Chapter 76: Will It Make Money?
JEdaHtMWhen Vernell arrived in Hallim, he wandered through the hallway with the organized documents in his hands.klhwzF
nDoVsIt was the path toward the rooms.AF7tHE
O6kHe knew perfectly well where his room was.yC1d
o1GaHe was not lost.j2kntRI
FFyxSqYAnd yet, he remained there as though waiting for something.Frau
PCN1I0“Vernell.”eGZh
d5qH03A heavy voice.czk
uEgCJAnd that shining head between strands of hair.fJcS
rT7EPgOIn the past, that man had been so famous that people even called him the Sunlight Mage.PnQKH
YIGvoPerhaps he should have smiled upon remembering those times.fNDHlV
dF5NoiBut Vernell could not do so.q6152
bJxx7“A-ah, hello! Rector, it has been a long time since the academy.”SMKg
CqID“Yes, it has been a long time.”P7v8HiM
d3Vtk“I heard you granted me the main stage. I am very grateful for that consideration and—”c82euP
EgfXV3“What is that?”9wFyit1
SF6He interrupted Vernell and looked at the document in his hands.wgba
sWCW“It is the content I will present at this exhibition. I perfected it as much as I could, but even so it was not easy, so I wanted to ask you to review it.”i0jx
85T“Me?”XMzsgYk
n9WjQy“Yes.”185wKi
DmpB“……Let me see it.”plpk7Cf
ZDJhjRector Bernard quickly began reading the presentation text.htTRjdb
WRhUnder that serious gaze, Vernell’s mouth became completely dry.MtIk
pkr1pQoAnd finally, Bernard smiled.mOnP4Q
nbr0JWas that a good sign?Ed2us1
z2S“It is worthless.”qlAiff
mw3HNo.NgPfdZt
0PRmnlWhat came from his mouth was a smile close to contempt.q0KSG
9E3wUiM“Vernell Marquis, I cannot hide my disappointment in you.”EVNMy
MLtq“W-what do you mean?”AOrutN
kmmb4p8Vernell asked while maintaining his composure.jqS6t7m
uKHHN3Z“What do you intend to do with an efficiency of barely 12%?”3Y3dS90
x3v“The efficiency is still gradually increasing.”UyW
6J5W“And you plan to stand on the stage just to say it has potential and end up becoming a laughingstock? Do you intend to tarnish the reputation of Regent Perda Valdrova, one of the few people who trusted you?”EXfB9z
CCKVernell looked at him in a daze.Mh1kM
CLxSThis was not a simple adaptation of something that already existed.5t4Yxl
il4HcwtIt was a completely new creation.eiqF9
1pAwEven 12% was already an incredible achievement.kxfqr
Zh2pRector Bernard continued.8KQFaOT
Pp337“Is there even anyone who understands the formula you discovered? Even to me this looks like meaningless chaos. You obtained the formula, yes, but the speed at which you improve the efficiency is far too slow. If I understood this, I would have increased the efficiency far faster than you. Do you know why I have that confidence?”BWN
ld9“……”1ryElI
cz8VfcG“Vernell, your vision is too narrow. When you obsess over one thing, you stop seeing everything else. You are so focused on that 1% that you cannot find a way to increase the other 10%.”wtepg
JfbSaBernard shoved the document against Vernell’s chest as he spoke.LZDY
1Om5“What a disappointment. An enormous disappointment. I preferred you when you chased absurd dreams. The current Vernell is nothing more than a complete disaster.”Kile3
LzkL8Then Bernard turned around and left.9Wi2
3LsfnVernell could not respond.OPj
XayvvIeHe simply remained staring at the floor.Kr8MqP
cIjAnd for a long time, he could not move from there.gnz
lDZN2***J07nn7
BODluKPerda watched all of that.Zdz1ZMd
mNzFrom the moment Bernard humiliated Vernell until he left him crushed and walked away.cjg
r3vvjBAnd he thought.9BpQ
vpBQe‘Was I wrong about Rector Bernard?’jQdpz
tlZW7Bernard had given Vernell a place.yOH60A
RLmzPBaAnd not just any place, but the main stage, something that supposedly carried enormous meaning for scholars.UoSr5L
urbvPerda had thought it was an act of goodwill.lugQB
YU9qBut no.bW2Th
ufALBernard was simply a petty man incapable of acknowledging Vernell.5pY
Bs5yIThe higher the place from which one fell, the more painful the fall.eHPQT
cnyHMThen.SSDHT
AXELUADWas Bernard trying to destroy Vernell?QxbmbEc
MC0U‘If so…’wU3qbaZ
9iHAraUWhat should I do here?GGkX3
Vs8XX“Oh, Regent! What a coincidence to find you here.”rm3m
LoGjThat gentle voice pulled him from his thoughts.054UZz
lPWd1The man who only moments ago had worn the face of a mediocre villain now displayed a polite and cordial expression.scX
