Half an hour later, the school committee had an internal meeting.

In the conference room, there were only Ingmar and the old man who had just arrived.

The old lawyer who served with many families sat behind the table, crossed his fingers, and quietly looked at Ingmar with a cold expression.

"Mr. Ingmar. ”

He said in a deep voice: "On behalf of the school committee, I once again inquire about the interpretation of the Voynich manuscript - is the plagiarism alleged by Abraham valid?"

Ingmar didn't seem to hear, just stared at the table in front of her in a daze, muttering something in a low voice, lost her soul.

"It's impossible...... How will it pass...... I'm ...... Abraham, that guy ......"

"Ingmar!"

The old lawyer slammed his slap on the table, and with a loud bang, Ingmar's shoulders shook, and she slowly raised her head. "Don't be passive!

Is your interpretation plagiarized from Abraham's work?!"

Ingmar looked at his angry face as if she had seen the panicked expressions of the noble members of the school committee, and after a long time, she burst out laughing softly.

The laugh was sarcastic.

"So far, am I plagiarizing, is it still important for you?"

The old lawyer's expression became gloomy, and he stopped talking, but just picked up the papers and left quietly.

In the silent conference room, Ingmar was the only one left.

In the silence, Ingmar looked at the empty seat in front of him, and the intermittent laughter rang out again, vicious and hearty.

Until a sigh came from behind him.

A familiar voice sounded in his ears:

"Now that you have no choice but to support me, do you have a way out?"

At that moment, the laughter stopped abruptly.

Ingmar's expression stiffened. He turned back with difficulty, but he saw a sparrow, and the sparrow was also looking at him, and that look looked like it was looking at some dust.

The sparrow stood on his shoulder, and his light figure bent his body.

Overwhelmed.

Sparrow said: "You think that the House of Representatives has been difficult to ride, so I will definitely support you in this link." Hold on to the end, right?"

Ingmar's fingers trembled and her expression twitched, but she was silent and did not speak.

"Congratulations, you guessed it. ”

Sparrow said lightly: "Even if you are plagiarizing, we will support you." Ten days later, the Musicians' Guild publicly appraised and refuted.

The House will use its connections to give you the win. Are you happy?"

Happy?

Ingmar felt a chill in her back, and there was no joy at all. It was the chill of the heart where all the secrets were exposed to the sun.

And then there is the strange thing that is included in the generous bounty of the House...... Are they not angry?

"You ......"

Ingmar swallowed and foamed. I tried to make a sound, but my voice trembled: "What do you want?"

The sparrow sighed, as if helpless.

It's lamenting a fool.

"Ingmar, you should understand: what you are proud of is useless in our eyes. ”

It said, "If you want to negotiate with us, then you can leave." The House won't make any deals with you.

But you can't go, can you?

You know better than anyone else: once you walk through such a door. There will be no one in this world who can save you. ”

Ingmar's shoulders trembled.

He seemed to want to get up and go out the door, but the sparrow stood on his shoulder, and the sparrow, so light, bent his spine.

He didn't dare to get up...... Because he knew that he would show the slightest hint of resistance. Then it's all over.

His future, his achievements, his everything, will be buried in darkness.

With yourself.

So he bowed his head tamely, and was willingly put on an invisible halter.

"Definitely. Over the years, the House has spent a lot of resources on you.

But you must also know that for the House, even if it is a resonance-level musician, it is not impossible to recruit if needed, it is nothing more than the price.

The House has never been afraid to pay any price, Ingmar, and we have not been afraid of any price. ”

Sparrow whispered, "The reason why we value you is because there are not many ancient scholars like you who are good at interpreting. And we happen to be at some point, somewhere, and we just need you to interpret and show us the way.

You know, there's a lot more to replace, quite a lot...... So, don't do anything stupid anymore, and don't wear down the patience of the House, okay?"

"Directions?"

Ingmar sweated profusely: "What way?"

"Didn't you already guess that?"

Sparrow laughed, "It's the bloody road behind this huge city, Ingmar. It's time for you to know, but you've guessed quite a bit, haven't you?"

Cold sweat fell from his cheeks, fell to the ground, and dissipated.

Until finally, he closed his eyes, gritted his teeth, and made a sound:

"I—I'll help you. ”

"It's not you who help us, Ingmar, it's us who help you. The sparrow whispered in his ear, "Now you can open your eyes and meet your friends." ”

Ingmar's fingers shook, and she opened her eyes in disbelief, then suffocated.

In the silent conference room, there were already a large number of visitors, and the seats were full. Piercing eyes stared at him, a gaze that chilled.

It was hundreds and thousands of birds, which came silently, occupying every corner, looking down on him condescendingly.

"Welcome to the House, my friend. ”

The sparrow laughed meaningfully,

"- Welcome to the true heart of this country. ”――

Burgundy, a manor house on the outskirts of the capital, a hurried knock on the door sounded.

Outside the door of the study, the messenger knocked on the door and shouted:

"Master Butlermy, Master Butlermy. ”

After the knocking continued for half an hour, the door to the study was angrily opened.

