Chapter 332: Atom Institution

The corner of Lucien's mouth twitched. He wondered if he needed to bring some Chinese dream reading skills here to continue the conversation.

"I can't believe that many sorcerers think Isabella will be the next winner of the Laurel. For what? Just because her theory can include Illusion in the system of arcana? The finding's still shallow and immature. And it doesn't comply with the spirit of magic!" Harrison continued.

He did not notice the strange smile on Lucien's face. Harrison just argued with some arcanists about this in the afternoon, thus his anger still lingered in his chest. Facing a sorcerer from other fields who had no preset viewpoint, Harrison could not help talking all the time.

Holding the glass, Lucien listened to Harrison's complaint smiling. Thinking of the paper that he was going to submit, Lucien had a subtle feeling in his mind.

Finally, Harrison stopped talking before the dinner was about to start.

Harrison nodded to Lucien, feeling satisfied, "Evans, you are an outstanding arcanist. You know how to think of Isabella's paper. If you have any questions on Alchemy and Illusion, just feel free to ask me."

Before Lucien responded, Harrison left the hall with other nobles.

"I didn't even make any comments..." Lucien murmured to himself. He had no idea why Harrison just regarded him as his supporter. However, it seemed that Harrison liked to call himself a witch, instead of an arcanist, following the tradition of the ancient magic empire.

It was the first time Lucien talked to a senior-rank illusionist. Lucien naturally tried to understand Harrison based on his way of talking.

"Okay, Evans. Let's get out. I'll introduce you to everyone who's open-minded about magic," said Patrick, who just got some rest in the back and drank a tube of magic potion to recover.

Lucien stopped analyzing the viscount in his mind and followed the prince.

After all of the nobles saluted, the prince introduced Lucien to them, "Ladies and gentlemen, this is Lucien Evans. Tonight's party is for celebrating Lucien Evans becoming the student of the Lord of Storm!"

Without being informed in advance, the nobles first looked lost, but then they started to applaud warmly. Every single one of them had heard the name of the Lord of Storm, the grand arcanist, and the leading role in the Highest Council, and thus his student must be an important sorcerer as well. The fact that Lucien Evans showed up on the party suggested that this young sorcerer was also from the side that supported the nobles, therefore, they all welcomed him.

In the warm applause, James, the baldheaded duke walked to Lucien and said, "Evans, you didn't make any comments when we were talking about electromagnetic messaging. Were you trying to say in your mind that we, this bunch of fools, were all heading in the wrong direction? As the student of the Lord of Storm, we wonder if you can talk to Mr. Fernando and see if he can simplify the spell to the second circle. It would be our great pleasure to have Mr. Fernando as our partner."

Although it sounded that James was complaining a little, in fact, he was trying to get closer to Lucien by talking like this.

"I'll definitely try. But sir, you must have heard of Mr. Fernando's temper. All the students have to be really careful when talking to him." Lucien was very good at using Fernando's reputation as an excuse.

Harrison first stared at Lucien for a while when Lucien was talking to James, and then he said, "Congratulations, Evans. I indeed thought you would have a teacher from the board. I didn't expect it would be the Lord of Storm. The award you've won really helped you."

"Sir, I'm afraid that the compliment only might not be enough here." Lucien smiled sincerely, "I'm still waiting for you to introduce me to more senior-rank sorcerers. I don't know a whole lot of people in the Congress."

Harrison instantly understood that Lucien was trying to build up his connections, "My friends and I are looking forward to discussing arcana and magic problems with you, Evans."

The music was relaxing and wonderful. The atmosphere was warm and casual. Lucien had talked to quite a few important nobles both inside and outside of the kingdom guarding the territories. What was out of Lucien's expectation was that James was already a level nine gold knight, and there were a few radiant knights among the nobles as well.

...

After the party, Lucien returned to Allyn. When he was about to work on his paper in the study, Leo knocked at his door and said, "Lord, a gentleman named Lazar and a few apprentices have come to visit you."

Lucien was very happy to hear it. Obviously, his friend was quite well-informed. Lucien planned to finish his paper first before telling his friends and students that he had come back.

Lucien hurriedly said, "Let them come in."

Brown vest, white shirt, black double-breasted long jacket, and top hat—Lazar still dressed the same way, and his smile was still bright. Annick, Layria, Heidi, Sprint and the other apprentices, however, had changed much on their look and had grown much taller. Now they did not look like kids anymore.

Lazar gave Lucien a big, warm hug and said, "You never told us you'd come back! Katrina is the receptionist for the committee. She was the one who told us! Congratulations, the student of the Lord of Storm!"

The apprentices were both a bit nervous and excited, "Welcome back, Mr. Evans."

