It turned out that, so long as there was enough fame and profit to drive him, even Kaierben—headmaster of a school and one of Water-Drawing City's Masked Lords—could be quite shameless when he set his mind to it.
At first, however, he had refused.
When Levis tactfully proposed renting Water-Drawing City Magic Academy as a filming location for the light-and-shadow drama, while also hiring some students as paid extras, Kaierben refused with righteous indignation:
"My sincerest apologies, Mr. Levis, but Water-Drawing City Magic Academy is a place for the study of magic, an ivory tower that nurtures knowledge. How can we allow this copper-rust stench of commercialism to taint our pure students? Their current duty must still be to place their studies first."
Levis thought for a moment and changed his approach. "Well, I'm not sure whether Vina has mentioned this to you, but the filming apparatus used for this so-called light-and-shadow drama was developed based on the illusion application theories Professor Mekalong devoted his life to before his passing. The very first light-and-shadow drama filmed with it is bound to hold tremendous significance for Magic Research. Whether in raising Water-Drawing City Magic Academy's reputation across the Northlands or broadening the horizons of the students who participate, this is a rare opportunity."
Hearing this, Kaierben pondered for a moment, yet still refused. "I do recognize Mekalong's research and contributions. I have recently examined his book as well; it is indeed ingenious and unconventional. However, the practical applications of illusions remain uncertain in their prospects. If Water-Drawing City Magic Academy places too much emphasis on this field, it will inevitably affect the choices students make regarding their future directions in Magic Research. As the headmaster of Water-Drawing City Magic Academy, I must treat this with caution. How about this? Over the