532: Meeting Albert Once Again
Wizard Celtic said to Locke, "The timing you've chosen is actually quite good. There are three opportunities each year to apply for the True Knowledge Institute's project fund at Golden Crown Mountain: January 1st to 7th, May 1st to 7th, and September 1st to 7th."
"It is currently May 3rd. If you had finished your project application a few days later, you would have had to wait until September 1st to submit it. Time is life. You can only stay in the True Knowledge Institute for a total of five years, which is equivalent to only being able to stay at Golden Crown Mountain for five years. These five years are extremely precious for all of you."
This was also the significance of Witch Yekaterina's requirement for him to join the group half a year early.
Locke understood that this action had essentially allowed him to get more than half a year at the True Knowledge Institute for free; after all, he still enjoyed various benefits during this period.
Wizard Celtic asked Locke, "You should be clear about the four-tier system of the True Knowledge Institute's fund projects, right?"
Locke nodded and said, "I know, Teacher Celtic. This point was specifically covered in the all things class. The True Knowledge Institute's fund projects are divided into four tiers, from the lowest Fourth-Class project to Third-Class, Second-Class, and the highest, First-Class."
"Generally, when we speak of 'True Knowledge Institute fund projects,' we refer to Third and Fourth-Class ones. Almost every researcher can successfully apply for projects at these levels."
Locke continued, "One can only apply for each level of the True Knowledge Institute fund project once. Therefore, I am applying for a Third-Class project this time."
Second-Class and First-Class projects cannot be applied for directly. Only after successfully applying for a Third-Class project, passing it, submitting project data, and producing research results that exceed the expectations of the fund committee can one then apply for Second-Class and First-Class projects.
This was why most researchers spent their entire five years working on a single True Knowledge Institute fund project.
If their project went well, they could continue to deepen it, expand their results, and apply for a more advanced fund project.
Doing well in Third-Class allowed one to do Second-Class, and doing well in Second-Class allowed for a First-Class application.
And if one could apply for First-Class and still over-deliver on the tasks... then it might be possible to apply for... the special grant fund.
And that was the very purpose for which many young One-Ring Wizards and super geniuses came to this True Knowledge Institute.
Director Morrison of the Yunze Cup Tournament Committee had once told him that to fully utilize the True Knowledge Institute, one had to obtain all the projects available here—namely, the three major projects.
But in truth, after entering the True Knowledge Institute, Locke discovered that it was already difficult for most researchers to reach a Second-Class project, let alone a First-Class one.
As for the special grant and the sub-tasks of key single projects, those were another matter entirely.
The special grant required competing for resources against the super-genius One-Ring Wizards within the entire True Knowledge Institute.
Because only one or two slots were allocated to this True Knowledge Institute each year.
As for the sub-tasks of key single projects, those depended on the mood of Lord Yekaterina; it was a matter entirely decided by that Third Ring Wizard herself.
But who could understand the thoughts of a Third Ring Wizard?
Therefore, it became even more difficult.
The absence of a standard meant the standard could be infinitely high.
Wizard Celtic pressed his magic seal onto Locke's project application and said, "In that case, go ahead and apply."
Locke said, "Thank you, Lord Celtic."
Wizard Celtic gave no response, merely watching Locke's departing back while slightly furrowing his brow.
...
A day later, at the Dragon Fern Grove of Golden Crown Mountain, inside Witch Yekaterina's office on the highest floor of the True Knowledge Institute castle, Wizard Celtic cautiously bowed to Witch Yekaterina and reported on his work.
Witch Yekaterina flipped through the magic book in her hand casually. "Your work is decent. Celtic, you need to step it up."
Wizard Celtic knew what Witch Yekaterina was referring to, and sweat immediately broke out on his forehead.
Witch Yekaterina asked, "Celtic, let's put your own matters aside for now. I ask you, how has that new little wizard been performing? What is your opinion of him?"
"I want to ask you about his personality."
The golden dragon behind the wall behind Witch Yekaterina suddenly opened its slumbering dragon eyes, then closed them again, sinking back into dragon sleep.
Inside the office.
Wizard Celtic wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "Lord of the Throne, I believe that young wizard named Locke Augustine does indeed possess some talent."
