The Third Test, Shocking Everyone

"Ian, this is bad—really bad!"

Still stunned, Ian pushed open the door and quickly learned some shocking news.

War was about to break out!

Or, more accurately, it was on the verge of breaking out!

The cause lay several months earlier, when Horton Wizard School discovered a White Crystal mine in the borderlands, along the boundary between itself and Blackstone Wizard School, another school within Veridian Forest.

This was a common material used to make wand tips.

Naturally, Blackstone School could not possibly let such a resource slip away, and the two sides had begun facing off along the border.

Such standoffs were actually quite common.

But three days ago, everything changed when a wizard ventured deep into the mine and discovered Amethyst.

Amethyst was one of the precious cultivation resources for Third-Rank Wizard Apprentices.

It sold for dozens of times the price of White Crystal.

To two impoverished schools from such small places, it was practically a trove of treasure.

Neither side could possibly give it up.

Naturally, a battle was bound to happen, and large numbers of apprentices had already been conscripted and sent to other areas.

No one could say for certain when the war would break out.

But everyone knew it was only a matter of time.

It had nothing to do with Ian and the others.

Yet its impact on them was very real.

Because it would greatly affect their choice of department.

The Academy naturally had to make adjustments as well.

Thus, before the third assessment, they conducted a survey of the apprentices' intended department choices.

"Those planning to choose the Secret Source Department, raise your hands."

Inside the classroom, Joran looked over everyone present. There were far more people than before, and among those with Second-class Talent, Lucy was still there.

Below the platform, Ian was far from relaxed.

Because...

"Those who wish to choose the Logistics Department, raise your hands."

More than half the people immediately raised their hands. That in itself was nothing.

But what made Ian's heart tighten was that Levi and Beck in front of him had raised their hands as well.

"Two slots!"

Ian took a deep breath.

As long as those with Second-class Talent were not terribly untalented, they would enter the core departments directly. That meant he had to compete for the remaining three slots.

The situation, which had originally been almost settled, became murky again.

"I have to fight for the third test!"

Ian instantly calmed down.

He had to fight for this third assessment, primarily because he had to secure the resources within it.

They were crucial to his future studies in potion-making.

They would also determine whether he could enter the Potions Department!

In the blink of an eye, with the coolness of late September, the Academy ushered in the third assessment.

Inside the vast classroom, everyone stood ready, and even Joran's gaze seemed a little more solemn than before.

The third assessment was a dividing line, and an important turning point that would determine the apprentices' future paths.

With war about to break out as well, even the departments placed greater importance on this assessment.

"Take the test in order."

Joran reminded them.

The first apprentice stepped forward.

"Fink, one."

Joran remained expressionless, but the apprentice before him already had tears in his eyes, his body trembling.

He knew perfectly well that this result would all but decide whether he would be sent to a peripheral department six months from now.

Perhaps he would only be a little better off than those slaves.

The apprentices behind him remained expressionless.

Within the Academy, everyone fought desperately for their own fate.

Those who had clearly wasted their time deserved no sympathy.

Before long, the Wizards were tested one after another. There was joy, and there was sorrow.

"Halman, four!"

Joran looked at the apprentice with four Fourth-grade Talent runes before him, surprise in his eyes.

Even most Wizards with Third-grade Talent could not reach this level. Only the more outstanding ones could manage it.

What abundant resources!

He did not object to this sort of thing. After all, no one could deny how important resources were to a Wizard's cultivation.

Sometimes, they were even more important than talent.

Rune, standing not far away, was also stunned. How was this possible? He had only condensed three Mental Power Runes.

"How can that bastard possibly have done it?"

The people from the Mutual Aid Society could not believe it either.

They all had Fourth-grade Talent, yet they had only condensed two Mental Power Runes, with the third only barely taking shape.

Halman, with the same talent, had left them far behind.

Did that not mean Halman had actually made the right choice in leaving the Mutual Aid Society?

"Four Mental Power Runes? That guy definitely sold his ass."

Rune said unwillingly to Ian.

Ian's mouth twitched, but he did not respond.

He had condensed four as well—perhaps even faster than Halman. Did that mean he...

That was absolutely impossible.

"Ian, you'd better work hard. The core departments aren't so easy to enter. Mental Power is the core of everything."

