This was actually much like selling insurance.
You first sold insurance to acquaintances and fellow townspeople.
Once enough people had bought in and sufficient funds had been accumulated, you could return to your hometown of Zaun and start a business.
And this insurance did not even require customers to invest money. It only required them to believe.
Li Wei did not need these students to charge into battle, spill blood, or lose their heads. He only needed them to help spread and promote the cause.
For the things that truly required bloodshed, he and Janna were enough.
"I-I understand."
"I'll go back today and share the Janna's Ideology you taught us with the tenants in our apartment building!"
"Everyone who rents there is a Zaunite like us. They'll definitely be interested in your theories!"
One of the students had already risen from his seat incoherently, as though he wanted to rush out and fight at once, to immediately devote himself to this great undertaking.
But Li Wei smiled and stopped him. "This student, sit back down first. We still have something to settle."
The ultimate goal and short-term objective had been established, the feasibility analysis had passed, and the direction of their work had been determined.
What else was there?
"Of course there is." Li Wei looked at the future scientists before him and used an analogy suited to them. "Even when conducting a research project, you need overall planning, a division of labor, and cooperation. First, you need to establish a research team."
"So before we begin our work—"
"We need organization and discipline."
"This..." The students quickly caught on.
Right. What they were going to do was something earth-shattering.
Even Vander had known to form a gang and organize people before taking action against Piltover's rulers.
If they were going to accomplish something great, how could they go without an organization?
But how should this organization be run?
"Who should be chosen to manage this organization?"
"And how should they be chosen?"
Everyone present, especially Viktor, who was older and more experienced, gradually grew solemn.
Though he was a scholar of science and engineering, he could see it clearly enough.
This was a question of how to select and employ people.
To put it bluntly, it was a question of how to distribute power.
This question was extremely important.
Demacia distributed it through noble bloodlines, Noxus through military merit and titles, Ionia through clan status, while Piltover answered the question through a merchants' council...
Which of these methods was suitable for Zaun's future?
Even Viktor, brilliant as he was, could not figure out the answer for the moment.
"Because this question also has no standard answer." Li Wei answered this way amid everyone's confusion.
"Let me ask you—"
"Do you think Piltover's merchants' council is good?"
Good, of course it was good.
That was the students' first reaction.
Piltover was so civilized and advanced. How could its methods be bad?
Many of them had imagined that if they could wipe out the Chem-Barons ruling Zaun in one stroke, then imitate Piltover by establishing a merchant-led council in Zaun, Zaun could become as civilized and prosperous as Piltover.
"But I must tell you—"
"When the Twin Cities had only just split apart, Zaun actually had no Chem-Barons to speak of."
"Zaun itself was Piltover's 'twin,' its 'copy.' Every institution had been copied from across the canal. More than two hundred years ago, we too had a merchants' council and self-governance by community residents."
"But why did that council gradually vanish, why did legitimate merchants flee, and why did Zaun's power ultimately fall into the hands of those gang bosses and Chem-Barons?"
Li Wei's words startled the students awake.
He also told them that it was not only Zaun over two hundred years ago. Even now, across the continents of Shurima and Valoran, there were many nations with systems similar to Piltover's.
Yet not one of those nations was as prosperous or wealthy as Piltover. Not only were they not wealthy, they were poorer and more chaotic than the next.
They even saw masses of people die every so often due to colonial invasions, warlord civil wars, ethnic conflicts, and all sorts of other causes.
"But most people can only see Piltover's success and cannot see the failures of those poor, weak nations."
"Few people think about why the exact same method simply does not work elsewhere, cannot be implemented, and completely breaks down."
"Blindly worshipping one method and treating it as the key to solving every problem is, in truth, like the theory that only productive forces matter: an apparently correct extreme."
"So—"
"We cannot blindly imitate others now. We must choose the method best suited to us."
Li Wei's words won everyone's agreement.
But what method was best suited to Runeterra, and best suited to Zaun?
Could Li Wei provide such a method?
In the past, he truly could not have.
But now, in this world where supernatural power existed, he could barely be said to have an answer.
This answer had no practical significance and could only work in Runeterra.
And Li Wei's answer was, "Divine selection—"
"First, Janna will screen those qualified to join. Then the members will select our managers from among themselves."
"Huh?" The students were dumbfounded.
What the hell was divine selection?
Wasn't that some primitive method used thousands of years ago by the followers of the Three Gods in Freljord and the sea monster cults of Bilgewater?
"Wait." A student noticed Li Wei's latter words. "Janna first screens members 'qualified to join'... Teacher Li Wei, what kind of people are qualified?"
"Those qualified to join must, of course, be true believers in Janna."
"They must possess the ideal of Great Harmony and be willing to strive for it all their lives. They must always keep the masses in their hearts, serve the masses wholeheartedly, be the first to step forward in times of hardship, be the last to take benefits, and be willing to sacrifice everything for our cause of struggle, including their lives..."
Li Wei looked solemn, as if reciting an oath.
Some students could not understand. "Teacher Li Wei, what you're describing are saints—pure idealists."
"That's right! Pure idealists are exactly what I want!"
"But where could there be so many pure people in this world?"
"There are. There are many. Some of them are even among you—"
As soon as he finished speaking, the Blue Bird on Li Wei's shoulder slowly flapped its wings.
Then, in the very next instant, Lina, Viktor, Seraphine, and everyone present saw a strange sight.
Faint white "threads" extended from the bodies of some people among them.
The threads rose into the air, joined as one, and flowed into the Blue Bird like a hundred rivers returning to the sea.
Both Lina and Viktor had "threads" extending from them.
Seraphine did not yet.
"Th-this is..."
"This is your 'Faith Power,' and this bird is the incarnation of Janna's will." Li Wei gave Janna some face and described this useless bird as her avatar.
"And as everyone can see—"
"Janna can 'see' Faith Power."
Some of the white threads were thick, some thin; some bright, some dim.
Their thickness represented the strength of Faith Power and could also be seen as the strength of a believer's spiritual power.
The brightness of the "threads," meanwhile, represented the sincerity of their faith.
Yes.
In this world where supernatural power existed, Li Wei was now like someone playing a strategy game—he could see a general's "loyalty."
Who was an idealist and who was not could be seen at a glance.
This was his greatest cheat.
And even if Li Wei died, Janna would never die.
This goddess, forever pure and utterly selfless, would guide humanity forward forever.
"This is what I found—"
"The method best suited to Runeterra!"
Thanks to hall master Engamora for the generous support~~ Thanks as well to Yijiao Yige Jianpanhxia, Spoon8321, Jiajiajiaji, Zai Tou Wo Dian Shishi, Lin Zhong Chouren, God of White Vinegar, Tangtang Tang Xiaopang, Dark Sword Mouth Mouth, Mi4da, Has Lord Qiu Left the Palace Today?, Reader2020101820113328, Warring States Fell in Love with the Diffuse Gunpowder Smoke, Qingyin Fruit Pulp, and all the other readers for your support! (*^▽^*)
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