However, Professor Albion knew that Alicia had actually become the shell of a great demon. The old professor was suddenly in an extremely difficult situation—should he stop the class and get rid of this demon to prevent her from harming the students? But disturbing her might also cause other dangers…
In contrast, this devil showed absolutely no courtesy, finding a seat in the first row of the classroom and sitting down like a boss on an inspection tour. Keep in mind, this is a public university.
"...As I just said, in the current turbulent state of the world economy and society, we can try to find a more stable magical focus for ourselves personally."
So the professor decided to simply ignore her and continue with his own story.
"A relatively simple approach is to refer to the classical magicians of the past, as there are many existing methods and rituals to follow. For example—"
However, before the old professor could finish speaking, the fake Alicia coughed and interrupted him.
"What?" Professor Albion said, turning around, his eyebrows furrowing together, finally revealing a kind of charisma that he rarely showed.
“Professor Albion, I’d like to ask you something,” Alicia asked with a smile, “what is the belief you use as the focus of your magical power? Since you’re going to choose a new one anyway, you should choose a better one, right?”
This question caused a surprised pause in the classroom, and the atmosphere became somewhat awkward for a moment. The students present could all see that this woman was clearly a member of the Capitalist Prototype. And for a Capitalist Prototype to come to Professor Albion's lecture was one thing, but to ask such a question—was she harboring ill intentions? Was it some kind of thought investigation?
"good question."
The old professor answered calmly.
"But we can discuss such personal matters after class, madam, if you insist. Now, students, I'm going to introduce some very common classical magic paradigms..."
Alicia smiled and didn't press the matter further, actually waiting until the end of the long class.
In the remaining two hours, Professor Albion explained several worldviews and methodologies of classical magic, and suggested that students could refer to various documents to find a magical paradigm that suits them, rather than directly declaring a specific magical concept.
Time passed quickly. When Professor Albion finally told the class to pack up and leave, and after the students had gradually left the classroom, the devil in human skin stood up and walked to the podium.
"Is there something you need, madam?" Professor Albion asked curtly.
“It’s obvious you don’t want to talk about the knowledge I really want to know, so I had no choice but to ask you myself.” The fake Alicia still had a smile on her face. “Professor Percival Albion, in recent months you have often mentioned some esoteric knowledge in your classes, things that no one has talked about for hundreds… even thousands of years. Don’t you think these words won’t attract the attention of the gods?”
The great demon's expression finally turned cold as he continued, "I know you were involved in the Dead Sea incident at Fallen City last year, I know you've excavated the ruins of the Old Gods. I even know... you're exploring knowledge of the Upper Realms that was forbidden to be researched by the Old Gods even in feudal times!"
"It's one thing to do your own research, maybe the gods will turn a blind eye. But you actually dare to tell those things to college students? Where do you get the guts? Are you tired of living?"
As Alicia uttered those words, a tense atmosphere instantly filled the empty classroom. However, the old professor remained calm and showed no fear. He put down his lesson plan and carefully observed Alicia's expression…
...Then he sighed and said, "Madam, why didn't you send the Vajra Warriors to arrest me? Instead, you came to me yourself. What do you want from me?"
"You are indeed clever. It seems I no longer need to engage in that kind of foolish conversation that ordinary mortals impose on each other."
The great devil raised his eyebrows.
"Let me be blunt—have you discovered the secrets to reconnecting with the power of the upper realm? Don't try to hide it. We know very well that, although intermittent and without a precise location, traces of the power of the upper realm have clearly begun to reappear in this world over the past few years... and right here, right here in Evergreen State!"
Professor Albion didn't reveal any expression that could be read by humans or demons. However, upon hearing the demon's words, he immediately understood—the higher power that had begun to appear in recent years, and was faintly visible in this New Jersey, this Evergreen State… clearly, they were referring to Angela. He wondered how Angela had managed to do it; she seemed to have made no attempt to hide anything, yet these demons and gods hadn't caught her yet.
Perhaps she's immune to detection magic? The professor hasn't had a chance to conduct such an experiment yet, but that's a digression. Seeing that Professor Albion remained silent, Alicia proactively continued the conversation.
What she said next surprised even Professor Albion.
“I am not here to coerce you, Professor.”
