Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

When the rescue team finally returned to the surface, a large crowd of anxious people had already gathered at the Governor's Mansion in the mining area.

Marcelin led her medical team forward immediately and began emergency treatment of the wounded.

Karen briefly reported the situation to the officers before returning to the governor's mansion to rest, escorted by Hammer Green.

On the other side, when the supervising priest stepped into the "Golden Burning Hall," the surrounding temperature suddenly rose by more than ten degrees.

This is where the high priest handles his daily religious affairs; the entire hall is cast from a single piece of meteorite iron.

The walls were engraved with dizzying gold-burning circuits, with countless flames surging within them, like the veins of the world's will.

In the very center of the main hall, a giant furnace burns eternally.

The high priest sat on the throne above the furnace.

To be precise, the word "sit" is not appropriate.

His form exists between physical and conceptual, sometimes appearing as a humanoid silhouette draped in a golden robe, and sometimes as a fusion of pure flame and metal.

"came back."

The high priest's voice had no obvious source; it seemed to emanate simultaneously from all the walls, all the flames, and all the metal.
"Tell me, how was that 'accident' handled?"

The overseer priest knelt on one knee, his hood pulled low.
"Reporting to my lord, the collapse of the Pillar of Boundary was indeed caused by energy resonance, the source of which is an unknown...living organ deep within the forbidden zone."

He carefully considered his words, trying to describe that chaotic lung in the most accurate way, but found that any language seemed inadequate:
"Its shape resembles some kind of giant biological tissue, suspended in an underground cave, continuously releasing extremely high-intensity abyssal radiation."

If left unchecked, it could trigger a geological collapse of the entire mining area.

"Oh?"

The high priest's tone rose slightly:
"And then? What happened to that little guy named 'Karen'?"

"Governor 'Karen' has demonstrated... an adaptability that exceeded my expectations."

The priest's voice showed a clear emotional fluctuation, a feeling between admiration and confusion:
"Deep within the forbidden zone, we encountered seventeen Iron Corpse Mutants."

My original plan was to annihilate them directly with overwhelming force, but I did not anticipate the mechanism of fragmentation and propagation..."

His tone became heavy:
"Because of my recklessness, fourteen members of the rescue team were injured and infected, and four died. This is my dereliction of duty, and I beg my Lord to punish me."

"continue."

The high priest did not immediately express his opinion, but simply gestured for Him to continue reporting.

"At a critical moment, Governor Karen retrieved an extract of... a type of fungus from a burial mold."

The overseer priest's tone became even more confused:
"This substance can effectively inhibit the process of metal metabolization and even reverse some infection symptoms."

Under his command, the rescue team successfully eliminated all the Iron Corpses, with only a few dying and the rest of the wounded surviving.

"Cemetery mold..."

The high priest repeated the word in a low voice:
“Interesting. That governor seems to know more about the restricted area than I thought.”

"also……"

The overseer priest continued:
"Governor Karen also successfully stabilized the energy fluctuations of that living organ. He used a device called a 'geological stabilizer' to transform the originally violent and disorderly pulsations into regular and controllable rhythms through the principle of reverse resonance."

"Currently, the device is operating stably, with energy fluctuations reduced by more than 70% and radiation intensity reduced to within the safe threshold."

The risk of mine collapse has been largely eliminated.

After this report, the hall fell into a brief silence.

The flames in the furnace flickered more violently, as if reflecting the high priest's fluctuating thoughts.

"so……"

The high priest finally spoke, his voice tinged with amusement:
"A noble scion from a collateral branch, originally only meant to manage the mining area, not only single-handedly resolved the Iron Corpse crisis but also incidentally 'tamed' the most dangerous and unstable element in the forbidden zone?"

"Exactly."

The overseer priest answered respectfully.

"interesting."

The high priest rose from his throne, his massive figure casting a distorted shadow in the firelight.
"So funny."

He walked down from the furnace:
"When he demonstrated his talent for creating 'living armor' during the Trial of Divine Judgment, I originally thought it was just a clever application of the Alchemy technique, at most a promising craftsman."

"But now it seems..."

