The Demon King is unfathomable

Chapter 381 Colin's "Hands-on" Theft
Professor Hector Wren's office, as always, was filled with the dry smell of old parchment mixed with aged ink. Towering bookshelves almost touched the carved dome, crammed with all sorts of books and files, orderly to the point of obsession.

However, the solemnity and tranquility that once belonged to this academic sanctuary was now completely shattered by an atmosphere of anxiety and unease.

The office's owner, Professor Hector, a highly respected figure in the Tower of Great Sages, paced back and forth restlessly, like a lion trapped in a cage.

His dark blue mage robe, a symbol of the Source School of Law, stirred a gentle breeze with his movements, ruffling the mountain of documents piled on his desk and making a soft rustling sound, like a death knell.

When Luo Yan entered the room led by his teaching assistant, Corgi, he was greeted by this "anxious" scene.

"Professor, Professor Colin has arrived." Corgi announced cautiously, then bowed and withdrew, gently closing the heavy oak door behind him.

Hector turned around almost instantly, his gaze fixed on Luo Yan.

Those eyes, usually so calm and composed, now held none of the composure befitting a platinum-level expert.

"What's wrong, Professor Hector? What's got you in such a hurry?" Luo Yan walked into the office and sat down on the sofa with a smile, as if he were at home.

Seeing Prince Colin's calm and composed demeanor, Hector was both amused and exasperated; the burning anxiety in his chest felt like a punch landing on cotton.

He sighed heavily, strode to his desk, grabbed the still-smelling copy of the "Sage's Gazette," hurried back to the coffee table, and shoved the newspaper in front of Luo Yan.

"See for yourself!"

Hector rarely spoke to himself in such a serious tone, especially since he began dreaming of inheriting the 440th illusory realm from him.

Luo Yan raised an eyebrow in surprise, reached for the newspaper on the coffee table, and his gaze naturally fell on the headline.

The large title, in bold font, emphasized the authority of its content.

Risk Warning Regarding the Standardization of Virtual Reality Interference Research

The article was as rigorous and obscure as ever. It began by citing the “serious incident” that had occurred in Virtual Realm No. 178 not long ago as evidence, emphasizing that in order to “protect the limited Virtual Realm resources of the Academy,” the Sage Council had made a decision after a long and careful discussion.

This is not news.

Rather, it was the decision of the wise men.

Luo Yan had no interest in the preparatory statements, so he tried to extract the core content of the article.

First, the council decided to "temporarily restrict" the various schools of mage towers, with a few exceptions, from adopting a radical "guided" intervention strategy in the virtual realm.

Secondly, it provides supplementary explanations regarding those "few special cases".

The announcement clearly states that Corinta, as the pioneer of this research model, can continue its research projects as an exception, and the council will reassess the risks and benefits of this strategy based on its subsequent results.

The unspoken meaning—

If the research at Collinta does not progress smoothly, or if no further progress is made for an extended period, they reserve the right to reclaim Virtual Realm 440.

Upon reading this, Luo Yan couldn't help but let a playful smile creep onto his lips.

Although the council subtly put pressure on him, it's actually a good thing from another perspective.

Virtual Realm 440 is currently in its "cooldown period," and Miller, one of his subordinates, is most worried that others will follow their research approach and discover the results that they could have discovered themselves.

This researcher's vision is still too narrow, and he's even starting to regret publishing his research findings too early.

Now that the council has passed a resolution restricting other mage towers from using the research strategy of the 440th Void Realm, this guy should be able to breathe a sigh of relief.

Of course, Luo Yan himself didn't care.

What would a demon king need academic achievements for?
What he wanted was for the "scientific" school of thought to flourish in the Holy City, and for the name "Prince Colin" to become the sun over the snowfield!
He pointed in a direction towards the future, and it didn't matter to him who walked that path.

Luo Yan gently folded the newspaper and casually tossed it back onto the coffee table, his relaxed attitude contrasting sharply with Hector's tense demeanor.

Looking up at the professor, whose face was full of anxiety, he asked in a relaxed, almost teasing tone.

"That's it? I've finished reading it, and then what?"

Hector was so angry upon hearing this that he almost burst out laughing.

Looking at Colin's handsome yet "naive" face, he sighed heavily, as if he were exhausted for a naive junior.

"Your Highness, my Prince, I don't know if you're doing this on purpose or if you genuinely don't understand... This resolution is more than just a resolution; it's a gesture!"

