Chapter 383: The Demon King's Weapon

Professor Hector's efficiency was far higher than Luo Yan had imagined.

Just one day later, Teaching Assistant Keji came to the Magical Science Laboratory in a hurry to report the latest progress to Prince Kelin, who was sitting at his desk reviewing the students' research progress.

"Mentor, news from Professor Hector!"

Keji's tone carried a hint of excitement and agitation. Without waiting for the Prince to speak, he continued excitedly.

"Living up to your instructions, he has already reached an agreement with Mentor Moke!"

The apprentices around were used to this.

Although this Mr. Keji was nominally Professor Hector's teaching assistant, they had long regarded him as "one of their own".

Luo Yan put down the report in his hand and raised his eyebrows with interest.

"Oh? What did he say?"

Although he expected that this matter wouldn't be too difficult, he didn't expect it to be so smooth.

Keji excitedly recounted the agreement reached between Professor Hector and Mentor Moke, and vividly described the reluctance of the latter when he had to part with his love, and how Professor Hector, who was pressing step by step, pried open the mouth of this mentor.

When he said this, he paused for a moment, changed to a cautious tone, and continued.

"Professor Hector has tried his best, but sir, this matter ultimately still needs your nod. Although Mentor Moke agreed to give up the research permission for the 178th Void Realm, he also put forward an additional condition."

"Speak."

"He requested to join your follow-up research on the 178th Void Realm as an observer or participant..."

When saying this, Keji couldn't help but add his own opinion afterward.

"Mentor, perhaps you feel it doesn't matter, but this request is actually a bit presumptuous in the Academy. Professor Hector didn't remind you because he felt you didn't care, but... I think it's better to let you know."

Pausing, he added in a low voice.

"In addition, based on my observation of Mentor Moke, if Professor Hector tries a little harder, he should be able to negotiate an agreement without any conditions... You being willing to take over this trouble actually helped him a lot."

Scholars never hesitate to share their research results in the "Sage Newspaper".

However, for truly critical technology, everyone is usually tight-lipped, fearing that their "unique secret" will be learned by others.

Standing from the perspective of Professor Hector's teaching assistant, he shouldn't say these redundant words to increase his professor's workload, but he liked this approachable Prince very much and didn't want this Prince to be calculated by those scholars who seemed bright and upright but were full of schemes.

He didn't mind running two more trips for this.

Although Keji had a worried expression, Luo Yan didn't care at all.

His true purpose was never magic research, but the spread of the Demon King's "corruption", so it was impossible for him to be afraid of people stealing his knowledge.

"No problem, let him come."

With a playful arc at the corner of his mouth, Luo Yan said in a relaxed tone.

"I'm also curious how he messed things up."

Can't even copy homework? This shouldn't be...

He thought the mages of the Academy were best at this...

Keji turned and went to deliver the message.

Oufiya, who had been secretly observing, finally waited for her chance to appear. Recently, her dear Prince seemed to be troubled by trivial matters outside of research.

Her respected father often told her that the Kastelion family has no troubles; if there is one, it's that the gold coins piled up like small mountains have nowhere to be wasted.

Come on—

Oufiya, this is an opportunity!

Holding the "Advanced Mathematics" filled with devil's whispers, she pretended to be here to ask questions, walked to the desk inadvertently, and a charming smile bloomed on her elegant and dignified face.

"It seems that the respected mentor has encountered some trouble. Is there anything Miss Kastelion can do to help?"

This sentence comes from "One Hundred Heart-Pounding Whispers for Boudoirs".

Although this book seems to be for gentlemen, just as her father always said to her, the descendants of the Kastelion family should not be constrained by rules; they want to be the makers of rules, not the slaves of dogma.

Oufiya believed in her respected father deeply, especially when what her father said happened to be what she loved to hear.

For example, she obviously forgot that her father also said, don't give up the forest for a leaf. And, treat what the bards write as farts; don't take it to heart.

"Is that so? That's great. I happen to have something I want to ask Miss Oufiya for help with."

Looking at Miss Oufiya, whose face was full of expectation, Luo Yan smiled and took a sticky note from the side, on which a math problem had been prepared in advance.

By the way, this is also a tribute from the players.

"This is a difficult problem I encountered in my research. You think about it for me."

