Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 581 The Golden Ring Assessment of the Agreement Between Both Parties
The roar of the fire giant was like the eruption of an ancient volcano after a thousand years of dormancy.

That was not just a sound, but more like a materialized will to destroy.

A storm of fire erupted from his body, leaving behind distorted streaks of heat.

The wizards who were closer retreated.

Someone hurriedly activated the runestone they were carrying, and a translucent energy shield rose up around them;

Some people simply used defensive spells to create a physical barrier, isolating themselves from the terrifying heat.

Nitil's face became distorted and ferocious in the firelight.

She never imagined that her meticulously planned ceremony to establish her authority would be so abruptly interrupted at the most crucial moment.

This guy who entered the realm of the Great Wizard a step later than me.

The ethereal power it displayed was even more violent, purer, and more...complete than that of her, the "pioneer".

She could feel her own ethereal form, composed of flames, trembling instinctively in front of Salamander.

Like a campfire that has been engulfed by a volcanic eruption.

This subtle disparity in power nearly consumed Nytil's reason with rage.

In her fiery eyes, the orange-red began to turn into dark gold.

That was a sign that the Void Corpse was about to unleash its full power.

Two flames representing different "paths" are about to collide devastatingly deep within this base station...

However, at this critical moment...

A faint, imperceptible buzzing sound filled the entire conference hall.

The sound bypassed the vibrations in the air and resonated directly deep within everyone's soul.

All the vein patterns on the walls, ceiling, and floor lit up simultaneously.

A cold, pure stream of air, like liquid nitrogen, gushed from every vein.

It has no emotions, no preferences, and not even the "warmth" that life should have.

Only absolute rationality, absolute logic, and an almost pathological obsession with the "optimal solution" are required.

This is the remnant consciousness of the base station itself—the "King of Geometry"—actively intervening.

Salamander's raging flames began to "calm down" after touching this will.

The menacing flames seemed to be smoothed out by an unseen hand, gradually receding back into his body.

Before Nitil could even unleash her attack spell, it was forcibly "dismantled" by an invisible force.

The magical circuits that make up the spell are separated one by one, reduced to zero, and eventually dissipate into the most basic energy particles.

A silent "text" appears in everyone's consciousness:

"High-energy conflict warning detected."

Simulation results: Collisions will cause a 17.4% decrease in the efficiency of the base station's core facilities;

The critical energy circuit has a 63.8% probability of failure, and the repair cost exceeds current reserves.

"Judgment: The current behavior belongs to the 'non-optimal solution'."

"Enforcement: 'Logical Negotiation' mode."

Recommendation: All parties involved should immediately cease physical confrontation and engage in rational communication.

Otherwise, the 'forced repression' protocol will be activated.

That last sentence made everyone's heart clench.

"Forced repression" agreement...

That is the base station's ultimate defense mechanism designed to protect itself when faced with extreme threats.

Once activated, all the energy of the entire sixth-layer space base station will be mobilized.

Used to "format" the source of the threat.

Even a great wizard wouldn't dare say he could escape unscathed from an attack of this level.

After all, this "King of Geometry" was at least a top-tier archmage in terms of power during his lifetime.

Salamanda took a deep breath.

The magma patterns on his body gradually faded, and his dark red skin returned to its normal color.

Only those eyes, burning with molten gold, remained fixed on Nitil.

The atmosphere remained tense, but no longer on the verge of conflict.

In this delicate balance, Ron took a step forward.

His movements were unhurried, and his footsteps could be clearly heard in the quiet hall.

All eyes were once again focused on this young man.

Ron first turned to Salamander, his tone sincere:

"Dean Salamanda, thank you for speaking up for what's right."

He smiled slightly:
"However, there are some things that I'd rather handle myself."

If someone as important as you always had to step in, I'd truly become a hothouse flower.

These words, spoken lightly, yet perfectly provided Salamander with a way out.

The giant remained silent for a moment, then finally snorted and retreated to the wall.

"You brat, you better know what you're doing."

Ron nodded, then turned to Nytil.

His expression held neither defiant arrogance nor submissive humility.

“Acting station manager, I think we can look at this issue from a different perspective.”

Nitil looked at him coldly, waiting for him to continue.

"I have the authority over the submersible device, and that fact cannot be changed in the short term."

Ron spread his hands:

"You can choose to see it as a threat, or you can choose to see it as...an opportunity."

“Opportunity?” Nitil’s voice was laced with sarcasm.

