We Have a Deal!

Philia looked at the terminal on the side that depicted the Rune Linfel was using. Their channels filled with Magic Energy one after another, and soon, three hundred of them had a constant flow of Magic Energy. 'So you truly can do it...' Philia was surprised a Level One Familiar had such incredible Magic Sensitivity and Control.

Linfel didn't stop there. He concentrated on the channels and kept filling more and more. Not long after, he got double of that number, reaching six hundred channels with constant flow. By now, Philia was already pale while Wosley and Comat swallowed hard.

At that point, Linfel began to have difficulty. "There are indeed too many channels... It is hard to control Magic Energy going through so many of them at once. My level as a Familiar is still too low. I need to reach Level Two soon."

Before long, Linfel stopped at almost seven hundred channels and didn't force the use anymore. "Sorry, nearly seven hundred is the best I can do at the moment. I can force the issue and try to fill some extra channels, but from here onward, I won't be able to control the flow correctly, and I'm afraid I might break the rune altogether. Wait until I reach Level Two. At that time, I should be able to cover all the channels on this Rune." 

Linfel then released the receptor of the machine and looked back at Philia and the others. They all had weird expressions, confusing Linfel. "Come on. It wasn't so bad, right? You don't need to make such ugly faces."

Wosley was the first one to talk, laughing out loud. "Hahaha! No, no, no! You got it wrong! We do not think you did bad. No! You did amazingly well! Almost seven hundred runes, ALMOST SEVEN HUNDRED! Philia, how many Flosquei managed to do last time we convinced him to help?"

Philia took a deep breath. "Five hundred... thirty-two... Comat, just where did you find this monster? Is he truly from the academy? Flosquei is a Level Four Magus, but this guy is only a Level One Familiar. It is unbelievable!"

Comat scratched the back of his head. "It is just like you said. I posted the task on the academy website since we didn't have the budget to employ real high-level Maguses or Familiars. Little Linfel here just so happened to be within the group that came to take the test. By the way, he is independent."

"Independent?!" Wosley eyes lit up. He quickly approached Linfel and asked. "Linfel, give up the academy. Come to the Vaxwel Research Facility and work for us."

Linfel didn't expect that request. "That's... not something I can do. I'm only here for the Academy Credits." Besides, he is already expected to help Alvin and participate in the competition later. Not to mention, Linfel had no intention of settling in a single place. He wanted to look for Horan or at least understand what happened to him.

"Academy Credits?" Wosley quickly thought about it. If it was the Academy Credits of the Magus Academy, then they could totally afford it with their budget. "Then I want you to work for us. I'm going to extend the contract with the academy and have you come to help us with our project from now on. How about that?"

Linfel had no reason to refuse. "That's a lot more like it. As long as there isn't a task that pays more than this one, I have no issues continuing."

Wosley and the others remembered. That's right. The academy had many tasks going on, and theirs was definitely not the only one that required high Magic Sensitivity and Control. They were just lucky that Linfel came to them first. 

"1000 Academy Credits!" Wosley didn't think twice before exclaiming. "I'll pay you 1000 Academy Credits if you come to help with my project only. Do not take on any other company tasks that need Magic Sensitivity and Magic Control."

"1000?!" Linfel was shocked by that number. Let's not forget Linfel only got a little more than 3000 back in the Field Exam. "Is it a daily request, or is it only once per week?"

"This..." Wosley narrowed his eyes. It wasn't like they needed Linfel every single day. The tests indeed only happen once or twice per week. Sometimes, they didn't happen at all. In this city, Academy Credits are worth even more than Universal Credits, so paying 1000 per day would raise some questions within the management of the company.

Suddenly, Wosley felt two hands on his shoulders. They were Philia and Comat, who had the same idea. "Wosley, let's share the expenses. We can avoid any questions if we do it."

Wosley sighed. "Are you sure? That would also come off the amount allocated to your own projects."

"It's fine!" Comat quickly nodded. "With him, the progress of the new circuitry runes will accelerate considerably. Also, if we truly manage to bring the rune to life, do you think we will have a problem with budget anymore?"

Philia agreed. "Indeed. Besides, even if we pay him 1000 Academy Credits per day, it will be A LOT cheaper than contracting any Level Four Magus or Familiar from the other organizations outside. We can't possibly lose this chance. Not to mention, Comat and I could have Linfel help us with our own projects while at it. There is nothing to lose here, only to gain."

Wosley didn't question anymore. "Alright! Linfel, as long as you don't take on any other companies or organizations' tasks, we will pay you to be our exclusive helper. Do you accept?"

Linfel pondered a bit. That was an extremely good deal. "It can be possible..." a smile appeared on his face immediately. "If you also add that conversation about allowing me to study Magic Diagram Runes from before."

"Hahaha!" Wosley had absolutely no issue with that. "Great! I will add you to the system so you can join the Vaxwel Research Facility as a special guest. That will give you full access to the studying materials regarding Magic Diagram Runes. You can even spend your time with us here and use our lab to try out your own results. The three of us are quite knowledgeable about Runes, so we can act as teachers when we have free time."

"We have a deal!" Linfel had no other concerns anymore.

