Chapter 547: The Delayed Departure

"She" was indeed right. The flipped card was not "The Moon" nor "The Devil," but "The Phoenix." Professor Sanchez looked at Xia De unexpectedly, as if he hadn't expected this result.

"Hams, I think they are all fine."

Professor Milar said to Professor Sanchez, who nodded and accepted the answer:

"Alright then, gentlemen and ladies, please continue to pay attention to the news about Miss Mana Feilian. If you have valuable information, you can provide it to the Academy. The Academy will not be stingy with any rewards—yes, any rewards. Thank you for your cooperation. This inquiry ends here. We still have to meet other groups in the area. Do you have anything else to say?"

The doctor, Luweiya, and "Duoluqian" shook their heads immediately. Xia De, who had a guilty conscience, naturally wouldn't speak either, but Priest Ao Gu Si, standing behind the doctor, raised his hand to indicate he had something to say:

"The Dawn Church is sending me on a business trip near Mount Sikar. I'll probably leave next week and might not be able to return for half the autumn. This kind of long-term departure from the local group's station needs to be reported to the Academy."

"Mount Sikar, so the Orthodox Church also knows..."

Professor Sanchez frowned slightly:

"I see. This kind of normal outing can be approved, but before leaving, according to the process, you need to submit a report, an application form, and a letter of commitment. After knowing the specific business trip location, the Academy can arrange for you to temporarily join the local study group for a few months. Of course, you can refuse, but if you don't contact the Academy for a few months, there will be a pile of documents for you to fill out when you return."

"I understand."

Seeing Priest Ao Gu Si nod, Professor Sanchez looked at Xia De again:

"Mr. Hamilton, Librarian Miss Danister asked me to pass a letter to you."

He pointed to the poetry manuscript page placed on the table by the doctor. As the light flickered, an envelope appeared there. Xia De walked to the table, picked up the envelope, and squeezed it to confirm there was only one sheet of letter paper inside.

"Then Professor Milar, do you have anything else?"

Professor Sanchez asked the divination expert from the School of Astronomy, who nodded and said to Luweiya:

"The Academy's autumn stargazing activity is expected to start in the second half of this month. If you are interested in participating, remember to write an application in advance."

The School of Astronomy's autumn stargazing activity is a large-scale divination activity organized by the Academy every year. Even correspondence Ringed Shushi can participate through projection rituals; it is a signature activity of the School of Astronomy.

After saying this, Professor Sanchez exhorted the five of them not to forget the winter exams, and only then did he leave with Professor Milar and Miss Simpson.

The figures of the three gradually faded, and the flames burning in the water basin also disappeared bit by bit. Very eerily, no one in the room spoke for the first time, and the other four looked at Xia De, who was holding the cat, in unison.

Strictly speaking, only Luweiya clearly knew that Xia De was related to the appearance of Miss Feilian, but in reality, Priest Ao Gu Si, who knew Xia De had set off for the dark domain, Doctor Shi Nai De, who knew Xia De was related to the Pus of Man, and Duoluqian, who knew Xia De had planned a major event, all guessed that Xia De couldn't be separated from this matter.

Of course, no one asked directly in the end; Doctor Shi Nai De just sighed that Tobeisk had always had such strange things happening in the past two months.

"But to be honest, compared to the frequency of previous years, there haven't been particularly many things since the summer of this year."

Priest Ao Gu Si, who had lived in this city for almost his whole life, pointed out this error:

"It's just that the things this year have been particularly unexpected."

It just so happened that because Doctor Shi Nai De went out for something yesterday, the group study session didn't take place. Since everyone was gathered together today, everyone shared what had happened in the past week.

Except for Xia De and Luweiya, the lives of the others were quite peaceful. The doctor said he had collected all the ritual materials for his advancement from the Fifth Tier to the Sixth Tier, and was just waiting for the Yellow Moon to reach its fullest state in the year to hold the ritual.

"Speaking of which, I also intend to advance from the Third Tier to the Fourth Tier recently."

Luweiya mentioned. Doctor Shi Nai De nodded and asked the blonde female writer:

"Lu Yisha, how is your ritual going?"

Duoluqian was going to perform the ritual for advancing from the Fourth Tier to the Fifth Tier, which is the advancement from the low tier to the middle tier. Because it involves the connection of Whispering Words, although the ritual materials aren't difficult to find, the difficulty of the ritual is actually higher than the doctor's advancement from the Fifth Tier to the Sixth Tier.

"I still need to prepare for a while, but it shouldn't be a problem before winter arrives."

"Duoluqian" said.

"In this way, if everything goes smoothly, our group will be able to meet the minimum requirement of 【having five Ringed Shushi, with one each at the Sixth, Fifth, and Fourth Tiers】 by the end of this year."

The doctor said with a smile. Xia De asked curiously:

"Are we going to apply to go to St. Byrons next spring?"

