Chapter 855
Chapter 855
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 855
Chapter Title: Thesis Audit (3)
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1.
"Well done. As expected, you didn't let me down, Lisenn."
Baron Dmer welcomed her with a smile that said everything was going according to plan.
"I'm sorry. I went ahead and accepted their additional condition on my own."
Lisenn bowed her head, glancing at Baron Dmer's expression.
She had dragged out the proceedings just as desired, but in the process, she'd accepted a proposal from Siu's side.
With a hundred spectators in attendance, defeat in this debate would mean paying out a considerable sum.
Of course, Lisenn didn't have that kind of money, and Baron Dmer had promised to cover any future costs, so if things went wrong, it would fall on her tab.
"It's fine. It's obviously just a bluff anyway. Or maybe he's gotten cocky from always being coddled."
"Right?"
"Of course."
To Baron Dmer, who was utterly confident of victory, the amount of compensation was irrelevant no matter how high.
In her eyes, Siu's reaction during the negotiations boiled down to one of two things.
Either a bluff hoping Lisenn would back down out of fear of the sum involved.
Or the reckless bravado of a young witch drunk on the fame others had built for her.
Either way, there was no need to overthink it.
Even if Siu somehow won by a fluke, the cost of a house call was hardly a big deal.
"Oh ho ho, I can't wait for tomorrow. Right, Lisenn?"
"...Yes."
Baron Dmer stroked her lovely bracelet and laughed heartily, oblivious to Lisenn's uneasy demeanor.
2.
"You're sneakily clever, aren't you?"
Sophia, having heard about the negotiations, couldn't hide her inner admiration.
As a scholar, his exceptional talent had been clear from this thesis alone.
But she hadn't realized he was the type to scheme like a fox as well.
The Siu she'd observed had always struck her as the quintessential genius type—clueless about practicalities like Amelia and hopeless at socializing like the Tiferet Duke.
And yet here he was?
He'd gone into the negotiations alone, boldly standing his ground, and emerged with a solid deal as his trophy.
"It'd be too pathetic to let them raise the stakes unilaterally."
"Fair enough."
"Gotta squeeze a ton of money out of them to make it worth it."
"Should I get you a gift too?"
"Of course. You helped out."
"How thoughtful. There's this fountain pen I've had my eye on."
Siu chewed grumpily on his cigarette filter, looking distinctly displeased.
He'd been in a funk since yesterday, but to Sophia, it came off as rather endearing.
In truth, this audit had felt like a one-sided imposition.
Even if the accusation was unpleasant, there was no avoiding it, and failure to clear his name would leave Siu bearing all the risk—a nasty dilemma.
The accusers, meanwhile, faced virtually none.
But Siu had baited them with 'spectators' and 'open debate,' then saddled them with the 'compensation' risk.
"You knew they'd accept it outright?"
"Naturally. From their perspective, I'm just a naive young witch high on her guardian's power. If they back down from stakes this low, where's their pride? It's not even a formal duel."
He didn't obsess over others' opinions, yet he knew exactly how to exploit their preconceptions.
That alone would make him a shrewd opportunist, but the overwhelming confidence stemmed from his own abilities—that made it impressive.
"Why didn't you submit your research notes?"
"To seem a bit more vulnerable. They'll think, 'He must be hiding something.'"
"Bluffing material?"
"Partly, but my notes are such a jumble anyway. They even include bits I didn't intend to submit with the thesis."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"If the thesis is the first-generation prototype, the magic I'm using now is like fifth-gen. But the notes have everything mixed together. No need to reveal my whole playbook."
Sophia had to concentrate for a moment to grasp what he meant.
Even when witches shared data, they always omitted the real secrets.
But this thesis, already stirring up a storm in academia, was just the prototype?
"......"
Sophia felt a twinge of inevitable jealousy but quickly suppressed it.
"Impressive. How was the atmosphere? A less experienced young witch might find it intimidating."
"Just felt like a bunch of witches passionate about research."
"Makes sense, with all the heavy hitters around you. You'll do great tomorrow too, right?"
"Of course."
"No prep needed?"
"Nope. I've done plenty like this during house calls already."
Sophia flashed a thumbs-up.
"Love the confidence. I'll help with your outfit that day."
"Outfit?"
"The moment you bring in spectators, image matters. Those people could turn into allies or enemies anytime. I'll coach you to project a cool, sharp charisma."
3.
"Did you hear?"
"About the thesis misconduct audit, right?"
"They say Senior Librarian Lisenn filed it."
"No way... She's got guts."
"The Jemernai Countess won't be pleased."
Gehenna was abuzz with the hot new scandal once more.
That name echoing endlessly lately, enough to make one's ears numb.
Siu.
The news that the man who'd dropped this intractable puzzle of a thesis was now facing off in a misconduct audit at the library had proven quite the stimulant.
