Ch. 37 - Resource Allocation

Robb opened his eyes and answered cautiously. "I discovered certain clues about the 'rhythm' of spirit power, which allowed me to use meditation time more efficiently."

"Rhythm?" The duty officer nodded, a contemplative look crossing her eyes. "That's quite an insightful angle... Even high-aptitude individuals rarely achieve breakthroughs from that direction."

She considered for a moment, then continued. "Besides meditation, have you practiced any other skills?"

Robb weighed his answer carefully. He certainly couldn't reveal his system, but showing some special talent was necessary in order to be assigned better resources by the faction.

"I have some experience in both potioneering and swordsmanship," he said cautiously. "Especially potioneering, I've been working at Lady Elena's shop."

"Lady Elena..." The officer's expression shifted subtly. "That explains it... That would account for how you broke through so quickly."

Her attitude became more attentive.

"On paper, your starting point was very low. But breaking through from a sixth-magnitude Initiate to Elementary Apprentice in just a few months, it reminds me of a case from a few years back."

"What case?" Robb asked curiously.

The officer's gaze carried a mix of reminiscence and unease.

"Another Initiate who started at rock bottom. When he arrived, not only was his magic aptitude the lowest of the lot, but his appearance was strikingly ugly... Yet within just a few years, he shot through the ranks. He's now standing at the threshold of Morning Star Mage."

Robb's heart lurched, recalling certain tidbits Arnor had shared. "You're talking about... Oliver?"

The officer's eyes immediately turned guarded. "You know him?"

"Only by reputation." Robb hastened to explain. "I've heard he's made significant achievements in curse research."

The officer nodded slightly, though the wariness in her eyes didn't fully dissipate. "Oliver is indeed a rare talent. But the path he's chosen... isn't one everyone should follow."

She seemed reluctant to say more about the name and quickly pivoted back to business.

"Well then. Since you've passed the spirit power assessment, I'll register some basic information, and then you can apply for resource allocation."

The process was calm and efficient. The officer recorded Robb's basic information and aptitude profile, then asked about his future development plans.

"Which field do you intend to focus on?" she asked. "This will affect your task assignments and resource types."

Robb considered. As someone with multiple classes, his development path was naturally more diversified.

But given the current situation and the abilities he'd publicly demonstrated, his choice needed to be careful.

"I'm interested in both potioneering and spell research, but I'm currently leaning toward potioneering."

This was his final answer, consistent with both his real capabilities and Lady Elena's recommendation.

"Potioneering..." The officer nodded and wrote down his choice. "Lady Elena has always had an excellent eye. If she chose you as her assistant, she must have seen potential in you."

Next, she produced a thick catalogue, turned to a specific page, and handed it to Robb.

"Based on your aptitude and breakthrough timeline, you've been rated as 'Sub-tier Potential.' This means you can only select items from this list."

Robb scanned the catalogue, his heart sinking. The offerings were decidedly basic.

A handful of passable arcane materials, several ordinary potions he could already brew himself, and some introductory texts on mage's arts, no better than his copy of Introduction to Potioneering.

What interested him most was the Meditation Methods category.

It listed several Gem-tier advanced meditation methods, but the acquisition conditions were nearly prohibitive, requiring service contracts of fifty years or more with the faction. And these methods could only elevate a practitioner to a High Apprentice, with no higher-tier content.

Similarly, zero-circle spell models came with equally stringent terms, also requiring fixed-term service commitments.

"These conditions..." Robb frowned slightly.

"Don't complain. This is already better than what most Sub-tier Potential apprentices receive."

The officer said evenly. "Faction resources are extremely limited. Not everyone can get the best of everything."

"My apologies, ma'am." He produced Lady Elena's sealed letter. "Lady Elena asked me to present this to the duty officer."

The officer accepted the letter, her eyebrows rising slightly.

She examined the seal carefully, confirmed its authenticity, and then opened it with care.

As she read, her expression gradually shifted to surprise. She even turned the paper over to verify the signature and seal markings.

"This..." She looked up at Robb with noticeably different eyes, reassessing. "Lady Elena rarely writes recommendation letters. And the phrasing in this one..."

She didn't finish, but Robb could feel the weight the letter carried.

"Please wait." The officer stood, walked to a secluded corner, and took out a communication stone, speaking in hushed tones.

The stone glowed faintly. Moments later, an authoritative male voice responded.

The voice was too quiet for Robb to make out the specifics, but he could tell it belonged to someone far more powerful than the duty officer, likely a Morning Star Mage.

Robb stood in place, his thoughts churning. He wondered what Lady Elena might have written to provoke such a reaction.

Before long, the officer returned to the testing room with a different catalogue in hand. Her composure had been restored, but her curiosity toward Robb was barely concealed.

"Based on Lady Elena's recommendation and confirmation from a mage within the faction, your access level has been elevated to Mid-tier Potential."

She handed the catalogue over. "Here is the corresponding resource list."

Robb took the new catalogue and skimmed it quickly. The difference was staggering.

Not only were the available items far more varied, but the acquisition conditions were significantly more lenient.

Precious supernatural knowledge that previously required decades of service now demanded only shorter commitments. Some basic items could even be claimed with no additional conditions whatsoever.

"Additionally," the officer continued, "given your specialization in potioneering, you've been assigned to potion-crafting duties. You'll need to submit a fixed quota of potions each month. The remainder of your time is yours to manage freely. You may occasionally receive field assignments, but far fewer than other apprentices without specializations."

Robb's interest sharpened. This was undoubtedly the ideal assignment for him.

A fixed potion quota would hone his brewing skills while leaving ample time for other training.

"You may now select items from the list." The officer said. "Choose carefully, this will affect your development for a considerable time to come."

Robb nodded and studied the catalogue once more.

He understood the gravity of this choice. His mind raced through comparisons and trade-offs.

After long deliberation, he decided on a complete set of potion-crafting vessels and a fitted protective inner armor.

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