Ranking, Ross Returns

Of the three courses, he had one A and two A+ grades.

Among those of the same year, he ranked fifth.

There was no need to mention the top three; their meditation scores surpassed his.

The fourth place was rather strange. He had the same grades as Ian, yet Ian was ranked fifth.

But Ian understood in an instant. Roger belonged to the Giant Deer Family, one of the School's three great families.

Even in the supernatural world, there were still the ways of human relationships.

But this was fine too. After all, his goal was only the Potions Department.

Among the top five, Levi and Lucy had long since decided on their paths. Even fifth place was enough to guarantee Ian's entry into the Potions Department.

And fourth place was a little too conspicuous anyway. The ones ahead were all Second-class Talents; fifth was just right.

But even fifth place was enough to leave people stunned.

"If you had Second-class Talent too, Boss, first place would definitely be yours."

The members of the Mutual Aid Society gathered around Ian, staring at him in shock.

Who could have imagined that Ian, once an unnoticed nobody in class, would gradually improve until he reached fifth in the class?

Other than those with Second-class Talent, only Roger ranked ahead of him. Yet everyone knew Roger relied only on his family's prestige.

At least in the usual potion-making and combat tests, Roger had never surpassed Ian.

"How did he do it?"

It was not just them. The others looking at Ian also felt an inexplicable sense of shock.

As Ian's ranking had risen over the past few months, he had already become quite well-known throughout the Academy.

His past was laid completely before everyone's eyes as well.

At the beginning, he had merely been suspected of having Fourth-grade Talent.

Yet he had surpassed many with Third-grade Talent.

Was this what Victor's support could accomplish?

"Once he enters a department, those Wizards from great families and second-generation Wizards will truly begin to exert themselves. By then, even with Victor's support, he'll be overtaken one by one."

Some apprentices with Fourth-grade Talent had eyes so red they seemed ready to bleed.

They all had Fourth-grade Talent, so why had they not received Victor's support?

"This...?"

Not far away, Rune pressed his lips together.

During the early stages of study, although the incident involving the trio's deaths had occurred, he had still been stronger than Ian then.

But now, Ian had completely surpassed him.

"It's just resources. I'll choose the Combat Department."

He pursed his lips and decided to go to the battlefield. By then, in terms of resources, he would not be inferior to Ian.

Then, the advantage of his Third-grade Talent would fully reveal itself.

In a few years, he would definitely surpass Ian.

"My decision back then really was too hasty."

Lucy looked at the rankings, her feelings complicated.

After all, these rankings truly proved that Ian was not so inadequate. At the very least, his potential could rival that of a Third-grade Star Talent.

But since she had made her choice, she would not regret it.

"After all, he only has Third-grade Talent."

She pursed her lips and left, but the rise and fall of her chest showed that she was far from calm.

"A+."

Within the crowd, Levi's gaze flickered as he looked at the A+ beside the combat course.

Although he ranked above Ian, even he had to admit that under equal conditions, he was inferior to Ian in combat.

"Damn it, damn it!"

At that moment, Roger, ranked fourth, a black-haired, brown-eyed youth, felt as if his chest were about to explode from rage.

He was clearly the one in fourth place, yet everyone—including the three Wizards with Second-class Talent—acted as though they could not see him.

Their eyes were all on Ian, ranked fifth.

There were even occasional disdainful looks cast his way, as if he had stolen his ranking.

Why?

Could it not be that he had surpassed Ian in the final month?

Roger gritted his teeth, his body trembling with rage.

"It's over. It's really over."

In the crowd, Halman's face had gone pale.

His ranking this time was fairly good—tenth place.

But the problem was that three people ahead of him had chosen the Potions Department. He did not have the slightest chance.

Thinking of the enormous number of Magic Stones Ross had spent on him, his body could not help but tremble.

"Why can he do it?!"

He subconsciously skipped over fourth place and looked at Ian in fifth.

He did not understand.

A fellow born a serf, with the same meditation talent, yet he had surpassed him time and again.

"How exactly did he do it?"

He truly could not figure it out.

Once the results were announced, it was naturally time to choose departments.

This took place in the Secret Source Department, within what was commonly called the "Castle."

Everyone could choose three departments, listing them in order of preference.

Ian chose the Potions Department, the Alchemy Department, and a Combat Department.

It was clear that he had never truly intended to join a Combat Department, because even if the Potions Department did not want him, the Alchemy Department would not let him go.

"Alchemy makes good money too. Its inheritance is just a little lacking, but it's enough for me."

Ian remained very calm.

With the outside environment being so harsh, if he wanted to avoid taking risks, his only choice was the Logistics Department.

There was no need to mention the Combat Departments.

Even the Secret Source Department might need to head to the front lines from time to time. Only the Logistics Department was basically situated in the rear.

"In three days, each department will announce its list. All that's left is to wait."

Ian immediately felt much more at ease.

He headed toward the Residential Area.

Today, the members of the Mutual Aid Society were gathering.

At the same time.

In another room.

Halman stood trembling at the side.

On a chair before him sat Ross, who had been gone for a long time.

Compared to two months ago, Ross now looked far more bedraggled. There was an additional scar on his face, and the fluctuations of his Mental Power had clearly weakened.

"Brother, you're injured?" Halman asked cautiously.

Ross nodded without concealing it.

"The Blackstone School people were vicious. I nearly died in one battle, but luckily I survived. It's just that my Mental Power has dropped quite a bit, and I'll need some time to recover." Ross pressed his pale lips together.

He had originally only been a Second-class Apprentice Witch, but this injury had temporarily caused his Mental Power to fall to the level of a first-class apprentice.

Fortunately, it was not permanent. It would recover after some time.

He had also taken this opportunity to return to the Academy to recuperate.

"How about you?" Ross turned to look at Halman.

"Tenth!"

Halman's body trembled slightly.

"Tenth?" Ross's eyes filled with vicious light, and the Mental Power he emitted made Halman feel somewhat unable to breathe.

"Brother, listen to me. I investigated it. Of the people ahead of me, only three are planning to choose the Potions Department. Really, I still have a good chance."

Halman's body shook as he instinctively lied.

"Three?" Ross frowned.

That still would not be enough to get in.

"Brother, how about we get rid of one of them?" Halman hurriedly said, desperate to save his life.

"Kill one?"

Ross fell into thought.

It really was feasible. Though he was only a First-class Wizard Apprentice, he was still far beyond apprentices who had only been here for a year.

The question was, who should he kill?

"Brother, among the top three, one is Beck with Second-class Talent, one is Roger from the Giant Deer Family, and then there's Ian. And Brother, there's definitely something wrong with this guy. These past few days, a fellow townsman told me he came in with Ian's batch. Ian's talent tested as only fifth-class back then."

"Fifth-class? How is that possible?" Ross was stunned.

How could someone with fifth-class talent rank fifth?

"Even if the test was wrong back then, the extent of his progress is still very strange. When he first arrived, his meditation wasn't fast at all, but later he only grew stronger and stronger. Brother, this man definitely has a secret on him," Halman urged.

Ross immediately grew serious.

If that was the case, then there truly was something suspicious about this man.

Perhaps he could make use of him as well.

And he had already poured so many resources into this. Once Halman failed to enter the Potions Department, all his investments would go down the drain.

When that happened, he would be punished too.

He could not touch someone with Second-class Talent, nor could he touch a wizard from the Giant Deer Family. But moving against a commoner wizard like Ian would be fine.

As long as he acted quickly enough.

"Fine."

He pursed his lips, a vicious glint flashing through his eyes.