Looking at the devil's whispers written on the sticky note, Oufiya's expression changed, cold sweat climbed up her fair little face, and her stiff corners of the mouth twitched slightly.

"Heh, hehe... This little thing is naturally not a problem for me. I mean... are there any other troubles? You can rely on me more!"

"Really? That's great."

Saying so, Luo Yan smiled and pulled out a few more sticky notes with high-level math problems, handing them to Oufiya calmly.

Oufiya's expression completely collapsed. Her teary eyes glared at him fiercely, and she ran away with the textbook covered in sticky notes.

Appreciating the fleeing back, Luo Yan nodded with satisfaction. Looking at the sticky notes in the drawer, he only felt that this thing was much easier to use than magic.

Hearing You You's shadow floated beside him, muttering a complaint in a low voice.

"Demon King, Hearing You You found that you are really too bad..."

Picking up the teacup and taking a sip of warm black tea, Luo Yan thought calmly in his heart.

"Am I not doing this for her own good?"

Hearing You You: "But you say this to everyone..."

Hmm?

Is there such a thing?

Time soon reached dusk, but the "talented girl" Oufiya from the Shengcheng was still racking her brains for the first problem.

Ilana was a little worried about her situation and even more curious about what kind of difficult problem Prince Kelin had given her, so she asked if she needed help.

This time Oufiya didn't hold back and decisively hugged the thigh.

Since Ilana showed her a hand last time, she had been conquered by this top student's god-like mathematical talent.

The two seemed to have become good friends.

Ilana, who got the first problem, soon began to calculate.

And then—

Both of them were unexpectedly stumped by the tongue-twisting math problem.

Luo Yan, who was observing in the dark, nodded with satisfaction.

Perfect!

When Luo Yan finished the trivial matters in the laboratory and returned to the dormitory tower, an unfamiliar apprentice was waiting under the tower, travel-worn.

Seeing the figure of Mentor Kelin, the apprentice's eyes suddenly shone, and he greeted him in two or three steps, excitedly handing over a letter sealed with fire lacquer.

"Sir! You are finally back! Someone asked me to bring you a letter!"

The two metal golems in front of the dormitory tower stared at the apprentice with tiger-like eyes, obviously not intending to make an exception and let him pass under their feet.

However, the apprentice was also sensible and couldn't get into the dormitory tower of the professors, so he chose to wait under the tower tower in peace.

"Thank you."

Luo Yan smiled and took it, casually throwing a magic stone to the young man as a tip, and went straight back to his dormitory amidst the latter's pleasantly surprised thanks.

Sitting in the comfortable chair in the study, he opened the envelope, and a scent mixed with machine oil and metal dust rushed toward him.

【

Respected Mentor Kelin:

I am writing to you presumptuously, disturbing your precious time immersed in endless truth.

This letter is to report to you that the magic device you previously commissioned our shop to make, which can be called an "artwork", after countless days and nights of careful polishing and repeated debugging, finally lived up to your expectations and was declared complete today.

You are welcome to visit my workshop at any time to personally inspect this outstanding design that has poured your and your apprentices' hard work!

Craftsman Street, Alberto's Workshop.

Sincerely, Alberto

】

The letter was sent by Alberto from Craftsman Street.

The words in the letter were humble and respectful, informing him that the mysterious "magic device" he had ordered earlier was complete and he could come to pick it up at any time.

Obviously, this ingenious craftsman did a "background check" on his generous customer after taking the order, and relied on his connections in the Tower of the Great Sage to find out what the name Kelin meant.

Luo Yan wasn't surprised that he would be curious about his identity, just a little dumbfounded; the contrast in this gentleman's attitude was so great.

It seems he still didn't have the surface ease; although he left the Academy, the brand of the Academy was still deeply branded in his bones.

Just as Luo Yan was thinking about the next schedule, a round shadow suddenly poked its head out from under his robe.

Curiosity shone in those golden vertical pupils, and the thumb-thick nostrils moved, muttering excitedly.

"Magic device? What magic device?! Is it a weapon?"

Ta Fu's voice was full of excitement that couldn't be hidden.

She clawed at the edge of the table with her two small front paws, trying hard to climb a little higher to see the contents of the letter clearly.

She had long been yearning for the Craftsman Street that the magic apprentices often went to.

