“Just a bit of luck and fortune.”
“In the Wizards' Realm where power is paramount, modesty is hardly considered a virtue,” Nail Granny paused. “Regardless of how you advanced, the process doesn't matter; the outcome is what's significant.”
Angel smiled, choosing not to dwell on the topic, and instead asked about the “class-grabbing” Nail Granny had mentioned.
“Why do they need to grab class slots? It's because a member of the Research and Development Institute has returned, you see…”
In short, a member of the Research and Development Institute had returned to Sky Mechanical City because she planned to enter seclusion for a while and needed to exchange points for the right to purchase some rare materials. Lacking enough points, she took on a teaching assignment to earn more.
Each alchemist has different criteria for teaching.
Especially restrictions on the attendees are many; some restrict by power level – not reaching a certain level means no attendance; some restrict by school – as disputes between schools are already overtly evident in the Alchemy World; others impose no limits on school or power level, but this doesn't necessarily mean it's a good thing, as they might limit the number of attendees.
It's said that some alchemists despise noise and disturbances; each time they teach a class, they only allow a very few into the classroom.
This restriction on the number of attendees leads to a phenomenon: class-grabbing.
Only those who succeed in grabbing a spot can enter the classroom.
This time, this member of the Research and Development Institute has such a rule; she doesn't care if you specialize in Metallography or Potionology, whether you are from the Vanderval or Gypsy School, whether you are human or not, or if you are of high or low power, but she does restrict the number of attendees to no more than fifty.
Normally, when an ordinary alchemist teaches a class, there's a mad rush for spots. And this time, the lecturer is a member of the Research and Development Institute.
Thus, apprentices who'd usually debate over alchemy here all rushed en masse to the opposite district of the Machinery City to grab class spots.
That's why the Nail Alchemy Shop is empty today.
After listening to Nail Granny's explanation, Angel curiously asked, “Who's the lecturer?”
Could it be one of those people he had seen at the last witnessing ceremony?
Nail Granny didn't answer immediately but mentioned another matter, “You received an invitation, right? Are you wondering why I invited you here?”
Angel nodded.
“It's normal because I didn't write that invitation, but I agreed to let her use my name,” Nail Granny walked to a side and gently tapped on a wall painting. With a clicking sound, the painting gradually turned into an illusion, revealing a winding staircase upward.
“Aren't you curious who the lecturer is?” Nail Granny paused. “The person teaching is the very one who truly invited you here.”
“Come with me; she's waiting for you upstairs.”
As they stepped onto the staircase, Nail Granny softly said, “I hope you don't find it abrupt.”
Angel shook his head, “Not at all.” Regardless of whether it was Nail Granny's invitation or not, as long as it was from a member of the Research and Development Institute, unless it was someone crazy like Dong La, Angel would generally not refuse.
And Angel believed that Nail Granny wouldn't likely allow someone radical like Dong La to send invitations in her name.
“In the Research and Development Institute, she is the most gentle and neutral among them. Whether they are radicals or conservatives, all get along well with her,” Nail Granny suggested that forming a friendship with this person would be a wise choice.
And listening to Nail Granny, Angel already had an idea of who she was talking about.
After the last witnessing ceremony, Midora had also talked to Angel about members of the Research and Development Institute, mentioning this person in particular.
Midora spoke highly of her and had suggested that Angel form a connection with her.
However, at that time Angel had to head to Black Castle and she was not in Sky Mechanical City, so they had missed each other and Angel had no interactions with her.
But her proactive invitation this time was somewhat unexpected to Angel.
“Speaking of which, her specific return to Sky Mechanical City to conduct research is somewhat related to you.”
Related to me?
Angel wanted to inquire further about the specific reason from Nail Granny, but by then they had reached the exterior of a grand hall. Through the gaps in the drapes, a delicate fragrance was faintly noticeable.
Pointing at the hall, Nail Granny said, “Here we are.”