Pursuing the Fugitive Blood Race

"Borrower, Third-Rank Wizard Apprentice—Bill???"

Ahab could not help moving the borrowing slip closer to his eyes.

"Under freshman instruction: Gray... That's right, it's Bill. What's going on?"

For a moment, Ahab could not figure it out.

A Third-Rank Apprentice who had enrolled less than a month ago—how could he possibly know about Ancient Gods, let alone be interested in them?

Ahab suddenly had the premonition that someone had set him up.

His gaze continued downward.

"Borrowing time... just one hourglass ago? The deadline is—"

"One month!"

Ahab pushed the registration form back.

Since he was already here, he borrowed the "Vampire Chapter" while he was at it.

The library was mainly for apprentices. If official wizards wanted to look up information, they used other channels.

Only official wizards could perform planar leaps and roam the universe.

For apprentices, knowledge of the universe could only be considered broadening their horizons, so the library only had this one set of the Universal Compendium.

Should he go straight to Bill and find a way to get the book back?

Ahab analyzed it and decided not to do that for now.

It was not that Ahab was incapable of it, but he had to weigh the gains and losses.

Right now, he had no power of faith and could not use See Through.

Even if he could beat Bill, it would definitely be a miserable victory.

And after winning, it would be inconvenient to wipe him out completely. Instead, it would only further ignite Bill's fighting spirit.

"But if I make the Corpse Dissolving Powder first, half the problem will be solved."

"I've already gotten both main ingredients. As for the other auxiliary materials, they aren't expensive, but I still can't afford them this month."

Ahab changed directions. His target was the Administration Hall.

"I'll take a mission with generous rewards. Even if I only earn one Magic Stone, that'll be enough!"

"Preferably a group mission that requires leaving the Academy. I can kill a few on the way, and then I won't have to worry about power of faith either."

The Academy's Administration Hall was not in the West District, which mainly consisted of Third-Ranks, but in the East District, which mainly consisted of Second-Rank Apprentices.

Most Third-Rank Apprentices still did not possess the ability to undertake Academy missions.

First-Rank Apprentices had more profitable things to do.

Compared with other institutions, the Administration Hall was much smaller.

But the Administration Hall had clearly been built with more "care." Its stone walls were painted pure white, and the roof was a specially made waterproof pointed roof.

The inside could not be seen, but it was probably quite refined as well.

Ahab did not enter the Administration Hall. Instead, he went to the row of windows along the east wall.

Seven or eight windows had been opened in the east wall, and beside each one was a rectangular notice board three or four square meters in size.

All sorts of missions were posted on them.

At the same time, groups of apprentices moved between the windows, searching for suitable missions.

"Going underwater to collect oil, weaving crops, gambling-stone assistant... Got it. External pursuit!"

"A multi-person mission that requires leaving the Academy. This is the one!"

Ahab walked closer to the notice board and checked the detailed mission description.

[Due to the accidental death of Loghart, apprentice warden of a sub-prison of the Third Prison, ten otherworldly bloodkin have escaped.]

[It has now been confirmed that the escaped bloodkin are hiding on Sistan Island. Apprentices are urgently recruited to pursue and capture them. Limited to 5 people. Mission rewards will be settled according to the number of bloodkin captured alive.]

[Mission Note 1: Bloodkin, commonly known as vampires, can possess official wizard-level combat strength upon adulthood.]

[Although the escaped bloodkin are all female cubs, it is still recommended that those taking this mission possess at least combat strength at the higher Second-Rank Apprentice level.]

[Mission Note 2: The escaped bloodkin are experimental materials. Only living specimens possess value. Killing bloodkin will not result in any reward!]

"I want to join the mission, the one to capture the escaped bloodkin."

Ahab walked up to the window, handed over his Metal ID Tag, and spoke to the apprentice on reception.

Perfect. He had just borrowed the "Vampire Chapter" of the Universal Compendium. Wasn't it coming in handy now?

The apprentice on reception looked Ahab up and down a few times, then did not take the ID tag at all.

"Junior, I sensed your spiritual power. You seem to only be at the Third-Rank Apprentice level."

"This mission isn't suitable for you."

The apprentice on reception "advised" him.

"Do you recognize this identity badge of mine?"

Ahab forcefully tossed the identity badge onto the reception desk.

After hunting Vivian and returning to the Academy, the old wizard Merlin had personally replaced Ahab's identity badge.

The reception apprentice picked up the badge with skepticism and read the information inside.

"Third-Rank Wizard Apprentice, Ahab Gul, spiritual power 8... Junior Demon Hunter Wizard—what is this?"

"...Should be treated as a Second-Rank Wizard Apprentice. Why???"

The reception apprentice even began to suspect that Ahab had added the later information himself.

"Junior, stop pestering them."

"The mission only needs five people at most. Bringing along a Third-Rank Apprentice like you will only affect our ability to complete it."

"Please have some awareness befitting an elegant gentleman, and don't make trouble for others."

What's he babbling about...? Ahab looked toward the voice.

On the other side of the reception window stood two other apprentices, one man and one woman. Judging by their badges, both were Second-Rank.

The male apprentice was clearly half a step ahead of the female apprentice, his body leaning slightly as if he meant to protect the person behind him.

They looked like a couple.

And it seemed they wanted to take part in this mission too.

"Unfortunately, I'm neither a gentleman, nor do I have any such awareness."

Ahab was shameless and completely unmoved.

"I'm giving you a way to step down. The mission clearly states that Second-Rank Apprentice combat strength is 'recommended.'"

"If you remain so stubborn and get rejected in public by the receptionist, it will be a great loss of dignity."

The male apprentice did not get angry. He really did seem like a "dignified" person.

It appeared that before becoming a wizard apprentice, he had come from a decent background.

"Sorry for the wait. I've already registered you."

The reception apprentice handed Ahab's identity badge back with both hands.

Although he had no idea why that information was in the badge—

Since the Academy said he was to be treated as a Second-Rank Apprentice, then at least I won't be held responsible... the apprentice in charge of reception thought.

"Please come back to the government affairs hall tomorrow morning to gather and set out."

"If there aren't enough people, it will be postponed again."

Following the government affairs hall's regulations, the reception apprentice said this perfunctorily and without emotion.

After Ahab stepped away, the male and female apprentices who had spoken earlier also walked up to the window together.

"Hello. We'd like to participate in the mission to pursue the bloodkin."

The male apprentice handed over both of their identity badges at the same time.

"You are Lechi Incalos, and this young lady is—Eleanor Incalos???"

"You two... uh, both of you are Second-Rank Apprentices. All right, I'll register you."

The reception apprentice looked at the two of them with curiosity.

They looked like a couple, but why did they have the same surname...?