Days as a Spiritual Mentor in American Comics-Chapter 4601 - 3681: The Problem of the Magic Academy (Part 2)

Shiller really doesn't want to deal with this.

As mentioned in the meeting, establishing a magic academy across the multiverse is not like building an air transport system on Earth or constructing a Mercury base for the development of solar energy, which would only benefit the human race.

The air transport system could speed up globalization on a large scale or, on a smaller scale, reduce commuting costs for ordinary people and improve their transportation environment. Even the initial unemployment problem could be addressed by creating as many jobs as the system grows; so far, it seems quite effective.

The Mercury Base is even more so. Harnessing solar energy means that humanity virtually has unlimited energy. This thing is far away from Earth, and anything that happens won't threaten Earth, and it could serve as an outpost if necessary.

Similarly, establishing formal diplomatic relations with Asgard, creating humanity's own star ship, promoting the development of the Andromeda Galaxy, and so forth, are basically beneficial without harm to ordinary people.

But the problem with the magic school is that it must be built within the magical defense network, which means it must be built on Earth. However, those who come here will be from other universes, not just students, but possibly parents as well.

The vast majority of students and parents from other universes won't do anything offensive, as they are unfamiliar with this place. But as long as they come from different multiverses, people from this universe will have to keep watch.

Even Spider Men from other universes who have been here for a long time are under Nick's control, and they are just visitors to this great world. Yet the magic academy intends to enroll students from the neighboring world, making the complexity and danger incomparable.

No professional institution would completely neglect safety because some visitors appear harmless. Not to mention a group of lively, breathing people; even if it were a group of paramecia, full preparations must be made. Because if nothing happens, it will be fine; if something happens, it will be a big deal.

And, as Nick mentioned, this is a complete investment in the early stages without any short-term returns.

Building the school will occupy land on Earth, use resources from Earth or the Nine Major Kingdoms, involve the attention of Congress, The Avengers, and Kamar-Taj, and require local teaching resources, possibly even using energy from local Demon Gods.

This investment is not for a few days or months, but possibly spanning decades. Even if each student is a prodigy, it will take at least several years to initially build a magic defense network in other universes and establish a team of mages skilled in maintaining the magic defense network.

The benefits it brings are not obvious. Things like the prestige of the multiverse are all intangible; this universe does not have enemies that must rely on help from other universes to tackle. If it's purely for prevention, the investment seems a bit excessive.

For things that are purely beneficial to the human race, Shiller can naturally knit a yarn ball, pulling everyone in and making them have to follow along. But for matters with mixed outcomes, where disadvantages might outweigh advantages in the short term, Shiller has to consider from the perspective of ordinary people.

He doesn't believe most ordinary people have the ability to understand the complex benefits and conflicts of interest behind some policies, or how they might contribute to the bigger picture. At least they can't determine these matters based on the information they have.

As long as these matters do not bring any real benefits within their limited lifetimes, they remain empty talk. They have no obligation to vote in favor of such verbal promises.

If the vast majority of ordinary people oppose it, Shiller won't insist on their support just for long-term benefits. If they don't support it, Shiller won't necessarily proceed.

In his view, if ordinary people's understanding remains limited to current affairs, it's not because they are dumb but because the society's foundation is not solid enough, and education hasn't sufficiently enhanced them. In other words, the stage of social development has not been reached.

For example, if people are still at a stage where they're struggling to get enough to eat, how could they agree with the Andromeda Galaxy development plan or understand the long-term considerations behind starship manufacturing?

But now, with unlimited energy, advancements in basic science, extremely convenient transportation, and globalization fully underway, almost everyone can achieve adequate food and clothing. Without any government promotion, they naturally will want their own alien bases, interstellar battleships, and to gain a cosmic status through these means.

Shiller supports building a magic school, but not immediately. It can wait until society has developed to that stage, where most ordinary people have the capacity and ability to ponder their place within the multiverse, having the ambition to acquire power within the multiverse. At that point, without anyone pushing, they'll clamor for its construction themselves.

The opposition now is simply due to the timing not being right.

