Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 545 Epic Candidate
The atmosphere in the room became somewhat tense due to the hostility between the two timehounds.

But as Ron slowly spoke, the tense atmosphere began to dissipate:
"Now that everyone is here, we need to discuss our next strategy carefully."

He took on the role of the meeting leader very naturally:

"Cassandra's ultimatum to me, on the surface, was a choice, but in reality, it was a complex equation about how to balance the interests of multiple parties."

Upon hearing this, Sakron immediately withdrew from his confrontation with Carlos.

A sense of crisis surged into his consciousness like a tidal wave.

This young, new "dog" has already shown such a keen "sense of smell".

If I don't demonstrate my value, I'm likely to be marginalized.

“Wizard Ralph, please allow me to speak frankly.”

The old hunting dog cleverly changed its name:
"To confront a top-tier wizard like Cassandra head-on is tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock."

He began to float from side to side in the room, like a human pacing:
"She is one of the most powerful figures in the current wizarding civilization. Behind her stands a ruling wizard king like the King of Absurdity."

Sakran's eyes were full of worry:

"In my long life, I have seen too many geniuses fall because they challenged authority too early."

He stopped and looked directly at Ron:

"Caution is not the same as cowardice."

Sometimes, bowing your head temporarily is for the sake of raising it higher in the long run.

Carlos let out a sneer, his voice filled with undisguised contempt:
“Sakran, your philosophy of ‘self-preservation’ is outdated.”

The projection of the Time Hound wagged its tail in the air, its posture exuding confidence.
"The key issue has never been how powerful the opponent is, but how irreplaceable our value is."

His voice became even sharper:

“You only see Cassandra’s threat, but completely ignore the fundamental change that Ron has recently undergone.”

Carlos's four eyes simultaneously turned to Ron:

"Please tell him what his current identity label is."

Ron raised an eyebrow and replied, "[Ancient Alchemist Candidate]."

Is this the only one?

"And the personal approval of Saint Hephaestus, the 'Perfect King'."

“Very good.” Carlos nodded in satisfaction.
"Now, let our seniors explain it."

What do these identity labels mean within the entire wizarding society system?

Sakran's expression turned serious.

As an ancient being who has witnessed multiple eras, he certainly understands the weight of these titles.

"【Ancient Alchemist Candidate】..."

His voice began to tremble:
"In the current main world, the number of people who simultaneously possess this title is no more than a handful."

"Furthermore, this identity is also protected by the [Witch King's Law]."

Seeing the confusion in Ron's eyes, Sackran took a deep breath and began to explain in detail:
"The Laws of the Witch Kings are not the personal code of any one Witch King. They are the fundamental laws that have been revised and improved countless times by successive ruling Witch Kings to ensure the inheritance and development of witch civilization."

The star chart begins to show a hierarchical structure:

"One of the core provisions is known as the 'Spark Clause':"

Anyone officially recognized as a potential "Epic Candidate" is considered a "seed" and "hope" for the wizarding civilization.

“Even a great witch king must not unreasonably persecute or restrict such potential individuals.”

Sakran's tone became more serious:

"Not to mention, you also received the personal approval of the 'King of Perfection'."

Although Saint Hephaestus has gradually disappeared from the main world, he still wields unimaginable influence among the high priests.

This explanation caused everyone in the room to fall into deep thought.

Nari said from the depths of her consciousness:
"Honey! This means you're no longer that little advisor who needs to depend on her!"

Acelia added at the opportune moment:

"Cassandra's immense power is indeed due to her backing by the King of Absurdity."

But it was precisely because of this relationship that she understood better than anyone the inviolability of the [Witch King's Laws].

"The fact that she gave you an ultimatum last time actually reflects her inner anxiety to some extent:"
She's afraid you'll grow to a point where you can't be controlled at will.

After listening to these analyses, Ron carefully weighed the various possibilities in his mind.

Admittedly, I now possess the ability and status to overcome my current predicament.

But is a complete break with Cassandra really the best solution?
The other party's influence within the conquest faction, as well as the various resources and intelligence networks she controls, remain a force to be reckoned with.

"I think perhaps we can be more flexible in our thinking."

