"Is that old professor very famous?" Renji had actually been paying attention to that old professor earlier, who was the first to analyze and speculate on the "Brand Technology."
"Very famous? Brother Renji, don't tell me you're one of those scholars completely detached from worldly affairs? You don't even know Professor Einstein?" Keyji widened his eyes in disbelief.
"Einstein?"
"Yes, he's on par with Professor Newton, a big shot in the 'Ancient Studies' academic circle of our Sin City. He has published many papers on ancient studies, especially on the topic of the 'Great Emperor', like 'Dawn of the Long Night - The Ashen Emperor's Tale', 'Stories of the Great Emperor', 'Origins of the Ashen Empire', and his most famous work, 'Challenging the Divine with a Mortal Body'."
"Professor Einstein's claim to fame was his theory about the Great Emperor's 'Ordinary Origins'. While many ancient studies scholars, and even the mainstream academic community, believed that the Great Emperor was born with an invincible bloodline, at least a Disaster Rank Eclipse, possessing unparalleled talent and overwhelming everything with sheer violence."
"But only Professor Einstein insisted that the Great Emperor was of ordinary birth and lineage, even just a commoner like you and me. The Great Emperor's real extraordinariness was his heart, knowing the suffering of the common folk, striving to aid the world, to fight for all those in suffering, to conquer in all directions, and purify the Tainted Miasma as a savior!"
"Professor Einstein used various historical texts and records to prove to the world that, in the Great Emperor's lifetime, he never embezzled a single penny! Do you understand what that means? It's like allocating every resource to combat the Tainted Miasma. Even when his power grew immense, the Great Emperor's pure heart never wavered. Even his five personal guards, he never touched them once, and he didn't leave even a single descendant until the end!"
"Brother Renji, do you understand what that means? It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him a saint. With our temperament, let alone reaching the Great Emperor's level of supreme power over the world, we might just settle down after gaining a little territory in the old world and start thinking about having children."
Renji: "..."
In the silence, Renji, on his left, Keyji, also a professor of "Ancient Studies", showed admiration and reverence for the Great Emperor, while on his right, Eileen looked at him with a strange expression.
Looking at the young girl's expression, it seemed as if she was saying,
-"Can there be such a big change in five hundred years?"-
Indeed.
'Now that I think about it, we, as "serious gamers," seem almost saint-like to the people in the game world. We never indulge in extravagance or abuse power, focusing solely on leveling up, gaining territory, and strategizing to strengthen our empires with minimal resources, wracking our brains over how to clear levels and defeat bosses'
'Simply put we were professional!'
"So, it's precisely because of Professor Einstein and his forever legendary quote – 'Do you understand the Great Emperor, or do I understand the Great Emperor!?'"
"Those scholars who thought the Great Emperor was extremely lascivious, only liking to play with women, didn't dare to speak out. Otherwise, without Professor Einstein, if ancient studies continued on the wrong path, the consequences would be unimaginable."
"The most classic and outrageous example is the rumor that the Great Emperor's personal guards, unable to tolerate it any longer, conspired to murder him in the end. It's all ignorant nonsense! Ridiculous! Absurd!"
Amidst Keyji's furious denunciations, Eileen, sitting next to Renji, shrank her head; after all, she was one of the proponents of this twisted logic back then.
Although she still believes so now, and even more firmly.
Perhaps realizing he got a bit too excited after talking about Professor Einstein and deviated from the topic, Keyji quickly refocused on the present.
"It shouldn't be possible. Professor Einstein is so respected, a guiding star in our Sin City's 'Ancient Studies' field. How could a small company like Kael Technology possibly poach someone like him!"
"Unless... unless"
While Keyji was muttering to himself, it seemed that William and the gray-haired old professor had reached some sort of consensus. Both were smiling, and they even shook hands in the end.
This made Keyji's face fall noticeably. He quickly thought of a possibility.
Only this possibility could make Professor Einstein leave Sin City and switch to Kael Technology.
That is,
"Brother Renji, could this Brand Technology be related to the Great Emperor?"
For Professor Einstein, who dedicated his life to "Ancient Studies," only something related to the "Great Emperor" could make him waver and abandon everything.
After all, for a scholar, especially a top scholar, knowledge is everything.
"We're doomed! Sin City's ancient studies will probably regress by ten years now! No, no, that's not right! Damn it! If even Professor Einstein is leaving, then the others..."
Keyji's worries soon became a reality. There was no need to wait until the third day. Many scholars at the scene, seeing that even Professor Einstein had signed a contract with William, no longer hesitated and chose to join Kael Technology.
