"So this is what you’ve accomplished recently?"

Returning to Nevis, the Thunder Lord flips through the stack of papers Garrett had submitted, clearly unsatisfied. No theoretical research, no independent thought, just some practical stuff—

Practical stuff that countless mages study every day—why bother?!

As a disciple of the Thunder Lord, as a mage at the forefront of the magical academic world, theoretical research, the essence of spells, that’s what you should care about!

Only by understanding the principles, knowing the "why," can there be breakthrough progress in magic!

Garrett listened silently as his teacher criticized, not daring to make a sound. The Thunder Lord scrutinized him critically, rebutting all his papers, and then finally picked up his coffee cup for a sip, and said calmly:

"So, what’s your next research goal?"

"…Teacher, I still have several topics that I haven’t concluded!"

"Hmm?"

Garrett began counting on his fingers. The rabies vaccine research, which has made some progress but not yet conclusive results;

Research on streptomycin, or some other antibiotic, still ongoing, not yet fruitful;

That brainwave project handed over to the manipulation department, should probably check on it, there might be a surprise;

And more…

"Weren’t all these handed over to others?" the Thunder Lord frowned slightly, interrupting:

"Any difficulties? Research personnel not cooperating? Not enough project funding? Anyway, these shouldn’t be your concern—I’m asking what you yourself will research next?"

Teacher is so strict—but behind the strictness, there is confidence.

In the teacher’s view, if researchers aren’t cooperating, kick them out and get new ones;

If funding is insufficient, it can be obtained from anywhere;

For a high-level mage, these trivial matters need not be a concern!

Only the research topics, only the ideas, are the most valuable!

Pressed by his teacher, Garrett could no longer keep things hidden. Some ideas he had yet to preliminarily research also had to be quickly dug out and presented:

"There is indeed. I plan to research identification spells, to see if I can identify other information based on identifying blood types."

"Like?"

"Like potassium, sodium, calcium, blood sugar, pH levels..." Garrett counted on his fingers. Seeing the Thunder Lord’s eyebrows gradually knitting together, he hastened his speech:

"I think, the current identification magic, able to identify some substances’ types and concentrations, must be because magic sees something. If we can extend this principle to blood testing..."

He suddenly fell silent. The Thunder Lord raised a finger, interrupting his explanation, and said lightly:

"That’s a direction. —Regarding identification principles and methods, go read these few books, learn a few magical arrays…"

Saying so, he waved his hand, and the office was filled with electric light, forming several lines of text. Garrett hurriedly took out his notebook and began to fervently copy:

"’Preliminary Identification Arts,’ Klent Onegin, year 587,"

"’Basic Substances and Measurements,’ Ulan Roko, year 1028,"

"’Fundamentals of Identification Studies,’ Ludwig, year 935..."

Ah, it’s good to have a teacher. Blink, and there’s a reading list. Of course, the prerequisite is not to…

"These books are all borrowable from the Tower of Thunder’s library, and the magical arrays can be exchanged for contribution points. —At the next regular meeting, I want to ask about your progress."

"—No way, teacher!" Garrett screamed in despair:

"The next regular meeting is in only two days!"

Should I not have visited the teacher as soon as I entered the city?

Should I have first made a round at the Mage Tower, then a round at the hospital, understand the progress of all the teams, perform a few surgeries to warm up?

If I had waited to come over at the next regular meeting, I wouldn’t need to devour four books and learn three identification magic arrays in two days!

"What’s wrong?" The Thunder Lord’s gaze had already swept over, his fingertips slightly lifting, and the pages on the desk flipping swiftly:

"Speaking of which, having been away from Nevis for so long, these two months’ journals..."

"Teacher, I’ll exchange them immediately! At the next regular meeting, I guarantee the progress will be fine!"

Garrett sprang up like a wounded rabbit, dashing toward the door. He opened the door, one foot already out, then suddenly turned back:

"Teacher..."

"What is it?"

"Teacher, during this trip back home, I found some records related to my ancestry."

Garrett thought for a moment, then honestly returned to the Thunder Lord, confessing:

"My father seems to be a noble’s son from the continent, from a homeland in the Rhine Kingdom..."

"The Askan family, originated from the northern border of the Rhine Kingdom, which you mentioned, Nordmark."

The Thunder Lord interrupted him directly:

"The current border count, William Askan, nicknamed ’White Wolf,’ 95 years old, a 15th level Sky Knight. His brother ’Big Bear’ Albre has a young son born to a mistress, who eloped with someone over 20 years ago. —You think, I accepted you as a disciple without checking anything?"

Garrett was dumbfounded. So, I am the nephew of a border count of the Rhine Kingdom? You all knew this? Knew it better than I did?

"Your background, previous experiences, the council had someone check them before." Seeing his stunned look, the Thunder Lord’s tone became even less patient:

"Your experiences and personality, unaffected by the opposing side, no potential for defecting. Otherwise, not only would I not have accepted you as a disciple, even the Mage Tower wouldn’t have been constructed for you. —Anything else?"

"This, teacher, my maternal lineage, seems to be elven..."

"Oh."

The Thunder Lord responded indifferently, not seeming very surprised. Garrett was stunned:

"No, no way? Teacher, you knew this too?"

I only found out by digging out letters! And I look completely human, not at all like an elf!

"That spell on you that conceals your appearance, as if nobody could see through it. —Oh, I forgot, you indeed couldn’t see. Although I’ve never undone it to look, I’ve long known you have non-human ancestry."

Garrett: T_T

He could only take out his mother’s letter, along with the pendant, and conscientiously handed it over. The Thunder Lord read the letter in a glance, took the pendant in his hand, casually tossed it, and threw it back:

"Petty. Isn’t it just the route to the Elven Island? The council doesn’t lack that! —Just on the other side of the New World, Garrett, if you’re interested, I’ll give you the route map now."

Garrett stood there holding the letter and pendant. He was indeed interested in traveling around the world, seeing different sights, but that doesn’t mean he wanted to go now!

A mere level six mage, crossing the ocean alone, then traversing the New World to reach the Elven Island? Can’t fight, can’t escape, would die on the way!

"Oh, right." The Thunder Lord slightly lifted his eyes, his gaze like cold electricity, swiftly sweeping across Garrett’s face:

"People with elven blood tend to be more sensitive to magical power and nature. Since that’s the case, your study progress..."

"Teacher, I’ll go back and read immediately!"

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay