The Blazing Sun Wizard Tower Had Victory in the Bag

The morning sunlight spilled across Lion City's bustling commercial street, driving away the night's chill.

The area in front of the White Cloud Eye Rune Shop was already bustling with people.

Two neat rows of long tables had been set up in the spacious open area outside the shop, covered with pristine white tablecloths.

Several enormous red banners fluttered in the breeze. The most eye-catching one bore bold gold lettering:

[Many thanks to the Sko Carving Shop for generously supporting this competition. For the best carving knives, choose the Sko Carving Knife! Sharp, precise, and never dull!]

The heavily commercialized sponsorship slogan made many passersby stop and take a look.

The White Cloud Eye had started promoting the rune competition three days earlier at apprentice gathering spots throughout the city.

There were no stringent requirements to enter. The only conditions were that participants had to be at least first-level apprentices and newcomers from this year.

The final prize had countless cash-strapped apprentices salivating: a Rune Ring worth 3,000 Purple Gold Coins that could cast the Fireball Spell.

For low-level apprentices still struggling to make ends meet, it was an enormous fortune—and a life-saving treasure.

By now, the apprentices gathered outside the shop had split into two clearly defined groups.

Most of the people on the left wore robes bearing the emblem of the Cain Wizard Tower.

At the very front stood two aristocratic apprentices dressed in luxurious silk wizard robes.

One was a petite girl with short, dark green hair and a pair of enormous round glasses that nearly covered half her face. She seemed reserved and shy.

She was Kathy Ralph Hoffman, the target Makley had specifically told Tylen to keep an eye on.

She always kept her head down, trying to make herself less conspicuous, but the loose wizard robe could hardly conceal her astonishingly voluptuous figure beneath it. The contrast only drew more attention.

Beside her stood a tall, blond young man named Locke Chen Sara.

He had a handsome face, and a trace of arrogance shone in his pale golden eyes.

Most striking of all were his slightly pointed ears, which made it clear that elven blood ran through his veins.

"Student Sara..."

Kathy nervously pinched the hem of her robe, her voice barely more than a whisper.

"I have a feeling... the people across from us are up to no good."

Locke turned his head slightly and gave a quiet "Hmm," his face composed with the confidence and reserve of a noble.

"Don't worry, Student Hoffman."

"They may have more people, but we can't let our teacher down. The people from the Blazing Sun Wizard Tower have been getting too arrogant lately. This is the perfect chance to teach them a lesson."

Kathy nodded, her large eyes glimmering with anxiety behind her glasses.

On the right was the Blazing Sun Wizard Tower's contingent.

Their leading pair were also an aristocratic young man and woman.

The man was named Virgil. He was tall and lean, with short black hair, shrewd eyes, and a faintly mocking smile that never seemed to leave his lips.

The woman was named Joyce. She was slightly plump and wore an exquisite red wizard robe. Her face brimmed with arrogance and confidence.

More than twenty commoner apprentices stood behind them.

Though their clothes were plain, every one of them had an aggressive look in their eyes. Judging from the mana fluctuations radiating from them, most had already reached the first or even second level.

By comparison, the apprentices from Cain Tower were not only fewer in number but also noticeably less imposing.

Virgil folded his arms and swept a contemptuous gaze over the group opposite him, a teasing smile curling his lips.

"Joyce, look."

"The apprentices from Cain really are a bunch of bumpkins who've never seen the world."

"Look at how timid they all are. What kind of wizards do they look like? They're more like a bunch of bewildered slaves."

Joyce spoke haughtily.

"It'd be a miracle if that dump could produce a decent wizard!"

"Do they really think nobody can see through it? This so-called 'public competition' is just a way to pad the résumés of a few useless nobles, isn't it?"

They might have been arrogant, but they weren't stupid.

They knew the background of the White Cloud Eye Rune Shop well and had guessed at the motives behind the competition: Cain Tower desperately needed a victory to restore its reputation, while also giving its own aristocratic apprentices a chance to bolster their credentials.

But they had come anyway.

Because they were absolutely confident.

Even if the other side knew the topic in advance, even if they had prepared for every eventuality, all their little tricks would be futile against overwhelming strength.

Besides, their side had prepared a trump card powerful enough to turn the tables.

If the other side dared to tamper with the competition, they wouldn't hesitate to expose them in front of everyone and make Cain Wizard Tower a laughingstock throughout the city.

Virgil stroked his chin, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

"I can't wait to see how shocked and confused they'll look in a moment..."

