As a mage, I just want to pursue the truth

Chapter 268: Extremely Acute Sense of Smell

“You know what zero trust means, right?

Just assume that the news of your becoming a mage will definitely leak out.

But I also disagree with your second idea, which is to let everyone know.

This approach is even less feasible.”

Li Xulin paused after he finished speaking. He needed someone to support him.

Li Miaomiao knew her father's character very well and immediately asked, "Why?"

She was indeed very curious because it was a common practice in China to protect oneself through fame.

Fame has always been a double-edged sword.

Li Xulin pretended to touch his non-existent beard and said:
"Because your situation is different from Zheng Li's, you are more susceptible to jealousy and criticism.

Zheng Li relies on his talent. People will naturally admire geniuses. When a genius reaches a certain level, everyone will tolerate most of his shortcomings.

Not to mention that the talent Zheng Li showed is unique. People don't envy talent but luck.

First of all, you have obtained the magic brain, and the source of it must be announced to the public. After the announcement, the outside world will only be more jealous of your luck.

There are too many people who know about it, so you will be hard to defend yourself from both public and real-life attacks.

Because they don't have to pay a price, some capable people will fabricate all kinds of negative information, maliciously edit what you said, and then impose it on you.

Once such an atmosphere of public opinion is formed, it is almost impossible to reverse it.

This is just the negative impact on public opinion, not to mention what would happen if everyone knew about it and some extremist people attacked you in real life.

For example, I was deceived into believing that the killer could obtain the magic brain. "

Li Miaomiao asked back, "I understand the negative public opinion.

I have seen many comments on Weibo saying that I was just lucky.

These comments are all fairly neutral, I am indeed lucky.”

Of course, not all messages on Weibo are like this. There are also people who defend Li Miaomiao. After all, she is so beautiful and many people speak up for her.

For example, how many people at that time could make up their minds to give up their studies and start a business with Zheng Li? Even if they were lucky, they made the right choice.

“But I don’t quite understand the latter point.

If the relevant Chinese institutions leak information, there will still be people attacking me in the real world.

There is no guarantee that those who know this news are rational.

Your assumption is a subjective hypothesis. "

Li Xulin explained: “It’s a price.

The only one who can protect you is Zheng Li.

If everyone knows about it, then if something happens to you, they can only hold that specific individual accountable and won't be able to trace it further.

If you choose to keep the secret, you can hold the person who leaked the information accountable.

Moreover, the lower-level individuals have nothing to lose, so maybe someone will give it a try. What if they succeed?
And if the news is kept confidential, the ones who can get it will definitely not be the lower class, because they don’t have the courage to give up everything.

This is equivalent to double protection. In addition, I need you to trouble Zheng Li to communicate with the Chinese officials and ask them to keep it secret. As long as Zheng Li asks for it, no one outside will know about it, at least in the next few years.

From what I understand, Zheng Li's status in the hearts of the top leaders is far beyond what the outside world imagines."

Li Xulin's views can be summarized into two points:
The barefoot are not afraid of those who wear shoes, so try not to let those who are barefoot know.

We must hold institutions accountable rather than just holding specific individuals accountable.

Li Miaomiao quickly understood the other party's idea: "Okay, I will tell Zheng Li.

There is no way Zheng Li would reject me for such a casual thing."

Li Xulin nodded and said, "Zheng Li is a little bit too nice to you.

I actually don’t quite understand it.”

Li Miaomiao laughed and said, "Haha, there's nothing I can do. Your daughter is just likable."

Li Xulin said: "No, it's not this.

I can understand why Zheng Li would give you the Magic Brain, but I don't quite understand the timing he chose.

You should know that although Zheng Li studied mathematics in college, in fact most of his achievements are in biology.

And according to your description and the outside world's description, Zheng Li is obviously a scientific research fanatic who has a strong curiosity about everything."

Li Miaomiao: “That’s right.

It is no exaggeration to describe Zheng Li's passion for scientific research as crazy. According to internal rumors in the company, sometimes the floor where Zheng Li is located is still light at one o'clock in the morning.

This is what the patrolling security guard said.

He told me that I was his only friend, so it was normal for him to be nice to me.”

Li Xulin's brain was thinking rapidly, and he said as he thought:
"Let me put it this way, Zheng Li's passion for scientific research is much greater than his passion for you, right?"

Li Miaomiao nodded.

Li Xulin continued, "It's normal for him to use the magic brain after he got it, but why didn't he use it for research after getting the second magic brain, but gave it to you?

