Synthetic Wizard

Chapter 396 - 236: Unspoken Understanding

Just as Sunan devoted his energy to cultivation and research, the sub-magic energy technology also spread across the southeastern region of the continent at an astonishing speed.

As the concentration of energy particles on the continent gradually increased, the speed at which the secondary magic stone veins were cultivated and formed also gradually accelerated.

In places with rich energy node locations, the formation speed of secondary magic stone veins was even faster.

By the year 1436 of the Starlight Calendar, a small-scale secondary magic stone vein and two medium-scale secondary magic stone veins were being mined under the jurisdiction of the Star Alliance, with the output of secondary magic stones having increased five or six times compared to previous years.

The rise in secondary magic stone output also facilitated the rapid spread of sub-magic energy technology.

"This is the development status of sub-magic energy technology in the southeast region over the past ten years."

Lize placed a document in front of Sunan.

"The situation is much better than we expected. The income of the southeast region has been steadily increasing for the past ten years, and last year’s income is more than doubled compared to ten years ago. If the whole Starlight Continent promotes sub-magic energy technology, the annual income of the Star Alliance will definitely exceed fifty million gold coins."

Sunan opened the document to read and casually asked, "How long will it take for the remaining secondary magic stone veins to form?"

"If the continental energy particle concentration continues to rise as it is now, about two hundred years."

"That long?"

"After all, the remaining ones are large-scale veins, and they require more time."

Initially, to maximize the use of each energy node, the Star Alliance only opened up one small and two medium-sized veins to prepare for the promotion of sub-magic energy technology, while the rest were all developed into large veins.

Lize said, "Although the waiting time is a bit longer, once all the large veins are formed, the output will be sufficient for the entire Starlight Continent."

Sunan agreed with this.

Although the sub-magic energy technology in the southeast is still in its early stages and the demand for secondary magic stones has not reached its peak, the output of one small and two medium-sized veins is barely enough to supply the secondary magic stone demand for the entire southeast region, which already shows how considerable the output of these veins is.

Once the remaining thirty or so large veins are formed, the secondary magic stone output will surely be more than sufficient to cover the whole continent.

After reading the document, Sunan had a clear understanding of the development details of sub-magic energy technology and secondary magic stone veins and set the document aside, then asked about another matter.

"How is the Starlight Academy doing lately?"

"Not bad."

Lize gestured, and a new document fell in front of Sunan.

"Perhaps due to the increased energy particle concentration, more people have wizard qualifications these years."

"Currently, the total number of students at the Starlight Academy has exceeded twenty-three thousand, with two hundred and eighty-eight of them being Level 3 Wizard Apprentices."

Sunan nodded with satisfaction.

This number is already very impressive; the total number of wizard apprentices on the Starlight Continent over the past century likely doesn’t even amount to this many.

And it can be anticipated that the number of new students enrolling each year will continue to increase.

Until the energy particle concentration of the Starlight Continent completely stabilizes, reaching a balance between the amount of new entrants and deaths among wizard apprentices, will the number of students reach its peak.

If there are no changes, it should always hover around that level.

By then, the Starlight Academy will have at least tens of thousands of students.

This basically reaches the average number of wizard apprentices that a medium-sized human plane can produce.

As for those large wizard influences, the reason they have millions of wizard apprentices is because they control multiple human planes and have a wide base for recruitment.

"And the number of wizards?" Sunan then asked.

"Currently, it’s seven."

Sunan raised an eyebrow, recalling it was five wizards previously.

"Who are the two newly promoted ones?"

"Sherman and Cole."

This answer genuinely surprised Sunan.

"When did they advance?"

"Half a year ago," Lize said. "They originally wanted to report their advancement to you, but you were either in the training room or locked up in the workshop, so they couldn’t find a chance."

Sunan was speechless.

It seems he is somewhat inadequate as a teacher, being unaware of such significant events as his disciples advancing to wizard.

"That’s good; it appears both of them are diligently training, so I cannot treat them poorly as their teacher. Have them come to the study one day."

Sunan paused, then asked:

"What about Attila?"

Lize shook her head, "She lacks the aptitude; no matter how hard she tries, it won’t be possible for her to advance to wizard through normal means."

Sensing an implied meaning in Lize’s words, Sunan asked with interest, "Are you implying there’s an unconventional way for her to do it?"

Lize said nothing but glanced at the codex on the table in front of her.

Sunan was slightly startled, and then frowned.

"Are you suggesting Attila should transform into a ghost form like you did and then reshape her body?"

Lize said calmly, "Only in this way can Attila acquire more time and gain a slim hope of advancing to wizard."

"But isn’t this method not guaranteed to succeed? It even carries a significant risk of death," Sunan said, frowning.

"I’ve already asked Attila, and she’s willing to do this."

Sunan was momentarily silent, sighing inwardly.

Attila usually doesn’t seem desperate to enhance her strength, yet she has an unexpectedly deep obsession with advancing to wizard, to the extent that she’s willing to use such a highly fatal method just to gain a slim chance of advancement.

Perhaps her usual demeanor was merely a facade to mask her disappointment and inferiority over her insufficient aptitude.

After a long pause, Sunan finally spoke:

"I’m curious, why are you willing to help Attila extract her soul and transform into a ghost form?"

Attila couldn’t possibly know about Lize’s experience; the matter of extracting the soul and transforming into a ghost could have only been proactively told by Lize.

But given Lize’s character, it’s hard to imagine her doing such a thing.

Even mentioning this to Sunan now might have an element of seeking favor for Attila.

Even though Attila is just a Level 3 Wizard Apprentice in name, the resources needed to reshape her body won’t be as astonishing as Lize’s, but it’s still a considerable expenditure.

At least for an ordinary Level 3 Wizard Apprentice, the resources needed to reshape the body are absolutely astronomical, unachievable even with a century’s worth of contribution points.

Under normal circumstances, the Star Alliance would not pay such a high price for a Level 3 Wizard Apprentice without sufficient value.

Lize was silent for a moment, then said, "Her temperament suits me."

Sunan was speechless, then laughed.

Indeed, even wizards are not emotionless logs.

Attila had been by Lize’s side for so long, one assisting with various duties, and the other occasionally guiding in training; it’s not surprising for them to develop some feelings.

In name, Attila is his student, but in fact, she’s more like a disciple to Lize.

Thinking about this, Sunan got an idea and smiled, "Reshaping the body isn’t cheap. How do you plan to convince me?"

"...What do you want?"

"Adjust the previous agreement: After reshaping the body, you will join the Star Alliance."

Lize’s expression froze, she glared at Sunan but eventually nodded.

"Fine, I agree."

"It’s settled then; Attila’s matter is up to you. Whatever is needed, take it directly from the warehouse. If we’re fortunate and succeed, when the plane barriers are completely restored in the future, I’ll reshape her body for her."

After finishing the conversation, Sunan didn’t stay much longer and directly left the study.

Lize watched Sunan’s figure disappear, shook her head, and let out a light chuckle.

Having stayed in the Star Alliance for so long and observed its development potential, she had long considered reshaping her body and joining the Star Alliance.

Even without today’s matter, she would have proposed it later.

She knew Sunan actually noticed this point as well; the conversation just now was merely a mutual understanding between them.

Even if she didn’t pay any price, Sunan would agree to Attila’s request.

After all, she is his disciple.

The Star Alliance indeed wouldn’t pay a huge price for a Level 3 Wizard Apprentice.

But if that Level 3 Wizard Apprentice is the disciple of the Star Alliance’s ruler, then it’s a different story.