Chapter 148

Chapter 148: Violet

Violet had just confirmed the latest news. First off, there were two major events currently for the healers of the Imperial Palace.

The first was delivering medicine to the northern region a few days ago. The second was Professor Asterisk’s newly developed technology. Though some said this latter one wasn’t directly related to medicine, but that was something we’d have to see.

Anyway, two major events.

She needed to inform Professor Asterisk about the delivery of medicine to fight the plague in the north and then inquire about the new tech.

This meant she had to go on a business trip to the Academy.

Perfect! While on the trip, she wouldn’t have to do any work, right? Now the only question was how many days she could stay on the trip without the Imperial Court getting suspicious, while still maximizing her leisure time.

Hmmm… three days should be fine, right? If she claimed there were three subjects to review at the Academy…

Oh, and she heard they were conducting research related to nerves. Let’s add that as another subject. So now it’s three topics.

Let’s say three days for the research plus one day for travel time—that makes four days of official business travel!

Four days of travel meant working just one day out of the week. When you think about it, that’s practically like taking the whole week off.

-New research on the functions of nerves.

-A machine device that generates electricity.

-Use of new drugs in the northern region.

-For these three subjects, including travel time, I will be going on a four-day business trip to the Academy and other research facilities.

Great. Satisfied with her plan, Violet folded the report neatly. Another successful week of not doing any work while still collecting her paycheck.

Probably?

***

Knock knock.

With a knock, Violet entered my lab, waving casually like she was just dropping by for fun. Sometimes I wonder if she actually thinks we’re close friends or something.

“Professor Asterisk! Long time no see.”

“Hello.”

Violet plopped down onto the sofa with a clipboard and pen ready.

“Let’s hurry up and finish.”

“Huh?”

“I want to wrap this up within an hour so I can go home early.”

What was she talking about? But Violet nodded confidently as if what she said was completely reasonable.

“First, the antibiotics and anti-inflammatory painkillers you invented were sent to combat the plague in the north. They’re reportedly very effective. What are your thoughts on this?”

“What kind of plague is it?”

“They believe it’s bacterial pneumonia. Apparently, the medicines provided by the palace and used in the north are having tremendous results. Yesterday, some northern nobles even came down for a banquet to thank the palace.”

“Oh, that’s good news.”

“Right? Very fortunate indeed.”

Violet quickly flipped through her pages. I could only scratch my head, wondering why she was rushing like this.

“Next topic.”

“Ah, yes.”

Violet continued rapidly.

“I heard you’ve been conducting new research on the structure and function of nerves. Can you summarize this in one sentence?”

How am I supposed to condense all that into one sentence?!

“Well, to put it briefly… nerves transmit electrical signals to the brain. Some carry sensory information to the brain, while others relay motor commands from the brain.”

“And the evidence?”

“We studied this through dissection. If you’d like, we could surgically remove nerves in rats or rabbits and observe the effects.”

“Can you explain a bit more about their function?”

“Nerves aren’t hollow conduits; rather, they seem to primarily transmit electrical signals instead of material flow.”

“Electrical signals?”

“Yes, like lightning. If you apply an electric shock to a frog’s leg, the muscles contract as if it were alive.”

Violet stared blankly into space for a moment, imagining zapping a frog’s leg with electricity.

“Incredible. Next topic.”

“Got it.”

Violet nodded briskly.

“I also heard you’ve created a machine capable of rapid wired communication over long distances. Could you summarize that in one sentence?”

“It operates on the principle of lightning, instantly transmitting energy and signals. And I’ve also devised a corresponding character system for it.”

Violet nodded again.

“So you didn’t just create the machine, but also the practical implementation method?”

“Yes.”

Violet set down her clipboard and relaxed further into the sofa, as if her task was complete. I looked at her quizzically.

“Was that all for your business trip?”

“Now I get to relax for three whole days!”