They weren't after anything else, just the knowledge of "Brand Technology," much like how money is to a businessman, knowledge is always the best bait for a scholar.
As the leader of the consultant group, Caroline didn't express any particular opinion on this. From the beginning, she made it clear that her responsibility was only the safety and coordination of the consultant group. As for the scholars inside, as citizens of the "Free City" of Sin City, she had no authority to restrict or bind them. f(r)eewebn(o)vel.com
Of course, there were still many scholars like Keyji who valued their sense of belonging to Sin City more than knowledge and remained unmoved by Kael Technology's olive branch.
For those who resisted the temptation and stayed true, Keyji felt deeply moved in his heart. Indeed, there were still people like him in Sin City, with the soul of Sin City.
"Brother Renji, you surely wouldn't—eh!? Renji, Brother Renji, where are you going!??"
Renji ignored Keyji's attempts to hold him back and walked straight towards Tia, who seemed to be William's subordinate, now signing employee contracts with many scholars.
His original goal was to get into Kyle Company and then find a way into "Dream Zero." Moreover, he's not a citizen of Sin City, so "switching sides" now comes with no pressure.
And Renji believes in Lena, after all, how does that saying go?
Right.
'This is part of the plan'
Left in her seat, Eileen looked at Keyji next to her, who seemed to be saying, "I misjudged you!" The face of this wealthy second-generation now filled with indignation towards Renji.
Eileen wanted to comfort Keyji and defend Renji, but before the girl could speak, Keyji, seemingly turning his grief into strength, pulled out his phone.
Then, under Eileen's astonished gaze, Keyji tearfully bought several billion more shares of Kael Company.
"Dr. Renji, the paperwork is complete. From today onwards, you are officially a member of Kael Technology. Welcome to our big family. We hope that one day, you can be proud of Kael Technology, and Kael Technology can be proud of you."
"Here is your work ID, badge, employee number, and a series of related items, such as the employee handbook, work uniform, housing subsidy, financial application, laboratory application, etc. Someone will deliver these to your residence later."
"Now, Dr. Renji, please don't rush to leave. As part of the company, Kael Technology is committed to being responsible for the life safety and health of each employee. Soon, relevant staff will come to arrange medical insurance for every member of the Sin City consultant group, including you."
"The medical insurance provided by the top medical company from the Dream City, 'Emergency Squad'," Tia added with a smile to Renji.
"Is that old professor very famous?" Renji had actually been paying attention to that old professor earlier, who was the first to analyze and speculate on the "Brand Technology."
"Very famous? Brother Renji, don't tell me you're one of those scholars completely detached from worldly affairs? You don't even know Professor Einstein?" Keyji widened his eyes in disbelief.
"Einstein?"
"Yes, he's on par with Professor Newton, a big shot in the 'Ancient Studies' academic circle of our Sin City. He has published many papers on ancient studies, especially on the topic of the 'Great Emperor', like 'Dawn of the Long Night - The Ashen Emperor's Tale', 'Stories of the Great Emperor', 'Origins of the Ashen Empire', and his most famous work, 'Challenging the Divine with a Mortal Body'."
"Professor Einstein's claim to fame was his theory about the Great Emperor's 'Ordinary Origins'. While many ancient studies scholars, and even the mainstream academic community, believed that the Great Emperor was born with an invincible bloodline, at least a Disaster Rank Eclipse, possessing unparalleled talent and overwhelming everything with sheer violence."
"But only Professor Einstein insisted that the Great Emperor was of ordinary birth and lineage, even just a commoner like you and me. The Great Emperor's real extraordinariness was his heart, knowing the suffering of the common folk, striving to aid the world, to fight for all those in suffering, to conquer in all directions, and purify the Tainted Miasma as a savior!"
"Professor Einstein used various historical texts and records to prove to the world that, in the Great Emperor's lifetime, he never embezzled a single penny! Do you understand what that means? It's like allocating every resource to combat the Tainted Miasma. Even when his power grew immense, the Great Emperor's pure heart never wavered. Even his five personal guards, he never touched them once, and he didn't leave even a single descendant until the end!"
"Brother Renji, do you understand what that means? It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him a saint. With our temperament, let alone reaching the Great Emperor's level of supreme power over the world, we might just settle down after gaining a little territory in the old world and start thinking about having children."
Renji: "..."
In the silence, Renji, on his left, Keyji, also a professor of "Ancient Studies", showed admiration and reverence for the Great Emperor, while on his right, Eileen looked at him with a strange expression.
Looking at the young girl's expression, it seemed as if she was saying,
-"Can there be such a big change in five hundred years?"-
Indeed.