The high priest walked up to the overseer priest and looked down at his loyal subordinate:
"His understanding of the relationship between 'life,' 'metal,' and 'energy' has touched upon some essential aspects."

"The discovery that tomb mold can inhibit metal metamorphism is valuable in itself. But more importantly..."

He raised his hand, and a miniature furnace flame condensed at his fingertips:
"He was able to design a stabilizing device for an entity of the level of 'Chaotic Lungs' in such a short time, and he actually succeeded."

"What does this mean?"

The high priest, without waiting for the overseeing priest's reply, continued on his own:
"This shows that his understanding of the origin of the abyss far surpasses the conventional understanding of this world."

"He is not a native."

These words struck like a thunderclap in the hall.

The overseer priest abruptly looked up, the dark gold light beneath his hood flashing intensely: "My lord means..."

"I already knew it."

The high priest spoke calmly, his tone completely unwavering:
“From the moment he first set foot on this planet, I sensed that faint yet undeniable ‘alien’ aura.”

“He comes from beyond the stars, from those civilizations that call themselves ‘wizards’.”

The overseer priest's body stiffened for a moment.

"Then why doesn't my lord..."

"Why not expose him? Why not just eliminate him?"

The high priest laughed, a laugh as grating as the friction of metal.
"Because it's not necessary."

He turned and walked back to the furnace, and in the firelight, sat back on his throne.
"I have ruled this planet for thousands of years and have seen countless outsiders try to steal my secrets."

Some disguised themselves as merchants, some as vagrants, and some simply sent spies to infiltrate…

"Their fates are all pretty much the same—either they are forged into iron slaves by me, or they become fuel for the furnace."

“But this ‘Karen’ is different.”

The high priest's voice became meaningful:
"He is smart enough that he never tries to steal my core secrets directly."

On the contrary, he is using his knowledge and skills to create value for my 'system'.

"The concept of living armor has opened up a new direction for the art of burning gold."

"The solution to the problem of stabilizing the restricted zone has solved a geological problem that has plagued me for thousands of years."

"Even the discovery of the mold in that tomb could lead to new technological branches..."

The high priest crossed his arms: "Why kill such a 'useful' pawn?"

"Wouldn't it be more interesting to keep him around and see what other tricks he can pull?"

The overseer priest remained silent for a long time, and finally asked in a low voice:
"But what if he has ulterior motives..."

"so what?"

The high priest's voice was filled with absolute confidence:
"On this planet, I am the rule itself."

No matter what tricks he plays, the final outcome is entirely in my control.

"not to mention……"

His tone suddenly turned serious:
"The 'wizard civilization' behind him is what truly deserves our attention."

By observing their behavioral patterns, technological characteristics, and ways of thinking, I was able to deduce the general outline of their civilization.

"The value of this intelligence far exceeds the life or death of a spy."

The overseer priest finally understood.

From the very beginning, her master regarded "Karen" as some kind of special "detector".

We observe him not only, but also, through him, observe more distant cosmic civilizations.

"Then what does my lord mean..."

"He is permitted to continue moving around the penalty area."

The high priest waved his hand:
"They said it was to maintain the normal operation of the 'geological stabilizer' and that it needed to be inspected and adjusted regularly."

Give him a legitimate reason so he can enter and exit that area without any pretext.

"Furthermore, there is no need to interfere too much with his reform measures in the mining area."

Improving worker benefits and increasing productivity can only benefit the overall situation.

"As for the reward..."

The high priest pondered for a moment:
He was granted the title of Viscount 'Golden Viscount' and allowed to own a private residence in the Upper Town.

This is both a recognition of his achievements and a way for us to observe him more closely.

The overseer priest bowed respectfully: "I will obey the divine decree of my Lord."

His master was far more terrifying than he had imagined.

He not only sees everything, but what's even more terrifying is that He is willing to observe and wait...

Like a true chess player, always focusing on the bigger picture, possessing patience and vision beyond the average person.

After the overseer priest disappeared from the hall, the high priest fell into deep thought again.

"The Lungs of Chaos..."

He murmured to himself, "That is the remains of 'Mother'. Even a small fragment contains a terrifying power that could change civilization."

