At the same time, he felt a pang of regret. After all, interacting with a bona fide Disastrous Musician would be far more beneficial than fumbling about on his own.
"By the way, he specifically mentioned you in his letter. He asked me to convey his congratulations and said he looks forward to you visiting the Association's headquarters sometime, as many Disastrous Musicians are very curious about you."
"No, no, I'll pass."
Huai Shi wiped the cold sweat from his brow. He could easily imagine a chaotic horde of them scrutinizing the 'newbie.'
He was already unconventional enough; a visit to the Association's headquarters, and his style would probably veer completely off course, plunging into the deepest sea trench.
It was apparent that Andrea was taking very good care of him.
No doubt, those who came today were the heavyweights of the Academic Research Office. With their help, his upcoming work would likely go much smoother.
At the very least, with their recognition, he, an enforcer from the Astronomical Society, wouldn't be treated as an outcast here.
Thanks to Huai Shi's 'Cowherd' social skills, the dinner was a delightful affair for both host and guests. Amidst the festivities, the warmly hosted guests subtly hinted at the real challenge Huai Shi was about to face.
In reality, it wasn't a problem that absolutely had to be solved or an insurmountable obstacle, but rather a hurdle he had to overcome if he truly wanted to make an impact within the Ivory Tower's university structure.
That hurdle was obtaining a formal seat within one of the university faculty's critical departments—the Academic Research Office.
A formal seat in the Academic Research Office granted eligibility to attend the school's internal management meetings and compete for the annual teaching budget. Most importantly, it ensured preferential access to research funding and considerable assistance from the Ivory Tower's various departments.
If Huai Shi could become a formal member of the Academic Research Office, then most of the Ivory Tower's departmental facilities would be freely accessible to him.
This included access to the cutting-edge Source Laboratory, a vast array of Alchemy equipment, and the world's most advanced research facilities. Crucially, it also meant the support of the Ivory Tower's branches in Hell and allied organizations.
This encompassed over 6 Border experimental zones, 3 Shallow Hell pilot projects, and the unconditional cooperation of numerous subordinate departments.
Furthermore, it involved connections Huai Shi was familiar with, like the Hell Music Association, Muse Club, and Hairdressers Association. It even meant the ability to use public funds to hire Mercenaries from the Homeless Cemetery for expeditions, enjoy free use of all school-purchased patents, and gain A-level clearance from the Stone Pot Society, providing access to a vast number of alchemy recipes.
All of this was possible only by becoming a formal member of the Academic Research Office.
The first thing that sprang to Huai Shi's mind was Soloist's Sky's Command—the matter he should address immediately: cultivating his own Hell Swarm.
If he could leverage the Ivory Tower's manpower and resources, this goal wouldn't seem so daunting.
"However, the real issue lies in one point." Professor Anton, the most experienced among them, set down his wine glass and said earnestly, "Formal membership in the Academic Research Office is, in fact, a false proposition."
"Hmm?" Huai Shi was puzzled.
"All teachers, technically, are members of the Academic Research Office," said Anton. "This includes over 1,000 permanent teachers with official contracts, the honorary professors casually appointed by the principal over the years, and various temporary teachers hired for a few terms now and then."
He continued, "By the rules, everyone is a member of the Academic Research Office—you understand what I mean, Mr. Huai Shi?"
Huai Shi raised his eyebrows.
He was all too familiar with this setup.
No, anyone in society would be familiar with it. It was simply the unwritten hierarchy used to differentiate ranks within an office. Or, more overtly, like in a government entity where tenured staff and contract workers are clearly different. It was the same when descending into Hell—those from the Heavenly Kingdom Genealogy always seemed more like locals.
The unwritten rules and distinctions were omnipresent.
So then, the key question arose.
"What truly makes the difference?" Huai Shi asked.
"The classroom."
Anton stated bluntly, "A classroom that belongs to you, and only you, as a permanent fixture."