Chapter 78: The Wise Man Feynman

“I was greatly surprised. Later, I asked someone about Su Ye. It turned out that not only did he fail last year, but he was also third from the bottom of the class. However, recently his grades have suddenly improved. I even found out that he has been using my ‘learn through teaching’ method recently.”

“I immediately realized that he stole my learning method! If he had only used it for himself, I wouldn’t have said anything either, because we are all classmates. Since my method has been submitted to the Magic Council, it is meant to be shared with everyone. However, not only did he steal my learning method, he even brazenly changed its name and claimed that it was his method in hoped of exchanging it for the Mana Core Badge. I can’t stand it anymore!”

“Therefore, I, Carlos, son of Sebastian, request the academic affairs office to expel Su Ye. Plato Academy is a pure land that cannot be tarnished!”

Su Ye closed the book and held it in his right hand.

“What do you have to say about Carlos’ words?” Lawrence asked.

Su Ye shrugged and said in a relaxed manner, “He is lying.”

“Hmph,” a middle-aged gold mage suddenly snorted.

Niedern slowly turned his head to look at that person. Gregory, Carlos’ teacher, and also Lawrence’s student.

“What’s your proof?” Lawrence asked.

“His words have been practiced for a period of time. His attitude, expression, and details are more like a performance, and his acting skills are quite poor. If teacher Niedern were to act, he would definitely be better than him,” Su Ye said.

Everyone looked at Niedern.

Niedern was at a loss. At this time, how could Su Ye still have the mood to make wisecracks? But on second thought, perhaps Su Ye was trying to reassure himself, so he didn’t say anything. However, why did it seem like Su Ye’s words got more convoluted the more he thought about it?”

Lawrence wasn’t led astray by Su Ye, instead, he said, “I’ve seen the method that you two submitted. Although your method is more detailed and comprehensive, its essence hasn’t changed. The evidence now is that he applied three days earlier than you, and his classmates can also prove that he once taught his classmates many years ago. What about you?”

Su Ye said, “I can only prove that I started using Feynman’s technique this month, and I can also prove that while not many in our class has heard of Feynman’s technique, there are no fewer than ten people who have heard me say ‘learn through teaching’.”

“Carlos has already explained the origin of his method. Tell me about the origin of your method,” said Lawrence.

All the teachers’ attention was focused on Su Ye.

Su Ye thought for a moment, he said, “In fact, I am a very clumsy person. How clumsy am I? I have heard about this Feynman technique about seven or eight years ago. It’s like this. My parents have always been very busy, which gave me a lot of free time. So whenever I was free, I would go to Lion Harbor. Of course, its official name is the Pireas Harbor.”

“As you all know, Lion Harbor can be said to be the most prosperous harbor in Athens and even Greece. There are the most complex mix of people in the world. There are the Nordics, Mesopotamians, Egyptians, and Romans. There are giants, dwarves, dragons, goblins, and I’ve even seen devils once. In Lion Harbor, I have heard countless things, but when I was young, I only listened. I couldn’t do anything except listen. That was until… My family underwent a drastic change and I was stimulated intensely. I began to constantly reflect and learn, and recalled many things.”

“One of them was a small story told by a sailor. He said that he once met a wise man named Feynman in the east. He once asked the wise man why the wise man had endless knowledge. The wise man said that his father had a habit of making him repeat at night whatever he learned during the day. Furthermore, he had to explain it to his illiterate father. As the years passed, Feynman found himself far more learned and wiser than his peers.”

“Last month, I recalled this story while I was in pain. I was completely unable to determine whether this story was true or false, but in order to learn, I could only try my best. I used this method to learn and pass on important knowledge to others. In the end, as you all know, my results began to improve. After that, I wanted to share this method with all mages, so I went to the Magic Council to apply for the Mana Source Badge.”

Lawrence said, “Your story is better than Carlos’.”

“Because I’m talking about my own experience.” Su Ye’s expression did not change.

“Due to the fact that truth-telling lie detection magic is influenced by the caster himself, it is difficult to maintain absolute fairness. In addition, it may affect people’s minds. Unless it is absolutely necessary, we will not use it. “Therefore, Su Ye, on behalf of Plato Academy’s Administrative Office, I hope that you will speak the truth. As long as you can admit your mistake and withdraw the article you submitted to the Magic Council, we will definitely be lenient with you. After all, you have once contributed to Plato Academy,” Lawrence said.

Su Ye firmly said, “I didn’t do anything wrong.”

Lawrence kindly said, “Even if everyone believes you, you submitted your method three days later than Carlos. You will definitely not be able to obtain the Mana Source Badge unless you can find that sailor.”

“I can’t find him.”

“Then, we can only confirm that the person who submitted the article first is the real author. As for you, you are either the thief or the person who discovered it later,” said Lawrence.

Su Ye smiled and said, “Master, you are right. In fact, I now have three possible identities now. Thief, later discoverer, and first discoverer. However, neither I nor Carlos can prove anything. Everyone, am I right?”

Su Ye calmly looked at all the teachers.

No one objected.

Su Ye continued, “Can I see the method submitted by Carlos? If his method is better and more complete than mine, I may not admit that I am a thief, but I will definitely admit that I am a later discoverer. This way, no matter what the final result is, Plato Academy will not suffer any damage to its reputation.”

Some of the teachers looked surprised. It seemed that Su Ye had long discovered the crux of the matter.

“You can. After all, Carlos has already seen your method.” Lawrence waved his hand again, and blue light once again fell on Su Ye’s magic book.

Su Ye opened the book and carefully read Carlos’ method.

He read it a full five times from beginning to end.

After reading it, Su Ye let out a long sigh of relief.

Su Ye had used the Feynman technique for more than five years.

The content of Carlos’ manuscript might not be very different from Feynman’s technique in the eyes of others, but in Su Ye’s eyes, it was a completely different scene.

Su Ye looked at the magic book and did not speak for a long time.

Everyone was waiting for Su Ye.

After a full half an hour, a smile flashed across Su Ye’s lips. He raised his head and said in a clear voice, “Master Lawrence, I believe that Carlos stole my method!”