"The fallen angel said,"
“I’m here to make a deal with you. A deal in knowledge. I’m very interested in your knowledge of reconnecting to the power of the upper realms.”
273: The Strongest Driving Force
Professor Albion was somewhat surprised that a fallen angel would come to him to ask about knowledge from the upper realms.
Could this be considered the devil's recognition of his knowledge and skills?
In any case, this is a bit of a problem for Professor Albion now: he can certainly continue to play dumb, but there's no guarantee that Hayden and Angela won't be found.
Neither the devil nor the gods are fools. Angela has been by Hayden's side for several years and has been constantly working on things, many of which are quite significant. Although most of these matters have been whitewashed by the "Dream Flower," some clues still linger. People are beginning to have their doubts.
Especially these fallen angels. They were even more suspicious than the new gods that someone was manipulating the forces of the upper realms. After all, they themselves had fallen from the upper realms. Naturally, they were worried about whether there would be any further reaction from above.
...So let's get back to the main topic.
What should Professor Albion do now? What choice should he make?
In fact, he probably made his decision in a second.
What are you looking for?
Humanity's wise men finally asked the devil a question.
“Of course it’s power,” the female demon replied. “The most powerful power.”
Normally, the roles in such a dialogue should be reversed. But Professor Albion didn't complain. Instead, he thoughtfully considered the devil's question and calmly said, "Doesn't Mithra possess the most powerful force in the world?"
"You yourself said it during class just now. The power of the new god of capital has already wavered as the faith in finance and currency has been shaken." The devil sneered in response, "This power that is so easily shaken is nothing more than dew exposed to the light of day."
"As I have said before, the classical magic of the Old Gods also has its own power." So the professor continued, "The most outstanding of the Old Gods, the Peacock King, whose power is still not to be underestimated by the New Gods."
The great demon raised his eyebrows: "Needless to say. Even if he spent five thousand years cultivating the strongest martial arts, he still wouldn't be able to reach the ultimate realm, or even return to his state before he fell from heaven."
“There once existed such a power. Before the Old Gods fell from the heavens, they possessed an ultimate power. That is the greatest mystery of the Upper Realm. Infinitely flowing, infinitely overflowing, an infinitely powerful driving force, never wavering, never drying up… I once thought that such a power would never exist in this world, but recently there have been some clues. So I suspect those clues are from you, Professor Percival Albion. Therefore, I urge you to tell me honestly what you really know.”
These words, of course, did not frighten Professor Albion; on the contrary, they made him feel somewhat helpless—the devil had actually come to him to ask questions. This was truly an honor.
But at the same time, an incredible curiosity welled up in the old professor's heart: he could certainly use a Zen riddle to deal with this fallen angel, but what if he really preached to her?
Fallen angels were once angels. If this fallen angel truly heeds his words, could some wondrous changes occur, perhaps even enough to influence the entire future?
A thought flashed through his mind, and the professor quickly made up his mind and said, "Madam, have you ever considered why Mithra was able to defeat and overthrow the Old Gods four hundred years ago?"
The old god who had personally defeated Mithra had clearly considered this question more than a thousand times, and immediately frowned as he replied, "Of course, it's because he developed more advanced production technology. Changes in productivity lead to changes in people's hearts, ultimately resulting in a paradigm shift at the social level. People began to believe that money could buy everything, and no longer needed to rely on emperors, nobles, feudal etiquette, or political systems. By the time the old gods discovered that humanity no longer believed in feudal etiquette and preferred to do business to make money, Mithra had already ignited a wildfire that could not be extinguished."
The war between the old and new gods that began there actually lasted a long time, and it wasn't as rigid and inflexible as most people imagine. Many old gods who were relatively weak in the feudal system were actually willing to join the new gods' camp, and the new gods negotiated many conditions with them, reaching a compromise. Many of the current minor gods and "Heavenly" level gods were once old gods. Only the highest levels of the old god system, those former fallen angels, almost 99% of them were unwilling to compromise with the new gods, and the new gods also distrusted these alien monsters who weren't even from Earth... The result is well-known. Now, apart from the Peacock King, no other fallen angels are still serving as allies of the new gods.
(Incidentally, there are also examples like Astaroth, who compromised midway through the war and joined the Mars Group, which was part of the new gods' camp. However, the new gods didn't trust this alien, so they took advantage of her desire to become a great god and ruined her, bankrupting her... It just goes to show how miserable it is when you have a bad background.)
