Chapter 2054: Temptation

"No restrictions on energy usage?"

The meeting room instantly erupted like a pot of boiling water; it wasn't that they didn't believe Niya, but that this matter was truly too inconceivable. One had to know that even for a Mage Tower of the Tower of Time's caliber, it was impossible to let users consume energy without restraint.

This had been the case in the past, and even more so in recent years after the Tower of Time underwent its transformation. Now, every mage in the Tower of Time had a relatively fixed quota for energy usage; wanting to exceed it not only required a sufficient reason to apply to the Material Department, but also required waiting in line.

Because it wasn't just one person applying at the same time, but many projects all crowding together.

And the reason the Tower of Time did this was not to deliberately make things difficult for the mages, but because of unavoidable realistic factors. The Element Pool's energy storage speed was limited; if it weren't kept in check, the Tower of Time would have shut down long ago.

Today, the mages sitting in the meeting room could all be considered middle-to-upper management within the Tower of Time. Even if they hadn't personally participated in the maintenance of the Element Pool's Magic Array, they had at least understood or heard about it.

Yet precisely because they understood, they felt it was inconceivable that Niya had just promised "no restrictions on energy usage for the new laboratory."

Thus, they all thought of the "Floating City" that Xia Duo had just mentioned. Could it be that because of that, they possessed an almost infinitely abundant energy supply?

"Xia Duo—uh—President, what exactly is the Floating City you just mentioned? Is there really such a laboratory with infinite energy?"

The one asking was Aidelian. The Independent Research Lab he established was recently working on a project with Daiwei related to the Daiwei String, which leaned toward Application and whose energy consumption was far less than projects of a verification or exploratory nature.

But even so, he had a relatively clear understanding of the energy consumption of projects related to the Daiwei String; it couldn't be called large—it should be called extremely large.

In the past, he had run to the Material Department countless times to increase his energy quota. Some had succeeded, but more had failed. Although the Tower of Time paid relatively close attention to projects related to the Daiwei String, it could not let it crowd out the majority of the energy quota for other projects.

Therefore, hearing Niya say this, Aidelian's first thought was disbelief, but he immediately realized that Niya could not make an unachievable promise in front of so many people.

In other words, an infinitely abundant energy supply was very likely true.

But as a student of the previous Tower Master Aipusi, Aidelian understood the Tower of Time better than others. He knew very clearly that if there were no accidents, the Tower of Time could not possess such technology; the only exception was Xia Duo.

At this moment, although only Aidelian was asking Xia Duo a question, almost everyone's eyes revealed the same light of curiosity and anticipation.

Regarding this, Xia Duo would certainly not let everyone down. He told them clearly and unmistakably:

"You can understand the Floating City as a super-sized Mage Tower, and its powerful energy system is strong enough to supply the uninterrupted consumption of at least a hundred Advanced Rank mages simultaneously.

"Of course, before that, everyone still needs to work together to build the laboratories there. Otherwise, having energy but no supporting facilities would be a pure waste.

"Additionally, I can tell you all one more thing: the future focus of the Tower of Time will gradually shift from here to the Floating City. Now that you all have the opportunity to settle in early, many people will envy you in the future."

For the time being, Xia Duo had not yet made plans to move the Territory and the Tower of Time entirely to the Floating City. At least the current Floating City wasn't ready; it wouldn't be too late to consider it after perfecting a few more versions. For now, using it as a large-sized Mage Tower was not bad either.

Having received Xia Duo's confirmation again, the atmosphere in the meeting room was instantly pushed to its peak. If not for the fact that Xia Duo and Niya were still there, this group of excited people would likely have shouted out on the spot.

But even now, that irrepressible ecstasy still overflowed involuntarily from their shining eyes.

"That's great! If it weren't for the insufficient energy quota, my current project would have been completed long ago!"

"Me too. Now that I have to use it sparingly, it's really hard to imagine what it feels like to have no limits!"

Almost everyone was intoxicated by the fantasy of future infinite energy, but now, a very realistic problem lay before them: how to make the determination to temporarily put down their current projects and go build a brand-new laboratory.

At the head of the meeting room, Xia Duo saw everyone's ecstasy, anticipation, and that tiny bit of hesitation, so he very considerately added a bargaining chip:

"In addition to brand-new laboratories and residences, all Independent Research Labs participating in the construction of the Floating City will receive priority recruitment qualifications for the next ten classes of new mages based on their level of contribution. Those in the top ten individually will receive a custom Communication Magic Tool provided by me. Besides the basic communication function, you can decide on two practical functions yourselves; as long as it does not exceed my capabilities, I will help you realize them."

If you want the horse to run, you naturally cannot fail to give the horse grass. Compared to mandatory regulations, Xia Duo preferred to be driven by interests. Currently, the mages qualified to go to the Floating City for construction were mostly concentrated in the Independent Research Labs.

And what the Independent Research Labs cared about most, besides the energy issues related to the advancement of existing projects, was the issue of new blood related to future development.

Currently, the personnel replenishment for Independent Research Labs mainly came from new mages promoted from Apprentices. The Tower of Time would conduct Rank Examinations regularly; those who passed became Level 1 Mages and could join the direct departments of the Tower of Time or Independent Research Labs.

In the past, priority was always given to direct departments, especially now that there were more and more New Apprentices; the Academic Affairs Office's thirst for new mages was always endless.

If they were scavenged by the Academic Affairs Office every time, it would be a nightmare for the Independent Research Labs.

Of course, priority was not mandatory. Xia Duo gave all new mages full opportunity to choose their professions. Even if a new mage with extremely innovative intuition wanted to run off to be a Magic Technician, Xia Duo would respect the other party's choice, though in reality, no one would be that foolish.

Currently, in the diversion of new mages in the Tower of Time, the Academic Affairs Office and the Independent Research Labs together accounted for the absolute majority, but the two were not much different from each other; those willing to teach and educate people might even be slightly more numerous.

After all, out of respect for the cause of education, Xia Duo gave teaching positions more benefits and subsidies, and the new mages diverted to Independent Research Labs did not all join the existing labs; many found a few partners themselves to establish new Independent Research Labs.

And the attraction of those newly established Independent Research Labs to new mages was actually no lower than that of the old-brand Independent Research Labs.

Unless it was one like the Daiwei Research Laboratory that had already achieved very proud results, or one whose research direction had been designated by Xia Duo, such as Huosite's Mass Production Design Research Lab.

Or the Tilak Laboratory where the upper echelons of the Progress Society were clustered.

Generally, old-brand Independent Research Labs could only indicate that they were established early; they were nothing else. As for the time, the Tower of Time's transformation had only been a matter of these past few years, so how could new mages around twenty years old not have even that bit of youthful spirit!