My setting is above yours!

Chapter 64 School Start Date Approaching, Awards and Recognition (4k)

“Of course not… This is not something we should know, Ron.”

But unexpectedly, Irina denied Ron's words, her tired tone carrying a hint of warning:
"All data and intellectual property rights of each sector's [Knowledge Experiment] belong entirely to the sector's authorized manager. Unless the manager gives their permission, no one may record or access the experimental data without authorization."

"Violators will be dealt with for infringing on intellectual property rights and information security. [Tian Ting Media] abides by the law. We have already taken a huge risk by helping you stop Olde's [Seeking Knowledge Experiment]. How could we possibly steal [Noah Medicine]'s experimental records?"

"Don't ask such a stupid question again next time."

Upon hearing this, Ron couldn't help but frown.

Irina is lying.

There is no doubt about it.

Even a fool could see the flaw in Irina's words—what does it mean that [Tian Ting Media] abides by the law?
In Ideal City, whose dictionary will the words "obey the law" actually be written in?
It might be written in the dictionary of a low-level patrol officer like Xia Zhi, but it would never be written in the dictionary of a senior executive of a giant corporation.

Which of these giant corporations that control Ideal City truly abides by the law?

Moreover, the so-called infringement of intellectual property rights and information security are not serious crimes at all...

At most, it would just be a fine and the seizure of some assets and credits.

For the three giant corporations, this cost is no different from no cost at all.

If we could obtain firsthand experimental records of the [Knowledge Seeking Experiment]... even if it's just a branch experiment of a major experimental project in the Smart Brain Sector, [Tian Ting Media] would never mind paying a credit point as a price!

After all, the [Knowledge Experiment] represents more than just sector access to the [Central Intelligence Brain]; it represents a technological singularity, a brand-new technology...

The business prospects it can bring are so vast that they can drive giant corporations crazy like sharks that have smelled blood!
Moreover, the legal departments of these giant corporations are all top-notch. Even in cases that are absolutely certain and irrefutable, they can find ways to appeal multiple times, ultimately delaying enforcement for decades and further reducing the losses...

Irina just didn't want Ron to know.

Or perhaps... Tian Ting Media doesn't want to share this spoils of war with Ron?
why?
Ron was completely baffled. While it was true that the three giant corporations were not easy forces to deal with, Ron was now, after all, tied to the same chariot as [Tian Ting Media]...

Sending Ron to complete Prometheus's Experiment of Knowledge was exactly what Tian Ting Media wanted, since they also wanted to participate in Prometheus's Experiment of Knowledge.

Then, shouldn't the other experimental record of the "Exploration of Knowledge" be shared with Ron as intelligence, so that Ron can understand the "Exploration of Knowledge" better and make it easier for him to complete the "Prometheus's Exploration of Knowledge" in the future?

Could it be that……

[TianTing Media] believes that there are certain things in Old's experimental records that he cannot reveal to them.

What is it?
But as soon as the question arose in his mind, Ron immediately thought of a reason.

Could it be... magic?
Alder must have used various forms of magic in this experiment, including ritual magic such as an "ascension ceremony"...

[TianTing Media] wants to completely cover up the matter of magic and sorcery to prevent Ron from finding out!

Ron frowned, quickly preparing his response, and spoke in an embarrassed and self-reproachful tone:
"...It's my fault, Ms. Irina. I was indeed too curious about the [Experiment of Knowledge]."

"However, after I completed this emergency mission, the Inspection Bureau rewarded me with a large number of credits, enough to exchange for computing power formulas in [Prometheus]."

"The conditions for participating in the [Exploration of Knowledge] are almost met, and I can't contain my curiosity about it..."

As he spoke, a hint of fear crept into his voice:
"...Especially after seeing the department head named Alder who had turned into a monster, I was actually a little afraid of the [Knowledge Experiment]."

"He always said that he became like that because it was a gift from the [Experiment of Seeking Knowledge]. Although he was very strong, the organs on his body that belonged to monsters clearly showed signs of 'hollowing out'."