All of this is history that both the modern gods and demons know.
But after listening to the fake Alicia's words, Professor Albion shook his head: "You're only half right. Five hundred years ago, when the Old Gods' rule was still at its zenith, Mitra, though human, was a member of the upper class. He was highly educated and came from a wealthy family. By the age of thirty, he was already the highest-ranking mage among humans, a guest of honor of the gods."
“Even if he hadn’t rebelled against the Old Gods, Mithras could have lived a carefree and comfortable life, and even had a way to achieve immortality. Have you ever considered what exactly motivated him to reform, to invent new production technologies, and to overthrow the rule and system of the Old Gods?”
This question immediately made the devil frown even more—she hadn't really considered the question: "That's because...he wants more power."
"He may indeed want more power."
The professor also raised his eyebrows.
"But the Old Gods at that time had far more resources, more experience, more knowledge, and more magic power than Mithras... they were far too powerful. Why was Mithras able to develop new production technologies earlier than those Old Gods? What made him smarter and faster than those Old Gods? Was it simply because he had a greater lust for power? Was this lust for power the powerful driving force that enabled him to defeat the Old Gods?"
The fake Alicia was speechless. She had never considered the issue from this perspective before, but the old professor's words did make some sense.
Four or five hundred years ago, when Mithra was just a mortal, he clearly shouldn't have been smarter than the Old Gods, at least not by such an exaggerated degree. He had less knowledge, weaker magic, fewer resources, and even his brain, as a vital organ, was inferior to the Old Gods… Yet Mithra did indeed develop the modern capitalist system and related magical systems first, relying solely on the initial eight people, and later the eight Bodhisattvas. How did he manage to do that?
What drove Mithras to surpass the Old Gods as a mortal? What exactly was that power? It couldn't simply be a stronger lust for power, could it?
And most importantly, why would Professor Albion say these things at this time?
The fake Alicia wasn't truly stupid; she quickly realized what was going on: "You mean Mithra had that ultimate driving force... You think Mithra's victory over the Old Gods was related to the power of the Upper Realm!? That's impossible; there's no trace of that at all!"
"How can it not be related?" the old professor retorted. "In the end, you didn't see the power of the upper realm as truth, you didn't see it as the ultimate, transcendent path. If there truly is an absolute driving force, then it must originate from this path, because there is only one truth and only one path. Therefore, whether in the upper or lower realm, the truth must be consistent, and there is only one strongest driving force."
"Mithra was able to defeat the Old Gods as a human because he had grasped more truths than they had, or at least utilized that driving force. Although the Old Gods were richer, more powerful, and even smarter than Mithra was at the time, Mithra still thought faster. This is because he had a driving force that was stronger than the Old Gods'—a driving force that you desire but cannot obtain, and one that is accessible even in the lower realms from the upper realms!"
Professor Albion's words were so resounding, radiating an astonishing power, as if he were burning with charcoal. For a moment, this authoritative persuasiveness even stunned the great demon. She realized that the human sage's words did indeed hold some truth. As a former angel, she had, in fact, already understood some of what this human was saying.
Her failure four hundred years ago instilled in her a good habit: after hearing different opinions, she would at least stop and think for a while.
So after thinking for a long time, she finally came to a conclusion that even she found unbelievable, and couldn't help but ask it out loud: "Are you trying to say that Mithra defeated the Old Gods four hundred years ago not because he was selfish, not because he wanted to be the new king of the world, but because of his selfless and great dedication? Are you serious!?"
Professor Albion did not answer directly.
"What exactly was the driving force that elevated Mithra's thoughts and wisdom to a level higher than that of the Old Gods? I obviously cannot answer this question directly, but we can think about it."
He said calmly,
"You can also think about it. Imagine, hypothesize, what could drive your spirit more than pure power?"
This question indeed made the fake Alicia ponder deeply.
This human sage said that if truth exists, then there must be only one kind. Whether in the upper or lower realms, the strongest driving force should be consistent. Even though in this world, the fallen angels can no longer access the power of the upper realm that they have lost, the principles of this power should still have a corresponding counterpart in the lower realm—this statement is indeed understandable, and the fallen angels can accept it.
