Since it wasn''t the Agricultural College and there were no chickens or dogs running around, the department head. Simon, seemed to have been
rushed into his position. The university was keen on getting rid of anyone associated with the Garrick faction, so they hurriedly appointed new faces.
mainly recruiting from abroad to avoid any unwanted ties with Garrick''s teachers. Simon, just back from his international projects, was somewhat out
of touch with the local situation and barely knew anything about Noe, except that Garrick’s stepping down had something to do with her.
“What does your family do?” he asked brusquely.
Noe replied calmly, “It''s all in my student file, sir. You can check it yourself.”
Simon snapped, “I''m asking you now. Just answer the question!
He couldn''t stand students who beat around the bush. He was the teacher: they were supposed to answer his questions without any fuss.
“My parents don’t work. My grandfather is old, you could say we''re into farming,” Noe answered.
The Schnabel Estate in Emerald County was indeed into farming — if you could call owning the entire hillside agriculture.
“You have brothers too, right?”
“Yes, they run a small business.”
Simon sneered inwardly. Just another student from a family with no real standing, likely causing trouble at the school. He doubted Garrick’s departure
had anything to do with her. And as for the incident with Oriana, it probably just proved Noe was a schemer. He despised students like that the
most.
“Go back to your studies. I''ve denied your exemption request. Attend sses on time from now on, or forget about graduating. Do you think this is
your backyard? No discipline at all! Is this how your family raised you?”
Calmly, Noe said. “I could always drop out.
Simon''s face contorted at her words. He was used to having control over students; this was the first time someone had dared to challenge him like
this.
“Who do you think you''re threatening? Do you think I''d be intimidated by you? Ridiculous! Whose loss would it be if you don''t attend school?
As he rambled on, Simon flipped open Noe’s file. The top line made his jaw drop.
“*Noe Schnabel, descendant of Marcel Schnabel, former Admiral of Harmonia Country. Honored with several medals from Harmonia Country,
specially invited to Imperial University as a highly prioritized talent. Recognized for significant contributions to the scientificmunity under the
Pris Star Lab.**
These des were beyond anything Simon could achieve in his lifetime!
“This...”This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.
“If there’s nothing else, I''ll proceed with the withdrawal
implications of letting her leave.
Noe said as she shouldered her backpack. unfazed by Simon''s dawning horror of the
Thad, passing by and always up for some drama, chimed in, “Don’t drop out! Join my department: I''ll offer you a full schrship. You don’t even have
toe to ss!”
Ever since he found out Noe was the genius behind Loadstar that rocked the scientificmunity, Thad revered her.
“If you want, myb can carry your name!
Noe replied calmly, “Yourb doesn’t meet my standards; it’s a bit outdated. Plus, I preferb technicians with hair.”
Thad, feeling the top of his bald head, couldn''t believe his research qualifications were being overshadowed by hisck of hair.
“What kind of criteria is that?” hemented.
“Because it''s nicer to look at. It helps with the mood of the researchers,” she exined.
Trying to recover, Thad quickly epted Noe''s offer to visit her state-of-the-artb and the jewelry she designed for him. “Sure, I''ll visit when I can!”
Thad then turned to Simon, “Simon, I
know you ‘vebeen focused on your
research abroad, but you should =>
realize that decisions from the ‘op
are always well thought out. It
implies that Garrick''s removal \ was
duéto his own doing, not Noe’ s.”
Implying that Simon was out of line for questioning Noe’s status or intentions was an understatement
“If you''re unhappy at the Design Academy, my Computer Science department would be thrilled to have Noe,” Thad added.
Simon, now-sweating, backpedaled
quickly, ‘ “NO, no, I didn’t mean for.”
Noe to drop out. Let''s stick ta the
original arrangements. Come to
gs sWhen you can, and don’t worry
toe-much about exams!” Content
bélongs ~
Noe, already detached from the situation, simply nodded, “I''lle when I have time.”
She left without giving Simon, still in a state of panic, a second nce. To her, the dean''s thoughts were irrelevant.
Thad chuckled, "Hey, we''ve got this roundtable happening over here and we''d love for you toe by. How about it? I even checked with your
granddad, and he was like, ‘You gotta ask her!"
"That sounds great, actually. I''ve
been working-on anew system
focusing sr +panionship for the
elderly living alone and end-of- life-
care, a8 5 well asa tracking system
for maissing kids. It''d be the perfect
opportunity to share ideas.“Content
?
Thad was thrilled to have her jain in on the Pris Star initiative!
He momentarily forgot about Noe''s earlierment that theirb wasn''t quite up to snuff...
"I see your projects are all about social care?”
"Yeah, there are plenty of money-making schemes out there, but I''m pretty well-off now. I want to invest in something meaningful.”
Only Noe could make such a bold statement about her wealth!
Thad couldn''t help butugh along with her self-deprecating humor.
"Alright, alright. Pris Star is all about humanitarian efforts. Good on us!"
Elder Horatio stared at the I Ching hexagrams before him, frowning. "This doesn''t look too good.”
The senior monk was at his wit''s end.
"Why are you, a monk, dabbling in divination? It’s like every day, monks are stepping on the toes of us spiritual folk. Got too much time on your
hands!”
"Faiths are intertwined."
"Nonsense. If they''re so intertwined, why don’t you hand over Dragon Monastery to me then?"