Ch. 50.1 - Academic Conference (2)
Alterisha patiently waited.
She waited until every alchemist in the room understood and accepted her words.
Finally, the silence was broken by a renowned university professor.
"... Are you joking even after knowing the significance of this occasion? Yes, I apologize for the disregard. I suppose you wanted to attract attention. However, there is a limit even to that kind of behavior!"
His passionate words lacked any distortion. If Alterisha had simply intended to gain attention, his words would have been true.
As people began to sympathize, Alterisha revealed a smile.
"I also know the significance of this occasion very well. It is an esteemed and extraordinary chance for someone like me to stand here. Therefore, I have no intention of joking around. I don't want to miss this precious opportunity."
"Well then, how should we interpret what you said?"
"Please interpret it in the manner of an alchemist."
“Those who believe that every phenomenon in this world can be scientifically proven. They analyze, uncover, and interpret the existence of everything, always seeking to uncover the 'truth' in order to satisfy their conscience. They are the alchemists.”
"But the Delta Augmentation Formula doesn't make sense. Principle-wise, the disciplines of magic and alchemy are structured in a way that they cannot combine!"
"Yes. Even countless genius alchemists who lived centuries before you failed precisely because of it!"
"It has been over 100 years since it was proven that the solution of the formula is impossible. What's all this commotion about now?"
Amidst all the negative reactions, Alterisha didn't feel discouraged. On the contrary, she felt exhilarated.
Even the lofty mountains, the sky, the ocean, and the sun itself would declare it impossible. But, the thought of proving it herself in that very moment sent a thrilling shiver down her entire body.
And then, she recognized the expression filled with joy.
Master Beaurock Stoneforge raised the corner of his mouth and spoke.
"Everyone, silence!"
With his words, the entire room fell quiet in an instant.
"Just because we've had quite a few failures doesn’t mean that we should deem certain things impossible. How can you even confidently call yourselves alchemists if you do that?"
His words struck at the weakness of the current alchemist academic community. While they believed that there was truth in everything, they only tinkered with what was already known, and never attempted to explore things that were deemed impossible.
"Nowadays, there is no progress. At best, she makes minor modifications to what we presented last time."
Upon hearing his words, some alchemists blushed and lowered their heads.
"So, I'm actually looking forward to it. The little alchemist who dared to seek truth even in the laws deemed impossible by everyone."
"Go ahead and present the truth you have discovered."
In response to Beaurock Stoneforge’s words, Alterisha nodded vigorously, and was about to reply.
Tang!
Someone slammed their palm on the desk and stood up from their seat.
All the alchemists' gazes immediately focused on him. It was none other than Professor Maizen Tyren from Stella Academy.
Beaurock Stoneforge frowned uncomfortably and asked, "Professor Maizen, what are you doing?"
"Before Alterisha presents her thesis, I raise suspicions regarding that thesis."
"Suspicions, you say?"
Beaurock Stoneforge laughed sarcastically, as if saying, "Now he's resorting to any means," but Maizen bit his lip and didn't back down.
"So, what are these suspicions?" In response to Beaurock Stoneforge's question, Maizen answered in a voice filled with anger, as if chewing on his words.
"Plagiarism... suspicion of plagiarism."
"What? What did you say?"
"Plagiarism."
Upon hearing his words, some alchemists turned their heads uncomfortably and coughed.
In fact, besides Maizen, there had been quite a few cases of people using others' papers.
Alterisha couldn't help but smile at the absurd scene. The darkening atmosphere was clearly not good in anyone's eyes.
"Suspicion of plagiarism... Haha! How amusing. Yes, it's been a long time since we had plagiarism accusations at a presentation."
The moderator, clearly taken aback by the situation, looked to Beaurock Stoneforge for guidance.
"Well, first of all, after raising suspicion of plagiarism, I'm sure you're well aware of what consequences await you if you fail to prove otherwise, right?"
