This Anklet, It Seems To Be--

"Wilson was dead?"

Lechi felt as if the sky had collapsed.

In other words—

Not only had Wilson failed to kill Ahab, but Wilson had been killed by Ahab instead?

So the truth was this.

After killing Wilson, Ahab had gone into hiding;

And I, Lechi Incalos, had lost everything I put in??!

No, it was more than that.

The Magic Stones he had invested had been borrowed from Senior Andre.

Never mind how he was going to pay them back.

Senior Andre had also been persuaded by him to invest Magic Stones, and had even introduced other first-class apprentices to invest too.

How was he supposed to face the wrath of the first-class apprentice Andre?

Lechi carefully turned his head and spoke in a servile, hushed voice.

"Um, Senior Andre..."

Then Lechi discovered something.

Andre had disappeared too, with no one knowing where he had gone.

"Ahab Gul, let's talk."

Ahab was just about to leave when he noticed a first-class apprentice walking over, a man wider than he was tall, his face covered in a thick beard.

"It's Instructor Andre."

Beside him, Eleanor greeted the potbellied apprentice.

Eleanor and Lechi had enrolled together, so naturally, back then they had been under the same instructor.

Clearly, Eleanor had a very deep impression of this plump instructor.

Andre ignored Eleanor. Instead, with a dark expression, he pressed toward Ahab step by step.

"If you've got something to say, say it. Who are you trying to intimidate?"

Ahab knew the visitor came with ill intent, so he began taking control of the pace of the conversation.

"I invested 100 Magic Stones in Freshman Research."

"And I have three other friends at the first-class level who each invested 100 Magic Stones as well."

The bulging flesh on Andre's face seemed to tense up.

To a first-class apprentice, 100 Magic Stones were not enough to break the bank, but it was not a small sum they could simply ignore either.

More importantly, Andre had persuaded other friends to invest with him.

He needed to give his friends an explanation.

"What does that have to do with me? Was it me you invested in?"

Ahab was neither servile nor overbearing.

"As the first-place researcher, one quarter of the total failed investments will end up in your hands."

"When the invested Magic Stones arrive, you'll return the share belonging to the four of us."

Andre said it with perfect confidence.

Ahab almost laughed.

He had failed in his own investment, so now he had come looking for trouble.

Did he think one sentence was enough to make Ahab Gul hand over 100 Magic Stones?

Ahab was pressed for time and burdened with heavy tasks. He needed to spend Magic Stones to advance quickly and learn more knowledge related to Ancient Gods.

That ending where he was controlled was still obediently crouching in the future, waiting for him.

Putting everything else aside, just that bottle of Mithril Potion that could increase spiritual power by 10 points cost 700 Magic Stones.

Academy contribution only meant you had the right to purchase these special resources.

It did not mean you did not need to pay.

"I swear by the Ancestor of the Wizard World, you'd better return these Magic Stones to us."

Seeing Ahab's reaction, Andre's stiff, bristling beard looked as though it was about to stand on end.

"Don't think that just because you're a Demon Hunter Wizard, I have no way to deal with you."

"The Divine Kingdom Trial is about to begin. In there, any kind of accident would be perfectly normal."

Ahab spread his hands, as if to say:

So?

Hmm. This square First-Rank Apprentice knew about Demon Hunter Wizards.

That was normal too. After all, as long as First-Rank Apprentices were not too terrible, they all had official wizards as mentors.

As for the Divine Kingdom Trial, Ahab had already learned the relevant information in Future Diary.

Not long after Freshman Research ended, it would be time for the Divine Kingdom Trial.

This trial covered every apprentice in all of Mensis Academy.

First-Rank, Second-Rank, and Third-Rank alike.

"Ahab Gul, remember your arrogance. This is arrogance you should never have had."

Andre left behind a harsh threat.

No. He had to get those 100 Magic Stones back.

Otherwise, he would have no way to explain it to those three friends of his.

Right—he would go to Ahab's dorm room right now and smash all his things to pieces!

Andre acted as soon as the thought struck him. He walked straight toward the freshman area, aiming for the dormitory complex.

After asking clearly which dorm room was Ahab's, Andre stepped into a corridor, his goal clear.

"Tolia, I'm so jealous of you. I heard the dorm conditions for Second-Rank Apprentices are way better than here!"

Next door to Ahab's dorm.

Little Potato Tolia was packing up her things with several female apprentices she was close to.

Because Tolia had already advanced to Second-Rank Apprentice.

Her initial aptitude had given her 15 points of spiritual power.

After half a year of diligent meditation, she had now surpassed 30 points.

In terms of witchcraft, Tolia had also already mastered 0.4 rings.

The badge on her chest had already been changed to one of the Second-Rank level!

"I'll come back often and chat with you all."

Tolia exchanged pleasantries with her friends while secretly swearing in her heart.

She was absolutely never coming back!

Because the great devil Ahab Gul was still living here.

For the past half year, Tolia's days could be described as filled with terror and trembling.

On the very night they boarded the Ferry Ship, Ahab had cornered most of the apprentices.

Less than a month after enrollment, Bill had been killed by Ahab too.

Who would Ahab's next target be? Very likely her!

The moment she thought of that, Tolia worked twice as hard.

Even though she had already become Second-Rank, Tolia still felt no sense of security.

"Huh, Tolia, why aren't you wearing shoes?"

"Your feet will get dirty like that, and doesn't walking barefoot hurt?"

A female apprentice beside her suddenly noticed Tolia's feet and asked curiously.

"Mm, the floor is nice and cool. It feels really comfortable to step on."

Tolia smiled and shrank back a little, the anklet around her ankle jingling.

In truth, she had picked up this anklet a long time ago, but Tolia had never dared to wear it.

What if Ahab discovered it and stole it from her?

But now she was not afraid. She was about to move.

She had to admit, this anklet really was a good thing.

Not having to wear socks wrapped around her feet really was very comfortable.

And the soles of her feet could directly feel the textures of different floors. It was a very novel experience...

As Tolia let her thoughts wander, she rubbed the sole of her foot against the floor.

At the same time, at the end of the corridor.

Andre, who had originally planned to come smash up Ahab's dorm, stopped in his tracks.

"Huh. That anklet looks a little familiar."

Andre thought back for a while and finally remembered.

Right. His teacher seemed to have given his toy a pair of anklets just like that.

They let her walk barefoot without fear of pain or dirt, after all, his teacher's tastes lay in that area.

Speaking of which, it really had been quite a long time since he had seen that female apprentice.

It seemed his teacher had been busy lately too, with no time to relax.

But the anklet was on that female apprentice called Tolia. Did that mean Teacher's toy was...

Andre no longer felt like smashing up Ahab's dormitory.

He walked out of the dormitory building, found a hidden corner, and took out the crystal ball used for communication.

"So this is the Mithril Potion."

That night, Ahab arrived at the General Affairs Hall right on time.

He had to admit, the Academy's procedures were rather efficient.

In just one afternoon, the Magic Stone and Academy contribution points had arrived in his account.

Using the Academy contribution points he had, Ahab exchanged for the potion mentioned in Future Diary, the one that could increase spiritual power.