85: Guardian Contract

Mid-January, 22nd year of the wizard's path.

The battle armor training room, silent for several days, once again welcomed a familiar face.

"Green, take a good look at this contract."

Mentor Jordan said solemnly.

"Train soldiers for a thousand days, use them for an hour."

"This contract must be signed. It's a guarantee that will allow you, Green, and the Academy to rest assured."

"Only by signing this contract can you enter the second phase of battle armor training."

"The Academy has invested so many resources in you, and there must be a return. When the Academy needs you to step forward one day, you have that obligation."

Mentor Jordan looked at Green, whose face was serious, devoid of childishness, as if he had grown up overnight. He thought for a moment, then added:

"Of course..."

"If you still want a free and peaceful life, to be a safe and sound Apothecary Apprentice from now on, you can choose not to sign this contract and not accept the Academy's deeper cultivation."

"All choices rest with you."

..."Mentor Jordan..."

"There's an old saying from my hometown that I strongly agree with, and I'd like to share it with you."

Green said with a solemn and serious expression.

"If a lord treats me as a national scholar, I will repay him as a national scholar..."

"Both the Academy and you, Mentor, have poured a lot of effort into me. If I don't give something back, my conscience won't allow it."

"I will sign this contract, and I will keep my word."

With that, Green lowered his head and carefully read the parchment contract.

Mentor Jordan looked at Green with satisfaction. He had always believed Green was a promising talent, both in potential and character. That's why he had done his best to cultivate Green, and Green had never disappointed him.

After Green carefully read the entire contract, he was genuinely convinced... White Wizards truly were different from Black Wizards.

Everything was laid out clearly, written in black and white, without any word games or deliberate traps.

The agreements and constraints of this Guardian Contract were very broad:

After receiving top-tier cultivation from Plant Heart Wizard Academy, Green only needed to complete a certain amount of tasks each year.

He could unconditionally refuse life-threatening missions; no one in the Academy could force Green to his death, which was written in the contract.

He could also use mission points to offset and not perform unsatisfactory missions.

Any mission assigned by the Academy to Green must be communicated and discussed with Green in advance. There would be no forced assignment of missions. If such a violation occurred, Green could directly report it to the Academy's high-level officials.

The only thing that could not be refused was: not to betray Plant Heart Wizard Academy!

If one day Plant Heart Wizard Academy were to be destroyed by enemies, Green must unconditionally protect the life safety of up to 3 apprentice seeds designated by the Academy, ensuring they continue the Academy's legacy... "Mentor Jordan..."

"The obligations stipulated in this contract are too loose."

"The entire contract is full of benefits, and missions can even be chosen by oneself. What if someone fears difficulties and dangers, and only picks easy missions? What then?"

Green said worriedly, as the binding force of this contract was indeed very small, giving apprentices too much autonomy, which made Green feel somewhat unreal.

It felt as if the Academy was a big spender, only giving benefits without expecting returns.

"Hahaha..."

Mentor Jordan laughed, a very happy laugh. He hadn't misjudged him; Green was a good child.

"Green, you actually don't need to worry about this issue."

"First, I need to correct a notion you have."

"Your mindset hasn't shifted yet, Green."

"Do you know, this contract is only eligible to be signed by a very small number of people in the Academy, and its binding force can extend up to the Formal Wizard level."

"Simply put, your ability to sign this contract means the Academy acknowledges you as a core high-level member of our Wizard Academy."

"For a high-level member of a power, Green, do you still think the binding force of this contract is too broad?"

..."Uh..."

Green was speechless. Indeed, strict rules were for those at the bottom.

Throughout history.

No high-level member of a ruling power would set up extremely strict cages for themselves.

It was good enough to have a common bottom line and consensus.

But Green still couldn't understand some things about the bottom line set by the Academy... "Mentor Jordan..."

"There are no other problems, it's just this last bottom line setting that I can't quite grasp."

Green boldly raised his question.

"The only rule in this contract that cannot be violated, its activation condition is too harsh, isn't it?"

"I feel that in my lifetime, I might not even trigger this activation condition."

"Our Academy is so powerful, and with the Seven Towers Alliance as an ally and backing, what kind of enemy could possibly destroy us? This is too absurd."

Mentor Jordan shook his head and explained:

"Green..."

"You haven't left the Academy yet, haven't experienced the dangers of the outside world, and don't know that there are always people stronger than you, and a heaven beyond heaven."

"This Wizard World is so vast, and there are countless powerful creatures. The dangers the Academy faces are also diverse."

"Various terrifying creatures that might exist in ancient ruins;

Various Demonization beasts wandering in the Mist Forest, many of which are at the Formal Wizard level;

Countless gigantic sea beasts living in the vast Mist Coast, tens or hundreds of meters long are common;

The five Black Wizard pirate groups active in the Mist Islands, who knows how many abnormal old fellows there are;

And various natural disasters. Two hundred years ago, an extraterrestrial meteorite directly destroyed a Wizard Tower that had been passed down for hundreds of years;

"So..."

"Green, the Academy is also doing this as a precaution, for the inheritance and continuation of the Academy."

"The high-level members of the Academy all know that the founder and protector of our Academy — Formal Wizard — Joyce, was a survivor who escaped from a destroyed Wizard Tower."

"More than a hundred years ago..."

"Joyce came to the Mist Coast and established our Plant Heart Wizard Academy, also to complete the continuation of his own legacy. It is said that Joyce has been diligently cultivating the Academy's next Formal Wizard."

"Previously, several promising talents from the Academy had attempted to break through to Formal Wizard, but all failed."

"Green, you must also work hard. When you become a Peak Wizard Apprentice, you can also contend for the opportunity to become a Formal Wizard..."

..."Mhm..."

"Mentor Jordan, I will not disappoint you."

Green signed his name on the parchment contract:

"Green Anglet."

"I abandoned the ease and comfort of an Apothecary, and chose the path of battle, facing death to seek that glimmer of hope."

"I firmly believe that I will succeed."

At this moment, Green was full of anticipation for the future...