PDLP Chapter 799 - 798: One-Day Tour
Chapter 799 - 798: One-Day Tour
As the great sun rises, the brilliance of its corona becomes clearer within the atmosphere. The mechanical clock tower of the Imperial Academy begins to chime, with new magic mechanisms driving the massive gears and levers, striking the copper bell within the tower. The solemn eight chimes resound throughout the Mage District.
Students in uniforms representing different faculties leave the dormitories scattered across the four campus zones. Accompanied by sunshine and the sound of the chimes, they step onto the broad paths, heading toward various educational facilities of the academy. Some have confident smiles on their faces, some still show traces of sleepiness, some are young and green, while others have hair already graying. These seekers of knowledge from different parts of the Cecil Empire, from various backgrounds, flow like gathered streams, coursing through this academy that symbolizes the empire’s highest temple of knowledge. They are infused and transformed by the knowledge here, and one day, they will flow out from this temple to nourish the rapidly advancing empire.
Matilda stands on a tower at the mage faculty, watching the students in black academy uniforms adorned with rune and gear emblems gather below in the square and paths, merging into streams of people flowing into the tall buildings not far away, immersed in silence for a long time.
"When I occasionally have free time, I like to stand here and overlook the academy," Gawain stands beside Matilda, looking down at the scene below with inexplicable emotions, and slowly says, "Students come and go between these broad ways or small paths, gather in courtyards and corridors, rest by gardens and fountains. Teachers in every building impart knowledge, solve doubts, people from different regions and statuses gather here, enjoying equality in the face of knowledge. They discuss issues, talk about the future, without needing to think about anything else, only focusing on academics..."
"This is a haven, and the last cradle one can enjoy in life. The political struggles outside the high walls are far away, and matters beyond the borders are even more distant to them. I do everything I can to make this the safest, calmest place in the country, because knowledge... it is worth it.
"Among everything I’ve created, this academy makes me the proudest."
Listening to Gawain’s words, Matilda seems to feel a certain emotion conveyed by this ancient pioneer. There is no complex planning in this emotion, and its sincerity makes the princess from Typhon deeply surprised.
She can’t help but glance at Gawain, as if until now, the historical figure covered in many auras, nearly deified legendary hero, finally shed layers of titles and legends, finally turning into a real "human" of flesh and blood.
And this feeling makes her more aware of the weight this "Imperial Academy" holds in the pioneer’s heart, making her instinctively reevaluate this institution and the meaning behind it, considering the upcoming foreign student program.
After a long while, she quietly says, "In Typhon... we don’t have anything similar."
"I hope you will," Gawain turns his head, speaking very earnestly, "I am serious."
"But it is very difficult," Matilda says, "It does not fit with Typhon’s current order. To build such an institution in Typhon, we need to do more than simply erect buildings of similar scale and put various students inside."
Gawain smiles: "Indeed... it wasn’t easy building this academy either."
To give birth to such an "Imperial Academy," he had to shatter an old dynasty. This... Emperor Rosetta Augustus fears is something he would not want to recreate.
After overlooking the academy from the tower, Gawain withdraws his gaze.
"Next, we can visit the teaching facilities here, and then to the grand library, where you can see some volumes of The Fundamentals of Everything—it is a comprehensive large-scale book series compiling all foundational knowledge. It is currently unfinished, missing sections on agriculture, mathematics, and industrial basics."
The Fundamentals of Everything... what a bold and grandiose name.
Matilda feels a mix of unusual sentiment and curiosity in her heart, guessing what kind of lofty tome The Fundamentals of Everything might be, while showing a slight smile: "I am quite looking forward to it."
...
In a simply furnished office, sunlight streams through the crystal glass window onto the dark red wooden desk. Open on the desk is a beautifully printed yet modestly bound textbook. Beside it are sheets of paper filled with notes and doodles, along with a dipping pen and inkwell.
The textbook contains basic natural knowledge, and between its uncomplicated paragraphs and diagrams, many smeared notes and ink spots can be seen. The chaotic ink markings seem to indicate the numerous difficulties the textbook’s owner faces while wrestling with this knowledge, and the constant wavering of their mindset between anxiety and concentration.
In the sunbeam, a faint sigh seems to echo by the empty desk, then the textbook levitates by itself, flipping a page.
Another sigh follows.
At this moment, the office door opens, and a bald man with a terrifying scar on his face walks in.
Scarface Andon glances at the empty desk, immediately noticing the floating flipped textbook. He casually says, "Boss... oh, you’re actually reading?"
Next to the empty desk, shadows fluctuate, and Amber’s figure materializes in the air. She frowns at the textbook in her hand, then casually tosses it onto the desk, glancing at Scarface Andon: "Is it that rare for me to read?"
"Honestly, it was quite rare before, but lately I’ve seen you doing it a lot," Scarface Andon scratches his shiny forehead, smiling, "And if you were reading thrillers or absurd stories, it would be understandable. But what you’re reading now... it’s really far from what you usually like."
Amber’s mouth twitches, and she glances sidelong at the textbook on the desk, pouting: "This stuff is indeed hard to get into... but that King always says I’m uneducated, and claims knowledge is the first productivity. Rebecca and her big-chested aunt keep babbling that I’m unlettered, as if they’re so knowledgeable..."
Scarface Andon is a straightforward person: "Honestly, they are indeed more knowledgeable than you..."