“Yes.” Ron nodded:
"You've just been promoted to Grand Wizard, so your most important task now must be to find or develop a foundational world of your own, right?"

These words caused Nydia's pupils to contract slightly.

Ron continued:

“A stable, efficient, and continuously productive observation station is the best support for you.”

"What you need is not 'complete control,' but simply 'stable operation.'"

He saw a flicker of doubt in Nytil's eyes and quickly pressed his advantage, saying:

"Similarly, what I need is not to 'oppose you,' but to 'protect Professor Utter's legacy.'"

"Then why can't we cooperate?"

Nitil paused for a moment, then spoke:
What kind of cooperation do you want?

Ron waved his hand, and a projection made of magic appeared in the air.

It was a diagram of a triangle, with each vertex labeled with a different function:
He pointed to the first vertex:
"I will continue to oversee the submersible and related laboratories, and resource allocations will remain unchanged. This is the bottom line."

Then it points to the second vertex:
"In exchange, all of my research findings, except for the core inherited parts, will be shared with the observatory."

"I will submit technical reports regularly to assist in the development of other projects."

Finally, it points to the third vertex:

"You are responsible for the administration and resource allocation of the observation station, and I will provide technical support."

"Each performs its own duties and does not interfere with the others."

This plan is equivalent to cleverly dividing power.

No one can dominate, yet everyone must depend on each other.

A brief silence fell over the conference room.

Nitil's thoughts raced.

She has lived for hundreds of years, so of course she knows what a newly promoted Grand Wizard truly needs.

Judging from the current situation, it is no longer possible to forcibly suppress Ron.

Salamanda and Vinard's attitudes are clear.

The base station's awareness clearly states that conflict is not allowed.

While Ron's proposal didn't give her complete control of the observatory, it did provide a respectable solution.

The other party did indeed hit the nail on the head; it was simply impossible for him to stay here indefinitely.

The great wizard's time is too precious to be wasted on trivial matters.

She needs to stabilize the situation as soon as possible, and then devote her main energy to establishing her own colony.

From this perspective, having Ron in charge of technology and her in charge of administration is actually a good arrangement.

With that thought in mind, Nitil took a deep breath.

The rage in her fiery eyes gradually subsided:

"Instructor Ralph's plan has some merit."

She then suddenly changed the subject:
"But I have a condition."

Ron made a "please go ahead" gesture.

"The core facilities of the observatory are related to the lives and safety of countless researchers."

Nitil's voice turned serious:

"I need to confirm that you have the capacity to take on this responsibility."

"According to the records, although Lecturer Ralph had outstanding academic achievements, he never received the formal rating of Abyss Explorer."

She looked around:
“I believe everyone here can understand that it is difficult to entrust critical facilities to someone who does not even have a basic rating.”

That was said very skillfully.

He expressed his concerns while giving Ron a chance to "prove himself".

"Therefore, I propose..."

Nitil looked at Ron:

"Instructor Ralph undergoes the 'Golden Ring Explorer' rating assessment."

"Only by passing this test can you prove that you are capable of dealing with various extreme situations that the observatory may face."

The Golden Ring Explorer... although it corresponds to a Moon-level wizard, very few Moon-level wizards can actually pass it, and it can even be considered a rare honor.

This request, which seemed very demanding on the surface, was also a test by Nytil.

If Ron refuses, she will have ample reason to restrict his authority;

If Ron accepts, then even if he passes the test, it will be considered that he has "paid a great price" to gain her approval, and at least to some extent, he has maintained his "authority".

No matter the outcome, she hasn't lost.

The atmosphere in the meeting room became tense again, with everyone waiting for Ron's reaction.

"The Golden Ring assessment?"

He repeated it softly:
"I agree with the acting station manager's proposal."

This straightforward answer left many people stunned.

Nitil was also somewhat surprised, not expecting the other party to agree so quickly.

"very good."

She stood up:

"Then, in my capacity as acting station manager, I hereby formally approve Instructor Ralph's application for the Golden Ring assessment."

"According to the regulations, the assessment will be conducted by the School Alliance after ten applicants have been gathered."

"During this period, the 'bilateral agreement' we discussed today will be temporarily put on hold pending the assessment results."

She turned to leave, but then stopped:
“Instructor Ralph, I hope you can come back alive and fulfill our promise.”

After saying that, she transformed into a ball of flame and disappeared from the conference hall.