"What exactly do those wizards intend to do with it?"

"And the supporters behind 'Karen,' who can send out such excellent spies, must hold a considerable position in the wizarding civilization..."

A deep thought flashed in the high priest's eyes.

He knew very well that when the two civilizations began to permeate each other, the real contest had already begun.

The outcome of this contest often depends on who can understand the other's true nature sooner.

"Come on, let me see..."

The high priest's voice echoed in the empty hall:
"Just how many surprises can you wizards bring me?"

………………

Deep in the forbidden zone in the dead of night.

After everyone had evacuated and the cave fell silent again.

A black, liquid-like substance seeped out from the cracks in the rock wall.

That was a part of the "ink".

It flowed silently across the ground, reaching the remains of the slain iron corpses.

The first seventeen "original iron corpses" to die have now completely lost their vitality.

Their "steel hearts" have collapsed and can never be revived.

Ink has no interest in them.

Its real target was the eight miners' corpses that were infected later in the battle and then "painfully executed" by Karen.

When the ink came into contact with the first corpse.

A miracle happened.

The body, which should have been completely dead, suddenly began to rise and fall slightly in the chest cavity.

"Cough...cough..."

The deceased coughed up a mouthful of black blood, then slowly opened his eyes.

Those eyes lacked the deathly grayness of the Iron Corpse.

Yes, it is the confusion and bewilderment of the living.

"I...I'm still alive?"

The miner struggled to sit up, looking at his arm, which still bore traces of metallization:
"How is this going?"

The ink did not answer.

It simply continued to move, "awakening" the other corpses one by one.

ten minutes later.

The four miners, who should have died, all opened their eyes.

Their bodies all bear traces of metallization:
Some people have their right arm completely replaced with steel, yet they can still move it freely;
Some people have developed a thin layer of metallic plates on their chests, like natural armor;
Some people even had their spines exposed, forming bone-like metallic spines...

These mutations are no longer an out-of-control curse, but rather more like a kind of... evolution.

“I can sense that you are the Governor…”

The older, leading miner bowed tremblingly to the ink:
"Was it you... who saved us?"

Ripples spread across the surface of the ink, coalescing into the face of "Karen".

"Yes."

Ron spoke through the ink, his voice gentle:
"I saved you, using a... special method."

"But that's precisely why you can no longer return to the surface."

"Because in everyone's mind, you are already dead."

"If it were to suddenly come back to life, it would only trigger suspicion and panic, and might even allow those above to discover some secrets that should not be discovered."

The miners looked at each other in bewilderment.

They weren't stupid; they quickly understood the stakes involved.

"Then...what should we do?"

The older miner asked cautiously.

"Stay here."

Karen's voice remained gentle:
"From now on, this restricted area will be your new home."

"I will send food, water, and necessities regularly."

"In exchange, you need to help me... protect this place."

"Protect that sleeping behemoth, protect the secret I buried."

"If you'd like, you can continue working for me."

"Explore deeper forbidden zones, collect special ores, and study these... newly acquired powers."

"I will give you compensation and a brand new life."

"But the condition is that you must keep this a secret and never return to the surface."

The four miners remained silent for a long time.

Finally, the older miner bowed deeply:
“Your Excellency, we are willing.”

"We've already died once."

"Since you have given us a second life..."

"Then this life is yours."

The others also knelt down, expressing the same loyalty.

Karen nodded in satisfaction.

The final step of the plan has been completed.

These "resurrected" individuals will become his first secret forces within the forbidden zone.

They will not be recorded by any official body and will not attract anyone's attention.

Yet, in this unsupervised underground world, she could do the work that couldn't be exposed to sunlight for him.

For example, collecting high-concentration abyssal crystals that naturally seep from the "Lungs of Chaos"...

The fifth level of the abyss, the Chaos Palace.

When Ron's consciousness was withdrawn from the Stoker Star and returned to his body, the first thing he felt was Nari's overwhelming joy.

"Baby, baby, baby!"

The apostle's voice leaped with joy in the spiritual connection, like a child who had just received a new toy:
"Mom felt it! That huge 'heart' was talking to Mom!"