Amber immediately glares at Andon: "If you want to run around the Inner City District with a pumpkin on your head, you just keep talking."
Scarface Andon shrinks his neck: "I’ll just pretend I said nothing."
"Let’s talk business," Amber waves her hand and leans back, "How’s the situation over Gran?"
Speaking of serious matters, Scarface Anton, who had become the second-in-command of the Intelligence Agency, immediately put on a serious expression and meticulously reported: "The monitoring team from Gran has sent a message; everything is normal. Miss Patty is still living according to her previous routine, without any abnormalities. Moreover, there’s nothing unusual in the entry and exit records of Riftstone Castle and the magic detection records of Gran Territory and its surrounding areas."
At this point, Anton paused and added, "Additionally, we’ve managed to contact a female pharmacist who once cared for Miss Patty. From her, we confirmed that Miss Patty did not experience personality changes or memory confusion before or after receiving that coronet..."
"...Can we largely rule out the possibility of personality replacement..." Amber murmured softly, "Patty is still Patty, which is good news."
"Boss, that female pharmacist did bring up another point," Anton continued, "She said when she initially came into contact with Patty, the child’s condition was unimaginably poor. Based on her experience and insight, she could hardly believe Patty could survive. But after receiving the coronet, Patty astonishingly made it through the most dangerous phase, which the pharmacist considered a miraculous event.
The female pharmacist thus believes Patty’s coronet is an artifact with blessings; it alleviated Patty’s injuries. However, we all know the coronet is an ’immersion device’ for the Eternal Sleepers, possibly even a temporary ’soul container,’ and has no healing functionality..."
Amber furrowed her brows, thinking slowly, "The coronet allows Patty to rest in dreams, essentially giving her the motivation to survive and alleviating her mental stress. From this perspective, it makes sense how Patty managed to pull through.
"Human magical power can indeed create miracles, even if sometimes those miracles defy our common sense.
"But what you mentioned is certainly something we need to pay attention to... I will inform our King afterward."
Anton nodded and then curiously asked, "What about the monitoring team next..."
"Maintain surveillance," Amber replied, then after a brief thought, instructed, "Also, prepare for emergency situations. In the near future... the Eternal Sleepers might have some actions. Although the situation is unpredictable, we cannot rule out the possibility that their actions success will impact the real-world Patty. I will then get other departments to assist and send several specialists in immersion capsules, brain nerves, and soul studies to be ready for anything."
Anton bowed his head: "Yes, I’ll pass on the instructions now."
"If there’s nothing else, get back to work," Amber waved her hand, issuing a dismissal, "I still need to read a bit more."
Scarface Anton obeyed and left the room, leaving Amber alone once again in the simply furnished office.
After spacing out by the table, the high-ranking half-elf woman lowered her head again, glancing at the textbook she tossed on the table. She picked up the book as if lifting a great weight and continued to read with a sigh...
It was true she lacked knowledge, and she indeed came from a humble background. Most of what she knew were the rules of the gutter alleys, and neither her deceased foster father nor her second foster father, who was an evil cult follower for half his life, seemed to instill many correct principles or morals in her.
In the glorious "City of Magic," within the Empire’s highest Administrative Office system, she occasionally felt she was like an out-of-place anomaly.
Yet, she wasn’t willing to fall behind, not content with resting on established achievements and status, enjoying safely.
After all, the scenery ahead on this path... seemed truly splendid.
Firmly believing herself to be a divine child of the Goddess of Shadows, she wanted to see how far she could continue on this path.
...
Throughout the day’s itinerary, the delegates from Typhon visited many places.
They witnessed the unique "modernized teaching," saw the astonishing collection at the Imperial Grand Library, observed the large volumes of new-style books printed using industrial machines, and beheld the layers of protected original manuscript of the Empire’s treasure, "The Fundamentals of Everything."
They saw the distinguishable "Mage District" from Aldernon, observed the orderly operation of various research facilities, and marveled at the sight of ordinary people and transcendents working together. Although they didn’t see any substantive technical content, Cecil’s unique "research atmosphere" was enough to make them feel exceptionally fresh.
With the giant sun nearing the horizon, daylight was drawing to a close.
In the Autumn Palace dining hall, Gawain dined with Matilda and others.
"This has been a memorable day, not flattery, but fact," Matilda said, poised at the long table, facing Gawain, "Especially ’The Fundamentals of Everything’... I can hardly describe the feeling it gives me. I never imagined a book could be like it, be so... grand, vast, and even ambitious."
"It’s still incomplete," Gawain said, "A book like this won’t be compiled in just one or two years."
"I’m already looking forward to seeing how it turns out upon completion," Matilda said sincerely, "And... if you don’t mind, I even have a presumptuous request: I wish to receive a copy of it — once completed, I hope to take it to Typhon."
Gawain gazed into Matilda’s eyes, pausing for two or three seconds before speaking: "Of course, there’s no problem— I’m happy to see the dissemination of knowledge, which is one of ’The Fundamentals of Everything’s initial purposes. Once it’s finished, I’ll give you a complete copy—regard it as a gift celebrating the arrival of a new era."
Matilda showed a slight delight: "Thank you very much."
(It’s time to recommend a book, titled "Monsters Will Die When Killed," by Yintian Shenyin. You may have heard of his "Soul of Blazing Steel." Unlike the previous seedling, "Monsters" already has over a million words! You can dig in!)