"The official member of the True Knowledge Society?"
Colin was slightly startled and turned to look at Ocasie.
The beautiful Witch with brown-framed glasses noticed his gaze and awkwardly stroked her hair beside her ear, revealing a tender, fair face.
"Colin... Your Excellency, what do you want to know about the True Knowledge Society?"
Colin paused, then said, "I've heard that the True Knowledge Society collects a vast amount of witchcraft knowledge, and, like Schools, you can exchange it for contribution points of the True Knowledge Society. Is that right? What are the specific requirements? Uh... and how are contribution points obtained?"
"Yes," Ocasie nodded, organizing her thoughts before replying, "Let me briefly introduce you to the True Knowledge Society."
Colin nodded slightly. Under Neustadt's description, he had a vague impression of the True Knowledge Society, but its specific appearance was still unclear.
"The True Knowledge Society actually exists in every Wizard City. The True Knowledge Society of Neustadt City is commonly referred to as the Neustadt branch. The same goes for other cities — the city name followed by the word 'branch.'
There is no headquarters for the True Knowledge Society. Branches are in contact with one another... Overall, the True Knowledge Society is a loosely organized group of Wizards researching knowledge."
Ocasie continued, her eyes slightly brightening. Although her words were modest, her tone clearly revealed pride.
"Unlike Schools, the True Knowledge Society doesn't have a direct hierarchy. In it, Wizards only differ in their research levels. From Zero Level to Fifth Level, there are corresponding standards, but no examinations.
To exchange witchcraft knowledge within the True Knowledge Society, the premise is to be a member of the Society, and at the same time, different knowledge requires different research levels."
"As for how to obtain contribution points, it's roughly the same as with Schools, except that in the type of tasks, the True Knowledge Society focuses more on supporting research."
Ocasie's fragmented words gradually built up an impression of a large yet unexpectedly simple organization in Colin's mind.
"I understand," he nodded, then asked, "What should I look out for if I want to join the True Knowledge Society? And what would I need to do after joining?"
'Join the True Knowledge Society?' Jonah subconsciously glanced back at Colin, somewhat surprised.
Ocasie next to him was taken aback, but quickly answered:
"The management of the True Knowledge Society is very loose and doesn't have mandatory tasks every year like Schools do.
Unless you remain at the Zero Level researcher stage for more than two years, as long as you join, you can retain your membership indefinitely."
"Moreover, joining the True Knowledge Society won't affect your status as a member of a School," Ocasie thought for a moment and added.
"Mm," Colin nodded, continuing to look at Ocasie with an inquisitive gaze, signaling her to keep talking.
Ocasie paused, her expression hesitantly continuing:
"However, even though the management is loose after joining the True Knowledge Society, the threshold to join is very high."
She knew Colin was a genius in his training, possessing exceptional Talent for Wizard Level advancement, but that didn't necessarily mean he excelled at witchcraft research.
Moreover, every Wizard's time is limited; rapid advancement in Wizard Level often means that one is not proficient in witchcraft research.
"So, what is the specific threshold?" Colin continued to inquire.
In a world monopolized by knowledge, an organization like the True Knowledge Society that could provide him with an additional avenue to acquire knowledge had already made him determined to join upon learning about it.
Previously, he was only debating whether to exchange for the Second Rank stage of the Tin Saint Meditation Method within his School or within the True Knowledge Society.
"The threshold is to have at least successfully created a new form of witchcraft; the quality doesn't matter, but it can't be too simple," Ocasie replied.
She watched Colin's calm expression and, for some reason, hesitated before adding, "Of course, if Your Excellency wishes to join, perhaps I can help with some things... as long as the witchcraft is more than thirty percent different from existing ones, it can be considered new witchcraft."
Colin was taken aback, somewhat surprised by Ocasie's words. He shook his head and said, "Thank you for your kindness, but it's not necessary, I've researched and invented a few forms of witchcraft in my spare time."
"How many?" Ocasie's face clearly froze for a moment.
By her side, Jonah exhibited the same reaction, unable to suppress a look of astonishment.
Colin, while maintaining such a rapid pace of advancement, had actually found time to research new witchcraft!
However, Jonah, who was responsible for registering the Golden Feather Token, was experienced and well-informed and soon composed himself.
On the contrary, it was Ocasie who almost stood petrified.
"What's the matter?" Colin calmly asked.
"Nothing... nothing." Ocasie shook her head, her eyes fixed on the handsome Colin before her, and couldn't help but adjust her brown, large-framed glasses.
By now, she had ceased doubting the truth in Colin's words and was silently reflecting in her heart.
When Colin inquired about the True Knowledge Society, pride had indeed lingered in her heart, considering even a Golden Feather did not necessarily guarantee entry into the True Knowledge Society.
A Golden Feather was more about assessing one's cultivation speed, while the True Knowledge Society, on the contrary, hardly valued personal strength—it solely prized the ability to research knowledge.
Yet Colin's Talent had far exceeded her expectations... Truly a monster of nature.
Ocasie pursed her lips, a sense of defeat welling inside her. She looked at Colin, paused, and then suddenly said:
"Sir Colin, I apologize for my previous foolish prejudice. If you wish, after collecting the Golden Feather Token, I may take you to the True Knowledge Society."
Upon hearing Ocasie's words, Jonah finally breathed a sigh of relief, somewhat comforted.
"Then I thank you in advance, Lady Ocasie," Colin replied, pausing briefly before adding, "As for the previous matter, I truly never took it to heart."
Listening to Colin's words, Ocasie inexplicably felt a touch of annoyance.
Never took it to heart... That might well be the truth, but why did it sound so irksome!
Although many thoughts swirled in her mind, Ocasie's expression revealed little change, as she simply replied in a muffled tone:
"No need to thank me."
Meanwhile, Colin hadn't noticed the change in Ocasie's mood.
He glanced at Jonah beside him. In the moment their gazes met, he understood intuitively—
Jonah and Ocasie probably guessed his identity as a Heroic Wizard.
After all, he hadn't deliberately concealed this identity before, and Neustadt hadn't reminded him of it either.
Of course, even when he had spoken of it numerous times before, nobody had believed him.
But now, as a Golden Feather genius seen with favor by influential figures in Jonah's eyes, connecting his previous statements made it easy to deduce his to the role of a Heroic Wizard.
Withdrawing his gaze, Colin continued on his way, his expression serene, appearing completely unaware.
The rewards from the Supreme Council were to be distributed soon; the benefits were already in hand. At this juncture, clamoring for the hollow title of a hero was not only useless but could also potentially bring unnecessary trouble.
Particularly considering Neustadt City might still harbor spies of the Divine!
Thus, unless Jonah asked him, naturally, he wouldn't, and couldn't, say more.
Of course, even if Jonah did ask, he certainly wouldn't admit it now.
And so, the three of them ascended the staircase, eventually arriving at the secluded third-floor chamber where the Golden Feather Tokens were distributed.