Chapter 15

"Detective, now that we have resolved the incident caused by the poet-level relic and helped you with the trouble of the previous detective's death, let's return to our initial topic."

The doctor with blue eyes, sitting on the single sofa, looked at Shade:

"What is your current view on St. Baryons Comprehensive College?

Since the awakening period for ring mages is only 72 hours, the main method of cultivation for the Orthodox Church and the three major colleges is to recruit from core believers and the industries affiliated with the colleges, making it easier to observe them. However, both sides are not averse to recruiting fresh blood completely unrelated to their own forces, but the cultivation of these individuals differs from that of those who are trustworthy and talented."

"Can you give an example of the treatment of ordinary people like us, who were originally unrelated to the mysterious, after joining the church or the college?"

Shade thought for a moment, savoring the implications of the words, feeling that it was reasonable not to be fully trusted.

"Of course, for the Orthodox Church, non-devout ring mages, within ten years of successful employment, are not allowed to leave their own parish and will receive limited support from the church. It takes at least 20 years to be fully trusted.

As for the three major colleges, the conditions are more complex. We use correspondence to cultivate those who originally do not belong to the mysterious world.

All external students receive correspondence education and cannot directly contact the college itself, let alone enter it. Based on their location, correspondence ring mages are divided into different groups, each consisting of 3 to 7 people. When a group has at least one sixth-ring mage, one fifth-ring mage, and one fourth-ring mage, and meets the condition of having more than 5 people, the group as a whole can pass the examination and truly enter the college. It must be the entire group, and no one can be abandoned, thus ensuring mutual supervision and mutual guarantee."

The doctor explained, raising an eyebrow from Shade:

"If I join St. Baryons Comprehensive College—"

Doctor Schneider nodded, acknowledging Shade's guess, pointing to himself:

"Then my group will once again have five ring mages. We currently have four people, and the specific information about the others is not convenient to reveal before you join. But I promise that at least when you reach the third ring, you will undergo the formal admission examination. After all, we still have a long way to go in other aspects."

That's why Bill Schneider was so enthusiastic about guiding Shade to join the college. "Wild" talent users are very hard to find, perhaps only slightly easier than finding a needle in a haystack.

Seeing that Shade was still pondering, the doctor added:

"Mr. Hamilton, I am very satisfied with you, your background, your origin, and your attitude towards the mysterious. A few hours ago, when we saw that tragic scene together, your expression of compassion and feigned calmness were quite commendable. Please consider my proposal carefully; the conditions here are quite good."

"I don't understand why the Orthodox Church and the colleges are so wary of people like us."

Shade was still hesitant; it was difficult for outsiders to easily trust others when entering this world.

"You have not yet become a ring mage, so you do not understand how dangerous this world is. The world is like a mad ocean, and the normal world is just a small island. Ring mages can delve into that deep sea, gaining more, and thus are more likely to go mad and be twisted by the whispers of evil entities and the malevolence of nature. Even with our 'other self' to resist these distortions and anomalies, ring mages who are not cultivated from a young age are more likely to make a wrong step, leading to a complete loss of control, which would be a terrifying thing."

The doctor gave a brief introduction, seemingly hesitant to say too much. Shade felt that perhaps the worldview of this world was not just about steam and mysticism but also included elements of the unknown or Cthulhu culture.

"Is it possible to become a ring mage naturally without guidance and cultivation?"

Shade asked again.

"Absolutely not. You do not understand what a ring mage is. We mentioned earlier that within 72 hours of a ring mage's talent awakening, if not guided, many situations can arise. Most will go mad, a few will die, and a very small number will become strange things, such as flesh-piled monsters or mad howling spirits. These are the terrifying beings you can imagine, the kind that would give you nightmares just by looking at them."

Hearing the doctor's words, Shade fully understood the current situation, sitting up straight and summarizing:

"My time is running out, and I must make a decision quickly. Moreover, if I do not agree to join St. Baryons Comprehensive College, you will not let me leave with today's memories."

Shade looked at the doctor, who nodded cautiously with his blue eyes:

"I explained from the beginning that students of the three major colleges will hide their identities in areas where the Orthodox Church exists. Yes, if you refuse, I will use some means that are not convenient to mention to erase your memory. I am skilled in manipulating emotions and dreams, so I am also skilled in altering memories. Of course, this is because you are just an ordinary person; it would not be so easy for a ring mage."

Shade did not feel threatened by the doctor's words; these methods were for self-protection, and he understood that no one should accommodate him.

"If my memory of today is erased, I won't know about the 72-hour limit."

He further analyzed.

"Yes, I think the Tobesque City Mental Hospital might have a new guest. But don't worry, in all the mental hospitals in Tobesque City, I have familiar staff who will joke with you, detective. We can relax a bit."

The doctor carefully evaluated:

"I will not force you to join St. Baryons Comprehensive College, but as adults, we must all pay the price for our choices. Moreover, compared to the church, becoming a correspondence ring mage is actually more free. As a non-believer, once you enter the church's cultivation system, you will receive the church's care, but you will not be able to act freely.

However, correspondence ring mages are different. As long as you pass the exams each semester, earn enough required credits, complete practical content, and earn enough practical credits, and do not commit crimes like murder or arson, the college does not care what you do.

Now, do you understand the difference between college ring mages and church ring mages?"

"Understood."

Shade nodded; just from the doctor's words, the college indeed seemed to have an advantage.

"The three major magic colleges are St. Baryons Comprehensive College, which specializes in the containment and utilization of [relics]; Zaras Literary College, which specializes in the development of elemental spirit runes, or magic in stories; and Sercys Advanced Medical College, which knows everything but is especially skilled in alchemy.

Mr. Hamilton, this is not just my opportunity but also yours. Being able to enter the ring mage cultivation system through official channels, rather than through cult organizations and secret societies, do you know how rare this opportunity is?"

The doctor said again, his profession making him very skilled at persuasion.

The hesitant Shade nodded again. Although the original mind was not very useful, he was an outsider to this world, and despite being only in his twenties, he had his own judgment:

"Then, how can you prove that everything you have said so far is true? So far, all the information I have received has come from you."

Shade asked seriously.

Although he was suspicious of the doctor, Doctor Schneider was actually very pleased, as it indicated that the young man in front of him was interested.

"I can apply to the college for a poet-level (5th level) [relic] to prove what I have said. But once I do this, the college will know that I have discovered a new talent user. The college will not force you to enroll, but it will certainly record your identity information. So, do you want to come into contact with the poet-level relic [Dream of St. Baryons Comprehensive College]?"

"Can I think about it? Give me two hours? No, one hour, I need to carefully consider what happened today."

The information was overwhelming, and Shade could not make a decision immediately. But he was inclined to trust the doctor, so he asked for some time to think.

"No problem, after all, this information is too much for an ordinary person. You can think about it here or leave. I also have some small matters to attend to, so let's—"

The doctor looked at the clock in the corner of the room, the pendulum at the bottom of the glass cabinet was a heart-shaped metal part:

"Meet here at 2 PM."

"Sure, I'll stay here."

Shade said, it didn't matter where he thought. If the doctor wanted to harm him, he wouldn't wait until now; the mental hospital earlier was a good place to commit murder.

"If you stay here, there are some college admission materials that are not convenient to take outside. You can look at them. I will return after I finish my business. If you need anything, you can ask Mrs. Cara for help."

Mrs. Cara was the middle-aged female servant who had just served the tea.