Above the mage!

Chapter 623 Returning to the City to Receive Rewards (Part 2)

It was three days later when I returned to Barlowshire.

As soon as the airship landed in Dorne, Gaudí headed straight for the White Tower in the Deep Sea.

What he said to Deacon Emundy at the Foss Academy was true; he had indeed reached the critical point of advancing to the third ring.

A month of cultivation in the Wood Element demiplane had already allowed Gao De to meet the basic requirements for advancing to the next level.

Later in Etherland County, he made a great contribution in the Pale Water Blossom incident and obtained a bottle of top-tier Tier 3 upgrade potion, the Frost Whale Potion.

Now, he is all set to advance to the next level, only lacking the final push.

The so-called "east wind" actually refers to the quantity of spells.

Gao De was not satisfied with the number of spells he currently possessed.

Even after acquiring five new spell recipes in Etherland, his number of second-circle spells was "only" 39.

Moreover, due to the rush of his journey, he hasn't mastered all five new spell formulas yet.

Therefore, Gao De made a special trip back to Dorne to exchange for second-circle spell recipes, further expanding his second-circle spell repertoire and paving the way for his awakened feats when he advances to the next circle.

He already had two First-Class Merit Points in his account, enough to exchange for all the second-level spells he hadn't mastered on the Sea Sentinel's list.

The fact that he defeated the three gauntlets of Sauron, Etherland, and Forth and won three gauntlet badges is enough to earn him an astronomical amount of military merit.

Therefore, Gaode's trip to Haiyuan White Pagoda had only two purposes: to receive credit and to redeem a reward.

In Theodore Mansion, Auckland.

Inside the study, which was furnished with dark walnut bookshelves, Lord Roland, the city lord, leaned against the sofa by the window, holding a bone china teacup in his hand.

The amber-colored Earl Grey tea in the cup was steaming.

The aroma of tea mingled with the fragrance of burning cedar in the fireplace, filling the air.

Theodore, the chief mage of Auckland, sat in an armchair opposite, toying with a crystal pipe in his hand.

This is a treasure that Roland acquired from the continent of Terra.

The tobacco is made from Moonlight Grass, grown in the Song Forest, the largest and only jungle region on the Terra continent. It emits a faint glow when burned.

Amidst the swirling smoke, there was also a hint of sweet, grassy scent.

A white lace tablecloth was laid on the mahogany coffee table between the two.

A plate of delicate almond cookies and a plate of fresh berries are placed on top.

Next to it was a silver sugar jar, its surface engraved with intricate Rococo patterns.

"You must have heard the latest news from Forth County?"

Earl Roland took a sip of tea, the distinctive aroma of Earl Grey lingering on his tongue. His tone seemed casual, but his gaze fell on Theodore's face, carrying a hint of inquiry and barely perceptible excitement. "That kid, Goddard, even took the badge from the Forth Academy."

Theodore blew the ash from his pipe, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: "Oh? The guardian mage of the Forth Magic Hall is Loran, isn't he? That kid's defensive spells are notoriously solid; even ordinary third-ring mages might not be able to break through his defenses."

Roland put down his teacup and picked up an almond cookie. "So, I just can't understand it. God is only a second-ring mage, while Roland is a genuine third-ring mage, known for his rigorous tactics and solid spells. There's almost no possibility of him making a careless mistake. How could he have lost?"

His expression remained relatively calm, but his brows furrowed slightly, and his surprise and confusion were undisguised in his tone:

"He defeated three magic schools in a row: Leo of the Soren Magic School, Cecily of the Etherland Magic School, and Loran of the Forth Magic School. Every one of them is an elite military mage, a practical fighter with rich experience in magical combat, yet they all fell to him."

"This is by no means luck or accident, but a testament to solid strength."

"To be able to defeat three third-ring mages in a row while only at the second ring level, such ability is probably unmatched in the four counties of our South Coast."

He paused, then turned his gaze to Theodore, a hint of admiration on his face: "Although when I first met God, I could see that this kid had unlimited potential, was incredibly mature for his young age, and was a promising talent, to be honest..."

He shrugged, his tone somewhat candid, "If it weren't for these stark facts, I would never have believed anyone who told me beforehand that a second-ring mage could do this."

“Theodore, Theodore, otherwise how could you be our chief mage of Auckland?” Roland’s tone was full of praise, even with a hint of self-deprecation.

"I can't even come close to his ability to judge people."

“I’ve heard that you used your connections in Soren County to get this kid into the Wood Element Demiplane for cultivation.”

"I suppose you already saw his capabilities back then and placed your bets in advance, right?"

