Wizard starting from shoeing donkeys Chapter 1562 - 538: Crisis and Search

Rein cast a swift look over the paperwork: ".... request to advance to a major Wizard School, ready to assume the related duties and commitments..."

Standardized templates from the Dragan Empire and the Wizard School Union topped these papers. Rein saw no issues with them and promptly added his signature.

"Your Majesty Rein, if you'll follow me this way. After your school upgrades to a large Wizard School, you'll have the chance to pick a new location. Usually, the Empire assigns spots in the borderlands as bases for large Wizard Schools."

"Oh?" Rein lifted an eyebrow, displaying curiosity.

Even though he'd already eyed the Shirendil Plateau, that didn't keep him from learning the details of the process.

Before long, the party reached a chamber on the second level of the Union's main building.

The moment he stepped inside, Rein spotted a huge map hanging on the wall—a full layout of the Dragan Empire's lands. Shaped like a lopsided oval, it featured assorted icons in the border zones.

Rein recognized that those icons stood for large Wizard Schools.

Yet, linking up the zones with those icons still left gaps—even without the shores—failing to cover the Empire's entire edge. Vast stretches remained empty.

Clearly, this showed how the Dragan Empire, despite leaning on large Wizard Schools' might, couldn't fully extend its influence to the borders. That matched what Rein knew, since plenty of those outer regions lacked resources, brimmed with hazards, and held few people, making them unworthy of heavy Empire backing.

On top of that, Rein spotted icons for large Wizard Schools not just on the edges but deep inside the Empire's core.

"Your Majesty Perkins, what's the current number of large Wizard Schools in the Empire?" Rein inquired offhandedly.

"Counting yours, there are fourteen large Wizard Schools in the Empire right now. Take the Serafen School, where I serve—it's based in the Pampas Grassland up north in the northwest, and the Heladon School sits in the Erlis Lowland down south... The Isodre School occupies the Shirendil Plateau..."

Perkins laid out the details thoroughly.

"I see." Rein gave a nod, mulling it over.

"But your tally's off. It should be thirteen, since the Isodre School's request for demotion is probably already in motion."

"Hmm?"

All those in the room stared wide-eyed at Rein, filled with baffled astonishment—even Perkins, an Imperial Guardian.

Demotion application?

What reason could the Isodre School have for seeking demotion?

The real shocker was, if true, wouldn't that be a closely guarded secret for the Isodre School? How on earth did Your Majesty Rein find out?

"Could it be that you..." In a flash, Perkins thought of a particular whisper and blurted it out.

But Rein wasn't about to clarify. Flashing a faint grin, he shifted topics with, "So, what about those two large Wizard Schools right in the Empire's center?"

"Ah, this one... That's the Chronos School's base—the Hammerfall Mountains, a notorious Deadland wrapped in swirling black mists. To keep surprises in check, the Empire picked that spot on purpose, with a large Wizard School watching over it."

Hammerfall Mountains?

As for the swirling black mists, Rein recalled them well. He'd gone past Hammerfall Fortress on his way to the Frostwind Prairie once.

In Rein's view, the dangers of watching over a Deadland like that rivaled those of the Shirendil Plateau. The latter at least let you gauge the foes' sizes and strengths more clearly, but a Deadland like this brought way more unknowns.

"Your Majesty Perkins, on behalf of the Bixiu Mechanization School, I select the Shirendil Plateau as our new base."

The instant Rein wrapped up his words, the chamber fell into utter silence, quiet as a grave!

Those around him gazed at Rein with odd looks, almost shouting: This is brutal—not just pushing the Isodre School down but grabbing their turf too?

Noticing their faces, Rein let a small smile creep in, fully aware of the mix-up.

"Oh, and Your Majesty Perkins, one other matter. I've founded a group called the Mechanical Association. Per the rules, it must get filed with the Empire and the Wizard School Union."

"Right now, the group's members are just the Bixiu Mechanization School and the Isodre School. I'd like the Union to spread word about it, so any school—large or small—keen on building mechanical beings hears of it."

"Mechanical Association?"

"This... Fine! Sure thing." Up against Rein, Perkins couldn't say no easily, so after a quick think, he agreed with a nod.

"Much appreciated! I'm grateful, Your Majesty Perkins. For any extra steps, feel free to reach out to me or Ms. Olena whenever." Rein gestured toward Olena beside him as he spoke.

"You honor me, Your Majesty Rein."

...

Stepping out of the Union building alongside Rein, Audrey and Alicia remained stunned. Had the school upgrade and site choice wrapped up this fast?

Under normal circumstances, don't they demand a battle strength check first, followed by a dedicated promotion mission? And picking a residence usually involves rounds of Union debates, dragging on for ten days to half a month before settling—but this time...

....

Once they departed the Wizard School Union, Rein's carriage turned toward the Sword Holder Headquarters.

Having stayed away from the Sword Holder Headquarters for a good while, Rein planned to visit Marshal Alfred on this trip.