Ron opened his eyes and found a semi-transparent tentacle projection that had appeared in his meditation room at some point.

That was the manifestation of Nari's consciousness transmitted across dimensions.

It is waving excitedly in the air right now, as if it wants to hug something but can't reach it.

"Mom, can you directly sense the Lung of Chaos?"

He asked, somewhat surprised.

"of course!"

Nari's voice was full of pride:
"Even though we're so far apart, that 'smell' is so familiar!"
It's like... um... like being able to smell the aroma of mom's cooking; you can find the kitchen even from many rooms away!

She used a vivid metaphor, but Ron gleaned a deeper meaning from it.

Nari's ability to sense the Lung of Chaos means that the "blood relationship" between the two is closer than he had anticipated.

This is not only because they come from the same "mother"; to some extent, they may even share some essential attributes.

"So."

Ron stood up and walked to the magic circle in the center of the meditation room, which was used for interdimensional projection:
"Can you draw energy directly from the Lung of Chaos through that 'Symbiotic Seal'?"

"Sure! I'm already inhaling it!"

Nari's tentacle projections writhed merrily:
"The moment your little 'ink clone' stuck the mark on, Mom felt a wonderfully comfortable energy flowing through that thin 'tube'!" "Although the flow wasn't fast, it was so pure!"

It's so much purer than the chaotic energy Mom usually absorbs in the fifth level of the abyss!

"Just like"

She began searching for a suitable metaphor again:
"It's like someone who's used to drinking muddy river water suddenly drinking from a mountain spring! Although the amount is small, every sip is incredibly thirst-quenching!"

As Ron listened to the description, he began to calculate rapidly in his mind.

If Nari can continuously draw energy from the Lungs of Chaos, and the quality of this energy far surpasses the regular chaotic airflow of the fifth layer of the Abyss.
Therefore, her strength will improve much faster than expected.

However, we still need to see if he has achieved his core objective.

"Mom, can you 'purify' and 'crystallize' this energy?"

He asked the most crucial question.

The tentacle projection paused for a moment, and Nari seemed to be thinking seriously:
"Baby, do you mean to turn this flowing energy into those hard, shiny little stones?"

"Correct."

Ron nodded:
"It's abyssal crystals. I need large quantities of high-purity abyssal crystals as raw materials for various research projects."

"Um"

Nari's voice became somewhat hesitant:
"Mom has never tried this before, but... it should work, right?"

"Mom remembers that those 'crystal worms' that live deep in the abyss would slowly compress the chaotic energy they ingested inside their stomachs, eventually expelling it as tiny crystals."

"Although Mom isn't a worm, she's much smarter than them!"

What they can do, Mom can definitely do too!

Ron was amused by her inexplicable confidence.

But upon closer reflection, Nari does have a point.

There are indeed species among the abyssal creatures that can naturally produce abyssal crystals.

Through their unique physiological structure, they compress, purify, and solidify the chaotic energy they ingest, ultimately forming crystals.

As the direct offspring of the "mother," Nari should theoretically possess even stronger energy manipulation abilities.

"Then you can try it."

Ron encouraged him:
"No need to rush, take your time and figure it out. We have plenty of time."

"Okay! Mom will go try it now!"

The tentacle projection shook excitedly, then suddenly stopped:
"Oh, right, honey, there's something Mommy wants to tell you..."

"That huge heart, is it dreaming?"

These words made Ron's expression freeze instantly.

"dream?"

He repeated the word cautiously:
"You mean, the Lung of Chaos possesses some kind of consciousness?"

"It's not the kind of consciousness that says 'I exist because I think.'"

Nari struggled to organize her thoughts:
"It's more like... a tree. Although it can't speak or walk, it can feel the sunlight, the rain, and the wind blowing through its leaves."

"That big heart is the same; it 'senses' everything around it and 'responds' to things that come near it."

"And its 'dream' was so strange, it had so many images, all about... about a really, really big person? Or a monster? Mom couldn't see clearly either."

"Anyway, there's a gigantic figure that walks around in the universe, and wherever it goes, new stars grow, or stars go out."