With Nettie's departure, the meeting officially ended.

The others also gradually dispersed.

Before leaving, Salamander patted Ron on the shoulder:

"Kid, you've got guts."

"However, the Golden Ring assessment is no joke. If you need any help, just ask."

After saying this, the giant also left with a roar, leaving behind only a pile of scorched footprints.

Vinard's projection glanced at Ron one last time:
"Take care, your safety is crucial to our 'big project'."

The projection dissipates.

Ron glanced at the other wizards whispering among themselves in the meeting hall and walked straight to Captain Miller in the corner.

Miller was not a Moon-level wizard, so he could not have a formal seat and could only listen in from the side.

The two looked at each other.

Miller raised an eyebrow slightly:

"Instructor Ralph, your performance just now really got me excited."

He lowered his voice, his tone carrying the dark humor characteristic of explorers:

"But to be honest, I'm more interested in knowing whether you're genuinely confident in passing the Golden Ring assessment, or if you're just stalling for time?"

Ron didn't answer immediately, but instead asked:
What does Captain Miller think?

"I think you're a smart person."

As he spoke, he stood up:

"A smart person wouldn't joke about something so important."

"Let's go find a quiet place and have a good talk."

The two left the conference hall and walked along the complex passageways of the base station.

The walls here are alive, or more accurately, they are solidified forms of the cerebral cortex of the "King of Geometry".

Occasionally, you can see silver "veins" flowing slowly under the wall; that's the base station's awareness performing routine self-maintenance.

After many twists and turns, they arrived at an inconspicuous little room.

The room was very simple, with a metal table, a few chairs, and some faded certificates and medals hanging on the wall.

In the most prominent position on the wall hangs a silver ring badge, which is Miller's "Silver Ring Explorer" certificate.

Next to the badge were several faded old photos.

These are all photos taken during Miller's early explorations of the Abyss.

There are solo combat photos as well as team group photos.

Ron noticed that there were fewer and fewer people in those team photos.

The first photo shows twelve people, all smiling broadly;

In the second photo, only eight people remain, and their smiles appear somewhat forced.
There are only five people in the third photo, and no one is smiling anymore;
In the last photo, only Miller is left.

He stood before a distorted abyss landscape, his face expressionless, his eyes vacant like a dead man's.

"Have seen enough?"

Miller's voice interrupted Ron's observation.

The old explorer walked to the small cabinet by the wall and took out two metal cups and a uniquely shaped ceramic bottle.

"Abyss Red Vine Wine".

He uncorked the bottle, and a pungent and strange smell immediately filled the air.

The smell was hard to describe.

It resembles both rotting flowers and burning metal, mixed with a cloyingly sweet fruity aroma.

He poured about half a cup into each of the two glasses.

"This thing..."

Miller sat down, picked up his glass, but didn't drink it immediately:

"It is a 'treasure' that we, the old explorers, risked our lives to obtain."

"You should know how terrifying the environment at the depths of the abyss is at eroding the spirit, right?"

His voice became very soft:

"We've tried all sorts of methods."

They tried energizing potions, mental protective runes, and even hired a seasoned enchanter to cast blessing runes on the team, but nothing worked.

"Until one time..."

He took a sip of the wine in his glass, a strange expression on his face:

"We have a guy on our team named Gary, a drunkard."

Before that mission, he secretly brought a bottle of cheap distilled liquor, intending to drink it discreetly in the abyss.

"As a result, on the fifth floor, the entire team began to hallucinate."

I saw blood flowing from the walls, the captain saw the ground melting, only Gary, that drunkard, was swaying but still relatively lucid.

"We only found out later..."

Miller raised the glass and looked at it against the light:
"Alcohol causes confusion, slowed reactions, and that 'drunk' state of impaired consciousness..."

It was actually able to create some kind of 'conflict' with the mental pollution of the abyss.

"The two kinds of chaos cancel each other out."

"Like two forces in opposite directions, they eventually achieve a strange balance."

Ron's eyes flashed with surprise upon hearing this.

This is a typical "fight fire with fire" approach.

But to discover this and actually use it in real combat requires more than just luck; it also requires a sufficient number of... corpses.

"So you started researching this wine?"

"Correct."

Miller nodded:
"It took us seven years to find the most suitable formula."

"Abyssal Red Vine - a plant that only grows on the edge of the fifth-level void rift."

It itself has mild psychotoxicity and can cause hallucinations.