So, Shiller would rather spend a lot of time figuring out if there are any environmental issues than engage in any philosophical debates because it is meaningless.

What he needs to do is ensure that by the time the school really starts to be built, all procedures are problem-free and that it doesn't harm the local natural environment. Shiller is genuinely concerned about environmental protection.

Having been here for so long and having seen different planets from different universes, Shiller truly believes that few can compare to Earth's natural conditions. Most planets are too desolate; Earth is truly invaluable.

Moreover, the magic school may affect the environment beyond just the building itself. Frequently releasing various energies in a place could potentially impact the land or natural vegetation.

Kamar-Taj doesn't show it because it's too desolate there. Even the nearby villages aren't that close, combined with the few mages and infrequent use of magic. Even if there's potential impact, it doesn't manifest.

But the magic school to be built is different. Massachusetts is a city in the northeastern United States, very close to New York and not far from several key Canadian cities. Within the state are two world-renowned schools, and Greylock Mountain is the only nearby reserve. If it truly impacts the environment, it would be troublesome.

Shiller looked at those environmental test data for a long time without understanding them. He put the file aside, rested on the chair for a while, but suddenly, remembering something, he sat up straight and took out another file from the pile beside him.

He then picked up the phone and said, "Hello, I want to confirm, the Hopkins Psychiatry Exchange in Baltimore next week will be held as scheduled, right? Yes, I am one of the participants. I need to confirm my schedule hasn't changed. Okay, I got it."

Shiller opened the ticketing software again and found that the tickets for the conference had already been purchased and the hotel marked out. After thinking for a moment, he picked up the phone again:

"Hello? Albert? Yes, it's me, Shiller. Are you attending the Hopkins Medical Exchange, the one next week? Yes, I have something I want to discuss with you. Okay, see you then."

Shiller gathered the test reports before him, left the office, went to the shuttle station next to the sanatorium, and took the shuttle to Wall Street.

Wall Street in the afternoon remained busy. There were notably fewer cars on the ground, replaced by throngs of tourists. Shiller intended to reach The Sanctum as quickly as possible, but was stopped by several reporters for interviews along the way.

Given that the congressmen might publicly announce the magic academy issue, Shiller naturally couldn't say he was there to see the Supreme Magician; he merely mentioned he was there for work. Many people recognized him and joked about Wall Street workers' mental state.

After much difficulty, arriving at The Sanctum, Shiller was told that Strange wasn't there and might take another half hour to return. Shiller could only wait in his office.

After a long wait, Strange finally returned. Seeing his troubled expression, Shiller asked, "What happened? Did you have a setback in Washington?"

"Next week, I have to attend an inquiry about magic—I'm not the president, not a senator, and don't even engage in politics, yet they want to hang me up like a dried sausage in the congressional hall to figure out if magic really exists, and what the difference between magic and tricks is."

"Calm down," Shiller said, "so does magic really exist?"

Strange looked at him incredulously. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com

"I know you can use magic, but I want something substantial."

"What?"

"I need some magic energy. Yes, I know I have some, but I need you to put it into something understandable to ordinary people yet harmless to them."

"What do you want to do?"

"I want to show it to experts," Shiller said, "I have a college friend who graduated from Harvard. I'm planning to bring various samples to him and have him find an expert within Harvard to see if the radiation from magic energy will affect the local water quality and soil."

Strange opened his mouth but then closed it again, saying, "I'm not forbidding you from doing this, but if you believe it might harm the soil and water quality, then how have I and other mages survived?"

"You are extraordinarily gifted. Okay, I know that's not what you want to hear. But carbon-based life forms and other things are different. And I think you need more professional test reports to prove to the congressmen that magic really exists and is harmless."

"I just find it ridiculous," Strange said, throwing himself into the single-seater couch, "we've studied magic for thousands of years, and some magic energy has even formed a shield over all humanity, and now you guys want to find out if magic is harmful?!"

"There's one more thing," Shiller said, "the herbs previously used to enhance ordinary people's magic adaptability have been mass-produced. To market this, you also need to persuade governments worldwide, don't you?"

"I hope I can," Strange said worriedly.