Chapter 127 - 91: An Inspirational Topic
As Mo Ning started back, Reina keenly noticed the unconcealable smile on the Noble Lady’s face.
The Dazed Girl blinked. Her straightforward personality meant she couldn’t hide her curiosity. "Any good news?"
Anya hesitated for a moment, then said softly, "I received the reward for exposing the Dark Wizard spy. A total of 40 Black Tower Points."
Reina was filled with envy, her eyes practically sparkling. "That many?"
Just a moment ago, she’d been ecstatic about the 2 Black Tower Points from her mission. But now, hearing the number "40," she suddenly felt those two points weren’t so special anymore.
It wasn’t that the Dazed Girl was lazy; it’s just human nature to make comparisons, which naturally creates a sense of disparity. Most of humanity’s suffering stems from this.
Reina suddenly realized something. "Exposing a Dark Wizard spy should count as a great service. Aren’t 40 Black Tower Points a bit low for that?"
Anya gave a radiant smile and shook her head. "Of course, it was more than 40 Black Tower Points. Mo Ning was rewarded with 160 for discovering that something was wrong with Kanda."
Reina let out a gasp.
She would have to work in the plantation for ten days to earn that much, but Mr. Mo Ning had earned it in just a fraction of the time.
Frankly, this revelation made the Dazed Girl feel as if a door to a whole new world had just opened before her.
She suddenly realized that there was a more efficient, much easier way to make money.
Just then, the two young women caught an unfamiliar sound and simultaneously turned to look to their right.
A familiar figure was moving quickly through the bamboo forest. His pace was unhurried yet exceptionally nimble, and he precisely avoided the razor-sharp leaves.
Mo Ning’s characteristically calm voice drifted past the black stalks of Steel Bamboo. "I have an idea."
The two young women immediately perked up their ears.
Mo Ning’s voice drew closer as he approached. "I was just studying the Black Moss on the Steel Bamboo for a while, and I’ve developed a rough line of thought. I’m planning to write a research paper."
He paused for a moment before getting straight to the point.
"I have a lot on my plate, so I need assistants to handle the menial work. Would you be willing to be my research assistants?"
Within the academy, it was very common for Wizards to recruit Apprentices as assistants, and for High Level Apprentices to do the same with Low Level Apprentices.
This allowed the researcher to focus on the core aspects of their study while delegating tasks like gathering materials, organizing data, proofreading documents, and all sorts of other odd jobs to their assistants.
It was the epitome of efficiency—letting the brightest people do the most important work, leaving the rest for others.
Mo Ning had extended the invitation primarily to give Anya a helping hand.
’As for the Dazed Girl, it was more of an afterthought. He’d see if she had any potential worth cultivating. If she did, she would stay. If not, she’d be an assistant in name only.’
Reina was practically dumbstruck.
’Even though she was a hundred percent certain that Mr. Mo Ning was far more capable than Sitt, the fact remained that no matter how incredible he was, he was still a newcomer.’
’For a newcomer to decide to conduct research and write a paper... wasn’t that just absurd?’
Anya, on the other hand, stared with wide eyes, seemingly unable to believe the sudden invitation.
’Oh, Mystery! The genius acknowledged by the Rose Council is actually inviting *me* to be his research assistant?’
But the Noble Lady quickly snapped back to reality.
She instinctively puffed out her chest, making its ample curves even more pronounced and causing it to tremble faintly.
Her pretty face was flushed with excitement, and her normally melodious voice was strained. "I would be deeply honored to serve as your research assistant."
That snapped Reina back to attention.
’Why would Miss Anya say that? Why was she so excited, almost ecstatic?’
The Dazed Girl had long realized that Mr. Mo Ning was full of secrets, and Miss Anya seemed to know a great deal about him.
She looked at Anya, then at Mo Ning, her gaze flitting between the two like a butterfly searching for a place to land.
A tremor originating from the depths of her soul suddenly erupted in her chest.
Reina instantly understood: her Spiritual Trait, [Intuition of the Right Direction], had activated.
The effect this time was unusually powerful—the strongest she had ever experienced in her life.
A clap of thunder resounded in her mind. ’This invitation from Mr. Mo Ning... this could very well be the most crucial turning point of my life.’
Reina replied as quickly as she could, "Mr. Mo Ning, it would be my greatest honor as well."
After speaking, she gave a slight bow. Her signature cowlick drooped down along with her head, as if it, too, were paying its solemn respects.
Mo Ning smiled. "The work in the plantation is too demanding. It doesn’t just drain your stamina; it erodes your creativity. I see no reason for you to continue with it."
Reina felt like the world had gone completely mad.
’Generation after generation of newcomers to the academy had to slave away at manual labor, painstakingly accumulating Black Tower Points bit by bit. Who was any different?’
But in the presence of "Mr. Turning Point of My Destiny," she was smart enough to say nothing, and simply listened obediently.
Anya, however, voiced her wholehearted agreement. "Yes. The drudgery leaves me no time to think."
Mo Ning changed the subject. "Is there somewhere more secluded? Let’s sit down and have a proper chat."
Anya understood exactly what Mo Ning needed and immediately replied, "The temperature in the Cold Pine Forest is quite low. Hardly anyone ever goes there."
The Cold Pine Forest was one of the three recreational areas in the academy open to newcomers.