Above the mage

Chapter 201 The Struggle at the Top

Seres Mage Tower.

One of only two mage towers in the Duchy of Sien.

At the top of the Mage Tower, the tower top, made of special materials, continuously absorbs sunlight, providing illumination for the entire Mage Tower.

The spacious room contained only a table made of third-tier magical plant, Green Forest Wood.

Behind the table was a chair made of the same material.

A middle-aged man dressed in a magnificent magical robe sat in a chair with his back to the door, looking exceptionally indifferent.

Middle-aged men are used to this kind of indifference.

It was this indifference that allowed him to become the youngest dean in the history of Seres Academy.

The top floor of the mage tower has no walls, only a layer of transparent glass, allowing one-way visibility.

Looking down at the entire Seres Academy through the one-way glass, watching the students bustling about below, is a favorite view for middle-aged men.

Today, however, he wasn't admiring the scenery; instead, he was deep in thought.

"Dean, He west is dead." Behind him, the vice chairman, who had just returned from the medical center, said respectfully.

As a high-ranking official in charge of academic affairs, this vice chairman actually doesn't have much to boast about.

He had neither exceptional talent nor outstanding achievements.

Even their mage level is only the third ring, which is the mage level of most members of the committee.

The reason he was able to sit in this position is because of his family background and his ability to get along with everyone.

But now his greatest reliance is actually Shel Ian in front of him.

Because he was the vice chairman who only had to report to Sher Ian.

The moment Hosie collapsed last night, Shel Ian immediately ordered him to seal off the rune workshop and obtain the secret command for the magic circle as soon as possible.

He was unaware of Shel Ian's true intentions.

In his view, what valuable legacy could a head of the rune department who had not produced any results for decades possibly leave behind?

But since he had received the order, he had no choice but to comply.

"Did you get the secret order?"

"No, there's just a minor problem." The vice chairman wiped non-existent beads of sweat from his forehead and gave Sher Ian a detailed report on the situation.

Shel Ian remained silent for a moment after hearing this.

Ultimately, this minor trouble stemmed from his initial desire to annoy He Xi.

He calmly began, "This matter is very important."

"Handle this as soon as possible, and make sure it is done flawlessly and with complete secrecy."

"The Rune Workshop has been sealed off. All that's needed is to draft an asset reclamation deed, and the Rune Workshop and everything within it can be returned to the Academy."

The Vice Chairman had already outlined the follow-up plan on his way here.

Gaode says: There must always be rules.

The problem is that they are the ones who make the rules.

"Well done," Shel Ian said with a casual compliment to the vice chairman.

Seeing that Shel Ian did not blame him for not retrieving the secret order, and even praised him, the vice chairman finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Although he still didn't understand why they were in such a hurry.

Shel Ian naturally wouldn't explain any of this to him; he simply waved him away.

Shel Ian stood up in the empty room, went to the one-way window, looked down at the college buildings of varying heights and the ant-like pedestrians below, and remained silent for a long time.

Human ambition is boundless and grows ever stronger.

Long ago, his greatest ambition was nothing more than to become the dean and take charge of Seres Academy.

But once he actually sat in that position, he found that he was not satisfied.

Even their appetite is getting bigger and bigger.

Jeros XIII is getting old.

The only two most likely successors to the position are the eldest prince, Wenren Jeros, and the second prince, Brandon Jeros.

Wenren Gerald is backed by the Royal Mage Corps.

And he was standing behind Brandon Gerald.

If he can help Brandon Jeros ascend the throne, he can become the number one mage in the Duchy of Sean and enjoy all the mage resources of the duchy.

With sufficient resources, at his current age, he has a great chance to advance to the fifth-ring mage level.

Now, all he has to do is keep adding to Brendan Gerald's impact.

Just as these thoughts were racing, two more people knocked on the door and entered.

A handsome, blond young man dressed in fine clothes walked in, followed half a step behind him by a composed-looking middle-aged monk.

Brandon Gerald.

The second prince of the duchy.

Quincy Ursus.

A second-tier runemaster of the Erser family, and also one of the few rune constructors in the Duchy of Sean.

"Dean Sher," Brandon Gerald greeted respectfully as he entered the room.

Shel Ian was his strongest supporter.

At least before he ascended the throne, he kept a very humble attitude in front of Shel Ian.

"Second Prince, Hoshi has purchased a large amount of rune construction materials this year. Although he did it through his own channels, nothing in the academy can escape my notice," Shel Ian said.

"Quincy Erther has seen the detailed list of materials and is certain that it is not just the materials needed to make a set of Tier 3 rune constructs."

Quincy Ursus, standing next to Brandon, nodded and said, "Those materials are enough for Hosie to make five or six sets of Tier 3 rune constructs."

"Once we get our hands on the multiple sets of Tier 3 rune constructs made by Hosie, everything can proceed according to Dean Sher's plan," Brandon Gerald said.

Shel Ian nodded, then said to Quincy Ursher, "There was a slight mishap, so it will probably be the next day or the day after that I can transfer all the data and the finished Tier 3 rune constructs from Hosie to you."

Quincy Ursus didn't take it seriously and didn't ask what exactly happened.

Based on his understanding of Sher, he didn't believe there was anything Sher Ian couldn't control on Sher's turf: "As long as this matter can be kept secret, it doesn't matter whether it's sooner or later."

Shel Ian narrowed his eyes and said with a smile, "Once you get those finished Tier 3 rune constructs, you can claim to have successfully created Tier 3 rune constructs and have been promoted to Tier 3 rune construct master."

"In this way, the second prince's side has more power than the eldest prince, and the balance has tilted in our favor."

Quincy Ursus nodded slightly in agreement without saying a word, but in his heart he admired Shel Ian to the extreme.

Only he could come up with such a plan.

At a crucial moment in the struggle for the throne, when the two sides were evenly matched, a new Tier 3 Rune Constructor emerged in the Duchy, the only Tier 3 Rune Constructor in the entire Duchy since Hoshi's death, and unequivocally joined the camp of the Second Prince, Brandon Gerald.

How powerful a bargaining chip would that be?

Shel Ian is going to create a "Tier 3 Rune Constructor" for the Second Prince's side, whether it's real or not.

The most terrifying people in the world are those who are capable but have no moral bottom line.

Shel Ian, on the other hand, meets both of these conditions.

This is already the highest level of the struggle within the duchy.

In such a struggle, the stubbornness and obstinacy of a junior student are nothing more than a futile and insignificant struggle.

Creating a "Tier 3 Rune Constructor" requires a lot of work.

The longer this matter drags on, the easier it will be for the eldest prince's side to notice any clues. To ensure as few flaws as possible, it is necessary to be quick and keep the entire process secret.

That's why he immediately sent people to seal off Hosie's rune workshop.

"Perhaps with the information in Hosie's hands, I can truly advance to a third-tier rune construct master," Quincy Erther added.

Rather than cooperating with Shel Ian's plan to become a "fake third-tier rune constructor" using the third-tier rune constructs made by Hosie, he hopes to become a "true third-tier rune constructor" by utilizing the information and knowledge left by Hosie.

"That would be best," Shel Ian said casually, though he didn't really have any hope for it.

He only trusts himself.

(End of this chapter)