Chapter 583: Selection
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
This is so deja vu… Lucien almost failed to control his facial expression after hearing Douglas’ proposal. He blurted out, “Mr. President, there’s also pure mathematics!”
“Ah, I almost forgot. Mathematics is the brightest gem on the crown of arcana and magic. How can we forget that? Now, there are prizes in twelve fields in total.” Douglas patted his forehead and said humorously, “Lucien, your proposal was a bit late, or you could’ve won Evans Prize in Elements and Astrology for the discovery of neutrons and the introduction to the general theory of relativity.”
Lucien waved his hands unconcernedly, “I have too many magic items for me to use now. So, the rewards are not important. If it’s about fame, with the Lucien Evans Prize, I believe I will be remembered together with every prize winner.”
‘Superconductivity’, the Silver Moon Medal, and ‘Quanta’, the Ice & Snow Medal, had both been issued. However, Lucien had plenty of badges on his chest, and those two did not have special magic effects that could make up his shortcomings. Therefore, he did not wear them in case of interference but kept them in his storage bag.
“Only the arcanists who have won too many awards can be as generous as you.” Oliver smiled. Playboy or not, he was one of the few members who were good at talking in the Highest Council. The rest of them all lacked social skills even though they looked normal. For example, Brook, the No. 2 person, was gentle and open-minded, but he was a bit unapproachable.
As for Fernando, Vicente, Hathaway, Hellen and Davey, who did not even look normal, they were naturally even worse.
After teasing Lucien, Oliver turned to Douglas. “Mr. President, I don’t think prizes according to schools fit the current situation. It’s obvious that the new alchemy will involve electromagnetism, and the general theory of relativity includes many other schools, too. Should we regroup the Evans Prize into a few prizes of larger ranges?”
Douglas nodded in approval, “Well said. When I read Lucien’s general theory of relativity, I obviously sensed the content of multiple schools. In fact, I think that all the concepts belong to the arcane system, and one Evans Prize in Arcana will be sufficient. But obviously, it will not be very convincing.”
“Why not? Elements, electromagnetism, light-darkness, astrology, force field, alchemy and thermodynamics all study the law of the world. It doesn’t matter to call it Evans Prize in Arcana. Illusion, transformation, summoning and necromancy are more about the specific things made of material and energy. They will be covered by the Evans Prize in Magic.” Brook remarkably, didn’t object to it because of their history.
Lucien thought for a moment. “Why do we have to divide them according to schools? The accomplishments that reveal the laws of the world will be awarded with Evans Prize in Arcana, those which are more practical and applicable will be awarded with the prize in magic, and together with the prize in mathematics that is about more abstract accomplishments, there will be three prizes in total.”
“I suggest the studies in the school of necromancy that benefit the body and the soul and the studies on the mind in the school of illusion be combined into one prize, because they are all in the category of meditation. It will help us reshape the image of the sorcerers.” Atlant proposed.
Lucien scratched his chin. Evans Prize in Medicine? Please don’t come up with any stranger stuff. If there was a prize for peace, he would propose that it be awarded to his teacher and Granny Hathaway for maintaining world peace with ‘Eternal Blaze’ and human bomb.
“Very good, Arcana, Magic, Mathematics and Medicine. Four prizes correspond with four fundamental forces.” Douglas made the decision and received no objection. “Alright, the meeting is now over. You will finish the mission given to you or send them to the Affair Committee.”
Hardly had he completed his sentence when he was gone. Lucien, who hadn’t stood up yet, was rather shocked. Mr. President was too fast a runner, wasn’t he?
“He’s devoted to the review and learning of the general theory of relativity. You’d better be braced for the attacks of ten thousand whys.” Fernando said to Lucien, not surprised at all. Then, he left and returned to Thunder Hell directly, as space teleportation was forbidden in the conference room.
Fernando was also trying to understand the general theory of relativity, but the discovery of neutrons distracted his attention. He was busy working on the many problems in the new alchemy.
The other members of the Highest Council left without any delay, proving what Oliver said earlier: everybody’s time was precious.
“I suspect that the power that restrains neutrons and protons is one of the two fundamental powers that haven’t been confirmed.” Hathaway said thoughtfully.
Lucien nodded slightly. “I think so, too.”
It was not until he spoke that Lucien realized Hathaway had walked to the door without waiting for him to answer at all.
“So, she was only talking to herself.” Lucien scratched his chin.
Oliver walked over. “Do you want me to give you a ride to the Affair Committee?”
“Thank you, but no, Mr. Oliver. Thompson is there.” Lucien refused with a smile, knowing that he was looking for an excuse to go to the Affair Committee.
Oliver opened his hands. “It seems that there’s nothing I can help you with. Lucien, I’m told that you established Evans Music Prize when you were in Aalto? Are you interested in setting up a prize in arts with me?”
Oscars? Lucien was almost choked by the Sky Blue he was drinking.
“Mr. Oliver, I have just given away one third of my wealth. I fear that I don’t have the ability.” Lucien subtly refused Oliver’s offer.
Oliver smiled, “It seems that I have to work on my own now.”
He merely felt that only a great musician like Lucien was qualified to set up a prize with him, but he was not forcing Lucien to.
After Oliver left, Klaus stood up and said with a smile, “I’m used to arriving first and leaving last. Evans, you said that the Lucien Evans Prize requires more strict standards. Will the candidates only be qualified after their theory and discovery blows up other people’s heads?”
“Mr. Klaus, you are truly humorous.” Lucien smiled awkwardly. He was simply too infamous!
