Chapter 1126: Reunion with Aideliqi, Full Support

Tower of Time, sixth floor, Xiaolei's Research Lab.

It had been quite some time since Xia Duo had visited this place; before the research lab door opened, he had even imagined whether it would be as messy as it was the last time he visited.

The fact was, it had improved a lot; even if not entirely orderly, at least it wouldn't make one feel it was messy at a glance.

Perhaps the management measures he had formulated for each private research lab had taken effect, or perhaps Xiaolei had realized it himself, but regardless of the reason, Xia Duo was very satisfied with the situation here.

This added one more reason for entrusting the research on substituting Mithril with Miscellaneous Crystal to Xiaolei.

Just in the few seconds Xia Duo lingered at the entrance of the research lab, a familiar figure had already come out to greet him from inside, saying with a look of surprise:

"Xia Duo, why are you here?!"

"It's Aideliqi!"

Xia Duo couldn't help but wear a trace of a smile on his face; counting it up, due to his time in the Projection Plane, he and this old friend hadn't met for several years, though on Aideliqi's Time Line, he hadn't been gone for too long.

"By the way, aren't you over at Tilake's side? Why are you here?"

"Sigh!"

Upon being asked this question, Aideliqi's face immediately collapsed; he turned his head to glance in the direction of the General Laboratory inside, then said gloomily:

"It's all Uncle Xiaolei; he said he couldn't handle it alone and insisted I come help. It was agreed I'd only come for a month, but it's been two or three months now, and he still won't let me go! Tilake needs me over there too!"

"I see!"

Xia Duo seemed to understand a bit why this place had become so organized, and at the same time, a question occurred to him, so he quickly asked it:

"Could it be that the project progress, experimental records, and material subsidy applications for Xiaolei's Research Lab in the last few months were all done by you?"

"It was me!"

Aideliqi nodded helplessly, "I've told Uncle Xiaolei more than once that any Level 3 Apprentice from the Progress Society could do these things, why bother finding me!

"And if he found a Level 3 Apprentice, once they finish the Ascension Trial, they could just be absorbed into the research lab to become a Formal Member; wouldn't that be much more useful than just me alone!"

As the two were talking, Xiaolei walked out of the laboratory with dark circles under his eyes and a clearly agitated expression. When he reached Xia Duo and Aideliqi, he first glared at Aideliqi, then bowed to Xia Duo and said:

"Lord Xia Duo, is it that Aideliqi asked you to come and take him away?"

Xia Duo glanced at Aideliqi, who was looking eager, paused intentionally, and then spoke the truth: "It is not. I am looking for you for another matter. However, Aideliqi also has important work to do at Tilake's place; if he is not absolutely necessary here, it would be better to let him go back."

Upon hearing this, Xiaolei immediately looked at Aideliqi, but this time, with Xia Duo here, Aideliqi did not choose to back down, instead responding with a firm gaze.

Seeing this, Xiaolei sighed softly, his expression somewhat dejected, "I originally saw that you were quite interested in the little gadgets I created, so I prepared to take you deeper into the Transmutation drive Domain together. I didn't expect that you and your brother would make the same choice, sigh!"

"Uncle Xiaolei—" Aideliqi started to speak but stopped.

"No need to say more, I understand your heart. No matter what choice you brothers make, I will support you!"

After finishing, Xiaolei looked at Xia Duo, "Lord Xia Duo, apologies for wasting your time due to some private matters. Now let us return to the main topic; you just said you were looking for me for something, is there anything I can be of service with?"

Xia Duo glanced at Aideliqi; at this moment, the complaining expression on his face was gone, replaced instead by quite a bit of self-reproach. Xia Duo didn't want to get too involved in this family drama, so he quickly got to the point:

"I have obtained research data on substituting Mithril with Miscellaneous Crystal, which includes some successful cases. I need you to do two things: one is to replicate the successful cases, and the other is to seek improvements. This is a long-term mission; the Tower of Time will regularly allocate funds to maintain your research."

"Substituting Mithril with Miscellaneous Crystal?" Xiaolei and Aideliqi exclaimed almost in unison.

"Yes, that is, substituting Mithril with Miscellaneous Crystal!"

As he spoke, Xia Duo took the prepared relevant data from his Personal Space and used a small Transmutation Spell to send it directly in front of Xiaolei.

However, Xiaolei did not reach out to take the data, but instead stared blankly at Xia Duo. His eyes held both excitement and worry, and his voice even trembled slightly:

"Is this really entrusted to me to research? Doesn't the Tower of Time still have, have other High Mages?"

"Niya and Aiboke have their own research Domains, and Depake is probably full of thoughts on how to advance as an Arcanist right now and simply cannot spare the time for long-term research on this. Furthermore, since I chose you, I certainly have my considerations; I believe you are capable of handling this mission!"

After finishing, Xia Duo signaled for Xiaolei to accept the data again, and Aideliqi also provided an assist at this time, though perhaps because of what just happened, he only stammered a few times, "Uncle Xiaolei."

Hearing Aideliqi's urging, Xiaolei seemed to break free from some strange illusion and subconsciously took the data floating in front of him. Only after taking it did he fully wake up and hurriedly say:

"Thank you for your trust, Lord Xia Duo."

"No need to thank me, just complete the mission well. Aside from the replication mission having time limits and progress requirements, I have no requirements for the improvement mission; it is entirely up to you to play freely. If you have any difficulties outside of research during the mission, you can contact me directly, or go find Saixili; I will inform her later."

"Yes."

After finishing the main business, Xia Duo did not linger. After returning to his residence, he hurriedly contacted the Ming Shui Chamber of Commerce, or more accurately, Consultant Saide of the Ming Shui Chamber of Commerce.

If President Zhenna had truly gone to the Outer Planes to slay gods as he guessed, then perhaps he could glimpse some clues from Saide.

It was just that long after the Sending spell, Saide had not replied, which couldn't help but make Xia Duo suspicious. Saide was only a Senior Arcanist; could he also participate in a god-slaying operation?

Or perhaps he had guessed the direction wrong entirely, and it wasn't some god-slaying event, but some other more cumbersome matter that had tied them up temporarily.

But for a moment, Xia Duo couldn't think of anything that could tie up a Senior Arcanist to the point where he didn't even have time to reply to a message.

If it were in the past, in this situation, Xia Duo could only guess blindly while passively waiting for results, but now he could do more.

After failing to contact Zhenna directly as well, Xia Duo decisively contacted his cheap teacher—Iolum.