Nari's descriptions became increasingly abstract, but Ron gleaned some unsettling information from them.

The Lungs of Chaos retain fragments of the "Mother's" memories.

Those fragments exist in the form of "dreams," recording what the "mother" saw and heard before her death:
A grand vision of the birth and destruction of the universe, and the glory and fall of that primordial being.
"Mom, don't delve too deeply into those dreams."

Ron warned sternly:
"The amount of information contained in those fragments of memory may far exceed your current capacity to handle it. If you were to get involved, the consequences would be unimaginable."

"Yes, Mom knows!"

Nari obediently replied:
"Mom just accidentally 'heard' a little bit of scraps while she was absorbing energy."

"Mom would never actively seek out those dreams; they're too terrifying!"

"Well."

Ron breathed a sigh of relief:
"Just focus on energy purification. If you encounter any abnormal situation, stop immediately and notify me."

"Roger that!"

The tentacle projection gave an awkward salute before dissipating into the air.

Ron sat back in his meditation chair and began to organize all the information he had gathered from the operation.

On the surface, he simply resolved a mine accident and incidentally stabilized the geological hazards in the restricted area.

In reality, he had created a completely unknown "secret garden" deep within the planet Stoker.

Those few special individuals who came back from the dead will become his absolutely loyal force in the local area.

Nari's connection to the Lungs of Chaos will provide him with a continuous supply of high-purity Abyssal Crystals.

The high priest's tacit approval further cloaked all of this in a veneer of legitimacy.

"The problem now is..."

Ron tapped the armrest, his thoughts racing like intricate gears:
How can we maximize the value of this 'garden'?

Abyssal Crystals have an extremely wide range of uses, from enhancing spell effects to crafting alchemical equipment, from stabilizing spatial teleportation to serving as a catalyst for high-level potions.
However, it would be wasteful to simply use crystals as raw materials.

"etc."

A thought suddenly flashed into my mind.

Ron quickly retrieved several research notes from his storage space, which contained detailed data on "dormant salt" that he had accumulated over the years in the mining area.

His fingertips flipped quickly across the notebook, and the light in his eyes grew brighter and brighter.

"Silent mineral salts are essentially derivatives of the chaotic lungs."

"It has the characteristic of 'convergence resonance,' with weak magical content in small amounts, and exponential increase in energy density when concentrated in large quantities."

"High-purity abyssal crystals represent the purest essence of chaos."

"If the two are mixed in a specific ratio..."

Ron took out a small sample of mineral salt he had brought back from the mining area, and then carefully took out a grain-sized fragment of abyssal crystal from the sealed container.

The two substances were placed on opposite ends of the balance.

Then, Ron began a series of sophisticated energy analyses:
Measure their respective magical fluctuation frequency, resonance threshold, energy density, and stability parameters.
Three hours later.

Ron was excited when the last set of data was recorded in his notebook.

"really."

He muttered to himself:
"The 'resentment pollution' of dormant mineral salt is essentially due to the insufficient purity of its internal chaotic energy, which causes negative emotions to be amplified instead of being effectively neutralized during the accumulation process."

"However, if an appropriate amount of high-purity abyssal crystals are added to the mineral salt..."

He quickly scribbled down the deduction process in his notebook:
"The pure, chaotic essence within the abyssal crystals acts as a catalyst, guiding the energy within the mineral salt to 'sublimate'."

"Adding a purifying agent to turbid water won't make the impurities disappear, but they will be precipitated, transformed, and recombined into a harmless form."

"In theory, if the proportions are precise, we can obtain a completely new energy material."

"It retains the 'aggregation and resonance' characteristics of dormant mineral salts, enabling exponential growth in energy density;
"Furthermore, through the harmonizing effect of the Abyss Crystal, the side effects of 'Resentment Contamination' have been completely eliminated!"

The significance of this discovery far exceeded Ron's initial expectations.

If this "improved mineral salt" can be successfully mass-produced, then an unprecedented strategic resource will be obtained:
A super energy source that is clean, efficient, controllable, and can be applied on a large scale!

"Experimental verification must be carried out immediately."

