I loaded the Mysticism panel.

The business card is made of thick cardstock, with no gold foil stamping or fancy designs on the edges, just the simplest layout.

The front of the document reads: Associate Professor Isabella Ashford, Department of Classics, Imperial College.

Below is the department office's mailing address and phone number.

The business card was placed on the low table and pushed in front of Richard.

"You've been included in the Classical Society's recommended list."

"Being on the list means several things: wealthy families in the capital hire private tutors to select people from the list."

Your teacher should have told you that one hour of tutoring costs as much as a day's wages for an average worker.

"In addition, those on the list are eligible to audit academic lectures held by the Classical Society and can also apply to use part of the collection of the Imperial University Library."

"The collection of Imperial University Library..." Richard was most interested in this.

The Imperial University Library is many times larger than that three-story red brick building in Greenwood. Does it also have a row of bookshelves without any category labels?

Isabella probably understood his expression.

Instead of directly addressing the unspoken question, she approached it from a different angle.

"However, I have to remind you of something."

"You probably think that winning a place in the Cicero Cup is a pretty big deal."

Richard didn't respond, waiting for her to continue.

"To tell you the truth, in our industry's evaluation system, the Cicero Cup is just an appetizer in the preliminary rounds."

"The Classical Society holds this event every autumn to select dozens of secondary school students with a foundation in Latin to compete, and those who are selected are the original talents."

Whether the raw ore can be refined into anything remains to be seen; there's still a long way to go.

A professor carrying a teacup walked to the other side of the window and started chatting with the father of one of the contestants.

Her fingers inadvertently touched the silver chain around her neck.

Richard could clearly feel a very thin layer spreading from Isabella's body, hanging down from the corner where the two of them were, separating the world three steps away into another room.

The buzzing of voices from the tea party was still there, but now separated by a cotton wall.

He could even see the professor's mouth moving, but the sound was just a blurry buzzing.

Conversely, any conversations between him and Isabella would likely not pass through this veil.

Isabella remained unfazed, seemingly only scratching her neck.

She started getting down to business:

"Each institution of higher learning has its own tradition of academic lectures, and dozens of institutions regularly join together to host a much larger 'Debate Week,' which lasts for a full seven days."

She drew a circle on the low table with her finger, gesturing to the circular layout formed by those famous universities.

"The participants in the Cicero Cup are high school students, and the judges are members of the Classical Society."

The participants in the debate week are the most outstanding undergraduate and graduate students from various universities. The judging panel consists of tenured professors, academic leaders, and occasionally, officials from the government system will also be present as observers.

She smiled:

"You can think of the Cicero Cup as a threshing ground competition in a village, and Debate Week as an arena in the county town. The venue is larger, the rules are more detailed, and the audience has a more discerning eye."

Richard categorized and archived this information.

His previous understanding of the Cicero Cup from Mr. Holland was limited to the amount of prize money and the list of nominees; he had no concept of its place in the overall academic evaluation system.

Now we have a basic screening tool, nothing more.

"If you go down the academic path in the future..." he asked tentatively.

Isabella nodded, probably pleased that he had taken over the line himself.

"There are several clear hurdles on the path of a scholar."

Her gaze became serious:

"The first hurdle is admission, entering a proper institution of higher learning, and obtaining the most basic academic status."

The recommendation list and your Cicero Cup results can help you get in, but that's all. Whether you get in or not depends on yourself.

"The second hurdle is to gain a foothold within the university. Debate Week is not just a competition, but also a showcase."

What you say on stage, how you say it, how you handle tricky questions… there are more people watching than you imagine, and their perspectives are deeper than you think.

Her right index finger gently stroked the links of the thin silver chain.

"Those who perform exceptionally well in various speech contests will be noticed."

"Who noticed?"

Isabella did not answer directly.

She picked up the now-cooled black tea, took a sip, and slowly swallowed it before speaking.

Have you ever wondered why the academic system places such importance on "public speaking"?

Latin rhetoric, impromptu debate, and timed argument construction... these skills are actually quite limited in their use in daily academic research.

A scholar can conduct research behind closed doors, quietly reviewing literature and writing papers; there's no need to stand before hundreds or thousands of people and give grand speeches.

She put down her teacup and her gaze fell on the direction of the main hall of the chapel.

Through the open doors of the side hall, one can see the tall stone pillars and stained glass windows in the main hall.

"But scholars cannot remain confined to their studies forever."

"At a certain stage, you need to speak to the outside world on behalf of your discipline, your university, and even the larger system behind you."

She emphasized the phrase "speaking to the outside world".

"At that time, you will no longer be just a researcher."

You are a spokesperson, someone who conveys information to the outside world on behalf of a vast intellectual tradition.

Richard's heart skipped a beat.

The word "spokesperson" triggered another set of information in his mind.

In the hierarchy I read, every leap above the level of a practitioner requires the completion of a ritual.

The essence of a ritual is to "proclaim to the curtain".

To declare, to swear an oath, to speak.

If the conditions for advancement in a scholar's career path are related to "declaration," then public speaking ability is no longer just a competitive advantage in the academic arena.

It may directly relate to how far one can go in the larger system behind the curtain.

Isabella didn't explicitly state this connection; perhaps she was waiting for him to figure it out himself, or perhaps she deliberately stopped there.

"And what happens after you become the spokesperson?" Richard asked.

Isabella nodded.

"There are many benefits, but it's too early to say exactly what they are now."

You haven't even crossed the first threshold yet; knowing too much will only be a burden.

"I'll only tell you one thing."

"In our field, every step of the leap in rank requires the practitioner to declare themselves."

The forms of declaration vary: hunters declare with blood and blades, while hermits declare with arrays and paintings.

She tapped her index finger lightly on the low table.

"What do you think scholars should use to make their pronouncements?"

Words, formed from knowledge, refined through countless trials, and capable of bearing weight.

When this answer came to mind, Richard suddenly understood why the Classical Society began screening for oratory talent as early as secondary school.

The Cicero Cup is the first link in a long chain.

From selecting raw ore to polishing and refining, the ultimate goal is to forge individuals who can stand above the curtain and speak out on behalf of the entire tradition to a deeper level.