This is not reasonable.

Unless the one I give you is the third magic brain."

Li Xulin thought of another possibility in his mind, but he didn't say it out loud.

He didn't plan to tell anyone. The more Li Xulin thought about it, the more he felt that this possibility was the truth:
"Zheng Li is Merlin, so most of the explanations can be made clear.

If Zheng Li was Merlin, he could take out as many magic brains as he wanted. Since he had mastered the method of making magic brains, he naturally didn't need to do any further research.

In addition, there is also an explanation for Zheng Li's genius.

As for why Zheng Li is not interested in women, it is even more normal. In the eyes of alien creatures, tall or short, fat or thin, male or female, old or young, are all the same.”

The more Li Xulin thought about it, the more excited he became. He realized that he might be the first one to know about this, but if Li Miaomiao reported it to the Chinese authorities, then other people would guess it.

Li Miaomiao: "I don't know exactly how many magic coins Zheng Li has. He won't tell me such a thing."

Li Xulin hurriedly said: "Remember not to file the application when you go back this time, but ask Zheng Li instead.

Ask him why he didn't keep the magic brain for himself for research, but chose to give it to me.

Aren't you curious about the Demon Brain?"

Li Miaomiao didn't think of what Li Xulin had thought of at all. Instead, she asked:
"Do you want to know if Zheng Li has another magic brain?

Do you want to become a mage too? I tell you it’s not possible, we can’t afford it.”

Seeing his daughter's disloyalty and thinking about Zheng Li's possible true identity, Li Xulin was filled with worry.

If his guess is correct, then Zheng Li will inevitably stir up even bigger waves. As the only person close to Zheng Li, it is completely unknown what kind of challenges Li Miaomiao will encounter.

“You’re overthinking it. I just wanted to ask Zheng Li if he has made any research findings on the Demon Brain.

Then if he has any new research ideas, please let me know.

I will be preparing for the evaluation of academician in the next two years, so I need to prepare some research topics and make a final push.”

Li Xulin was fifty years old at this time, and the age from fifty to fifty-five was exactly the golden age for being elected as an academician.

After listening, Li Miaomiao said she understood: "Okay, no problem.

I will ask Zheng Li for you."

Li Xulin: "Sleep at home tonight and go back early tomorrow morning. Remember to ask Zheng Li.

I've been very busy at work lately and don't have time to accompany you. Your mother is also out traveling, so there's no one at home. It's better for you to go back to work early."

After saying that, Li Xulin returned to his room and stayed alone in a relatively closed space, with thoughts and memories constantly surging.

He first met Zheng Li in the office of the School of Life Sciences. Zheng Li's fluent English and knowledge of biology impressed him.

The level of performance Zheng Li demonstrated at that time was comparable to that of a doctoral student.

Li Xulin had only heard of geniuses like this before. He had also seen geniuses who graduated with a doctorate at the age of 18 in the news.

Li Xulin suddenly thought that he could go and look at Zheng Li's college entrance examination results.

Especially the biology score in the college entrance examination that year.

Because it was only half a year between Zheng Li's college entrance examination and the time he met him.

In half a year, the college entrance examination scores can be used to provide indirect evidence.

In addition, Li Xulin recalled that Zheng Li discovered endorphins.

Endorphins are substances that were discovered very early. Scientists discovered the existence of endorphins in the 1950s.

Everything, including the effects and molecular formula of endorphins, have been explored clearly.

Therefore, Li Xulin was not surprised by Zheng Li's discovery of a laboratory method for producing endorphins.

Looking back now, there are still too many special things about Zheng Li.

Li Xulin finally decided to pretend nothing happened and buried his guess deep in his heart.

What Li Miaomiao said to Zheng Li was also a reminder to him.

Li Xulin also didn't plan to check Zheng Li's college entrance examination results in order to avoid attracting unnecessary attention.

"Zheng Li, Zheng Li, who made you and my daughter so deeply bound together?

You are so generous to my daughter that I feel embarrassed to expose you and have to cover up for you.

Am I being raped?
It would be best if you were not Merlin. If you were Merlin, what would Miaomiao do?"

Li Xulin was filled with thoughts.

If Merlin's image in the outside world was not lawful and just, Li Xulin would not keep the secret for him.

It was due to multiple factors that Li Xulin chose to keep the secret instead of telling the authorities.

After Li Miaomiao returned to Gusu and asked Zheng Li, Zheng Li was a little surprised.