Though Witch Yekaterina didn't say it, how could she not know in her heart how picky Wizard Celtic was?
This immediately piqued her interest, and she raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Your opinion of him is somewhat unexpected. Tell me the details."
Wizard Celtic said, "Using two months and his initial research startup funds, he produced quite good preliminary experimental data."
"The quality of the data is very high. He possesses keen observation and insight."
"However, his personality is very problematic," Wizard Celtic said. "I have kindly offered him suggestions several times, but he ignored them all."
"He ignored the research progress of Group Six and only cared about what was right in front of him. Moreover, he is too impatient; he wants to do many topics at once. I highly doubt if he can actually finish them."
"After all, whether he can complete the project determines if he can move from a Third-Class project to a Second-Class project."
Wizard Celtic said, "I plan to wait until he hits a wall before attempting to offer him a suggestion one more time. Whether he listens or not will be up to him."
Witch Yekaterina gave a small smile and then said, "I see. It sounds like our newly joined little wizard is indeed a bit arrogant and unyielding, actually refusing to follow our Wizard Celtic's instructions."
"You may go, Celtic."
"Celtic, make sure things are done beautifully. I don't like crude things, nor do I like things that aren't aesthetically pleasing. You know what I want."
"Also, you can arrange for some students to be assigned to Locke."
Wizard Celtic bowed to Witch Yekaterina and then turned to leave with great deference.
He stole a reverent glance at Witch Yekaterina, who was currently reading a magic book.
Every time he communicated with Witch Yekaterina, he felt a sense of trepidation.
Just as he could never sense Witch Yekaterina's magic pressure, he could never discern her specific thoughts either.
After Wizard Celtic left, Witch Yekaterina put down the magic book. The wall behind her suddenly vanished completely; as it turned out, that wall had been created by an illusion from start to finish.
The golden dragon Fafner lifted its head, let out a sneeze, and said, "It seems things aren't looking good, Yekaterina."
"That little dragon hatchling's superior wizard doesn't have a very high opinion of him."
"This confirms a point I made before: no matter how excellent wizards from the outside world are, their shortcomings are far too great. And what determines a wizard's ultimate achievement is their shortest board."
Witch Yekaterina shook her head slightly. "That is merely Celtic's personal view."
"Trying to understand a person solely through the one-sided evaluations of others is a very dangerous thing."
"Fafner."
Witch Yekaterina said, "Let's see the results of the first project he does in the True Knowledge Institute."
Fafner sneezed and then sank back into slumber once more.
...
In the study, Locke pressed his palm onto the Red Crystal Matrix, and the number 8900 immediately popped up on it.
Locke said, "Getting closer and closer to First Ring Crystallization."
"Only 100 left. I estimate that I can advance to the First Ring Crystallization Stage wizard level in the near future. Such rapid progress is partly due to the high concentration gradient of magic tide at Golden Crown Mountain."
"Next, I'll probably have to wait half a month to a month before I know if my project application has been approved."
Locke summoned the grey mist slate and used the video dialogue function to contact Albert, who was able to use the grey mist slate through a special method.
At this moment, Locke saw the familiar yet strange alchemy cabin of Lilith's Cottage.
He had lived in such a wooden cabin for four years, studying magic for four years, but it had been over two years since he had last seen Lilith's Cottage.
And the scruffy, aging man before him almost prevented Locke from associating him with the once cheerful and talkative Wizard King, Albert.
Now, Albert's eyes drooped, his black hair was streaked with white, and his gaze was like that of an old man in his twilight years.
Upon seeing Locke, Albert's pupils constricted slightly, and then he immediately stood up to bow to Locke. "Lord Augustine."
"Greetings."
Locke frowned slightly. "It's only been a little over two years; why be so distant? Albert, just as you once said to me—we'll each address the other as we please. So, you and I are still friends. You don't need to call me 'Lord'; just call me by my name."
A flicker of reaction returned to Albert's eyes.
The Locke before him now seemed so powerful and dignified, speaking with such stability and maturity that his words could easily sway Albert's emotions.