Besides, this great demon had to admit another point the professor made: Mithra couldn't possibly have surpassed the Old Gods due to a stronger lust for power. If the Old Gods lost to the New Gods because the New Gods were more greedy and selfish, then she… she really didn't know what to say. First, it was utterly illogical; second, it was too pathetic, too shameful. She would rather die than lose for that reason.
So, besides the most primal selfishness and greed, what other reasons, logic, or emotions can drive the strongest spiritual force?
In fact, the fallen angel was not unaware of this.
Thinking about this question, she unconsciously began to recall her past experiences, all of them. She relived her life trajectory in her mind, the life she had experienced in this upper and lower realms, and the life of the body "Alicia".
During this process, she even remembered her real name and her true physical form.
In the process, she was quite surprised to realize that she actually knew the principle that Professor Albion was talking about... in fact, she had known it for a long time.
When exactly did she gradually forget this principle? Was it when she fell into this world? Or after she had been ruling this land with tyranny? In any case, it probably wasn't after she was overthrown and defeated that she forgot it.
Lost in her memories for an unknown amount of time, the fallen angel was shocked to realize that it was already dark and several hours had passed.
Professor Albion remained seated on the podium, calmly watching her.
"A daughter of heaven,"
At the end of this conversation, he, as a wise man seeking truth, asked the fallen angel,
"Tell me, what is the strongest driving force?"
The fallen angel pondered for a moment, and then actually answered:
"I guess it's love."
For a devil to utter such words makes one wonder if the world has gone mad.
However, neither the old professor nor the fallen angel seemed particularly surprised by this conclusion. Professor Albion, on the contrary, bowed to her and said, "Yes, this is the answer I've been searching for."
That being said, why is this love?!
Unfortunately, neither of the two riddle tellers present seemed to intend to answer the question.
“You have taught a good lesson, Professor Albion. You are indeed a wise man qualified to gain insight into the knowledge of the higher realms.”
The fake Alicia's current expression seemed to suggest she had gained a profound understanding.
“In fact, now that you mention it, I’ve thought of some things that are driven by love and that are very beneficial to my goals, and I can start doing them today.”
And just like that, she left, and she even seemed quite happy.
After she had completely left the classroom, the old professor nodded thoughtfully, began packing his things, and prepared to go home.
In fact, what Professor Albion had just discussed with the fallen angel was indeed the mystery he had gleaned from the history of this world and from Angela, this being from beyond the heavens. To be honest, when he saw that the fallen angel had actually grasped the same answer as him, the old professor was secretly quite surprised.
Perhaps fallen angels really are angels after all. Professor Albion sensed something quite peculiar about this fake Alicia. Perhaps his recent exchange with the fallen angel had subtly stirred the threads of fate… Hopefully, this stirring will lead to something positive.
Unfortunately, the professor might not be able to say the same thing to some other people.
Just as Professor Albion finished dealing with the remaining matters at the school and was preparing to teleport back to Newbud City, another uninvited guest arrived at the school to visit him. This person even went directly to his office.
And this person just happened to be Adam.
"It's been a long time, Professor."
As soon as he stepped inside and saw the old professor, Adam flashed his usual handsome smile.
"I heard you were giving a public lecture at the school today, so I decided to come and visit you. And sure enough, I found you here."
To be honest, Professor Albion, who had just dealt with the devil, was actually a bit tired and didn't really want to continue talking to Adam—but then he thought about the importance of Hayden and Karen's situation, and finally sighed and said, "Adam, what brings you here?"
"I just wanted to bring you a gift."
Adam still had a smile on his face, but what he said next was quite something.
"Professor, would you be interested in working for the Mitra Group?"
First the devil came to ask questions, and now humans are trying to poach my horns.
Good heavens, are you two just here to make fun of me?
274: The Praying Mantis, Emulating Others
Professor Albion waved his wand lightly, and a wine bottle and two glasses appeared in the air. The bottle automatically filled each glass with wine, and then the glasses floated towards the two people in the office.
Adam politely accepted the glass. But when the old professor raised his glass, as if to toast Adam, Adam didn't actually drink it. The atmosphere in the office became somewhat awkward for a moment; only the professor himself took a sip of his drink and glanced at Adam over his glass for a while.
Then the professor spoke up, "Adam, what wind blew you here?"