He hurriedly walked to the coffee table, sat down, pointed a finger at the newspaper headline, and began to "interpret" it word by word in a tone of exasperation.

“In Xuebang, ‘special cases’ are not a blessing, but a shackle called ‘blessing’! On the surface, you don’t need to worry about this resolution, but in fact… everyone is waiting for you to make a mistake!”

"Even a small mistake, or a period of no progress, will be scrutinized under a magnifying glass."

"Perhaps you think it's nothing and let them talk, but for those who oppose you, it's enough! They can immediately and legitimately use today's resolution to take back your control of the Void Realm and prove to everyone how farsighted their 'caution' today is, and that it's not a righteous pretext for forceful seizure!"

Luo Yan watched Professor Hector, who was studying the newspaper, with great interest. He picked up the teapot on the table, poured himself a cup of tea, and took a small sip.

This little trick of his was of course no surprise to him, and he was not interested in Professor Hector's roundabout analysis.

He was interested in Professor Hector himself.

The old professor meticulously analyzed every word in the newspaper, his fawning manner resembling that of someone sucking on their master's spoon, tasting the saltiness of leftover food, and guessing what kind of excrement their master would produce the next day.

Although he was completely unaware that this was a form of "flattery," he instead regarded it as a remarkable "wisdom."

Of course, Luo Yan did not mock Hector, after all, the wisdom of survival is also a kind of wisdom, and it was not Hector's fault.

For a long time, Xuebang has been using artificially created resource scarcity and unequal opportunities to systematically produce these docile and honest tools. Hector is just one of the best who has emerged from this system. There are many "Milos" who have not emerged in the tower where sages gather.

This is also the soil where the Demon King's "corruption" can take root and sprout; strictly speaking, he should thank them.

Light needs shadows to set it off.

Just as Hector was about to launch into a lengthy analysis of the profound impact of this matter on the Elementalist School and even the entire radical camp, Luo Yan finally raised his hand and gently interrupted him.

“Professor, I am not interested in the feelings of the sages, just as they are not interested in my ideas and doctrines... There is no point in you telling me this.”

Hector's impassioned speech came to an abrupt halt, and he stared at him blankly.

Luo Yan paused, then suddenly adopted an interested tone, and picked up the newspaper that Hector was pointing at with his index finger.

"However... I am very interested in this 'serious accident' mentioned in the newspaper."

As he spoke, his long, slender fingers precisely touched the inconspicuous number—"Virtual Realm No. 178." The Sage's Gazette used it as evidence to prove that the success of Virtual Realm No. 440 was merely accidental. But in his view, the failure of this virtual realm was simply due to the experimenter's own stupidity.

In the end, that guy only cared about his own interests and what he wanted, without ever asking what the other side behind the virtual realm wanted.

This is not what you call "communication".

If the 178th virtual realm gave Mentor Merck any enlightenment, it was nothing more than using the history of the Greys to warn him about their own fate!

Or rather, the end result of "arrogance"...

"...Mentor Merck's experiment failed, and that world is said to have become an 'irreversible wasteland'? I'm curious, to be more specific, what kind of wasteland is it?"

This abrupt turn of events completely blocked Hector's train of thought. He was taken aback by this unusual focus, and subconsciously nodded, replying in the same vein.

"Yes, as for what it's like... it's said that the civilization there has completely collapsed. Unable to bear the sacrifice, the Greys killed their savior, leaving the area behind the Void Realm a dead land devoid of faith and soul, even worse than the previous smoky ruins. It has no research or development value whatsoever..."

Before he could finish speaking, he saw Luo Yan slowly raise his hand.

In that instant, Hector saw in the young prince's eyes a light he had never seen in the eyes of other scholars.

It was a look that blended curiosity with absolute confidence, like a navigator discovering a new treasure while sailing in unfamiliar waters.

“Is that so? But I don’t see it that way,” Luo Yan’s voice carried a hint of amusement. “Maybe I can try to see if I can… save it.”

The office fell into a deathly silence.

Hector sat dumbfounded on the sofa, as if bewildered in the cold wind of a snowfield, completely unable to comprehend the other person's unconventional thinking.

He intended to warn a lamb about to stray into the wolf pack, reminding it of the dangers and schemes ahead, but he never expected that the "lamb's" gaze would bypass the snarling wolves from the very beginning and instead be fixed on the scorched earth that all the wolves avoided.

