And on top of that, the Biology Academy's dean understood Orphis well.
That man would never take such a reckless gamble unless he was absolutely confident.
So after a brief period of consideration, the dean likewise drafted a written document of support and handed Hel his own token.
Just like that, Hel now possessed the political capital of two academies—and the backing of three sixth-tier experts.
As for the next two academies—the Academy of Arts and the Academy of History…
These were institutions without any sixth-tier powerhouse guarding them, and originally, they hadn't even been part of Hel's recruitment plan.
But since they were on the way, Hel decided to try anyway.
The outcome was exactly as she expected.
As the weakest two academies, their only way to survive in this upheaval was to act as fence-sitters.
So when they saw that the Bloodline and Biology Academies—who had supposedly been supporting the Second Prince—had turned to Hiness instead…their earlier cries of full support for the Second Prince immediately quieted down.
Still, on the surface, their response to Hel was that they needed more time to "consider."
They did not possess the foundations of Bloodline or Biology…nor did they have the leverage to offend the Second Prince.
But at the same time, they also could not afford to offend Hiness, who now had two academies behind her.
So even though they understood perfectly well that once those two academies withdrew, the balance between the Second Prince and the Fourth Princess had already been broken…they still refused to commit immediately.
Hel didn't care.
Those two academies were merely a convenient stop along the road.
If she succeeded, great.
If not, it didn't matter.
So after passing through the History Academy and circling around the Mechanical Academy…
Hel arrived at the final destination of her journey: the Alchemy Academy.
As the Fourth Princess's main stronghold, it should not have been in Hel's considerations at all.
No one was foolish enough to abandon their own faction in favor of an outsider—especially when their side was currently riding high.
If such betrayal truly occurred, it would be unforgivable.
And if the original supporter eventually claimed the throne…the very first thing they would do would be to purge the traitors.
But the Alchemy Academy was special.
It was an academy devoted entirely to alchemy.
And Hel possessed a bargaining chip that no alchemist could ever bring themselves to abandon.
So after expending a fair amount of effort…Hel finally met the Alchemy Academy's…vice dean.
Yes.
She did not seek out the academy's dean.
Because the dean was the Fourth Princess's own grand-uncle.
Even with full confidence in her leverage, Hel had no intention of gambling on how deep his affection for the princess ran.
Besides that dean, the Alchemy Academy also had another sixth-tier expert.
It was said that this vice dean had originally been chosen by the former dean as the next successor—but the man was so obsessed with alchemical research that he rejected the offer outright.
That was how the current dean—the Fourth Princess's grand-uncle—had taken the position instead.
And precisely because of that…the academy's two sixth-tier experts maintained a decent relationship on the surface.
There was no conflict of interest.
One was devoted to research.
The other was addicted to power.
They did not interfere with one another.
That was…before Hel arrived.
Inside an enormous alchemical laboratory within the Alchemy Academy…
A short, elderly man stood there, hair frizzy, beard unkempt, his entire appearance a complete mess.
His eyes did not blink even once as he stared at the massive alchemical formation engraved into the floor.
Around him, more than a dozen young men and women in white coats bustled about, notebooks in hand, carrying out various tasks.
They were third-year senior students of the Alchemy Academy—and also Vice Dean Albert's assistants.
But as students under this vice dean, the pressure they bore was far beyond anything within the academy proper.
This place held research that surpassed the entire institution…and dangers of every kind.
One moment of carelessness, and they might lose their lives here.
Yet despite that, it was revered as the cradle of Savant's greatest alchemical masters.
Any student who left this place—even those eliminated simply for failing to keep up with Albert's pace—could easily secure an excellent teaching position within the academy.
And any student who managed to study under Vice Dean Albert for more than three years…became an honored guest among all the nobles of the Ymir Empire.
Even the king himself would treat them with exceptional courtesy.
So this was not a place just any student could enter.
Each year, Albert only accepted one or two new people.
Yet today…two unfamiliar figures had appeared here.
But in the eyes of Albert's students, personnel changes were normal.
The Alchemy Academy would never have some brainless fool sneak in here just to be scolded by Vice Dean Albert.
As for Albert himself…he cared even less.
Student assignments were handled by the dean.
He didn't pick favorites.
If someone was useless, he would simply kick them out.
If they were useful, he kept them close.
All he needed was an assistant.
So Hel and Hiness slipped in effortlessly.
If anything about this infiltration had been difficult…it was merely locating Albert's research laboratory in the first place.
In her previous life, Hel had once heard of a strange discipline: social engineering.
It was said that ordinary hackers needed to exhaust themselves writing code to break into a system.
But elite hackers were different.
They often used a far simpler method, such as…walking straight into the server room.
Truly.
No matter the world…it was always the same kind of ramshackle farce.
Hel and Hiness stood quietly, watching Albert and his team work for a long time.
Only when they finally placed a white gemstone into the center of the formation…did Hel speak.
"Decomposition, reconstruction, and fusion theory is only applicable to ordinary alchemy.
It cannot be applied to alchemy related to life.
And the progression from blackening to whitening, to yellowing, and finally reddening…is not the true method of producing the Philosopher's Stone.
That ancient alchemical theory should have been abandoned long ago.
Since you understand that forging the Philosopher's Stone is the sublimation of an inorganic soul…then you should also understand that manipulating the soul of an inorganic object is far more difficult than manipulating the soul of an organic being.
So why don't you simply inject a living soul into the stone instead?
If I remember correctly, an alchemist proposed exactly this approach two thousand years ago.
So why are you still using such a stupid method—testing it little by little, step by step?"