While the two sides faced off, Tylen tied up the carriage and straightened his faded robe.

His gaze swept across the crowd like a falcon's, taking in the people on both sides, their positions, and their moods.

Finally, his gaze settled on Kathy, who seemed reserved despite her striking figure.

Just then, a familiar voice suddenly sounded beside him.

"Huh? Are you here to compete too?"

Tylen turned to look.

A sturdy young man with an honest face was staring at him in surprise.

It was Ike from Thousand Mountain City, the Corpse Collector Apprentice who had competed with him for a corpse in town and later offered to buy him a meal.

Tylen smiled and replied calmly.

"I was in the city to collect a corpse. I passed by and saw the commotion, so I came over to take a look."

Ike nodded, then looked toward the competition area. A glint of longing and determination flashed in his eyes.

"Since there's a chance, I want to give it a try too."

"This is a rare opportunity to prove ourselves."

"Even if I don't win the prize, just getting noticed by those two young nobles and exchanging a few words with them would be worth it for people like us."

After speaking, he turned to Tylen and puffed out his chest, putting on the air of a big brother looking out for him.

"You can work with me later."

"We commoner apprentices can't compete with those noble lords in ability or knowledge, so we have to stick together."

"I know a little basic Runic Studies. If there's anything you don't understand, just ask me."

Tylen looked at the kindhearted fellow before him and considered the matter in silence.

This guy clearly wants to take on a little brother and expand his connections and influence.

Tylen went along with it. "Sure! Thanks for looking out for me, Big Brother Ike!"

"With you watching my back, I feel a lot better."

Ike patted Tylen on the shoulder with satisfaction, looking every bit the dependable sort.

While the two were talking, the rune shop's doors slowly swung open.

The shop owner, Steampunk, a slightly plump man who looked exceptionally shrewd, came out with a smile.

He cleared his throat and announced loudly in a booming voice.

"Welcome, everyone, to today's competition."

"Now, I will announce the rules!"

Steampunk pointed to a pile of white bones arranged on the tables behind him.

"You will have one hour to use the Sko Carving Knives provided by the shop to carve a complete rune structure into a bone."

"The requirement is that you must be able to activate it successfully with your Mental Power, allowing the rune structure to operate normally and produce a magical effect."

"The person who finishes fastest and produces the most stable effect will take first place!"

Everyone was stunned by his announcement.

Carve runes into bones?

Virgil and Joyce from the Blazing Sun Wizard Tower exchanged glances. Both looked surprised.

"That's it?"

"So simple and straightforward?"

The simplicity of the rules was beyond their expectations.

"Are they tampering with the bones? The carving knives? Or the assignment itself?"

Virgil's mind raced.

On the other side, Kathy and Locke were also deep in thought.

Judging from their slightly furrowed brows, they clearly hadn't been given the specific topic in advance either.

Tylen, standing at the back of the crowd, took it all in.

His mind raced as he quickly analyzed the situation.

The people from the Blazing Sun Wizard Tower are clearly prepared.

At a time like this, any incident of cheating in the competition could be seized upon by the other side and blown out of proportion, damaging Cain Tower's reputation.

Judging from Kathy and Locke's reactions, they really weren't given any information in advance.

Which means...

A playful smile tugged at Tylen's lips.

Those two noble youngsters are just bait in this operation.

Their main task is to draw the other side's fire and make the Blazing Sun Tower think this is just an ordinary competition to pad some résumés.

And the real trump card is me.

The reason I wasn't told the specific test in advance wasn't just to prevent anyone from discovering that we'd cheated. It was also the ultimate test of my ability and adaptability.

At this thought, Tylen's opinion of Makley rose even higher.

It seems my teacher may look meek and uninterested in conflict most of the time, but when it matters, he has some strategy and nerve after all.

He's careful enough in his work. He hasn't grown arrogant just because he's an Official Wizard, and he hasn't put all his eggs in one basket.

Over the past few days, Makley had been testing Tylen, and Tylen had been evaluating his teacher in turn.

If this teacher were just a useless second-generation heir coasting on his family's legacy, Tylen wouldn't hesitate to find an opportunity to switch sides.

After all, Cain Tower was a sinking ship, and choosing the right side was crucial if he wanted to rise.

Following a captain doomed to sink would only drag him into the abyss too.

But now...

Although Makley was somewhat detached from the world, he clearly had no lack of skill when it came to political maneuvering and planning.