Cooperation

The idea was so crazy, but once it surfaced, it spread through Pete's mind like wildfire, and he could no longer suppress it.

Because he believed the God of Knowledge really could do it!

Whether it was [Hada's Hunger] or [Arcane Missile], the casting methods the God of Knowledge had taught him were completely different from those used by the Goddess of Magic's followers. They could even be said to bypass the Goddess of Magic's restrictions, allowing him to manipulate the Weave and cast spells on his own!

Pete figured that if he told his classmates at Caron Academy's School of Arcane Arts about this, no one would believe him. They would only think he was joking.

If the God of Knowledge could bypass the Goddess of Magic, then perhaps he could bypass the God of Justice too!

To be safe, Pete nervously asked Rena, "Take a careful look. Does the God of Knowledge's method require a true believer of the God of Justice to preside over the ritual?"

Rena took some time to carefully read through the entire testing ritual process from beginning to end.

"No."

"Other than the person being tested, it only requires someone else to preside over it according to the prescribed format and procedure. There is no requirement regarding the officiant's faith."

The perspective and knowledge brought by his noble upbringing made Pete instantly realize just how valuable the thing the God of Knowledge had bestowed upon Rena was!

Why were aptitude tests for occupational classes so expensive?

Wasn't it because the method was completely monopolized by the Church of the God of Justice? Only true believers of Phil, God of Justice, could use divine spells to conduct the tests.

Countless people were lining up to be tested. It was a pure seller's market!

There was only one provider. Take it or leave it!

No matter how high a price the Church of the God of Justice set, those who wanted to be tested had no choice but to grit their teeth and accept it.

What if there were now a method that could achieve the same results as the divine spells of the Church of the God of Justice?

It did not even need to have the same results. Half as effective would be enough!

If it were made public, hordes of people would come bearing fistfuls of gold coins, begging for a chance to be tested. They could get rich with ease.

The next second, Pete came to his senses.

"No, we can't just make it public!"

"Rena is still just an ordinary person, and I'm only a mere second-tier mage."

"If the Church of the God of Justice learned that their exclusive divine spell had a similar replacement, their followers might not have much combat power, but they have money. They could easily offer huge rewards for commissions and hire high-level occupational classes to eliminate the threat and preserve their monopoly."

"What's more, even if they aren't from the Church of the God of Justice, anyone who covets this method will try to dig out the secret and seize it for themselves."

At that thought, Pete felt cold sweat nearly break out all over him.

Something capable of breaking a monopoly like this, if flaunted before he had enough strength to protect it, would only get him killed faster.

Of course, being so afraid of discovery that he hid it away and never dared use it was not a good choice either.

Pete's thoughts raced, and within a few seconds, he came up with a way to maximize the benefits while keeping the risks manageable:

Although Greenport's lower district was chaotic, poorly policed, and rife with crime, that very disorder naturally provided excellent cover for all kinds of black-market dealings.

Contraband of dubious origin and hearsay intelligence of every kind circulated through the lower district. Naturally, the authenticity of both the goods and the information was hard to determine.

In a place where all sorts mingled, whether one was cheated or stumbled upon a bargain depended entirely on one's own abilities.

He could not do it openly, but he could take the black-market route!

Turning to Rena, Pete said with great seriousness:

"Rena, I have a suggestion."

"Let's work together."

"The various materials needed for the occupational aptitude testing ritual would be a considerable expense for you. I can take care of that part. You won't need to spend any money, and I can help preside over the ritual as well."

"In exchange, I hope we can form a partnership regarding this ritual."

"If we manage it properly, we should be able to secretly recruit quite a few people and make a great deal of money using this ritual."

"When that happens, we'll naturally find a way to deal with Dursley from the Bloodfang Gang."

Pete's plan was simple.

As long as he prayed to the God of Knowledge as well, he could spend five knowledge points to obtain the methods related to the aptitude testing ritual.

He was confident that he could make a large sum in the black market of Greenport's lower district by offering occupational aptitude tests as a "service."

But there was a certain amount of risk involved. After all, this was tantamount to digging up the Church of the God of Justice's money tree.

He needed someone to stand at the forefront, someone in the public eye who could bear the danger for him.

Rena happened to be a ready-made and suitable candidate.

Pete explained the potential benefits and risks of cooperation to Rena in detail, laying out the pros and cons for her.

Rena barely hesitated. "I have no objections. I'm willing to cooperate."

Seeing this, Pete could not help reminding her, "Think it through carefully. Taking the black-market route can protect your identity from being exposed as much as possible, but if the news ever leaks, you really will be in danger. It won't be as simple as dealing with a few ordinary thugs anymore."

Rena nodded just as seriously. "Mr. Pete, I've thought it through."

"You saved my life. If it weren't for you, I might already have died at the hands of those crazed people in black robes."

"I was originally worried that I wouldn't be able to find a suitable way to repay you. You're a great mage from the upper district. The things I can do may be of no use to you at all."

"Since you need me to stand at the forefront as your representative, then I'm willing to do it for you. I'm not afraid of danger."

Hearing Rena put it that way, Pete's face reddened a little.

He had been born a noble, and his first instinct had indeed carried a trace of wanting to use Rena.

After all, the values he had been indoctrinated with since childhood had always emphasized that noble blood was more precious than common blood, more compatible with the gods, and more likely to produce occupational classes. Therefore, when danger arose, a noble's life was more valuable, and commoners should be sent ahead to test the waters rather than have nobles risk themselves.

Because Pete's own talent was not especially good and he had never felt superior to commoners in any way, he did not fully believe in that doctrine of noble blood. Still, he had inevitably been influenced by it to some extent.

Yet Rena had so frankly stated that she was willing to let him use her, and that instead made Pete feel rather guilty.

"Don't say that. I already explained it to you. Back then, I was saving myself too. We went through hardship together, so it doesn't count as a life-saving debt."

"Don't worry, I won't use you. I promise we'll be partners."

"I'll do everything I can to cover for you. I've already worked out the general plan!"

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