Afternoon, Royal Academy of Music.
Regular weekly meeting of the School Committee.
There was silence in the huge conference room. The hanging red curtains blocked the dazzling sunlight, and the dim sunlight illuminated the vaguely dark interior.
In addition to teachers from several major academies, there are also several guests sitting on both sides of the long table. They do not belong to the Royal Conservatory of Music, but their representative backgrounds cannot be ignored - they are all agents and representatives of the main members of the school committee. The will of the families, institutions and masters behind them.
These lawyers, personal secretaries and butlers are responsible for solving trivial matters for their masters and ensuring that their ideas are implemented.
In front of them, Sidney could only sit with him.
Next to Sidney, there was another representative who looked too young to attend the meeting.
The man had iron-grey eyes and a handsome and determined face. He looked about twenty years old, like a student at school.
It was Gavin.
He was recognized by the school committee through his talents and outstanding performance in the student union, and was absorbed by the school committee and became a member of the Adrian family as it re-emerged after years of decline.
Now, he is finally expressing his opinion after a long silence on the problems encountered in the school committee recently.
"Gentlemen, we must admit that we have made mistakes in the management of the school recently. Especially in some places, we have taken wrong countermeasures."
He paused and said solemnly:
“—We are creating enemies for ourselves for no reason, for senseless reasons and incomprehensible hostility.”
Having said this, he glanced at Ingmar, the coach of Enlightenment Academy. Ingmar's face was ugly and he didn't say a word, just silent.
A representative looked at the briefing: "Are you talking about the Department of Music and History?"
"That's right."
Gavin nodded, "To be honest, I still can't understand why the conflict between the school committee and the Music History Department is so tit-for-tat that the Music History Department must be abolished. They did not squander the budget, and they did not oppose the school committee's decision-making. , did not even interfere with any of our initiatives. They did not even participate in the dispute between us and the principal. Why should we insist on turning them into our enemies? Aren’t we trying to unite all the forces that can be united to maintain Is it the glorious tradition of the college?"
"Gavin, you are still young, don't question the school committee's decision."
Ingmar said coldly, "It is also part of our work to eliminate a department that has no significance for its existence from the current bloated structure of the college and improve the operating efficiency of the college."
"No meaning of existence?"
Gavin frowned, "Excuse me for being rude, you are saying that a department that cultivated a chief and achieved such results in the school anniversary test without any support of resources does not exist. What is the significance? What are the four major departments that account for more than 90% of the budget? Cancer? What is the School of Enlightenment that failed in front of the Department of Music and History this year?"
"Careful with your words, Gavin!"
Ingmar's expression became increasingly gloomy: "Even if you are about to become a royal musician, you are not qualified to dictate to my academy!"
"Cough cough cough!!"
Sidney coughed hard and kicked Gavin quietly to signal him not to fight Sigma. But Gavin didn't flinch, he just looked into Ingmar's eyes and said calmly:
"Moreover, are you determined to eliminate the Department of Music and History from the college to improve the efficiency of the college, or because of your own personal grudges? I hope you will not bring your personal feelings into the meeting."
"presumptuous!"
Ingmar was furious, with illusions of stars, sun, moon, and black holes passing alternately in his eyes, and the air in the entire conference room seemed to become thinner at that moment.
It was the angry Star Eye that interfered with reality and almost changed the environment faintly.
He glared at Gavin with a cold voice, "Do you dare to question me? Gavin! Don't forget that you are sitting here just because the school committee appreciates you. Don't be arrogant! I see that you have become arrogant recently. It’s a little too much!”
"I'm just telling the truth."
Gavin said calmly, looking at the representatives, "I believe that based on my briefing, you gentlemen can also tell how unreasonable this move is. Perhaps the existence of the Music History Department is not enough to attract us. We attach great importance to it, but what Abraham once represented and the letter of recommendation brought by his students... I hope you can consider it carefully and not push them against us."
