Wizard: Unlimited Profession Slots Chapter 731 - 338: Star’s Charisma (Part 3)

This preferential treatment caught the attention of every other passenger on board.

Eyes cast in his direction were alight with jealousy, while others simmered with a veiled, cold hostility.

The craft’s interior aesthetic was stark and utilitarian, exuding a chilly atmosphere.

Etched into the metallic panels were dense protective runes, each casting a soft, azure luminescence throughout the cabin.

The chairs consisted of a living, organic material that adjusted its firmness automatically; it felt unnervingly squirmy to the touch despite its gentle warmth.

Approximately an hour into the flight, the magic crystal communicator beside Ron pulsed with an azure light.

"Lecturer Ralph, this is Victor," the academic administrator’s voice echoed, crackling with excitement through the device:

"I have some wonderful news to share."

"Your advanced class enrollment has surged to 427 attendees, and we have already successfully activated the magic power amplification array."

Victor’s tone was soaked in deep reverence:

"Honestly, your influence and this sheer scale of enrollment... it is truly beyond belief."

"Moreover, several lecturers from external academies have reached out with invitations, eager to engage in academic exchanges with you.

It appears your reputation has transcended the walls of the Crystal Tower."

Ron replied with typical composure, "I understand; thank you for the update."

Once the communication was severed, the researchers nearby struggled to conceal their increasingly complex emotions.

One youthful assistant researcher couldn't contain his disbelief:

"427 students? The number is simply staggering; I seem to recall that some of our established Associate Professors barely draw a few hundred to their lectures."

"The title of second-in-command for the New Star Plan is clearly not just for show," another researcher remarked with a biting tone:

"When one gains political weight, their academic prestige inevitably follows suit."

Ignoring their chatter, Ron simply cast his gaze silently toward the porthole.

Outside, clouds undulated like turbulent waves, with the bizarre, abyssal-tainted clouds visible in the far distance.

"Wizard Ralph, your tea." A slender flight attendant approached him cautiously, offering the beverage.

Though the attendant seemed barely out of her teens, her left arm was entirely mechanical, silver metal intricately engraved with precise energy circuits.

Such augmentations had become commonplace for staff working at this observation post.

Prolonged proximity to the abyss inevitably forces bodily mutations, making mechanical replacement a far safer alternative.

"My thanks." Ron accepted the teacup, observing the flicker of reverence in the attendant's gaze.

Lately, such expressions had become a predictable constant for him.

In the world of Wizards, power and peril were forever tethered.

.........

As the vessel began its descent, the full, imposing silhouette of the Abyssal Observation Station emerged through the porthole.

Constructed from living metal, the twisted architecture appeared particularly ominous against the somber, dark sky.

Upon the opening of the hatch, the familiar, suffocating air hit Ron once again.

Everything within this place served as a stark reminder that they occupied the fragile threshold between reality and the abyss—a dark, dangerous space poised to consume them at any moment.

Disembarking through the VIP exit, Ron moved toward the station entrance to undergo the mandatory security screenings.

"Ron... my apologies, I should address you as Wizard Ralph." Following the inspection, a familiar voice called out from nearby.

Wayne, the director, approached from the reception desk, struggling to force a smile across his partially petrified face.

Despite his efforts, his demeanor and the manner in which he addressed Ron had undergone an obvious, subtle shift.

"Welcome back to our observation station." Wayne’s tone sounded respectful, yet unnervingly detached:

"I have received word that you are now second-in-command of the New Star Plan. That is truly... a commendable achievement."

The excessive deference only made Ron feel increasingly uneasy.

Previously, Wayne had been stern but had treated Ron as a peer and colleague.

Now, this deliberate display of respect served only to create a vast, uncomfortable divide.

"Director Wayne, please, just call me as you always have," Ron said, attempting to dissipate the tension:

"We are colleagues, after all..."

"How could that possibly be appropriate?" Wayne waved his hands in a frantic, dismissive gesture, his petrified cheeks rasping with a faint friction as his expression contorted:

"Your standing now belongs in a completely different sphere than us common researchers. And furthermore..."

He paused, his eyes reflecting a complicated mix of emotions:

"I understand you have been granted independent research permissions and carry the clearance to report directly to the Tower Master and Professor Yutel.

We humble characters can no longer presume to critique your actions."

Deputy Director Zeli approached at that moment, her crystalline eyes flickering incessantly:

"Congratulations, Wizard Ralph. Securing the favor of Tower Master Cassandra is an honor we mere mortals could only dream of."

Her voice sounded congratulatory, yet the cold, distancing tone was unmistakable:

"We had considered recommending you for a few key projects, but that seems quite unnecessary now.

Given your stature, you possess the authority to call upon whichever research resources you require."

Though Zeli and Wayne were outwardly courteous, the underlying message of their statements was crystal clear.

"You have all fundamentally misunderstood my intent." He attempted to clarify:

"My focus remains rigidly on materials analysis and bloodline modulation, without any intention of straying outside our department’s scope..."

"Oh, naturally, naturally." Wayne nodded repeatedly, though the suspicion in his eyes showed no signs of fading:

"Should you require any cooperation from our end, please do not hesitate to issue your instructions."

The surrounding researchers chimed in, their reactions uniform—outwardly deferential, yet internally guarded.

It was clear they had begun to view Ron as a grand superior who required delicate handling rather than a peer with whom they could interact freely.

Amidst this awkward, stifling silence, a hearty burst of laughter erupted from across the room.

"Haha, I remarked just this morning that the air held a distinct scent!"

A rugged voice boomed: "It turns out our big shot has finally returned!"