Chapter 1589: Cooperation and the Difficulty of Recruiting

As for Huosite's directness, Sidier and Mark did not intentionally put on airs; hailing from the Progress Society, they actually did not like that sort of thing, and if they could, they preferred to be direct as well.

Thus, they responded to Huosite's proposal quite directly: "We have the same intention. Does Mage Huosite have any specific suggestions regarding the cooperation?"

"Specific suggestions?"

This time, Huosite did not answer directly, but instead asked a question first: "What difficulties have you encountered in the process of completing this series of tasks?"

As soon as the words fell, Sidier shook his head and sighed repeatedly, "There are so many problems! We were just talking about it!"

"Right!"

At this moment, Mark also chimed in: "What engineering design? How would we know anything about that! Before, we were just trying our luck, and the result is as you can imagine—every proposal we submitted was sent back."

Regarding this, Huosite suddenly interjected, "As for this, I actually don't think there's any problem."

"No problem? Is that how Mage Huosite sees it? Could it be that you've discovered something?" Mark asked hurriedly.

"During the time since receiving the task, the people in my Research Lab have gradually explored a set of design theories that happen to meet the requirements from above. Furthermore, in practice, we have also discovered that if complex Magic Facilities and buildings have specialized engineering designs, then whether it is stability during use, or the convenience and cost of later maintenance, they are all superior to those without specialized design."

"Eh—"

After being reminded by Huosite, Mark and Sidier also seemed to realize something; although in the past they had only attempted designs by nearly trying their luck, they had also conducted quite a few test experiments.

Recalling it now, it really was just as Huosite said: specific engineering design could play a positive role in complex Magic Facilities and buildings.

Thinking again of the requirements for the task from above, perhaps those above had discovered this long ago, and assigning them the task now might just be giving them an opportunity to learn and practice!

Thinking of this, Mark and Sidier became even more interested in the cooperation proposed by Huosite, so they asked again: "Mage Huosite, what suggestions do you have for our cooperation?"

The Progress Society promotes cooperation. Although Huosite joined the Progress Society later than Mark and Sidier, he knew and agreed with the philosophy of the Progress Society, so he said:

"It's very simple. We will concentrate all the manpower, material resources, equipment, and facilities that our three Research Labs can mobilize to focus on the breakthrough, and the final task rewards will be split equally among our three parties!"

"Is that so!"

Mark and Sidier looked at each other and agreed without much hesitation, then asked: "Then what are the specific details of the cooperation?"

"Didn't I just say? Our Research Lab has already initially explored a set of design theories, so for the time being, we will prioritize our methods. During this period, if you have any different opinions, you can also bring them up for discussion and verification at any time. If your ideas are better, it is only natural to use yours."

Huosite did not mind whose method was adopted; being able to complete the task and gain something from this mission was what he cared about most. As for why he insisted on pulling in Mark and Sidier, that was naturally—

"To complete this task, the few people we currently have are far from enough. But not long ago, the Progress Society just issued suggestions regarding encouraging Progress Society members to reduce part-time work and join the Academic Affairs Office.

"It is too difficult to recruit people for the Research Lab now. You two have a good relationship with the Five-Member Committee; see if you can talk to them and have them specifically reserve a batch of people for us."

In reality, Huosite was not just asking Mark and Sidier to go get people; even now, the Research Labs established later by Mark and Sidier had more members than his, which was the first batch to be established.

The new Mages who had recently obtained their official rank were almost all members of the Progress Society, and in choosing their employment direction, besides considering their own conditions and goals, they were also greatly influenced by the Progress Society.

At the recent Progress Society general meeting, a suggestion to reduce part-time work had just been proposed, and as a result, almost everyone gave up their part-time jobs. Once it was mentioned that they should support the Academic Affairs Office, most of those who had originally given up part-time work directly chose to join the Academic Affairs Office.

In other words, after the recent general meeting, the various Independent Research Labs not only failed to benefit from the constantly increasing wave of new Mages, but on the contrary, because there were fewer part-time personnel, many things became too busy to handle.

In the past, Huosite had always thought that part-time personnel with high turnover only brought trouble—the ones who left today meant the ones coming tomorrow had to be taught all over again—but in reality, the number of new Mages in the Tower of Time had not yet reached a point where they were too numerous to count.

Even for part-time personnel, after a long time, they could basically rotate through every department, and wouldn't that make them skilled workers!

Moreover, there was another very important point: part-time personnel had low wages, which could greatly reduce the operating costs of the Research Lab. For a person in charge of an Independent Research Lab like Huosite, part-time personnel were actually not that bad.

"Then how many people does Mage Huosite think we need in total?" Sidier asked.

"The more the better, of course!" Huosite said without hesitation.

"That's impossible!"

Sidier shook his head repeatedly, "You know as well as I do that the Academic Affairs Office is short of people. Now that those above are pushing moral education classes, plus that Magic Affairs Officer thing—because it's on the President's Territory, many people have submitted applications, so there are even fewer people left for us. You should give a firm number!"

"Sigh—" Huosite let out a long sigh, "When the New Apprentices first came in, I felt the Tower of Time had too many people, but now I feel there are too few."

Of course, he was just lamenting. In reality, if he were willing to wait, the number of new Mages obtaining official rank would only grow as time went on.

"Right now, I have 9 people in total, and your two Research Labs have 26 people in total, which makes 35. I think we need to scrape together at least 50!"

"50! You really are shameless!"

Although he said that, Sidier did not refute it, because he also felt the need to increase manpower, but this gap of 15 people was very hard to fill!

"By the way, Mark, I remember you just recruited someone a few days ago. Do you know if there are any unassigned files over at the Personnel Department?"

"No, and even if there were, those are specifically reserved for others; it wouldn't be our turn at all. If we were to rely on the Personnel Department for assignments, it would be less useful than just going to the Public Level and shouting a couple of times!" Mark complained immediately.

It was truly not easy to recruit people. So what if it was an Independent Research Lab? A Research Lab like his, which had just been established and had not a single achievement, could not attract full-time personnel to join under normal circumstances; he could only look for part-time workers.

The person he had recruited before was a Level 3 Apprentice he had entrusted someone to contact directly; he had supported the other party in passing the Rank Examination, and only then did the person join his Research Lab.

Hearing the conversation between Sidier and Mark, Huosite's heart sank, and he placed his final hope on Sidier.