In the silence, Ingmar was furious and speechless.
However, several representatives flipped through the briefing paper submitted by Gavin in their hands, and after reading it, they exchanged opinions in low voices. Finally, the elected secretary raised his head and looked at him seriously:
"We have heard similar rumors, but they are not enough to confirm."
“I don’t know if it’s true or not, so why not take it seriously?”
Gavin asked back, "If we make friends with the Music History Department, even if the rumors are false, all we will pay is a meager budget. There are only four people and one dog in total. Even if we eat and drink and squander extravagantly, what can we do? How much money is wasted? But if the rumors are true..."
Gavin did not finish speaking, but several representatives understood what he meant and pondered: If it is true, then why bother saying it? It’s a huge profit!
After a long silence, the old housekeeper raised his head and nodded slowly:
"Perhaps this was a mistake."
“We should reconsider our approach to the music history department.”
"At least don't push them against us..."
Soon, the representatives exchanged opinions and after reaching a consensus, they looked at Gavin: "This is your proposal. I believe you have already considered it. How do you think we should express goodwill?"
"It's very simple."
Gavin smiled, "I am about to graduate and enter the Royal Orchestra. I am afraid that within five or six years I will not be able to participate in the recording of regular meetings of the school committee. Before leaving office, I recommended Ye Qingxuan to take over my job. He His talents and talents are as good as mine, and I believe he can make greater contributions to the school committee.”
Hearing what he said, the representatives fell into deep thought.
"Isn't this a little too deliberate? It loses the dignity of the school committee..."
"Anyway, nothing big will happen at the regular meeting, right? A record position does not have any real power. It just represents the goodwill of the school committee. As for his qualifications, there is no need to worry. As a chief, he is naturally qualified to come. If during this process, we confirm the rumor, we can commend Ye Qingxuan for his outstanding contribution to the school committee and absorb the entire music history department into the school committee... "
Gavin spread his hands and said with a smile: "From beginning to end, all we have given is just a little bit of kindness."
Hearing what he said, the representatives were moved, but Ingmar became furious, "What are you talking about?"
This is a rare gaffe.
He pressed the table angrily, stood up, and asked Gavin, "Abraham? A half-assed cannon fodder who was trained in the army for three or four months. He is a quick product. To allow him to retire in the academy is already the limit of tolerance." You dare to be equal to us! Dream! Among all the music schools in the world, there has never been a school that allows a defective mass-produced product to become a member of the school committee! Those guys are a disgrace to the musicians! Do you want to Do you want to make the academy a laughing stock?!”
The furious Ingmar made the representatives stunned and looked at each other, but Gavin remained silent and did not say a word.
Instead, Ludwig, who had been dazed and yawning from beginning to end, came to his senses and raised his head to glance at him.
"You can't say that, Ingmar..." Ludwig asked calmly, "You know whether he is a quick mass-produced musician, right?"
"What do you mean?" Ingmar's expression changed.
"He means there's something wrong with your brain."
Yegor threw a file in front of him with a cold face: "You have actually seen this file a long time ago, right? I went to the big library to investigate. It was destroyed, and the backup attachments are still there. Keep it. If it weren’t for Gavin’s reminder, I wouldn’t even know you’d ever done such a thing!”
Seeing the file thrown out by Yegor, Ingmar was stunned, but his expression changed - it was Abraham's file. When Abraham came to the Apocalypse College to report and became a handyman teacher, Ingmar destroyed it with his own hands. dropped.
From that moment on, Ingmar regarded Abraham as a thorn in his side.
But he didn't expect that this file actually had a backup...
damn it!
Indeed, it is written in the incomplete file that Abraham was an engineer who volunteered to join the army. Because of his quick learning and quick movements, he participated in the army's accelerated musician training program.
Four months later, the training was completed and he became a military musician. Although the files for the next thirty years were incomplete, the previous resume alone was enough to make people jaw-dropping.
