Colin shook his head, held down one corner of the booklet and pushed it back, "Can this witchcraft be considered one that enhances research level?"
Shelley shook her head.
"Then can it be used to exchange for True Knowledge Society points?"
"Yes."
"If I can produce three First Rank Witchcrafts that I created myself right now, can I advance from a Zeroth Rank researcher to a First Rank researcher?"
"Yes."
Hearing the response he was satisfied with, Colin hesitated no longer. He picked up the paper and pen that Shelley had provided moments before and began to write at a rapid pace.
His speed as a First Rank Knight made his writing as fast as a printer, with vast swaths of text swiftly spreading across the white manuscript paper.
Shelley's previously calm expression gradually showed ripples of emotion, and Ocasie had adjusted her glasses several times, yet she still couldn't hide the shock on her face!
Three more First Rank Witchcrafts?
Colin had only advanced to First Rank Wizard a few months ago—how had he managed to create three... no! Four First Rank Witchcrafts?!
But it wasn't long before Colin had recited the remaining three witchcrafts from memory, and the facts were laid plain before them.
Ocasie had no choice but to accept the reality, grudgingly cursing in her mind that he was a freak.
Thinking back, her hope that Colin would join the True Knowledge Society might also have contained a desire to regain some face in her own field of expertise?
Ocasie felt slightly relieved that she hadn't prematurely offered Colin any help in researching witchcraft, with weird offers like having an idea for witchcraft that she could share with him...
Otherwise, she would have undoubtedly wanted to crawl into a hole.
...She had to admit, though she was a First Rank researcher in the True Knowledge Society and that represented her excellent talent in witchcraft,
Compared to the two freaks before her, the gap was just too wide.
The procedure that followed was the same as before. After Shelley finalized the contract, she began to carefully inspect and inquire.
After a while, she concluded the discussion with Colin, looking at him calmly and said,
"Congratulations on your promotion to First Rank researcher."
As she spoke, she seemed ready to hand the witchcraft booklet back to Colin.
Advancing in research rank didn't mean that one had to submit the newly created witchcraft to the True Knowledge Society. Like the entry examination, it only had to be confirmed as new witchcraft and created by the person themselves.
But Colin waved his hand again, asking, "I'd like to know how many points these several witchcrafts can be exchanged for."
Shelley pondered for a moment before responding, "About eight hundred, though that would need further valuation."
Colin nodded, then asked, "I want to know how many points are generally needed to exchange knowledge within the True Knowledge Society, such as a First Rank Witchcraft or the Meditation Method."
Shelley paused, then drew a crystal from the desk drawer and handed it to Colin, "As a First Rank researcher, you can use this crystal to check the exchange prices for all knowledge up to Second Rank."
Taking the crystal without further conversation, Colin quickly sank his mind into it and within moments, using the search function, he found the information for the Tin Saint Meditation Method Second Rank stage in the vast repository of knowledge.
He focused his thoughts on the characters following Tin Saint Meditation Method (Second Rank stage) —
[1000 points.]
After seeing this, a surge of delight washed over Colin!
Councilman Nois did not deceive me!
Exchanging for the Tin Saint Meditation Method (Second Rank) within the True Knowledge Society was indeed much more cost-effective!
Merely four witchcrafts had already been able to exchange for over eight hundred points, barely short of the Tin Saint Meditation Method (Second Rank)!
Before, the old Wizard at the General Affairs Castle had only offered three hundred contribution points for the Steel Temperature Resistance Field, while the School required a full ten thousand contribution points to exchange for the Tin Saint Meditation Method!
The disparity between the two was so vast it seemed somewhat unreasonable.
However, considering the difficulty of joining the True Knowledge Society, after careful thought, it didn't seem unacceptable.
In fact, what puzzled him even more was—
How exactly had this so-called True Knowledge Society wrested such significant power away from those Schools?
With his current understanding, it was a question without an answer.
So, Colin set it aside; after all, his curiosity was not that strong... Some things were better not known too much about.
"How should I exchange knowledge?" he continued to inquire.
"You have to go to the large crystal on the underground floor!" Ocasie finally found an opportunity to interject and eagerly said so.
Shelley nodded and stood up, holding a thick black book.
If not for the black Wizard Robe she wore, her appearance cradling the book would be like that of a high school girl from a former life, exuding a tranquil academic charm.
Shelley walked towards the door while speaking, "Follow me; you still need to pick up the badge for a First Rank researcher first, so you can record and use points."
"Alright." Colin nodded and followed Shelley out the door, with Ocasie in tow.