His senior fellow asked in an almost astonished tone, "Why would you think that even we, as our teacher's students, couldn't recruit talented students?
"Don't forget, our teacher is so powerful, and he has trained more mages than anyone else.
"Although most of the apprentices nominally belong to us, if they really have a chance of becoming Official Mages, our teacher will give them some attention."
Then realization suddenly struck him. "You think that because our teacher never bothers with the tower's affairs, he must recruit the fewest apprentices of the three tower masters, right?
"How could that be?
"No matter how little he likes meddling, our teacher still has to consider the Black Enigma Tower's future.
"Even if we have no choice but to seek refuge with another faction, there's a huge difference between remaining a unified group and becoming little groups that can easily be scattered.
"Otherwise, how could you live here so peacefully?
"Other people might not try to steal your territory, but they could still make your life miserable!
"A hundred years ago, disputes within the Black Enigma Tower could still get people killed.
"It was only later that our teacher and the other two tower masters began cracking down on that sort of thing. That's why no one gets in your face to harass you now.
"Of course, the fact that you never notice anything also has something to do with how rarely you leave home... but just a few petty schemes against your family would be enough to drive you up the wall."
Hilbert nodded gently. "Of course I know.
"So, as a Hainalson, I might give some consideration to my family, but as Gilbert, I will certainly respect and obey our teacher."
"Otherwise, why would our teacher always consider you the most well-behaved