G4E39“Just recently a merchant named Stephan Pascal came to speak with me about how the main event will proceed and—”ukV
cSxNY“Do you really think he is an idiot?”nxY
hHW6“Huh? What do you mean?”h24ECqu
iKBH7VWhen Perda interrupted him with that question, Bernard showed a confused expression.5NuJa
35hJuPerda answered directly.uF1J
bvYg“I overheard your conversation by accident.”UWf8c
3z9RNOOnly then did Bernard understand, and his face turned red.rI7GHWL
vxxM7Iw“Ah… you witnessed quite an embarrassing moment.”HxS3Tq
nWlle1Yes.eewx0
Vf0dHe had definitely shown an unpleasant side.ID9U
4lu8NDAOne that perfectly revealed humanity’s two-faced nature.aGE
ILQ“No matter how it may have seemed, I was not trying to harm Vernell.”n6iMZp
Ft50WPerda was left speechless.fgc
g1mt“What do you mean by that?”gkfON
atp6gz“It is just that… Vernell Marquis was a prodigy from whom we veteran scholars had great expectations. During his time at the academy, he always ranked first, and we all agreed that his brilliance would change the century.”yAZtQLD
Rsq0tBut everyone knew that story had not ended well.F3eh
geOBernard sighed.4q49m
UxPHGNd“However, when he brought the content he intended to present at the conference, we were all horrified. It was full of absurd ideas. We tried to stop him and guide him toward a better path, but he would not listen. Do you know what usually happens to nine out of ten people like that? They go mad obsessing over their ideals.”ihHMQ
hr8WX“But he did not go mad.”EVJqHkx
qERG“Yes. He succeeded.”eaM
epYJ“And even so, you think you can convince me?”StE3D60
JyzaIf he had merely chased empty ideals, Perda would have understood.IU8v
i9gM8No, he would have even approached Vernell with that same cynical attitude.7Aepb
ar3But Vernell succeeded.hxsSs
6RtFResults that should have taken years appeared in only a few months, and the efficiency was still increasing.ZoU
KWZer“That is precisely why I am doing this.”SuWxX
Kpz6NX“You are saying that the Director of Knowledge knows he was right and still refuses to acknowledge him?”Ww2
9RT“With people like Vernell, that is how it must be.”PRC
IybyAP“What kind of person is he?”gy8k
lsbVQ33“Someone who presents innovations that we denied or could not even imagine. People like that must not be allowed to remain limited by the perspective of ordinary people like me. They should not conduct research to convince others, but continue pursuing what they believe in.”vEdxfP
Dti4QKPerda understood those words.33T
k2B8eqBernard was a genius.7D4
KuOuQkBut Vernell was a genius even among geniuses.CjTnPHO
kRAThat meant Bernard’s standards, to Vernell, were no different from those of an ordinary person.llcj0
SE1ps“Vernell will try to prove me wrong with results. If he managed to make something so absurd become reality, then now he must continue advancing. And afterward he will prepare to strike back at me.”cqKdzf
T7N“And what if he ends up following the wrong path?”iJw
MV0yJust as I once did.M2t
c1fPerda swallowed those words.nxKsn
90aFnB“Vernell will not choose a cowardly path. He always insists on facing everything head-on. After all, he too is a scholar who pursues absolute truth.”EGoTq
57YGBernard slightly lowered his head.8QEA
DAYOEP“Even so, if you ever believe he is taking the wrong path, tell him in front of me that I am actually a petty man incapable of recognizing him. Then I will withdraw to prepare the event.”Dw7
uPE1Bernard walked past Perda, and Perda let him go.bQqT2Q1
FRVWhat would he gain by striking him or reprimanding him?Mnq6B
4gL0‘Though I am curious.’s1g8z
sTeIj4He was also curious about what kind of person Vernell was according to Bernard.yAYwD3i
BTuiEQFWould he collapse because he had not been acknowledged?doS
PNVI4JaOr would he be reborn exactly as Bernard expected?lTzN3
jmwjPerda pretended to know nothing and went to Vernell’s room.pyj
G8HTrThe shock had still not left him, because he had not even closed the door properly, allowing Perda to enter easily.5glEPM
CNdm7VoVernell was sitting at the table inside the room.5KyW4
fdh2s23His shoulders trembled and he was breathing heavily.N389J
0MM“Yes… damn it… then I will increase that efficiency myself!”zZy6h