'Now that I think about it, we, as "serious gamers," seem almost saint-like to the people in the game world. We never indulge in extravagance or abuse power, focusing solely on leveling up, gaining territory, and strategizing to strengthen our empires with minimal resources, wracking our brains over how to clear levels and defeat bosses'
'Simply put we were professional!'
"So, it's precisely because of Professor Einstein and his forever legendary quote – 'Do you understand the Great Emperor, or do I understand the Great Emperor!?'"
"Those scholars who thought the Great Emperor was extremely lascivious, only liking to play with women, didn't dare to speak out. Otherwise, without Professor Einstein, if ancient studies continued on the wrong path, the consequences would be unimaginable."
"The most classic and outrageous example is the rumor that the Great Emperor's personal guards, unable to tolerate it any longer, conspired to murder him in the end. It's all ignorant nonsense! Ridiculous! Absurd!"
Amidst Keyji's furious denunciations, Eileen, sitting next to Renji, shrank her head; after all, she was one of the proponents of this twisted logic back then.
Although she still believes so now, and even more firmly.
Perhaps realizing he got a bit too excited after talking about Professor Einstein and deviated from the topic, Keyji quickly refocused on the present.
"It shouldn't be possible. Professor Einstein is so respected, a guiding star in our Sin City's 'Ancient Studies' field. How could a small company like Kael Technology possibly poach someone like him!"
"Unless... unless"
While Keyji was muttering to himself, it seemed that William and the gray-haired old professor had reached some sort of consensus. Both were smiling, and they even shook hands in the end.
This made Keyji's face fall noticeably. He quickly thought of a possibility.
Only this possibility could make Professor Einstein leave Sin City and switch to Kael Technology.
That is,
"Brother Renji, could this Brand Technology be related to the Great Emperor?"
For Professor Einstein, who dedicated his life to "Ancient Studies," only something related to the "Great Emperor" could make him waver and abandon everything.
After all, for a scholar, especially a top scholar, knowledge is everything.
"We're doomed! Sin City's ancient studies will probably regress by ten years now! No, no, that's not right! Damn it! If even Professor Einstein is leaving, then the others..."
Keyji's worries soon became a reality. There was no need to wait until the third day. Many scholars at the scene, seeing that even Professor Einstein had signed a contract with William, no longer hesitated and chose to join Kael Technology.
They weren't after anything else, just the knowledge of "Brand Technology," much like how money is to a businessman, knowledge is always the best bait for a scholar.
As the leader of the consultant group, Caroline didn't express any particular opinion on this. From the beginning, she made it clear that her responsibility was only the safety and coordination of the consultant group. As for the scholars inside, as citizens of the "Free City" of Sin City, she had no authority to restrict or bind them. f(r)eewebn(o)vel.com
Of course, there were still many scholars like Keyji who valued their sense of belonging to Sin City more than knowledge and remained unmoved by Kael Technology's olive branch.
For those who resisted the temptation and stayed true, Keyji felt deeply moved in his heart. Indeed, there were still people like him in Sin City, with the soul of Sin City.
"Brother Renji, you surely wouldn't—eh!? Renji, Brother Renji, where are you going!??"
Renji ignored Keyji's attempts to hold him back and walked straight towards Tia, who seemed to be William's subordinate, now signing employee contracts with many scholars.
His original goal was to get into Kyle Company and then find a way into "Dream Zero." Moreover, he's not a citizen of Sin City, so "switching sides" now comes with no pressure.
And Renji believes in Lena, after all, how does that saying go?
Right.
'This is part of the plan'
Left in her seat, Eileen looked at Keyji next to her, who seemed to be saying, "I misjudged you!" The face of this wealthy second-generation now filled with indignation towards Renji.
Eileen wanted to comfort Keyji and defend Renji, but before the girl could speak, Keyji, seemingly turning his grief into strength, pulled out his phone.
Then, under Eileen's astonished gaze, Keyji tearfully bought several billion more shares of Kael Company.
"Dr. Renji, the paperwork is complete. From today onwards, you are officially a member of Kael Technology. Welcome to our big family. We hope that one day, you can be proud of Kael Technology, and Kael Technology can be proud of you."
"Here is your work ID, badge, employee number, and a series of related items, such as the employee handbook, work uniform, housing subsidy, financial application, laboratory application, etc. Someone will deliver these to your residence later."
"Now, Dr. Renji, please don't rush to leave. As part of the company, Kael Technology is committed to being responsible for the life safety and health of each employee. Soon, relevant staff will come to arrange medical insurance for every member of the Sin City consultant group, including you."
"The medical insurance provided by the top medical company from the Dream City, 'Emergency Squad'," Tia added with a smile to Renji.
