Behind the brown desk, Colin slowly put down the newspaper in his hands, his brows slightly furrowed as he looked at Renee and asked,
"The rent has increased... How much?"
"It's gone from seven hundred Magic Stones to two thousand," Renee replied, her face also showing distress, "They said it's because you, master, Advanced to First Rank, and are no longer a Wizard Apprentice, so you can no longer enjoy the exclusive discount for apprentice housing."
Colin's brow remained furrowed, it's curious how the rent didn't increase sooner, but chose to do so several months after he had Advanced to a First Rank Wizard…
After pondering for a moment, Colin sighed, put the matter aside, and got up to go downstairs to the living room.
"Good morning," Lillian greeted him with a smile.
Today she was wearing a white pleated dress, with black tights that shaped her slender calves and black leather shoes on her feet.
Her fur coat was hanging on the coat rack beside her.
Due to her petite stature, she sat on the sofa with her feet off the ground, looking like an exquisite doll.
"Good morning," Colin hid his troubled expression and asked with a smile as he sat down on the sofa opposite Lillian, "Did Bobi go to play with Nasi and the others?"
Lillian nodded and stroked her hair, her little feet swinging as she explained, "Bobi insisted on coming early in the morning and made quite a fuss."
"That's okay, the older apprentice can come over whenever she wants," Colin chuckled, having grown accustomed to Lillian coming over most mornings.
Before he left at nine, the two usually chatted for a while.
Just like his daily exchange of knowledge with Shelley at noon, it had become part of his routine.
'However... Lillian as an older apprentice sure does spoil Bobi, accompanying her each time she comes over.'
Colin paused then added, "If the older apprentice doesn't have time during the weekdays to bring Bobi over, you could let Renee go pick her up. With the School's badge, it should be safe."
Lillian was different from him; her family did not have any servants, so he asked her this additional question.
Lillian's swinging feet momentarily stilled, but she did not reply.
She just looked up at Colin and continued, "I will have to leave Neustadt City for a while in a few days, so I won't be able to bring Bobi over to play for some time."
Colin put down his cup of tea and asked, "Are you going out to do a School mission?"
Lillian nodded, "After this mission, I'll have enough School Contribution Points."
She glanced at Colin, hesitated, then asked,
"How are you doing on your end? Once I finish this mission, if I successfully Advance to Second Rank, I could join you in taking on Second Rank School missions. Within three to five months at most, I could help you gather enough contribution points to exchange for the Meditation Method."
With Colin's abilities, he could easily be considered a Wizard that had just entered Second Rank.
Once she Advanced to a Second Rank Wizard, solving some of the School's Second Rank missions should not be a problem.
A warmth filled Colin's heart, but he shook his head, "I've joined the True Knowledge Society, they also offer the exchange for the Second Rank Tin Saint Meditation Method.
Moreover, compared to the School, they offer higher prices for witchcraft. Hmm... I created several spells in the past, and after exchanging them, I'm just a few points away from earning the Second Rank Tin Saint Meditation Method."
Lillian seemed surprised, but she quickly regained her composure.
The entrance exams for the True Knowledge Society were difficult, but for the prodigious junior sitting in front of her, such challenges were likely a piece of cake.
She looked at Colin, swung her feet, and felt a touch of regret.
Colin was advancing too rapidly, and now it seemed she had little left to offer him.
"How have you been lately?" Lillian shifted the topic and made small talk.
"Just following the routine," Colin replied. After a pause, he added, "The School just raised my rent yesterday, which is somewhat troubling."
Lillian was stunned for a moment, and after a moment's realization, she finally understood, "Did they raise your rent because you Advanced to a First Rank Wizard?"
"That's what the School is saying."
Lillian slightly nodded, a hint of understanding flashing in her eyes as she softly asked, "So you still haven't chosen to join another Faction?"
"Mm-hmm," Colin nodded and explained, "Mainly because I can't accept the long contract duration."
"The contract duration is that lengthy?" Lillian asked with some confusion, raising her head.
"Generally around a hundred years."
Colin thought and added, "I'm not even twenty years old yet; a century is too long for me right now, and I wouldn't like to be bound like that."
Lillian fell silent for a moment before she suddenly said, "Do you know why your rent suddenly went up now?"
"I've figured it out," Colin's expression became collected as he calmly said, "It's because I declined all of the Factions."
He had realized it while descending the stairs: the rent increase was undoubtedly connected to that decision.
"That's correct," Lillian affirmed and continued, "But all of this is in accordance with rules."
"The School's rules definitely specify that housing subsidies can only be applied for by Wizard Apprentices, just like the monthly Magic Stone allowance.
However, most of these properties are actually controlled by the various large Factions and Families."
Lillian stopped there, but Colin understood.
This so-called rent increase, though it followed the School's regulations, the actual execution in fact depended on the Factions and Families managing the properties.
They could choose to be strict or choose to overlook it.
Colin was at peace with himself.
Since he had chosen this path, such trivial hardships were not enough to shake his resolve.