Time passed second by second, yet the conference room remained silent. Sweat beaded on Fleming's forehead. He had skimmed through the paper on his way here, but he had not dared examine it too closely. That was why Fleming had concluded that a paper like this could only be reviewed by erudite high-ranking mages; otherwise, it might trigger an academic disaster.
The high-ranking mages' students sat upright. They watched their teachers read the paper with extreme concentration. Faint ripples seemed to stir in the air—the hum of magic.
Cornwall finished reading first. As the creator of electrolysis, he quickly grasped much of the paper's content concerning it. When he saw Rainer pass electricity through ordinary water and ultimately collect two gases, the Seventh-Circle Mage's hands trembled slightly.
When he saw his own paper mentioned in the citations and acknowledgments at the end, Cornwall felt a jumble of emotions.
"Everyone, I think I need a laboratory."
He spoke, doing his utmost to suppress the agitation in his heart.
"I think it is we who need a laboratory."
Lanchester spoke next. He had also finished reading the paper. Though he appeared calm on the surface, a storm was already raging within the legendary mage's heart.
Fleming did not dare speak. Seeing the high-ranking mages set down their papers one after another with grave expressions, he knew that the consequences this paper might bring about were far more serious than merely causing one or two mages' understanding to collapse.
Without a word, everyone entered a laboratory on the third floor. It was far more advanced than the laboratories at Crescent Academy, furnished with every kind of sophisticated equipment. Yet the high-ranking mages focused their attention on a single water trough.
"Cornwall, you are the most familiar with electrolysis. You conduct the experiment."
Frederick