The killing intent in his heart seemed about to burst forth.
Yet Ian grew calmer and calmer.
Because Hal was a Second-class Wizard, and an experienced Intermediate Potion Master.
For such a wizard to die on the road from the School to the market would inevitably be a major incident.
It would certainly draw the School's attention.
So some preparations had to be made in advance.
"Preliminary preparations, how to kill him, how to deal with the aftermath—these all need to be considered."
Ian rarely made a move lightly.
But once he did, he would certainly think through exactly how to do it.
As he pondered, Ian left the Potions Department and returned home.
Inside his room.
Ian took out a notebook.
He opened it.
It was densely filled with records of patrols throughout the Academy, along with information he had gathered.
Although he had kept a low profile over the past year, the Cultivation Sequence had still enabled him to learn a great deal of information.
Long ago, he had learned various details about the patrol teams from Layton, and had also learned from Coro, Alfie, and the others how investigations and inspections were conducted.
"Hal leaves at around seven every Monday, exits the Academy at seven ten, and reaches the market within half an hour at most. The location I choose should be halfway along the route."
Ian pondered.
There was a dense forest halfway along the road leading from the School, a place well suited for an ambush.
At the same time, the patrol teams switched shifts at midnight and eight in the morning, with a five-minute gap in between.
He could leave the Academy and return to the School during that window.
He also needed to create an alibi. He had four or five contingency plans