In
Looking at the latest issue of *Arcane*, Altier burst into laughter: "It's been confirmed, just as I expected! What a pity I wasn't in Brooke's laboratory at the time—I would've loved to see the expression on his face. He must have been stunned, utterly despairing! Even more of a pity that he didn't suffer a Cognition World collapse like that idiot Roland. If he had, I'd be grinning in my sleep!"
Delighted, euphoric, he made no effort to conceal his feelings.
Norman could sense Altier's smug arrogance and couldn't help coughing twice—truly worthy of the nickname "Mad Dog."
His complexion was somewhat pale, as if his soul had suffered considerable damage after using Douglas's laboratory to verify the journal's conclusions—when it came to locating the mysterious space, the Parliament's Legendary Mages had all been going at full strength, frequently venturing out. So although Douglas had been very concerned with verifying the light quantum hypothesis, his speed in improving the Magic Circles hadn't exceeded Roland's. However, upon seeing the experimental design provided in the *Arcane* journal, he had completed the final modifications in just half an hour.
Beside him,
"If it's discontinuous, then what about calculus?" Altier glared at Luciana with hatred and snapped at her. Although he had already given fifty thousand Arcane Points to Lucian, who had used them to repay the Storm Dominator's loan, that didn't mean he had fully accepted the quantum hypothesis. In his view, it was merely a variant of particle theory, having nothing to do with the discontinuity of the world. "The quantum hypothesis definitely has errors and must be corrected. Even if Lucian himself were standing before me, I'd say the same!"
Luciana had merely been expressing her joyful feelings, hedging her words with qualifiers like "starting to" and "perhaps," yet she was met with Altier's hostility, causing her expression to darken as she muttered inwardly: "Mad Dog!"
Altier paid no attention whatsoever to Norman and Luciana's attitudes. He picked up an intelligence report and read it, then let out a smug, sinister laugh: "Roland, Crister... one Great Mage, three High-level Mages, twenty-seven Mid-level Mages, and even more whose Cognition Worlds have shattered and solidified—those damned wave theory supporters have finally gotten what they deserved! When they were flaunting their victory back then, did any of them imagine this day would come? When Brooke climbed to the seat of Great Archanist on a throne of blood and brains, did he ever consider that his own Cognition World might shatter and solidify?"
The venom and anguish in his heart seemed deeper than anyone had imagined. Even Luciana, who was equally a particle theory supporter, frowned. They were all mages of the Parliament, and they were already dead—was there any need for such cursed, arrogant language?
Anger was already surfacing on Norman's face, and he was about to argue with Altier, but his expression froze as he said respectfully: "Master."
Douglas had already descended from the upper floors of the magic tower. He furrowed his brow slightly and said to Altier: "Watch your decorum. The double-slit interference phenomenon of light still cannot be explained by the light quantum hypothesis. We must maintain an attitude of humility and caution. And those who have died were our companions on the path of magic—perhaps we had disagreements, but we stood united against the outside world and strengthened the Parliament together."
"Yes, Master." Altier reined in his smug smile. "This whole affair is thanks to Lucian Evans. What a pity he couldn't complete the precise experiment three years ago. I wonder what he's feeling now? And what he's researching?"
"I've heard that Lucian Evans has been imitating the Storm Dominator's method of particle bombardment," Norman said. As a member of the Affairs Committee, the Magical Engineering Department fell under his purview, so he had fairly clear knowledge of the Magical Research Committee's mobilization of High-level Mages to help Lucian modify his Atomic Research Institute.
Douglas nodded gently: "Fernando is bringing Lucian over now. He's probably researching something—you can ask him yourselves. Norman, if you're feeling uncomfortable, you can go back. Don't force yourself to see him."
Norman's expression grew somewhat somber: "Regardless, the experimental results speak for themselves."
"How fortunate—I was just hoping to thank him in person and discuss things with him," Luciana said, both surprised and delighted.
She had been using the light quantum hypothesis to improve her own "Spiritual Particle Meditation Technique" and had accumulated quite a few questions. Some of these she could consult her master Douglas about, but others were best discussed with the very person who had proposed the light quantum hypothesis—that way the help would be greater.
Altier's expression grew excited: "I need to ask him whether he has any ideas for other experiments to overturn wave theory. We must press our advantage and completely demolish wave theory's dominant position!"
*And send most of the Parliament's mid-level and above mages straight to hell?* Luciana shot Altier a glare—she had no appetite for such radical measures.
A few minutes later, Lucian, wearing a black double-breasted formal coat and a monocle, followed the Storm Dominator into the small parlor.
"You have more results? Need my help?" Douglas noticed the thick stack of papers in the Storm Dominator's hand.
Fernando tossed the papers directly to Douglas: "Lucian's 'New Alchemy.' See for yourself."
His crimson eyes swept the room. Whether it was the mad-dog-like Altier, or Norman, or Luciana, all of them instinctively took two steps back, not daring to use spiritual power to peek at the contents of the papers.
Seeing Fernando's display, the gentle expression on Douglas's face gave way to his uniquely focused and inquisitive look as he began to read.
As he read, Douglas's mouth opened and his right hand rose as if to emphasize his words with a gesture, but he forcibly restrained himself and continued reading.
Time ticked by, second by second. A full two hours passed.
Altier, Norman, and the others were accustomed to experiments that lasted two or three days at a stretch, but waiting around doing nothing was quite torturous. And to avoid disturbing Douglas, they didn't dare speak—nor did they even use magic like Secret Message or Mental Link.
When the ancient Magic Empire had fallen, Douglas had already been a Great Mage. In matters of the master-student relationship, he was deeply influenced by the traditions of the past. He could be warm and approachable in his concern for his students, but his students were required to maintain impeccable respect.