“Let me study the Key of Inspiration, just for a moment!
I feel like I have ants crawling all over me!” “The possibility of making another academic leap forward is right in front of me!
I have to consider if this is the only chance I’ll have in my entire life!
All other projects can be thrown aside.
Please, I’m begging you, name me as a participant in the Key of Inspiration experiment.
I want to advance so badly!” “Please give me an opportunity to collaborate!
My research has always been related to Imaginary Energy.
I can absolutely be of use in the Bud of Erudition project, please believe me!” A group of researchers stood up in a flurry, losing their composure as they crowded around Hua Yi, introducing themselves and striving to join an experiment that was destined to leave a rich and colorful mark on the annals of academia.
If Asta knew what was happening here, she would surely rush over again.
Otherwise, allowing a group of experts and scholars with extraordinary status to gather around Hua Yi, if not handled properly, could lead to unforeseen consequences.
Facing a sea of faces—some determined, some resolute, all visibly agitated—Hua Yi’s expression remained humble and calm.
“I am, after all, a newcomer to the space station, and my understanding of the fields that you seniors have dedicated yourselves to is limited.
The arrangements for the follow-up experiments on the Bud of Erudition should still be a matter for the Lumina Archives to coordinate with the other major departments.” Hearing the subtext in this reply, many of the scholars who had been prepared to act as Hua Yi’s assistants, or even to offer great benefits, stared in disbelief.
“Hua Yi, you…
you mean you want to delegate authority to the various research departments, to let us more freely discuss how to analyze the Key of Inspiration and research ways to improve the Bud of Erudition?
Do you have any idea how much benefit is tied up in this?!” “The Herta Space Station is a platform for sharing knowledge and jointly exploring the truth.
The reason I was able to create a new Mystery is thanks to the valuable information provided by the Lumina Archives’ database.
Since this is an achievement made within the framework of the rules, I naturally hope to continue adhering to this spirit of sharing.” Allowing the countless astonished gazes to remain fixed on him, Hua Yi continued.
“It was my own reckless whim earlier when I told Station Master Asta that I hoped to have high-level access to all five research departments simultaneously, to freely consult their data.
That’s what led the Station Master to make such an unconventional decision.
For any negative impact caused by this fanciful idea and my greed for knowledge, I offer my sincere apologies to you all.” “No, no, no!
A talented young man like you should be bold and try new things.
Station Master Asta must have a keen eye for talent, which is why she set this precedent.
We understand, we completely understand!” What a good young man.
The affection in the old scholars’ eyes as they looked at Hua Yi was almost tangible.
Who among them wasn’t intelligent?
How could they not guess his meaning?
Hua Yi was making an exchange.
He was trading the research opportunity represented by the Bud of Erudition for the knowledge accumulated by the five departments over many years, thereby giving more legitimacy to his universal Level IV Researcher status.
At the same time, he was speaking up for Station Master Asta, preventing the department heads from harboring resentment towards her, from feeling that this “I want it all” arrangement was overly simple and crude.
Now it was the turn of the researchers who had spoken out in their excitement, scrambling for a chance at the experiment, to feel a flush of shame.
“It was us who got carried away just now, we were too out of line.
You really don’t need to go this far.
The knowledge is right there.
The space station welcomes any capable member to read and learn, to improve themselves, and then produce new results to enrich this treasury once more.
You deserve all of this!” “You are the creator of the ‘Calyx (Simulated): Bud of Erudition’.
No one can change that.” “If an experiment involving the Key of Inspiration lacked your input, how would we dare to act rashly?
We still ask that you be the project lead.
We’ll be fine just assisting.” In truth, Hua Yi wasn’t making a strategic retreat to advance later; he genuinely intended to give away the academic value of the Bud of Erudition.
A single thesis, a single project, no matter how brilliant, was but a small, faintly glowing part when placed in this universe teeming with Aeons.
A researcher at the Herta Space Station was Hua Yi’s current identity, but it would not be the direction of his future development.
Knowledge was a tool, a means to explore the truly important Paths and seek the truth that the entire cosmos abided by.
The added value brought by the tool itself didn’t hold much importance in Hua Yi’s heart.
It was better to hand it over to the scientific workers who were truly passionate about this path.
And if it could also help pay a little “tuition” for the knowledge he was absorbing from the station, and help that lovely Miss Station Master and the major research departments understand each other better, then why not?
However, he treated others with sincerity, and they returned it in kind.
Even the incomparably shrewd Wen Huairen from the Department of Universal Things spoke with a remarkably amiable voice.
“You’re still young, my boy.
How can one do research without spending money?
The scientific and economic value derived from the Bud of Erudition will never be without your share.
The Department of Universal Things will keep the accounts crystal clear, and no one should even think about infringing on intellectual property.” “Old man Wen actually said something decent for once.” “A young man so uninterested in fame and fortune, who purely pursues knowledge…
it almost makes me feel he’s too mature.
Did you suffer some hardship in your past…
ahem, it’s better to relax a bit now that you’re at the station.
Take a walk now and then, find some interesting videos or novels online.” “Alright, alright.
Let’s start the conservative study of the Key of Inspiration according to the parameters Hua Yi mentioned.
The more conclusions we can analyze, the less energy he’ll have to spend on initial data processing.” The various departments began to busy themselves, collaborating in an orderly fashion to launch a joint research project.
Although the involvement of so many people was destined to mean that in the thesis published by Hua Yi—the Mystery’s creator and the experiment’s executor—the “second author” line might become a joint credit for all the Herta Space Station’s departments, diminishing the weight of any individual scholar’s contribution.
But as long as they could gain something from it, they could always write their own derivative papers later.
It was truly invigorating.
While most people were spiritedly focused on the research, a few observant department heads noticed that when Hua Yi left the laboratory, Lamina was following him at every step, clutching documents, having taken on the role of a personal assistant.
They raised their eyebrows, wanting to step forward and recommend their own department’s outstanding young people to be Hua Yi’s assistant.
Seeing this, the Head of the Lumina Archives quickly stepped in to negotiate with the other departments, hoping to secure an opportunity for Lamina.
Since Hua Yi could not be monopolized by a single research department, the position of assistant by his side had become another kind of sought-after resource.
It was no joke.
Such a talented and virtuous young man ought to be kept in close company.
—o—