Brian

Colin stared blankly at the cracked ceiling, weighing his options.

"Setting aside how to learn a skill, choosing one is also a problem. Potionry, Smithing, and Runeology are the three most popular and profitable trades. Which one should I choose?"

After pondering for a long time, Colin settled on Potionry. All three trades brought huge profits, but as far as he knew, potions were in greater demand and earned more money.

For ordinary people advancing along the Transcendent Path, those who followed the Knight's Path could not do without Attribute Potions and Bloodline Potions. Only after becoming Transcendents would powerful formal knights pursue Magic Armor and weapons.

"If I want to study Potionry, there are traditionally two paths. One is finding a master, and the other is self-study. The former is too difficult. Potioners are highly respected; who would take on an apprentice for no reason? But the latter... The latter is impossible for ordinary people, but don't I have the system? Maybe I only need to come into contact with a book to learn the skill? But where should I find books on the subject? I knew nothing about it before this." Colin rubbed his head, feeling a headache coming on.

Colin's vision went dark, and his mind went blank. He simply stopped thinking about it. He could ask know-it-all Bill tomorrow.

Just then, Colin heard Smith's footsteps, followed by Linda calling out. He answered loudly, quickly got out of bed and put on his slippers, then pattered downstairs for dinner.

The Russell family was not wealthy, so a lavish feast was out of the question. Dinner was still steak, water, and bread, but tonight there was an extra serving of vegetable salad.

"I heard eating more vegetables is good for you. Colin, eat more." Linda awkwardly speared some vegetable salad with her fork and stuffed it into her mouth, her cheeks puffed out like a little squirrel's.

"Mm." Colin nodded. Everyone on Earth knew that. Eat more fruits and vegetables.

During dinner, Colin remained quiet as a clam. Linda and Smith did most of the talking. Linda was as enthusiastic as fire and extremely talkative, making her well suited to livening up the atmosphere.

"I heard that a maid in Baron Lacy's household is pregnant," Linda suddenly said.

Baron Lacy was the titled noble who had hired Linda as a House Tutor.

"The Baron seems to be over fifty, doesn't he? And he's still such a philanderer?" Smith asked in surprise, though it did not stop him from stuffing a piece of steak into his mouth.

"It's the Baron's eldest son's. My student Lis's," Linda shook her head and said.

"Heavens. Isn't that boy only eleven?" Smith was even more astonished.

"Kids mature early these days." At this point, Linda glanced at Colin and said meaningfully, "I think Colin has someone he likes."

Smith's eyes lit up. He eagerly raised his head to look at Colin. "Really? Is she a classmate??? Bring her home sometime so we can meet her."

These two. Colin was utterly speechless. He wolfed down his steak, then slipped away.

The next day was Friday.

The sun shone brightly, and the sky was clear and cloudless.

Colin greeted Linda, swiftly slung on his backpack, tucked in his Training Greatsword, and headed out. He hurried along Wright Street, entered Will Knight Academy, and went straight to the classroom.

After entering the classroom, Colin quickly looked around and found that Bill was already there. He immediately headed to his seat, put down his backpack and sword, then leaned over to Bill. "Bill. I've recently become interested in Potionry. Do you know where I can find related books?"

Bill was holding a small mirror and grooming his handsome face. Hearing this, he looked up at Colin in surprise.

"Pfft." Before Bill could speak, a classmate beside them burst out laughing.

"Colin, you want to study Potionry? That requires at least 5 Intelligence, as well as a certain amount of magical knowledge. Even the lowest-level potioner must at least be a Magic Apprentice. And studying Potionry requires a huge investment of money and time in the early stages. Do you have either?"

Colin, Bill, and the noble students present all frowned, showing looks of contempt and disgust.

Regardless of what kind of nobles they were, they had been raised with lessons in politeness and restraint. Those nobles involved in politics might be hypocritical, cunning, and vicious, but very few spoke like that.

Colin turned to look at the classmate. He was exceptionally sturdy, with a square face that currently wore a mocking expression.

Brian, son of a wealthy merchant.

Although the children of nobles, wealthy merchants, and wealthy farmers remained distinctly separate at the academy, that did not mean the children of wealthy merchants lacked status. On the contrary, if they had enough money, they could even wield influence over ordinary nobles.

Brian's family was one of the largest grain merchants in Will City. Grain, meat, and timber were Will City's primary products.

Wealthy merchants and certain nobles involved in the grain trade had established a Grain Association to manipulate grain prices. Brian's father was even the Grain Association's vice president.

In short, Brian's family possessed considerable influence and immense wealth throughout Will City.

Meanwhile, the Russell family was impoverished even among impoverished nobles. Colin himself was also a fringe figure among the noble students, with few friends.

Having grown up in such a wealthy merchant family, Brian both revered the truly great nobles and envied the impoverished nobles who possessed noble surnames, bloodlines, and status.

In short, Brian's relationship with Colin and Bill had never been very good. He often made cutting remarks, though they were limited to verbal attacks.

Brian did not truly dare do anything to Colin. If matters escalated, the nobles ruled Will City after all, and they would more or less favor their own kind.

Thank goodness for his noble status, which spared Colin from school bullying. Colin had often heard of bullying incidents at school.

"Mr. Brian. Ah, no. Strictly speaking, only nobles can be addressed as 'Mister.' Brian. I'm merely interested in Potionry; I have no intention of becoming a potioner. After all, people need to know their own limits, don't they?" Colin said gently with a faint smile. He had no intention of indulging someone like Brian.

Bill nodded heavily, then drawled, "Mr. Brian—oh, no, that's not right. Brian."

Brian had intended to mock Colin, but instead suffered such humiliation. What he cared about most, and what frustrated him most, was his lack of noble status. His lungs nearly burst with rage. His fists clenched, and his face turned liver-colored. After a long while, he finally forced out a sentence.

"Just wait. Sooner or later, I'll receive an ennoblement from the Marquis and gain a noble surname."

"I'll wait and see. Please work hard." Colin encouraged him with a smile. Then he stopped paying attention to the pitiful Brian and turned to ask Bill, "Bill, you still haven't told me. Do you know where I can find books about Potionry?"