Upon hearing this, Theodore's face immediately showed a look of being both amused and exasperated. He waved his hand and said, "I can't accept such praise. How could I have imagined that he could be so capable?"

He frankly said, "When I recommended him to cultivate in the Wood Element Demiplane, it was simply because I recognized his abilities and character. Plus, I happened to have the resources at hand, so I gave him a push out of a desire to help him. It wasn't anything farsighted or insightful."

At this point, Theodore chuckled self-deprecatingly: "I originally thought that he could gain some practical experience in the gym challenges, which would be enough to live up to his talent. Reaching the second level would be an unexpected surprise. Who would have thought he would make such a big splash?"

He shook his head slightly, his tone full of emotion: "Now that I think about it, I underestimated this child's potential."

“Even so, it is your discerning eye that has recognized its worth.” Count Roland said noncommittally, his tone carrying a hint of approval.

"How many people have seen Gaode? Those officers of the Sea Sentinel, don't they all boast about their extensive experience with people? Yet only you are willing to waste your personal connections and provide opportunities for him."

He picked up his teacup, took another sip, and said with a certainty, "This favor was well worth it."

“That’s true.” Theodore nodded in agreement, a hint of relief and anticipation flashing in his eyes.

He finally lit his pipe, the moonflower burning with a soft crackling sound, and blue-green fluorescent smoke slowly rose and swirled in front of him.

"Judging from his growth trajectory, he has a great chance of joining the Sentinels of Light in the future, or even becoming a core member."

"In fact, this seemingly impulsive investment may very well be the one with the highest return in my one or two hundred years."

Count Roland put down his teacup, tapping his fingertips lightly on the edge of the coffee table, a meaningful smile on his face: "I reckon those sea sentinel commanders in the White Tower of the Abyss are probably treating this kid like a treasure."

"But how can their current show of goodwill compare to the profound favor you extended to him before he even made a name for himself?"

Upon hearing this, Theodore's lips curled into a smile.

Haiyuan White Pagoda.

At this moment, Gao De was naturally unaware that two powerful mages were "discussing" him in Theodore's mansion thousands of miles away.

He's very busy right now.

Just as he stepped through the gates of the Sea Abyss White Tower, before he even reached the military merit exchange area on the first floor, he was stopped by a sea sentry clerk in a silver-white uniform with two silver stripes on his epaulets. "Warrant Lieutenant Gao De, this way please," the clerk said respectfully. "Two officers are waiting for you in the reception room on the fourth floor."

Gao De's heart stirred slightly, but he didn't ask any more questions. He followed the clerk to the fourth floor of the Haiyuan White Tower, a place he had never been before.

The fourth floor was completely different from the bustling lower floors; it was very quiet.

The clerk stopped in front of an oak door carved with wave patterns and knocked gently: "Sir, Warrant Officer Gao De has arrived."

"Come in." A deep, steady male voice came from inside the door, with a resonant quality amplified by magic.

Gao De pushed open the door, and in the center of the room was an oval-shaped mahogany round table.

Two monks were sitting at the table. He recognized one of them very well; it was Lieutenant Colonel Grayling, who had stood against all odds to recommend him for promotion to warrant officer.

The other mage, Gao De, was someone he had never met before.

Upon seeing Gao De enter, Lieutenant Colonel Graylin greeted him with a smile, "Warrant Lieutenant Gao De, welcome back. From now on, you should call me Lieutenant Gao De."

"Lieutenant?"

Gao De was slightly taken aback, then replied, "Am I about to be promoted in the military?"

"Yes, your challenge to three martial arts schools is an outstanding contribution to us Sea Sentinels, both in terms of reputation and in reality."

This achievement is enough to promote you to the next level. This time, it was the mage, whom Gao De did not recognize, who spoke.

Although I didn't recognize them, the other person was wearing a sea sentry uniform.

Gao De's gaze swept over him, finally landing on the seven layers of gold ring embroidery on his cuff, and he felt a chill run down his spine.

This indicates that the other party's rank is lieutenant general.

In the entire Sea Sentinel system, there are only twelve Lieutenant General Mages, each of whom is a powerful figure with outstanding military achievements.

Above them are three generals who oversee the overall situation and one marshal.

In other words, the person in front of you is actually one of the top twenty core members of the Sea Sentinels!
“This is Lieutenant General Karen,” Lieutenant Colonel Grayling interjected, introducing Gao De with obvious respect in his tone. “The decision to promote you to a higher rank came from Lieutenant General Karen.”

Gao De quickly bowed slightly and said, "Thank you for your promotion, Lieutenant General Karen."

He was indeed happy.