It’s true that the musicians trained in the army are mass-produced defective products. It’s true that they are rejected by mainstream musicians and regarded as half-baked apprentices...
But the title of musician that Abraham received after completing his training was not the title of "musician" that was given to him irresponsibly in the army - those who obtained these titles may only reach the apprentice level in their lifetime.
What Abraham received was the official title of musician recognized by the Holy City.
The official title of musician, a third-level musician, and was given the name by the Holy City, and has his own title!
In other words, a taciturn engineer became an official third-level musician within three months through the army's shoddy mass production training...
Who knows what heights he can reach in the future
When Yegor and Ludwig saw this file, they fully understood that they had been tricked by Ingmar-since he used the power of the school committee to suppress talents, he also encouraged the two of them Rush to the front and serve as his spearman!
Thanks to him, after so many years, Abraham is already over 50 years old and has already passed his golden age as a musician. I am afraid that he will have no hope of reaching the scepter level in his life...
"What do you hate about him?"
Yegor sneered and spoke frankly: "Are you just afraid? With his talent, if he is trained by the Royal Conservatory of Music... How can you be the coach of the Enlightenment Academy?"
Ingmar was silent, and after a long time he turned angrily and walked away.
…
…
There were trivial sounds coming from the bedroom.
Through the door, it sounded like thick wind blowing from a rubber tube, mixed with sounds like hookah smoking, and occasionally a cough or two.
The coughing sound is deep and muddy.
It was late at night, and in the cold corridor, Gavin took a breath of air-conditioning and felt a slight chill. He reached out and wiped away the dust accumulated on the windowsill. It finally looks a little more pleasing to the eye.
He took a deep breath and knocked gently on the door.
"Father, I'm back."
The door was pushed open, and the joint friction made a creaking sound. Behind the door, the sickly man with thinning gray hair raised his eyes.
Almost all of his hair has fallen out, and his face is covered with age spots and curse lines. Although he is only in his fifties, he looks like he has decayed into a handful of bones - music theory backfires.
This is the head of the Adrian family.
Six years ago, he was eager to be promoted and passed the test at all costs. In the end, his heartbeat collapsed due to Dayuan's counterattack, and he could no longer use the ether.
Until now, I can only rely on the assistance of instruments and drugs to survive.
From that time on, the Adrian family began to decline, until in recent years, it miraculously showed signs of recovery and rise.
It has been six years since I returned here... six years is such a long time.
Gavin felt vaguely dazed and absent-minded.
A cold snort came.
Just in front of the window, Banner held the old man's hand. When he saw Gavin coming here, he cast an indifferent glance. The old man murmured something in a low voice. He nodded slightly, stood up, passed by Gavin, and left.
The room fell into silence, and the old man wearing a respirator just stared at the ceiling indifferently.
"Father, I'm back."
Gavin raised his voice slightly, and there was no trace of anxiety on his face.
The old man's chin nodded slightly to indicate that he had heard. Gavin stepped forward and lifted the board at the head of the bed so that the old man was propped up.
He stared at Gavin and remained silent for a long time.
Gavin lowered his eyes, his expression subdued.
The majesty and solemnity of the past still remained on his face. In front of him, the talented young musician bowed his head respectfully, waiting for the expected reprimand.
"today… "
The old man made a sound. The sound was like trembling wood chips, mixed with the sound of bursting blisters. It was harsh, obscure, and indistinct. Gavin took a step forward, leaned into his ear, listened carefully, and then froze.
"Today, the Royal Band of Musicians sent a set of musician's attire. You already have one. I made the decision and gave it to Banner."
The old man looked at him and said, "Banner has been wronged outside, and the family must take care of him. This kind of thing will never happen again, do you understand?"
Gavin looked up in surprise.
He knew that set of musician's attire, which was the musician's armor and the performer's majesty. What the Royal Orchestra sent was a uniform, a one-of-a-kind alchemical equipment with many movements inlaid in the inner layer, almost like a personal musical instrument, which ensured that the musicians would not make any mistakes under any circumstances.
