Maka plopped down on the ground, trembling violently - this abnormal behavior could clearly convey the issue.
A good-for-nothing! Truly unfit for public appearances!
Martin cursed inwardly, planning to tough it out, as he believed Master Roen could not provide solid evidence. As long as he didn't admit it, it would be fine. After leaving the Mage Tower, he would immediately drive that Esen out - with no proof, this thing would remain his, and no one could take it away!
Martin's face was as calm as water, and he looked up slightly, his expression seeming a bit mournful. "Master, I don't understand, why... why did you say that? I'm... so heartbroken. I've worked in the Botanical Garden for six years. In the past..."
Roen raised his hand to stop Martin's confession, and spoke sternly, "Precisely because you've worked in the Botanical Garden for six years, I realize how much you're hiding. Do you remember the evaluation I gave for this data earlier? That was actually the evaluation of my teacher. His exact words were:
'It is original, uncovering the tip of the iceberg of a certain knowledge system. If delved into deeply, it may even trigger an academic revolution.'
I'm telling you this to hint at you. Honestly, now, do you still think you can pull it off?"
Martin raised his head for the first time, looking Roen straight in the eye, and asked, "Why can't I?"
Yolanda, standing aside, couldn't help but admire his courage - it seemed that when a person is driven to a dead end, they may also perform some astonishing feats.
Roen sighed and casually waved his hand, and the magical images from various locations in the Botanical Garden became vividly clear.
Roen said, "Martin, you've been with me for a long time. I originally wanted to give you a dignified exit, as long as you were willing to be honest.
Now it seems, you're still too greedy! Too stupid!
In fact, any corner of the Botanical Garden is under my surveillance. If I wish, I can retrieve images from any time and any place, including the scenes in your bedroom.
I'll ask you one last time - are you sure you want me to tear off the mask?"
Plomp!
Martin knelt down, his face full of trepidation. He was originally just a magic commoner, holding deep reverence for magic. Frightened like this, his mental defenses completely collapsed.
In fact, it was also due to his guilty conscience. Even if he could cover up the matter of the symbols, if Roen really wanted to investigate, this matter could not withstand scrutiny. The three purple-chapter herbalists would inevitably expose the truth, and there would be no way to conceal it.
Martin wept bitterly, his facial features changing dramatically. He pleaded, "Master, I was wrong! Please forgive me! Just for the sake of this being my first offense..."
Yolanda chuckled inwardly, admiring her teacher's methods. A simple third-tier arcane spell, 'Magic Mirror,' was enough to intimidate Martin. Observing current images was not difficult, she could do it too.
But looking at images from the past was different. Unless using the eighth-tier spell, 'Time Retrospection,' which could only be cast by a Time Mage Archmage or a deity, not to mention whether her teacher could do it, even her teacher's teacher might not necessarily be able to. Due to the special nature of time, in reality, there were no time mages of such a high level.
"Yolanda, bring the original author of this data to see me. You'll accompany him." After a pause, Roen said to Martin, "After this matter is done, hand over the director's badge. You're not suitable for this position, let Yolanda keep it for now."
An agonized expression crossed Martin's face, his mouth tasting bitter, the word "okay" sticking on his tongue, unable to be uttered. Six years of effort, destroyed in a moment of greed.
...
The three returned to the Botanical Garden, with Yolanda and Maka waiting outside. Martin entered Charlie's experimental area alone. After a few days, the experimental area had new arrangements that Martin couldn't understand.
Seeing the busy Charlie, Martin couldn't restrain the anger in his heart, sneering, "Young in years, yet so deep in schemes! Truly a vicious heart! Today, you've ruthlessly pushed me into the gutter."
Charlie put down the work in his hands and calmly asked, "Director, what do you mean?"
Martin angrily said, "I'm asking you, what do those magic symbols you drew on those illustrations mean? Did you deliberately make secret signals to make me lose this job?"
Hearing this, Charlie knew his purpose had been achieved.
Charlie smiled calmly, "Director, what does it have to do with me that I drew a few magic symbols? It won't interfere with the experimental results. Could it be that because of these symbols, the cultivation failed?"
"You..." Martin pointed at his nose, unable to speak for a moment. After a long pause, he sneered, "You want to do something, you know it yourself! Quite impressive! You even calculated me into it. You scum!"
Charlie suddenly suppressed his lazy smile, sneering, "I see you're the scum! Did I tell you to change its name and submit it to the Grand Mage? Did I say to transfer the copyright to you? 200 gold coins to buy it, are you going crazy with your ambition?!
I'm telling you, what you're going through today is all self-inflicted. Don't blame others, if you want to blame, you can only blame yourself - too stupid! Too greedy!"
The same evaluation, spoken by different people, made Martin feel that he had shrunk a notch. Were the intelligences of the great figures really so terrifying?
