Skepticism and Accusations

[Ruan Ling POV]

I couldn't focus at work.

It had been two days, and Bellum's words still echoed in my mind.

"You should've seen yourself, Ruan Ling. Albrecht's daughter wasn't simply intelligent—she's precise, methodical, and more efficient than I expected."

Bellum has always been calm, perceptive, and has chosen his words carefully. He wasn't the type to make baseless claims or let raw emotions sway his judgment. And yet, he spoke with certainty, as if the matter had already been settled.

"Why won't you and Benjamin visit Albrecht to see for yourselves?"

I hadn't gone to that man's home yesterday. It seemed pointless—Bellum had already made it clear what he thought of the so-called genius child. I didn't need to hear more.

But then Benjamin, of all people, came this morning saying the same thing.

"Hey, Miss Ruan Ling! I know it sounds absurd, but Albrecht's daughter is truly talented. Trust me, I was there. She assembled the entire device flawlessly, down to the last piece. It wasn't just a fluke—she knows what she's doing."

Albrecht's daughter... just who is she? I knew her name was Herta, but that meant nothing.

I had seen many self-proclaimed geniuses before. Some were merely well-taught, others had an eye for details, but none had ever been capable of something that made real geniuses like Bellum and Benjamin commend so clearly.

And the way Albrecht spoke of her... it was as if he expected everyone to believe it entirely.

But I didn't.

However, as the day went on, their words refused to leave me. There was no way a child, no matter how bright, could possess that level of mastery. It defies experience and logic.

"Attention, everyone!"

Just then, Albrecht arrived and brought a device to the workshop. Its design was identical to the blueprint he had shown two days ago, and it was fully assembled.

As the group of researchers gathered, I stood at the back, watching him place it on the table with too much pride.

"This is the Hertascope," he declared. "It is my daughter's work. She assembled it herself."

A wave of murmur swept throughout the room. Some leaned in for a closer look, while others exchanged skeptical glances. Yet, I kept my expression indifferent. 

It was one thing for Bellum and Benjamin to make their claim, but for Albrecht to present this as a fact? That is something else entirely.

"Impossible! A child assembled this device?"

"There's no way you're telling the truth!"

"Just admit it was a lie!"

After a few researchers expressed their disapproval, Albrecht turned to Bellum and Benjamin, who were beside him, and nodded.

In response, Benjamin stepped forward first.

"It's true. I saw it with my own eyes. His daughter put it all together without hesitation—every piece fit exactly where it needed to."

After that, Bellum nodded in agreement.

"If Benjamin believes it, then I trust his judgment. I've already seen enough of what Albrecht's daughter can accomplish."

Their unwavering confidence in their statement sent an uncomfortable chill down my spine. It bothered me more than I cared to admit.

Was I supposed to accept this as a fact? That a mere child had achieved something that took trained artisans years to master?

Before I could voice my thoughts, another voice cut through the crowd.

"Mr. Albrecht Wissenschaft, I must admit, this is an impressive piece. However, I suggest you stop claiming it as yours—or rather, your daughter's. After all, I know this design. It's mine."

The researchers and I turned our gaze to the speaker.

A high elite among geniuses.

Rubert II.

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The kingdom of Nasca formed an organization of intellectual minds called the Genius Society to aid in humanity's advancement. Within this community, the ranking was divided into three groups—academic artisans, distinguished scholars, and high elites.

Benjamin fit the first category, while Bellum, Albrecht, and I belonged to the second.

Rubert II stood among the highest.

His reputation extended far beyond just mere title. He was known for his work on the Scepter Optics, a device designed to observe things unseen by the naked eye. However, despite his endeavors, its design remained flawed, unable to achieve its intended purpose.

And now, before us stood the Hertascope, a current device that could potentially surpass the Scepter Optics. Yet, Rubert accused Albrecht of stealing his design, claiming it as his own.

"Nonsense!" Albrecht shouted, his fist clenched in frustration. "This is my daughter's original creation. She designed this and put it all together on her own."

Rubert snickered, dismissing the claim with a wave of his hand. "Are you sure? Who lets their father boast about their supposed invention on their behalf? She sounds like a fraud to me."

Hearing his remark, Albrecht's expression darkened. "Watch your mouth, you—"

"Albrecht! Calm down!" Bellum interrupted, quickly stepping in between them. "Sir Rubert, if you believe this device is based on your work, you should present your evidence instead of throwing accusations."

Benjamin chimed in, his tone lighter but steady. "He's right! We're all researchers here, aren't we? If there's a claim, then it should be tested, not decided by who's better in this dispute!"

Albrecht exhaled sharply but held back his anger.

I hesitated, debating whether to get involved myself. But... leaving this as it was wouldn't get us anywhere. Thus, I stepped forward, standing beside them.

"Hmm? Ah, there you are, Ruan Ling," Benjamin cried out, his face lighting up with relief upon seeing me. "We could use your help!"

"Good grief," I sighed before confronting their enemy. "Sir Rubert, would you mind explaining why this device is worth your concern? On what basis are you making those earlier claims?"

In response to my questions, Rubert let out a dry chuckle, shaking his head.