"But, father..." He opened his mouth to speak, but the old man's expression suddenly became angry.
The skinny palm hit his face, which was weak, but made his voice stop suddenly. The old man glared at him and gasped hard, his voice was thick and hoarse.
"As an elder brother, you actually want to snatch things from your younger brother!"
He scolded hoarsely, "That's it."
Gavin was stunned for a moment, and soon he lowered his head, rubbed the hem of his old dress, and responded softly:
"Yes, father."
"I heard about what you said at the school committee meeting today."
He looked obviously dissatisfied, but he didn't pursue it. He just said: "You will leave the school immediately and stop dealing with those low-level guys. You have insulted the family style. Do you understand?"
"Yes, father."
"Also, when you go to the Royal Orchestra, don't talk nonsense, cause trouble, and discredit the Adrian family. Remember, if you have the opportunity, tell them more about your brother, and don't just stand out for one person."
Gavin just lowered his head:
"-Yes, father."
"very good."
The old man's angry expression calmed down slightly, and he said coldly: "Go ahead, I want to rest."
Gavin nodded, turned around and left respectfully without arguing.
But when he turned back, he glanced at his father seemingly unintentionally, looking at his aging face, cloudy eyes, and green eyes that were completely different from his own...
"It really doesn't look like it."
There was a sigh vaguely echoing in his heart, he closed the door and left.
…
Sick, the old man closed his eyes and fell asleep.
After a long time, the sound of birds flapping their wings came from outside the window, and something came in the dark, breaking through the sky in the darkness.
In the thick night sky, its vague outline and pale color can be vaguely seen.
-That's a white crow.
…
…
"Teacher, are you here?"
Bart knocked on the door, and there was silence behind the door. He waited for a long time and called several more times, until finally, a cold voice came from the office.
"come in."
Bart opened the door, but was stunned: the room behind the door was no longer as luxurious and exquisite as before, and was in a mess, like a strong wind passing through.
Even the teacher's favorite pieces of porcelain were smashed into pieces.
"What are you doing standing around? Come in."
Behind the desk, Ingmar's expression was gloomy. He was still as dignified and majestic as before, with his hair not messy at all, which was intimidating.
It was obvious that the teacher was in a bad mood. Bart didn't dare to ask or look more. He stood in front of the desk with his head lowered and just said respectfully: "Teacher, do you have any instructions?"
"In a few days, you can go to the Music and History Department for me."
Ingmar's words made Bart unbelievable: "Ask Abraham. If he is willing to return to Revelation College, I can give him the treatment of deputy dean."
Bart looked at him dumbfounded: "But... but..."
"Just go if you are told. Why do you ask so many questions?"
Bart hesitated for a long time and finally said: "Teacher, aren't you afraid of attracting a wolf into the house? What if he agrees... "
"Wouldn't that be a great thing?"
Ingmar sneered, "The influence of the Department of Music and History is too great now. We need to find another way... If he winks at that time, just be obedient and don't mess around. Otherwise, I will have ten thousand in the Institute of Apocalypse." Find a way to deal with him!"
He lowered his eyes and said calmly: "So what if I'm a genius? After my results are published, he can only look up to me for the rest of his life! Even if he returns to the Apocalypse Academy!"
Bart was stunned for a moment, then became happy, "Teacher, have you made a breakthrough in your interpretation?"
Ingmar just looked at the manuscript on his desk. After several years of hard work, which took him endless time and even delayed breakthroughs and research in music theory, he finally completed this masterpiece.
When the masterpiece is published, that guy Abraham will no longer be able to compare with him. A dabbler from the Forbidden faction can never hope to keep pace with him in the Revelation faction!
"So what if you get the training from the school committee?"
Ingmar whispered softly: "In two months, when the Holy City Summit is held, I will become a universally recognized master. Abraham only deserves to be stepped on by me!"