Apocalypse Forecast

Chapter 582 489: The Pressing Matter at Hand_1

And so, amidst the sudden thunderous noise, the framework of the Ivory Tower briefly opened a crevice, allowing an overly massive package to descend from the sky.

Wrapped in hurricanes and howls, it burst forth with a booming sound akin to that of a meteorite.

Then, as if weightless, it settled among the green grass without the slightest disturbance or ripple one might have anticipated.

Rooted upon landing.

The Alchemy Matrix of the Spirit Coffin instantly expanded, flawlessly integrating into the Cycle of the Ivory Tower, becoming a part of this place without any incongruity.

Except for the still-lingering hurricane.

In the tender lamplight hanging above the iron gate, an exquisite courtyard revealed itself behind the fence. Among the ancient-looking houses, a White Horse leisurely ambled forward. After sneakily glancing left and right and confirming the old man wasn't paying attention, it lowered its head to nibble on the carefully maintained seedbed in the courtyard.

As his long hair, whipped up by the storm, gradually settled, the young man at the forefront slowly turned back, smiling at the astonished Andrea.

"Welcome to Stone Marrow Pavilion."

Huai Shi extended his hand, pushing open the gate, and greeted the visitor with a smile. "You must be the first guest of the year."

As dusk settled, the light from behind cast the young man's smile in an elusive light, making it seem as if it were 'gone with the wind,' flickering and about to dissolve.

This caused Andrea to pause, and she couldn't help but remark, "It would be better if you were a little older."

She subconsciously raised her hand, then, finally noticing her own lapse in composure, awkwardly retracted it. She simply tucked her hair back, shaking her head with a sigh.

"Had I known, I should have brought a bottle of fine wine."

"A few days ago, a friend from Tengu Mountain sent over a bottle of Bitter Zen. I wonder if Professor Andrea would be interested."

"Sake? Anton, that fellow, would definitely love it, though that drunkard enjoys any kind of alcohol. Later, even if you plan to serve us, just bring out one flask. Any more would be like feeding a pig; his drinking etiquette is truly awful."

The professor reminded him, paused for a moment, then suddenly said,

"Just call me Andrea."

.

.

Half an hour later, the guests finally arrived after Andrea's announcement.

Huai Shi, having changed out of his adventurous gear, put on a somewhat more formal outfit. During that time, he had gone to the kitchen to offer help, but there was absolutely no need for him there.

Uncle Fang had taken care of everything all by himself.

His presence would have only caused trouble.

By the time Huai Shi returned to the living room, all the guests had arrived. Unlike Andrea, having been informed it was a formal visit, they had each brought a small gift.

A few bottles of wine, some unique handicrafts, or perhaps something they had made themselves. Just as Dongxia people enjoyed bringing fruits and yogurt when visiting, the gifts weren't expensive, but observing proper etiquette was essential.

"Let me introduce you." Andrea clapped Huai Shi on the shoulder and gestured towards the guests who had arrived that evening, starting with the eldest man, who wore a tuxedo and had graying hair.

"This is the main lecturer of the Dynamics Classroom, Professor Anton. He's the most senior among us, with 60 years of work history at the Ivory Tower."

"You flatter me," Professor Anton nodded deferentially.

"This is the main lecturer of the Alchemy Transformation Classroom, Mr. Condra."

Another elegant-looking, black-haired professor of Roman descent nodded to Huai Shi.

"And this is a colleague you'll often see in your office in the future: the director of the school's main classical oil painting classroom and a nationally renowned artist, Kelly Christian."

This professor possessed an androgynous beauty so striking it was hard to determine his gender. His lively and exuberant gender-neutral charm permeated his every action, making even Huai Shi feel uncharacteristically inadequate.

"I've long admired your name."

He was the most enthusiastic of the group, holding Huai Shi's hand the longest, seemingly reluctant to let go, his eyes ablaze with passion. "I've admired you for a long time, Lord Prince. Would you be interested in modeling for my classroom? I guarantee a painting will be born that will incite fervor."

"Ah, well..." Huai Shi felt a chill run down his spine.

Especially Professor Kelly's gaze, which was almost penetrating, made Huai Shi feel as if he had been seen right through.

If he hadn't been able to discern the pure admiration for art in Kelly's expression, Huai Shi might have suspected he was gay.

"I don't really mind gender; beauty transcends gender, doesn't it?"

Kelly, as if knowing Huai Shi's thoughts, openly revealed his preferences. But just before overstepping, he released Huai Shi's hand, maintaining a polite distance, and smiled. "I think we'll have a lot in common."

"Don't mind him. Those guys from the Muse Club are all like that. Don't engage. If you get entangled with him, you might need to consider reporting a stalker to the administration..."

Andrea dismissively waved for him to calm down. Clearly, they were all familiar enough with each other to joke around like this.

"Finally, it's my turn. As you know, I'm one of the main lecturers in the Thermodynamics Classroom."