Laziness truly is a powerful motivator. To think it could turn someone into such an efficient worker—even if only for a short period. Violet stretched luxuriously.

“Wow…”

“Besides, when reporting to the imperial bureaucrats, all we need is content simplified to below undergraduate level. Just prepare something basic for the higher-ups.”

If that’s true, then I guess I can slack off too. Short sentences and easy words should suffice.

Violet nodded.

“How about we play some card games after so long?”

“No thanks.”

I shook my head.

“Is there nothing fun to do at the Academy?”

“You really know how to live life, Violet.”

“All thanks to having good colleagues—or rather, good seniors.”

“Wow…”

I marveled for the second time today. Even if I wanted to scold her, everything she does seems so effortlessly smooth. Violet stood up.

“Since we haven’t seen each other in a while, how about we grab coffee somewhere sunny? Or better yet, let’s gamble with poker or card games?”

“Gambling isn’t my thing.”

“But professor, you earn so much money.”

I sighed.

“Fine, whatever.”

***

Poker seemed a bit lacking with only two players, so I called Istina over, and we began setting up the game with chips.

Istina scratched her head.

“Professor, I don’t have any money though?”

“That’s not the point—we’re here to make money.”

Still, her enthusiasm was lukewarm. Fair enough—she doesn’t earn enough to lose big at gambling anyway.

“Eh…”

“I’ll give you fifty gold.”

“Whoa, thank you!”

Istina nodded gratefully. Meanwhile, Violet started shuffling the cards with a serious expression.

And so, the poker game began.

“Professor seems like someone who’d be good at poker.”

“She’s just average compared to others.”

“Fair enough.”

I checked my hand.

Garbage… Istina tilted her head in confusion, while Violet silently nodded in agreement. Let’s just wing it.

“Let’s go.”

“Wait, senior.”

“Hmm?”

“Are you going to bet?”

“We have to bet. By the way, how did you come up with this invention? It didn’t seem medical-related.”

“I based it on the structure and function of nerves, creating a signal transmission mechanism. Bet.”

“Hold on…”

“I could tell you doubted me. You thought maybe I had some hidden ancient encyclopedia or something.”

“It’s not ancient knowledge—it’s future knowledge.”

End of the first round.

Istina smiled triumphantly.

“Two pairs. No better hands?”

“You can take it. I was just asking.”

“If anyone doubts, we can always refute them academically.”

“Oh, already making money.”

“I don’t doubt you. I’d have to witness you lying first—and so far, that hasn’t happened.”

“There’s no science without refutation.”

Violet started shuffling the cards again. After playing poker all day at the Imperial Palace Infirmary, her card handling skills were impressively smooth.

“Next round.”

“Dealing the cards.”

“Watch closely. Make sure no one cheats.”

“Yes.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.”

“This is cash betting, remember.”

Despite Istina’s meticulous supervision, Violet didn’t cheat.

***

After about an hour of poker, the only person who made money was Istina—even accounting for the initial funds I gave her.

I sighed.

“Should I return the fifty?”

“Beginner’s luck?”

“No need to return it.”

Where’s the beginner’s luck in that?

We were genuinely betting real money here. Of course, Istina needs money the most among us, but during poker, that’s more of a weakness than an advantage.

***

By evening,

I left Violet lounging on the lab sofa reading a popular novel and went to meet Mint for dinner.

Mint seemed somewhat suspicious.

“Who was that woman earlier?”

Even though Mint was smiling, her tone was slightly cold. Was she jealous of Teacher Violet? I gently patted Mint’s head.

“You know her, right? She’s one of the healers in the Imperial Palace, and I think she’s the current chief.”

“Was she?”

The princess tilted her head curiously.

“Anyway, don’t worry about it. It seems the palace sent her to study at the Academy this time. On a business trip.”

“Hmm, that’s good then.”

Though the studying part probably took her twenty minutes before she started slacking off. But I didn’t mention that.

After all, as long as the person receiving the results is satisfied, does the process really matter?

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