This wasn't asked out of curiosity; it was something the doctor asked Xia De to ask now before they separated at the clinic. The doctor originally intended to go to St. Byrons as soon as possible to use the Academy's power to strengthen himself. But now that he had swallowed an ancient demon like the "Pus of Man," going to the Academy wasn't so urgent. After all, although the Academy's conditions were good, the degree of freedom couldn't compare to here.

The doctor didn't want to leave so quickly. After confirming that Xia De didn't want to leave within a year or two either, they had this inquiry under their collusion.

"No, no, not that fast, Xia De. We only meet the minimum application requirement, but according to the number of formal students at the Academy and the vacancy rate of lecturer and professor positions, the requirements actually change every year. Xia De, before you came, I told them that for the sake of safety and the standard of living after arriving at St. Byrons, we shouldn't apply until we meet the conditions."

After arriving at St. Byrons, everyone still has to live, and the treatment received naturally depends on the power one has; this is a very realistic situation.

"I've inquired about the situation of other groups at this Academy as well as the correspondence groups at Sexes and Zalas. Generally speaking, everyone chooses to set off when the group has at least three middle-tier Ringed Shushi, and they also need to spend some time dealing with other things around them. I can't abandon my clinic immediately, Lu Yisha's career has had a new start, the priest's church work cannot be easily abandoned, and you, Xia De, can't abandon your social relationships here either. So, I plan to prepare for a few more years. After all, except for Priest Ao Gu Si, our ages aren't particularly old."

The others nodded, recognizing the doctor's view.

Doctor Shi Nai De was very satisfied that there were no opposing opinions, so he summarized:

"We are not in a hurry to go to St. Byrons, so the departure can be delayed for a few years. I've even heard that some groups decided to set off when the group leader was about to advance to the high tier. Now it is the autumn of 1853 in the General Calendar. We will definitely set off within five years, but the specifics depend on everyone's advancement speed and the requirements of the Academy."

Xia De touched the small head of Mia, who was in his arms.

This meant that he would still live in this city for a long time.

After the group meeting ended, it was only just four o'clock. Priest Ao Gu Si had to return to the church and promised to tell everyone as soon as there was specific news about the business trip. The doctor still had work; there were quite a few patients in Tobeisk who needed the help of a psychologist.

Although Xia De really wanted to spend some time alone with Luweiya, the purple-eyed young lady, who had rested well, had to return to the Diviner's Association immediately to report on what happened after she left alone yesterday. Because of physical reasons, she had already delayed for a whole morning. If she didn't appear, the Association would also have unnecessary suspicions.

So, Xia De left with "Duoluqian." She was almost certain that what happened yesterday must be related to Xia De, so she wanted to hear Xia De's story.

And in the carriage on the way back, Xia De opened the letter from Miss Danister. The first sentence at the beginning made him almost tear the paper:

【I have already processed the time record of the "Dream of St. Byrons Comprehensive Academy" being delivered to your hands, erasing the record that the relic had been handed to you. Now, only I know that it had appeared in your hands.】

"Why such an expression? Miss Danister, did she change the Academy bounty originally given to you and now wants you to go slay a dragon?"

Lei Qianya joked, but politely didn't look at the letter in Xia De's hand.

"No, it's just... some small matters."

Xia De said, lowering his head to continue reading.

Miss Danister actually wasn't sure if Xia De was related to the appearance of the Academy's founder. But at such a coincidental timing, even if the matter really had nothing to do with Xia De, it would definitely attract an investigation by the Academy. She processed the record of this matter, erased the memories of some people who handled the relic, and warned Xia De to think carefully before doing things in the future.

Miss Danister didn't want to get the truth of this matter from Xia De. She only cared about the "Silver Moon Library." Therefore, she didn't ask Xia De to explain this matter in the letter, but told Xia De to stay away from these troublesome things. She couldn't possibly handle the aftermath of things just right every time.

"Miss Danister said that the relic related to the 【Sleep】 spiritual rune that I originally wanted to borrow cannot be borrowed now."

Xia De folded the letter paper, turned it into a plush toy, and then burned it directly with the spell 【Ignite】.

"Oh? That doesn't matter. Just leave the 【Sleep】 spiritual rune to me."

The princess using the blonde young lady's body said with a smile:

"And, before obtaining 【Light】 to advance to the Third Tier, you don't have to worry."

"Mm... actually, I'm already at the Third Tier."

Xia De said. Lei Qianya blinked:

"I remember when I saw you at Yodel Palace on Wednesday, you were still at the Second Tier... Today is Sunday... Only four days have passed. I can understand you suddenly obtaining enlightenment; after all, you had been preparing for 【Light】 for two and a half months. But how did you manage to get all the ritual materials at once? And, doesn't your advancement ritual need to consider the moon phase and time?" ===== CHAPTER 548 =====