Chapter 631 - 606: Tuition
Chapter 631: Chapter 606: Tuition
Hans’s name popped up on the display at the seventh recruitment window of the Basic Academy. It was his turn. Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward.
Behind the cold metal counter sat not some high and mighty Wizard, but a silently operating Golem.
The Golem scanned Hans’s personal terminal. "Identity confirmed: Citizen ID D-88190, Name: Hans. Level 2 Citizen, Basic Blacksmith Profession Level 3, past labor performance good, cultural assessment 88 points. Meets the admission standards for the Ten Thousand Machines Basic Extraordinary Academy’s Magic Guide Forging and Rune major."
"Really?! I’m admitted?!" Hans’s legs went weak from excitement.
"Please remain calm, subject Hans." The Golem shifted slightly, and a Magic Contract appeared on the counter. "Now entering the fee calculation and contract signing phase.
"The comprehensive teaching cost for the first academic year at the Ten Thousand Machines Basic Extraordinary Academy is calculated at: three hundred Low-Level Magic Stones (including depreciation fees for standardized Meditation guidance Golems, basic Rune consumables, nutrient mixture quotas, and protective equipment)."
Three hundred Magic Stones! That number shattered the wild joy that had just welled up inside him. Hans froze, his Adam’s apple bobbing with difficulty. Three hundred Magic Stones! Even if he exchanged all the Contribution Points he had saved over the past three years at the Magic Stone Bank, he would get less than a hundred Magic Stones. For a lowly blacksmith’s apprentice, this sum was enough to buy the very smithy where he worked! Yet here, it was only enough to cover one year’s tuition. Despair submerged him like freezing water. He opened his mouth, his eyes red, and let out a dry, choked sob. "I... I don’t have that much money... God, why does it cost so much..."
However, the Golem’s voice did not fluctuate in the slightest. It simply continued according to its set programming. "It is detected that the subject is a Level 2 Citizen of the Divine Kingdom of Ten Thousand Machines, and the chosen major falls under the Divine Kingdom’s first-tier urgently needed occupations. According to Article Seven of the *Extraordinary Education White Paper of the Divine Kingdom of Ten Thousand Machines*, you are entitled to a high financial subsidy from the Divine Kingdom Industrial Development Fund.
"Subsidy ratio: 80%.
"The subject’s out-of-pocket tuition for the first year is: 24 Low-Level Magic Stones, or 2,400 Contribution Points."
Hans’s head snapped up, a light of sheer disbelief erupting in his eyes. Twenty-four Magic Stones?! His savings were not only enough to pay for it entirely, but he would even have a sum left over for living expenses!
"However," the Golem interrupted his rejoicing, pushing another document forward. "The prerequisite for enjoying this high financial subsidy is that the subject must sign the attached *Directed Service Agreement of the Divine Kingdom of Ten Thousand Machines*.
"The core terms of the agreement are as follows: upon graduation from the Basic Academy, the subject must unconditionally obey the unified deployment of the Grand Governor system, entering Wesren Heavy Industry’s Golem assembly plants, Rune forging plants, or other assigned fieldwork. The minimum service period is ten years.
"During the service period, remuneration will be issued according to the Divine Kingdom’s minimum standard for junior technical positions, and the employment relationship cannot be unilaterally terminated. In the event of a breach of contract, the subsidy funds must be refunded in full, a penalty of three times the amount must be paid, and the citizen ranking will be stripped, reducing the subject to a ’debt laborer.’
"Do you wish to sign?"
The Golem stared quietly at Hans, waiting for the countdown. Many of the commoners lined up behind Hans had also heard the terms, and a suppressed commotion rippled through the crowd.
"A minimum wage for ten years... This is tantamount to completely selling the prime decade of your life to Heavy Industry..."
"So what? Be content, you fool!" an older miner further back cursed in a low voice. "Out there, you couldn’t even buy a single Magic Staff of a Wizard even if you sold your entire family! Here, the Divine Kingdom is shelling out so many Magic Stones to teach you to be a Wizard, and all you have to do is work for ten years! After those ten years, you’ll be a goddamn official Rune Artisan! By then, won’t you be living the high life wherever you go?!"