His Adam's apple bobbed, and he squeezed out a sentence with difficulty.

“That’s probably difficult… Void Realm No. 178 is a resource under Mentor Merck’s name. Even if… even if it has become a wasteland, no mentor would voluntarily give up their Void Realm unless the Council strips them of their ownership.”

This is an unwritten rule within Xuebang.

Each virtual realm, whether barren or abundant, symbolizes a mentor's status and qualifications. This is especially true for a "young and promising" but still relatively inexperienced scholar like Merck.

He didn't need to guess to know that this person must have someone behind him; he just didn't know which high-ranking official it was.

However, after listening to Hector's words, Luo Yan simply smiled and shook his head, calmly saying...

“You’re right, the resources of the Void Realm are very valuable, but that was when Void Realm No. 178 still had value… As for now, it’s more like a troublesome thing that we can’t get rid of.”

He could certainly guess that there must be a professor or sage behind Merck, and the ownership of this virtual realm resource could not possibly be controlled by a young mentor without a background.

But precisely because of this, he had the opportunity to use the research access to Virtual Realm No. 440 as a bargaining chip to negotiate with the person behind this young mentor.

Aren't you all waiting for me to make a mistake?

Now is the chance.

Luo Yan didn't need to know who this person was; he only needed to know that the other party was interested in the Void Realm resources in his possession.

certainly--

There's no need to tell Hector that.

After all, Hector believed that the 440th Void Realm was already his, and he would never agree to let him gamble on an opportunity with "low odds".

Even though the 440th Void Realm never belonged to him.

"...Go ahead and give it a try, Professor Hector. Tell him it's me, Prince Colin, who wants to take over this mess and ease the burden on the academic community. I think Professor Merck would be happy to do him a favor. And I've promised him that if Virtual Realm 178 produces any results, his name will be on the paper."

He handed the newspaper back to Hector, patted the latter on the shoulder gently, and then smiled as he got up from the soft sofa.

I await your good news.

After saying that, he turned and left the office, closing the heavy oak door behind him.

The office returned to quiet.

Looking at the newspaper in his hand, Professor Hector was both amused and exasperated, feeling a headache coming on as the prince had once again presented him with a difficult problem.

"What exactly is this guy trying to do?"

Could it be that he's really addicted to researching virtual realms?!

Hector muttered something under his breath and put down the newspaper.

Just then, he suddenly realized that Prince Colin had spoken to him in the tone of a superior giving instructions to a subordinate.

Realizing this, he was both annoyed and amused, and for a moment his face showed a look of not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

This prince truly never treated him like an outsider. He treated his subordinates like his own people, and now he's even become one of his own?!

"By Saint Sith... I beg you, please send this guy somewhere else to wreak havoc on other people!"

...Professor Hector's prayers were destined to be in vain.

After all, he even got the object of his prayers wrong.

Regardless of how much trouble the "honest and simple" professor was having to be bossed around by Prince Colin, Luo Yan was in a good mood as he strolled back to the laboratory.

The meeting of Xuebang's senior management did not hinder his plan; instead, it provided him with an opportunity to place an additional bet.

If he can resolve the "crisis" in Virtual Realm 178 and prove that the problem lies not in the route but in the people, his prestige within this tower will undoubtedly reach a new height.

As for what happens if we fail...

To be honest, he doesn't really care.

As I said before, this is someone else's bicycle after all.

Pushing open the door to the "Magic Science" laboratory, Luo Yan felt as if he had stepped from a gloomy winter day into a bustling summer.

This academically vibrant "holy land" remains as bustling as ever, its energy undiminished by his brief absence or return.

The young apprentices, in small groups, were arguing about their respective topics, and the air was filled with high spirits.

Luo Yan was very pleased.

Although his mindset is no longer young, he still believes that this is what young people should be like.

His gaze unconsciously drifted to a corner of the laboratory, the very teaching space he had "arranged" before leaving.

There sat Ilana at an oak table, patiently writing something on a piece of paper.

Beside her, Miss Castellion leaned forward with unprecedented focus, watching the movement of the pen tip intently, afraid of missing any detail.

It's clear she's truly convinced.

"...Therefore, we cannot directly assume that infinitesimal is zero, but rather we must understand it as a 'process,' a trend that infinitely approaches zero."