"On what basis? That's simple." He straightened up, his confidence unshaken. "That device—its mechanism, its function—all aligns far too well with my work on the Scepter Optics."

I narrowed my eyes, observing his words. "How does it even—"

"Hold on, there's more," Rubert interrupted, rudely cutting me off. "Patavia Adler Sommerville and I discussed the very principle just the other day. And yet, Albrecht suddenly presented a complete blueprint, claiming his daughter designed it herself."

I furrowed my brows, feeling suspicious of his response. "Even so, that doesn't—"

"Tell me, does that sound reasonable to you?" He tilted his head, smirking mischievously. "A mere child, accomplishing something even the most distinguished scholars have struggled with? No, this is nothing more than a stolen work paraded by a so-called genius."

His words ignited murmurs among the gathered researchers, doubts and disbelief spreading like wildfire. Some nodded in agreement, while others remained uncertain. 

Albrecht's gaze burned with fury as he clenched his jaw to stay composed. Bellum remained impassive, calculating eyes on Rubert, while Benjamin frowned with his arms crossed.

I sighed, trying to control my irritation. "Are you saying this is just a coincidence? That no one else could independently come up with a similar idea after your discussion the other day?"

"Coincidence? Hardly," Rubert denied, arching his brow. "The timing is too convenient. If you spent years working on a device, only for someone else to present a perfected version out of nowhere, wouldn't you question it?"

I bit my lips hearing his reply. He wasn't entirely wrong. Scientific discovery often took years, sometimes decades, of refining theories and experimenting with prototypes. A breakthrough of this magnitude was no small feat.

Still, the accusation was bold—perhaps too bold.

"Then prove it, Rubert."

Before I could respond, Albrecht finally spoke, his voice firm.

"If you're convinced this is stolen work, show us your proof? Where is your evidence that my daughter or I took something from you?"

Rubert's smirk faltered momentarily, caught off guard by his challenge. But then, he snapped back, his stance returning stronger.

"You want proof? Fine. If you're so confident in your daughter's abilities, then bring her here."

Surprised by his suggestion, Albrecht stiffened. "What?"

"You heard me," Rebert asserted smoothly, folding his arms. "If she truly created this device, she has no problem explaining its functions, its assembly, and the theory behind it. Unless, of course, you're afraid of what that would reveal."

More whispers circulated among the spectators. Some were intrigued by the proposal, while others watched the unfolding confrontation.

Abrecht's jaw tightened hearing such a demand. "This is absurd. You're asking a child to—"

"She's a so-called genius, isn't she?" Rubert cut in. "You claim she built this device, so there's no problem defending it."

Benjamin scowled, shaking his head. "You just want to humiliate her. We all know that."

"If this is a formal challenge, we need reasonable terms," Bellum proclaimed calmly. "What do you expect to gain from this, Sir Rubert?"

"If she can prove this device as her original work, then I will acknowledge her talent." Rubert chuckled before continuing with a threatening tone. "But if she fails, you and your associates shall be stripped of your position as researchers, Albrecht."

At those words, the workshop fell silent.

The weight of his demand loomed over everyone, pressing down like an unspoken threat.

Albrecht's fists clenched at his sides, his expression unreadable. Bellum and Benjamin shared despairing glances, neither pleased with how the argument unfolded. I, however, crossed my arms, considering our next move.

For Rubert, this was more than just an accusation—it was a power play.

And tomorrow, Albrecht's daughter would have to face it.

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Afterwards, Rubert walks away with a pompous stride, leaving the room full of murmur. Most of the researchers dispersed, while others remained, still gossiping about what happened.

In the meantime, I confronted the three men in front of me. 

"Curse that bastard," Albrecht muttered under his breath, fists still clenched in frustration.

Benjamin placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "It's alright, Sir Albrecht. I'm certain Herta can beat that bully in an argument."

"He's right," Bellum nodded in agreement. "I've seen her intellectual capabilities firsthand."

Hearing them reassure each other, I couldn't help but sigh wearily before voicing my opinion.

"I still doubt that she can handle Rubert."

At my words, Albrecht turned sharply, marching straight toward me. He stopped a few inches away from where I was standing, his piercing gaze locking onto mine.

"Herta is much smarter and more competent than you believe her to be. I have witnessed her brilliance ever since she was a year old, and I have no doubt she can handle this."

I felt his deep breath brush against my face, but instead of stepping back, I pushed him away with a firm hand. 

"Even so, that wouldn't be enough."

"Huh?!"

"In case you haven't noticed yet, Rubert was manipulating the confrontation to his advantage the entire time. I don't think your four-year-old daughter can counter that."

The three men widen their eyes in realization upon hearing my revelation. I simply caught this when Rubert urged Albrecht to bring his daughter after being asked for proof.

"I see... No wonder his responses were strange," Bellum mused, processing the information.

Benjamin clicked his tongue in frustration. "Dammit, why didn't we think of that earlier?"

"It doesn't matter," Albrecht declared, stepping towards the table. "My daughter will certainly win against that elite bastard." 

With that, he picked up the Hertascope and walked away to the exit. Afterwards, Bellum and Benjamin followed, leaving me to ponder what I was missing.