Thinking that there might be all kinds of novel things and food she had never tasted, she was so excited that the tip of her little tail was shaking slightly uncontrollably.

Mainly food.

Looking at Ta Fu's pitiful look of being unable to wait to wag her tail, Luo Yan nodded with a smile and said happily.

"Of course, but you have to be obedient and not run around."

"Got it, got it," Ta Fu impatiently patted his arm with her curled tail, "I'm not a child; you don't need to remind me every time!"

Luo Yan smiled without saying a word.

He hadn't forgotten the last experience.

Before, this little guy was making a fuss about going to his class to join in the fun. He thought many students were curious about the pet he raised, so he brought her along.

It was fine at first; this guy sat on the climbing frame and scratched her head and played with her tail, but as soon as he talked about something she knew a little bit about, this "know-it-all brat" couldn't sit still, making "poof, poof, poof" sounds in her mouth, covering her mouth and giggling.

Although due to the master's order, she didn't openly tear down the stage, the fly-buzzing sound was really annoying enough.

Later, Luo Yan naturally didn't spoil her; a wave of his wand and she became honest.

A mere young dragon was not enough to resist the magic of a Platinum-level mage.

Of course, Ta Fu naturally didn't admit to having this memory afterward, but instead bit back, blaming him for being too sensitive.

Ignoring the swearing Ta Fu, Luo Yan turned his head and instructed the quiet shadow in the corner of the room.

"Sarah, come out with me tomorrow at noon, and remember to watch this child."

"I'm not a child!" Ta Fu protested immediately.

Sarah, standing by the bookshelf, moved slightly, elegant like a cat blending into the shadows, bowed respectfully to the respected Demon King, and directly ignored the protesting little mother dragon.

"As you wish, Your Highness."

The next day at noon, the blizzard that had lasted all night stopped slightly, and the long-lost warm sun penetrated the clouds, plating the snowfield that had been covered in snow all year round with a layer of holy gold.

Luo Yan remembered that when he first came here, it was the coldest time of the year, and in the blink of an eye, spring was coming.

Although for the northern wasteland, spring didn't mean the ice and snow melted, at least it allowed the beautiful scenery of the wasteland to be exposed from under the ice and snow.

At noon, Luo Yan took Sarah and Ta Fu and left the dormitory tower, setting off on time to the Craftsman Street near the Tower of the Great Sage.

Sarah was still wearing that leather armor that was easy to move in, with a fleece-lined cloak over it, holding the restless little mother dragon in her arms.

She lagged half a step behind Luo Yan, like a silent shadow, isolating the crowded crowd around her, while being vigilant against the dangers in the shadows.

Today's street was far more lively than usual, almost described as "crowded". Young apprentices wearing mage robes of various colors crowded both sides of the street, making the already narrow road even more crowded.

Luo Yan noticed that Sarah was exceptionally serious today.

It could be seen that even after so long, this cat was still brooding over the previous mistake in the Shengcheng.

However, Luo Yan felt that she didn't need to be so nervous; there was probably no place safer than the Academy in the entire Aus Continent.

This is the territory of the mage masters.

To make her relax a little, he smiled and said casually.

"What's wrong, Sarah? You seem very surprised?"

"Yes, Your Highness..." Sarah's voice carried a hint of hesitation, and she said in a low voice, "Why are there so many apprentices on this street?"

She remembered that there were not so many people usually.

"In a few days, it will be the Academy's annual 'All-Souls Festival'," Luo Yan smiled and said in a chatty tone, "According to tradition, the Tower of the Great Sage will hold a grand 'Labyrinth Trial' for the apprentices. These guys are probably here to purchase equipment."

Quite a few apprentices in his laboratory were also preparing for this activity, such as Ha De and Bei Er, who were studying the "Thermo-Pressure Flame Bomb". He also encouraged the two to try their best to design their own equipment, so that the power of the Magical Science Laboratory could be fully displayed in the Labyrinth Trial.

If the funds were not enough, he could provide "sponsorship".

As for Oufiya, she also wanted to show off, but unfortunately, she had talent but was currently a rookie in spellcasting and meditation.

The mentors of the Academy would definitely not let the little ancestor of the Kastelion family do such dangerous things.

Although it wasn't a real labyrinth, without a Demon King or demons, it didn't mean there was no danger at all.

