Chapter 707: Complaining and Striving

Afterward, Xia Duo asked Niya about the situation in the Savile Territory and the Tower of Time during the few days he was away, especially regarding the Progress Society and the Tilake Research Lab.

"I haven't been paying attention to the Tilake Research Lab, but just yesterday, two Apprentices at the Progress Society applied for a Permission Level upgrade, and I have already promoted them."

After saying this, Niya fell silent for a moment, seemingly hesitating about something, but in the end, she did not say it out loud.

Xia Duo, however, had his guesses. He leaned over toward Niya and comforted her, "The popularization of Magic is the trend of the future. We are doing the right thing, and there will surely be a bright future!"

Although the transformation in Apprentice management at the Tower of Time had been underway for quite some time, not everyone was as full of confidence as Xia Duo.

There was no shortage of doubt, resistance, and even hostility. Niya's attitude was crucial in this, and Xia Duo naturally did not want her to shrink back at a critical moment; cheering her up from time to time was considered Xia Duo's standard procedure.

With Xia Duo's encouragement, Niya was no longer silent and continued to talk about other things that had happened within the Tower of Time.

"Oh, right!"

Niya looked at Xia Duo with a strange expression, as if she had suddenly thought of something, "A few days ago, Mage Sanduer went to complain to Depake, saying that you commanded others to instigate his Apprentices to leave, violating the order of the Tower of Time. What is this about?"

"Ah—"

Xia Duo opened his mouth in an exaggerated manner; he had not expected Sanduer to be so petty, "How is he even embarrassed to go around spreading such things?!"

"What's wrong?" Niya asked hurriedly.

She did not want Xia Duo to have a conflict with other Mages in the Tower of Time, though if a conflict really did arise, she would still stand on Xia Duo's side.

Seeing Niya's oblivious state, Xia Duo knew that she usually didn't pay much attention to the Apprentice Management Office, the Tilake Research Lab, or even the new system transformation he was pushing.

This seemed favorable to Xia Duo, allowing him to do as he pleased, but in reality, Xia Duo did not want this kind of freedom. He hoped more that Niya could truly identify with his philosophy and be able to offer various suggestions, whether in support or opposition.

Of course, since this matter involved Xia Duo himself, he could not immediately demand that Niya look into this or that, as it would make him seem like he was acting spoiled. Thus, he described the matter relatively objectively:

"The matter is simple. It's just that two of Sanduer's Apprentices asked Mage He Sai about the benefits at the Tilake Research Lab. I don't know how Sanduer found out, but I didn't expect him to be so narrow-minded as to actually run to Depake to complain."

By the end of it, Xia Duo actually chuckled.

It was true that Depake was the Supervisor of Personnel for the Tower of Time, but he could not manage Xia Duo; on the contrary, Xia Duo possessed a higher Permission Level and could manage him.

However, Sanduer's act of bringing the unspoken rules into the open was truly disgusting. After thinking for a moment, Xia Duo asked, "How did Depake handle it?"

"Him? It looks like he's getting more slippery as he gets older! He told me directly, and then he closed the Laboratory!"

A look of realization appeared on Niya's face, "No wonder those two Apprentices' promotion applications were submitted to me yesterday! I was wondering why Depake suddenly wanted to prepare for reaching the Advanced Rank; so it was because of this!"

"No, I think it's actually possible for Depake to reach the Advanced Rank!"

"What do you know?" Niya asked, somewhat puzzled.

If it were someone outside the Tower of Time, she might not know as much as Xia Duo, but she had known Depake since she was a child; how could she know less than Xia Duo, who came later!

"I'm not sure, but I think someone who constantly studies Arcane Geometry, even if they can't become an Arcanist, should still be able to become an Advanced Rank Mage!"

"Ah—is that so!"

Niya recalled carefully and found that her interactions with Depake were mostly those of a junior and senior or a superior and subordinate. As for exchanges in the field of Magic, she was more accustomed to communicating with her father or Aiboke; the closeness was clear at a glance.

Thinking of it this way, it was no surprise that Xia Duo understood Depake better.

"I have had a few exchanges with Depake regarding Arcane Geometry, so I suppose I have some understanding of him!"

Xia Duo had indeed discussed Magic with Depake, especially after becoming an Arcanist, which was mainly because he owed Depake for the favor of lending him books back then.

As long as it did not hinder him, he certainly did not mind returning this favor, or even giving a little extra.

Although Mage society appeared cold and ruthless and full of order, human interactions were still indispensable.

After all, even a person who is naturally cold and ruthless, if only considering self-interest, would still hope for others to be friendly and caring toward them.

Since Depake had already shown goodwill, Xia Duo naturally had to respond.

"Perhaps in a little while, the Tower of Time will have its fourth Advanced Rank Mage!"

"I hope so!"

Although she was somewhat skeptical, Niya was still looking forward to it, "Then what are you planning to do about Sanduer?"

"Handle it? Why would I handle it?"

Xia Duo had his own plan, "An Intermediate Mage is still worth winning over; let's wait a bit longer!"

The relationships between Spellcasters were actually quite simple, especially within the same Mage Tower; they were either friendly or neutral, and it was almost impossible for them to be hostile.

It was hard to believe that there could be hostile Spellcasters in the same Mage Tower; one side would definitely find a way to deal with the other, and the weaker side would certainly find a way to escape.

Sanduer might seem weak now, but he had actually kidnapped others, and what he was doing was still within the rules of the Tower of Time; he had not touched the bottom line of the Tower of Time.

At most, it was a conflict of philosophy with Xia Duo. If Xia Duo solved Sanduer by physical means (killing or Banishment), then other Intermediate Mages might also have to find a way to run away.

If the Tower of Time had no Intermediate Mages, how much money could it make relying only on some low-level Mages? It probably wouldn't even cover the Tower of Time's own maintenance costs!

Since Niya succeeded to her position, the Tower of Time had been living off its past glory, especially after that major renovation, which had been a severe blow to its foundations. In such a situation, how could Xia Duo be willing to let go of an Intermediate Mage who could make money?

Don't look at how Sanduer is jumping around now; he still has to do the tasks assigned to him by the Tower of Time. If he doesn't, he is violating the contract, and the nature of that is not the same as snitching.

He wouldn't even need Xia Duo to do anything; he would be marked by the Lord of Radiance himself, and it would be almost impossible for him to join another Mage Tower in the future.

Mages place extreme importance on contracts and naturally have no good feelings for those who violate them.

Once Sanduer violated the contract he signed with the Tower of Time, Xia Duo could imagine his future: either becoming a wandering Mage, mingling among ordinary people, or joining some shady organization.

Of course, it was more likely that he would accept the penalty, continue to stay in the Tower of Time, and continue to disgust Xia Duo until Xia Duo lost patience one day, terminated his contract, banished him, or even killed him after banishment.

Seeing that Niya seemed to want to say something else, Xia Duo hurriedly changed the subject, "Don't worry about Sanduer, I have it under control! Tell me about Yabo and Pamela; I haven't seen them for many days. Are they still as naughty as ever?"

Hearing Xia Duo mention the two Pegasus in the Arcane Garden, Niya couldn't help but feel annoyed. Was she really that playful? Of course, she also knew that Xia Duo was changing the subject. After rolling her eyes at him, she tacitly cooperated:

"Yabo is fine, but Pamela is getting naughtier and naughtier. When I went to see them yesterday, Pamela was teasing the Apprentices!"

"It looks like I should find an opportunity to let them out. If they stay in the Arcane Garden, who knows what they will become!"

"Wait for the King-Slaying Star to fade. If they happen to run into a dragon, they won't be able to beat it!"

"Alright!"