When Mary woke up in bed, it was already the next morning.
She lay in bed dazedly, looking at the unfamiliar furniture and decorations all around her, seemingly unable to react for a moment.
Where am I? What happened? Why am I not wearing clothes?
As a Mage with strong logical thinking, it took Mary less than ten seconds to find the answer herself.
I’m in the Mage Tower of the Heavenly Dao Palace.
I’m here to teach Transmutation spells.
I’m used to sleeping without clothes.
Alright, everything is normal, no issues. All normal, no problems at all.
"Phew......"
Mary yawned, got up, casually picked up a nightgown hanging nearby, put it on, then walked to the window, looking outside at the lush forest, grassland and lake, as well as this magical and beautiful city.
However, what shocked Mary the most was their treatment.
In Mary’s impression, Mages typically had their own Mage Towers; whether for learning, teaching, or research, a solitary Mage Tower was evidently more convenient. But what Mary and the others did not expect was that Fang Zheng didn’t build Mage Towers; instead, he actually constructed a school for them named "Hogwarts"!
Of course, this was something Fang Zheng exchanged from the Dimensional Codex store. Considering the number issue, he didn’t exchange for the entire Hogwarts campus, just the main teaching building. But even just like this, it was enough to make Mary and the other Mages drop their jaws in awe—a school!
Although as White Tower Mages, darlings of heaven, elites of the Magitech Nation, Mary and the others were already accustomed to various conveniences and privileges, building a Magic School directly to welcome them was beyond expectations!
If Fang Zheng were to use this as a proposal, Mary was certain that at least half the members of this visiting group would nod and agree without a second thought.
Including herself.
For Mages, owning their own turf is almost a dream of dreams, comparable to parents yearning to buy a school district house covering the ranges of elementary, middle, and high schools. Why is a Mage Tower the most famous thing for a Mage? Because its importance to a Mage equals the level where a single bachelor needs to buy ten wedding homes!
Having their own Mage Tower means achieving economic freedom, research freedom. Equivalent to researchers no longer having to worry about prices, consumables, time, pressure from above or policies, researching whatever they want.
I want to research dolphins, I research dolphins; I want to research butterflies, I research butterflies, without having to worry about the target tasks given above, without worrying about not having enough money, and no need to worry about being obstructed from using experimental materials for various reasons...use as much as I want!
And now, her dream has finally been halfway realized.
Feeling the abundant magic power around her, Mary took a deep breath, feeling as if she was about to fly away. The magic power in this magic school was quite ample, even comparable to the White Tower. The most important thing is, everything here belonged to her!
This was also the condition Fang Zheng offered; he "recruited" these Mages to be responsible for teaching the apprentices within the Heavenly Dao Palace. As long as these Mages completed their work according to his requirements, then they could freely use spell materials for their research. Besides that, each person would also receive a substantial payment every month. As for the latter, Mary didn’t really care, for money didn’t hold much meaning or value to Mages.
But it’s better than nothing.
"Beep beep beep......"
Just at this moment, a clear ringing suddenly sounded in Mary’s ears, hearing this sound, Mary was slightly stunned, then she raised her wrist, reached out and pressed the silver ring on her right wrist, soon, a screen was projected out rapidly, and the face that appeared from inside was Delian.
"Wow, this actually works......Miss Mary, can you hear me?"
"Of course, Miss Delian, the sound is very clear, and I can see you too."
Hearing Delian’s inquiry, Mary nodded. This was the "Magic Artifact" Fang Zheng gave them yesterday, saying it was convenient for contact and receiving notifications, and also a necessity for life within the Heavenly Dao Palace, so Mary accepted it. It was admitted, this thing was indeed fresh and interesting, especially after Mary figured out how to use it, she spent half the night on forums; if it wasn’t for travel fatigue making her fall asleep inadvertently, Mary might have pulled an all-nighter.
"I just contacted the others, we plan to go out to eat together, and take a look around nearby, Miss Mary would you like to come too?"
"Of course."