Not to mention the spectator selection, offering a chance to witness what amounted to a magical thesis showdown without needing pricey gifts.
The library's audit committee had announced priority seating: 30 spots for the Veritas Academic Society and 30 for the Emerald Tablet, with the remaining 40 randomly drawn from applicants.
"Did you apply for spectator?"
"Didn't get in. Bummer."
"Siu seems pretty confident. Word is, his side proposed the open debate too."
"Whoa, they've got some nerve."
"Wonder if he's got something to back it up, or if he's just clueless..."
"Results will tell."
"Sigh, I should've been there..."
And so, with countless witches' attention focused.
The lucky ones selected as spectators sat in Hall 2, eagerly awaiting the start of what promised to be an epic magic thesis battle.
Interest in the accuser Lisenn was lukewarm at best, but the gazes fixed on author Siu burned with intensity.
Suspicion, dogma, vague aversion, pure curiosity—all mixed in.
Yet he seemed utterly at ease, accustomed to the spotlight.
Siu the sharp handsome man, suit jacket draped loosely, hair slicked back, leg crossed, smoking casually.
A hint of cockiness, perhaps, but with the audit not started yet, it was fine.
If anything, it made Lisenn's side—stiffly seated—look less assured.
As witches from the two major societies eyed each other warily, minding their prestige, the random spectators chatted freely.
"He's quite the looker."
"Smokes so sexily..."
"Was he always this image? Seemed milder before."
Of course, not all random spectators were favorable to Siu.
Especially from the conservative traditionalists in the Veritas Society and Emerald Tablet, who eyed him more critically.
"That green kid looks a bit too smug."
"Clinging to his backing like that—should have limits. Might see the gold leaf peel off today."
5:00 PM sharp.
"We will now commence the 1444th Research Misconduct Audit. Please take your seats."
The hubbub died down at Chief Librarian Gremory's announcement as she checked her watch.
"As announced, today's audit will proceed via in-depth argumentation. Author Siu."
"Yes."
Siu straightened his clothes and ascended the podium with its massive blackboard at the librarian's call.
The thesis published in this journal had deliberately omitted the core proof on topological binding.
Explanations were needed there before Q&A and debate could proceed.
"......"
As Siu took the podium chalk in hand, the already quiet hall fell into heavy silence.
The author himself was now writing out the solution to the headache-inducing enigma that had captivated so many witches.
No flashy words, no introduction, not even a greeting—he headed straight for the antique large blackboard and began writing the proof.
Tap, tack!
No hesitation in jotting equations or drawing magic formulas where needed—not a second's pause.
Not just fast, but elegant handwriting legible even if scribbled on someone's backside.
In moments, one blackboard face was filled white with chalk.
Siu moved seamlessly to the next, filling the rest.
Clack, tack, tackatack.
The clear sound of chalk on board filled the air, drawing gasps from spectators and committee alike.
"Ah..."
"To think it's done like that..."
"So that's the meaning of topological binding..."
Everyone gathered here had grappled with the proof, given the thesis's prominence in witch academia.
Even accuser Lisenn gaped at the board, struck by the proof's Columbus-egg-like ingenuity.
The spectator seats buzzed to life.
Even without full understanding, they hurriedly copied the proof to make it their own.
Watching this, Lisenn grew anxious.
Notable grand witches from both major societies filled many spectator seats.
Until seeing their lineup, she'd felt relieved inwardly.
About half of the sixty were luminaries or grand witches in their fields.
That meant a barrage of tough questions for Siu, with high odds of him failing to answer.
But as the board-filling began, the mood shifted.
Less a misconduct audit, more a lecture by an invited luminary.
"...This isn't good..."
This audit was meant to judge plagiarism, not celebrate achievements.
Yet the spectators seemed to have forgotten, fixated solely on the results.
Clack, clack, clack.
Siu finished the last letter and turned.
"That concludes the proof."
"Accuser Lisenn Erbat, proceed with your prepared questions."
Lisenn stood.
First, she needed to redirect the room's momentum.
"An outstanding proof. But the crux of this audit isn't to judge the thesis's merit—it's to test his capabilities. Any apprentice witch could memorize that and write it in front of others."
The spectators, lost in thought or awe, fell silent.
Some nodded at Lisenn's reminder of the core issue.
"The point is for him to demonstrate his understanding of his own thesis here. I've prepared several fitting questions."
"I hope this audit doesn't condemn a young witch blinded by fame into misconduct, but celebrates a new talent's emergence. Author, first question."
To invoke 'new talent's emergence' after accusing him of plagiarism.
And tacking on 'young witch' was transparently calculated.
Amused, the hitherto expressionless Siu grinned fiercely.
"Go ahead, fire away."
"Author's side, mind your speech."
With Metis's dry warning, the in-depth argumentation truly began.