Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 547 "Veteran Actor"

In the dead of night, after the three stars of Emerald Ring II had completely sunk below the horizon, the darkness of the universe enveloped the entire colony like velvet.

The faint light emitted by the crystal tree seemed especially warm in the darkness, adding a touch of home to this exotic world.

Ron sat quietly on his bed in the dormitory, reminiscing about the successful "Chimera Cooking Class" he had given that day.

The students' beaming smiles, their genuine sense of team identity, and Silas's speechless, shocked expression outside the door.
All of this proves that true education goes far beyond the simple transmission of knowledge; it touches upon the awakening of the deepest part of the soul.

However, as a seasoned historian, Ron knew all too well that any change would trigger a backlash.

Silas's silence today is highly unusual; the shock mixed with jealousy may very well be sowing the seeds of some danger.

How would a traditionalist whose worldview has been overturned react?

He muttered to himself:
"Perhaps I should make some preparations in advance."

Thinking of this, Ron slowly closed his eyes.

His consciousness receded like the tide, his perception of reality gradually blurred, and his spirit began to drift toward that wondrous dimension bestowed by the Perfect King.

At the boundary between consciousness and dreams, a door made of starlight slowly opens.

Hephaestus's sandbox game space remains as magnificent as it was when we first met.

An endless sea of ​​stars flows beneath my feet, and fragments of time dance in the void like fireflies.

The mysterious sand table that could deduce the development of civilization floated quietly in the center of the dimension, awaiting his arrival.

Ron skillfully walked to the control panel and began to devise the theme for today's simulation:

How do you guide a stubborn, traditional individual, or even a civilization, to accept a completely new system of thought?

When he input this topic into the sand table, a wonderful feeling welled up in his heart.

The overall atmosphere of the space seemed to have undergone a subtle change.

The originally serious and solemn academic atmosphere has gained an indescribable sense of drama and absurdity.

"This is."

Ron frowned, carefully sensing the anomaly:

"Has the residual effect of the paradoxical dice not dissipated yet?"

He immediately recalled the properties of that magical die—distorting probabilities and creating absurd possibilities.

It is transforming his serious logical deductions into a more artistic form of expression.

"That would definitely be more interesting."

A curious smile appeared on Ron's lips:

"Then let me see what insights this 'absurd' deduction can bring."

He input his experience with Silas today as a "variable" into the sand table and began the first civilization simulation.

[First Deduction: The Prophet's Solo Performance]

The surface of the sand table began to undergo astonishing changes.

What should have been presented as cold, impersonal models of civilization and data charts has been strangely transformed into a magnificent theatrical stage.

The stage was covered with a velvety red carpet and surrounded by Baroque-style gold decorations.

Even more surprisingly, those abstract symbols representing "civilization" were transformed into a group of actors dressed in exaggerated costumes.

They wore exquisite masks and layers of robes, and every movement was full of dramatic tension.

Ron finds himself being "characterized" as well:

He became a mysterious prophet draped in a star-studded cloak, standing on a high platform.

"All right."

He shook his head, both amused and exasperated, and decided to go along with this setup:

"If you're going to act, then act out a great one."

The performance begins.

The prophet descended from the sky, accompanied by ethereal mist created by dry ice and dazzling spotlights.

When he was about to demonstrate the "miracle":
When the superiority of the new ideas was being demonstrated, countless ribbons and balloons suddenly descended from the sky above the stage, creating a scene so magnificent it was almost comical.

"Listen, you foolish believers!"

The prophet's voice echoed in the theater:
"Your ancient dogmas are rotten; only the new truth I bring can save your souls!"

However, the priest actors' reactions were quite amusing.

The high priest sang in an exaggerated operatic aria:

"Oh! How can this false spectacle shake the ancient script etched deep in our souls!"
We would rather perish with tradition than embrace this blasphemous new light!

The other priests and actors formed a circle and chanted in unison, similar to a choir:

"Heretic! Heretic! Burn this charlatan who spreads heresy!"

What followed was an extremely dramatic turn of events.