Hearing Delian’s invitation, Mary nodded, although these Mages occasionally ran into each other in the White Tower, they were just nodding acquaintances. Now it’s very likely that they’d be working here for quite a long time, getting to know each other a bit wouldn’t hurt. But out of habit, Mary still gave a reminder.
"But don’t forget, Lord Fang Zheng mentioned that we should be ready by eight o’clock for apprentice inspections."
"Don’t worry, we won’t forget; it’s only... six o’clock now, there are two hours left, we’re just strolling around nearby. By the way, have you looked at the map? There seems to be a restaurant around here, should we check out the food here?"
"Alright, wait a moment, I’ll be there soon, give me fifteen minutes."
"No problem, we’ll wait for you at the school gate."
Finishing the contact, Mary quickly went to the washroom, groomed herself carefully, then hurriedly left the room. She managed to meet up with Delian and the others waiting at the school gate right at fifteen minutes.
Aside from Colette, the "captain," everyone else was already there. After Mary arrived, she exchanged a few words with everyone before leaving the school, following the map’s directions.
"Honestly, as far as I’m concerned, even Casco City isn’t this nice."
Walking along the clean and tidy street, watching the trees on both sides of the sidewalk swaying with the wind, Delian couldn’t help but sigh. Casco is the capital of the Magitech Nation, and the most technologically advanced place in the Magitech Civilization, but even there doesn’t have an environment as good as the Heavenly Dao Palace.
"No drunkards, no guards, no sight of those rude mercenaries and warriors, tut tut tut... I really want to live here forever."
"Then why don’t you marry Lord Fang Zheng?"
Annie pushed up her black-framed glasses and curiously asked, as Delian’s face turned slightly red, snorted lightly and turned her head.
"What are you saying? I am, after all, the eldest daughter of the Delian family, and also the next chief of Illusion Techniques, how can I be this shameless? At least... at least he has to propose to me first!"
"...I’m a bit worried, if we return to the White Tower, would we still get used to life there?"
Walking behind the others, a short-haired brown girl spoke up. She was Jessica from the Protection class, also one of the members of this delegation.
"Exactly, especially this personal terminal... it’s so convenient. I wonder if the White Tower can create something similar?"
"This seems not to be just a magic artifact with constant remote contact, it integrates many functions. According to logic, such a magic artifact should have a complex Magic Circle. But I neither saw a Magic Circle, nor sensed any magic power fluctuations from it... how does it start?"
"How about we disassemble one and see?"
"Would it explode... come to think of it, whose would we dismantle?"
"......"
Upon hearing this, the girls closed their mouths. Are you kidding? This is the great stuff they had worked hard to obtain, how could they just casually disassemble it? If it breaks... they can’t put it back together!
As they spoke, Mary and the group arrived at the restaurant marked on the map, which was already open, with a few kids dressed in maid outfits busying around, preparing for business.
It’s been quite some time since Fang Zheng brought these Cursed Children from the Black World here; during this period, the first batch of Cursed Children to enter the Heavenly Dao Palace had almost "graduated." They’d all found jobs they hoped for, and now this breakfast shop was a place run by some Cursed Children who loved cooking, even though the patron flow wasn’t very large, living a normal life and earning their living through their efforts had already satisfied these kids greatly.
For them, this place was their Heaven.
"Welcome, what would you like to eat?"
Seeing Mary and her group dressed in Mage’s Robes, the kids looked a bit curious, but soon, a girl with raccoon ears and tail came by, cheerfully greeting them.
"We have Xiao Long Bao, tofu pudding, as well as soy milk and wontons..."
Influenced by Fang Zheng’s preferences, almost all residents in the Heavenly Dao Palace preferred Chinese cuisine. Of course, some enjoyed Japanese and Western cuisine. Thus, most restaurants here offered Chinese food, followed by dessert shops and cafés, with other international cuisines coming next.
However, to Mary and the others, what this girl mentioned might as well have been the Heavenly Book.
What is Xiao Long Bao?
What is wonton?
What is tofu pudding?
As everyone was in distress, Delian had already made a decision. Mary watched her proudly lift her head, then suddenly flick her hand.
"Let’s have one of everything!"
"........."
From a certain perspective, this was indeed the best way to solve the problem.

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