But no matter how it was said, it was useless now. The outcome was set in stone.
Martin let out a heavy sigh, weakly saying, "The Grand Mage is looking for you, let's go."
Seeing that the person Martin brought out was Charlie, Yolanda's pupils contracted, and her expression became a bit more expressive.
Charlie tasted something from her gaze and smiled mysteriously at her.
"You don't need to come along. Just hand over the badge first."
Martin sighed, fishing the warm metal badge from his pocket and handing it over, bitterly saying, "Miss Yolanda, I... I want to stay in the Botanical Garden for now. After all, my family is all here."
Yolanda gave him a look, "Okay, but remember one thing - you no longer have any official position. Don't interfere with the normal work of the Botanical Garden, otherwise the punishment won't be that simple. Now the teacher still has a bit of sentiment, so take care of yourself."
"Yes." Martin answered with a bitter face, dazed and lost.
This was truly a lesson worth remembering for a lifetime!
This "Esen" in front of him was shrouded in an air of mystery, and even made Martin feel a sense of awe. It was the first time he felt the gap between himself and the great figures. Perhaps he really should face reality and stop dreaming. Which of the great figures was a simple person?!
...
As the magic platform rose, Roen saw that the person was Charlie, and he couldn't quite believe his eyes. In an instant, he also felt an extraordinary anger - had he been deceived? Circling around and around, could this be a set-up by the Grand Duke? He didn't think a dandy like this had such ability. This ending was even less reliable than Martin's!
A lump of frustration was stuck in his chest, and Roen's face became very grim.
"Are you the original author of this data?"
Charlie had a vague guess that Roen's sudden emotion was because he had recognized his identity and suspected that this cultivation method was something he had plagiarized.
Charlie also felt the turbulence of his emotions, and thought, this meeting might not go too smoothly.
"Yes."
"How do you prove it's your original work?"
Charlie said calmly, "I have no way to prove the originality of it, because everything can be learned, everything can be prepared in advance. You can see it as a method, it just happens to be in my hands now."
Roen exhaled a mouthful of turbid air. In fact, he was not satisfied with this answer. After a pause, he decided to change the way of inquiry.
"Since it's like that, then let me ask you about some of the terminology in this method. There shouldn't be any problem, right?"
"Master, please ask."
Thus, Roen took out the terminology in the cultivation method one by one and questioned him.
This time, Charlie did not disappoint him, responding in detail. Some of the answers made Roen ponder deeply, as sparks of inspiration flickered.
Roen frowned and said, "You're young, yet your ambition to become famous is not small. Defining so many concepts, what for? Wanting to leave a legacy for the ages?"
Charlie shook his head, "No! Master, your idea is wrong."
He... he actually denied the teacher's words so directly?!
Yolanda had an unbelievable expression on her face. The young man who dared to directly deny Master Roen was the first one! Looking at this courage, it was also worthy of admiration. He seemed a bit different from the rumors.
Roen chuckled lightly, looking at the young man in front of him with interest, curious to hear what other reasons he could come up with.
"Academic things must be precise. Defining concepts is to help us analyze the situation, determine accurate data, and draw accurate conclusions. Now that this part is missing, I have no choice but to create it myself.
You simply attributing it to wanting fame is underestimating me too much."
Hearing this, Roen first slightly furrowed his brows, then his face became solemn. After pondering for a long time, he replied, "Well said."
Regarding Charlie's entire response, it was passable. He could explain the origin of the originality, and Roen also believed that even if Charlie was not the one who proposed the concepts, he had deeply participated in the process, and was not the incompetent playboy as rumored in the outside world.
Roen changed the subject and smiled, "You're quite smart! Knowing to use this method for hints. How did you make sure Martin would definitely draw the magic symbols? And how did you make sure I would definitely suspect this?"
"After all, it's just a measure to protect the results. If he hadn't been so cleverly ambitious, he wouldn't have ended up in today's predicament."
Roen stared at him for a while and said, "Somehow I feel like this was your arrangement. You saw through Martin, so you designed this trap to let him fall into it. Young man, you're not short on tricks for your young age."
To avoid leaving an image of a schemer in Roen's mind.
Charlie smiled and explained, "I can't control everything. I just do some things based on my understanding of people. According to my guess, he had a high probability of doing it. If he had been a bit smarter and handled all the loose ends cleanly, I would have merely lost an opportunity. In the future, there will be new opportunities, next time... I might use new methods, but..."
Charlie paused, revealing a smile, "Master, your vision is keen, you saw through my intention. I indeed wanted to meet you."
"Since you've been so painstakingly plotting to see me, you probably don't just want a position in the Botanical Garden, right?"
Charlie took a deep breath and said the words he had been holding back for a long time, "I want to learn magic."