av5Ntc3Tears fell one after another, but his hands and mind did not stop.kld
fVmsHe was correcting every single point Bernard had pointed out.TPcR
K3FqQ“Realistic? Yes… within one month I will raise it to 20%. You will see. Everyone who mocked me… I will make every last one of them acknowledge me. Damn it…”GRT6
O6uoYrA thirst for revenge could clearly be felt in every word.jdvlL3e
KJf4RDvAnd he used that emotion as fuel to think.onx
ce5mhoXRevenge was like that.m1kW6
8jUTIt made you forget exhaustion.qpQz
C9WyIh5And it gave you obsessive concentration to devote yourself to one single thing.bjw2
f8e‘The difference between him and me…’xp0rwn
ss9EWas that he, exactly as Bernard expected, chose the correct path.0bt7O
DagMGThat was why Perda quietly closed the door and left.jvzwsQ
ikF***pOIt
bZd“Move that away from there. Compared to when you set it up, it looks awful. Handle that object carefully!”yWwt
4sLfv7Stephan directed the workers while reviewing the decoration blueprints.m2Zp
nUU“Boss, we brought the object. Where do you want it displayed?”bfbw
sfRiJju“Good work. Hang it on that wall! Did you bring the hooks?”0WZe
PhaIeU“Yes.”P1GnqoB
1MO8KZQ“Check again that they are secured properly. It is important! It could even cost me my head!”xMtgvin
cy47maThe objects they had were magic stones brought as samples and weapons that used them.Kpf
KYnAJust in case, they also prepared blueprints for future projects to show that there was already a long-term vision.Fx8AJ1t
L7tThe main object was a long tube connected to complex wires and hanging glass bottles.3vL6a5
mhGThey called it a magitech rifle.boM3ga
KPjvWZ‘That is a weapon?’fIbe
sByqNHe had heard the researchers say it was something with great performance, but he had never seen a demonstration.elH
zWhRDid it really work?keU
uxf“Oh, brother? What a coincidence to find you here.”ZVKogkF
by9A familiar voice struck Stephan’s ears.iTVQvo
OVofAn unexpected person.62vDhf
RQdbTJ0Though thinking about it carefully, she was someone who was bound to appear.ePNb
WsmAll the important merchants participated in the exhibition, so there was no way the Pascal family would not attend.q0Op
EvkAnd even knowing that, Tilda’s presence always made Stephan uncomfortable.wkOOCOO
tPYxHe disliked her.OPC
k4jx“Did you come alone?”3bYM2uf
5lGN“No. Of course I came with my fiancé. He is over there, right, Henri?”FlR
taKvA man walked toward them with a cheerful smile.LhFGVDT
1YyHe was a fat middle-aged man in his thirties.Nugmv
3x8g5Henri Dandolo.bbXAea
Z5pGThe heir of Dandolo, one of the Empire’s largest trading companies.963u
E008dTI“Tilda, my love. I brought the cocktail you wanted.”nEne
AjAQxThe fat man smiled foolishly while handing her the glass.AGa
nHEJU4The beautiful black-haired woman, slender and relatively small, stared at the drink.yI1hALd
q8QV2zShe puffed out her lips and slightly moistened her eyes.MbeUGwU
HbCJkyQ“But this is Cherry Bomb, isn’t it?”1gg235G
6ct9SsA“Huh? Yes…”KbSzL5
VTgPZO“I wanted to drink Blue Sapphire…”ferf
bdFkATilda slightly shook her shoulders while blinking.yJjA
UJjgd5Seeing her like that, Henri Dandolo smiled awkwardly and nodded.5jJhXe
KrZ0q2l“Ah, sorry. I will bring another one!”QUXmBU
3VKWxPJ“Thank you. I knew I could only rely on you.”Ulw
mmgwKz“Brother-in-law! Let us talk later!”VExX2uf
OXoZfL“A-ah, yes… of course…”kHD
UiauTilda smiled.Ptv
6ZQgd6And upon seeing that smile, Henri happily hurried away to fetch another cocktail.zMc
SVPStephan frowned as he watched him.dgkNa
Smi“Why are you making your fiancé work instead of leaving it to the servants?”E5U
iML6dY“Why do you think? Because I cannot stand looking at his face.”qWkqpL
cTOlTilda smiled venomously.2WPygZ
bI9nf6In front of others she pretended to be elegant, but she did not do that with Stephan.ZJRCZyw
qq8EDdVThat meant she saw him as someone beneath her.iq1V5
2Me“Does he know how horrible your true intentions are?”zfbQ1hh
4JRHXFY“Of course not. A man who has not even managed to take off my underwear does not have that kind of perception.”kbrW
BxpPQZ“I am sure he would love to hear this conversation.”uIwmX0j
RfLq“If you have the guts, go ahead.”MGAlEj
c5AIt was always like this.3rPfISd
