Part 3: Confrontation

In a crowded building, you walk into a classroom and step onto the podium with a file in your hand.
The scrutinizing gazes coming from below are hard to ignore. It feels both familiar and overwhelming.
Kaalaa Baunaa: ... This report given here concerns the work "The Supernova under the Binary Star System of White Dwarf FYDL 82A" ...
Your audience adjusts their posture and listens to your introduction. They have questions, but their professionalism tells them to wait until the end.
Occasionally, they frown at some of your arcane terms, as if this were not a serious academic report.
The rest of the time, they keep a stern face, as they see themselves as academic royalty.
Kaalaa Baunaa: ...This concludes this report, thank you for listening.
The audience looks at each other, and the silence in the classroom is deafening.
Proposal: Delicious %*&...
Aside from you, no one notices the monster lurking at the door like the Sword of Damocles.
This is going to be a tough battle ...

He reads your report carefully, but the content does not dispel the doubt on his face—he seems to be looking at a plate of indescribable food.
Scholar Kapur: First of all, you are an arcanist, right?
They seem to know everything about you.
But you remain calm and collected, as if you've never hidden your identity before.
Kaalaa Baunaa: Yes, but I don't think that has anything to do with my report.
If research proposals can have a fearful, gaping maws, then what's so strange about them knowing a few things about you?
Kaalaa Baunaa: If you look at my signature on the report, it clearly states that I'm an arcanist.
Kaalaa Baunaa: I don't think it's anything to be ashamed of.
You breathe a sigh of relief. You might even say you've waited a long time for this discussion.
Scholar Kapur: Of course! Everyone is welcome to study astronomy. We astronomers have an open mind.
Scholar Kapur: But in your report, I found a lot of trajectory data that are impossible to obtain through observation...
Scholar Kapur: According to scientific assessments, the technology to build any instruments for these observations doesn't yet exist, and the tools we have cannot provide such precise data.
Scholar Kapur: So either you fabricated the data, or you used to so-called "arcane skills" to—
Kaalaa Baunaa: This "unobservable data" was not entirely obtained through arcane skills. I referred to a large number of spectrum analysis and observation reports made by other scholars. Arcane skills only played a very small part in this process.
You interrupt him, frowning at the rudeness of his tone.
Kaalaa Baunaa: You can check the divination data in the past years on page 24. It matches 97% of the data obtained by normal means. The margin of error is perfectly acceptable.
Scholar Kapur: Hmm ... That's what's been written here. Your comparison is ... exhaustive.
He frowns as he flips through the appendix and falls into a long silence. As if to ease the discomfort, he gestures for the next professor to ask questions.

He doesn't try to hide his contempt—it's there for all to see.
Scholar Rahar: I will never approve a report written by an arcanist. I'll say the ideas in your head are hardly worth listening to.
Scholar Rahar: Astrolabe, spice, and hourglass ... It's not a game with my stupid little daughter.
He stands up in anger and puts his hands on the table for support.
Scholar Rahar: If you do the research in a human way, I'll say nothing but welcome. However, you acquired all those data through absurd methods.
You remain unfazed, long accustomed to this.
Kaalaa Baunaa: Sorry, but your objection has nothing to do with the contents of my research. You are just attacking me personally.
Kaalaa Baunaa: I will not respond the way you want, but please allow me to give you a suggestion—respect your daughter.
Burned by the gazes around him, the man flushes and sits down in a panic.
He is a hard nut to crack, but fortunately you still have other choices.

One hand supporting his chin, the other tapping the table, this man seems to be evaluating your report seriously.
Scholar Datt: Could you explain the 3% margin of error in the comparison table between the divination data and the normal observation data?
Scholar Datt: A 3% error is indeed negligible. But I'd like to know if there's a commonality among these inconsistencies.
Scholar Datt: If the commonality is universal, it may indicate that you have manipulated data, or even fabricated results.
Kaalaa Baunaa: You made a valid point...but I don't have the evidence of something I did not do.
Kaalaa Baunaa: I can show you more of the collected data. You can do a random check to see if I faked the conclusion.
Scholar Datt: Alright. I have no further questions.
Scholar Datt: The truth will remain unaffected, whether you are an arcanist or not.
He nods, acknowledging your research.
You can't help but heave a sigh of relief.

You look outside and see the monster reduced to the size of a cat, purring with satisfaction—your speech was remarkably effective.
The crowd disperses, but the next interrogation approaches. You don't have much time to compose yourself.