The more miracles the prophet performed, the more fiercely the priests resisted.

The conflict between the two sides escalated rapidly, eventually turning into a chaotic "civil war" on the stage.

The actors brandished cardboard swords that were clearly props, engaging in a fierce "battle" on stage.

Some people pretend to be stabbed and fall to the ground, and then recite a long monologue before they die;

Some people held up torches, making a gesture as if they wanted to burn down the entire theater;
Some actors even rushed into the audience, trying to drag the audience into the conflict.

Finally, the entire stage collapsed amidst a series of explosion effects.

After the smoke cleared, an evaluation board slowly descended from the sky, with the following words written in gold lettering:

[The script's conflicts were excessive, resulting in a terrible audience experience, a box office flop, and poor reviews from film critics!]

Rating: ★☆☆☆☆

[Judges' Comments: The Prophet character is too arrogant and lacks emotional resonance with the audience; a rewrite is recommended.]

Ron was speechless at the result.

Although the form of expression is extremely bizarre, the core logic of the deduction is correct:
Forceful indoctrination will only provoke stronger resistance, ultimately leading to a lose-lose situation.

"It seems the first method won't work."

He shook his head indifferently:
"Alright, let's try the second strategy. There's no cost to trying it a few more times anyway."

[Second Scenario: The Merchant's Farce]

The stage setting changed instantly, and the magnificent temple transformed into a bustling marketplace.

Everywhere there were colorful stalls, and the air was filled with the smells of spices and coins.

Ron's character this time is a shrewd businessman.

He wore a silk robe, held an abacus in his hand, and had a friendly smile but shrewd eyes.

The priest actors immediately changed into merchant costumes, their solemn masks replaced by expressions of greed.

"Dear customers!"

Merchant Ron stood in front of his stall and shouted:
Don't miss out! The latest thought system, beautifully packaged and fully functional!

Buy one get one free! Great price, fair and honest service!

This time, the priest actresses reacted very differently.

They surrounded the merchant's stall, frantically calculating the gains and losses with their abacuses.

The entire process quickly transformed into a bizarre musical about "materialism." The priests danced a comical dance around the glittering gold coins, singing in unison:

"Tradition is valuable, but faith is even more precious!"

If it's for money, both can be abandoned!

The gold coins jingled, and my heart was filled with joy!
……

Forget about truth, making money is the only thing that matters!

Merchant Ron also joined in this hymn to money.

He tossed coins around, causing the priests to scramble for them like hungry doves.

However, just as everyone was indulging in material revelry, an even more powerful "business empire" emerged.

A group of half-bodied capitalists dressed in suits and sunglasses walked out from behind the stage.

They carried thick contracts and gleaming checkbooks.

"Dear Indigenous Peoples!"

The halfling leader announced in a greasy voice:
“We are representatives from the Void Business Group.”

After evaluation, we have decided to acquire your entire civilization!

Here's the contract. Sign it and you'll receive a large sum of money, living a life of luxury forever!

When the priest actors saw those astronomical checks, their eyes turned into the shape of gold coins.

They signed the contract without hesitation.

They sold their civilization, traditions, and even their soul to foreign capitalist forces.

At the end of the play, all the actors took a bow to the audience, accompanied by the clinking sound of gold coins.

The evaluation board in the air displays:

The theme is too superficial. While it has some entertainment value, it lacks depth and is not recommended for viewing.

Rating: ★★☆☆☆

[Judges' Comments: Purely profit-driven motives lack sustainability and are easily replaced by greater interests.]

Ron fell into deep thought again.

This result also aligns with real-world logic:

While using material benefits to "buy" a change of mindset may be effective quickly, it is not grounded in reality and can easily be overshadowed by greater temptations.

"It seems that truly effective methods require a deeper level of wisdom."

He took a deep breath of the "air" in this virtual space and began to devise a third strategy.

[Third Scenario: The Traveler's Silent Drama and Symphonic Poem]

This time, the changes on stage are even more subtle.