But he didn't expect that he would reveal his flaws in such a place, and the people from Blue Star would smell it.

After careful consideration, Zheng Li understood what Li Xulin meant and also knew that the other party would not betray his true identity.

So he sighed at the keen sense of smell of the Blue Star people and said to Li Miaomiao: "It's hard to tell you, just follow the process to register.

I have already spoken to the relevant Chinese authorities, and the people they sent are on the way. You should receive some training in the next few days."

In addition to the people who trained Li Miaomiao, Academician Zhao also came in person.

He has always maintained a good relationship with Zheng Li. Every time he comes to Suzhou, Academician Zhao will talk to Zheng Li.

Zheng Li was not at all surprised that China sent Academician Zhao this time.

"Zheng Li, congratulations. This time I am here just to do my routine work."

"These are not questions I want to ask, but questions that the Anomalous Affairs Bureau wants to ask."

Zheng Li: "I understand. Academician Zhao, please go ahead."

Since the other person was much older than him, Zheng Li maintained the etiquette of Blue Star and respectfully addressed the other person as "you".

Academician Zhao asked: "We mainly want to ask about the source of the magic brain you gave to Li Miaomiao."

Zheng Li said: "Magic coins are obtained by answering questions about the nature of the soul."

Academician Zhao asked, "How many have you obtained in total?"

Zheng Li said bluntly: "Two.

I am studying the composition of one of the magic brains, and the other one is for Li Miaomiao to use."

Academician Zhao nodded and said, "Okay, the routine question-and-answer session is over. Next, we can talk about some of our more private topics."

After saying this, Academician Zhao waved his hand and asked Zheng Li to come closer. After Zheng Li came closer.

Academician Zhao took Zheng Li's hand, and then the two walked to the middle of Zheng Li's office.

"Squat down."

Academician Zhao spoke softly and then squatted down. Zheng Li was a little confused.

Academician Zhao pulled Zheng Li's sleeve.

The mage was really confused.

Zheng Li squatted down and Academician Zhao took out a wooden stick from his hand.

When Academician Zhao reached into his pocket, Zheng Li thought he was looking for a gun to shoot him.

Academician Zhao waved the wooden stick in his hand.

This is a wooden stick that is only fifty centimeters long and looks very much like the magic wand in the movies.

Academician Zhao said: "Okay, because I want to talk to you about some private topics.

I was afraid that there were bugs in your office, so I used magic to silence this space.

You can think of it as a silencing spell, which is our latest developed magic."

Zheng Li could feel that the space where the two of them were squatting was completely silent.

There was no sound at all.

Obviously, the shielding is two-way, the sound from outside cannot come in, and the sound from inside cannot go out.

Academician Zhao said helplessly: “My ability is limited.

Currently, I can only cast the silencing spell within a square meter around me.

So I have to trouble you to squat down.

I am too old to squat for too long, so we said we should hurry up and finish the chat early.

I really admire your loyalty and righteousness.

My visit this time is mainly for routine enquiries.

There may be some annoying flies asking you later to verify the authenticity of the magic coin you obtained.

If you don't want to deal with these flies, then send me a copy of your answer regarding the nature of the soul.

If flies come to you again in the future, just ignore them and tell me, and I will help you get rid of them.

In addition, we will keep your remaining magic coin confidential."

In fact, after learning that Li Miaomiao had obtained the magic brain, someone in China made a similar guess to Li Xulin.

The power that the state apparatus can mobilize is far beyond Li Xulin's imagination.

Even Zheng Li’s daily performance at university was restored.

Zheng Li showed abnormal behavior after a serious illness, but the illness lasted for a very short time and only the teacher in that elective class remembered it.

Later, when Zheng Li returned to the dormitory, none of his roommates remembered that Zheng Li had been unwell that night.

Based on various unusual speculations, there is about a 10% chance that Zheng Li is Merlin.

But China does not intend to make this window paper clear.

Or perhaps out of their national interests, they intended to let Academician Zhao mention it implicitly.

It depends on whether Zheng Li himself wants to make it clear.

As for the idea of ​​arresting Zheng Li, it is unrealistic.

Because no one knows whether Zheng Li is Merlin's true identity.

Also, maybe Zheng Li is not Merlin, and his abnormality is due to other reasons.

For China, the arrival of magic has completely changed the world situation, which is a good thing for them.

The difficulty of struggling when the old order is changing from the new order is far less than struggling when the old order is collapsing.

(End of this chapter)