Ilana's voice was clear and steady. She gently tapped a symbol on the manuscript paper with the tip of her quill pen. "This symbol 'lim' is the tool used to describe this 'process.' You see, as x approaches a infinitely, the value of this function approaches L infinitely..."

Considering how many lessons Ophia had missed, she explained things very meticulously, starting almost from the very basics, breaking them down and feeding them to her in detail.

Colin rarely goes into such detail.

His courses are imaginative and unconventional, much like how he dissected the Holy Light with a prism in the first class, giving people a shock that goes straight to the depths of their souls.

Rather than telling his students the secrets behind it, he preferred to lead them through a door and inspire their curiosity and thirst for knowledge.

However, he didn't go into great depth; students had to figure it out themselves after class.

It is almost impossible to understand his theories simply by listening to lectures.

More than a lecturer who imparts knowledge and answers questions, he is more like a highly persuasive enlightener.

"I see……"

Ophia let out a soft sigh of sudden realization, her sapphire-like eyes sparkling with enlightenment.

"I couldn't understand it before because I treated it as a fixed number! Turns out... it's a 'state'!"

She looked up at Ilana, her face no longer showing any awkwardness or reluctance, but instead filled with heartfelt admiration.

For at least that one minute, the proud duchess seemed to have forgotten her social standing and was completely captivated by the light that was called "wisdom".

Looking at Ophia, who was so engrossed in her studies that she had even forgotten her own existence, Luo Yan nodded approvingly from a distance.

well.

It seems she has gradually come to appreciate the exhilarating and irresistible pleasure of immersing herself in the ocean of knowledge.

The Demon King's greatest threat—
-
1!

……

As night deepened, the professors and students of the Great Sage's Tower returned to their dormitories one after another. Only one furtive figure rode the elevator straight up to the deserted upper floor and hurriedly headed to a study located deep in the corridor.

In stark contrast to the bright and vibrant atmosphere of the "Magic Science" laboratory, this room, despite being a study, was surprisingly dimly lit and oppressively dark.

The air was filled with the scent of rare ebony and some peculiar incense. Heavy velvet curtains blocked out all natural light, with only a few magically powered wall lamps illuminating the understated yet luxurious furnishings with their soft glow.

This place doesn't resemble a scholar's study; it's more like a secret chamber where a powerful person weaves conspiracies.

A middle-aged monk with a refined appearance and deep eyes was sitting leisurely behind a huge ebony desk.

This person was none other than Professor Arist Thorne, the boss behind Mentor Merck and the president of the Thorne Society, who controlled the shadows of the entire tower like a spider web.

At this moment, he gently swirled the crystal glass in his hand, savoring the blood-red liquid inside, looking content, as if all the troubles of the world were irrelevant to him.

Although he spent most of his time meditating in the meditation room practicing the "breathing techniques" he had learned from the virtual realm, he would occasionally take some time to emulate the nobles of the Kingdom of Rhodes and enjoy life.

"professor."

Approaching the desk, Merck bowed deeply in respect, not even daring to look directly at Professor Alistair, who was leisurely sipping his wine.

His voice trembled slightly, and after receiving permission, he continued in a low voice.

"Just now, Professor Hector found me..."

He dared not conceal anything and recounted Hector's purpose in detail.

Prince Colin, who was at the height of his power, wanted to take over the No. 178 Void Realm, which had reached its end!
Hector came here to seek the opinion of this "person in charge," hoping that he could part with the prince's curiosity—after all, the illusory realm was no longer useful to him, and now someone was willing to "take the blame" for him.

As he whispered Hector's request, Merk's heart pounded.

As for the reason, it was naturally because of excitement.

Having messed everything up, he had already prepared for the worst, perhaps knowing he would never be able to reach the Void Realm again. However, just when he was in despair, things took a turn for the better... An arrogant and conceited imperial nobleman decided to take over the mess he had made.

He was eager to grant Professor Hector's request immediately, but unfortunately, he was only the nominal person in charge and had no authority to make decisions on his own.

He could only ask Hector to go back and wait for news, citing the need for time to consider the matter carefully, while he himself rushed here immediately to consult the true master of the Void Realm.

Upon hearing this unexpected news, Professor Alistair paused slightly in his leisurely sipping of wine, his cloudy pupils narrowed slightly, and a look of surprise and amusement appeared on his face.

Taking over Void Realm No. 178?
This was truly... an unexpected development.

