two major departments, it is subdivided into eight core research groups according to the four basic categories of "mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology."

All apprentices are assigned to their respective groups, and carry out specific project management and independent budget approval with the group as the unit.

Although Ram doesn't understand the particularity of this management model, according to Mr. Koji, this seems to be a very novel practice in the Academy.

Few professors will adopt this management model. After all, most laboratories are specialized in single research projects, rather than "blooming everywhere" like the Magical Science laboratory.

Teaching Assistant Koji also once hinted that this doesn't seem to be what a laboratory should do, but it's a bit like preparing to build a new school.

But Ram didn't think so much.

Compared to looking at that Prince with secular eyes, she would rather look at him with the eyes of a "real sage."

Looking at the apprentices who were orderly in the chaos not far away, Jamie couldn't help but sigh: "I finally understand why the mentor designed that new management model. It turns out he had already thought about recruiting so many people."

Pausing, he couldn't help but praise.

"But having said that, thanks to the model he designed, we have so many people but it's not chaotic at all, everyone has their own things."

He thought so from the heart.

After all, Prince Kelin is not here, and he won't get any benefits even if he praises that Prince.

Looking at Jamie, whose face was full of worship, Ram smiled and said softly.

"Don't you think this is actually quite like that Prince's style? Perhaps... this is also the 'science' he advocates."

Jamie nodded deeply.

"I agree with you too much, Ram."

Having said that, a sense of urgency also quietly grew in his heart.

That was not out of jealousy for colleagues, or arrogance to step on others.

It was just that he suddenly realized that being selected by the mentor to enter this laboratory was just a beginning, which didn't mean that his life had reached the peak and he could spend every day without worry.

The future "Magical Science" laboratory will be even more prosperous, and even as Teaching Assistant Koji imagined, one day in the future they will become a brand-new school on this snowfield.

If there is such a day, I think there will be far more young talents following their footsteps and joining in by stepping on the footprints they have walked.

Even if it is not to be left behind by future juniors, he must show some real skills—

He has to be even more hardworking than before!

Just when Jamie was full of ambition and ready to devote himself to new work, Ilana suddenly walked over from the other end of the laboratory, holding a thick notebook.

She seemed to have encountered some problem, her clear eyebrows slightly frowned, and she was still immersed in the previous thinking and couldn't get out.

Looking around, she didn't find the person she wanted to find, but happened to notice Jamie and Ram, so she asked.

"Jamie, Ram, have you seen Mentor Kelin? I happen to have a... math problem I want to ask him."

Jamie shook his head blankly.

"I... didn't see it."

Ram tilted her head and looked around, her expression becoming a bit puzzled.

"Don't know, the mentor was still here just now... By the way, Mr. Koji came here just now, could the mentor have gone to find Professor Heketuo?"

Everyone in this laboratory knows that Mr. Koji is Professor Heketuo's teaching assistant.

Although in the past three months, the time that gentleman served Prince Kelin might have been longer than the time he served Professor Heketuo.

"What's the problem? Ilana." Hearing that Ilana had a problem, Jamie immediately became interested and said enthusiastically, "Tell me, let's help you think about it."

Ram also nodded repeatedly with interest: "Yeah, yeah, the wisdom of the three of us is definitely stronger than one person!"

Not only the enthusiastic two, but the apprentices sitting at the table next to them also curiously pricked up their ears.

It is rare to see a math problem that can stump Ilana, after all, this is the apprentice who is said to have obtained the mentor's "true biography."

Seeing the eager eyes of her companions, Ilana shared her confusion a bit embarrassedly. She pointed to a complex formula in the notebook and said softly:

"I'm thinking, the 'calculus' the mentor taught us studies the extreme value of a function at a certain point. But if... if I want to solve the extreme value of a 'function of a function,' is there any more convenient way?"

The air became very quiet.

Those ears that were pricked up because of eavesdropping quietly retracted again.

The enthusiastic smiles on Jamie and Ram's faces gradually solidified, and finally turned into a blankness, just like the snowfield outside the high tower.

Function... of a function?

What is that thing?

The two looked at each other, feeling that they might not be learning the same "calculus" as Ilana, but something from another dimension.

However, in fact, this is not really "calculus," but another branch of mathematics that Prince Kelin hasn't talked to them about yet.

Finally, Jamie sighed dejectedly, waved his hand, and completely gave up the plan to show off in front of the goddess.

"... You'd better go ask Prince Kelin."

Ram asked in a low voice.

"Researching the function of a function... what's the use?"

Ilana nodded gently.

"A little bit... although that might just be my feeling."

Pausing, she continued with an affirmative tone.

"The problem that Mr. James Wali can't solve might be answered from the function."

Just when Ilana was struggling with the puzzle about functions, Luo Yan, who was far away in Professor Heketuo's office, was also feeling tricky about an unexpected trouble.

The fireplace fire was burning, illuminating a delicate and beautiful face. The golden long hair crossed the fair neck, just like a noble and elegant tulip.

However, Luo Yan had no time to give an appreciative look, but looked at the girl sitting elegantly on the sofa with a headache.

At this moment, she was using her small lips to blow the hot air in the cup gently, over and over again, and then carefully took a small sip. Her movements were dignified and elegant, without losing the cuteness that a girl of her age should have.

Perhaps it was because she was frozen on the way here, or perhaps the gaze opposite was too "hot," her cheeks were slightly flushed. After moistening her throat, she didn't put down the teacup, but hid her drooping and slender eyelashes behind the steaming hot air.

Ophelia Castellion, the youngest daughter of Duke Castellion of the Empire, who was most favored.

Luo Yan certainly wouldn't fail to recognize her, but to be honest, he really didn't have a very deep impression. They only had a brief contact at the dance, danced a dance together, and accepted the seahorse amulet she gave him as a courtesy when parting.

Luo Yan remembered very clearly that when he was in the suburbs of the Shengcheng, he had already politely rejected her favor in front of her father.

However, he never expected that this Duke's daughter would have such strong executive power, actually chasing from the prosperous Shengcheng to this bitter northern wilderness.

What surprised him even more was that it was fine for Miss Castellion to be crazy, but did Duke Castellion follow her to be crazy too?

If you want to learn magic, just hire a tutor. Which real-power Imperial noble would send their offspring to this ghost place?

Just on the tea table in front of Luo Yan, lay a recommendation letter with a wax seal.

That wax seal obviously couldn't be stolen.

Professor Heketuo sitting behind the desk was holding back a bad smile, watching this scene with great interest, as if he was ready to watch a good show.

This old thing obviously misunderstood something.

But this guy didn't take the initiative to ask, and his own explanation for no reason seemed abrupt and wanting to cover up, so Luo Yan could only close his mouth and not speak.

However, just at this moment, the dignified girl suddenly put down the teacup in her hand and looked at him.

"Good day, Prince Kelin," her voice was crisp and pleasant, "We meet again."