Halman swaggered past Ian.

The mockery in his words was utterly undisguised.

"A mule in armor is still a mule—and it isn't even its own armor. Hehe, no, it's a fat mule."

Emily's fiery voice rang out, making Halman's face flush red in an instant. He nearly jumped up.

Since she was speaking up for Ian, there was no way he could ignore it.

Ian moved in front of Emily, shielding her behind him.

Halman gritted his teeth and looked at Emily, who was peeking out from behind Ian's shoulder with a triumphant smile.

"Shameless pair!"

Whether out of envy or resentment, he moved aside and waited for Ian to take the test.

It was soon the Mutual Aid Society's turn.

"Two. Ah, I was just short of three. Give me a few more days."

Logan felt regretful.

Emily, Coro, William, Alfie, and the others all had two as well.

The five members of the Mutual Aid Society had all performed rather ordinarily.

"Next, Ian."

Joran called his name.

Quite a few people turned their attention over. Ian himself had gained a certain reputation.

He had taken first place twice in the Wizardry testing course, ranked near the top in the potions course, and had even turned down a contract from the Silver Wolf Family.

Even Lucy looked over.

Only recently had he learned that Ian had signed a contract with the Silver Moon Lake Family, and that it was connected to Victor.

He had been favored by a genius apprentice from the School.

As for Halman, there was no need to say more. The corners of his mouth had already lifted, waiting to burst into laughter.

Ian slowly placed his hand on the crystal ball.

"Ian, four—four?"

Joran nearly failed to react, but judging from the crystal ball's feedback, it really was four?

Huh?

He glanced at the previous record.

Wasn't it only two?

This was utterly insane—he had improved by two runes in one go, almost reaching the level of a Second-class Talent.

The others' eyes widened as well.

The smile on Halman's face froze.

His brother had practically given him a Minor Energy Potion every three days, and even then, he had only reached three within three months.

But what right did Ian have?

Farther away, Rune felt like he was falling apart.

He had thought that advancing to the Academy stage would be his time to shine, only to find himself being surpassed one after another by people he had never considered worthy of notice.

The members of the Mutual Aid Society beside Ian stood rooted to the spot.

Just a second ago, they had been saying Halman was selling hooks.

Boss, you're the one selling hooks, aren't you?

Can you take me with you?

On the other side, Joran's expression gradually turned even more severe as he considered another possibility.

"Did you take a Mental Power Potion?"

His words instantly stirred up an uproar.

Even Halman's eyes lit up.

Right, he must have directly used a Mental Power Potion. Otherwise, how could he have improved so quickly?

Once discovered, he would have his resources withheld for a year and be transferred to a marginal department.

"Ian, you're finished."

A surge of joy rose from the depths of Halman's soul.

"No."

Naturally, Ian would not admit it.

Joran did not believe him. He placed a hand on Ian and instantly used mental power to examine his various conditions.

"Really not?"

Joran raised his head, his gaze flickering.

He had detected no traces whatsoever of any mental power-enhancing potion. An improvement of such magnitude should have been almost impossible without leaving a trace.

"Instructor Joran."

At that moment, Lucy came to Joran's side and whispered a few words to him.

"So he's latched onto Victor's thigh!"

Understanding gradually dawned in Joran's eyes.

If that was the case, then it made sense.

It was just that—was such an investment really worth it for someone with this kind of talent?

"Why?"

Though she had told Joran, Lucy was still looking at Ian in confusion.

None of them had supported Ian.

Yet Victor, the School's famed genius, had chosen to back him.

"Or is there some other hidden reason?"

She could not understand it.

"Looks like they've misunderstood something?"

Ian's eyes flickered, but he did not think it was a bad thing.

Draping himself in a tiger's hide would undoubtedly help him in the Academy and spare him plenty of trouble.

"So it's true!"

The others were disappointed as well, as though they had missed out on a good show.

"That's impossible!"

In the distance, Halman felt as though he could barely breathe. Trembling, he leaned against the wall behind him.

Especially when he saw the final rankings.

Ian: 9
Halman: 10

Pfft!

He failed to catch his breath, and his vision went white. It took him a full ten-odd minutes to recover.

Very soon.

It was time for the Wizardry course test.