10 o'clock in the morning.

Kyoto University, Faculty and Research Building, Graduate School of Humanities Dedicated Conference Room.

The conference room was filled with teachers from the Graduate School of Humanities, including not only professors from the History Department, but also faculty members from all departments such as the Department of Literature, the Department of Sociology, and the Department of Cultural Studies. At the same time, on the third floor

In one row, there is also a university director.

Kithara, Miyagawa, and Hirose stood in the corner of the conference room, watching the stage quietly.

At this moment, on the podium at the front of the conference room, Shimokawa was sitting on a chair, wearing a crisp suit. His expression was much better than when he appeared in court before. A pair of eyes seemed to light up again,

He has restored his elegant scholarly demeanor in the past.

And a few meters away in front of Shimokawa, stood Fujimura.

Fujimura's hands trembled slightly. He remembered that just two months ago, he applied to the university for an honorary special professorship. At that time, he was standing at the highest point of his life. And only two months had passed.

, everything has undergone a complete change.

Two months ago, could I have imagined that I would be standing here like this today?

Fujimura clenched his fists, and his nails were almost embedded in his flesh. However, after a while, he let go again. Because he knew that no matter how hard he struggled, it was useless.

People who have ever held power know even more about the horrors of power.

The university has also strictly ordered itself not to appeal. Of course, because the Kitahara lawyer opposite has his own reasons, he does not dare to appeal. As far as the university is concerned, the longer this lawsuit drags on, the more attention it gets.

The greater the damage to the reputation of the university. Therefore, cutting the knot with a quick knife is the best choice for the university.

Fujimura shook his head, then took steps forward. Every step he took was as sticky as stepping on wet cement.

In a daze, Fujimura suddenly seemed to see himself more than thirty years ago.

At that time, I was also an associate professor.

How did you get to where you are today step by step?

In the conference room, the teachers of the Department of Humanities couldn't help but be surprised when they saw Fujimura's demeanor. In their impression, the dean always looked domineering. No one could have imagined that the Fujimura in front of them

, at this time, he showed such a dejected look.

Without the support of power, the former dean seemed to be shorter in height, with a stooped body. Fujimura walked step by step in front of Shimokawa, with his head lowered. He no longer had the demeanor of the dean in the past.

The arrogance was overwhelming. Fujimura's face turned pale, as if he had no bones to support him, and he knelt down in front of Shimokawa.

Everyone present could not help but hold their breath. The dignified dean of the graduate school of the highest university in Japan actually knelt down in front of everyone. This was a very shocking scene. Fortunately, today's meeting was a closed-door meeting, so if

If a reporter captures this scene, it will make the headlines across Japan.

"Teacher Shimokawa." Fujimura said with a trembling voice.

Fujimura wanted to speak, but his words were blocked as if something was strangling his throat.

This is human inertia.

The power inertia of being the dean for many years has made it impossible for him to imagine facing his colleagues with such a humble attitude. It is strange to say that everyone is obviously a scholar. It is obvious that in the face of the truth, everyone is the most equal. But it is strange.

Since when did a group of scholars who were supposed to get along with each other as equals gradually become ranked third, sixth, or ninth?

However, no matter how difficult it is to speak, you must speak.

Because this is a court decision, there is no room for bargaining.

Fujimura opened his mouth desperately, and every inch of his body was tensed, as if he had used unprecedented efforts to get rid of the inertia that bound his nerves. His voice was hoarse:

"I'm sorry... Teacher Shimokawa... Regarding what happened in "The Journey to the East"... I'm really... I'm so sorry... for causing... trouble to you..."

Fujimura fell on the ground and gently knocked his forehead on the cold floor of the conference room.

The dean of the Graduate School of Humanities at Kyoto University formally apologized to Shimogawa in accordance with the court's ruling...

…

…

…

A few days later, the Classical History Teaching and Research Section.

In the office, a figure is selecting books on the bookshelf. On the floor next to it, there is a large suitcase, and books one after another are sifted off the bookshelf and placed in the box. Shimokawa wipes

I wiped the sweat from my forehead and was about to continue moving when suddenly a voice sounded from behind me.

"Teacher Shimokawa, how did the renewal review meeting go?"

When Shimokawa heard this voice, he immediately trembled. He turned around and saw the familiar figure. He couldn't help but smile immediately, "I didn't expect that Lawyer Kitahara was here."

Kitahara walked into the teaching and research room with a smile, "I have nothing to do recently, so I started walking around the Kyoto University campus again. I thought it would be convenient to come back for a cup of tea. I was at the restaurant in Nanzenji Temple a few days ago.

, I asked Teacher Xiachuan to treat me, but it cost a lot of money."

"What's the matter? Today I'll take Lawyer Kitahara, Lawyer Miyagawa, and Hirose to eat soup tofu together." Shimokawa laughed, then took out the tea can, shook it, and started to make tea.

.

"As for the renewal review meeting." Shimokawa laughed a little more, "The university finally approved my renewal. Those professors are all very clever, and they all blamed the court's decision, saying that

According to the court's decision, since we have won, we will continue to re-employ. These people are afraid of taking responsibility."

The teaching and research room has become a lot empty because many files and materials have been moved. Sunlight shines in from the window, and you can see the faint floating dust.

"Is Mr. Shimokawa going to change his office?" Beihara's eyes scanned the scene in the teaching and research room, "I didn't expect that office moving would begin."

"That's it." Xiachuan wiped his nose and said rather embarrassedly, "Yesterday, I just received an invitation letter from Dongtu. They recently unearthed a batch of Qinlu bamboo slips. I want to

Invite overseas sinology experts to participate in the archaeological excavation and identification work."

"I didn't expect that I would be included in the invitation." Shimokawa couldn't stop laughing as he spoke, his eyes filled with light, like a child getting a dream gift, "This is really an incomparable and harmonious gift."

It’s a huge honor. To be able to participate in such a great project, I don’t think I will be able to do it a few times in my life.”

"So, in the past few years, I will stay in Dongtu and participate in their archaeological projects." Shimokawa said with a smile, "So, I am going to start moving today. I am already in contact with the visa application."

Looking at the appearance in front of Shimokawa, Beiyuan suddenly said coldly, "Will you return to Japan in the future?"

These words that came out suddenly were like a cold wind blowing into the teaching and research room.

Kitahara had seen Shimokawa's almost desperate eyes before.

He knew that he was not a magician in psychotherapy. Even if he won this lawsuit, it would be more or less impossible to restore the quasi-professor in front of him to his former self.

Beihara then said: "I heard that the Sinology Center in London sent you an invitation to be a full professor. Will you go?"

Shimokawa's expression was slightly startled, as if he didn't expect that the young man in front of him could actually know this information, and then he laughed dumbly, "Lawyer Kitahara, your information is really well-informed."

However, while he was laughing, the light in this prospective professor's eyes was a little dim that was not easily noticed just now.

"So, are you already disappointed?" Beihara shook his chair, picked up the tea cup in front of him, and took a sip, "That means Teacher Shimokawa will not come back again, right?"

The teaching and research room fell into silence for a while.

I could only hear the chirping of birds outside the window and the laughter of students from time to time.

"Let's have a good gathering in the next few days." The prospective professor said, "There are many good places in Kyoto. I didn't take Lawyer Kitahara to visit them."
Chapter completed!