Lam gave him a surprised glance, and Jamie imdiately realized his abruptness, so he quickly shut his mouth.
In the Academic State, asking about others' unpublished "academic secrets" is considered taboo and impolite.
Perhaps ordinary assignnts don't count as academic secrets, but the atmosphere of the entire Tower of Great Sage is like this, and they've been sowhat influenced in this regard.
However, Ilana didn't mind, just feeling a bit embarrassed, thinking her answer didn't deserve such a high score.
"Of course, although I think... my answer doesn't really have much reference value."
After a pause, she continued.
"I told the Prince that the sky isn't green, water isn't the sa as ice, steel is just steel, and it's different from molten iron. Honestly, I was already prepared for failing, but I never expected the Prince to actually approve of my answer... I was quite surprised."
The laboratory fell into silence once again.
Those pairs of eyes that were looking at her like she was a monster gradually turned into shock and disbelief.
Challenging the Master and questioning the very nature of the assignnt... this was a path they had never imagined. And what was even more unbelievable was that Prince Colin acknowledged this path?!
"No wonder you got 99 points..." Lam sincerely remarked and continued quietly, "Actually, I thought the sa, but I hesitated and didn't dare write entirely from this perspective... After all, it's the Prince; what if he got angry?"
"Yeah, offending the Imperial Prince is no trivial matter..." Jamie also scratched his head and spoke quietly, "Academics are a small issue; my main concern is being blad by the Prince."
"... I think that Prince probably isn't a petty person. Even if he saw answers he didn't agree with, he'd probably just laugh it off," Ilana said with a shy smile, softly sharing her opinion.
After all, based on her observation, everyone received that academic credit.
Although she dared not presu to understand the Prince, this extracurricular assignnt indeed made her reassess him.
The Prince didn't choose those who were "best at answering questions," but those who "understand how to think" and "seek the truth."
Although he never explained deeply what "Science" really is, she suddenly felt less unfamiliar with this novel term.
While the crowd was quietly discussing, a steady and clear sound of footsteps ca from outside the laboratory.
"The Master is here!" Soone quietly reminded, and all the lively discussions instantly ca to a halt.
More than a dozen apprentices imdiately took action, quickly standing respectfully at their respective oak tables, straightening their backs, holding their breaths, waiting for the Master to arrive.
As the steady footsteps stopped outside the door, the oak door of the laboratory was slowly pushed open.
Luo Yan walked in, saw the dozen or so apprentices already standing perfectly in place, and a hint of a smile flashed in his eyes amidst the surprise.
"Oh? It seems everyone has arrived, even earlier than I expected."
He spoke warmly, his gaze sweeping over each young, nervous face, smiling as he continued.
"Welco everyone to join my laboratory; it's still very simple here since I just acquired this treasure... thanks to the help of Professor Hector."
"Hello, Master!" The apprentices responded in unison, their voices loud and full of respect, while their eyes were filled with curiosity and surprise.
It felt like this Prince was quite different from what they imagined.
They originally thought he would be more imposing in private, but unexpectedly, he was even more approachable than in class.
"No need to be so formal, relax," Luo Yan smiled and waved his hand, walking to the center of the laboratory, "Professor Hector told , becoming an apprentice in the Academic State usually ans going to dangerous mazes to collect magic materials for the Master, or dealing with experint materials that have a risk of magical backlash. But not here with ; you can breathe easy."
Professor Hector never actually said it, but that didn't stop him from attributing this statent to the only Professor he knew.
After all, it's true.
Looking around at this spacious but slightly empty laboratory, he continued jokingly, "Now, your imdiate task is to help tidy up this laboratory I've just 'acquired.' To do a good job, one must first sharpen one's tools, and our first step is to familiarize ourselves with our 'tools.'"
After speaking, he began assigning tasks to the apprentices.
"Jamie," he looked at the carpenter's son, "you're from a carpenter's background, right? These experintal tables, although made of high-quality oak, have so loose mortise and tenon joints. Check them out and see which ones need reinforcing."
Jamie imdiately straightened his chest, spiritedly like a soldier.
"Yes, Master! Leave it to !"
"Lam," Luo Yan turned to the clockmaker's daughter, "you're skilled with your hands. These brass instrunts look precise but have been unused for a long ti; their scales might be inaccurate. You handle the calibration work; it requires patience and attention, and I believe you can do it."
Lam's cheeks flushed red as she earnestly nodded.
"I understand, Master!"
"Very good."
Luo Yan assigned transcription, sorting of vessels, and other tasks to several other apprentices. Finally, his gaze fell on Ilana.
Under the Prince's gaze, Ilana felt a bit nervous.
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