Three hours later.
Ian walked out of the assessment office.
Three bronze-colored stars had been added to his Witch Robe, signifying that he was now an advanced zero-ring alchemist.
He had taken three assessments in one go.
He had passed them all.
"I wonder if the benefits for advancing to a zero-ring alchemist have increased."
Pondering this, Ian headed toward the supplies office. His monthly allowance had now increased by two hundred.
"If you advance to a first-ring alchemist, sir, you can receive another thousand!" the wizard in charge said respectfully to Ian.
"Understood."
Ian nodded.
The assessment for a first-ring alchemist was not so casual. Beyond hands-on work, it also required a theory examination.
"So I'll have to visit the Library here often from now on. With my intermediate researcher privileges, I can access public materials up to the mid-stage of the first ring."
Thinking of this, Ian felt a wave of relief.
Even first-ring alchemists normally had to pay, but researchers did not.
And that was not all.
Researchers in the Alchemy Department enjoyed all sorts of benefits, such as discounts on Wizardry knowledge.
For ordinary first-ring beginner-level material, they received a seventy-percent discount; outstanding material was half price; and exceptional-tier material was thirty percent off.
For mid-stage first-ring material, ordinary-grade content was half price, outstanding-grade content was thirty percent off, and exceptional-tier content was twenty percent off.
And all of it had its access restrictions unlocked.
They could purchase it outright.
That was why this position was so fiercely contested. Whether in pay or benefits, it was the best position in the Alchemy Department.
Only because of the war had such circumstances arisen.
"So there are two months left. I need to advance to a first-ring alchemist."
Ian pondered.
Before long, he went to the Alchemy Department's