He spoke slowly:
"While I have indeed begun to have the capacity to engage in dialogue with her on an equal footing, this does not mean that we must resort to confrontation."

"On the contrary, we can use this new balance of power to redefine our cooperative relationship with each other."

"Specifically?" Nari asked curiously.

"The relationship between Eve and me..."

As Ron finished speaking, a bold idea suddenly flashed through his mind:

Marriage?

The idea flashed through his mind like lightning.

From a purely self-interested perspective, marrying Eve could indeed completely resolve the issues related to his relationship with Cassandra.

The partnership between the two will evolve from a fragile "employment relationship" into an unbreakable "family alliance".

But Ron forcibly suppressed the thought as soon as it surfaced.

He really liked that smart and cute black-haired princess.

But this affection is far from enough to make him want to spend his life with her.

A union based purely on self-interest completely violates his deepest moral principles.

"The emotional bond between Eve and me."

He rephrased his words: "This can be a great bridge for communication."

Just then, Nari and Azalea's voices rang in his mind almost simultaneously:
"Honey, what were you thinking about just now?"

Nari's tone carried a subtle probing.

"Are you considering a deeper level of relationship integration?"

Acelia brought the topic up directly.

Faced with the keen insight of his two "elders," Ron felt somewhat helpless:
"You all noticed?"

“Of course!” Nari’s voice carried a hint of jealousy.

"Although Mom is reluctant to part with my baby, to let that old woman's daughter have him..."

She clicked her tongue slightly, and her tone became more realistic:

"However, for the sake of the overall situation, it might be a wise choice to temporarily feign compliance."

Acelia's analysis was more calm and rational:
"For any extraordinary individual, strong alliances are the norm. This is not simply a matter of feelings, but more about resource integration and strategic planning."

The two elders, who rarely agree on their views, surprisingly stood on the same side this time, which left Ron feeling both amused and exasperated.

He could sense the subtle emotions deep within their hearts.

They were all unwilling to see their inner "treasure" shared by others, but reason told them that this might be the best choice.

“And,” Nari added:

"Judging from the King of Absurdity's attitude towards you, the old man clearly appreciates and thinks highly of you."

“Honey, you can use this to send friendly signals in your communication with Cassandra.”

"Make her understand that all the knowledge and intelligence you gain from Vinard can be shared with her."

Acelia picked up the conversation:

"Moreover, Vinard and Cassandra's relationship is not entirely hostile."

To put it bluntly, this is just normal competition within the wizarding system.

"What you need to do is to rationalize your behavior through appropriate language and behavioral logic."

Make her understand that trying to control you will only result in a lose-lose situation, while establishing a cooperative relationship will bring long-term benefits.

Although Sackran was somewhat confused by this complex operation, he had to admit its rationale:
"If we can truly turn enemies into friends, that would be the most ideal outcome."

Ron nodded, already having a basic framework for action in mind.

However, language alone is far from sufficient to perfectly convey these complex signals and emotional nuances.

He needs a more subtle and persuasive approach.

"It just so happens that my alchemy skills have recently made a breakthrough, so I can try to create a high-level alchemical creature—the Harmony Butterfly."

All the "people" in the room (none of whom were actually human) were drawn to the word.

"The wings of this butterfly are made of resonant crystals, and each flap of its wings can broadcast magical notes of a specific frequency."

It can not only transmit information, but also simultaneously convey subtle changes in emotion.

Ron began to sketch the basic structure of the Harmony Butterfly in the air:

“I have conceived two gifts—one for Eve and one for Cassandra, both to be carried by the same Harmony Butterfly.”

The ingenuity of this design was immediately understood by everyone.

Carlos immediately said:
"The metaphor of killing two birds with one stone: your personal relationship with Eve and the benefits you can bring to Cassandra are intertwined."

"I'm going to make a Dream Music Box for Eve."

Ron continued to explain his idea:
"A marvel that can capture the wearer's sweetest dreams and transform them into unique, soothing music."

"What was given to Cassandra was a [Green Ring Niche Model]."

His expression turned cold when Cassandra was mentioned.
"Based on my observations in the Vinard colony, combined with deductions from 'sand table games'."

The academic presentation focused on 'how to achieve stable and efficient energy cycles by utilizing the ecological niches of different species under oppressive conditions.'

