Chapter 1284: Hopeless Promotion, Turning to Xia Duo

After leaving Samuel, Luo Zi's attitude toward Xia Duo changed significantly; he was no longer as strictly professional as before, instead revealing a hint of sycophancy, yet it appeared somewhat strange since both were Advanced Rank Mages.

"Mage Maikade, let's go to the third basement level for Permission Level authentication first; only then will you be able to have your own private Laboratory."

Xia Duo nodded and asked with some confusion: "Is the difference between an Assistant Researcher and a Level 1 Researcher really just this private Laboratory?"

"Of course it's more than that, the difference here is huge!"

As if showing off, Luo Zi began to count the differences between researchers of different ranks: "An Assistant Researcher can only choose to be affiliated with the Laboratory of an Official Researcher, and an Assistant Researcher cannot lead independent research projects; everything must be done in coordination with the Official Researcher."

"And a Level 1 Researcher is the starting stage of an Official Researcher. Once you reach this stage, you can have your own independent Laboratory, independent research projects, and the Permission Level to apply for additional resources and energy support."

"Then what about above a Level 1 Researcher?" Xia Duo asked again.

"There are also Level 2 and Level 3; the Permission Levels they possess are even higher. What specific permissions they have and how to advance is not something I can know, but I do know that Vice Dean Samuel is a Level 2 Researcher, and Dean Bernie is a Great Arcanist, but he is also a Level 2 Researcher."

"A Great Arcanist is also a Level 2 Researcher?"

Xia Duo was thoughtful; it seemed that this researcher level had nothing to do with strength or seniority, but rather with academic achievements and contributions.

But correspondingly, the researcher themselves likely could not possess additional political status bonuses.

Of course, since researchers themselves are all Arcanists, they might also hold political positions simultaneously, just like the Branch Dean of the Research Institute here at the Judgment Division; the extent of his power and influence is something Xia Duo finds hard to imagine.

"By the way, what about below an Assistant Researcher?" Xia Duo continued to ask.

Regarding this, Luo Zi said quite frankly: "Below an Assistant Researcher, there are Apprentices!"

"The academy below sends a batch of excellent graduates to the Research Institute for internships every year, and every Official Researcher is assigned a certain amount of teaching tasks each year."

"Researchers can do these tasks themselves, or they can hand them over to Assistant Researchers. For every Advanced Rank Mage cultivated, the higher-ups will issue a certain amount of point rewards to the researcher. As for how much an Assistant Researcher can get, it depends on whether their superior is generous enough!"

Speaking to the end, a hint of resentment actually leaked into Luo Zi's tone.

"..."

"Those Apprentices are also considered members of the Research Institute. It is much easier for them to obtain promotion than for outsiders to join the Research Institute. As long as they become Advanced Rank Mages, they can obtain an opportunity for an entry test; passing it allows them to become an Assistant Researcher. That is how I advanced."

"Then what conditions are needed for an Assistant Researcher to advance to a Level 1 Researcher?"

"There are only two hard indicators: one is to become an Arcanist, and the other is to have participated in at least three Level 1 Projects and received a rating of 【Medium】 or higher from an Official Researcher."

Speaking of this, Luo Zi once again cast an envious gaze at Xia Duo. Combining this with Luo Zi's previous tone, Xia Duo judged that Luo Zi's promotion was likely not just stuck on becoming an Arcanist; three ratings of 【Medium】 or higher might be even harder.

In all fairness, if he had several Assistant Researchers under him and the promotion mechanism were like this, he would probably also be unable to resist stalling his subordinates' promotions.

After all, free and useful labor is a scarce resource everywhere.

"Then who is your current superior?" Xia Duo asked curiously.

"It is Vice Dean Samuel's student, the Level 1 Researcher Buladuo. He is currently following one of the Vice Dean's projects. This project has been going on for three years, and there is no end in sight, yet I am not in this project."

Luo Zi wore a bitter face; the hardest part was not being exploited by a superior—after all, even exploitation couldn't be done too uglily—what really made him want to switch to someone else was the idleness with no end in sight.

Even if he couldn't get in touch with a project, what did it matter how capable he was? He still couldn't be promoted to a Level 1 Researcher!

Speaking of this, he looked at Xia Duo with full expectation, "I can become an Arcanist at any time, and I have also prepared two Level 1 Projects. If Mage Maikade is willing to take me in, I am willing to explain the Arcane Fire Secret Scroll to you, and let you observe when I advance!"

In Luo Zi's view, this was undoubtedly a huge bargain for Maikade. Where could you normally find an Assistant Researcher who gives away two Level 1 Projects for free, not to mention that he would also explain the Arcane Fire Secret Scroll and open up his advancement for observation?

And all he needed was three project ratings of 【Medium】 or higher so he could successfully advance to a Level 1 Researcher.

Such conditions would simply be impossible for a normal Level 1 Researcher to look at; they are already Arcanists themselves, they don't care about you explaining the Arcane Fire Secret Scroll, and rather than caring about your two Level 1 Projects, it's better to keep you dangling and let you work for free.

It would be fine if he didn't mention becoming an Arcanist, but once he mentioned he was about to advance, the exploitation might be even worse.

A special existence like "Maikade" is extremely hard to come by. Luo Zi felt that he could not let this opportunity slip by no matter what; otherwise, he didn't know how long he would have to endure before he could be promoted to a Level 1 Researcher!

In a sense, the difficulty of rising from an Assistant to Level 1 is far greater than rising from Level 1 to Level 2 or 3.

After all, the latter only requires research results and contributions, which are quantifiable indicators that can be seen and touched; while the former largely depends on the superior's character and mood, which is not easy to grasp!

After hearing Luo Zi's almost unconditional offer of allegiance, Xia Duo felt quite moved. If he were a person without a bottom line, this would simply be free labor delivered to his door.

Perhaps Luo Zi was truly at his wit's end.

Seeing that promotion under Vice Dean's student Buladuo was remote, and turning to other researchers would require rebuilding favorability, it might not be as good as waiting for Buladuo to have a change of heart!

Then it might be better to try this newcomer "Maikade"; perhaps there would be an unexpected surprise!

After considering it seriously, Xia Duo finally decided to take in Luo Zi. He didn't need Luo Zi to explain the Arcane Fire Secret Scroll; in the Projection Plane, he was destined to find it very difficult to create Arcane Fire, unless he could find a means of degradation.

As for Luo Zi himself, he came at just the right time; Xia Duo was just in need of a helper who was familiar with the Research Institute!

This might allow him to find the resurrection Spell faster.

"Mage Luo Zi, what procedures are needed for an Assistant Researcher to become affiliated?" Xia Duo did not say it explicitly, but his hint was already very obvious.

Upon hearing this, Luo Zi was overjoyed. Seeing Maikade hesitate just a moment ago, he was even prepared to increase his offer; he didn't expect that just like this—

"Mage Maikade, do you mean that you have agreed to take me in?"