Chapter 3 Propaganda and Concealment
"All apprentices who have completed the talent assessment and passed, proceed to the central square immediately! Major selection is about to begin!"
The cold voice announcement was repeated in the hall, urging the crowd to move.
Just as Benjamin came down from the testing area, before he had time to collect his thoughts, he was pushed by a stream of people towards the exit on the other side of the hall.
He could sense the anxiety and confusion permeating the apprentices around him.
Before I could fully digest the emotions brought about by the assessment results, I was pushed into the next stage that would determine my fate.
The exit of the hall leads directly to the huge square in the center of the college. When Benjamin followed the crowd out of the gate, the scene before him made him exclaim in amazement.
The square is larger than one can imagine, like a miniature city.
The ground, paved with a black, shimmering material, stretched to the end of the sight, reflecting the light cast from the sky.
What really attracted everyone's attention were the huge adrenaline-pumping witchcraft images suspended above the square.
Wizards fight on the battlefield of another dimension where blood and flesh are flying everywhere. Powerful magic falls like meteors, and each attack is accompanied by shocking sound effects and light and shadow effects.
Hideous alien creatures, collapsed ancient ruins, huge magical constructs shuttling through the starry sky...all of this is presented in the most intuitive and eye-catching way.
At the bottom of the screen, lines of huge runic characters flashed with dazzling light:
【Glory lies ahead! 】
【Unlimited wealth! 】
【The road to rapid promotion! 】
【Join the combat department and become a legend! 】
Soon, a giant wizard's shadow emerged from the light and shadow in mid-air. His expression was serious and cold, and his voice, as if coming from the distant starry sky, echoed emotionlessly over the square:
"Welcome to Norn Academy. The academy will provide you with the most advanced extraordinary knowledge, help you ignite the fire of the spirit, and build the ring of truth."
"But power doesn't come without a price! According to the principle of equivalent exchange, every apprentice needs to sign a contract with the academy. After reaching a certain level of strength or studying for a certain period of time, they will travel to other planes connected to the Star Track Network to expand territory for the Federation and the academy!"
The wizard's shadowy gaze swept coldly over the densely packed crowd below, his voice silent and even:
"Now, you need to choose between two majors—the [Combat Department], which represents strength and conquest, and the [Logistics Department], which represents creation and support!"
"You will have one day to choose your major. Seize this unique opportunity. Once you choose, you cannot change it!"
After he finished speaking, the wizard's shadow disappeared.
A huge magic light curtain then rose in the center of the square, clearly dividing the square like a barrier.
There were also huge signs above the light curtain: [Combat Department] and [Logistics Department].
Below, smaller light screens indicate specific sub-items. The combat system includes factions such as the [Soul System], [Shaping System], and [Summoning System].
On the other side are [Alchemy], [Potions], [Enchantment], [Construction]...
In the areas closest to the apprentices stood some of the academy's mentors or senior apprentices, working hard on their final sales pitches.
"Choose the combat department! The shortest contract period! The most generous resources! The front line is the best whetstone and the fastest springboard to become a high-level wizard!" A middle-aged male wizard with an excited face shouted loudly in the combat department area, his voice carrying the power to incite people.
"The academy will provide you with the most elite spell models and the most powerful magical equipment! You will also have the opportunity to obtain the inheritance of ancient ruins and seize your own wealth and glory in countless planes!"
This scene made Jieming a little dazed. "What the hell is this job fair... Where the hell is this? Am I back in China again?"
In addition to these things that have a strong sense of déjà vu, at the front of the combat area, a group of powerful wizards stand on a temporary stage built by magic.
They wore uniform robes and wore badges of at least first-level official wizards. However, the proportion of first-level wizards was extremely small, and the vast majority were second-level wizards. There were even a few third-level wizards!
According to the college's publicity, these wizards are all alumni who participated in the military service in the previous batch. They are returning wizards who "temporarily withdrew from the front line and returned to school in order to guide the freshmen."
They either stood upright or chatted casually, their eyes carrying the sharpness and confidence honed on the battlefield, and a powerful aura emanating from their bodies.
"Look! That's the third-level wizard Mentor Mars! He just came back from a mission in the Red Flame Plane. It is said that he killed several powerful fire elemental lords!" An apprentice next to him whispered, with longing and awe in his eyes.
