Chapter 32

Andre's expression changed subtly, a flash of alertness crossing his eyes, but he quickly returned to calm.

As a prince who grew up in the palace and was accustomed to power struggles, he instantly heard the true meaning in Luo En's words.

"You want to contact the black market?" Andre's voice dropped a bit: "This is not a wise choice, especially under the current circumstances."

Luo En did not respond directly but waited patiently for the other to continue.

Andre sighed: "If it's just for magic potion research, I can give you some advice."

He walked to the window, confirmed there were no suspicious energy fluctuations around, and then continued:

"Underground transactions in the Black Fog Forest mainly take place in three places:

The safest is the special exchange in the 'Sunset Tavern,' where the guards ensure the privacy of the transactions;

Next is 'Lizard Alley,' although there is no extra guarantee, the variety of items traded is far greater than in the Sunset Tavern;

Finally, there is 'Blackwater Bay,' which is the most dangerous place. It is said that even powerhouses at the official wizard level occasionally look for things they are interested in there."

Luo En carefully noted this information, while also noting Andre's familiarity with these places; clearly, he was not just hearing rumors.

"There are a few points to pay special attention to when trading." Andre continued, his tone carrying the weight of experience:

"First, never reveal your true identity; second, bring enough magic stone fragments, but don't carry them all on you; third, it's best to find a trusted middleman to introduce you; the first transaction is the most dangerous."

He paused and said in an extremely serious tone: "Most importantly, don't be greedy. Only buy what you truly need, and then leave immediately."

Luo En nodded: "It sounds like you are very familiar with these."

Andre gave a complex smile: "In the Black Fog Forest, to survive, sometimes you need some... rather special channels."

He did not explain further, but Luo En already understood.

In this cruel world, everyone had their own way of surviving, even the Thirteenth Prince of noble birth was no exception.

"Thank you for your advice." Luo En said sincerely: "I will be careful."

The two chatted about some recent events, and Andre bid farewell and left.

Alone, Luo En began to organize what he had seen and heard.

Oliver's sudden visit, the changes in black market potions, coupled with that malicious look from Ma Kusi, everything seemed to point to some ominous premonition.

But the current him was no longer that weak candidate apprentice.

The qualitative change in his mental power gave him the ability to contend with higher-level apprentices, and the professional linkage system in his body gave him a powerful trump card.

"No matter what Oliver is planning." Luo En clenched his fists, feeling no fear in his heart: "As long as I have time to develop, everything will be easily solved."

However, the black market channels he had just discussed with Andre reminded him of some things.

Luo En spread out the school's quarterly newsletter he had accidentally obtained recently, which recorded the important events of the school over the past three months.

Flipping to the "Mentor Council" section, he found some interesting content:

Mentors evaluate the apprentices in the school every quarter, and those apprentices who perform well often receive extra resource allocation and guidance opportunities.

But what was puzzling was that on the next page of the newsletter, a list of apprentices who had recently been punished for violating rules was listed.

Some of them had even mutated due to taking forbidden drugs and were eventually executed or sent to the laboratory.

"Locke, Emily, Dalunde..." Luo En's gaze lingered on these familiar names, and a trace of doubt arose in his heart.

If the mentors really valued apprentices with potential so much, why could these forbidden drugs circulate so easily? Why were there always apprentices taking desperate risks?

He flipped to earlier newsletters and found that this situation was not rare—almost every quarter had similar cases; the circulation of forbidden drugs seemed to have become a part of the Black Fog Forest.

"Is there some logic here that I haven't seen?" Luo En frowned and thought carefully.

If those powerful official wizards really wanted to completely eradicate the circulation of forbidden drugs, with their ability and authority, they could fully do so.

But in fact, these drugs not only existed but, to some extent, seemed to be tacitly approved.

Luo En remembered Andre mentioning earlier that even figures at the official wizard level would patronize dangerous black markets like Blackwater Bay.

"Could it be..." A bold idea emerged in Luo En's mind: "Could the circulation of these forbidden drugs be tacitly approved, or even encouraged, by official wizards to some extent?"

This idea was crazy, but it explained many phenomena.

Perhaps in the eyes of the mentors, this was a screening mechanism—truly talented and self-disciplined apprentices would choose a steady growth path, while those who lacked talent, were eager for quick success, and lacked patience would be tempted by forbidden drugs and eventually bring about their own destruction.

"This is like a game." Luo En concluded in his heart: "A 'promotion and elimination game' with rules set by the mentors."

They both hoped that talented newcomers would emerge in the school and did not want an environment that was too comfortable to make the apprentices lack a sense of crisis.