He gently placed the wine glass back on the table, the bottom of the glass making a soft, crisp sound as it struck the ebony wooden surface. He gazed at Merck, who had his head bowed and dared not speak, and fell into thought.

The ink was still wet on the warning issued by the Council of Sages, and every word hinted at the enormous risks inherent in the "radical strategy" adopted by His Highness.

However, he acted as if he didn't see it. Instead of restraining himself in the research on the No. 440 Void Realm, he turned around and took the initiative to take over the No. 178 Void Realm, which had become a problem.
"Interesting, hehe...how interesting."

What arrogance!
How incredibly foolish!
Arist had a mocking smile on his face.

The prince seemed completely unaware that the great sage, while ostensibly granting him an "exception" of exemption, was actually putting him in a very difficult position.

Everyone was waiting for him to make a mistake.

If he makes even the slightest mistake, the conservatives in the tower will immediately seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take the 440th Void Realm from his hands!
Thinking of this, Alistair's eyes deepened, and a hint of greed surfaced behind his murky pupils.

For him, the 178th Void Realm was a complete failure, and keeping it would be utterly useless. The fact that Prince Colin was willing to take on this "hot potato" was entirely beneficial to him!
If Colin fails on Project 178, Project 440 can rightfully serve as "compensation" for his mentor Merck!
As for the possibility of Colin succeeding... that's highly unlikely!

According to Merck's research report, the civilization behind Virtual Realm 178 has completely abandoned spiritualism and degenerated into extreme materialism.

They not only have no faith, but also regard the mysteries from beyond the realm as evil spirits, and even regard their fellow beings who have awakened extraordinary powers as traitors and purge them.

This civilization has absolutely no chance of being saved; the collapse of the virtual portal is only a matter of time!

Time can be accelerated, but it can never be reversed!

He raised his eyes, looked at the still fearful and uneasy Merck in front of him, and made his decision in a gentle tone that left no room for doubt.

“Merck, you did a good job. It was the right thing not to agree on the spot.”

He first offered a soft reassurance, easing Merck's tense nerves slightly, before changing the subject and issuing the final instruction.

“Go tell Professor Hector that after careful consideration, you believe that His Highness Colin’s enthusiasm for sharing the burdens of the Academy is invaluable. For the overall benefit of the Academy, and to ensure that the enthusiasm of such a genius is not wasted, you agree to give him your opportunity.”

"but--"

"You need to participate in the research and witness the experiment, instead of waiting outside for the results."

Alistair paused, his smile deepening, and slowly added:

"Remember, you must act with dignity and make sure he sees... the sweat you poured into the 178th virtual realm, and your feelings for that world."

"Yes! Professor!"

Merck felt as if he had been granted a pardon, and his tense body instantly relaxed. He bowed deeply respectfully, and when he turned to leave, his steps were much lighter than when he had come.

The study returned to silence.

Alistair picked up the crystal glass again, gently swirling the crimson liquid inside, a cold smile slowly spreading across his lips.

He eagerly anticipated how this naive yet arrogant prince would walk into the carefully woven trap he had set...

Just then, his hand holding the wine glass stiffened slightly.

His refined and handsome face suddenly contorted unnaturally on one side of his cheek, as if he had suffered a stroke.

That was clearly not a stroke.

His lips twitched nervously, uttering a hoarse whisper with an eerie tone that didn't belong to him at all.

“You did a great job…get that dangerous guy out of here! I can’t stand his smell, he just makes me feel disgusted.”

That voice from the depths of the universe echoed in my mind once again.

And it seems it wasn't just in his mind!
Alistair's eyes suddenly narrowed, a flash of madness and struggle crossing his face, but he forcibly suppressed it. He gritted his teeth and squeezed out two words.

"Shut up... I'm not doing this for you!"

"besides--"

Get out of my head!

The tightly closed curtains moved automatically even without any wind!
Alistair vaguely saw a dark shadow in the windowpane; it was like a frantic spider, scurrying through the gap in the curtains and crawling into the bottomless night…

The eerie feeling vanished instantly, and his distorted face returned to normal, as if everything that had just happened was merely an illusion.

In the study, only Alistair's slightly rapid breathing and the increasingly alluring crimson in his glass remained.

It was all like an illusion.

Whether it was that voice from the depths of the universe or his frantic self-talk...

(End of this chapter)