"In addition to the high alcohol content after fermentation, there are also several special abyssal minerals used as catalysts..."

"The final product of this cocktail, after you drink it, will make you feel that your thinking becomes sluggish and confused, as if you are shrouded in a thick fog."

"But it is precisely this 'fog' that can isolate the cognitive pollution caused by the abyss environment."

He shook his head and said self-deprecatingly:
"Sounds ridiculous, right?"

Use one poison to fight another. Use a deliberate act of 'becoming stupid' to combat a passive act of 'going mad.'

"But in the abyss, this is the most effective method."

Miller handed the cup to Ron:

"Come on, have a taste."

It's a tradition among us explorers—to have a drink before discussing anything serious.

If you can't even handle this, then forget about the Golden Ring assessment.

Ron took the cup.

His detection abilities allow him to sense the chaotic energy contained within liquids.

It was an extremely unstable magical fluctuation, like a bomb that could explode at any moment.

After confirming there was no danger, he tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp.

The moment the liquid entered his mouth, Ron felt as if his tongue had been burned by a red-hot iron.

Then comes bitterness, a deep, bone-chilling bitterness that drives one to despair.

Finally, as the liquid slid down my throat, a refreshing sensation suddenly arose.

Accompanied by... chaos.

He could feel his thinking becoming sluggish.

Simple arithmetic problems take longer to calculate;

The speed of memory retrieval has slowed down;
Even the perception of the surrounding environment seems to be through a layer of frosted glass.

But at the same time.

He also felt that the faint "murmurs" that were usually hidden deep in his consciousness had suddenly quieted down.

It's like a noisy room that's suddenly sealed off by soundproofing.

"felt it?"

Miller looked at Ron's expression and smiled understandingly.

"This is the effect of Abyss Red Vine Wine."

It won't make you stronger, it won't increase your magic power, and it might even temporarily make you 'dumber'.

"But sometimes, being a little 'dumb' can actually help you live longer."

He drank the wine in his glass and let out a long breath:

"Alright, now we can have a proper discussion about the Golden Ring assessment."

Before going into detail about the Golden Ring assessment, I want to confirm one thing—your true purpose is probably more than that?

"Is dealing with Nitil just a superficial reason?"

Ron nodded, making no attempt to hide anything:

"I need pioneer qualifications."

"Someday in the future, I will need a world of my own, a place where I can put my ideas into practice without interference."

"Instead of waiting until then to accumulate contribution points and pass various tests, it's better to get this qualification now."

Miller's expression turned serious:
"You actually know the connection between the Golden Ring assessment and the pioneer qualification?"

“I only know some vague rumors,” Ron answered truthfully.

"Then I'll explain it to you from the beginning."

Miller took another sip of his drink, organizing his thoughts:

"According to the normal procedure, a Moon-level wizard needs to meet three conditions to obtain pioneering qualifications:"

"First, accumulate enough contribution points within the school alliance."

"Secondly, prove through combat tests using simulation devices that you have the ability to independently face threats from another world."

"Third, submit a complete development plan, including the selection of the target world, resource assessment, risk contingency plan, etc."

"These three conditions seem easy, but they are actually quite troublesome to implement."

It would take an ordinary Moon-level wizard decades just to accumulate enough contribution points.

Ron nodded in understanding, having seen similar wizards with Vinard.

"but……"

Miller then changed the subject:
"The Court of Truth has a special 'qualification mutual recognition mechanism'."

"If a wizard can pass the Golden Ring Explorer's test, he will automatically be qualified to pioneer, without having to go through those three tedious procedures."

A thoughtful look appeared in Ron's eyes:

"Because the Golden Ring assessment itself proves these three points?"

"Yes."

Miller nodded approvingly:
"The difficulty of the Golden Ring assessment far exceeds that of ordinary pioneering tests."

"The environment of the seventh layer of the abyss is far more dangerous than that of most other worlds."

The chaotic currents, dimensional storms, and primal monsters there... any one of them would be enough to wipe out an entire pioneering team.

"To be able to survive in that environment for seven days, complete teamwork tasks, and also pass personal extreme challenges..."

For someone like that to create an ordinary alternate world is a complete waste of their talent.

Miller's voice turned low:
"Therefore, the Court of Truth recognizes that Golden Ring Explorers automatically qualify for pioneering."

“That’s why…”

He looked at Ron:
"Although the mortality rate of the Golden Ring test is close to 70%, there are always many people who sign up."

