When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist-Chapter 636 - 597: Does Ry Court Barracks Have a Perpetual Motion Machine?!

Although Leonardo's status is that of a delayed graduate senior, except for the Dean, the other four teachers do not really treat him as an ordinary student.

As long as the delay is long enough, everyone in the university becomes familiar, and it's possible that one of the doctors could be a junior.

Especially since Leonardo is a student of Master Quivarin, one could even say that River Island Royal University could exist without a king, but not without Master Quivarin.

When the teachers and students of River Island Royal University "split and broke out," they did not disperse according to colleges, but according to the teachers they followed.

Since Dean Senius doesn't have as strong a reputation as those masters, at least two-thirds of the students he recruited were of civilian origin, all a bunch of poor folks.

Among those who escaped with them, only Leonardo and a few wealthy merchants' and noble offspring had money.

They managed to escape beyond the borders of Dawn Island with these precious manuscripts and books, all thanks to these few people.

"Yes, the late-arriving students, artisans, and manuscripts were all sent over." As if making some decision, Dean Senius tapped a clay bowl with a spoon, "Before sunset, I must give a direction."

The other four teachers exchanged looks, with some remaining silent and others displaying impatience and hidden anger.

During this time, they've argued about which direction to go more than once.

The wealthy and noble students all hope to transfer to Huaqiu New Bridge University, which boasts the best faculty and has already sent them invitations.

But unfortunately, the civilian students disagree because the prices and rents at Huaqiu New Bridge University are too high for them to afford.

Windmill Land's Longbow City Charles University also sent them invitations, but the problem is that Windmill Land is west of River Island, and they'd have to cross a war zone.

The other remaining universities in the south of Falan are quite exclusive; not only don't they send invitations, but even if they apply actively, they aren't accepted.

The only university in the Norn Kingdom, Winter Palace University, is actively and warmly inviting all split university teachers and students over, but it's too far away.

"Either cross the war zone to Longbow City Charles University, or go south to Huaqiu City New Bridge University." A scholar of noble descent suggested, "Going to Longbow City Charles University, not only can't we afford the travel expenses, there's also the risk of wartime disaster. Aside from New Bridge University, can there be any other option?"

"Silvanic, haven't we been to Huaqiu City? You know how high the prices and rents are there."

"Yes, we are the Leia people. Have you forgotten the last time when locals and university students threw vegetable leaves and rotten eggs at our door?"

"Academia knows no borders!" a scholar named Silvanic lamented, "You're too narrow-minded."

"Academia may know no borders, but scholars do. Falan people are all crazy. They were fine before, but after the Battle of Windmill Land, they went mad."

Under the encouragement and instigation of two successive prime ministers and kings, the hatred among the Falan people for the Leia and their desire for Windmill Land surpassed what was reasonable.

Silvanic longs for the civilized prosperity and opportunities for advancement in Huaqiu City, but other civilian students and scholars have to bear the negative impacts!

"We can't just stay here and wait for the war to end, right?" Silvanic spread his hands, "Someone needs to be willing to support us, but there's no one."

"Ahem." Senius cleared his throat, "This morning, Master Quivarin, who stayed in Changge City, sent us a letter. A lord is willing to shelter us for a while."

"As expected of Master Quivarin, accomplishing things we couldn't even dream of." The rest of the civilian teachers were ecstatic, "Which benevolent lord did Master Quivarin find for us?"

Senius stared at the letter for a long time, as if he couldn't read, and under the pressing of the other teachers, he read the name aloud in a deep voice: "Moliat Falls."

"The Fols Clan, a prestigious family in Falan, what's the specific title... hmm?" Silvanic suddenly stopped mid-sentence, "Could it be that Duchess?"

Facing Senius's complicated gaze, Silvanic immediately shook his hand, "No, no, what is Master Quivarin doing? Isn't this pushing us into the fire pit?"

After Silvanic's explanation, the other teachers remembered who it was.

