The academic circle is ultimately too naive.
There are, of course, monsters and demons, but they still care about face to some degree.
After all, the circle is only so big; if things go too far and get exposed in a scorched-earth scenario, a collective social death is not worth it.
But clearly, this mode of thinking does not apply to people like Ruel Smith.
After all, even if he chose to expose himself, it wouldn't affect Ruel Smith too much.
Even if the entire academic community lambasted him, as long as he had a strong enough mental capacity, he could easily disregard it.
But for the Science Academy, it would be an insurmountable burden.
If today they could change their neutral stance or their original selection criteria due to one person's threats, or rather persuasion, who could guarantee they would not compromise again when faced with the same issue next time?
Who would then dare believe in the authority of the awarding institutions?