Ron was just about to begin the mixing test when the communication crystal started vibrating.

It's Vinard.

He connected to the crystal, and a metallic projection appeared in the air:
"Ralph, sorry to bother you."

Vinard's tone remained that rational, almost icy calm:
“I’ve noticed that you’ve been more active on the Stoker Star lately.”

According to energy monitoring, your 'ink' clone over there has consumed a considerable amount of resource channel support.

"Has anything noteworthy happened?"

Ron felt a chill run down his spine.

Vinard's surveillance was more detailed than he had imagined.

This mechanized wizard's control over the colony had reached a level of near-omniscience.

However, he was well prepared.

"There have indeed been important discoveries."

He didn't hide anything because he knew very well that trying to outsmart Vinard would only backfire.
"While dealing with a mine accident, I unexpectedly came into contact with a special area deep within the core of the Stoker Star."

There exists a living structure there that is highly correlated with the origin of the abyss.

"Living structure?"

Vinard's projection tilted slightly forward, a signature gesture when he expressed "strong interest."
"Tell me more about it."

Ron provided a succinct description of the discovery of the Lung of Chaos, its stabilization process, and the subsequent establishment of energy extraction channels:

The specific methods of Nari's involvement were omitted, and only the technical roles of "tomb mold" and "geological stabilizer" were emphasized;
The high priest's voluntary consent was downplayed, and it was packaged as "the compromise of the oversight priest after being persuaded";
The key point is that this discovery has strategic value for the colony, enabling a stable supply of high-purity abyssal crystals.

Vinard remained silent for a long time after hearing this.

In his projection, the mechanical eyes flashed with the light of calculation, clearly conducting massive data analysis and feasibility assessment.

"A stable supply of Abyssal Crystals"

He finally spoke:
"This is indeed a very valuable breakthrough."

"Currently, the colony's demand for Abyssal Crystals mainly relies on procurement from the Overworld and sporadic harvests from Abyssal exploration teams. The supply chain is both unstable and the costs remain high."

"If we could establish localized mining channels..."

Vinard's projection suddenly turned towards Ron, the light in his mechanical eyes sharpening:
"But there's a problem—would the High Priest really allow you to enter and leave the forbidden area for an extended period? We are all aware of the vigilance of that being."

"He can."

Ron's tone was full of certainty:
"Because I gave him a perfect reason: to maintain the proper functioning of the geological stabilizer, regular inspections and adjustments are necessary."

"and"

"The High Priest is well aware that my presence significantly improves the production efficiency of the mining area."

As long as I don't touch his core interests, he's happy to see a 'capable manager' continue working.

"It's a tacit understanding."

Vinard nodded, clearly agreeing with this assessment.

"So, what about the extraction and transportation of abyssal crystals?"

"It's already in the planning stages."

Ron unfolded a detailed plan:
"I will enter the restricted area once or twice a month under the pretext of 'equipment maintenance'."

Each time, approximately fifty grams of high-purity crystals can be safely removed without arousing any suspicion.

"Over the course of a year, we can maintain a stable supply of about 600 grams."

Although the quantity was not enormous, the quality was extremely high, sufficient to meet the needs of the colony's core projects.

In Vinard's projection, the data stream flickered again.

"Acceptable."

He gave a concise evaluation, then changed the subject:
"However, I am more interested in something else, the experiment you mentioned on the ratio of 'silent mineral salt' to abyssal crystals."

"The detailed data is still being compiled."

Ron answered truthfully:
"However, preliminary analysis shows that if we can find the optimal ratio, we can create a new type of material with performance far exceeding that of existing energy sources."

"Specific performance parameters?"

"Its energy density is ten to fifteen times that of standard mineral salt, its aggregation effect is controllable, and its pollution side effects are close to zero."

When Ron announced the numbers, he clearly felt Vinard's projection vibrate.

For a highly rational, mechanized archmage, this reaction was equivalent to the "shock" of an ordinary person.

"If this data can be verified in experiments."

Vinard's voice became more solemn than ever before:
"Then it will completely change the energy landscape of interstellar warfare."

