Translator: AnubisTL
"Dear Father and Mother, (omitted) I thought I was done for this time... Wait, I might actually survive!"
Amidst the chaos, Jieming was "invited" away by several wizards from the enforcement team, clad in standard wizard's robes. They led him to a secluded chamber deep within the academy.
The room was small, its walls forged from some cold, black metal. There were no windows, only a heavy metal door.
Jieming sat on a comfortable chair in the center of the room, initially tense, but he soon realized things weren't quite as he'd imagined.
Though the chamber appeared heavily guarded, the wizards seemed remarkably unconcerned with him.
He wasn't restrained, nor did he sense any coercive energy fluctuations.
The enforcement team wizards had simply brought him here and now stood silently guard outside the door, neither entering nor communicating with him.
Even more surprisingly, a small round table nearby held several delicate pastries and a cup of steaming, warmly glowing liquid.
"What's this? Some kind of 'leave me alone' treatment?"
This bizarre kindness left Jieming utterly bewildered, yet he couldn't help but feel a slight sense of relief.
"Looks like... the situation might not be as dire as I thought?" He cautiously picked up the cup and took a tentative sip.
The liquid slid down his throat, bringing an indescribable sense of comfort that seemed to alleviate his mental fatigue.
If they had truly discovered his cultivation system beyond wizardry or suspected him of being a spy, they would never treat him with such courtesy.
Wizards dealt with their enemies—especially those who threatened their entire civilization—with ruthless efficiency.
No restraints, no interrogation, even snacks and drinks... This treatment bore no resemblance to the interrogation of a spy.
Waiting for judgment was agonizing, but this pressure-free wait paradoxically allowed him to relax somewhat.
He leaned back in his chair, yet his inner circulation continued to flow ceaselessly. The adamantium coating remained discreetly layered over his skin, ready to respond to any sudden threat.
He lost track of how long he waited before the heavy metal door of the chamber clicked open, slowly swinging inward.
A familiar figure entered: a slightly balding man wearing the robes of an Alchemy Department Instructor.
Mentor Clark.
Seeing Clark, Jieming's heart immediately raced with the instinctive fear a student feels toward their head teacher.
He straightened his posture, his body tensing, barely daring to breathe.
He had expected a cold interrogation and scrutiny from his mentor.
To his surprise, Clark showed no sign of suspicion or questioning.
His face remained expressionless, but his gaze seemed less rigid than usual, carrying a hint of...
How to put it? A look assessing the value of a commodity?
Jieming's mind swirled with questions, but he dared not voice them, choosing instead to quietly await his judgment.
Fortunately, Clark didn't beat around the bush. He walked to a chair opposite Jieming and sat down, speaking directly:
"The white iron-based isolation material you submitted has passed the highest-level evaluation, demonstrating immense potential. Furthermore, your calm and decisive actions during the recent accident in the public laboratory, your accurate assessment of the core equipment, and your exceptional reaction speed and innate talent have been noted."
Jieming swallowed hard, unsure of what his mentor was leading up to, and dreading the possibility of a "but" looming.
The good news didn't unfold as he had imagined. Mentor Clark paused, then uttered a term unfamiliar to Jieming:
"The academy has decided to activate the second-tier cultivation protocol for you."
Second-tier cultivation protocol?
Jieming was momentarily bewildered.
What exactly is that?
He recalled Amy and the others mentioning some kind of apprentice cultivation program at the academy, but the second-tier cultivation protocol... while it sounded similar, it seemed to be a different concept entirely.
Sensing his confusion, Mentor Clark patiently explained, a rare display of patience for him:
"The second-tier cultivation protocol is a program established by the Star Ring Alliance for apprentices who have demonstrated the potential to surpass the formal wizard ranks and strive for higher tiers. It signifies the entire alliance's commitment to nurturing your growth."
"Specific privileges include: your merit point account now has expanded purchasing authority. While ordinary apprentices are limited to acquiring items and knowledge related to first-tier official wizards, you, with sufficient merit points, can access nearly all non-prohibited resources within the Academy Magic Network, including restricted knowledge and items."
"Furthermore, you are now eligible to establish a private laboratory. You can claim a designated area within the workshop to create your own research space, granting you access to superior research environments and equipment resources. Naturally, you will bear the associated costs."
"Most importantly, you can now sell your research products through the academy's channels on the Star Ring Federation's Energy Communication network. Unlike the mission center's internal network, which only connects within the academy, this platform offers cross-planar, cross-faction trading capabilities, granting you access to vast markets and resources."
As Mentor Clark explained, Jieming began to grasp the true value of the second-tier cultivation protocol, though some doubts lingered.
"Mentor," Jieming hesitated, "these... seem more like qualifications than actual support? Will the academy provide substantial assistance, like free materials or merit point subsidies?"
Mentor Clark's perpetually expressionless face shifted into his familiar "you're an idiot" gaze.
"Merit points? Subsidies?" he scoffed, his tone adopting the analytical tone Jieming knew so well from lectures.
"Apprentice Jieming, if you can't even earn enough merit points to cover your own cultivation and research needs, you have no right to the second-tier cultivation protocol, let alone prove you possess the potential to reach higher realms."
"These qualifications are the greatest support. They remove the limits on your resource acquisition and expand your channels for obtaining them. How much you earn and how far you go depends entirely on your own capabilities."
Hearing Mentor Clark's words, the anxiety that had been weighing on Jieming's heart finally dissipated completely.
So that's it!
It seemed he hadn't been suspected of being a spy or hiding some earth-shattering secret. On the contrary, the academy had confirmed his "investment value" and "cultivation potential"!
If that's the case...
Have I just laundered the material issue by posing as a "genius"?
The realization washed over Jieming like a wave of relief.
He was finally safe!
At least, within the academy's walls, protected by its rules, he was temporarily safe!
Jieming felt a surge of gratitude, mixed with a touch of embarrassment.
The immense psychological shift made him chuckle involuntarily, his expression relaxing visibly.
(End of the Chapter)
Translator's Corner
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