On that same day, Linfel was asked to give it a try with their latest prototype. The development of that new rune was still a ways off, but with the acquisition of someone like Linfel, the tests went smoothly, giving much better results and data than expected. 

As the day drew to a close, Linfel departed from the Vaxwel Research Facility, having been a key part of various tests in Wosley, Comat, and Philia's projects. Despite the rigorous work, a sense of contentment washed over him as he glanced at his MCOM and saw the additional 1000 Academy Credits credited to his name. This amount, a testament to his hard work, would be added daily, regardless of whether there was a task for him or not.

'Too bad they don't work during weekends. Otherwise, it would get 7000 per week. Still, 5000 per week is way more than one could expect,' Linfel thought excitedly.

Returning to the Academy, Linfel went straight to Alvin's room, although he still wasn't back. "Hum? Where is he?"

*Plin!*

Suddenly, a message reached his MCOM. "Oh! So, he is still in the Floating Blades Faction. Uh? A party? And I should come too? Hum..." Linfel pondered about it for a moment. He didn't really have an interest in things like that. "Oh well, whatever. I can't do anything without Alvin and Felia here anyway."

Arriving at the Floating Blades Faction, Linfel ws quickly received by the attendant of that time. "Linfel, they are on the third floor. You can just go direct there."

Linfel nodded and went up. When he finally entered the room, everyone's eyes turned to him.

"Linfel!" Pamil immediately came forward. "Is that true?! Was it really you who helped William?"

"Hum?" Linfel nodded. "Well, I did give him a little push. But I only showed him what his body was already capable of doing. Ultimately, he Leveled up on his own."

William got close and bowed to Linfel, something extremely rare to see from him. "Thank you. You were right. I am indeed able to use the top and bottom meridians to keep a flow of Magic Energy going in and out. I always cursed this dwarf body of mine, but it turns out it isn't completely useless."

Natalie immediately spoke. "Completely useless? You are doing something none of us can. We all can only absorb or withdraw our Magic Energy at a time. Doing both means you could even fight forever as long as you have Magic Stones to replenish yourself. It is amazing!"

She looked at Linfel right after. "He told me how you controlled the Magic Energy inside his body. Although it is possible to be done as long as he kept his Core open to outsiders, it is still not an easy feat."

Linfl just waved his hand. "It is nothing that impressive as you all put it. I told you, he already could do it naturally. I only intervened to show him his own capabilities. Besides, it is not so overpowered as Natalie is putting it."

He turned to William. "If you go into combat and keep absorbing and drawing your Magic Energy all the time, you will only be capable of showing half of the strength of a normal Magus at the same level. After all, half of your Meridians will be occupied absorbing Magic Energy. I don't find it a good idea. At such moments, direct clashes are commonplace. Suppose you have to revert the flow of Magic Energy of half of your meridians at the last moment to match your opponent's power. In that case, you will most likely be vulnerable. It is truly not worth the risk."

"This..." The others hadn't thought about that possibility. Indeed, the power you can show using only half of your meridians will obviously be much lower than your enemy. 

William wasn't surprised, though. "Yes, I'm aware of this flaw. It will all come up to how well I can adapt to this newfound method. I've never been the type to rush things, so I will take my time and will definitely not try such risks."

"That's good for all of us then," Linfel smiled and nodded.

"Anyway!" pamil intervened once again. "We are here to congratulate William for achieving Level Three. Let's party!"

*WoW!*

As they commemorated, Alvin took a chance to pull Linfel to a corner. He then used his Magic Energy to guide his voice so that only Linfel would hear. "Linfel, you didn't use Master Familiar Connection with him, right?"

"Of course not!" Linfel quickly shook his head. "What I did was completely different from Master Familiar Connection. Our Magic Energies never merged, nor did I match his Soul Waves Frequency. First of all, you don't need to open your Core to use Master Familiar Connection. Doing so leaves your Magic Energy exposed to anyone who wants to mess with it. Master Familiar Connections would be meaningless if such a thing was necessary."

Alvin sighed in relief. "Then that's good." Alvin then looked at William, who, although he didn't smile much, seemed to be quite relaxed. "Pamil told me about William's condition. You truly did a great deed, Linfel. I'm happy to be your friend."

Linfel smiled in response. "And I'm happy to have found people like you and your father." It was then that Linfel asked. "By the way, did you get to talk to Milia already?"

"Yes," Alvin nodded, feeling even happier. "I still don't know why she avoided me before, but she seems to be back to normal. Well, that means she is back to being her cold self, but it is better than being ignored."

"Hey, Linfel!" Pamil called him over. "Come here."

Linfel could only go. "What is it?"

"This help you gave William. Would it be possible to help others, too?" Pamil asked, curious. Naturally, that attracted the attention of the others.

"Help others?" Linfel pondered a bit. "It depends, I guess? I only showed William what he already could do. Is there something you can't do that would need my help guiding Magic Energy?"

"Hum..." Pamil couldn't think of a use for that, indeed. "Not really..."

"There you go." Linfel shrugged again.

And yet, no one noticed, but Rin's eyes shined as she looked at Linfel after she heard his words.