bookandnovel Chapter 4340 Voting
Chapter 4340 Voting
Chapter 4340 Voting
While Mona was internally complaining, the group chat had already started buzzing with discussion.
Merlin: You haven't been this obsequious to me for the past two years. I thought you had grown up, but now it seems that it's not growth, but rather that you think I'm not worth your obsequiousness... It really hurts me.
"Pixi: I have never flattered you. I only said a few nice words to you before because you were in charge of the foreign trade of the capital. But who told you that your position was unstable? You were demoted to the Ministry of Education after only a few days in office."
Merlin: Hehe~
Pixi: What are you laughing at!
Merlin didn't respond, but the water tower spoke up instead—
"Water Tower: Your Excellency Pisi misunderstands. I spoke with the Minister of Education of the Undying City at the Multi-School Conference. Your Excellency Merlin applied for the Ministry of Education yourself; you were not demoted."
As the dean of the Crystal Shell Academy, the Water Tower's words carried considerable weight, so Pixi naturally wouldn't question them.
"Pixi: You applied to work at the Ministry of Education yourself? I told you you'd be a fool, and you really are! What's there to gain at the Ministry of Education?!"
Merlin: Money and benefits are not important. But it is precisely because I have experience in many departments that I was invited to be the vice principal, while you are just a dean of a college.
Pixi: ……
Pixi: Everyone, be the judge! He's attacking me, right? Attacking me is attacking everyone, after all, we're all the dean!
There was a moment of silence; no one responded.
Even the water tower, which had previously spoken up for them, fell silent.
Mona looked at Pixi, who seemed "helpless" in the group chat, and sighed silently.
Everyone else knew that Merlin was actually O'Secretary Dragon in disguise; many of them were so eager to come in just to get closer to Merlin.
Therefore, it's impossible for them to join forces with Pixie to accuse Merlin.
Pixi's disadvantage lay in the lack of intelligence.
I don't know what Grand Duke Pish and Sage Pikachu are thinking. They've already pushed Pish to be the Dean of the Citadel, but they haven't told Pish about Merlin's true identity.
Pixi: Hey, you guys are way too pragmatic! Just because this idiot is the dean, you're worried about getting retaliated against? I have the principal backing me up!
Seeing that no one spoke up, Pisi could only save face by himself, while also trying to drag Angel down with him.
Pixi: Principal, you be the judge!
When Ingres, who had been observing from the sidelines, was called upon, he had no choice but to show his face.
Angell: Sigh.
"Angol: I think I just said that this group is for exchanging work information and intelligence, not for casual chat. So, shall we end the casual conversation here?"
Pixi: Huh? Huh!
"Angel: Let me answer Dean Pixi's question first. You asked if I had any insights to share. I'm sorry, I don't have any insights."
"Angol: The only lesson I learned is to work hard and be diligent."
"Angol: Ahem, alright, let's get back to the main topic and discuss the location of the teleportation point. If anyone brings up anything unrelated, whether it's Pixi or Pixi, I'll immediately mute them."
Pixi: ???
Pixi felt wronged, but it still dared to speak its mind.
"Pixi: Headmaster, I am your loyal supporter, I..."
Before he could finish speaking, a notification popped up in the group chat: Pixi has been muted for 10 minutes.
"Angol: Since none of you are going to speak, I'll take the liberty of putting it in my office. In the future, if you want to leave the City after completing your assigned missions, just write an application report to the City Spirit and schedule a meeting. It will help me review your reports."
As soon as Angel finished speaking, the Spirit of the City immediately responded.
"Mechanical Gentleman: Obeying the Headmaster's orders."
Angell: Alright, that's settled. Let's move on to the next topic.
Water Tower: Wait!
Merlin: Just a moment!
"Vasha: Principal Angel, it wasn't that we didn't want to talk about it, but rather that we were considering where would be the most suitable place to put the teleportation point."
Even Mona quickly started writing.
Mona: That's right, I've been thinking about it too. How about placing it in a scenic spot, like the flower field at the art academy? Entering and exiting the teleportation point would be a pleasure too.