"This report will directly address the core pain point of the 'post-occupation governance difficulties' currently faced by the conquest faction."

Nari excitedly exclaimed in his mind, "Honey, this plan sounds amazing!"

Azalea agreed, saying, "A perfect blend of emotion and reason, a delicate balance between personal relationships and cooperative interests."

Ron began designing the two creations in his mind. This would be his first practical application of the newly mastered Triadic Arts since returning from the Mirror Kingdom.

"Cassandra said the caravan wouldn't arrive until early next month, right after this quarterly assessment."

Ron calculated the time:

"This means I have almost two weeks to complete these two pieces."

"With ample time, we can ensure that every detail is perfect."

Looking at the burning passion for creation in Ron's eyes, Sackron couldn't help but sigh inwardly:
Perhaps this is the difference between true geniuses and ordinary people.

Ordinary people only fear and run away when faced with a crisis, but geniuses can turn a crisis into a stage to showcase their talents.

"So, our strategy is set."

Ron concluded by saying:
"By conveying multiple messages through carefully crafted gifts, we are redefining our relationship with Cassandra and turning potential adversarial relations into long-term collaboration."

All the "people" in the room nodded in agreement.

………………

As the first rays of triple starlight streamed into the classroom through the crystal window, Ron stood quietly at the podium.

He looked no different than usual.

When Lila's third eye, filled with habitual curiosity, lightly touched the edge of her mentor's consciousness, the scene that unfolded before her almost made her forget to breathe.

In the past, she could vaguely sense Ron's emotional fluctuations.

That scholarly rational thinking, occasionally interspersed with warm concern or focused concentration during deep thought.

Those emotions flowed like a clear stream, profound yet easy to understand.

But now, what she sees is a vast and boundless sea of ​​stars.

Countless points of light drifted slowly within, each containing unfathomable wisdom.

These points of light echoed each other, connected with one another, and wove together a net that covered her, almost making her dizzy.

When the mentor begins to share knowledge, the entire starry sky resonates with it.

Each concept explained is like someone gently stroking the strings of a musical instrument, creating layers of harmonious echoes.

"On the essence of elemental resonance..."

Ron's voice flowed softly through the classroom:
He waved his hand lightly in the air, and four elemental orbs appeared in mid-air.

"In fact, every element is alive; they have their own emotions, desires, and fears."

The relationship of mutual restraint and mutual support is actually more like the interaction pattern between friends with different personalities.

As he explained, the four elemental spheres began to slowly rotate in the air.

The fire element emits a passionate, fiery orange-red light, while the water element releases a deep, inclusive azure glow.

When the two approach each other, they are like long-lost dance partners, beginning a dynamic yet harmonious and beautiful duet.

The flame said, "I want to burn, I want to change, I want to create passion!"

The water replied, "Then let me bear your passion, let me witness your transformation, and let us create the miracle of evaporation together!"

Under the watchful eyes of all the students, fire and water merged together, transforming into a warm and moist mist.

This cloud of mist possesses both the creativity of fire and the inclusiveness of water.

"When you understand the inner voice of the elements, mutual restraint becomes mutual appreciation, and mutual generation becomes mutual understanding."

Ron concluded:
"Your bloodline talent is able to resonate so deeply with the corresponding elements precisely because it carries this 'understanding'."

In the back row of the classroom, Ella quietly recorded everything.

As an experienced educator, she realized that the other party's teaching methods had entered a whole new realm.

Ron used to be good at "guiding":
Through clever questions and appropriate hints, students can find the answers themselves.

But now he seems to be making some kind of "revelation":
Show students the true nature of knowledge, making formulas and theorems simple and intuitive.

This change is like someone who could only see the surface of things suddenly gaining the ability to see through to the essence.

After the lesson, Lila timidly approached Ella.

“Mentor Ella…” Her voice was filled with confusion and awe:
“Professor Ralph… he no longer feels like a ‘person’.”

This sentence made Ella stop organizing her notes.

"What do you mean?" she asked softly.

"It's more like a walking, living wizard's tower."

Lila struggled to find the right words to describe her feelings:

"It contains endless knowledge, and this knowledge is alive; it grows, evolves, and connects with each other..."