"So that's it..." Sarah nodded in realization, and her gaze toward the surroundings had a hint of rare curiosity.

Ta Fu, held in her arms, was the same; those golden vertical pupils couldn't stay still, constantly darting around as she examined everything around her with great interest.

However, compared to the curiosity about the fresh things themselves, her interest was mainly focused on the superiority of high-level civilization facing low-level primitives.

When passing by a magic potion shop, her gaze soon fell on the green thick soup bubbling behind the display window.

Looking at the wrinkled old witch throwing a whole toad into the crucible, she made a retching expression and complained in Dragon language.

"... Unbelievable, they actually boiled a whole toad together with its internal organs and feces, instead of analyzing the effective ingredients for purification. Is this alchemy or manufacturing biochemical weapons?"

Luo Yan hadn't had time to deal with her, and her gaze was immediately attracted by a stall lying in front of the alchemy shop.

I saw the stall owner spitting and promoting a kind of rune stone that could talk over a short distance to the apprentices, which seemed to be used for long-distance communication in the labyrinth.

Objectively speaking, this thing is actually very easy to use, and the frontline troops of the Empire have it in service, but not many are equipped.

But for Ta Fu, this is obviously a low-level trick.

"Tsk tsk, point-to-point single-channel audio transmission, this thing can actually be sold as a commodity... If I had more friends, wouldn't I have to fill my crotch with stones to keep in touch with friends?"

Listening to her endless criticism, Luo Yan couldn't help but smile.

He turned his head, looked at this little guy who was higher than the top, and threw out an interesting question in a chatty tone.

"Do you think when something is invented, it first meets the interests of the inventor, or the interests of the user?"

Didn't expect the Demon King to throw this question at her, but such a stupid question obviously couldn't stump Ta Fu, who came from the Zeta Empire.

She answered almost without hesitation.

"Do you still need to ask? Of course it's the user! Otherwise? Tools are created to solve problems!"

The smile on Luo Yan's face deepened.

This matter-of-fact answer was very consistent with the self-identity of a "high-level worker bee" in an atomized society.

"From the result, that's right," he said leisurely, "But if you look at history as a continuous accumulation of calculus, you will find that at the moment of birth of every new thing, what it meets is actually the interests of the inventor. It's just that occasionally, the interests of the inventor overlap with the interests of the user... so the latter has an illusion."

He pointed to the stall selling rune stones not far away.

"Point-to-point transmission is, of course, to sell more communication stones. Including those magic scrolls that fail after one use, it's the same reason... Anyway, those magic apprentices have no choice, right?"

"At least for now, the Academy has no competitors on this land. The Luo De Kingdom and the Academy are not at odds on the surface, but they are only on the surface; they have been in the huge system of the Empire from beginning to end."

"And the various mentors in the Academy also have no differences in the position of 'how to squeeze the maximum benefit from the apprentices'. Those powerhouses who truly have the strength to change this situation, they certainly have competition among themselves, but it will never be for the benefit of the apprentices, but to compete for the Void Realm that the apprentices will never touch in their lives."

"If you think from this angle, the various unreasonable behaviors you see don't they become very reasonable?"

Ta Fu was stunned, she had never thought about problems from this angle, but her instinct and pride made her immediately refute.

"This is sophistry! It's clearly just that the mages here are rookies!"

"This has nothing to do with any sophistry, but that the real world is like this. You think it's just that the mages of the Academy are not smart enough, and your Zeta Empire is an exception?"

Luo Yan said slowly, his caring eyes looking like he was looking at a child who refused to admit defeat.

Looking at the little mother dragon whose eyes were wide open, he threw out a real devil's whisper in a plain voice.

"... For example, why did the Zeta Empire 'castrate' all Zeta people from the genetic level, making them lose the right to natural reproduction? Doing this to this point, is it really for the benefit of all Zeta people?"

"If it is like this, the time you saved through cloning technology that should have been used for pregnancy and raising offspring, is it used to enjoy life, or to produce more 'surplus commodities' that you can't consume at all?"

"Taking a step back, since you call yourself an Empire, there are always leaders, right? Is it possible that he and those who came up with these bad ideas also strictly followed this rule, instead of enjoying the blessings of all people or family happiness? Or... are they also jumping out of cloning tanks?"

