Chapter 450 – Study Materials Package

“That’s right! Why does she still have to take an exam?” Vasida asked. “Didn’t the invitation letter say that as long as she signed her name, they’d help her escape her predicament?”

“We’re called the ‘Dawn Society’ — having zero capacity for learning simply won’t do! Besides, the invitation letter said we’d provide her with a way to escape her predicament! It never said we’d do it for her directly!” Mo Lan said.

“There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world, and even if there were, wouldn’t you be afraid it’s poisoned? Only things obtained through a certain amount of effort are truly cherished and trusted!”

Vasida: “…”

“Be that as it may, shouldn’t we at least give her some {Magic Card – Cleanse Death Force}, {Food Card – Black Bread}, and {Food Card – Drinking Water} first? Otherwise, won’t she pass out from Death Force invasion before she even finishes the exam, or die of hunger and thirst?” Lilith said.

“No need to worry!” Mo Lan said. “During the time she was sleeping, her body has already been nursed back to health. Even though I’ve let some Death Force back into her body, her physical condition is enough to hold out for four hours.”

“In that amount of time, any person of normal intelligence who puts in some effort can definitely finish reading the materials. The exam isn’t hard either — as long as she reads carefully, she’ll definitely pass.”

“But what if undead creatures come around during that time? It’s almost nightfall. She’s only a mage apprentice, and the surrounding area is full of mid-to-high-level undead creatures,” Sylph asked.

“They won’t! The undead creatures in this area have suffered heavy losses and shouldn’t be wandering around frequently anytime soon. Even if they do, Greta’s lucky intuition will help her avoid them.”

Mo Lan said, “If she can’t even pass a simple task like this, then she’s not suited to be our first non-witch contractor for focused cultivation.”

“Why do I get the feeling that it’s not us looking for contractors to sell magic to, but rather other people begging to become our contractors?” Vasida said. “Will this really work? Shouldn’t we be a bit more humble when doing business?”

“It’s not just a feeling — it’s a fact!” Mo Lan said. “Can you all please have a little more confidence? Magic that only costs a bit of mana, requires no studying, doesn’t depend on talent, and can be used immediately — that’s inherently precious! There are plenty of people who’d want to learn it!”

“If it weren’t for the concern that revealing our identities as Sorceresses too early would bring danger, we wouldn’t need to personally recruit contractors. We can’t lower our standards any further — it would cheapen our image and drag down future sales.”

“Put yourselves in their shoes: between something that everyone desperately wants but can’t get, and something being hawked at a clearance sale everywhere, which would you consider more precious? Which would you be more unwilling to lose?”

“Perceived value will also increase everyone’s willingness to protect the Dawn Society and reduce the likelihood of our exposure!”

Lilith, Vasida, and Sylph finally grasped some of the underlying logic.

Every time moments like these came, they couldn’t help but feel utterly outclassed by Mo Lan’s wisdom.

Beneath the tree, Greta propped herself up, forcing herself to ignore the discomfort from the Death Force, the hunger gnawing at her belly, and the dryness in her mouth. She pulled the corresponding {Study Materials Package Card} from the trial card.

{Study Materials Package Card} (Single-Use)

【Function: Contains 《Dawn Society Resource Catalog》, 《Dawn Society Principles》, and 《Dawn Society Confidentiality Regulations》. Only one reading opportunity is allowed; the card will automatically destroy itself after reading. Upon becoming an official member of the society, you may permanently own this card.】

“A single-use card?”

Although Lilith, Vasida, and Sylph now all understood that Mo Lan was testing Greta while making her cherish the opportunity to join the Dawn Society — the more arduous the trial, the more decisive she would be in signing the official Sorceress Contract after passing — was it a bit too much to only allow the study materials to be read once?

There was still an exam afterward!

“If she reads carefully, it’ll be fine,” Mo Lan said.

“Are you sure you’re referring to the average person’s idea of ‘reading carefully,’ and not your own?” Lilith asked.

The difference between those two was absolutely enormous!

“Of course I mean the average person’s!” Mo Lan said. “Don’t worry, they’re all multiple-choice questions. As long as she has a vague impression, she can get them right!”

Greta, of course, had no idea the exam was only multiple-choice.

Back when she was in the Temple Preparatory Acolyte Class, there were frequent assessments like reciting doctrines and writing them out from memory, and everyone had to review for a period of time before each one.

In her current physical condition, she couldn’t hold out for much longer at all. How could she possibly memorize all three sets of study materials that looked neither particularly short nor particularly long?

For a moment, she felt a wave of despair.

She had originally thought this was a lifeline, but now she realized this straw would snap the moment she pulled on it — it couldn’t support her weight at all.

But there was no other option now. She could only steel herself and start reading!

Mo Lan nodded with satisfaction. “Not bad. Even though she thinks she can’t finish, she still hasn’t given up!”

With that kind of spirit, she’d have no problem with this trial task.

Greta first went with her own experience and picked 《Dawn Society Principles》 and 《Dawn Society Confidentiality Regulations》 — the two documents that resembled doctrines and Temple prohibitions.

These two had less content, but in her estimation, their importance should outweigh that of the 《Dawn Society Resource Catalog》.

Despite the time pressure, she didn’t rush through them either. Skimming frantically would leave nothing in her mind — it would be the same as not reading at all.

She forced herself to calm down and read the materials patiently.

As she read, she became absorbed.

Every word in 《Dawn Society Principles》 told her that effort yields reward, that success comes from striving, and that one’s destiny lies in one’s own hands.

After reading the entire document, not a single word mentioned devoting oneself to the organization or pledging loyalty to it — completely different from the Temple’s doctrines.

Everything here spoke of “yourself,” while the Temple spoke only of “the God of Light” and “the Temple.”

《Dawn Society Confidentiality Regulations》 didn’t have many rigid rules and restrictions either. All the regulations were designed around the safety of the society and its members, strictly prohibiting only the disclosure of specific information about the society and its other members to non-members.

It didn’t even restrict members from joining other organizations.

These loose regulations made Greta trust this society even more.

After being brainwashed by the Temple for so long, she had developed a contrarian mentality. The more an organization pompously praised itself, smeared other organizations, and imposed all manner of prohibitions, the warier she became.

By the time she reached 《Dawn Society Resource Catalog》, she also understood what the 《Dawn Society Principles》 meant by effort and reward.

Many of the items on the catalog were things she had never even heard of, but based on the descriptions alone, they seemed quite impressive.

A few, while differently named, had effects similar to the precious resources that only Acolytes in the Temple could access.

And all of these items had one uniform price — Gem Coins!

Gem Coins that could be exchanged using one’s own renewable magical energy.