"After he was touched by my ability, he was immediately incinerated and disappeared due to the effect of the [Anti-Mystic Formula]."

"I remember you said before that the [Experiment of Knowledge] would cause voids... Was his transformation into that state also due to the [Experiment of Knowledge]?"

"Will things turn out like this as long as we conduct 'experiments in seeking knowledge'?"

As Ron spoke, his tone was clearly timid and he sounded quite frightened, obviously deeply frightened by Ald.

Upon hearing Ron's words, Irina was visibly silent for a moment before saying with emotion:

"...The Anti-Mystic Formula is very fond of you, so you don't need to worry about it too much."

"The 'void' caused by the [Experiment of Knowledge] shouldn't be able to harm you much. Ald's case is also an exception... You don't need to worry about it too much."

She hesitated for a moment, then said:
"From now on... it's best if you don't participate in too many patrol missions in the patrol bureau."

"Even if you participate in a mission, if you encounter someone like Alder, who possesses something you can't understand, like a creation from a 'void,' it's best not to touch them."

"The computational margin of the [Anti-Mystery Equation] is not much, so don't waste it on such trivial details."

"Why use a sledgehammer to crack a nut? Arrest them and take them to the patrol bureau. The patrol bureau will handle them themselves."

As she spoke, a noticeably lowered voice came from the other end of the line:
"President...files...server room 102..."

Her spirits seemed to lift noticeably, and her tone was less tired. She immediately changed the subject, as if wanting to end the conversation quickly.

"By the way, now that you've accumulated enough credits to exchange for computing privileges, it's time to put a new skills training program on the agenda—"

"Relying solely on the [Ability Formula] to elevate one's real-world level to Lv.3 is ultimately too superficial. Neither computing power nor personal real-world strength is as good as a normal Lv.3."

"Reaching Lv.3 as soon as possible will allow you to build your [Ability Formula] sooner."

"Go back to Area B in a couple of days. You can participate in the work of the Patrol Bureau in your spare time. Don't neglect your own ability development."

"I still have work to do. If you have any questions, I'll answer them next time we meet."

After saying that, Irina immediately hung up the phone.

But before the call ended, Ron could hear the clatter of her high heels on the floor as she got up and hurried away…

Ron stared at the "Call dropped" message on his phone screen, frowning as he pondered for a long time.

[TianTing Media] wants to hide everything related to magic and sorcery.

Furthermore, Irina specifically reminded Ron not to harm those who possess "hollow" creations... Isn't this clearly telling him not to use the [Anti-Mystic Equation] to harm magicians?
Considering what he had heard before about Golden Dawn and the Astrological Society, which are clearly closely related to Noah Pharmaceuticals and Tianting Media... Could it be that these magicians occupy a more advanced niche in Ideal City than Ron imagined?

Could it be... that there are magicians among the top executives of these giant corporations?
Or are the magicians working for giant corporations, and they simply can't function without them?
Thinking of this, Ron suddenly recalled the advertisement for the Magicians' Association that he had seen when he completed the cleanup mission as the old magician:
—In this long, dark night, we are the only torch, the last light.

I always felt like there were many secrets hidden within them...

Ron frowned, pulled out the "ability amplifier" he had just received from the magician in the protective suit, and then pulled out the emerald ring that he had kept hidden away and hadn't taken out since he had fooled Noah's Medicine.

Looking at the two rings in his hand, Ron stroked the ring face, lost in thought.

It seems we need to find a way to learn from these magicians what secrets lie hidden behind the Ideal City...

After all, there were far too many things Irina was hiding in what she said.

Ron didn't have a good impression of magicians because [Tian Ting Media] clearly had some connection with them, which made Ron somewhat resistant to [Tian Ting Media].

Although he had been wary of Tianting Media before, he never expected to stumble upon what Tianting Media was hiding so quickly...

If Noah Pharmaceuticals, which has such an obvious collaboration with magicians, can commit such heinous acts, then how can Tianting Media, which also collaborates with magicians, be some kind of pure white lotus?
None of the three major companies behind Ideal City are clean, as expected...

