The new boss showed off his skills

The next day, accompanied by Alex, Rhode attended an introductory meeting.

He had now changed into a proper blue mage's robe and looked every bit a fully fledged mage.

But considering that Rhode was actually a "boss" appointed from outside, this was more like a staff briefing arranged for the new boss.

The briefing took place in the magic laboratory on the fifth floor.

It was spacious, with no partitions.

The cabinets and tables in the room were covered with all sorts of magical materials, magic powders, Spell Runes, Arcane Sigils, Magic Marks...

Around the room stood things resembling training dummies, presumably used for practicing attacks.

Rhode now stood in the middle of the room, with a group of magic apprentices lined up neatly before him, all watching him with a trace of confusion in their eyes.

After all, they had no idea who he was.

Lilia stood proudly beside Rhode, brimming with confidence.

Rhode was the vice president, so didn't that make her someone important too?

"This is our newly appointed vice president, Lord Rhode," Alex began. "He is an intermediate mage, and from now on, he will be responsible for the day-to-day affairs of our magic tower."

Mr. Audric must have already explained everything to Alex.

The magic apprentices began whispering among themselves.

Rhode looked so young. How had he suddenly become the magic tower's vice president?

Then Alex added, "Lord Rhode defeated the Great Yeti, Yetius, on Darrow Hill!"

At those words, an excited murmur erupted from the apprentices below, and some even began clapping.

Some looked stunned and overjoyed, while even more wore expressions of admiration.

"I killed him! I killed him!" Lilia said, bouncing up and down, though few people paid attention to her.

Yetius the Great Yeti was famous. He had defeated countless brave adventurers; otherwise, he would never have held Darrow Hill for so long.

Mages were already rare, and those above the beginner level were rarer still. Mages with actual combat experience-and especially those who had defeated such formidable monsters-were even harder to find.

Yet Rhode had defeated Yetius despite looking so young. That meant he truly was a genius, and one with genuine combat ability.

Some people could only talk theory. They had extensive theoretical knowledge but no practical ability, making the spells they learned little more than empty illusions.

But someone like Rhode was different.

And if he could offer them some guidance, it would be hundreds or thousands of times better than fumbling through things on their own, and far more practical.

At that thought, the magic apprentices' gazes grew even more fervent.

Rhode himself had never expected that killing that creature would not only earn him money, but also bring him quite a bit of prestige.

"I've heard that Yetius collected treasures too. Did you happen to seize anything you could show us, Lord Rhode?" Alex asked with a smile.

"No, nothing like that." Rhode remembered the Ruby Earrings, but they were stolen goods as well as a magical treasure. Mentioning them would only invite trouble, so there was no need.

Lilia looked up, about to say something, but Rhode stopped her with a glance. Then he continued, "I'm humbled by your warm welcome, but I'll do my best to manage the magic tower!"

He couldn't take something for nothing! Since he was receiving such a generous salary, he ought to work hard to give something back.

Alex smiled again. "Now, let's give Lord Rhode a warm welcome and ask him to show us a few of his skills!"

Oh, so that was why they held the introductory meeting in the magic laboratory.

Naturally, Rhode did not refuse.

In a place where strength commanded respect, a newly appointed outsider really did need to demonstrate his abilities.

Rhode opened his right hand, and an enormous, translucent blue Mage Hand appeared before him.

Curiosity appeared on the magic apprentices' faces.

Mage Hand was only a basic support spell. Making it that large was merely a flashy trick. Without real combat power, what use was it?

Then Rhode clenched his hand.

The enormous Mage Hand curled into a fist and slammed down on a wooden dummy by the wall.

Crack!

Splinters flew everywhere.

The sturdy, cylindrical dummy, roughly twice a person's height, was effortlessly smashed flat by the Mage Hand.

As they stared at the flattened dummy on the floor and the fragments raining down from above, the magic apprentices' expressions changed in unison again-this time, every mouth hung open.

Even a decent Fireball would require considerable mastery to completely destroy that dummy.

Yet this Mage Hand could achieve the same result?

Rhode faced the apprentices. "Don't underestimate Mage Hand. Even ordinary spells can have tremendous combat power if you master them. Just like when Chief Qiao used Taizu Long Fist at the Gathering of Worthies Manor..."

Huh, that had taken a strange turn.

Rhode quickly shut his mouth, then extended a finger.

The Mage Hand swiftly contracted into the shape of a spear. With a sweep to the side, the blue spear pierced another wooden dummy and pulverized its upper half.

The magic apprentices' eyes nearly bulged out of their heads. Naturally, none of them paid attention to Rhode's earlier mention of Taizu Long Fist.

Soon, the Mage Hand turned back into a palm and closed around a stone dummy.

Sure enough, the dummy was quickly crushed into chunks of rubble, with countless small stones scattering before the apprentices and around their feet.

After this series of demonstrations, the magic apprentices seemed to have forgotten how to speak. They simply stared blankly at Rhode.

If hearing that Rhode had killed Yetius the Great Yeti had been mere hearsay, then this was seeing the proof with their own eyes.

Inflicting such tremendous damage with a basic support spell was more than enough to prove Rhode's ability.

Now everyone was thoroughly convinced.

At that point, Alex handed Rhode a sheet of paper. "Lord Rhode, this is the roster of everyone in our magic tower. Please take a look."

Rhode took it, studied the pictures and text, then looked up to match them to the people before him.

"Sally." Alex pointed to the only teenage girl in the group. "I recommend her as your personal assistant, Lord Rhode. She's very attentive in her work, and... very pretty."

The crowd chuckled.

Rhode followed Alex's pointing finger and saw the girl named Sally smiling shyly, looking rather pleased.

"I-I'm Rhode's assistant!" Lilia said with a pout.

"Then can you wash clothes and fold bedding?" Alex asked Lilia with a smile.

"No."

"Can you serve tea and water?"

"No."

"Can you run errands and deliver letters?"

"Not that either."

"Then how can you be Lord Rhode's assistant?"

"I don't care! I'm going to be his assistant anyway! Rhode said the more handsome someone is, the more deceitful and wicked he is. Looks like he was right!"

The crowd below burst into laughter.

Today really was a good day. They had gained a powerful vice president and an innocent little sweetheart.

Both were a welcome sight.

"Then how about this?" Rhode said helplessly. "I hereby appoint both Lilia and, um... Sally as my assistants!"

The magic apprentices applauded.

Of course, they understood Rhode's intention. They couldn't let the little sweetheart get upset.

Lilia was clearly quite pleased too.

"Oh, right." Lilia rose onto her tiptoes and brought her little mouth close to Rhode's ear, while Rhode bent down toward her.

He heard Lilia whisper, "When you looked at that girl just now, I felt the mana surge in your body suddenly grow a little stronger."

"...Shut up."