"And that young wizard over there, who just recently became a Level 2 wizard! I heard he completed his contract mission after only five years of fighting, and has been honing his skills on the battlefield ever since."
"...Tsk, aren't we all apprentices who just came for the test today? Why do you guys know so much?!" Benjamin couldn't help but complain in his heart.
Of course, he also knew that genuine country bumpkins like himself were still a minority. Many qualified apprentices were aristocrats themselves, and the aristocrats in this world seemed to be wizards.
It is normal for these apprentices to know some things about the wizarding world through osmosis.
Benjamin walked to a combat promotion area for the "Puppet System" and the light screen in front of him clearly marked the contract conditions for this system:
Apprentices have ten years of study time after joining the Puppetry Department. After ten years of study or when their strength reaches the first-level official wizard, they will be sent to the battlefield.
During this period, all basic and advanced knowledge related to the puppet system are open to the public free of charge, and resources equivalent to 100 points are supplied every month.
The contractor must serve on the battlefield for seven years or obtain second-level merit to complete his military service...
Benjamin walked through the propaganda area of the combat department and found that the conditions of other combat departments were similar.
There is no change in the study time and ability requirements, and the relevant knowledge of this department is also free and open to the public.
The only difference is probably the value of monthly resource supply and the duration of military service.
Basically, 100 to 150 points of resources are provided every month, and the military service time ranges from 5 to 15 years.
It took him quite a while to read it from beginning to end, and then Benjamin turned his head to look to the other side.
In sharp contrast to the hustle and bustle of the combat department, the logistics department area is relatively deserted.
The instructors here had basically no intention of promoting themselves. Even if someone asked them, they would just point impatiently at the light curtain.
After taking a quick look at the contract terms they offered, Benjamin understood why the logistics department was so quiet.
The longest study time remains unchanged, but everything else has changed.
All logistics departments only provide the most basic knowledge. Subsequent advanced knowledge needs to be exchanged for points, and only basic resources worth 10 points are provided each month.
And... a frighteningly long period of military service - thirty years!
All the conditions proposed by the Logistics Department are like they were cast from the same mold, and except for some differences in the names, everything else is exactly the same.
"Are you kidding me? A thirty-year contract?" one apprentice grumbled. "That's too long! The shortest for a combat-type contract is only five years!"
Stimulated by such obvious comparison of welfare differences and intuitive "success stories", many people began to quickly flock to the combat area with a desire for power and glory on their faces.
Apprentices with high talents are the targets that combat instructors focus on recruiting.
Benjamin's level six talent also made him the target of attention of the combat instructors, and several instructors had already glanced at him vaguely.
However, in this frenzied torrent, Jay was clearly out of place.
Having experienced the information explosion in his previous life, he was not fooled by the dazzling magical images and glamorous "successful people". The tension of being turned into an experimental subject at any time made him observe all the time, and he soon discovered some strange things.
"There are a total of ninety-seven wizards returning from the combat system... Strange, why is it such a number?" Benjamin frowned.
These wizards who have just returned from the battlefield have quite unique temperaments, not to mention that the returning wizards of the combat system are now gathered on the stage, being promoted by the combat system instructors like exhibits.
Although the logistics department on the other side did not have very conspicuous publicity, the returning wizards basically gathered in one place, and when they looked at the stage of the returning wizards of the combat department, a playful look flashed in their eyes from time to time.
Benjamin suspected that these returning wizards must have taken on a mission similar to cooperating with publicity, so they gathered together.
So the question is, why are there only ninety-seven people?
Since it is to "cooperate with publicity", why not make the number of people an even number, such as... one hundred?
This is a wizarding academy, known for its rigor and pursuit of knowledge. In theory, such a "not quite complete" situation should not occur in such a public setting.
"Two possibilities. In the wizarding world, due to some special wizarding rules or numerical symbolism, ninety-seven is indeed a 'round number'. Two..."
Thinking of a possibility, Jie Ming's face turned a little ugly: "...They don't have the ability to gather a hundred."
What does it mean to be incompetent?
Of course... everyone else is dead!
These ninety-seven people are most likely the only survivors who were sent to the battlefield, went through layers of screening, and countless battles!
(End of this chapter)
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