Vasya: I think it wouldn't be appropriate to place it inside any academy. It would be better to put it in the central area, where everyone would be close by.
"Water Tower: The Physical Education Department is closest to the city center, we can all see through your little scheme. Principal Angel, my personal suggestion is that it should be placed in the center of the academic city."
Merlin: The City Center is already outside the school district, which is not appropriate. If it's a public teleportation point, I suggest placing it outside the school district because it's for ordinary residents; but for a dedicated teleportation point, it's more suitable to place it inside the school district because only residents of the school district can use it.
Everyone started discussing it, as if Angell's earlier mention of "anchored offices" was already a topic from the previous discussion.
Seeing this, Angell couldn't help but shake his head.
They had all been silent until they heard that the teleportation point was to be set up in the principal's office. Sensing something was amiss, they immediately began to voice their opinions.
However, he could understand, since today was their first day of gathering.
Apart from Pixi and Merlin, who were relatively familiar with each other, most of the others were meeting for the first time, so it was normal to feel a bit awkward at first.
As opinions from all sides intersected and each side corrected the other's mistakes, the discussion gradually entered the final round.
Almost everyone agreed on three points: the location should not be outside the school district, it should preferably not be located within a single college, and the location should ideally be in a public area.
"Angel: Looking at it this way, it seems better to set it up near the top of the central mountain. It would be the administrative area, not in any of the colleges, and also a public area that you would all come to."
The principal's office is located at the top of the central hill.
A moment of silence fell over everyone. After much discussion, it seemed they had returned to square one.
It seems that the central mountaintop is indeed the most satisfactory location for all parties.
Merlin: I support setting the teleportation point on the mountaintop, but since it's already there, why not make it even more prominent and make it a landmark of Fool's City?
Merlin: As long as you're in the Citadel, no matter where you are, you can see the location of the teleportation point, making it a landmark!
Lawrence: I support Merlin's point of view. Since it's placed in the most prominent spot in the Citadel, let's make it even more prominent.
The principal and vice-principal both agreed, and after thinking about it, the others stopped hesitating and joined in the agreement.
Just then, Pixi's mute period ended.
Pixi: ...I can finally speak?
"Pixi: Principal, please understand. It's really not my fault. I just wanted to express my loyalty to you."
"Angel: If you post anything irrelevant again, you will be banned from speaking."
Pixi: No, no, I'm not going to talk about that anymore, let's get down to business! I think your thinking is a bit too simplistic!
Merlin: Oh?
Pixi: Hmph, I'm not trying to be pessimistic, I'm just stating a fact. None of you have ever seen what a teleportation point looks like, so how can you be sure it will be dazzling? What if it's just an ordinary door?
"Pishie: Of course, you could say, build a dazzling building specifically for the teleportation point, make it a landmark. But doesn't construction cost money? Have you considered how much gold... Citadel Points it would take to build a magnificent spectacle?"
Pixi's question caused a moment of silence in the group.
They had been talking about wonderful things, but Pixi brought them back to reality.
Merlin: What you've said is indeed a problem, but we're just offering suggestions; the final decision rests with Principal Angel. If the principal thinks it's feasible, I believe there's a solution to any problem.
After Merlin finished speaking, everyone fell silent.
It wasn't that they didn't want to speak, but rather that Angel had set a silence for everyone, and only he could speak.
After a while.
"Angol: Taking everyone's opinions into consideration, I have finally decided to set the teleportation point on the mountaintop in the central area. Next, I will answer some of your questions."
"Is it possible to upgrade the teleportation point into a landmark building?"
"Yes, from a publicity perspective, this is definitely something worth doing. Moreover, it also means that we are no longer just guests of the University City; we are trying to change the University City and become the protagonists here."
"However, Pixi's concerns are worth considering. No proposal should be unrealistic; it must be based on reality."
"The purpose of a problem is to be solved."
"Regarding Pixi's concerns, I can offer you three solutions:"
"First: The area within the City has been proven to be rich in resources, and you can hire City workers to mine them. Ultimately, through your own hands, you will build the City's first man-made landmark."
