Chapter 1301: Graduation Season, Bad News

As for those Official Researchers who once desperately suppressed their subordinates' promotions, after a large number of new researchers were quickly promoted, many researchers who had long been displeased with them also quickly turned against them.

They soon became the minority and received punishment from the Research Institute—a reduction in basic research funding and the addition of review procedures for subsequent project applications.

……

June, the graduation season.

On this day, just after Xia Duo finished inspecting various project teams and was preparing to return to the Xiu Xi Shi to do some paperwork, he unexpectedly received a Sending from Yilisi, asking to meet him at the Academy Square on the negative fifth floor of the base.

Xia Duo attached considerable importance to Yilisi's invitation, not only because she was a Senior Arcanist, but also because she could bring him news from the outside.

Especially the international situation he cared about most, and the latest news on the Expansion Department's search for the Golden Scroll.

Upon receiving the message, he hurriedly replied with a "wait a moment," then immediately changed direction and walked quickly toward the entrance to the negative fourth floor.

He did not stop at all while passing through the negative fourth floor, and only slowed his pace slightly when he neared the Academy Square on the negative fifth floor.

Of course, the bustling crowd in the Academy Square was also an important reason for him to slow down.

……

"Maikade, I'm under the second stone pillar on the west side of the Fifth Academy gate."

Just as Xia Duo was hesitating whether to ask Yilisi for her specific location, Yilisi's Sending had already arrived first.

Xia Duo looked toward the location provided by her and saw two of Yilisi's subordinates explaining something to the surrounding students, while Yilisi was leaning against a stone pillar not far from them, looking quite leisurely.

But after discovering Xia Duo's gaze, Yilisi only waved at him and did not change her posture.

Walking closer, Xia Duo realized that she was not as leisurely and relaxed as he had first thought, but rather looked exhausted, having just found a place to lean against.

"Yilisi, long time no see!"

"It has been a long time!"

Yilisi struggled to move her body away from the stone pillar, and her gaze toward Xia Duo held a hint of reproach, "Thanks to you! I just returned from the Dragonspine Mountains and had to immediately return to the base to handle recruitment matters!"

"This—"

Can you blame me?

Xia Duo did not say this to Yilisi's face, but quickly changed the subject, "Just returned from the Dragonspine Mountains, did something happen with the Drow?"

"Sort of! As I told you before, the higher-ups were highly unlikely to form an alliance with the Drow, so they kept dragging it out. But not long ago, the civil strife in Cormanthor ended, the Crown King won a complete victory, and the pressure on the underground passage of the Dragonspine Mountains suddenly increased. The higher-ups couldn't just watch the Drow be driven back underground again, so they provided a batch of supplies and equipment."

Speaking of this, as if worried that Xia Duo wouldn't understand, Yilisi hurriedly added: "Due to their unique manufacturing process, the Drow's Magic Items are better suited for the radiation environment of the Underdark. They are easily damaged on the Surface and are not easy to maintain. Without new equipment, they can hardly withstand Cormanthor's repeated attacks."

Xia Duo nodded. In fact, he didn't need Yilisi's explanation; he knew this, as he had once disguised himself as a Drow and personally experienced the tediousness of equipment maintenance on the Surface.

"So you went to deliver equipment and supplies to the Drow?" Xia Duo asked again.

"Not me, I was only responsible for clearing out Cormanthor trackers."

Regarding her mission, Yilisi only said a brief sentence and didn't mention it again, and Xia Duo tactfully didn't ask.

"How long will you be staying at the base this time?"

"I won't be leaving for a short time."

"Not leaving?"

Xia Duo looked at Yilisi in surprise. Not leaving didn't mean she had no missions, but that Yilisi had been promoted to the Headquarters. For a Supervisor of an external branch base to be promoted to the Headquarters, and to bring her subordinates along with her, was quite a significant step.

Some people might never complete such a promotion in their entire lives, but as a Senior Arcanist, Yilisi had many opportunities for promotion, though it was much faster than Xia Duo had expected.

It was conceivable how many field missions she had completed during this period.

Although she didn't need to complete all those missions personally, the promotion assessment wasn't just for show; without sufficient contributions, even a Great Arcanist couldn't be promoted.

For example, Dean Bernie of the Research Institute's Judgment Division base branch; as a Great Arcanist, perhaps his voice was influential enough, and perhaps he had other honorary titles or ranks, but his rank within the Research Institute system remained at the Level 2 Researcher level. He wasn't promoted to Level 3 just because he was a Great Arcanist.

For Yilisi to complete the promotion from the local level to the central level within the Judgment Division system so quickly, unless she had already become a Great Arcanist, the only possibility was promotion through accumulated merit—and it had to be a great merit!

"It seems you've had a very exciting time lately!" Xia Duo exclaimed.

"Envious? Envy is useless! If it were back when you first joined the Research Institute, I would have been confident in poaching you, but now, if I were to even open my mouth, I'm afraid Vice Dean Samuel would immediately fall out with me."

Yilisi looked at Xia Duo, also revealing a rather emotional expression.

Regarding such issues of stance, Xia Duo did not continue the conversation. He knew that Yilisi valued him so much now simply because of his performance in the Research Institute over the past half year.

If it were truly back when he first joined the Research Institute and he told her he wanted to return to the Judgment Division, she probably wouldn't have even paid him any mind.

As for now, just as Yilisi said, even if he were willing, the Research Institute wouldn't be.

Whether it was probing or solicitation, Xia Duo took it as a joke. In any case, he wasn't the real Maikade, so he didn't need to care too much about the rules and regulations here. He only needed to do what he believed was right and worthwhile.

If things happened to suit both sides, Xia Duo wouldn't deliberately try to be unconventional just to emphasize his identity as an outsider; he would just go with the flow.

If something hindered his plans, then he would never make concessions under any circumstances.

……

After chatting with Yilisi for a while, Xia Duo finally asked about the Golden Scroll topic he was most interested in.

"Regarding the Golden Scroll in the Sage Prophecy, is there any good news from the Expansion Department?"

"No, and this matter has already attracted the attention of the Elves. Not just Cormanthor, but also our current ally Illefarn. They have asked the higher-ups more than once about the intentions of the Expansion Department's searchers. Not long ago, the search mission was suspended indefinitely, and all relevant personnel were recalled!"

"……"

For Xia Duo, the news provided by Yilisi was the worst possible news. If Yilisi wasn't lying, then the possibility of him obtaining a private version of the Nether Scroll was almost zero.

As for whether Yilisi would lie, Xia Duo felt the possibility was slim.

On one hand, he was now an important figure in the Research Institute, favored by many high-level officials;

On the other hand, he had been staying in the Research Institute and had no risk of leaking secrets, so why would Yilisi risk offending him by lying?