This was actually quite similar to selling insurance.
First, you sell it to acquaintances and people from your hometown.
Once enough people bought the insurance and sufficient capital was accumulated, you could return to your hometown in Zaun to start a business.
And this insurance didn't even require the clients to invest money; it only required their belief.
Levi didn't need these students to charge into battle or shed blood. He only needed them to help with promotion and outreach.
When it came to the matters that truly required shedding blood, he and Janna were enough.
"I-I understand."
"I'll go back today and share the Janna Thought you taught us with the tenants in our apartment building!"
"Everyone renting there is a Zaunite just like us. They'll definitely be interested in your theories!"
One student had already stood up from his seat, speaking incoherently in his excitement. He looked ready to rush out and fight immediately, eager to work for this great cause.
However, Levi smiled and stopped him. "Please sit back down, my friend. We still have unresolved matters."
The ultimate and short-term goals were set, the feasibility analysis had passed, and the direction of their work was determined.
What else was there?
"Of course there is." Levi looked at the future scientists before him, tailoring his analogy to his audience. "Even if you're conducting a research project, you need overall planning and a division of labor. You have to form a research group first."
"So before we begin our work..."
"We must first have organization and discipline."
"This..." The students quickly realized the truth in his words.
Right, they were about to undertake an earth-shattering endeavor.
Even Vander knew to form a gang to organize people before making a move against Piltover's rulers back in the day.
How could they accomplish something so monumental without an organization?
But how should this organization be structured?
"Who should be chosen to manage this organization?"
"And how do we choose them?"
The expressions of everyone present, especially the older and more experienced Viktor, gradually turned serious.
Although he was a scholar of science and engineering, he could still see the core issue:
This was a question of how to select and employ people.
To put it bluntly, it was a question of how to distribute power.
This question was incredibly important.
Demacia distributed it based on noble bloodlines, Noxus used a military meritocracy, Ionia relied on clan status, and Piltover answered this question with a Merchant Council...
Which of these methods was suitable for the future of Zaun?
Even with his extraordinary intellect, Viktor couldn't immediately figure out the answer.
"Because, similarly, there is no standard answer to this question," Levi replied as the crowd looked on in confusion.
"Let me ask you all—"
"Do you think Piltover's Merchant Council is good?"
Good, of course it was good.
That was the students' first reaction.
Piltover was so civilized and progressive. How could their system be anything but good?
In fact, many of them had fantasized that if they could wipe out the Chem-Barons ruling Zaun in one fell swoop and establish a merchant-led council modeled after Piltover, Zaun would become just as civilized and prosperous.
"But I must tell you—"
"When the Twin Cities first split, there were no Chem-Barons in Zaun."
"Zaun itself is Piltover's 'twin', its 'replica'. Every system was copied directly from across the canal. Over two hundred years ago, we also started with a Merchant Council and autonomous community residents."
"But why did this council eventually vanish? Why did all the legitimate merchants flee, leaving the power over Zaun to fall into the hands of gang leaders and Chem-Barons?"
Levi's words served as a harsh wake-up call for the students.
He then told them that it wasn't just Zaun from two hundred years ago. Even now, across the continents of Shurima and Valoran, there were many nations with systems similar to Piltover's.
Yet, none of those nations were as prosperous or wealthy as Piltover. Not only were they not wealthy, but they were also poorer and more chaotic than the last.
They even saw massive casualties on a regular basis due to colonial invasions, warlord civil wars, racial conflicts, and various other reasons.
"Most people can only see Piltover's success, but they fail to see the failures of those poor and weak nations."
"Very few people stop to think why the exact same method completely fails, stalls, and breaks down in other places."
"Blindly worshipping a single method and treating it as the key to solving all problems is actually going to a seemingly correct extreme, just like the theory of productive forces."
"Therefore—"
"We cannot blindly copy others right now. We must choose the method that suits us best."
Levi's words earned everyone's approval.
But what was the method most suitable for Runeterra and Zaun?
Could Levi provide such a method?
If it were in the past, he truly wouldn't have been able to.
But now, in this world where supernatural powers existed, he finally had a passable answer.
This answer had no practical meaning in his original world; it was an answer that could only work in Runeterra.
And Levi's answer was: "Divine Selection—"
"First, Janna will screen and select members who are qualified to join. Then, the members will internally elect our managers."
"Huh?" The students were dumbfounded.
What the heck was Divine Selection?
Wasn't that the primitive method used thousands of years ago by the believers of the Three Gods in the Freljord and the Sea Beast Cult in Bilgewater?
"Wait..." One student noticed the latter part of Levi's statement. "First, Janna will screen members who are 'qualified to join'... Professor Levi, what kind of person is considered qualified?"
"Those qualified to join must, of course, be true believers of Janna."
"They must harbor the ideal of Great Harmony and be willing to fight for it for the rest of their lives... They must always keep the masses in their hearts, serve the people wholeheartedly, step forward first when there are difficulties, take benefits last, and be willing to sacrifice everything for our cause, including their lives..."
Levi's expression was solemn, as if he were reciting an oath.
Some of the students couldn't understand. "Professor Levi, what you're describing is simply a saint, a pure idealist."
"Exactly! What I want are pure idealists!"
"But how can there be so many pure people in the world?"
"There are. There are many, and there are even some right among you—"
As soon as he finished speaking, the bluebird on Levi's shoulder slowly flapped its wings.
In the very next moment, Lina, Viktor, Seraphine, and everyone else present witnessed a bizarre sight.
Faint, white 'threads' were extending from the bodies of some of the people among them.
These threads rose into the air, merging together like rivers flowing into the sea, and converged into the body of that bluebird.
Both Lina and Viktor had 'threads' drawing out from them.
Seraphine, however, did not yet.
"T-This is..."
"This is your 'Power of Faith', and this bird is the incarnation of Janna's will." Levi saved some face for Janna, referring to this useless bird as her avatar.
"And as you can all see—"
"Janna can 'see' the Power of Faith."
Those white threads varied in thickness and brightness.
The thickness represented the intensity of the Power of Faith, which could also be seen as the strength of the believer's mental fortitude.
The brightness of the 'threads' represented the devotion of their faith.
Yes...
In this world where supernatural powers existed, Levi was currently playing a strategy game where he could see his 'generals' loyalty'.
Who was an idealist and who wasn't could be seen at a glance.
This was his greatest cheat code.
And even if Levi died, Janna would never die.
This eternally pure, utterly selfless goddess would forever guide humanity forward.
"This is what I have found—"
"The method most suitable for Runeterra!"
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