That ruthless Female Grand Duke of the Thousand River Valley, who collaborated with the peasant rebels to kill the noble Prince Kongdai, Grand Duchess Moliat.

The teachers no longer felt the initial joy and hope, instead casting suspicious and hesitant glances at each other.

This isn't asking them to accept rebel protection, is it? How could this be possible?

Senius shook the letter paper, "Master Quivarin gave us a guarantee. As long as our students aren't captured by the king's army on the battlefield, even if they accept rebel protection, they will turn a blind eye."

"This is too risky." A civilian teacher chuckled bitterly, "Holy Father, why have we come to such a desperate situation?"

Finishing his lunch, Leonardo put down his spoon and looked up, "Is this the place that expelled a large number of nobles and priests in the Thousand River Valley? I've heard nobles mention it; they set up a national law, didn't they?"

"Yes, they just announced to the imperial society a few days ago, Lupher is currently studying over there." Senius threw Leonardo the copied letter from Lupher and the "Holy Charter."

Leonardo spread the letter out on the greasy table where he just finished eating, chewing leftover bread, flipping through with fingers stained gray-black by paint.

But the speed at which he flipped gradually slowed, and his eyes got closer and closer to the paper.

Watching Silvanic's tightly pressed lips and the whispered conversations of others, Senius smiled wryly and said, "Don't rush to refuse, listen to their terms first. First, they cover our travel expenses into the Thousand River Valley, including room and board."

"Is it fully covered? Not just for university students?" a civilian teacher couldn't help but speak up first.

"Including artisans and aides, in fact, the one truly inviting us is the newly appointed Archbishop of Thousand River Valley by Grand Duchess Moliat." Senius looked at the words on the letter paper, "Second, they are willing to provide us with free dormitories and housing, and offer low-cost printing and publishing services.

Third, for impoverished students, the Thousand River Valley Church is willing to offer an interest-free loan of 20 gold pounds, which can be repaid after working for them for three to five years post-graduation.

Fourth, for outstanding students, they are willing to offer a scholarship of 5 gold pounds annually, and if willing to stay and work at the ry Court Barracks, the local city government will distribute citizen status, housing, and work for free."

Clear gulping sounds were heard from the doorway, coming from civilian students eavesdropping.

Understandably, tuition alone in art and academia costs around 8-18 gold pounds annually. Though civilians, those people are either local citizens or of Armed Farmers background.

Or they receive funding from local churches or guilds; otherwise, they couldn't possibly afford a starting expense of 2 gold pounds annually.

Is the Thousand River Valley this rich? Or is this Archbishop that generous?

The previously hesitant teachers immediately swung to Senius's side, for there was no other choice—the offer was too good to pass up.

Not only closer but with greater benefits, this is, relatively speaking, the best solution currently available.

Silvanic could only cast a pleading look at Leonardo, who was still reading the letter and the "Holy Charter."

At this moment, Leonardo remained immersed, his eyes growing brighter with each read, eventually reading out loud after initially whispering: "All subjects are entitled to freedom and the right to life, and no person shall be deprived of these rights illegally in any form...

See, they've abolished the inquisition and defined noble infighting as illegal behavior. They've even abolished the 'Fugitive Slave Act' and the 'Labor Act'!

God Miseria bless us, has the classical El Empire been reborn?"

Listening to Leonardo's words, several civilian teachers quickly grabbed the contents of the "Holy Charter," followed immediately by a chorus of astonishment.

"They abolished the Dead Hand Tax?"

"The judicial power of nobles has been revoked; even the Prime Minister of Falan couldn't achieve this."

"Freedom, a rare bloom of freedom at the fringes of imperial civilization."

"This vision comes closer to Master Quivarin's ideal nation than even Falan itself!"

Silvanic glanced at the now completely swayed teachers and took a deep breath: "Lord Senius, I can't accept going to Thousand River Valley. If you insist on going, please allow me to take my students to New Bridge University."

Before Senius could respond, a sharp explosion sounded beside Silvanic:

"Gears—Perpetual Motion Engine?!!"