Chapter 26: Marcus's Threat, Monster?

Andre appeared at the entrance of the restaurant at some point. He still maintained his elegant noble demeanor, but his eyes carried a hint of unquestionable majesty.

Those candidate apprentices looked at each other and soon dispersed sensibly.

Although secular noble status was worthless here, as the 13th Prince of the Kingdom of Farouk, the power Andre represented could not be underestimated, at least for these candidate apprentices.

"These guys..." Andre walked to Luo En's side and said with a light laugh:

"When Darren mutated yesterday, they all hid in their rooms and didn't even dare to open the door. Now they are all running out to curry favor."

Luo En nodded slightly: "I really have no interest in associating with these people. Thanks for helping me out, Andre."

"Then let's go, change to a quiet place." Andre invited with a smile:

"It just so happens that I have some freshly baked muffins over there, which are better than these black breads."

The two came to Andre's room, where the layout was clearly much better than other candidate apprentices.

A small table was set with a few steaming muffins, and next to it was a pot of fragrant flower tea.

"Speaking of which," Andre laughed while pouring tea for Luo En:

"I didn't expect you to be able to solve even Darren, who mutated into a monster, and you used a wooden sword. It's a pity I wasn't in the dormitory area at the time, otherwise I should have come to help you."

Luo En took a sip of tea: "Just lucky."

"Lucky?" Andre looked at him playfully:

"You kid is getting more and more humble now. Back in the capital, if you had this kind of achievement, you would have probably been boasting all over the city, right?"

Luo En shook his head helplessly at this teasing: "That's all in the past."

"That's true." Andre picked up a muffin and took a bite, a hint of inquiry flashing in his eyes:

"But honestly, your changes during this period are indeed surprising. Practicing 'Corona Breathing Method' every day, learning in the herb shop, and now mastering the conception of sonic spells..."

He paused and looked at Luo En with a smile that was not a smile:

"If I hadn't watched you walk to today step by step, I would have suspected that you were possessed by some powerful existence."

"Possessed?" Luo En's heart stirred, remembering his [Dual Soul] talent, but he still said calmly on the surface:

"I just don't want to wait for death here."

"Indeed." Andre's expression suddenly became serious: "But you have to be careful recently, especially that Marcus."

Luo En put down the teacup: "How so?"

"Although that guy is just an ordinary primary apprentice, he has an older brother who is about to break through to a formal wizard—Oliver, standing behind him."

The blonde boy's voice became very low:

"In the school, Oliver is a senior advanced apprentice at the same level as Master Holte, and he has made quite a few achievements in the research of curse witchcraft."

He paused, seemingly weighing his words:

"It is precisely because of such a powerful backer that Marcus dares to be so unscrupulous. Most of the candidate apprentices he took as slaves have become materials for his brother's spell experiments."

Luo En fell into deep thought. No wonder Emily met such a miserable end after relying on Marcus. I'm afraid the result was already doomed when she chose that path.

"So..." Andre's tone became even more solemn:

"You have been too conspicuous recently. Although Marcus is just a primary apprentice, his brother Oliver has been researching some extremely strange special spells recently, which seem to be related to mental power extraction."

He said pointedly:

"With the talent and potential you show now, you are likely to be targeted by their brothers. Although there are Lady Allen and Master Holte, you still have to be careful."

"I understand."

Luo En nodded. He had long noticed the apprentice who liked to collect "beautiful slaves" and often cast cold glances at himself.

"But don't worry too much." Andre returned to his elegant smile:

"With the two you know, he shouldn't dare to be too blatant. Besides..."

He looked at Luo En tentatively: "With the strength you show now, even if he really makes a move, I'm afraid he won't get any good."

Luo En smiled and didn't pick up the topic, instead asking about other things: "By the way, is there any new news from the market recently?"

"You mean those black market merchants?" Andre shook his head: "Since Darren's incident, they seem to have restrained themselves a lot. However..."

He looked out the window with deep eyes: "This kind of calm probably won't last long. As the assessment deadline gets closer, those who are at their wits' end will always take risks."

"You're right." Luo En looked at the gradually darkening sky outside the window and calculated secretly in his heart.

Darren's incident touched him greatly. Although his current progress was fairly smooth, time was still tight.

He needed to master the sonic spell conception as soon as possible, and continue to improve his abilities in other aspects.

"It's getting late." Andre stood up: "You should have your own things to do, right?"

Luo En nodded, tidied up his things, and prepared to leave.

The next step of the plan was to study Darren's notebook carefully and try to push this unfinished sonic spell embryonic form to a new level.

At the door, Andre suddenly called his name: "Luo En."

"What's wrong?"

"Do you know?" A playful smile appeared on Andre's face: "I'm actually a bit glad that I didn't have any conflict with you when I was in the capital."

Luo En was stunned for a moment, then understood what he meant.

"Rest assured, that dandy has already died on the way to the Black Mist Forest." He turned halfway and replied faintly.

"Yeah." Andre looked at him pointedly: "Replacing him is a terrifying monster that is hard to fathom."

Luo En couldn't help but laugh when he heard this description: "A monster, huh..."

This world is survival of the fittest. If you want to survive here, maybe you really have to turn into a monster.

He turned and left Andre's room. The corridor outside was already shrouded in twilight.

The chaotic shadows on the side of the road were like the hooks of ghosts under the dim sky.

There were still prying eyes moving around, but Luo En didn't care anymore.

What he had to do now was to continue to get stronger, until he was strong enough to fully grasp his own destiny in this cruel world.

Any covetousness and calculation will turn into nothingness in the face of power.

(End of chapter)