“Kagan Luna. Your father, Epherene Luna,” the Chairwoman said.0

The Chairwoman's words cast a heavy silence over the room, as though every sound had been completely erased. All eyes turned toward Deculein.0

"... Hmm. Over a century together, and still... there’s always something new to discover," Sophien mused.0

The situation had caught Sophien off guard. The revelation of a co-author was entirely inconsistent with Deculein's character. The idea contradicted everything she thought she knew about him. Resting her chin on her hand, Sophien glanced at Epherene. The emotions on her face were impossible to fully describe.0

Ihelm’s voice wavered, his words halting as he stammered, “Deculein? You? What… what? A co-author?”2

The Chairwoman intervened, turning to Deculein instead of Ihelm, who appeared at a loss, and said, “I believe an explanation of this co-authorship is needed! Professor Deculein?!”0

Nodding, Deculein responded in a calm, factual tone, more like a statement than a defense, “The conception and initiation of this idea originated from Kagan Luna. It was a unique and ingenious thought, unmatched by anything others could conceive.”0

Deculein then turned his gaze to Epherene, whose tired eyes shimmered faintly.0

"Kagan Luna established the framework for the thesis, while I was responsible for its further development and finalization....0