Though Ron had not openly given Imperial City Magic Academy any benefits, there was still plenty of room to maneuver with the Card Research Institute.
In name, the Card Research Institute had been jointly established by the Magic Battle Hall and the magic academy, but its operations mainly relied on recruited magicians.
Ron would send employees to manage the funds. The magicians would apply for research expenses, the employees would approve them, and Ron would stamp them.
The entire Card Research Institute was affiliated with the magic academy. The dean of studies could easily assign a few magicians to apply for enormous sums as research funding, then use that money for other things.
For instance, other magical research.
This had not been the dean of studies' own idea. Ron had hinted at it during the negotiations.
He was plainly handing over money.
Or rather, a "bribe."
Yet in truth, the magic academy had done nothing at all. It had not even punished Professor Melken for his offensive remarks.
It had merely cooperated with the Magic Battle Hall in name, given the Magic Cup an official title, and made the production of Elemental Cards seem a little more prestigious.
This had no real impact on the magic academy itself.
At its core, it was simply lending out the academy's name in exchange for a huge sum of money.
And after lending out that name, the academy could in turn benefit from the Magic Cup. Why not?
As for Magic Duel harming students and wasting their free time?
Surely that was better than letting those little brats fight, drink, and chase girls?
It could also, incidentally, reinforce the offensive and defensive relationships between the various types of magic.
Some open-minded young teaching assistants would occasionally use Elemental Cards during class to draw