“Those ambitious Moon-level wizards would rather risk their lives to take a gamble than spend decades slowly building up their seniority.”

"Time is the most precious resource."

After listening, some of Ron's doubts were resolved.

It turned out to be the case.

The Golden Ring assessment is not just a rating test, but also a fast track.

They risked their lives for the privilege of skipping the usual procedures.

For Moon-level wizards eager to become stronger, this is indeed a risky choice worth taking.

"understood."

Ron put down his cup:

"Then, could you elaborate on the specific content of the assessment?"

Miller stood up, walked to the wall, and took down the silver ring badge.

The metal surface is somewhat worn, but the exquisite craftsmanship is still evident.

The badge features a circular design at the center, inlaid with three gems of different colors, representing the three stages of the assessment.

"I am a Silver Ring, corresponding to the Dawn Star Explorer."

He stroked the badge:

"It took us a full twenty years to climb from the copper ring to this position."

"Golden Ring, corresponding to the Moon Rank. The assessment location is the 'Trial Grounds' on the seventh level of the Abyss, a relatively stable area that the School Alliance has developed at great cost."

He pointed to the first gem on the badge:
"The first challenge is the survival test."

"The ten applicants will be randomly assigned to different locations in the trial grounds, with each person at least ten kilometers apart."

"You need to survive alone for seven days in the environment of the seventh level of the abyss."

Miller's expression turned serious:
"Sounds simple, right? Just survive for seven days."

"But you should know that a day in the seventh layer of the abyss is not the same as a day in the main world."

"The flow of time there is distorted."

Sometimes you feel like only an hour has passed, but in reality, ten hours have gone by.

Sometimes, even after walking all day, when you look back, the sun is still in the same spot.

"This kind of time distortion will seriously affect your judgment."

Many people die in the chaos because they cannot adapt to this feeling.

Ron listened intently, taking notes of every detail.

"Besides the time issue, you also have to face the original environment of the seventh layer of the abyss."

Miller continued:

“The ‘ground’ there is fluid.”

You think you're standing on solid rock, but the next second it might turn into quicksand, or simply crumble into nothingness.

"The 'sky' there rains all sorts of strange 'rains.' A single drop can corrode a large chunk of flesh."

His tone was calm, as if he were describing something completely ordinary.

But Ron could sense the weight behind these words; they were experiences summarized from the lives of countless explorers.

"The standard for passing the first hurdle is simple: survive for seven days."

Miller put down the photo:

"It doesn't require you to defeat a certain number of monsters or explore a certain number of areas."

If you can stand at the School Alliance's reception point by the end of the seventh day, you've passed.

Ron nodded and continued to ask:

"What about the second challenge?"

Miller pointed to the second gem on the badge, a jade-green stone:
"The second challenge is teamwork."

Applicants who pass the first stage will be randomly divided into two teams.

Each team consists of three to five people, depending on how many people survive.

"Then, the School Alliance will assign you a simulation mission."

"It could be escorting an important item to a designated location, exploring an unknown abyssal ruin, or defeating a specific powerful creature."

"The task itself isn't particularly difficult, but the problem is..."

Miller emphasized:
"You're going to be working with a group of complete strangers who have just gone through seven days of life-or-death ordeal, whose mental state is unstable, and who don't know each other at all."

"This is more difficult than the task itself."

"I've seen teams fight amongst themselves over loot, and I've seen people betray their teammates to steal all the credit."

“Some teams were even unable to establish basic trust from the very beginning, fighting their own battles and eventually being defeated one by one.”

Ron pondered:
"The second challenge tests social skills and adaptability in extreme environments?"

"That's understandable."

Miller nodded:

"The alliance of schools of thought believes that a qualified explorer cannot only work alone."

"Furthermore, while exploring another world, you will inevitably need to build a team and cooperate with all sorts of people."

"If you can't even collaborate with others in an assessment, you won't do much better in a real-world setting."

"The last one is the third level."

Miller's finger moved toward the third gem:

"Personal limits".

His voice became exceptionally serious:

"This is the most difficult hurdle, and also the true core of the Golden Ring assessment."

“Each applicant who passes the first two rounds will face a ‘challenge’ tailored specifically for them.”

"The School Alliance will analyze your abilities, fighting style, and psychological weaknesses based on your performance in the first two stages... and then design a test specifically for you."

"This test has only one purpose..."

Miller said, enunciating each word clearly:
"I'll push you to the brink and see if you can climb out."