"If it is really like this, I have to admire it."

These words were like a poisoned blade, accurately piercing Ta Fu's vital point.

She broke her defense instantly, almost screaming: "Enough! You devil! Take care of your own business! Zeta people don't need you to worry!"

She wasn't defending the leader of the Empire, but was really scared.

He really wanted to promise to let Zeta people lay eggs!

This guy is a real devil, and that power to bewitch people is too terrifying.

He can always easily find the weakest link in a person's faith, and then skillfully inject the devil's genes into it!

And yet, all of this is in the name of justice!

Ta Fu couldn't help but think of the "flying boat" that looked like a starship. The Academy seemed to have really established some kind of connection with her hometown.

Although she had once thought about seizing this opportunity to contact her hometown, report her situation, and even let her compatriots find a way to pick her up. But thinking of the unpredictable means this guy showed in the 440th Void Realm, she felt a chill, terrified that this guy would follow the clues and intervene in her hometown's affairs.

It's better not to deal with these spiritualist lunatics...

Especially in the case that the Zeta Empire's fleet seems unable to physically invade this universe on a large scale, the primitive mage mages who are proficient in extraordinary power seem to be more unreasonable.

And the most critical point is—

She lowered her head and looked at her little claws.

She is now just a "meat lizard". She really doesn't know how to explain the current situation to her compatriots.

Those guys won't just smile and let it go like the Demon King.

If the Zeta Empire's starship really opened here, in the face of the "meat lizard" industry chain that is so huge that its economic value cannot be measured, all the "dragons" on the entire planet would probably disappear.

Unknowingly, her interests and personal safety seemed to have been bound to the Demon King beside her long ago...

Looking at the little mother dragon who fell into huge panic and self-doubt, Luo Yan smiled and decided to let her go for the time being.

His teasing of Ta Fu was always shallow, and there was no need to make a guy who was also a fallen person break her defense continuously.

He nodded happily and ended the topic gently.

"You are right, that is your own business."

After all, his hand is not that long, and he can't reach behind the Void Realm.

But if he could, that would be another matter.

Just like the question he threw to Ta Fu at the beginning, whether something has anything to do with the Demon King, of course, depends on the Demon King's interests.

The carriage stopped in a relatively quiet corner of Craftsman Street, where "Alberto's Workshop" is located.

Unlike the shops around it that are covered with gorgeous decorations for enchanted weapons and armor, this workshop is simple and unadorned, and it seems that it has not participated in the festive atmosphere at all.

It seems that this is related to the fact that the shopkeeper has been busy dealing with a big deal recently.

As soon as Luo Yan and his party walked to the door, a thin figure greeted them from the shop immediately.

This person is the shopkeeper Alberto. He was still wearing that leather apron stained with some oil, his expression excited and carrying a hint of unhidden nervousness, like a nervous student who was about to present his graduation work and wait for the mentor's evaluation.

"Respected Mentor Kelin! You are here!"

Alberto stepped forward quickly, bowed respectfully to the respected Prince, and said enthusiastically.

"The work you commissioned has been completed! Being able to participate in such a genius design of yours is the greatest honor of my life!"

"You are polite, Mr. Alberto. That was just an immature idea of mine. It is I who should thank you for turning it into reality." Luo Yan nodded with a smile, didn't continue the pleasantries, but gave Sarah behind him a look.

Sarah understood, took out a heavy money bag from under Ta Fu's tail, and shook out seven gold coins into Alberto's hand.

The gold coins made a crisp collision sound in Alberto's rough palm, and this pleasant sound added a few more red lights to his already excited face.

"Thank you for your recognition, Mentor! It's just..."

Alberto carefully put away the final payment, rubbed his hands, and said embarrassedly, "The 'work' you ordered is too huge in size, and it cannot be fully unfolded in this Craftsman Street full of shops. If you want to see its full picture, we probably have to go to that open snowfield outside the city."

Hearing this, Ta Fu became even more expectant, looking like she was looking forward to it, stretching her neck to look inside the shop.

Looking at the cautious Mr. Alberto, Luo Yan nodded happily.

"Then I will trouble you to lead the way."

After all, this is his means of transportation to the Principality of Campbell, so he naturally has to accept it, and he can't let it fall off the chain at a critical moment.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 384 =====