"Only five spots have been filled, and there are still four left to determine."
The group didn't notice anything unusual and continued their discussion.
Roy observed Andov's behavior, a thoughtful glint flashing in his eyes.
However, he didn't press for answers and instead focused on the matter of the remaining spots.
"Let's open it up for public recruitment," Niya suggested. "You're now the top apprentice in the Tower, so there's no need to limit yourself to just your circle of acquaintances."
"That makes sense. I'll open up the last four spots then."
Roy readily agreed.
This recruitment wasn't as perilous as the High Magic World that Sophia and the others were heading to.
To many Tower apprentices, it still seemed worth a try, and soon, there was no shortage of applicants.
Roy carefully selected four individuals from the pool: Ivent, Ottoli, Greet, and a female apprentice named Peri.
Ivent was the one who had previously assisted Canilla and others in spying on Roy—the guy with the Wood Elf Bloodline.
Roy recruited him to serve as a scout, considering it a valuable skill.
Ottoli, Greet, and Peri, on the other hand, were purely in it for the adventure.
They were all seasoned apprentices in their thirties.
After advancing to the advanced level, they had lingered in the Tower for years without seeing any hope for further progress.
Roy didn't spot any particular talent in them at the moment, but their initiative was strong, and they were willing to sign Follower Contracts with favorable terms, which was a significant advantage.
...
Once again, the group gathered at Roy's place, sitting in a circle to discuss.
Roy briefly explained the basic situation of Netherlands to everyone.
"Netherlands is a world inhabited by the descendants of Orcs and the Centaur Clan, also known as the 'Knight World.'
Five hundred years ago, our Great Wizard discovered it and dispatched several advanced Wizards to conquer it.
It has been under colonial rule for centuries now, overseen by my mentor, Lord Flosf."
Olinda chimed in, "I think I've heard of this world too. It's famous for its Centaur mounts!"
Wizards often plunder a world and then establish colonial rule.
Centaur slaves are a local specialty.
They can be deployed to other Otherworldly Battlefields to conquer and plunder more worlds.
"Exactly. In that world, any Centaur Hero above the first level is either hunted down or tamed!"
Roy glanced around at the contemplative expressions on everyone's faces and continued.
"No need to worry. Enemies at the Wizard level are extremely rare in that world, and if they do appear, they will be hunted and eliminated.
The vast majority of the Centaur natives are low-level Knights, with only a few brave and skilled individuals reaching the intermediate or advanced levels.
Those comparable to advanced Knights or Grand Knights are high-ranking generals.
When we go there, we'll have the support of the Kingdom Army, which is a force already subjugated by the colony, and we'll have access to all its secular resources."
"So, our main task is to maintain control?"
"In a world like that, with its backward war technology, there's still room for us to make a difference."
After hearing this, the group began to discuss fervently.
Advancing in one's homeland primarily depends on talent.
But abroad, it's about merit and serendipity.
As long as they weren't unlucky enough to die in a foreign land, everyone might have a chance to advance beyond the advanced apprentice level.
This opportunity was undoubtedly greater than staying in the Wizard Tower back home, and the freedom was also higher.
At this thought, even the few intermediate apprentices who had been uneasy earlier felt reassured.
They themselves possessed enhancements beyond that of intermediate knights, coupled with the spellcasting abilities of Warlock Apprentices and the advantages of spells and technology from a High Magic World. They believed they could achieve great things.
"Why would the native barbarians dare to cause trouble out of the blue?"
During the discussion, Andov suddenly raised a question that caught everyone's attention.
"Perhaps it's like those failed colonies in the past, where excessive plundering incited rebellion."
"It could also be the Arcane Empire stirring up trouble behind the scenes. Those Mages are always at odds with us."
Everyone speculated.
Roy said, "The specific reason wasn't told to me by my teacher, but I have some guesses."
"What guesses?" Everyone looked at him.
Roy continued, "In the vast universe, myriad races exist, but not all have a sense of nation or ethnicity.
Take the concept of Orcs, for example. In some worlds, Orc Empires have emerged, with various races integrated. Yet, in other worlds, they remain in an era of tribal conflicts, each fighting for themselves.
Tiger-men, for instance, prey on sheep-men, rabbit-men, pig-men, and so on. How could they possibly unite?
Even among sheep-men, there are distinctions like goats and sheep. Moreover, due to similar habits and diets, those of the same race are more likely to be at odds."
Hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement.
Roy went on, "The Nether Kingdom, which my teacher now rules, was a concept of a nation artificially created in a previously barbaric and backward region.
Originally, it was intended to facilitate the training of the Centaur Legion, to be used as slaves or mounts for other slave armies in other worlds.
But unexpectedly, it backfired, only increasing the cost of governance.
As the Governor's Office reduced its investments, the Frontier Barbarians rose again, gradually reverting to their tribal era. Naturally, they no longer revered Wizards as their masters, nor did they recognize any kingdom or the concept of ruler and subject."
"We are indeed not adept at governance."
"Many colonies have also been exploited to the point of exhaustion."
After hearing this, everyone roughly understood the situation.
However, this wasn't necessarily due to the Wizards' shortsightedness. Sometimes, the cost of starting over is lower, and the efficiency higher.
Conquering a completely new plane or world could also yield greater benefits.
Take Atlant, for example. With only a few Mana Crystal Mines and Extraordinary Power at a Low Magic Level, it hardly ranks among the many colonies.
Ruling it for several hundred years is already considered long enough, and the costs have long been recovered.
It might not necessarily be seen as a failure.
"Let's not worry about that for now. We'll deal with it when we get there.
Our current task is to learn the common language of Atlant, so we don't arrive there completely clueless."
Roy gathered his thoughts and gave an order.
Then, he announced the end of the gathering.
Everyone agreed and began discussing plans to borrow materials from the library, aiming to master the language as quickly as possible.
The native language was something the proud Wizards wouldn't actively use.
But not using it and not knowing it are two different things.
After everyone left, Roy looked thoughtful.
"What's on your mind?"
Celine stayed behind, originally intending to discuss the matter of reclaiming miscellaneous items with him. Seeing his expression, she couldn't help but ask.
"Nothing, just thinking about some things."
Roy shook his head slightly.
His words clearly sounded like a brush-off.
Celine frowned slightly.
But knowing she couldn't pry anything out of him, she left without saying more.
What she didn't know was that Roy was actually worried about his promotion to
a full-fledged Wizard.
"This means everything is ready, but the most crucial promotion is still up in the air!
I'm actually... not a genius!"
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