Arcane Lord

Xia Duo took a quick look and found nothing unusual. The quota of Leonard, the former tower master's student, was roughly the same as before.

But this number is slightly insufficient compared to Leonard's laboratory, one of the three private laboratories officially supported by the Tower of Time.

Perhaps Leonard felt that his teacher was gone and that the Tower of Time was now run by Nia, so he wanted to keep a low profile, but Xia Duo was not a harsh person.

How could he embarrass him because of his identity!

Besides, it was Leonard who brought him into the Tower of Time and gave him ten learning scrolls that were very important for Xia Duo in the early stage. Even if there was the factor of Mu Yan, Xia Duo was grateful.

He took out this document separately and put it aside, and Xia Duo continued to read the documents below.

...

The following application is interesting, with topics such as "Design of 3rd-level spells at the 1st level" and "Research on the materialization of the magic net string" everywhere.

At first glance, even Xia Duo was fooled by the names of these topics, but thinking carefully, can these mid-level mages understand things that even he can't understand?

For example, the description of "quasi-3rd-level spells" is quite spiritual. The application report says that it is similar to the effect of 3rd-level spells, not the equivalent 3rd-level as Xia Duo initially thought, that kind of equivalence in the transformation of the elements of the magic network string.

The report also said that as long as this is understood, 1st-level spells can be used as 3rd-level spells in the future, and neither the difficulty of casting nor the difficulty of learning will increase, but will decrease.

Isn't this nonsense!

There is also the materialization of the magic network string, which is even more nonsense. At present, any theory that Xia Duo has come into contact with, as well as his own personal research, do not support the so-called materialization of the magic network string.

Materialization means that the magic network string can come into contact with real matter. If it is feasible, it must be able to transform all the magic network into entities in some way, and then destroy the world.

As one of the foundations of the world, how can the magic network change its nature so easily!

Even if it is the arcane fire, it will not change the nature of the magic network string itself after tearing the magic network, but will reweave a private miniature magic network, and converge and curl up to be the arcane fire.

Looking at these brain-opening application reports, Xia Duo shook his head one after another, but he couldn't do such a thing if he had to completely deny it.

On the one hand, his own understanding may be different, and if he misjudged it, he might miss the opportunity.

On the other hand, these mid-level mages were able to submit such applications. Whether they were not really doing research or cheating for funding, they were actually actively supporting the new system after the transformation of the Tower of Time.

In this way, as long as their stories were well-written and no obvious flaws could be seen, their applications could not be rejected.

However, this also reminded Xia Duo that it was time to set up a special project approval department. He really didn't expect that these mid-level mages would change their attitudes so quickly!

It's really delicious to have food!

...

In addition to some brain-opening projects, there are also regular consumables for a normal mid-level mage to conduct spell experiments. Xia Duo just flipped through them and skipped them.

After reading all the documents, Xia Duo looked up and saw Cecily waiting for his reply. Xia Duo thought about it and revealed some of the ideas of setting up a project approval department in advance.

"Once the project approval group is established, there won't be so many people trying to cheat for funds. As for the manufacture of communication instruments, we can't stop for the time being. I will find another way to get resources." After saying that, Xia Duo paused for a moment, and then continued: "Now it's my turn to ask you. Based on the past month, how long can the current material reserves of the Tower of Time last?" This time, Cecily didn't look for information again, and blurted it out directly. It seems that she has been thinking about it for a long time: "Currently, the materials consumed by the Tower of Time that are directly related to magic are mainly five-color gems, mithril, gold, silver, iron, and various scroll inks, scroll paper, and ordinary parchment. Some special materials are not included, and food is not included. "Among them, the reserves of five-color gems and ordinary parchment are not much. According to the consumption in the past month, it will be used up until June next year at most. This is still counting the various materials sent by various chambers of commerce in the first quarter of next year. If it is not counted, it may be consumed in January or February. "

No shortage of mithril?

Shado was a little surprised, and then he asked his question, to which Cecily's answer was -

"There is indeed not much mithril left, but next month is a new year, and we can buy a certain amount of mithril from the Arcane Union. There is no mithril shortage crisis in the short term, but as long as the communication instruments continue to be produced, it is only a matter of time before mithril is scarce!"

So that's the calculation!

Shado also remembered that he still has some mithril purchase certificates!

When he transferred the patent of the magic network background communication instrument, he got from Giles Tower, in addition to a large amount of gold coins and subsequent continuous income, a part of five-color gems, mithril in kind, and a certain amount of mithril purchase certificates.

As long as you have money, you can buy it at any time.

From this point of view, mithril is indeed not a problem in the short term, but in the long run, we still need to find a more stable supply of mithril, and it is best to find one or more mithril mines directly, which is the truly stable supply.

Then, he asked Cecily:

"Didn't you have an advance payment for the communication device before? Didn't you use those gold coins to buy the five-color gems? And what about the parchment? Is there not enough paper?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Xia Duo found that Cecily's expression was a little subtle, but he thought about it and it seemed that there was nothing wrong.

Seeing that Xia Duo hadn't reacted yet, Cecily had to say: "Those advance payments have been used up long ago. In addition to paying the wages of the magic technicians you mentioned, there is also the maintenance cost of the Tower of Time. With so many apprentices and various facilities, how can it be possible to use them without paying any price!"

So that's how it is. As expected, people's focus is different depending on their position.

Like Xia Duo, what he cares most about is definitely the transformation of the Tower of Time and the results of the transformation. As for the expenses and costs involved, in his subconscious, the Tower of Time can afford it.

From Cecily's perspective, her identity is Nia's housekeeper and the person in charge of the materials department of the Tower of Time. The financial problems of the Tower of Time are so obvious that she can't help but pay attention to it.

"As for parchment, with so many apprentices, the amount of paper used is almost ten times more than the past Tower of Time. How can there be so many cattle and sheep to kill? Even if we buy through the Chamber of Commerce, there is still a problem of transit time difference."

Cecily mentioned parchment again. In fact, Xia Duo had already reacted. The raw material of parchment must be animal leather.

Whether it is cattle, sheep, or lizards, it takes time to grow. There are also great restrictions on the scale of breeding. It is not possible to obtain unlimited.

Since we are ready to refine mithril, it is not a big deal to use papermaking!

Thinking of this, Xia Duo immediately made a decision in his heart. It happened that there were a lot of logs piled up in his territory. He had no idea how to consume them. It would take up space if he piled them there. It would be better to make paper!