Ella nodded.

This description reminded her of the descriptions of "sudden enlightenment" in some classical texts.

That afternoon, Vinard reviewed the latest teaching data report in the core control room.

As a technology expert who is accustomed to using data to speak, he conducts precise quantitative monitoring of the growth rate of the elite class students' abilities.

The data from the past few days has puzzled even this well-informed colonial ruler.

All indicators of the elite class showed significant improvement, with an average growth rate of nearly 20%.

This rate of progress is almost impossible in traditional teaching.

According to the usual pattern, students' abilities should develop gradually, and such a dramatic leap is rare.

Vinard put down the data report.

"It seems my judgment was correct."

He murmured to himself, "That 'test' did not break him; instead, it enabled him to make a certain leap."

As the owner of this colony, Vinard naturally noticed the subtle dimensional fluctuations above the Emerald Ring II last night.

Those were traces left by high-level beings when they were active. Although they were extremely well hidden, they could not escape the perception of a great wizard.

He chose to turn a blind eye, neither interfering nor investigating.

Because he understood that a "test" that could attract that level of attention was far more valuable than any risk.

And now, Ron's performance has validated this judgment.

This young lecturer not only did not lose himself, but also gained a deeper level of wisdom and insight.

When the bell rang softly in the crystal tree to signal the end of class, Ron did not leave the classroom immediately as usual.

He turned to face the students, a mysterious glint in his eyes:
"We have additional practical lessons this afternoon."

This statement immediately caused a stir among the students.

Lila blinked her third eye curiously;
West Germany put down the small potted plant he was tending to;

Even Garen, who was usually the most silent, raised his head.

"Mentor, where are we going?" Lila spoke first, her voice filled with undisguised anticipation.

“The academy’s communal kitchen.” Ron smiled as he tidied up the textbooks on the podium.

"We are going to conduct a special 'practical course'."

In the back row of the classroom, Ella frowned slightly.

As the supervisor in charge, she felt somewhat uneasy about this last-minute change to the course schedule.

However, seeing the long-lost excitement on the students' faces, she ultimately chose to remain silent.

"The kitchen?" Garen's metal arm tapped the table unconsciously, making a crisp clinking sound.
"Should we cook?"

"To be precise, we need to create."

Ron's words contained a deeper meaning, which made everyone present feel an indescribable sense of solemnity.

Just as the students were excitedly packing their bags and preparing to leave, footsteps sounded outside the classroom door.

Silas Draven's figure appeared in the doorway.

He held the recording device in his hand, which glittered under the crystal chandelier.

“Instructor Ralph.” His voice was as stern as ever.
"Excuse my bluntness, but after-school time should be used for students' independent review and consolidation exercises."

Use your valuable study time to

He seemed to be searching for the right words:

Is this arrangement of a cooking activity appropriate?

The students' excitement was dampened by these skeptical voices.

They looked at Ron nervously, worried that this fun extracurricular activity might be canceled.

Ron showed no anger or displeasure; he simply watched Silas silently.
“Associate Professor Silas, I understand your concerns.”

"Is the purpose of education to cram knowledge into students or to inspire them to discover their own potential? I think this is a question worth discussing together."

"If you're interested, why not come and take a look with us?"

"You may find that true learning often happens in the most unexpected places."

Silas hesitated for a moment.

As a rigorous scholar, his instincts told him that this approach was absurd and a waste of time.

In the end, however, curiosity triumphed over prejudice.

"In that case, I'll take an objective look at this 'practical course'."

He raised the recording device in his hand:

"In order to submit an accurate evaluation report to Director Ella."

The college's communal kitchen is located on the third floor and is a spacious and bright circular space.

The transparent crystal windows allow the light from the three stars to stream in freely, casting rainbow-like reflections on various metal objects.

Every piece of furniture here has been carefully crafted:

An automatically temperature-controlled stove can sense the user's mood and provide the most suitable heat.
Flying blades can automatically select the best cutting angle based on the texture of the food;

The cabinet is neatly arranged with spices from different worlds, each radiating a unique magical aura.

"Wow"

Lila couldn't help but exclaim in admiration:
"This place feels even more complicated than an alchemy lab!"

(End of this chapter)