"Receptionist? Katrina, you have graduated?! What about Cindy and Dona?" Lucien was a bit surprised.

Three years later, as a fully grown lady, Katrina now looked very beautiful and mature, which made Layria and Heidi feel quite envious. Katrina smiled, "Mr. Evans, you once worked in the school. Don't you remember that the annual graduation season is always in June? We've studied in the school for three years and we already passed the exams of the senior level. We've also passed the Arcana Basic exam and got the basic arcana credit."

While Catrina was saying, Heidi, Layria, Annick, and the other apprentices were all quite proud. Only Chely looked quite depressed and said, "I haven't graduated yet... I'm still in senior class."

Lucien put on a sincere smile, "I do know that apprentices can graduate in three years, but very rarely can students meet the requirements. I'm proud of you all."

Hearing the praise, all the apprentices were very encouraged. Only Sprint lowered his head.

Lucien did not ask about Sprint in front of those people. Instead, he looked at Lazar.

Lazar grinned, "Both Cindy and Dona are busy with getting their first circle, so they're not working right now. Katrina got the job because she was Douglas Magic School's excellent graduate, and if it wasn't Katrina, we wouldn't know you were back. Now you've become the student of the Lord of Storm... Ummm, I thought it would be Mr. Raventi."

The excellent graduates could have the chance to get some good jobs. Although the schools also offered the other apprentices some positions, most of them preferred to find jobs on their own.

"It's out of my expectation as well." Lucien nodded, "So Annick, Layria... What have you all been busy with?"

Heidi said proudly, "We're working in the headquarter of the Congress. I'm in Apprentice Assessment Department. Layria is in Conversion Department. Annick's in Task Zone."

Then Heidi suddenly switched the topic and put on a begging look, "Mr. Evans, please, please help Sprint."

Sprint suddenly turned around and stared at Heidi. Obviously, he did not want Heidi to continue.

"Go ahead," said Lucien.

"Sprint... was absent from school too many times. He was dismissed."

"Dismiss?" Lucien looked at Sprint. Honestly speaking, Lucien was not too surprised.

Sprint answered a bit gloomily, "Magic Potion, Basic Element, Magic Analysis, Magic Structure... I understood all these courses from the handouts left by you, Mr. Evans. I was still attending Magic Practice course... I just did not want to waste my time. I wanted to spend my time on what I haven't learned."

"That makes sense. But the old fogeys in the school won't accept it." Lazar grinned.

Layria took a glance at Sprint with sympathy and said to Lucien, "Mr. Evans... Sprint was dismissed... No decent place is willing to hire him. He's currently working as a waiter in a restaurant. Can you... Can you help him?"

In these apprentices' eyes, Mr. Evans, as the youngest winner of Holm Crown prize and the student of a grand arcanist, was basically almighty!

"It's okay, Mr. Evans. It's just temporary. When I become a real sorcerer, it'll be different," said Sprint in pride.

Lucien rubbed his chin. After a while, he said, "I've been thinking about this for a while, but I couldn't make it come true in the past. Now I've become Mr. Fernando's student, so I think it's time now. I want to start an arcana research group. Do you want to be my assistant, Sprint?"

"A research group..." Lazar and the apprentices had never heard of something like this.

"Sprint?" Lucien asked again.

"I... Of course! Of course! Thank you, Mr. Evans," said Sprint. There were tears in his eyes.

Hearing that, Lazar thought about it for a while and said, "Lucien, my spiritual power has reached the middle-rank level, but my basic mathematics and magic analysis knowledge is still not solid, so I'm pretty much stuck. I'm thinking if I can resign my job in the Will of Elements and be your assistant as well in your... research group. Your arcana knowledge is profound. Working with you can for sure be beneficial to me."

"Of course. But you have to wait until my application is approved." Lucien smiled.

Lazar was a level-two arcanist, second-circle sorcerer. He put on a bright smile and said, "I'm sure I can learn a lot from you, Lucien. By the way, does the research group have a name?"

The apprentices all got excited. They came up with all kinds of names such as Storm Lab or Evans' Institution.

Lucien thought about it carefully and said, "Let's call it Atom Institution."

"Sounds cool." Heidi nodded.

Annick got up the courage and said, "Mr. Lucien, I don't like my job in Task Zone. It's too noisy and too trivial. Can I join the group as well?"

"I need people to work with me." Lucien nodded.

"Me, too!"

"Me, too!" cheered all the apprentices, even including Katrina after a while of hesitation.

Heidi joked, "Now the institution has turned into an arcana tutoring class."

In the world Lucien came from, this was called "one organization with two nameplates", he remembered.