Isn't Mastering Advanced Knowledge an Essential Skill for an Apprentice?

"Could this kid have awakened a memory-enhanced Transcendent attribute, possessing the ability to Eidetic Memory?"

At this moment, Ilubeck's expression was extremely strange.

He recalled the skillful martial arts and overwhelming power that Rein had used to subdue Bazel, and felt that his own thoughts were absurd.

The most important aspect of awakening Gene Potion is the rationality of attribute combinations.

Strength plus cell activity can be barely understood as a melee self-healing Transcendent; but adding "enhanced memory" makes it seem like a mishmash.

Just like a ranged Extraordinary Awakening a power boost, this is a completely useless attribute. It consumes the body's potential out of thin air without providing any Transcendent ability boost. This kind of situation would never occur with high-quality Gene Potion.

Or perhaps...

If what this kid said is true, he must have been familiar with the Encyclopedia since he was a child, which is why he can recite it so fluently?

Regardless of the possibility, Ilubeck felt that his test would be no challenge for him.

Was he really going to break the poisonous oath that he would be implicated by the trolls if he took on any more apprentices?

When asked this, Ilubeck's face turned as black as coal.

He never expected that his tried-and-true method of turning down countless people who wanted to become his apprentices would actually trap him in it.

Rein had memorized those nine questions verbatim, so it was clear that asking any more questions would be pointless.

But the betrayal of his most prized disciple back then has made him completely incapable of taking on any more apprentices. Otherwise, having one more apprentice in the lab wouldn't be a problem.

Between saving face and making vows, one of them must eventually be abandoned.

Ilubeck's gaze shifted, and he asked again, "Now, the tenth question."

This time, Rein didn't want the old man to keep asking questions indefinitely.

He decided to take control and interjected, "Doctor, how many questions do I need to answer correctly to pass the assessment?"

Ilubeck also felt a little embarrassed. Usually, he could get away with refusing no more than three questions, but this was already the tenth.

He could only say, "This is the last question. If you can answer it, you've passed!"

Upon hearing this, Rein was slightly pleased. "Great!"

Ilubeck thought for a moment and then asked, "Next, please tell me the attributes required for the [Dragon Blood Sun Vine]."

"This?"

Upon hearing this, Rein froze in place.

It's not that he can't answer, but that the question is beyond his scope!

The books scanned by the "Mind Core" are absolutely flawless. He was certain that there was no record of this material in the "Basic Encyclopedia of Pharmacy"!

At this moment, his gaze towards the old man opposite him became somewhat strange. He thought to himself: This old man is so dishonest! Just how much does he not want me to be his apprentice? He's shamelessly setting this question for me?

Having indeed used a little trick, Ilubeck felt a bit guilty under Rein's gaze, and forced a smile, explaining, "Well... this question is a bit obscure; if you don't know, you can understand."

A glint flashed in Rein's eyes as he tentatively asked, "Doctor, I feel like your question doesn't fall within the scope of the encyclopedia."

Although the old man was deliberately making things difficult for him, he didn't think it was a bad thing.

If all you really need is an experimental sample, just agree.

The more solemn the ceremony, the higher the value of the apprenticeship!

Ilubeck was still being stubborn, "Really? Perhaps I'm old and my memory is failing me? Or maybe you just missed something?"

Rein said quietly, "Oh, I think you must have misremembered, Doctor. I clearly remember that there is no record of this material in the Encyclopedia."

"Cough cough cough, maybe I remembered it wrong."

Ilubeck coughed to cover his embarrassment, then tried to explain his extra question, saying, "However, as a medical apprentice, besides talent, broad knowledge is also an essential quality. Anyway... anyway, this is the question! If you can answer this last question, you'll pass the test."

This is clearly another instance of cheating and artificially increasing the difficulty.

What the hell is this? A novice medical apprentice needs to master this kind of advanced knowledge?!

Even professional potion masters might not have heard of this rare material.

However, Rein, who had already planned ahead, felt that the strategy of feigning indifference was almost complete. All he had said was to get the old man to place all his bets on this final question.

At this point, he didn't say anything, and even nodded in agreement, saying, "Yes, I also think what you said makes sense, Doctor. As a medical apprentice, having some knowledge of intermediate potion-making techniques should be an essential skill."

"???"

Upon hearing this, Ilubeck suddenly realized he had misheard and stared at the composed young man in astonishment.

I deliberately made things difficult for you, and you actually agreed with such absurd words?

But then he had a bad feeling.

Does he even know this?

Knowing the old man was still persistent, Rein changed his tone, deciding not to give him another chance to turn the tables. "I am not very talented, but I happen to read quite a lot of books. Although I don't understand them very well, I vaguely remember that this [Dragon Blood Sun Vine] should come from a book called 'Advanced Materials Science of Rare Potions,' an advanced knowledge book for intermediate potion makers."

Originally, the encyclopedia tested basic pharmacology in the medical field, not Gene Potion. Although there was some overlap in the two fields, they were fundamentally different.

The requirements to become a potion master are much higher than those to become a doctor.

Becoming a pharmacist doesn't guarantee becoming a potion master. And less than one in a thousand pharmacist apprentices can advance to become a full potion master.

It's roughly like this: I was just taking the CET-4 (College English Test Band 4) to get a certificate, but you gave me a TEM-8 (Test for English Majors Band 8) question instead.

Rein previously said he wanted to be a medical apprentice, and asking about basic potion-making was one thing, but now he's dragging in the realm of intermediate potion-making?

This question is way beyond the scope of the curriculum!

Unfortunately, this question could stump a large number of formal potion masters, but it couldn't stump Rein.

Then, he recited the detailed explanation of the material again, leaving the old man opposite him completely speechless.

They've already revealed the source of the book's title, so there's no point in trying to argue anymore.

Ilubeck deflated like a punctured balloon, instantly losing all interest in making things difficult.

"Oh dear, I'm getting old, look at my memory."

He glanced at Rein with a rather complicated expression, his tone not so much that he wanted to continue making excuses, but rather that he genuinely felt a sense of awe at the emergence of a young hero.

Coming to his senses, the old man realized that although he seemed to have the upper hand in the assessment, he had actually fallen into the other party's trap step by step. In the question-and-answer session just now, he had unknowingly been limited in the scope of the content, the number of questions, and his escape route.

The guy across from me not only has an amazing memory, but he's also very cautious, which is an essential quality for an excellent doctor.

Of course, none of that matters anymore, since he has already passed the test.

If it weren't for the vow made back then, having a disciple with such an exceptional memory as an apprentice would be a pretty good choice.

Pity

That's all.

It seems we have no choice but to agree now, even if we don't want to.

Ilubeck didn't make things difficult for Rein. A look of relief appeared on his aged face as he said, "Starting tomorrow, you'll come to my lab as an apprentice."

"Okay, teacher!"

Upon hearing this, Rein was overjoyed and changed his address, saying, "My name is Rein. Please take care of me in the future!"

Hearing this familiar yet unfamiliar address, Ilubeck's cloudy eyes were filled with complex emotions.

Teacher?

Why.

Rein left Ilubeck's laboratory.

He never expected that coming here to treat the insect infestation would yield such a great result. Having secured such a powerful patron, his future path will be instantly smooth.

It was getting late, and the light was dim. Rein still planned to go back to the inn to give the barbarian girl some instructions.

From the sewer area on the ground floor of the Mechanical City to the upper level, you have to walk a long, secluded, narrow, dark alley.

This place is suitable for doing shady things, such as murder and robbery.

He stopped shortly after Rein the lab.

Then, he gave a soft shout towards the empty and quiet depths of the dark alley.

"Come out, Mr. Bazel."

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