The Martial Unity

"Nothing too extravagant," Rui shrugged. "The training resources entail basic training resources for the most common kinds techniques in all primary fields of Martial Art, specifically, maneuvering. As far as the information goes, we seek access to your library of scientific literature on esoteric material science. We also wish to access your labs to conduct and engage in some research."

This took the man by surprise. "Interesting, the former is no issue, it's actually the standard. However the latter…"

He made a difficult expression.

"Is there any issue?" Rui raised an eyebrow.

"Unfortunately, our libraries of scientific literature are only accessible by those with a journeyman degree in the sciences," The man smiled apologetically. "I'm afraid we cannot grant you access to the library."

"Even in exchange for Squire-level services?" Rui frowned. "As far as I can see, your town doesn't have the leeway to refuse extra Martial power, am I wrong?"

Rui glanced at the two Apprentice-level guards behind him.

That alone spoke to the state of its defense.

"You aren't," He sighed as he took off his glasses, laying them on the table. "But unfortunately, I cannot make an exception to this rule. I cannot dilute our standards under any circumstances."

Rui raised an eyebrow as he considered the man's words. "Are the standards of the institute more important than the survival of the institute and the town?"

"They are the reason the town exists in the first place," The man sighed, turning towards Rui. "That is why it cannot be forsaken, not even for the interests of the survival of the town."

"I do not understand," Rui frowned.

What did that even mean? All he asked was to access their scientific library, it shouldn't have been that big a deal.

The man stared at Rui with a conflicted expression. Rui could tell that he meant what he said, but at the same time, he did not want to let go of the two of them.

"I hope you understand…" He modestly remarked. "The standards of this town set the quality of what we offer. And the value of what we offer is what keeps this town afloat. People wouldn't strive to come to this town without it, and without the influx of those who aim to be a part of this ecosystem, it cannot be sustained."

Rui's eyebrows furrowed. "You mean, your one source of funding is those who invest in an education here?"

That sounded nonsensical.

"I… understand that it sounds absurd," The man sighed. "I do wish to establish some context."

Rui sighed irritably. "If you cannot give us what we need, then I do not feel the need to indulge in this meeting anymore."

"No wait!" The man cried. "Please, hear me out. I'm sure you'll understand!"

Rui wanted to slap the man out of his self-centered mindset, he hadn't even talked to the man for ten minutes, and he had already had enough.

The reason he didn't leave was because Kane was giving him a pointed look.

Apparently, he believed that there was still something that could be done in this place, an optimism that Rui did not share.

Though it smelled more like desperation at the moment, since this was the last place on their list.

"Speak. Fast." Rui snorted.

"Alright… I hope to convince you of the reason that I cannot give you what you seek, and to offer you other forms of recompense," The man sighed. "The reason I cannot break this rule is that the credibility of the rigorous meritocratic institutions of this town is the reason that people come here seeking high-quality education and research. The reason this town even exists in the first place is for two reasons. The first was to obtain a source of revenue for the wide-scale research resources that I needed, and the second was to get away from the controlling hands of those who sought to control my research in exchange for funding it."

Rui's eyebrows rose as he had an inkling of what the man was referring to.

Research, especially pure research, was in constant need of constant funding. Scientists usually weren't rich, and thus the expenses of research were not something they could incur personally.

Naturally, they would resort to external sources of funding, in exchange for access to the research and some directive over the research. Broadly speaking, there were four sources of funding that research got.

Private.

Commercial.

Governmental.

Militaristic.

Each of these four sources had its own interests in investing in research, and would naturally seek to control the direction of the research to suit those interests.

Rui had dealt with it many times in his previous life. In fact, his source of funding had always been commercial since his research was centered around combat sports in a commercial league.

"I… am one of the few people that had broken from this paradigm," He sighed. "I created this town with the personal fortune I had made from prior breakthroughs and created a scrupulously absolute meritocratic system of education and distribution of high-level knowledge. I moved all the way here in the middle of nowhere to escape the influence of powerful forces, and I fund all of this…"

He gestured around. "With people are willing to pay a lot in order to be here."

Rui was grudgingly impressed. He highly doubted that he would have been able to pull something like that off in his previous life even if he was healthy.

"So you wanted a source of income without selling agency to your research," Rui confirmed. "Why not just engage in research that more accessible sources of funding are interested in that also overlaps with your own interests?"

"Because there isn't an overlap!" The man banged the table. "Those power-hungry snakes do not care about peering into the metaphysical depths of the Martial Path because it does not immediately yield in any tangible increase in the power of Martial Art!"

Rui felt like he was getting a headache listening to this man.