"What are you doing, scaring the kid like that?" the Dean chided from the side.

He quickly checked on Lori, only relaxing after seeing there were no serious issues. He then cast a spell to calm the boy’s nerves.

"What? I was just trying to show a little humor. I saw he was pretty tense."

Soron helplessly scratched his large, bald head.

After a moment, Lori slowly came to.

"I won’t delete the tutorial post," were the first words Lori said upon waking.

He had made up his mind and would not back down again.

"No one’s asking you to delete it," Soron said cheerfully.

"Stop grinning. You’re even scarier when you smile," the Dean interrupted Soron’s creepy cackle.

"Then what about this money? And telling me to ’eat some good food and spend time with my family’?" Lori asked, confused.

No matter how he heard it, the phrase sounded like his days were numbered and some noble was about to take his life.

"This is the payment for your post, as well as a future advance. The Zog Group has added rewards for excellent knowledge-based posts based on view counts and reader tips."

Soron explained, "Your account has already been set to anonymous, so others won’t be able to trace your information. Your roommate has also signed a confidentiality Contract."

"For now, the payment will go through my account. I’ll withdraw the cash and give it to you. Then, the Dean will grant you a leave of absence. People at the academy might start investigating your identity, so you should lie low with your family for a while. You don’t mind, do you?"

"I don’t mind, of course I don’t," Lori said, understanding now that the academy was protecting him. "But where should I go to lie low?"

"The Northern Domain," Soron said, picking up an orange from the coffee table and, in a very peculiar manner, starting to gnaw on it with the peel still on. "Someone in the Northern Domain will help you perfect your tutorials."

Lori quickly thanked him and left the reception room.

Soron leaned back on the sofa, his expression turning very serious.

This Deer Spirit Social Circle was spreading incredibly fast, with many new users flooding in every second.

It had only been a few days, but it felt like half the Mages on the continent were already on it.

And from what he knew of the Zog Group, sooner or later they would create a device that would allow even people with no talent for Magic to access the forum.

Even though Ordinary people couldn’t perform Casting, they could still participate in creating Magical Devices and Alchemy Tools.

An Ordinary person who studied Magic to a certain level might even be able to make a breakthrough in magical theory without being able to perform Casting.

This was gradually closing the gap between Ordinary people and Professionals.

Just like the Steam Engine, the progress it would bring was practically set in stone.

However, at the same time, it was also eroding the privileges of the nobility.

That was something they could not accept.

’The development of Magic?’

’Only development completely under their control was good development. Anything else was a perverse, regressive action.’

’Now it was the nobles’ turn to want to smash the "Virtual Loom."’

Many families were already, both openly and secretly, pressuring Repin Academy to forbid its students from uploading knowledge of Magic to the forum.

And it wasn’t just the nobles.

An owl flew to the reception room window. The ringed emblem on its claw indicated it was from the Mage Guild.

Owls were only sent to deliver messages to the elders of the Magic Council; it was very ceremonial.

Therefore, it had come for Soron.

Soron took the note from the owl with a look of disdain. ’What era is this? Still sending owls? Aren’t they slow? Couldn’t they have just sent a message on Deer Spirit?’

He opened the note. It read, "In three days, at the Mage Guild headquarters, a discussion regarding the forum."

----------

「Three days later. Mage Guild Headquarters.」

In the meeting room, a dozen or so elders wearing hoods and masks were arguing heatedly around a simple black round table, which was surrounded by precious and bizarre magical creations.

Even though the Mages in this room were, at a minimum, near-Legendary and were all famous figures in the outside world, their arguing was no different from that of drunkards and shrews brawling in the street.

"Discuss? What is there to discuss? This is a heinous crime! Spreading knowledge of Magic so casually? This is unacceptable! Is the current state of public order not chaotic enough for you?"

"Ordinary people should never be allowed to possess such dangerous knowledge!"

"Ban it! It must be banned!"

"And that Zog Group is up to no good either! We must boycott them! What are they planning, making something like this? Are they trying to overthrow the various nations?"

"Then I suggest you go and try," said Soron, who had been playing with a Magic Cube in his seat for some time.

After his recent study of the Magic Cube, he could now consistently solve it in about thirty seconds.

’The more you play with this thing, the more addictive it gets. You always want to be a little faster.’

His skill was still a far cry from the fastest; the record in Twin Tower City had already broken twenty seconds.

"What’s that supposed to mean?" The elder who had just spoken was very displeased with Soron’s sarcastic remark. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

"It means nothing. Just a sincere suggestion. Go ahead, try boycotting the Zog Group. I’d really love to see what happens to you," Soron said, spreading his hands, doubling down on the mockery.

"You’re not blameless in this either! The very first tutorials were written by your Repin Academy."

"First of all, I’m only the honorary headmaster; I don’t participate in the academy’s management. Second, I don’t see a problem with writing tutorials. Or are you just afraid your son can’t compete with a Wild Mage who taught himself using the forum?"

Soron slammed the Magic Cube down on the round table, its parts groaning and creaking under the pressure.

"You!"

Lies don’t hurt people; the truth is a swift blade.

The elder was suddenly speechless. His family had been in charge of the Loman Empire’s Royal Caster Academy for generations, yet the next generation was proving to be a disappointment.

"That’s enough." The elder seated at the head of the table, who had been silent for a long time, finally stood up.

The Mages present fell silent.

Eldron, a Legendary Elf Mage. He had become Legendary seven hundred years ago and became the Chairman of the Mage Guild six hundred years ago, a position he held to this day.

Though he was in his twilight years, his true power remained unfathomable.

He was a master of all Schools of magic. If one had to find a person on the Feilin Continent whose magical attainments surpassed Furin’s, it could only be him.

He was known as Saint El. Although he no longer held any official position in the mortal world, his status was transcendent.

"Deer Eagle Beast, state your reasons for the boycott."

Deer Eagle Beast was the council codename for the Mage from the Loman Empire.

"Magic can only be entrusted to those who have been screened. Otherwise, it will inevitably lead to turmoil. Thugs who learn even a little Magic can cause several times the destruction. Magical resources will become scarce, competition will surely become more extreme, and the Continent will be plunged into war once more."

Saint El did not offer an opinion, instead turning to look at Soron.

"Griffin, your reasons for supporting it?"

For once, Soron sat up straight. "The credo of the Magic Guild is to advance the development of Magic. The popularization of knowledge will inevitably lead to greater progress."

"As for turmoil, solutions will be found amidst the progress. The transfer of power among nobles has nothing to do with us."

"How can it have nothing..."

Saint El waved his hand, and Deer Eagle Beast found he could open his mouth but make no sound.

Leaning on his staff, he squinted his eyes. No one knew what this Old Elf was thinking.

Two minutes passed in which you could hear a pin drop. Then, Saint El slowly spoke, "I propose that the Mage Guild assist in the forum’s development and encourage Guild Mages to register accounts and share their knowledge. We will now vote by a show of hands."

Saint El raised his hand immediately, and Soron followed suit.

In the end, the vote was 8 to 5. The proposal passed.

"Very well. It is decided. Meeting adjourned."

His voice restored, Deer Eagle Beast said furiously, "I will petition the Emperor to ban the forum’s circulation in the Loman Empire!"

Saint El glanced at Deer Eagle Beast, his eyes half-open, and said calmly, "As you wish. And... good luck to you. Good luck to the Loman Empire’s future as well."