Images surfaced in Albert's mind of the first time he met Locke at the docks of the Lilith's Cottage port city, when Locke's appearance was still somewhat youthful. Then he looked at the Locke of today, wearing the white wizard robe of a Formal Wizard and adorned with numerous prestigious identity badges.
Today, the difference in their status and position was like heaven and earth.
They could not be mentioned in the same breath.
He was a First-Class Wizard Apprentice whose future was almost cut off, while Locke was no longer that ordinary First-Class Wizard Apprentice from a mortal world who had just joined the Wizard World, but a researcher at the Hall of Advanced True Knowledge in the Three Ze Lands.
A man of high status and power.
Locke frowned slightly as he thought back to his experience fighting alongside Albert in Rashid Tarir's Curse Formula Research Institute. His tone softened with concern. "Albert, do not give up hope. You still have one last chance."
A bit of color returned to Albert's eyes, and he suddenly spoke up, "Locke, can you get me some Ibog Pepper Water?"
The two looked at each other and smiled.
The barrier that had risen between them instantly dissolved into nothingness with that joke.
Back then, when they had taken a mortal ship disguised as smuggling noble merchants, they had sat beneath the ship's deck, enduring the cramped, filthy, and poor conditions.
Albert had asked Locke for a portion of Ibog Pepper Water, which had hallucinogenic effects, to deceive his own senses and make them believe they were in a clean and tidy place.
Their shared experiences now turned into poignant memories, bringing the two closer together.
Albert looked at Locke, and only then did he seem to truly reflect as he said, "Lord Harlan Vera told me, Locke, that you are already a Liquefaction Stage wizard of the First Ring and a researcher at the Hall of Advanced True Knowledge."
"Locke, like Sophia, you have already walked too far compared to us."
"And Andy will never move forward again; he remains in the past, while I am very likely to remain in the present."
Locke didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Albert, when did you learn to speak like you're reciting lyric poetry, and the saddest kind at that? This isn't the you I know."
Locke turned serious. "Failure is a very normal thing. Success is always built upon the foundation of countless failures."
"And now you have one more chance at success. The Mister Power type of Eternal Defense Field has a principle that is very different from ordinary Eternal Defense Fields."
"I've looked over your data," Locke said. "After all, I don't take those thirty thousand magic stones every month for nothing. Every time you are about to advance to a Formal Wizard, does your mana become disordered, causing your advancement to fail?"
Albert nodded and said, "Yes, Locke. Madam Morgana believes there might be a problem with my soul, so I will never be able to become a Formal Wizard in this lifetime."
"I will be a First-Class Wizard Apprentice at most."
"Furthermore, no one in the Southeast Corner Region can cure me."
Locke thought for a moment. "Research on souls in the Southeast Corner Region is indeed scarce. The place with the most abundant Ghost Studies data is still the Ghost Saint Church within the Black Wizard Alliance."
"But here in the Yunze Wetland, I can consult more extensive records. Send me another copy of your specific soul data. What I saw before was just others' records of you. I'm also just guessing that there might be something wrong with your soul."
Locke's eyes glowed with deep blue magical light. "But from a rough inspection, I didn't find any qualitative changes in your soul."
"Mister Power is, after all, a special Eternal Defense Field, so perhaps you can use this special Eternal Defense Field to advance to a Formal Wizard."
"After all, at every critical moment of your advancement, your mana suddenly conflicts with the Spell Model of the Eternal Defense Field inscribed on the surface of your soul."
"Fortunately, you didn't inscribe many Eternal Defense Field Spell Models on your soul before, so you can still inscribe the Forest Sanctuary."
A ray of hope flashed in Albert's eyes. "Before, even if I just inscribed a little bit, my mana would become incredibly chaotic."
"I don't know the reason either; it seems others never encounter such a problem."
Locke had only understood why Lilith's Cottage wanted to send Albert to be the first First-Class Wizard Apprentice in the collaborative project within the Mister Power Research Institute after looking at Albert's data.
'Forest Sanctuary is indeed very special; the main body of its defense field runes is not on one's soul, but in the forest.'
'If inscribing defensive magic causes an abnormality in Albert's soul, perhaps having him inscribe Forest Sanctuary will instead not cause this mana chaos. But why exactly does this phenomenon occur?'
'This point is quite intriguing to me as a Potion Master.'