Earth's Greatest Magus

As Emery followed the grand magus through the hall, they ventured deeper into the heart of the mountain core. With each step, Emery deliberately let out a deep sigh, a gesture that elicited a small chuckle from the graceful grand magus.

Noticing his sigh, Emery couldn't help but voice his thoughts. "Master, I hope next time you could brief me first before throwing me into such a situation," he remarked.

In response, the grand magus smiled reassuringly. "I knew you could handle it, and you did," she said with confidence. "In fact, you exceeded my expectations."

Emery sighed once more, reflecting on the events that had unfolded just minutes ago. The deputy headmaster had thrust him into a challenging situation, forcing him to prove himself and silence the dissatisfied outer realm instructors. Simultaneously, he had managed to identify those who could pose a threat to the academy's stability.

As Emery contemplated the fate of Coral and Sadis, pondering what actions the Deputy Headmaster might take against them, the grand magus seemed to anticipate his thoughts.

"Don't worry, those two will be removed from the academy," she assured him.

"Removed? Fired?!" Emery echoed, taken aback. After a moment of consideration, he nodded in agreement. "Yes, that would be for the best."

It was clear to Emery that individuals with such questionable character were unfit to serve as magus instructors. The age-old adage rang true in this instance: there were no bad students, only bad teachers.

However, the grand magus's response also served as confirmation of the Deputy Headmaster's true intentions. She was undoubtedly taking steps to purge the academy of instructors who didn't meet its standards. Emery couldn't help but recognize the calculated nature of her actions.

The deliberate decision to assign an instructor with his background to the last chosen hall seemed almost cruel in its execution. However, her reputation as an oracle, blessed with the gift of foresight, suggests that every move she made was deliberate and calculated. Perhaps, in her wisdom, she foresaw no harm befalling Emery despite the challenging circumstances.

Moreover, Emery recognized that the grand magus had to maintain impartiality and fairness, especially given the intricate web of factional interests that permeated the Magus academy.

After a moment of contemplation, Emery addressed the grand magus with a calm demeanor. "Master, I never envisioned you as someone who would engage in these kinds of actions."

Curious, the grand magus arched an eyebrow. "What do you mean? Managing the academy or handling faction politics?"

Emery's tone was resolute as he responded, "Both."

He had always perceived Grand Magus Aurora, the Oracle, as a figure of neutrality, one who stood apart from the intricate web of faction politics. Her decision to take on a managerial role within the academy seemed to blur those lines, especially considering the manner in which the academy had been run thus far.

To Emery's surprise, the grand magus delved into the intricacies of the academy's current situation, shedding light on the vision set forth by the esteemed Supreme Magus Altus Dresden himself. This visionary leader had spearheaded the implementation of the new system, envisioning an ecosystem that would nurture and provide opportunities for young talents from across the universe. As Emery listened, he couldn't help but be transported back to his initial days at the academy, where he had been inspired by the lofty words of Headmaster Altus.

Reflecting on the new system, Emery recognized its merits, particularly in its approach to increasing the number of accepted acolytes and refining talent filtration through the perseverance mountain. However, his optimism was tempered by a growing concern regarding the management systems within the inner halls.

Emery harbored reservations about the allegiance of most instructors, many of whom hailed from various factions. He feared that their loyalty might lie more with their respective factions than with the academy itself. Each instructor likely harbored their own agendas and visions for how the academy should be managed, as evidenced by the recent tumultuous events during the instructor selection process. This factional influence could potentially undermine the harmony and effectiveness of the academy's leadership, casting a shadow of uncertainty over its future direction.

Once again, recognizing the trajectory of his thoughts, the grand magus said, "Such things must seem threatening if viewed from a factional standpoint." The grand magus continued,"But consider the students view."

Emery paused, allowing the notion to sink in. The realization dawned on him: the competition among factions could actually benefit the acolytes. In a system where multiple factions vied for the most promising talents, acolytes stood to gain from the influx of resources and support directed toward their growth and development.

As factions invested in nurturing and fostering the talents they favored, acolytes would find themselves surrounded by opportunities for growth and advancement. Moreover, the friendships and connections forged through these interactions would serve as valuable assets in their future endeavors, opening doors to a myriad of possibilities beyond the academy walls. Emery couldn't help but acknowledge the silver lining amidst the backdrop of factional rivalry.

Seeing Emery's comprehension, the grand magus shared another critical perspective through a question: "Emery, have you seen the kind of security we have here?"

Upon hearing the question, Emery's initial focus was on the heightened security measures he had encountered at the entrance. However, upon further reflection prompted by the grand magus's query, he began to discern a significant distinction from the previous academy. Notably absent were the enforcers, a stark contrast given Emery's prior experiences with the academy's formidable security presence.

As realization dawned, Emery grasped the implications of this absence. Despite the memories of past bloody incursions, the lack of enforcers was indeed surprising.

The grand magus's smile conveyed her satisfaction as she elaborated, "There is no need for enforcers when we have over 500 magus instructors on this island, with 50 of them possessing the esteemed rank of grand magus. This constitutes nearly three times the previous number of grand magus. Moreover, when considering the collective force across all three academies, the increase in manpower is nearly tenfold."

Emery's contemplation delved deeper as he unraveled the intricacies of the system. The presence of various factions within the halls not only guaranteed security but also served to distribute responsibilities, thereby easing the strain on the academy's resources. This was particularly crucial during critical periods when enforcers and military personnel were needed at the forefront of conflicts. Additionally, the strategic placement of significant forces in three separate locations effectively established miniature bases, fortifying the quadrants and enhancing overall defense capabilities.

As Emery pieced together the puzzle, he began to appreciate the multifaceted benefits of this arrangement. Beyond security, fostering relationships between factions within their respective quadrants would not only promote growth and cooperation but also create a network of support that could be mobilized in times of need. The synergistic effect of nurturing talent while simultaneously strengthening security through inter-factional collaboration was an ingenious stroke of organizational design.

It became clear why the Magus Alliance council swiftly reached a consensus on developing all three academies simultaneously.

The grand magus provided Emery with further insight into the academy's management structure, revealing that only 100 magus levels served as internal staff shared among the three academies. This revelation shed light on the magnitude of their responsibilities and the careful allocation of personnel required to support such a massive undertaking.

To support such a massive task, Grand Magus Aurora was willing to assume the role of Deputy at Alpha Academy, Grand Magus Yvere at Beta Academy, and Delbrand was appointed Headmaster of Delta Academy. All of them operated under the leadership of Supreme Magus Altus, who now held the prestigious position of Senior Council overseeing the Magus Alliance's education ministry.

This information was eye-opening for Emery, offering a glimpse into the intricate web of leadership and decision-

making processes within the academy. It underscored the importance of each individual's role in maintaining the academy's operations and ensuring its continued success.

Emery seized the opportunity to pose a question, one that had been weighing on his mind since his appointment.

"Master," his tone earnest and inquisitive, "please tell me, why did you choose me?"

Emery's mind swirled with uncertainty as he pondered the reasons behind his selection. He couldn't shake the feeling of inadequacy, lacking both the resources and experience to contribute significantly to the academy's mission. It seemed improbable that he had been chosen solely due to his strength or personal connections.

In response to Emery's query, the deputy headmaster merely smiled, directing his attention to a massive door at the end of the hall. "We are here," she said cryptically, "and coincidentally, one of your answers lies beyond this door."

As they approached the door, the grand magus revealed a complex array of glowing runes adorning its surface. This high-grade locking mechanism was beyond Emery's comprehension, requiring the deputy's special key and token to grant access. A surge of anticipation coursed through Emery as the door swung open, revealing a sight that left him awestruck.