Listening to the murmurs around him, Hans stared fixedly at the two contracts. He knew this was a shackle, a tailor-made set of iron fetters. But he also knew clearly that if he turned around today, he would be nothing but a blacksmith coughing up black phlegm amidst smoke and fire for the rest of his life, until he died of old age in the mud. Without the slightest hesitation, Hans signed the agreement on the spot!
"Contract established. Welcome to the Ten Thousand Machines Basic Extraordinary Academy. Student ID: W-09471. Please proceed to Teaching Area 3 before eight o’clock tomorrow morning to collect your uniform and textbooks." The Golem let out its rigid voice once more. "Next."
Hans stumbled out of the passageway, clutching the thin admission notice in his hand. Suddenly, he covered his face and bawled loudly in the morning light that poured down like heavy rain, before throwing his head back in wild laughter.
Meanwhile, three blocks away, the atmosphere in another magnificent, independent hall was entirely different.
This was the hall leading to the Supreme Wizard Academy. Mr. Andrew was standing in the spacious and tidy review room with his eldest son. The decor here looked far more luxurious. Floating Magic Crystal Lamps emitted a soft glow, and the seated review officer was an Official Wizard dressed in purple robes. This was a guest lecturer Allen had recruited from the Gray Channel with a high salary.
"Mr. Andrew," the purple-robed Wizard glanced at the evaluation results. "Your son’s aptitude is indeed quite good. His comprehensive evaluation is Grade A, and his Spiritual Power is extremely active. He has indeed met the standards for the High-level Alchemy Academy’s Magic Energy Power and Array Architecture System."
A fawning smile had just surfaced on Mr. Andrew’s face when the purple-robed Wizard ruthlessly tossed over a bill.
"The High-level Academy does not fall under vocational directed training, so the Divine Kingdom does not provide free subsidies. The basic tuition for the first academic year: one thousand Low-Level Magic Stones. Prepaid experimental consumable fees: five hundred Magic Stones.
"Additionally, if you want him to obtain the right to Freedom of employment upon graduation, you must pay in full before enrollment; if you cannot pay in full..."
The purple-robed Wizard casually pushed over a golden Scroll. It was the *Ten Thousand Machines Magic Stone Bank Extraordinary Education Comprehensive Loan Contract*.
"An annualized interest rate of 7.2%, calculated with compound interest. After graduation, the Divine Kingdom will uniformly assign him to a core scientific research facility or Wesren Heavy Industry. Seventy percent of his salary will be directly allocated and deducted by the Grand Governor for loan repayment. The estimated repayment cycle is forty-seven years.
"If he dies midway due to an experimental accident or dies in battle, the debt will be inherited by his direct relatives according to the citizen sequence order."
The corner of Mr. Andrew’s eye twitched violently. He simply couldn’t produce that many Magic Stones. But turning his head, he saw the ambition practically burning in his eldest son’s eyes. He saw the authority of a Wizard, which represented true control over the mighty power of heaven and earth, ascending above the mortal realm. The power of the old era had already vanished with the wind. Under the new god’s order, only by mastering Extraordinary Power could one truly ascend to the upper echelons.
Taking a deep breath, Mr. Andrew said, "We’ll... take the loan."
The purple-robed Wizard immediately revealed a satisfied smile. "A wise choice, Mr. Andrew. Truth is expensive, but it is indeed worth the price."
All thirty-five thousand five hundred spots were confirmed within a mere three hours.
The issuance of every single admission notice was accompanied by the establishment of a meticulously strict contract. Today, thirty-five thousand five hundred young people possessing extraordinary aptitude were precisely branded with the mark of the Divine Kingdom, becoming inescapable cogs of flesh and blood under Allen’s command.
"Commander, the first batch of Teaching Golems is in position," Jarvis reported. "The first academic year of teaching for the three academies will officially commence in three days."
Allen downed the Magic Drink in his cup in one gulp. He overlooked the First Administrative Region below, which was brimming with vibrant vitality.
Those young people who had just received their admission notices were flocking like pilgrims toward the crude school buildings that weren’t even completely finished yet. They thought they were pushing open the doors to truth and glory, unaware that they had merely stepped onto an unprecedented Extraordinary industrial assembly line where they would be thoroughly quantified down to their very bones.
But so what? At least, they had obtained a ticket of admission.