DEDKOqShe acted as if she were above all men and tried to manipulate them.NNoIts
qVpVzShe had been like that since childhood.bVR5IFg
ifyIf someone displeased her, she dug traps to destroy them or leave them deeply wounded.yMy
VW7BT0At first they were childish things.15lc
7dAfBut as she grew older, she became increasingly calculating.Ndg0oCH
lZuLWrStephan was afraid of that Tilda.Fpjk
DmMmiqHe had seen the monster hidden behind that smile, yet he could not even comprehend what kind of monster it was.GR67
WGUvCT“So these are the eastern things you support?”Liz
1pkWith her fan covering her lips, she looked at the magitech rifle.PMHC
BgHq1lA“Yes.”uYHeYi
haTDvsD“How cute. You brought something like this.”JWIl
butHz“Hm…”DuHdS0k
U6cDShe let out a small sigh while pretending to examine it carefully before turning her head.GfwQlh
dZc0o“To me, it looks more like a work of art.”RAg
KzZjThe implied question was obvious.oywP3KL
anFDoes this really serve any purpose?Uq9j
ikETol“Of course it does.”bjpjpS
1PCjF“And how does it work?”EZtsr
Ak1tmeS“Well… you pull here and then do this and that… and it works on its own.”zfvEZ
qdYoThe more doubtful the explanation became, the deeper Tilda’s smile grew.MfzS2
bcHb4“So you have never actually seen it work.”Y13
9hUVt“……”sOr
2GVD“Well, this is an exhibition. Even if you hang up something incomplete, nobody will notice. Ah, right.”igGSS
qsIShe placed her index finger on her chin with a carefree expression.Cb6
Kpow“Is there not also a presentation?”MzoQF5A
rCWdFHer eyes clearly said she already knew everything.N0PL
knK3gVIIf she knew about the magic stones, then obviously she also knew about the main presentation.L5dgJ6S
zgzSk“Why did you bring something you have never seen functioning? If it explodes in the middle of the demonstration, you will only end up humiliating yourself.”eSu
SgmLLX“I suppose.”l5x
xJfxXst“As an exhibition piece it is fine, but hm… I am not sure this will really make money. Just as father said, the east seems useless…”hzkNF
QVndUvA crescent-moon smile appeared on her lips.rFKA1M
2Ny5qY9That expression.oFjLUI
LLrWdThe same expression she had used to crush him countless times when they still lived within the Pascal family.mgFqgv0
U9r“Do not worry, sister.”Jlzr
9wFQBut today was different.ZO3jc
5FxHTbStephan was far more confident than before.tyqPY0
bJ5NB“While you cling to a man’s crotch, I hold onto my sponsor’s shoulders.”laLTB7N
tbOYIt was quite a vulgar provocation.8fYDm3
Ql8cBut it worked perfectly.wboWa
YYqR1mETilda glared at him fiercely.adn
KFS1hStephan dared to answer back to her?p60y
aFU8VHer hands trembled with rage.jWTtl
oCisNormally Stephan would have backed down.MZq
mLgiBut not anymore.ncSCNf
tFYhPTNow he had the best support possible behind him.2Ws
vML‘Damn it, even so she is still terrifying.’00RPE
Ny1Remembering how she used to strike without caring about consequences during childhood, cold sweat ran down his back.N66WtPT
6EBB6“Could you move aside?”hrURY5O
eBzuA voice sounded behind her.faKcWTR
ARaThe fierce expression on Tilda’s face immediately relaxed as she turned around.4mJv
JTWQGA tall man with gray hair and blue eyes.7nkq
zGCEHe wore a black uniform with red details.Rzu6
n1ZPC4TAlthough he was young, he radiated an aura unfitting for his age.rtx
zdhV3K6‘So this is Perda Valdrova.’Y5qGK
sCtOxHis cold expression perfectly matched the nickname of ruthless killer he had earned after killing Tesalos Wolcher.3JyzDy6
Zc6And that alone was enough to capture Tilda’s interest.dlYnhoX
ODFShe smiled elegantly and made a refined bow.DTAH
Ckh“A pleasure to meet you, Regent Valdrova. I am Tilda Pascal and—”RQ5APVZ
LTTOc72“I do not care who you are, so move aside.”IWeB
7XxPe9F“E-excuse me?”P5tOF9
suuHe interrupted her greeting without hesitation.h3yQ
SMShHis attitude was incredibly rude, but Tilda could not even feel angry inside.a8ZD
7mJTEThose blue eyes looking at her were so cold and icy that they seemed to freeze her veins.Lty
QklQud“You do not understand when spoken to. I told you to disappear from my sight.”Uj1p
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Haimiya_cutie.
Body IntegrationShe is living in her delusional world where she’s on top but in front of mc she’s just a brat.