Chapter 741: The Evaluation of the Arcanist

This chapter is an extra update sponsored by "Little A-Jing Who Loves Chocolate."

————

Building a nation required a large workforce, and Liszt, already planning to poach talents by any means, naturally wouldn’t refuse two familiar captured Sky Knights.

In fact, during this time the two had performed well in their part-time work at the knight academy, and their character was acceptable—one couldn’t expect knights to swear undying loyalty. Knightly combat was a noble’s game; when captured, they either paid ransom or surrendered. No one forced knights to remain faithful.

He planned to separate them: Garcia would be assigned to Ironhoof City to lead a knight order, while Fox remained on Black Horse Island, also commanding a knight order.

Similar to Garcia and Fox, upon learning that Acheronides was an Archmage, the three great magicians captured from the Kingdom of the Eagle—Lars, Sylar, and Dulaka—begged fervently to follow Acheronides and receive teachings of truth. In the eyes of mages, an Archmage was the mortal incarnation of truth.

Thus, under Acheronides’ prestige, Cris quickly established the Flame Dominion Magic Guild within the mage tower.

The guild appointed Acheronides as its president and Cris as vice president, with the three great magicians and Mary Dawnbreak serving as founding executive committee members, swiftly setting up the framework. All magicians joining the guild were required to comply with its mandatory oversight, with all research projects subject to guild review.

Of course.

Liszt also contributed many constructive management proposals based on his own ideas.

For instance, providing laboratories for great magicians, funding projects, assigning magician assistants, and magic apprentices as helpers. However, great magicians had to submit findings and publications—essentially modeled after Earth’s lab system, where great magicians acted as research professors.

The state funded projects, professors conducted studies and enjoyed honors, with final results submitted to the state.

Additionally, beyond magicians' personal cultivation levels, a new “Arcanist” ranking system based on research achievements would be introduced, roughly divided into Arcanist, Grand Arcanist, Chief Arcanist, and Arcane Mentor, with ascending ranks and corresponding benefits.

This world had no term like “Arcanist,” so Liszt borrowed it to replace “professor.”

He felt “Arcanist” had a bit more prestige than “professor.”

Under the guild’s framework, the Arcanist Evaluation Committee was soon established. Acheronides was appointed as committee chairperson, wielding veto power and forced promotion authority. Liszt, meanwhile, declared himself the committee’s Oversight Director, holding direct veto power, direct promotion authority, and the right to dissolve the committee at any time.

Essentially, he called the shots in both the Magic Guild and Arcanist evaluations.

If he remained silent, then Acheronides decided everything.

If Acheronides also stayed silent, matters would proceed according to the guild’s and committee’s regulations.

……

Establishing the Magic Guild and the Arcanist Evaluation Committee was not for show. As more magicians in the territory participated in its development, an effective management system had to be implemented to be at Liszt’s disposal at all times.

For example, the cultivation of Crystal Cyathea became the first research project after the guild’s founding.

Magicians could choose to accept or reject projects, but once accepted, they had to deliver results within the stipulated time.

Successfully cultivating new Crystal Cyathea and submitting the growth protocol to the guild would support the territory’s large-scale cultivation efforts.

“Those who wish to receive an Archmage’s teachings must join the Magic Guild and provide research results—otherwise, scram!” Liszt was blunt. “Cris, crack down on guild violations strictly as I’ve outlined. Any magician who dares violate guild regulations or refuses to join shall be expelled immediately.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Furthermore, magicians are forbidden from conducting black magic experiments in private. Violators will be expelled, and in severe cases, eliminated!”

He remained wary of magicians at all times.

Only after setting these high standards did Liszt find time to inquire about ongoing magic experiments: “Winter’s approaching. How is the cultivation of Frostfire Mushrooms progressing? Do they conflict with Flame Mushrooms in the Magic Web?”

“Preliminary data suggests that though both are fire-aligned Abandoned Insect Mushrooms, they do not conflict with each other.”

"Provide me with detailed data as soon as possible. I plan to trade Abandoned Insect Mushrooms again." The Abandoned Insect Mushroom was part of Liszt's early plans—anything that could enhance magical herbs was welcome, the more the better. "The Magic Guild can issue more research tasks related to Abandoned Insect Mushrooms."

"Lady Acheronides has also given similar instructions. She believes the connection between Abandoned Insect Mushrooms and the Magic Web is the most direct pathway for ordinary mages to study the Magic Web."

"I see."

With Acheronides handling the arrangements, Liszt could rest easy.

He left the mage tower and continued with official duties.

Both Coral Island and Black Horse Island mobilized serfs to search for new varieties of thorns, but the results were disappointing—no new species were found. Ox-Tail Fief and Ironhoof City also dispatched knights to assist in the search. William Lee even wrote letters to many noble lords he was acquainted with, asking them to help locate thorns.

Liszt even wrote a letter to the Sapphire Duchy, requesting the Sapphire family's assistance in the search.

Jaela's evolution might be triggered by any new variety of thorn, but to increase the probability of success, the more new thorn varieties, the better—even if the increase in pheromones didn't guarantee success, it at least provided peace of mind.

On the path of evolution, Liszt had no idea how to help Jaela.

Encouragement, watering, fertilizing, and increasing pheromones—these were all he could do.

...

The Sapphire family quickly delivered six new royal swift-sailing ships to Black Horse Island, originally intended to replenish the royal fleet. However, Liszt secured them early under the pretext of urgently searching for an archipelago to establish a kingdom—the Duke also wanted Liszt to leave sooner.

Of the six swift-sailing ships, three were allocated to supplement the territory's trade, while the other three were assigned to Yevich and Kosto for training. They would set off on an expedition immediately after the New Year.

Not only was the Duke eager, but Liszt also hoped to find a suitable location for founding a kingdom as soon as possible.

An early discovery would allow for early development, enabling a smooth industrial transition before the territory's industries were fully established, minimizing losses during the handover.

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.

News about the Eagle Kingdom finally reached Liszt, sourced both from the Sapphire Duchy and intelligence from bloodbound servants.

"Dragon Rider Carlo is dead, and the Eagle Kingdom is furious. Rumors say the king vowed to launch a Second Dragon Slaying War on the spot..."

"With the news of the failed Dragon Slaying War spreading, tensions rose along the borders of the three kingdoms, forcing Alonso to rush to the front lines to stabilize the situation."

"The Steel Ridge Kingdom has dispatched an envoy group, currently en route to the Sapphire Duchy, intending to meet with me?"

"The Eagle Kingdom seems unwilling to concede, sending numerous ships to harass Sapphire's trade routes, leading to frequent naval clashes at sea."

As Liszt reviewed all the information, one particularly intriguing piece caught his attention: "The Eagle Kingdom announced the selection of suitable candidates for Dragon Riders to swiftly tame the Light Green Gem Dragon?"