Chapter 450 - 191: You’re Just Too Stupid

BZZZ... BZZZ...

Wei’en let the communicator drone on. He calmly put away the materials for making potions and tidied up his workbench before finally pressing the gemstone button in the center of the black trophy.

BUZZ!

Just then, a cold, sinister voice sounded again.

Huh?

’Isn’t it supposed to connect directly?’

"Esteemed Director Wei’en Loft, Witch Teresa Ilina Silvira, internal designation 11346, is requesting to establish a connection. Do you consent?"

’It’s not Dean Josue and the others?’

Wei’en was surprised, but he didn’t refuse.

’Since she has my internal designation, she must have some status in the Ghost Soul School. Could she be the Liaison Officer Dean Josue mentioned?’

"Agreed."

"Verification passed. Channel connected."

As the voice faded, a graceful, willowy figure slowly materialized within the illusory mist.

’A female Witch?’

Wei’en frowned slightly. The previous Liaison Officer, Olivia, had left him with a very poor impression, giving him a low opinion of the Witches from the Ghost Soul School.

As this thought crossed his mind, he looked her up and down.

In the image, the Witch wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses. She had short, slightly wavy, coffee-colored hair. Her emerald-green eyes glittered, and her lips were small and crimson.

Her features weren’t stunning, but she possessed an intellectual beauty, though she was a step down from Clelia.

But none of that was the main point. The point was—she wasn’t wearing the standard robes of the Ghost Soul School. Instead, she wore nothing but a black silk nightgown.

Its sheer, translucent fabric completely revealed her figure to Wei’en. If not for the shadows obscuring the most sensitive areas, he might have mistaken her for one of the girls from a tavern...

Then, he saw the Witch in the image. The moment the connection stabilized, she covered her mouth in delighted surprise. Her voice trembled with excitement as she said, "Wei’en Mage, hello. I’m Teresa Ilina Silvira, internal designation 11346, an Advanced-rank Wizard and a... a Level Three Researcher."

"As of today—no, as of last night, I belong to you... erm, I mean, I belong to your Research Institute No. 66. I’m in charge of communications between you and the other researchers, and I’ll be primarily assisting you with your research projects."

As she spoke, the Witch patted her chest, which trembled violently as she tried to calm her excitement. "S-Sorry, Wei’en Ma— Director. I’m just... I’m so nervous meeting you."

’Nervous?’

Wei’en rubbed his nose. To be honest, that violent trembling just now had made *him* a little nervous too...

’Yeah, my eyes were almost glued to the spot.’

"Did Dean Josue have you contact me?"

"Y-Yes."

Hearing his voice, an odd blush spread across Teresa’s face, as if she couldn’t breathe. Her voice trembled. "I’m very, very happy to be joining your research institute."

"I can tell. However," Wei’en raised a finger, pointed to a spot on the illusory image, and asked with a playful glint in his eyes, "I’m just curious, is this how everyone at the School dresses for their research projects?"

"Dressed like... this..." Teresa stared down at herself in a daze, her small mouth falling open before she let out a piercing shriek. "AHHH—"

Then, her entire body dropped out of sight, disappearing from the image.

This was followed by a series of clattering and shattering sounds.

Wei’en winced.

The sonic assault was clearly recorded and transmitted by the black trophy, making Wei’en’s brow furrow as he listened.

’This excellent researcher Dean Josue promised me doesn’t seem to match her intelligent appearance. She seems a bit of an airhead, actually.’

After a good while, the noise on the other end finally stopped. Only then did Wei’en see a small head peek out from the mist in a corner of the screen.

"I’m so, so sorry! When I received the news last night, I... I was so excited that I forgot to change clothes..."

’Excited?’

Wei’en watched her, confused. ’Is joining my research institute really something to be this excited about?’

Teresa peeked her head out from behind a desk, revealing only her eyes. She glanced at Wei’en’s calm—no, stern—expression on the screen and, terrified, quickly added in a small voice, "Please, don’t hold it against me! I... I... And please trust in my abilities! I’m definitely qualified for this job, so please don’t replace me!"

Wei’en chuckled and nodded. "Right, I won’t replace you. Come out and talk properly."

’As for her "don’t hold it against me" plea... that might be a little difficult. The impression she’d made was simply too clear...’

"Really?" Teresa stood up, now wrapped in a black robe. Beneath her gold-rimmed glasses, her large eyes were bright, staring straight at the screen as if trying to gauge the truthfulness of his words.

"It’s true. However," Wei’en chuckled, "first you need to tell me why you’re so excited to join my research institute."

Teresa breathed a sigh of relief, her face lighting up with joy. "Of course I’m excited! Director, you have no idea how many Wizards in the School worship you right now. Me included!"

"Worship?"

Wei’en recalled Dean Josue mentioning that because of the Corpse Explosion Skill and Blink Spell he had used in the Caster City State, some people at the School had been clamoring to become his followers.

"Mhm, mhm,"

Teresa nodded emphatically. "After word got out that you’d agreed to join the Feng Enliso Research Center, tons of Wizards went to Dean Josue, trying to apply to your institute. I was going to go too, but my advisor wanted me as his assistant. I thought I’d lost my chance, but then, I never expected..."