"It might force you to confront what you fear most;
It might put you in a situation where you have to make a difficult choice;
It could also be simply overwhelming you with sheer power until you break down or break through.

There is no fixed pattern, and no standard answer.

"Everyone's third challenge is unique."

Miller walked to the window and looked out into the abyss of darkness:

"When I took the Silver Ring exam, the third challenge was to face a 'Memory Eater' all by myself."

"That kind of creature can read your memories and then project the images of the people you cherish most, making you kill them with your own hands."

His voice trembled a little:

“I watched my wife, my children, my teachers… fall down in front of me one after another.”

“I know they are all illusions, but their expressions, their words, their eyes before they died... are exactly the same as the real ones.”

"That kind of pain..."

Miller paused for a long time before continuing:
"Even now, I still have nightmares."

Ron silently pondered this information.

The Golden Ring assessment has three progressively challenging stages, each testing different aspects of the candidate's abilities.

The first challenge tests one's ability to survive and mental resilience in extreme environments.

The second challenge tests teamwork and adaptability.

The third challenge tests your choices when facing your personal limits.

This is indeed a complete and rigorous screening mechanism.

"Overall, it would be considered good if two out of ten people could pass."

Miller concluded:
"Sometimes when you're unlucky, it's not uncommon for all ten of you to be wiped out."

"However, it's not entirely hopeless."

His tone softened slightly:
"The Golden Ring assessment is difficult, but it is not an impossible task."

"Someone will eventually pass the test and prove that this is a 'difficult but feasible' goal."

"Moreover, the assessment itself is fair."

The alliance of schools of thought does not intentionally set unsolvable traps; all challenges have theoretical solutions.

"The key is whether you can find the solution under pressure."

Ron nodded:
"I understand."

"So, how long do I have to wait after applying?"

"It's hard to say."

Miller shrugged:

"It could be as quick as one or two months, or as slow as six months."

"It mainly depends on the situation of other applicants, since the Golden Ring assessment requires ten people to begin."

"However, given the current situation..."

He said thoughtfully:
"It shouldn't be too long. The situation has changed a lot recently, and many people want to seize the time to improve their strength or obtain qualifications."

"I estimate that we should be able to gather enough people within two to three months."

Miller walked back and sat down again:

"You can use this time to make preparations."

"Adjusting my condition, perfecting my equipment, handling the tasks at hand, and..."

He looked at Ron:

"Do everything you want to do."

"Because once the assessment begins, there is no turning back."

Ron understood the deeper meaning in his words.

The Golden Ring test is no joke; it's a real, potentially deadly test.

Before you go, it's best to make sure you have all the important things arranged.

"I will."

Ron stood up: "Captain Miller, thank you for telling me so much."

"It should."

Miller also stood up:
"Although we may have different positions, as an explorer, I respect everyone who is willing to risk their life to pursue their goals."

"Go ahead, the application window is on the third floor of the observatory, just look for the registration desk."

"There's an old man there. Don't let his rambling fool you; he's seen too many applicants and has a lot of experience to share."

"If he's willing to say a few more words, just listen patiently."

Miller patted Ron on the shoulder:

"I hope you come back alive, Instructor Ralph."

"I'll treat you to some really good wine then."

Ron nodded, turned and left the simple lounge.

As he walked through the base station corridor, he began to plan his schedule.

First, complete the final advancement of the Potions Professorship—creating your own unique potions.

Secondly, attend Eve and Lilia's formal wizarding ascension ceremony.

Then, organize your equipment to prepare for the Golden Ring assessment.

Finally, it's time to wrap up the plan on the Stoker Star.

Time is tight, but it's enough.

If things are arranged properly, all the important things should be able to be accomplished in two to three months.

Ron quickened his pace.

………………

He returned to the main body of the observation station at the entrance of the abyss via the diving device and arrived at the third level of the observation station.

This area is much quieter than the other floors, mainly housing administrative departments and archives.

There were no busy research activities, nor were there crowds of people coming and going.

On the walls on both sides of the corridor, there are lists of explorers over the years and commemorative photos.

Most of those photos have yellowed, and most of the people in them are no longer alive.

But their names and deeds are preserved here permanently as a warning and inspiration to those who come after.

Ron stopped in front of a door marked "Explorer Rating Registry".

The door was half open, and the sound of rustling paper turning could be heard from inside.

He pushed open the door and entered.

(End of this chapter)