"So, they're coming to kill us," Adam said after thinking for a bit.
"It's inevitable -- although it technically isn't allowed, they wouldn't really care about a few lives lost. As long as you do not overstep your boundaries, the mages on both sides will not bat an eye."
"What do you mean by that?"
The Dean smiled slyly, "We are hosting them, so it isn't good to take the first step and kill them, but if the apprentices from Monte Carlo are being arrogant and hostile, don't think too much about it and just kill them. The Tower Master will deal with you later."
Adam nodded. Although it seemed that the war was stopped under Mage Santa's Tower's intervention, the aftermath of the war lingered between both parties.
"Take this," the Dean took out a crystal and gave it to Adam.
Adam found that the crystal had no mass, and the only reason why he was able to hold it was because of some form of magic.
"What is this?"
"The gift of the Tower Master," the Dean pouted. "This crystal acts as a seal, so you don't have to worry about any sudden promotions. When you want to be promoted in the future, all you have to do is lift the seal, and you'll be promoted immediately."
"Plus," he continued. "In ancient times, this spell was considered taboo. Few people needed this back in the day."
Adam understands what the Dean means. Apart from him, it is unlikely that anybody else would have to suppress their promotion. He stowed the crystal away safely in his portable space, thinking that it would be useful as a surprise tactic to fend against an antimage he may encounter in the future.
The Dean watched as he stowed the crystal away and said, "Among the apprentices in Monte Carlo, two of them have found their path to promote. Don't underestimate them -- if you're able to, and a chance arises..."
...
Shortly after the Dean left, Frank woke up from his coma. Adam was busy fiddling with the crystal, after embedding it into a necklace he had just made using the equipment in the laboratory. After hearing Frank rustle in his sleep, he raised his head and asked, "How do you feel?"
Frank was still drifting in and out of reality, trying to sit up, but the weakness in his body made him slump back down.
"Tired, hungry," he panted, attempting to move his muscles. "Weakened, but I feel less pain."
Adam passed a tube of supplementary nutrients to him and ordered, "You have two days to test out your new body, if there is any problem, you must record it and let me know. If all goes well, we'll debug the premium version of your body together."
The transformation of energy in the mechanical body can be considered complete -- the debugging is just to make the body more suitable for Frank, which was what Adam promised at first. As for why Frank feels weaker, it was because the energy supplied to the body was weaker than magic, which cannot be altered until Adam hits his next breakthrough.
Next, Adam wanted to verify the feasibility of the law of electromagnetic induction in the Mage World. This is important, as it'll open up a world of more advanced theories in the future.
Adam wasn't worried, because since his previous theories were applicable, then electromagnetic induction must either be the same, or at worst, in a different form.
After leaving the surgery room, James, Korver, and the other assistants all stared at Adam. James was the first to speak, "Frank, is he... okay?"
Adam nodded and pointed behind him, motioning James to see for himself. He then ordered Korver and the other assistants to prepare for the upcoming experiment, while he went back to his office to sort out everything else.
...
Two days later, Adam and Frank were about to begin the debugging of the body when Mage Jino knocked on the door.
"Mage Jino? What's the matter?" Adam asked.
Mage Jino seemed to be in a really good mood, patting Adam's shoulder affectionately, "Thanks to you, there is hope for my research -- the Dean asked me to help you complete the installation of the mechanical body."
Adam was relieved, stepping aside to let Mage Jino enter, "I appreciate the help, but..."
"Don't worry," Mage Jino interjected. "This is good for me too. After all, even just by witnessing the experiment, I'll be able to learn and understand the theory behind these mechanical bodies."
In the past two days, Adam has seen the true legacy of Mage Morde. He was an alchemist specializing in mechanical bodies, but most of his knowledge wasn't really applicable to Adam, so he just glanced at it briefly and put it aside.
However, it should be very useful for Mage Jino.
Frank was relieved to see the presence of a qualified mage to facilitate the experiment. It wasn't that he didn't trust Adam, but he felt that it was more secure. After all, this experiment was life-or-death for him.
Mage Jino paced around Adam's surgery room, looking at the equipment with great interest and muttering words of amazement to himself. Adam was amused, and offered, "If you like it that much, you can move it to your laboratory."
"No!" Mage Jino waved his hands. "It isn't necessary. The Academy is already preparing the equipment for me, since, you know..."
'Must be nice talking to mages so informally,' Frank thought to himself.
Frank's transformation went by smoothly. Unlike Mage Morde who was purposefully being inefficient while working, Mage Jino helped Adam out wholeheartedly, and the transformation only took three days to complete.
After waking up, Frank felt an unprecedented sense of comfort settling in his body.
Frank got up and immediately knelt down on one knee to Adam, conjuring a contract and holding it with both hands, "Adam, thank you for helping me, but I think I must leave your laboratory."
Adam was busy sorting out his reports, but hearing that, he immediately raised his head and stared at Frank, "Huh?"