Andrea only introduced their positions in the Academic Research Office and didn't mention their other work. Clearly, these individuals were not merely teachers. At this welcome dinner, their roles were as elder mentors of the Ivory Tower; nothing else needed to be said.

"It's a pity. I originally wanted to introduce Li to you, but he left recently and isn't expected to be at the school for the next few years," Andrea lamented with regret.

"Li?"

"Yes, your peer. He's a Disastrous Musician recognized by The Infernal Alliance Association and was also the main lecturer of the classical art classroom. He seems to have gone to Deep Hell for inspiration recently. In a letter a few days ago, he mentioned finding inspiration and didn't know when he'd be able to return."

Huai Shi's scalp tingled.

He knew all too well what his 'peers' were like. For them, music that caused landslides and earthquakes was just average; musicians like himself, dedicated to cultivating sentiment, were a rarity.

To seek inspiration in Hell... he couldn't imagine what ungodly effects the composition would produce once it was written and performed.

At the same time, he felt a pang of regret. After all, interacting with a bona fide Disastrous Musician would be far more beneficial than fumbling about on his own.

"By the way, he specifically mentioned you in his letter. He asked me to convey his congratulations and said he looks forward to you visiting the Association's headquarters sometime, as many Disastrous Musicians are very curious about you."

"No, no, I'll pass."

Huai Shi wiped the cold sweat from his brow. He could easily imagine a chaotic horde of them scrutinizing the 'newbie.'

He was already unconventional enough; a visit to the Association's headquarters, and his style would probably veer completely off course, plunging into the deepest sea trench.

It was apparent that Andrea was taking very good care of him.

No doubt, those who came today were the heavyweights of the Academic Research Office. With their help, his upcoming work would likely go much smoother.

At the very least, with their recognition, he, an enforcer from the Astronomical Society, wouldn't be treated as an outcast here.

Thanks to Huai Shi's 'Cowherd' social skills, the dinner was a delightful affair for both host and guests. Amidst the festivities, the warmly hosted guests subtly hinted at the real challenge Huai Shi was about to face.

In reality, it wasn't a problem that absolutely had to be solved or an insurmountable obstacle, but rather a hurdle he had to overcome if he truly wanted to make an impact within the Ivory Tower's university structure.

That hurdle was obtaining a formal seat within one of the university faculty's critical departments—the Academic Research Office.

A formal seat in the Academic Research Office granted eligibility to attend the school's internal management meetings and compete for the annual teaching budget. Most importantly, it ensured preferential access to research funding and considerable assistance from the Ivory Tower's various departments.

If Huai Shi could become a formal member of the Academic Research Office, then most of the Ivory Tower's departmental facilities would be freely accessible to him.

This included access to the cutting-edge Source Laboratory, a vast array of Alchemy equipment, and the world's most advanced research facilities. Crucially, it also meant the support of the Ivory Tower's branches in Hell and allied organizations.

This encompassed over 6 Border experimental zones, 3 Shallow Hell pilot projects, and the unconditional cooperation of numerous subordinate departments.

Furthermore, it involved connections Huai Shi was familiar with, like the Hell Music Association, Muse Club, and Hairdressers Association. It even meant the ability to use public funds to hire Mercenaries from the Homeless Cemetery for expeditions, enjoy free use of all school-purchased patents, and gain A-level clearance from the Stone Pot Society, providing access to a vast number of alchemy recipes.

All of this was possible only by becoming a formal member of the Academic Research Office.

The first thing that sprang to Huai Shi's mind was Soloist's Sky's Command—the matter he should address immediately: cultivating his own Hell Swarm.

If he could leverage the Ivory Tower's manpower and resources, this goal wouldn't seem so daunting.

"However, the real issue lies in one point." Professor Anton, the most experienced among them, set down his wine glass and said earnestly, "Formal membership in the Academic Research Office is, in fact, a false proposition."

"Hmm?" Huai Shi was puzzled.

"All teachers, technically, are members of the Academic Research Office," said Anton. "This includes over 1,000 permanent teachers with official contracts, the honorary professors casually appointed by the principal over the years, and various temporary teachers hired for a few terms now and then."

He continued, "By the rules, everyone is a member of the Academic Research Office—you understand what I mean, Mr. Huai Shi?"

Huai Shi raised his eyebrows.

He was all too familiar with this setup.

No, anyone in society would be familiar with it. It was simply the unwritten hierarchy used to differentiate ranks within an office. Or, more overtly, like in a government entity where tenured staff and contract workers are clearly different. It was the same when descending into Hell—those from the Heavenly Kingdom Genealogy always seemed more like locals.

The unwritten rules and distinctions were omnipresent.

So then, the key question arose.

"What truly makes the difference?" Huai Shi asked.

"The classroom."

Anton stated bluntly, "A classroom that belongs to you, and only you, as a permanent fixture."