Chapter 150: The Purpose of Academic Disciplines (Part Two)

Just what did Dr. Chen Ou mean by those words?
It gave one the strong impression of cutting oneself off entirely from the rest of the world.
That was the first thought that flashed through the minds of the students in the audience.
And indeed, they were not far off. Chen Ou's words essentially translated to: "Our field doesn't need many people. Having one or two researchers is plenty. Don't bother getting involved lightly, and frankly, we don't welcome you!"
Never before had anyone encountered a discipline that kept people at such a chillingly frosty distance.
Normally, people in any field were terrified that too few would dedicate themselves to it, leading to the gradual decline of their discipline. Yet here was Chen Ou, explicitly stating that this field was not something ordinary people could master, and advising everyone against throwing themselves into it casually.
Just as everyone was left completely dumbfounded by Chen Ou's remarks, another hand went up.
"Uh, that male student with all the ear studs, what is your question?"
Chen Ou pointed to the person and asked.
The stud-wearing young man flashed a smile he fancied was full of suave charm, took the microphone, and asked, "Dr. Chen Ou, I'd like to ask whether I can interpret your previous statement as your way of saying you don't welcome us participating in your research."
Before the lecture began, the stud-wearing male had been left utterly speechless by Eri, leaving a lingering fire of resentment burning in his chest. Consequently, he hadn't been listening to Chen Ou's theories at all; instead, he had been using his own limited store of knowledge to pick holes in Chen Ou's words.
Unfortunately, his knowledge was pitifully limited. He had never even heard of the various historical texts or ancient ruins Chen Ou mentioned, making it utterly impossible for him to find any flaws in the lecture.
Now, however, Chen Ou's statement naturally provided him with a wonderful opening. He could use this angle to make things unpleasant for Chen Ou.
As soon as those words left his mouth, an uproar swept through the hall once again.
The prominent figures in the front rows turned their heads, frowning as they looked at this student whose attire was so distinctively "unique."
The school leaders in the back rows felt their souls nearly leave their bodies in sheer terror. Who didn't know that the person on stage was a rising titan in the research community, someone destined to lead the field? For a student from Celadon University to offend such a person... wasn't that pure courting of death?
"Whose damn student is this?!" A bespectacled leader roared in a low voice to the teachers beside him, flames of fury burning in his eyes, completely abandoning his usual composure.
The teachers around him were the class supervisors who had accompanied the students to the auditorium. When rebuking them, it was better to be thorough—punish the guilty rather than let any slide.
The teachers all lowered their heads in silence, not daring to draw even a heavy breath. Only one male teacher, also wearing glasses and with a face full of panic and despair, parted his lips and said weakly in a low voice, "My student..."
"I want to see the disciplinary decision by this afternoon. Either he gets expelled, or both of you get out!"
The leader's eyes were blazing with fury. What use was a student who clearly only looked for trouble, other than bringing disaster upon the school? Why keep him instead of expelling him immediately?!
"His father is the Vice Mayor of Celadon City..." the male teacher said helplessly.
As soon as those words were uttered, the fire in the leader's eyes instantly extinguished.
"So that's how it is," the leader muttered under his breath.
"Right? I'm quite helpless about it too, Leader!"
Thinking the leader had finally understood his difficult position, the male teacher sighed helplessly.
However, he failed to notice the looks of profound pity being cast his way by his surrounding colleagues.
"Alright, this has nothing to do with you anymore. This afternoon—no, right after this lecture ends, go hand in your resignation."
"Pardon... L-L-Leader, what did you just say?"
The male teacher's face was plastered with utter astonishment.
The leader looked at him with sheer disgust. "So this is what kind of fool of a student comes from—turns out there's a fool of a teacher behind him. It's really no wonder our school fails to produce any real talent when students are left in the hands of someone like you. Rest assured, this afternoon—you, your student, and your student's Vice Mayor father can all pack up and get lost."
With that, the leader didn't spare another glance, turning away to discuss with another pale-faced administrator how to handle the aftermath of this incident.
Stunned into silence, the male teacher stared at the leader's back and the pity-filled expressions of his colleagues around him, wanting to say something, yet entirely at a loss for how to open his mouth.
In the front row, Green let out a cold snort, his dissatisfaction written plainly across his face.
The expressions of those around him weren't looking too good either. Cynthia furrowed her brows tightly, seemingly pondering just who had the audacity to provoke Chen Ou.
Chen Ou, on the other hand, remained completely calm. Glancing at the smugly triumphant stud-wearing student, Chen Ou said, "Umm, while your interpretation is a bit biased, I have to admit, you do have a point."
An uproar rippled through the audience once again. The bigwigs at the front all turned in unison to look at Chen Ou, casting questioning gazes his way.
"Legendary Pokémon generally possess immense power. Even in their juvenile forms, they are definitely not opponents ordinary trainers can handle. Though I don't know where you got the impression that I don't welcome students engaging in related research, I must still say that those interested in this field must think twice before acting. After all, without sufficient strength, pursuing legendary Pokémon can lead to massive trouble."
The stud-wearing male did not speak again.
He had been firmly pinned to his seat by the host. At some point, the host had released his Machop, whose muscular arms locked the young man tightly into his chair.
Chen Ou had no idea where the student's hostility stemmed from. But he also knew he wasn't money; he couldn't expect everyone to like him. Moreover, to Chen Ou, this stud-wearing youth was truly nothing more than an ant, not worth expending much mental energy on.
Naturally, he also knew this fellow would pay the price for his momentary impulse. Chen Ou was not a particularly magnanimous person either; it was better for such individuals to be taught a lesson. Therefore, he didn't bother offering any whitewashing remarks like "This student raised a rather good question."
Instead, he went straight to the point: "Are there any other questions? If not, I will continue with the lecture!"
Not wanting to dwell on the matter clearly indicated his displeasure. Everyone present understood this, so there was no need to elaborate further.
The school leaders understood. The prominent figures below understood as well. It was abundantly clear that the stud-wearing student was destined for a bleak outcome.
Just then, another hand went up.
"Oh, that female student over there—ah, my only female student with her hand raised, do you have a question?" Chen Ou instantly recognized the young girl named Eri. He was quite curious about what kind of question this young lady would ask.
Eri took the microphone handed back by the host, cast a look at the stud-wearing student as if gazing at an absolute idiot, and paid him no further mind before speaking.
"Dr. Chen Ou, I can understand everything you've said. Pursuing legendary Pokémon is dangerous, and the chances of success are vanishingly slim. So why do you persist in pursuing them so relentlessly? What is the meaning behind the existence of this research—no, this discipline?"
Silence descended upon the hall once more, four times over. Everyone present fixed their eyes squarely on Chen Ou.
They were all waiting for his answer.