It was neither a magnificent temple nor a bustling market, but a simple and quiet town square.

The ancient stone path reflected the warm sunlight, and the air was filled with the fragrance of flowers and the aroma of bread.

Ron's new role is that of a down-to-earth "traveling scholar":
He had neither the aura of a prophet nor the wealth of a merchant; he was merely a traveler carrying a simple bag.

When he stepped onto the stage, the entire theater fell silent.

There were no fancy special effects, no rousing music, only the soft echo of footsteps on the stone pavement.

The visiting scholars did not conduct any presentations or promotions.

He simply walked quietly toward the ancient temple in the center of town and began to do some seemingly insignificant things:

Sweep away the fallen leaves in front of the temple, water the withered flowers and plants, repair the broken stone steps, and guide lost animals.
The priest actors initially kept a wary distance from the stranger.

But as time went on, they began to be drawn to the activities of the itinerant scholars.

The traveler did not try to persuade anyone, did not criticize their traditions, and did not even speak up.

He was simply demonstrating a completely new way of life through his actions:

Tranquil, harmonious, and full of love for all life.

When the priests tentatively inquired about his "doctrine," the wandering scholar's response was equally unexpected.

He did not use language to explain, but expressed his ideas through dance and music.

When he wanted to express the concept of "adaptability," he performed a dance as fluid and graceful as water:

Sometimes as light as a clear spring, sometimes as encompassing as a great river, sometimes as turbulent as a waterfall, yet it always retains the essence of water.

When he wanted to convey the idea of ​​"inclusivity," he played a piece of symphony:

Using different musical instruments to represent different sounds allows them to find resonance in conflict and create beauty in difference.

Most remarkably, the priest actors began to be captivated by this pure artistic expression.

They lowered their guard and began to respond to the traveling scholar's "music" in their own way.

Some echoed his melody with ancient hymns, some incorporated traditional dance steps into his dance, and others accompanied his performance with their own instruments.

Gradually, the entire stage transformed into a grand improvisational performance.

New and old, tradition and innovation, persistence and adaptation.
All seemingly opposing elements begin to find a harmonious way to coexist in the language of art.

No one conquered anyone, no one abandoned their own essence, yet they created a wonderful new realm.

At the end of the performance, the audience erupted in thunderous applause.

The evaluation board in the air shimmered with golden light:
[A thought-provoking artistic masterpiece that skillfully blends the essence of tradition and innovation!]

Rating: ★★★★☆

[Judge's Comments: To prevent you from becoming arrogant, I'm deducting one star. True wisdom lies not in conquering, but in creating resonance.]

As the final round of applause subsided, the entire sand table space began to slowly fade away.

Ron's consciousness was pulled away from that dramatic dimension and returned to his real dormitory.

The moment Ron opened his eyes, he couldn't help but chuckle.

"The impact of this paradoxical die is truly unique."

Although the way the deduction is presented is extremely absurd, the wisdom it contains is very real.

Three different strategies, three drastically different results, pointed him in the best direction for dealing with the Silas problem.

"Neither conquest nor bribery will work."

He mentally summarized his experience:
“The truly effective method is to invite him to participate in a completely new ‘creative’ process.”

“To deal with a veteran like Silas, you can’t argue with him about the right or wrong of the script. Instead, you have to invite him to co-create a completely new play.”

Thinking of this, a sly glint flashed in Ron's eyes.

He has already planned for tomorrow:
He will prepare an irresistible "stage" for Silas, an opportunity for this traditionalist to demonstrate his value.

It's not about making Silas admit his mistakes, but about letting him discover his potential.

It's not about overthrowing his belief system, but about helping him expand the boundaries of his beliefs.

It's not about conquering a stubborn enemy, but about awakening a sleeping ally.

With that thought in mind, Ron buried himself in another task:
Prepare different gifts for Cassandra and Eve.

Under the night sky of Cuihuan No. 2, two equally sleepless souls are making their own preparations for the upcoming "performance".

One is devising how to create harmony, while the other is struggling with how to face change.

(End of this chapter)