About half an hour later, he slowly raised his head and said succinctly, "If the data inside isn't falsified... incorrect, this witchcraft could be exchanged for... well, 300 contribution points."
Colin nodded calmly. Three hundred contribution points, it seemed reasonable, especially since it was only a First Rank Lower witchcraft.
Bartley, reading his expression, mistook it for dissatisfaction and hurriedly explained, "Lord Colin, the School has strict regulations for accepting witchcraft, mainly evaluating them based on their real combat effectiveness.
"Your witchcraft has both a Force Field Defense and temperature resistance effect, but as for the primary defensive effect, it is no different from some other witchcraft that combine Force Field Defense.
"Some of them also have a brief temperature resistance effect, though not as good as this one, but the simple temperature resistance does not have a significant impact in real combat. In addition, this witchcraft does not have any particular advantages in terms of Magic Power consumption."
"So, according to the School's requirements, this is already the highest number of contribution points I can offer."
The old wizard wore a wry smile; he wasn't the one who decided on which witchcraft to catalogue, and he could only follow the regulations.
However, Colin, who listened to the explanation, frowned inwardly.
The old wizard in front of him hadn't truly understood the Steel Temperature Resistance Field from a single instance of Limit Breaking, or rather, he had only glanced at the effects superficially.
Colin knew that certain Force Field Defense witchcraft could possess insulating abilities like the Steel Temperature Resistance Field.
But that kind of insulation came more from inherent properties of certain Force Fields and was different from his method of combining specialized temperature resistance with Force Field Defense.
Still, he said nothing, after all, Bartley had made it clear that the School currently values practical combat applications when cataloguing witchcraft.
And regarding practical combat, he had to admit, the old wizard was correct.
He was not so naive as to believe that a single instance of Limit Breaking in the Steel Temperature Resistance Field could outperform all other First Rank Lower Defensive Witchcraft.
"I understand," Colin nodded.
"Do you want to exchange anything else?" Bartley asked.
"Not for now," Colin shook his head.
Three hundred contribution points had already met the expectations he had in his mind.
But yesterday's conversation with Lillian made it clear to him that submitting his witchcraft meant selling it off completely to the School, not just the witchcraft itself but also his rights to disseminate it.
He intended to reconsider it... well, mainly to see how much the so-called True Knowledge Society could offer in exchange.
Only by comparing offers could he avoid a loss.
...
Leaving the mission hall, Colin quickly made his way to the Black Castle.
He intended to go to the front desk to inquire about how to obtain the Golden Feather Token, but as soon as he entered, he caught sight of two familiar figures—
Jonah, responsible for Golden Feather Token registration, and his student Ocasie, in charge of Rank updates, walking side by side.
"You understand what I said, Ocasie? When you go to inquire about when Colin is appropriate to come for the Golden Feather Token today, make sure to have a good attitude," Jonah instructed in a low voice.
After that day, he had kept Colin, the young Golden Feather, in mind.
Then the news spread from the Black Castle Inspection Office that two Inspection Captains and several Inspectors had been dismissed or punished because of Colin, which made Jonah wary.
It was said that this was indirectly related to the Hidosh Family, and what's more, it was the Hidosh Family that had come off worse!
This made Jonah quite certain that Colin was likely favored by someone powerful.
After much consideration, he decided to instruct Ocasie to seek out Colin today, to inquire about the Golden Feather Token while also personally offering an apology.
After all, last time it was only him who had sought forgiveness on Ocasie's behalf, but out of politeness or otherwise, Ocasie still needed to apologize herself.
"I understand," Ocasie replied softly, her expression complex.
She was not a fool; although Jonah did not tell her everything, she had gradually realized... what Colin said during his first Rank update might not have been a lie.
That meant Colin might truly be that Heroic Wizard!
At that thought, Ocasie couldn't help but adjust her glasses, feeling a bit feverish on her face.
"Good morning, Inspector Jonah."
Just then, a voice suddenly came from behind. Ocasie stiffened, turning her head subconsciously, her expression somewhat panicked.
"...Good morning, Wizard Colin," Jonah turned around, a bit surprised, "Are you here to collect the Golden Feather Token? I was just thinking of asking Ocasie today when you'd be available."
"Yes," Colin nodded, glancing at the slightly tense Ocasie, feeling a bit curious.
But he didn't dwell on it and continued, "I happened to have things to do at the School today, so I took the opportunity to come to Black Castle to collect the Golden Feather Token."
"I see, what a coincidence. Then let me take you there now," Jonah said with a smile, casting an imperceptible glance at Ocasie beside him, and couldn't help but frown slightly in his mind.
What is she standing there stunned for, not even offering a greeting!
With a silent sigh, Jonah put on a smile again and said, "Ocasie, explain to Wizard Colin about the Golden Feather Token, the precautions during collection, and its functions."
"...Yes!" Ocasie faltered for a moment, then hurriedly nodded.
She glanced at Colin, their eyes met for an instant before she subconsciously looked away.
'Ocasie, Ocasie, don't panic now, if your initial prejudice was wrong, then you should bravely apologize. Why act so flustered!
Hurry, apologize now and it's all over!'
Pausing for a moment, Ocasie adjusted her large brown round-framed glasses and said:
"The Golden Feather Token collection process is quite complex. What you need to do is to input your soul waves into the core component of the token before the production starts, and after the Golden Feather Token is formed, use it to leave a mark within the School's Golden Feather Tower."
"Furthermore, the Golden Feather Token itself maintains a constant Witch Array for calling for help, which can be activated if you encounter a powerful enemy.
Within a hundred miles, the signal can be sent to the Golden Feather Tower at the first instant… Even if that's not possible, it can also leave a special mark on the enemy, facilitating the School's pursuit for revenge."
Colin nodded slightly. A reach within a hundred miles seemed short, but in this world filled with tainted babbling interference, such a communication range was already quite far.
You should know that previously in the Southern Sea Domain, the distance was only a few hundred miles, but to contact a big shot like Nois, the effort he spent was not slight.
"At the same time, the Golden Feather Token can also detect your life signs, and if your soul waves disappear, the Golden Feather Tower will know immediately."
"I understand," Colin nodded. If the privileges brought by the Golden Feather Token were invisible, then what Ocasie had just described was the most tangible safeguard.
If he encountered a life-threatening danger later, even a hundred miles away, as long as the coming person lived on the Wizard Continent, they would have to weigh whether they could withstand the vengeance of a School that has stood unyielding for a thousand years!
After Ocasie finished speaking, she fell into silence again.
She looked at Colin, her lips moved several times, but the words of apology always surged to her throat and then quickly retreated.
Maybe the atmosphere wasn't right, apologizing directly felt a bit abrupt.
Jonah glanced at Ocasie with a sort of regretful frustration.
He had protected Ocasie too well.
Her personality was that of a typical academic Witch, seemingly dull but actually sharp.
Only, she didn't like socializing and wasn't good at it.
"I heard you had other matters at the School today; may I inquire what they were?" Jonah prompted the conversation again.
"I went to General Affairs Castle..." Colin started to reply briefly, but suddenly had a thought and paused to ask, "Do you know of the True Knowledge Society, Inspector Jonah?"
Since Jonah, a Second Rank Wizard, worked at Black Castle, if Colin could get information from him about how to join the True Knowledge Society, it would save him another trip to find his mentor.
"The True Knowledge Society?" Jonah blinked, then his expression turned somewhat strange as he replied, "Let Ocasie tell you about that; she knows more about the True Knowledge Society than I do."
He paused for a moment, adjusted his glasses, then added, "She is actually a formal member of the True Knowledge Society."