Moderate danger and competition could instead stimulate a stronger desire for survival and motivation for progress.

Luo En had previously too simply viewed it as the oppression of the weak by the strong; now it seemed the situation was much more complex.

Since that was the case, the risk of him being caught and used as an experimental subject might not be as high as he imagined, especially since he had shown enough potential and self-discipline.

Those wizards would be more willing to see him grow into a future colleague rather than an experimental material that had lost the ability to think.

Taking out Dalunde's notebook, Luo En prepared to look at the concept of sonic spells first.

Since Oliver had shown interest in this, this spell might very well become the key to future confrontations.

The focused research lasted for several hours, and the sky had gradually darkened.

Luo En rubbed his eyes, stood up, and decided to take a trip to the herb shop.

Firstly, to inform Lady Ailan that he had finished his confinement early, and secondly, to ask this experienced old pharmacist some questions, especially about Oliver and higher-level meditation methods.

The slightly reddish sunset glow plated the Black Fog Forest with a strange halo, and the flow of people in the market had become much sparser.

When Luo En walked to the front of the herb shop, he found that the door was already tightly closed, and the active vines on the door were twisted and coiled, forming the words "Shop Closed."

Luo En found it strange; usually, it shouldn't be time for Lady Ailan's herb shop to close yet.

He was just about to turn and leave, but suddenly stopped his steps.

The keen perception brought by being an advanced apprentice allowed him to clearly capture the abnormally active magic power behind the door.

It wasn't a dangerous fluctuation, but it definitely wasn't the calm that should exist after a shop closed.

After hesitating for a moment, Luo En still knocked on the door gently.

"Who is it?" An old voice came from inside with a bit of fatigue; it was exactly Lady Ailan's familiar voice.

"It's me, Luo En." He answered softly.

There was a brief silence behind the door, followed by an inaudible sigh.

"I'm very busy right now; if there's anything, come back tomorrow morning."

Luo En could hear the well-hidden irritability in Lady Ailan's voice. As someone with basic emotional intelligence, he didn't want to cause trouble for Lady Ailan.

"I understand, Lady. Then, I will come to visit tomorrow morning." Luo En said sensibly, already turning to leave.

"Wait..." Lady Ailan suddenly changed her mind, her voice filled with hesitation: "Come in anyway, since you're already here."

Accompanied by a sound of metal friction, the tightly closed shop door opened automatically.

Luo En stepped into the shop cautiously. The familiar scent of herbs rushed toward him, but it was mixed with a strange fragrance he had never smelled before—somewhat like night-blooming jasmine, but with a more rich and sweet scent.

The light in the shop was also dimmer than usual, with only a few faint magic crystal lamps flickering, bringing a hazy atmosphere to the space.

As soon as Luo En walked in, his gaze was immediately attracted by the figure behind the counter—a young woman was organizing the ledger there.

She had stunning, long, pink-purple curly hair that cascaded down like a waterfall, shimmering with dreamlike brilliance under the light.

The woman's side profile was beautiful and delicate, her porcelain-white skin glowing with a healthy, moist luster, and her large, bright eyes were like gemstones.

The most eye-catching part was the high bridge of her nose, which carried a proud and elegant curve, making the whole face look impossibly perfect when combined.

"Who are you..." Luo En asked hesitantly, searching for Lady Ailan's figure in the shop.

The woman was only wearing a loose silk nightgown, with the neckline and cuffs slipping down a bit, revealing a large area of fair skin and breathtaking, proud curves.

That casual and unconscious posture was more lethal than deliberate seduction, completely different from the image of the old witch with a wrinkled face, hooked nose, and hunched back in Luo En's memory.

"What's wrong, little one? Can't recognize me?" The woman turned her face slightly, using a familiar tone that made his hair stand on end.

Those dark green eyes—they were exactly Lady Ailan's unique eyes!

"Lady Ailan?!" Luo En couldn't believe his judgment, but those eyes definitely couldn't be wrong.

The other party let out a chuckle, which was exactly Lady Ailan's slightly hoarse, old laughter.

But at this moment, it came from the mouth of this young woman who looked no more than eighteen or nineteen, giving a feeling of extreme incongruity.

"It seems my change has taken you by surprise." She put down the ledger, rested her hands on the counter, and leaned forward. This unconscious movement made the neckline of the nightgown even looser.

Inspiration for Lady Ailan's character design: Genkai from "YuYu Hakusho." I wonder how many old-timers still know this character.

Also, this book might not have a female lead in the strict sense; after all, wizards are long-lived species, and there's really no need to linger on those things.

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(End of this chapter)