498: Negotiating Conditions with the True Knowledge Institute
Locke made up his mind. "This is a choice, but only by going to the best Wizard Academy can one access the most cutting-edge magic research."
"And the Hall of Advanced True Knowledge gives young One-Ring Wizards like us an opportunity. So, I must still go to the Hall of Advanced True Knowledge in the Three Ze Lands."
"The exit conditions for the three Halls of Advanced True Knowledge are actually about the same."
"Then, I can make a choice from among them. Bonifacius University is the most comprehensive, while the Rose Council is a wizard organization specializing in [Rose-type magic plants]."
Locke flipped through the materials. "The Rose Council possesses the most complete research on Rose-type magic plants in the Three Ze Lands, from the Crown of Thorns Rose to the Healing Silver Dew Rose, and then to the Seven-Petal Pink Cluster Rose; they are numerous and brilliantly colored."
"The Rose Council seems to believe that the colors of Rose magic plants have a profound connection with human emotions, which is why the colors of roses are so beautiful and varied. Therefore, the Rose Council's Rose magic plants have very deep research in the magic of the Enchantment School and the Mind School."
Through the materials, Locke saw that as one of the seven top wizard organizations in the Yunze Wetland, the Rose Council had an important achievement in the fields of Breeding Science and Botany—Rose Floriography.
This Rose Floriography of the Rose Council is very influential in the Three Ze Lands and even the entire Eastern Border Region because the entire field of Rose Floriography was forcibly proposed by the Speaker of the Rose Council—the Rose Witch, a Third Ring Wizard and a Throne Wizard—who hopes to increase the number of articles in this small field of study to help her become a Fourth Ring Wizard or even obtain the title of Truth Wizard.
And to achieve this, she needs waves of excellent wizards to join her school, deeply study and expand every small branch of Rose Floriography, making Rose Floriography a prominent field of study.
"In Rose Floriography, almost every Rose magic plant corresponds to a very subtle emotion," Locke said. "Moreover, because this is the research of a Throne Wizard, it is studied in great detail, and the sub-categorization of emotions has reached a level that ordinary people cannot understand."
Locke saw the information in the book stated that, for instance, the Big Red Robe Rose represents passionate love based on jealousy, while the Double-Petaled Red Rose represents passionate love based on shared ideals.
Both types of rose magic plants are a kind of Rose magic plant and are apprentice-level magic plants, but under the guidance of the Breeding Science branch—Rose Floriography—there is a significant difference between the two.
"But I am not very familiar with Rose magic plants. Joining the Hall of Advanced True Knowledge of the Rose Council would require a severe change in my future research direction," Locke said. "Except for the Dragon's Might obtained through Plant Mimicry, which is Mind School magic, I have basically had no contact with Mind School and Enchantment School magic."
"Choosing the Hall of Advanced True Knowledge of the Rose Council would make it extremely easy for me to fail to adapt. If I were forced to leave because I couldn't complete the exit conditions within a specific time, it would be a pure waste of five years."
The True Knowledge Institute is different from the Wizard Academy; the True Knowledge Institute has an exit time limit, usually five to ten years. Only in extremely rare cases is a wizard allowed to stay in a True Knowledge Institute for twenty years.
Locke thought for a moment. "The remaining Bonifacius University is a comprehensive university. Its Breeding Science, Botany, and Weather Studies are all very strong. It also excels in the fields of Magic Painting, Textile Studies, and Construction. These six sub-category magic colleges are all strong colleges of Boniface."
Bonifacius University has a total of 57 magic sub-category disciplines and has established 57 colleges.
Each magic sub-category has a college, among which the Breeder college ranks second, and the Weather Master college ranks first.
Locke nodded slightly. "Then Bonifacius University is strongest in these four areas: the Textile sub-direction magic of the Alchemy School, the Breeding Science and Botany of the Life School, the Weather Master direction of the Shaping School, and the Magic Painting of the Illusion School."
"And Golden Crown Mountain focuses on Bloodline Studies and Breeding Science, as well as the Kinetic School and... Botany."
"I can actually choose between Golden Crown Mountain and Bonifacius University," Locke said. "Whichever I choose, the difference won't be very large."
Locke thought for a moment and opened his grey mist slate. He still had the privilege that only a Yunze Cup champion possesses—having the Yunze Cup Tournament Committee step in to help him negotiate conditions with the leadership of his desired Hall of Advanced True Knowledge.
This is a right unique to the Yunze Cup champion.
Through the Yunze Cup group on the grey mist slate, Locke had a private conversation with Director Morrison.
Because this group was created entirely through the invasion of the Cloud Marsh water gourd system, Locke could use the grey mist slate to have a video conversation with Director Morrison without needing to top up for a gold membership.
In front of the grey mist slate, a projection of Director Morrison appeared. Director Morrison seemed to be in his laboratory, instructing junior One-Ring Wizard mentors.
All the plants in that laboratory were not in flowerpots but in water spheres suspended in mid-air.
Director Morrison said, "I see. Choosing to enter the Hall of Advanced True Knowledge is a wise choice."