There are many benefits to being promoted in military rank. Needless to say, there are salary increases and increased authority. More importantly, there are many benefits even outside the Marine Sentinel system.

The title of a naval sentinel officer is highly respected, and both official institutions and civilian forces give it due respect.

Moreover, the dynasty did not prohibit military mages from engaging in business. With this identity as a backing, his future business expansion would be much smoother.

It's like having an extra, most reliable support.

But Gao De was not blinded by joy. He quickly composed himself and remembered the original purpose of his trip.

He turned his gaze to the two men and asked, "Lieutenant General Karen, Lieutenant Colonel Grayling, I wonder if you two have summoned me here for any important matters besides the promotion, or if there is any urgent mission to assign?"

"Don't worry, just focus on your gymnastics challenge this year. The Sea Sentinels won't assign you any extra tasks."

Lieutenant General Karen's gaze fell on Gao De, with a hint of appreciation. "I mainly heard that you were back, and I was also curious about what kind of person could achieve such results, so I called you over to see."

At this point, he changed the subject, his eyes filled with inquiry: "Also, I have some questions. You're riding high, you should be striking while the iron is hot and continuing to challenge the remaining counties' magic schools, so why did you suddenly return to Dorne?"

"To answer the question, Lieutenant General, my return to Dorne is to prepare for advancement to a third-circle mage, and then continue with the Spell Hall challenge," Gao De stated truthfully.

"Promoted to the third ring?" Before Lieutenant General Karen could react, Lieutenant Colonel Grayling exclaimed in surprise, "If I remember correctly, you were only promoted to the second ring last year. In just one year, you're already promoting to the third ring? This... this speed is too fast!"

Upon hearing Lieutenant Colonel Grayling's words, even Lieutenant General Karen, who had maintained a composed expression, couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

"Thanks to the appreciation of the mage Theodore, who recommended me to cultivate in the wood elemental demiplane in Solon County for a month, the results were excellent, directly bringing me to the critical point of advancement," Gao De said "truthfully."

“One year,” Lieutenant General Karen murmured softly. After a moment, he spoke again: “You were able to defeat your superiors and obtain three spell hall badges, which means that you must have a considerable number of second-circle spells, and you must use them with great skill, even to the point of being able to combine them into ingenious tactics.”

"You...did you complete all of these within this year?"

“Exactly!” Gao De answered Lieutenant General Karen’s question with his head held high and chest out, showing no sign of embarrassment.

Because it's true.

What? This spell was mastered too quickly? That's unreasonable?
There's nothing I can do about it, it's just my talent. Mastering magic is that simple for me!
You don't have that talent, so it's hard for me to explain it to you.

Seeing Gao De's frank and unreserved admission, Lieutenant General Karen's eyes shone even brighter.

He had already reviewed Gao De's detailed information when the decision was made to promote Gao De's military rank.

I know that this is a highly talented wild mage from another country, but whose talent has been buried due to a lack of resources.

Moreover, the information also mentions that Gaode's magical talent is the most outstanding.

But he never expected that his so-called "outstanding" qualities would reach this level!
Lieutenant General Karen admitted that she was inferior to him, and in all her years of experience, she had never seen a mage who could reach the level of Gao De.

But he didn't doubt anything because of this, because in the realm of magic, there are too many illogical things, and there are many miracles that cannot be explained by common sense.

Some people are born for magic.

“You are very good,” he nodded to Gao De, and then said, “However, the matter of advancing to the next ring is of great importance, especially the transition from the second to the third ring. It is a crucial watershed between a low-level mage and a mid-level mage, and it cannot be taken lightly.”

"You must remember not to be complacent. You must make thorough preparations, prepare the best leveling potions, and ensure that the advancement process is foolproof."

"If you need it, I can arrange a high-level training room for you, which can help you stabilize your magic power to the greatest extent."

"The Spell Hall Challenge is in full swing right now. If you can successfully advance to the next ring, with the strength of a third-ring mage, you have a good chance of sweeping through the remaining nine Spell Halls and helping our Sea Sentinels jump up the rankings this time." Lieutenant General Karen's tone could only be described as gentle.

The ranking is related to the allocation of resources over the next decade, so he naturally attaches great importance to it.

"This is an opportunity for advancement," Gao De thought to himself.

Therefore, he immediately shouted: "It is my duty to restore the glory of the sea sentinels!"

"Good, good!" Lieutenant General Karen smiled with relief upon hearing this, and her gaze toward Gao De became even more affectionate. "If you can really collect all twelve gym badges, I will definitely report it and apply for a big reward for you!"

(End of this chapter)