"Second: The Academy system currently lacks sufficient energy. After the start of the school year, and after a period of accumulation, the energy may become abundant. At that time, you can submit proposals for teleportation point buildings and modify them through the Academy system. However, please note that using the Academy system to change a city requires multiple 'creation attempts,' which are obtained by completing tasks."
"Third: I will create a wonder structure to place the teleportation point, but the wonder I create will be an illusion, constructed by magic."
"I'll give you five minutes to think it over. After that, I'll lift the ban and we'll have a vote. If you have any other solutions, you can bring them up then."
As soon as the voice finished speaking, the group chat displayed: The ban will be lifted in 5 minutes.
Everyone fell into deep thought.
……
The rooftop of a tall building near the school district gate.
After Angell put down the crystal device, he happened to see Lawrence across from him also put down the crystal device he was holding.
“I feel you’ve changed a lot,” Lawrence suddenly said. “According to the memories Laplace shared with me, your habits are more inclined to directly create an illusionary spectacle, like the library in Rabbit Town.”
"But this time you didn't choose to do that; instead, you gave the choice to everyone."
Angel shook his head and looked up at the layered, ever-changing leaden-gray rain clouds in the sky: "No, if Laplace were here, she wouldn't think I've changed."
"I create libraries, or use illusions to create various things, essentially for the sake of convenience."
"But illusions can only solve my immediate problems; they can't give them what they want. The Citadel isn't Rabbit Town; it can't function in the long run by me alone. Real construction and collective decisions are what will give them a sense of conviction and participation, and make them truly see themselves as the masters of the Citadel."
"Once they have a sense of belonging, I won't have to do everything myself in the future management and operation. Giving up the convenience now for the long-term peace of mind is essentially for my own convenience."
Lawrence seemed to be deep in thought.
After a moment, he asked again, "What if they voted to use illusions to create wonders?"
Angell remained noncommittal: "Then let them use it; it's their own choice."
Lawrence: "According to you, they no longer see themselves as the masters of the city, nor do they feel a sense of belonging."
Angell: "If they want to make things convenient for them, I can do so."
"As for a sense of belonging?"
"There's more than one way to develop a sense of belonging, right? The development of the academic city still has a long way to go."
As Angell said this, a flicker appeared in his eyes: "Even if, in the very future, they still don't feel any sense of belonging, it doesn't matter."
"Because there will always be people who feel a sense of belonging."
Lawrence pondered for a moment, then said softly, "You mean... the Prussians?"
Angel nodded: "The City of Fools is essentially a place of rebirth prepared for the Prussians. Here they break free from the past and start anew. This land will become the starting point of their rebirth, and over time, a sense of belonging will naturally be etched into their bones."
"In my view, the Prussian civilization is a dazzling treasure with a sharp edge."
"Currently, it is in a state of obscurity. To unlock this treasure, you must first participate in the rebirth of the Prussian civilization."
“I opened the gates of the City of Learning to other groups, giving them the opportunity to integrate and participate. But if they don’t consider this place their home, they will inevitably miss out on the treasure.”
"As a civilization of seekers of knowledge, the Prusia are not stupid. Once they gain wisdom, they will naturally be able to see who their true friends are and who are just passersby who have come to the City of Knowledge for fun."
Lawrence was somewhat stunned after hearing Angel's account.
With just a vote, Angor was thinking about the sense of belonging of each race to the Citadel, and this sense of belonging was related to the future attitude of the Prussians towards each race.
Lawrence was silent for a moment, then gently shook his head: "Laplace only shared memories with me. It's really hard to understand Principal Angel based on memories alone."
"Understand me?" Angell chuckled. "I'm actually quite easy to understand. All three options have one thing in common with me, and that is... convenience."
“If they choose the first two, it will be more convenient for me, and I won’t even have to expend effort to manipulate illusions.”
"As for the treasures of the future Prusia civilization... when they are reborn in the Dream Crystal Plains, these treasures will already be in my hands."
Lawrence paused for two seconds, then suddenly let out a few knowing chuckles.