"Nothing too extravagant," Rui shrugged. "The training resources entail basic training resources for the most common kinds techniques in all primary fields of Martial Art, specifically, maneuvering. As far as the information goes, we seek access to your library of scientific literature on esoteric material science. We also wish to access your labs to conduct and engage in so research."
This took the man by surprise. "Interesting, the forr is no issue, it's actually the standard. However the latter…"
He made a difficult expression.
"Is there any issue?" Rui raised an eyebrow.
"Unfortunately, our libraries of scientific literature are only accessible by those with a journeyman degree in the sciences," The man smiled apologetically. "I'm afraid we cannot grant you access to the library."
"Even in exchange for Squire-level services?" Rui frowned. "As far as I can see, your town doesn't have the leeway to refuse extra Martial power, am I wrong?"
Rui glanced at the two Apprentice-level guards behind him.
That alone spoke to the state of its defense.
"You aren't," He sighed as he took off his glasses, laying them on the table. "But unfortunately, I cannot make an exception to this rule. I cannot dilute our standards under any circumstances."
Rui raised an eyebrow as he considered the man's words. "Are the standards of the institute more important than the survival of the institute and the town?"
"They are the reason the town exists in the first place," The man sighed, turning towards Rui. "That is why it cannot be forsaken, not even for the interests of the survival of the town."
"I do not understand," Rui frowned.
What did that even an? All he asked was to access their scientific library, it shouldn't have been that big a deal.
The man stared at Rui with a conflicted expression. Rui could tell that he ant what he said, but at the sa ti, he did not want to let go of the two of them.
"I hope you understand…" He modestly remarked. "The standards of this town set the quality of what we offer. And the value of what we offer is what keeps this town afloat. People wouldn't strive to co to this town without it, and without the influx of those who aim to be a part of this ecosystem, it cannot be sustained."
Rui's eyebrows furrowed. "You an, your one source of funding is those who invest in an education here?"
That sounded nonsensical.
"I… understand that it sounds absurd," The man sighed. "I do wish to establish so context."
Rui sighed irritably. "If you cannot give us what we need, then I do not feel the need to indulge in this eting anymore."
"No wait!" The man cried. "Please, hear out. I'm sure you'll understand!"
Rui wanted to slap the man out of his self-centered mindset, he hadn't even talked to the man for ten minutes, and he had already had enough.I think you should take a look at
The reason he didn't leave was because Kane was giving him a pointed look.
Apparently, he believed that there was still sothing that could be done in this place, an optimism that Rui did not share.
Though it slled more like desperation at the mont, since this was the last place on their list.
"Speak. Fast." Rui snorted.
"Alright… I hope to convince you of the reason that I cannot give you what you seek, and to offer you other forms of recompense," The man sighed. "The reason I cannot break this rule is that the credibility of the rigorous ritocratic institutions of this town is the reason that people co here seeking high-quality education and research. The reason this town even exists in the first place is for two reasons. The first was to obtain a source of revenue for the wide-scale research resources that I needed, and the second was to get away from the controlling hands of those who sought to control my research in exchange for funding it."
Rui's eyebrows rose as he had an inkling of what the man was referring to.
Research, especially pure research, was in constant need of constant funding. Scientists usually weren't rich, and thus the expenses of research were not sothing they could incur personally.
Naturally, they would resort to external sources of funding, in exchange for access to the research and so directive over the research. Broadly speaking, there were four sources of funding that research got.
Private.
Comrcial.
Governntal.
Militaristic.
Each of these four sources had its own interests in investing in research, and would naturally seek to control the direction of the research to suit those interests.
Rui had dealt with it many tis in his previous life. In fact, his source of funding had always been comrcial since his research was centered around combat sports in a comrcial league.
"I… am one of the few people that had broken from this paradigm," He sighed. "I created this town with the personal fortune I had made from prior breakthroughs and created a scrupulously absolute ritocratic system of education and distribution of high-level knowledge. I moved all the way here in the middle of nowhere to escape the influence of powerful forces, and I fund all of this…"
He gestured around. "With people are willing to pay a lot in order to be here."
Rui was grudgingly impressed. He highly doubted that he would have been able to pull sothing like that off in his previous life even if he was healthy.
"So you wanted a source of inco without selling agency to your research," Rui confird. "Why not just engage in research that more accessible sources of funding are interested in that also overlaps with your own interests?"
"Because there isn't an overlap!" The man banged the table. "Those power-hungry snakes do not care about peering into the taphysical depths of the Martial Path because it does not imdiately yield in any tangible increase in the power of Martial Art!"
Rui felt like he was getting a headache listening to this man.
User Comments
0 comments from readers