In the conference room on the Editorial Department's second floor.
A broad table of dark sandalwood stood in the center of the room. The mages sat in high-backed chairs on either side. Lie Yi, Victor, Anna, Huai'en, and Bob, all formally appointed editors, had gathered alongside Roland and two specially invited experts temporarily assigned to the review.
They were either High Mages, equivalent to associate professors, or held expert titles, and each had an arcane background relevant to the meeting's subject.
Besides those seated at the table, several assistants sat to one side, listening in.
Magic Quills of various colors floated over the conference table, frolicking across enchanted paper like little sprites of magic.
Roland arrived as scheduled and took the empty seat beside Lie Yi. Then he saw a potbellied middle-aged man walk in carrying a large ceramic mug.
The man wore casual silk loungewear, and his hair was a mess. He looked thoroughly unkempt.
"Chief Editor!"
Yet everyone rose at the sight of the middle-aged man, showing him the proper respect.
"Sit down, everyone. Sit down!"
This was Mage Jenion, the head of the Editorial Department.
His gaze fell on Roland. With a slightly embarrassed dry cough, he asked, "And this is...?"
Lie Yi said helplessly, "Sir, this is Mr. Roland, our recently recruited special expert. He has officially joined our editorial team.
"Mr. Roland invented Seris and won last year's Morningstar Award."
"I see. I've heard of you. Yes, I believe there was something like that."
Understanding dawned on Jenion.
The man had not come to work in quite some time. Despite being chief editor, he did not even know exactly who worked under him, nor had he attended Roland's earlier welcome gathering.
Roland had vaguely heard that he was a mage from the Homir School.
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