After Klaus left, Lucien intentionally coughed aloud. There were only himself and Hellen, Witch of Iceland, in the room.
Hellen was so devoted to Evans Geometry that she did not catch Lucien’s cough at all.
Having no other choice, Lucien kept coughing.
Hellen still showed no response.
“Ms. Hellen…” Lucien simply called her.
Hellen finally raised her head in confusion. “What’s up?”
Then, she looked around and asked in a daze, “Is the meeting over?”
“Yes.” Lucien was rather embarrassed. He was not nearly focused enough compared to her.
Hellen nodded without any surprise, as if she were used to it, and simply resumed studying.
“Ms. Hellen…” Lucien called her helplessly again.
Looking at Lucien with her bright blue eyes, Hellen asked confusedly, “What’s up? Why are you still here?”
“Didn’t you say that you would bring me to select a legendary spell after the meeting is over?” Lucien tried to keep his smile.
Hellen remembered her promise. She cleaned the books, paper and quill before her and then tapped the ring on her left hand, so that she would know clearly what things she needed to ask the three committees to do.
“Follow me.” Then, without any delay, Hellen brought Lucien to a secret library on the thirty-fifth floor.
“According to the standard, you may choose one spell.” Hellen had always been short with words.
Presenting the advancement graph of the legendary class, ‘Atom Controller’, and the two corresponding basic legendary spells, Lucien asked, “What if I submit them?”
“Two basic spells can be exchanged for two, and the legendary can be exchanged for two. You may choose five in total.” Hellen’s attention was finally attracted after she saw the items, but due to regulations, she could only confirm that they were legendary for now. If she wanted to learn them, she would have to trade for them.
Lucien stepped into the library and saw legendary spells and uncanny rituals on the book shelves.
According to the statistics of the Congress, 156 to 165 legendary spells had appeared so far. Some were racial-specific spells, like the vampires’ ‘Real Dream’, and some were the trump cards of the legendary sorcerers, such as Hathaway’s ‘Elements Resolve’. Those spells were not in the library. As a result, there were only 87 legendary spells for choosing.
Among them, the legendary spells that had little to do with his legendary class could barely be learnt, and the conflicting ones could never be learnt, unless his arcana expertise soared.
In the next few years, Lucien could only construct three legendary spells in his soul. So, he had to choose widely.
“My Atomic Fission is a ranged attack that includes high temperature, energy storm and curse, so I don’t need to choose a massive-destructive spell. Also, the ‘Space Staff’ that I intent to build can provide acceleration and deceleration, which can help me escape and control. I can drop the spells in that aspect, too…”
Lucien only had a basic understanding about the terrifying spell based on the general theory of relativity. Chances were that it could really manipulate time and space as he advanced.
“Spells about barriers and locks… My teacher promised to teach me ‘Storm Barrier’, and I don’t need to pick them.” Looking at the names and effects of the spells on the shelf, Lucien considered carefully, “What I need most right now is a legendary spell that attacks individuals…”
As he made up his mind, Lucien soon found three candidates: ‘Snow Goddess’s Anger’, ‘Vengeful Gaze’ and ‘Vaporization’.
In light of the fact that he already had freezing spells, Lucien preferred the latter two to increase the diversity of his spells.
‘Vengeful Gaze’ could create terrible, high-energy lasers with an excellent penetration, while ‘Vaporization’ could put the target in high heat. Even a legendary sorcerer could be vaporized if he did not take any defense.
“Vengeful Gaze can penetrate most defenses. Also, it is very fast and hard to avoid…” It didn’t take Lucien much time before he made a choice. It would be the third legendary spell he was going to construct.
Later, Lucien selected four legendary spells he was going to study later, namely ‘Mental Fulmination’ that affected thinking, ‘Mirror of Fate’ that was prophetical, ‘Reunion’ that could save his life and ‘Abrupt Magic Reverse’, the best magic defense.
Lucien had thought to choose ‘Luxury Cracking’, but he had ‘Elemental Order’ that could be exchanged for ‘Elements Resolve’ and ‘Cracking (Advanced)’. So, it appeared redundant. ‘Elements Resolve’ and ‘Cracking (Advanced)’ combined could help him deal with most situations.
‘Reunion’, on the other hand, was a spell that was cast on the user in advance and would be triggered when the user’s life was threatened. It would teleport the user back to the place where Reunion was cast. The effect could last one month, so it did not have to be constructed inside the soul and could be cast before every quest. It made an excellent combination with Space Staff. However, the magic could work on three people at most and could not protect more people.
…
Inside the villa that Heidi and Katrina bought together, they were enjoying the red tea with some of their girlfriends while waiting for ‘Arcana Voice’ to start. Listening to the programs of the two frequencies everyday was their favorite lifestyle.
“…Before our programs begins, allow me to announce a piece of news. Mr. President has granted Mr. Lucien Evans the title of grand arcanist today on behalf of the Highest Council in honor of his paradigm-shifting contributions with the new alchemy. His tribute is…” Nightingale’s exciting, sweet voice echoed.
“Huh? Our master…” Layria, Katrina and Chelly mumbled. After the discovery of neutrons, they already knew that their teacher would become a grand arcanist, but they still found it hard to believe after they really heard it.
Heidi, on the other hand, exclaimed in joy, “A grand arcanist! His Excellency Evans!”
Lenka and their other friends looked at them enviously. “Twenty-six years old… A grand arcanist that is only twenty-six years old…”