The old man behind the door had unkempt hair and was unkempt. It was not the attire of a visitor, but he glared at the comer, as if he were looking at an intruder who had broken into his realm:

"Stop arguing!"

The study behind him was full of old books, but under the careful maintenance, there was not much of a stale atmosphere. Those ancient books are written in obscure cuneiform script, with a full sense of antiquity.

But the research was interrupted. That's why the old man's expression was extremely annoyed: "My interpretation is at a critical moment, didn't you say that no one should come to disturb me!"

Don't you understand the lingua franca?!"

He has been studying the Jade Record for more than a decade – one of the ancient texts that laid down the theory of the first musicians.

Now, after a long time, I finally found a clue, and when I was excitedly exploring, I was interrupted by a sudden guest, and even if I was outstanding, I couldn't help the anger in my heart.

Even if the person who came was the messenger of the musicians association, he still scolded the other party for a bloody squirt, and in the end, he glared at him angrily:

"You'd better have a good reason. Otherwise, even if it's the musicians' association, you'll never want to enter my house!

"I am only here to follow the mission, and I ask for your understanding. ”

The envoy was a little helpless for a moment, and with a wry smile, he handed over a letter from the Holy City in both hands. Butlermy snatched it angrily, tore open the seal, and pulled out the letterhead.

"Plagiarism?"

Butlermy was stunned for a moment, and couldn't help frowning: of course he knew about the interpretation of the "Voynich Codex" a few days ago, although it was not published. But many of his protégés used to work in the Holy City, and copies were delivered to him on the third day.

I have to say. Although it may seem counterintuitive, the interpretation of the Voynich Manuscript is a masterpiece without compromise.

It was part of this idea that gave him a new inspiration for "Cui Quotations", but he didn't expect that such an outstanding work would involve such a thing......

By the time he read the briefing in his hand, his anger had dissipated.

The rest. There is only a mixture of astonishment and melancholy.

"Ingmar and Abraham......? Why do you want to do such a thing?"

Scholars who are obsessed with the interpretation of ancient history are generally far away from the world's strife and look down on fame and fortune, and most of them are not complicated, but much simpler.

For them, research is everything. Scholarship and theory are life, and plagiarism is absolutely hated.

That's why after hearing about such a thing, he looked so melancholy.

"It's a pity. ”

He invited the envoy into the study, and after serving tea, he was silent for a long time, and only after taking off his glasses, he sighed: "I already understand the meaning of the association.

Do you want me to be present at the Council as an appraiser?"

"That's right. The messenger bowed his head.

But Butlermy's sorrow was even greater.

"It was precisely because I hated fighting and didn't want to hurt other people that I chose to become a Star Scholar when I advanced to resonate. But I didn't expect that you would now want me to be an executioner again. ”

The envoy was stunned for a moment, "Master, where do you start with this?"

"You don't understand. ”

The old man shook his head bitterly: "For scholars, research is breathing, and results are life. Whatever the final outcome is, one of these two scholars is bound to die.

For scholars, this is not only a review, but also a place of execution. ”

The messenger was silent for a long time, and then lowered his head:

"It's a presumptuousness. ”

"It's not your fault, after all, it's all a matter of the academic world, and it still has to be solved by the academic community. Who else in this world can be an executioner but a few of us old guys?

Sergey, you must have sent an invitation letter too, right? That guy's fiery temper will definitely agree. ”

"Yes. ”

The messenger bowed, "There are five people who have been invited to deliberate, and in addition to you and Master Schaguel, Miss Lola Craft of Anglo, Master Heisenberg of the Rock and Iron Academy, and an Ancient Rune Master of the East who lives in the Holy City will also be there. ”

"Ancient runes of the East?"

Butlermy was stunned, "After so many years of loss, is anyone still researching?"

The messenger replied truthfully: "It is a scholar from the East, who arrived in the Holy City half a year ago, and whose identity is rarely known. I only know that his surname is Hu, and the cardinal calls him 'the sun'. ”

"It's me who is alone. ”

Butler's head bowed and pondered for a moment: "When are you leaving?"

When the messenger heard that he was willing to attend, he was overjoyed: "We have prepared the fastest carriage for the light rail, and we will be able to reach Anglo in six days." ”

Knowing that Butlemy rarely went out and was not used to flying in airships, the Society urgently arranged for him the fastest route.

Butlermi's head agreed, and after the two men had set a time for departure, the servant sent the messenger away.

When the agent of the Musicians' Guild had left, Butlermy sat in his study and sighed helplessly after a long time.

He didn't have the heart to continue his research.

"It's a pity, it's clear that the interpretation of "Cui Quotations" is about to break through ......" He shook his head, took off his glasses, and wanted to go out for a walk, but happened to bump into the servant who was hurrying back.

"Sir, there is an urgent letter from you. ”

The servant delivers the letter that the postman has just delivered.

"Who sent the letter?"

Butlemy picked up the envelope, which had no name on it, and only a trace of a fire paint seal left on the sender's place.

It was the silhouette of a sparrow. (To be continued.) )