Beaurock Stoneforge, who had been shouting vehemently previously, adopted a calm tone at that moment. His gaze sank sharply, and it was cold as if it could cut through everything.
Despite being tense, Maizen nodded confidently with an air of self-assurance, as he had enough evidence.
"I will call four witnesses, who are pursuing research on the Delta Augmentation Formula together with me."
"That's right."
He stood up along with the researchers sitting beside him. They were skilled researchers assigned to Stella Academy and affiliated with the Arcane Sect.
With their knowledge and his alchemy skills, there should be no problem.
With that in mind, Maizen walked to the podium together with the researchers and took hold of another microphone to continue the discussion.
"Yes. At this point, let me reintroduce the alchemist who is currently presenting. Her name is Alterisha, and she works as my alchemy assistant and assistant instructor at Stella Academy."
Assistant.
As soon as those words were uttered, everyone let out a sigh.
"It's a game over."
"This is a mess."
Engaging in a plagiarism battle over a paper that hadn’t even been presented in the first place entailed a complicated process.
But, if it was a plagiarism battle between a professor and his assistant... the current alchemy academia would unquestionably side with the professor.
Why?
Because it was an obvious fact that the professor was superior to the assistant. Moreover, even if everyone knew about the professor stealing the assistant’s paper, it was an uncomfortable truth that they had to turn a blind eye to.
No matter what excuses the assistant might make, they would only be seen as mere justifications.
Maizen cast a chilling smile towards the sweating Alterisha and spoke.
"As everyone knows, in the intersection of alchemy and magic engineering, there are 'five enigmatic challenges.' Only by solving these five challenges can alchemy and magic engineering truly achieve harmony."
So far, the academia had only managed to solve two of those challenges, and even then, the solutions were incomplete and only half-baked.
That was why Maizen could confidently make such a statement.
"I have solved four of those challenges. The research that was being conducted secretly has reached its final stages."
"Huh."
"If what you're saying is true, then indeed, this paper...!"
"Of course, my paper is undoubtedly correct. Alterisha, the assistant, is undoubtedly exceptional, but isn't it unbelievable for someone who has entered the field of alchemy academia less than five years ago to have solved the enigmatic challenges of intersectional alchemy? It doesn't make sense, does it?"
"That's right."
"You're absolutely right."
Professor Maizen was cunning. Therefore, he had prepared for the scenario 'just in case.'
Everyday, he was tormented by jealousy and the anxiety that Alterisha, a newbie, might actually be a more exceptional alchemist than himself.
And today, he decided to acknowledge that.
"Indeed! I could only solve four of the challenges. However, she clearly stated that she had completed the paper. It means she has solved all five enigmatic challenges... But can we really say that she solved the remaining four problems solely by her own abilities? Just because she solved the last one, the one I haven't solved yet? Does it mean that her paper, which borrowed my four solutions, is entirely her own?"
Everyone nodded their heads. It was undoubtedly an impressive achievement to solve the final problem and receive praise for it.
However, it was nothing more than theft for Alterisha to pass off Maizen’s paper as her own, as if she had solved all five problems by herself.
It was like a thief adding their own brushstrokes to a stolen painting that was just about to be completed, yet it could never truly become the thief's painting.
Maizen had prepared for all possibilities.
Assuming even the premise that Alterisha had truly solved the final problem, Maizen had made sure she couldn't escape.
And he was confident in his conviction.
"How dare she steal my paper? Unless Alterisha truly stole my paper, there's no way she could have solved all five enigmatic challenges at the young age of twenty-seven.”
‘It wasn't part of the plan, but at the very least, I can't let her steal my paper!’
Maizen chuckled.
Yes, it wasn't part of the plan... But this wasn’t bad either.
He had always dreamed of achieving the unreachable realm, which was only described as ‘genius’ in the Aether World.
Today, he would grab that title here, and claim it as his own.
"Well, what do you think, Alterisha?"