"The core bottleneck in our current arms race with the two major powers, the Furnace Maker and the Forge Maker, lies in energy density."

"The Ghost Fleet's main guns, the orbital defense platform's shields, the activation of the massive warp gates—each one is a behemoth that devours energy."

"If we could replace the existing energy core with your 'improved mineral salt'..."

A fierce light ignited in his mechanical eyes:
"Our firepower projection efficiency will increase by at least 30%. The duration of our defenses can be doubled. Our tactical mobility will be an overwhelming advantage."

Ron felt excited as he listened to the description.

As an "advisor" to the Vinard colony, he was certainly aware of the delicate balance in the current interstellar war:
The three major forces have formed a stalemate, with none of them able to eliminate the other in a short period of time. They can only wear each other down through repeated small-scale conflicts.

However, if either side can achieve a breakthrough in key technologies, this balance will be broken.

"I will complete the experimental verification as soon as possible."

Ron promised:
"However, this requires consuming a considerable number of abyssal crystal samples for repeated testing to find the optimal ratio."

"We will provide full support in terms of resources."

Vinard responded without hesitation:
"I will allocate a batch of Abyss Crystals from the colony's strategic reserves for your use."

Additionally, please feel free to ask if you need an assistant or experimental equipment.

"besides."

"Given your special status on the Stoker Star and the significance of this discovery, I believe it is necessary to formally adjust our cooperation model."

Ron's heart skipped a beat: "You mean?"

“Sign a formal ‘technology cooperation agreement’.”

Vinard revealed an idea he had been brewing for a long time:
"You will continue your research on Stirrup Planet. All results will be supported by resources provided by the colony, and we will distribute the profits according to your contribution."

"At the same time, when you officially begin exploring your own alternate world in the future..."

“I can send some of the talents trained in the colonies to your side on a ‘secondment’ basis.”

"This is both a reward for your past contributions and a long-term strategic investment."

"Your success is also the success of our colony."

Ron himself had considered making this suggestion before, but he never expected that the other party would bring it up on his own initiative.

Vinard's willingness to "borrow" talent he nurtured demonstrates remarkable courage...

"I accept."

Ron didn't hesitate for long:
"However, regarding the specific terms of the 'secondment,' I hope to ensure that the dispatched personnel have the right to choose independently."

I don't want 'monitors' who are forced into service; I want 'partners' who are genuinely willing to cooperate.

"of course."

Vinard nodded:
"I will consult them beforehand. In fact..."

His tone underwent a subtle change:
“There are a few people who would be very happy to accept this opportunity.”

"For example, Silas Draven."

Ron raised an eyebrow.

That once proud, traditional rune expert, who was once his nemesis, has now become a core member of the colony's enchanting department.

After that "reconciliation," although their relationship wasn't exactly close, they did develop a certain level of mutual professional recognition.

"He has recently been researching how to integrate the properties of 'Vengeful Gold' with the traditional rune system, but he has encountered some bottlenecks."

Vinard explained:
"I think that if he could work in a completely new environment for a period of time, it might bring him groundbreaking inspiration."

"And the other world you are pioneering will undoubtedly be a stage full of unknowns and challenges."

Ron understood Vinard's deeper meaning.

This is not a simple "secondment"; to some extent, it is a disguised form of "further education."
This allowed talent from the colonies to gain experience and grow in his projects, while also laying the foundation for long-term cooperation between the two sides.

"Then I look forward to working with Silas again."

Ron said sincerely:
"If a top enchanting expert could join us, many ideas could be implemented much faster."

"very good."

Vinard's projection began to fade:
"I will have Ella compile the specific terms of the agreement and send them to you."

That's all for now, I need to deal with some emergencies.

"The Molten Lord has made another move."

The last words before the projection disappeared carried a clear fighting spirit.

Ron watched the projection fade away, his sense of urgency growing stronger.

The pace of war in the starry sky seems to be accelerating.

If his "improved mineral salt" is successful, Vinard will gain a decisive advantage in this arms race.

And he himself will thus establish a true position within the great wizarding circle:

No longer just a "promising young person," but a "key figure capable of changing the course of the battle." (End of Chapter)