The whole fifth-day dungeon material market stayed open. They sold items worth thousands of gold coins. The nobles who had come to attend the celebration week were the ones who spent the most money. Merchants and commoners also purchased a lot ot things.

In the evening, an hour-long fireworks show was organized. It was simply a small runic square with three spells inscribed on it. A wind spell to make it fly, a custom light spell in hundreds of different shapes, and a thousand release spell that made a loud boom.

It wasn't perfect, but it did the job. Changing the color of the light spells took some effort on his part, but in the end, the hair-dying spell gave him an idea, and it all worked out.

In a world that had magic spells and flying humans, one might expect a light show wouldn't be so well-received. Damian had almost shelved the idea. But he was proven wrong. The commoners and pathfinders alike were entranced by the beautiful patterns of light covering the sky. Red, blue, yellow, green... for an hour, people's eyes did not leave the sky at all.

Even his special guests were impressed by it.

After dinner, the dungeon projection show was going to continue - another thing people were excited about—especially the people selling food and drinks in the coliseum.

This was the last big dinner party, so all heads of the sanctum were present. So were all the invited commoners and nobles. After people had eaten and were comfortable enough chatting in small groups, Damian drew all their attention.

"Today marks the end of the celebration week, until the next year and the years after. In the morning, I talked about the sanctuary and our whole mainland's future. As you all might have already guessed, I extended the invitation to all of you because I respect what you have done in your respective fields. And I have respect for all those lords and ladies who have taken steps to ensure the research and progress aspect was not lost in their land."

"And so, I invite you all once again to join the Sanctum research center if you are comfortable. The Sanctuary will take care of you and your family's accommodations as long as you remain here. A basic salary will be given as well. And if your research shows some promise, we will fund it fully, and also provide manpower, so it can reach its maximum potential." Damian presented the simple offer.

A hand was raised from the guests. Damian smiled.

"You don't have to do that. Just say what you wish."

"Lord Keeper, my family has served the empire for decades. The Sanctuary has progressed leaps and bounds in recent times, but loyalties can't change that easily." Said Lady Selvara Quillmark. A noble-born scholar, she authored Runes of Hearth and Hall, on runic arrays for protection and comfort.

Damian noticed the emperor smirking from the side; he did his best to ignore him.

"You have misunderstood me, Lady Selvara. What I offer you is a job, not an army recruitment. As long as you sign a mana contract stating you won't use your research to harm the people of Sanctuary or the whole of the mainland, you are free to do with it as you please. You don't even have to stay here; if employed, you can use the special waygate to come and go to the empire and back as you please. The personal quarters are simply for convenience."

"But we will have to share our entire work with the Sanctuary?" asked Duke Halwen of Coldreach. He had ordered scholars to study troll regeneration after his lands were plagued, resulting in Stonejaw's Notes.

"Only for the ones you use Sanctuary's resources to pursue. Depending on how big a contribution you make, you can also access the research of others working for the Sanctum research center. It is, after all, a joint venture." Damian replied.

"So basically a place where one can pursue any research without it being used for harming others." Said Lord Tharic Greycloak – obsessed with wyvern hunting, personally tested antidotes and cures against their venom on himself and his men. Half-mad, but respected.

"That is the aim. The scholar won't be stopped for using his or her non-violent research to earn money. We will advertise it for you if you want; we have an online shop as well where you can list it."

"Hmm.. Will everyone who joins be able to access the documented dungeon files you mentioned earlier?" asked Scholar Veyra Dustbind – obsessive note-keeper, cross-referenced runes, monsters, and folk spells into the Practical Compendium of Pathfinder Lore.

"Yes, deciphering dungeon civilizations and their various languages is one of the common jobs anyone can partake in to raise their ranking in the Sanctum Research Center. Once again, you can't use the information you learn in any way that harms another person or country or even the beasts." Damian replied.

"And how will this ranking be determined? If you don't mind me asking, Lord Keeper," asked Korrin Swiftchalk, practical hunter, A Slime for Every Season, categorized slime types by climate.

"Every research paper submitted will be evaluated by its potential for mankind's use, among many other parameters. It will be decided by the board of high scholars, led by me personally. The board will have twelve members, including me. The highest evaluated members will have a chance to become high board members. The board will decide how to divide resources and what aspects to focus research on, among other privileges, like giving out missions for specific dungeon exploration when more detailed information is needed. And having access to the list of dungeon relics and the ability to hand it over to a specific scholar if it aids in his or her subject of research."

"Any specific requirement for becoming a member of the research board? Like place of origin?" Asked Ilvanya.

"Only a large enough contribution, a history of academic interest, and the previously mentioned mana contract. Beside me, there are already two members selected for the board. One is my dear friend and fellow sanctum head, Samuel - the Stormwatcher. And another is the Highsword representative, Lord Voidshaper."

Damian wanted Land-breaker to join, but the man didn't want to. The regular meetings and the needed presence of a board member were not something he wanted to take part in. Well, having Voidshaper meant having entire Highswords, so it didn't matter much.

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