"For an excellent One-Ring Wizard like you, entering the Hall of Advanced True Knowledge is more suitable, and obtaining an Advanced Meditation Technique from the Hall of Advanced True Knowledge... is actually simpler."
Seeing Locke's look of confusion, Director Morrison smiled and said, "This is normal. If a young One-Ring Wizard enters the Hall of Advanced True Knowledge, he does not enter as a mentor, but half as a mentor and half as a student."
"Since he is half a student, the focus is definitely still on cultivation. Because of this, the exit conditions for the Hall of Advanced True Knowledge will be very high."
Director Morrison said, "So, because of this, obtaining an Advanced Meditation Technique is much simpler than in other wizard organizations, and the Hall of Advanced True Knowledge possesses many Advanced Meditation Techniques."
"Therefore, there will be more options to choose from. Overall, your choice is very good."
Director Morrison said, "Locke, I don't know what conditions you want me to negotiate with the two Halls of Advanced True Knowledge. However, it's true that negotiating conditions one-on-one would be very complicated, but negotiating one-on-two will be much simpler and more convenient."
"You are the Yunze Cup champion and have the right to choose. Whichever Hall of Advanced True Knowledge can make more concessions to you, you choose that one."
Locke thanked Director Morrison, "Then I'll trouble you, Director. But what conditions do you suggest I negotiate with the Hall of Advanced True Knowledge?"
Director Morrison thought for a moment and said, "Generally speaking, for an ordinary wizard, the exit conditions of the Hall of Advanced True Knowledge should definitely be as simple as possible."
"So, many wizards tend to negotiate with the True Knowledge Institute on how to simplify the exit conditions. But I don't suggest you do that because the high difficulty of the exit conditions is exactly why the exit certificate of the Hall of Advanced True Knowledge is so valuable."
Director Morrison said, "Moreover, I believe that with your ability, publishing three tier 1 papers, completing a sub-topic of a key project, concluding a One-Ring fund, and training two One-Ring Wizard students should be something you are completely capable of doing."
"On the contrary, I think you should view these harsh exit conditions as milestones to temper yourself. Passing these milestones represents the achievements you have made on the path of magic."
Director Morrison said, "So I suggest you focus the negotiations on the True Knowledge Institute's funding for your projects and support for your research."
"For example, how much funding they plan to give you, whether your funds can be freely allocated or if you need a mentor from the True Knowledge Institute to sign for you, how much you can limitedly deploy, whether you can decide on your own projects or if you have to follow a True Knowledge Institute mentor or be monitored by others."
"That is, the amount of funding allocated each year, the right to freely allocate funds, the autonomy over projects, the autonomy over research directions, and besides money, the most important thing is the ability to independently recruit wizard personnel and the personnel the True Knowledge Institute allocates to you."
Director Morrison said, "I suggest you discuss all of these with the Hall of Advanced True Knowledge you want to go to."
After listening, Locke felt there was nothing to add, so he nodded and said, "Alright, Lord Morrison, I'll leave it to you."
Director Morrison said, "It's my duty. As the champion of the Yunze Cup tournament that I am responsible for, you naturally should sign a contract that is more suitable for you."
In the Wizard World, besides the importance of master-disciple relationships and Wizard Academy backgrounds, the title of champion in such an important competition is also an important social relationship and social label.
Locke's future development can be said to, to a large extent, affect the value of the Yunze Cup competition.
In other words, the Yunze Cup has only been held for a short time, so none of the past champions have yet advanced to the Third Ring; only a few have gone very far in the Second Ring Wizard stage.
But if past Yunze Cup champions advance to become Third Ring Wizards, then the value of the Yunze Cup champion title will further increase. Whether it's the quality of the contestants, the investors willing to invest in the competition, or the wizard institutions that recognize the value of the competition, all will become higher and more numerous.
Therefore, besides his duty, Director Morrison was indeed very motivated to negotiate a good contract for Locke.
Director Morrison said to Locke on the grey mist slate, "Actually, from my personal point of view, I think you, little Locke, are more suited for the Hall of Advanced True Knowledge at Bonifacius University."
Locke asked, "Lord Morrison, why is that?"
Director Morrison said, "The Breeding Science and Botany at Bonifacius University are relatively balanced, while the Breeding Science of the Dragon Blood Society at Golden Crown Mountain is more oriented toward agriculture. After all, Golden Crown Mountain is dominated by the Kinetic School and Bloodline Studies. Although Breeding Science is also a flagship major, it leans toward the field of high-value agricultural magic plants."
"Of course, this bias is actually more obvious for Third Ring Wizards and Second Ring Wizards, and it doesn't have much impact on you One-Ring Wizards. I remember there are also several large-scale Breeding Science combat magic plant projects currently underway at Golden Crown Mountain, which are actually enough for you young One-Ring Wizards to learn from."
Director Morrison said, "Alright, let's leave it at that for now. I'm still working on an experiment about the influence of tides on plant growth rates."
"As for the specifics, it will depend on my negotiations with the two Halls of Advanced True Knowledge."