Chapter 1805: Chapter 26: Divergence and Compromise

When it comes to the policies involving ancient wizards, it is no longer something that an ordinary big wizard can meddle in.

As a big wizard, Professor Montreya already knew that the life-and-death struggle between wizards and demons was limited to low-level wizards and demons. Demons initially appeared as opponents, more like a whetstone tailored for low-level wizards by high-level existences.

Wizards hunt demons; victory is certainly delightful, but loss doesn’t necessarily mean there is no future—if they possess enough capacity to walk far enough on the road of magic, they will eventually see similar vistas to those companions from whom they parted ways long ago.

Of course, this viewpoint is more to be understood in spirit than in words.

Much like in the 1950s McCarthy witch hunts, when rednecks in the southern United States wished to kill every Russian, the confrontational atmosphere from top to bottom not only consolidated the internal unity of the two empires but also stimulated a great development of technology in both. Yet none of this prevented the leaders of both empires from sitting at a round table, drinking coffee, smoking cigars, playing poker, and gnawing on corn, dividing every corner of the world’s resources.

However, despite the confrontation, conflicts between the two sides must be controlled within certain boundaries—especially when the originally weaker side suddenly gains a certain advantage, the other side needs to make some compromises to restore balance to the confrontation—professionally termed as ‘discrepancy management.’

Take, for example, the fishmen.

If one day a legendary figure suddenly emerged from the Lake Lingzhong Fishman Tribe, the school would certainly not be stingy in offering more benefits to the fishmen, such as allowing young fishmen to enter the First University, having the School Works Committee recruit more fishman school workers, or tilting more resources towards the lake’s tribe to ensure the fishmen’s happy and peaceful life.

Return to the Sea Demon King’s ascension to Ancient One.

When the new star representing Xiangliu rises in the night sky, the attitude of wizards towards demons must be adjusted. Hunting can continue, and death can still be tolerated, but more grievous actions must cease.

At the end of the 19th century’s westward expansion and even earlier, white people could scalp Indians for bounties, or confine them in cages for show; had the Indians at that time possessed a powerful army, whites would have been more willing to adhere to the Geneva Convention, granting prisoners of war more dignified treatment.

Realizing this, Professor Montreya’s face turned ashen. For wizards, his laboratory was reasonable, compliant, clean, and rigorous, but for demons, his laboratory was even more terrifying than the Black Prison. Demons that fell into the Black Prison could barely struggle to live, but entering his lab meant life and death were equally impossible.

A newly ascended Ancient One, even as strong as the First University, must proceed with more caution until its specific attitude becomes known. Closing labs like Montreya’s is part of such ‘caution.’

The atmosphere in the office remained silent for a long time.

The bluish-white flame of the Ancient Gublai Fairy Fire flickered silently between walls, the curtains slightly ajar, sparse sunlight falling through the window into the office, casting fragmentary light and shadow on the dark red carpet.

After a long silence, Elder Ruoyu swayed the arm propped on the desk, placing the pipe on the table and asked in a low voice, “So, when will the laboratory…?”

Startled by the voice, Professor Montreya looked up at Elder Ruoyu.

“It will… it will be soon,” he murmured, an expression of some pain and struggle.

This attitude clearly relaxed the office’s owner, who picked up the pipe again, inhaled, and exhaled a round smoke ring:

“If possible, the school needs to confirm the timeframe.”

“A week… at most two weeks,” the professor replied softly. “We need to consolidate the relevant data, which will take some time. Magic research is not like the hands of a clock; it cannot move with the precision of interlocking gears.”

“But magic is also very much about precision.”

Elder Ruoyu tapped the ashes from the pipe, his gaze falling on another report on the table, smiling: “Speaking of which, you know that Rat Immortal who lived underground, right? His last name is Zhu. He was once a researcher at the First University, only later an experiment went awry and he had to hide in the shadows in the guise of a rat.”

Professor Montreya took a deep breath, regaining his composure.

Since the decision was made, there’s no room for hesitation. But Mr. Ruo Yu’s sudden mention of the Rat Immortal left him a bit puzzled, unsure if it was a warning through the Rat Immortal’s fate or if there was another purpose.

He thought swiftly and cautiously replied, “I have heard of Senior Zhu’s matters. I heard that in this round, he found an opportunity to ascend to a legend in the Black Prison, which is really delightful.”

The office’s owner raised an eyebrow in surprise.

“No, no, I didn’t mean anything else, relax.”

He waved to summon a broad armchair, placing it behind the professor, gesturing, “Please sit… I just wish for the atmosphere of our conversation to be freer, nothing more.”

Professor Montreya, skeptical, sat down.

This time, Elder Ruoyu found another inconsistency—the position of his desk was too high, giving an impression of interrogating a criminal when watching Professor Montreya sitting below, so he resolutely summoned another chair, placing it beside the professor, then supporting himself with the Wolf Head cane, he walked down from the desk and sat beside the professor.

He rubbed the silver-white wolf head atop the cane, speaking softly, “I am already very old. If nothing unexpected happens, there is probably no opportunity in my life to achieve an ancient wizard… The future belongs to you young people.”

“I mentioned the Rat Immortal just to tell you not to be too disheartened by a temporary setback. Like that big mouse, hiding underground for decades, there’s still a chance to see the sun.”

Professor Montreya sharply sensed the unspoken implications in the elder’s words.

“Are you suggesting that the Rat Immortal might return to the school?” He seemed a bit surprised. “I heard he participated in an organization called the Dark Council and caused a lot of trouble for the school in the Black Prison.”

Mr. Ruo Yu looked at the grey-haired professor before him, showing a satisfied smile: “This is also a form of compromise. In the Black Prison, I reached an agreement with the Dark Council’s Six Fingers. He lost, so the Rat Immortal and the Dark Council’s forbidden spell need to return to being part of the First University, joining related departments… and the school will support the Dark Council in gaining greater independence outside the Alliance, even silently approving the Dark Council’s rights to explore the New World.”

“Even his daughter will have a chance to gain a position at the First University.”

“In this world, differences are a norm, and compromise is an art. The First University needs more wizards who understand art, rather than those who are content with the status quo.”