However, the magicians' power is clearly not a bad thing for Ron now—

Because he wanted to try to find some unrestricted power beyond Lv.3 abilities in the world of magicians.

This is for Idrisla.

Although Ron seems to be living a very comfortable life in Ideal City, with no imminent danger and only needing to improve himself slowly, he has a sense of urgency in his heart.

That's how Ideal City is, but... what about the "Potion Age"?

It is clear to the naked eye that if Ron wants to advance normally, he will probably have to spend an extremely long time completing a branch experiment of the [Knowledge Experiment] before he will have a chance to advance to Lv.4.

Moreover, the powerful abilities gained after advancing to Lv.4 also came from the computational support of the [Central AI], from such external aids...

So, does this mean that after Ron goes to the Potions Era, he will only be able to rely on his Lv.3 power to make his way in the Potions Era, no matter what?

But Lv.3... even if it's Lv.3 with the [ability formula], can it really kill Father Suer and save Idrila?
He had to consider the possibility that a level 3 ability was insufficient to kill Father Sue.

Therefore, not being restricted by the authority of the [Central Intelligence], the "magic" from the magicians, and even the "magic" from the [Grand Rank], would be a necessary aid for Ron.

However, Ron did not immediately connect the two rings.

Although he was indeed quite curious about the world of magicians, and the magicians' powers were indeed of great help to Ron, that was definitely not something he should explore right now.

He just dealt with Alder, stopping Noah Medicine's "Experiment of Knowledge," in which an alchemist from the Golden Dawn disappeared...

It's likely that many magicians are secretly watching him.

Even if you want to explore, it's definitely not the time to mindlessly rush into the world of magicians when you're the center of attention.

Moreover, Ron is also in poor condition right now—

Having just advanced to Lv.3, his loss of control has reached its highest level ever. He just used up all the durability of [Illusion Dissolve], and now he's waiting for the durability to recover...

Anyway, the "Experiment of Knowledge" to come into contact with "Prometheus" is still a long way off. According to Dunn, Ron will have to wait until he enters Moen University and completes his first year's exams before he will have the opportunity to come into contact with it.

He has plenty of time to improve himself gradually, and incidentally, to try and slowly gather information about everything hidden in the Ideal City...

No matter what it is, he can always do it slowly after making thorough preparations.

After all, with the help of the Dimensional Update Manual, whether it's time, history, or the so-called "version" representing the current era—

Everything is on Ron's side.

He could have taken his time to prepare.

With this in mind, Ron spent more than a month in a rare period of peace and quiet.

He methodically moved between Zones B and D, completing his patrol duties for the Zone D Patrol Bureau while also disguising himself as a Level 2 user to gradually improve his personal skills in the training room of [Tian Ting Media].

Incidentally, Ron persuaded Dr. Lin from the patrol bureau to help her out whenever he had time, learning various aspects of corpse handling. Within a little over a month, he had even mastered most of the [Corpse Man's] potion...

Time passed slowly like this.

More than a month later, in the week before school was about to start—

"Ron! Come quick, you have to go back to Sector D tonight!"

On the phone, Xia Zhi said excitedly:
"Your commendation has been issued... We can proceed with the formalities and hold the commendation meeting tomorrow, but you need to come for a rehearsal tonight."

"By the way... you have absolutely no idea what kind of important figure came to our D District to commend you and award you the 'First-Class Merit' this time!"

The process for awarding honors is incredibly slow...

Ron inwardly grumbled about the incredibly rigid administrative procedures of Ideal City, but after hearing Xia Zhi's words, he still felt a surge of curiosity:

"A big shot? What big shot?"

Is it really necessary to get so worked up?

"Of course it's necessary!"

Xia Zhi's words were filled with excitement, clearly showing her genuine respect for this important figure:
"The person who came this time to commend you is none other than the director of the B District General Inspection Bureau!"

"The sector director of [Artemis], the head of the [Purification Patrol Team]—"

"A true...Lv.5!"

(End of this chapter)