Chapter 83

"Luo En?" Cynthia frowned: "Are you talking about that assistant Lady Allen just hired?"

"Not just that." Oliver turned around, his expression becoming serious: "I learned from intelligence channels that he has already applied for the Alchemist certification exam."

Cynthia was stunned for a moment, then burst into a shrill laugh:

"Alchemist certification? He shouldn't have been working under Lady Allen for more than three months at most. Even if he really had a foundation before, it's impossible for him to reach that level."

"Do not underestimate anyone."

Oliver shook his head: "I have a special interest in him. Regardless of whether he can pass the exam, if we make a move against him at this time, the school will pay special attention. After all, Lady Allen's support for him has already far exceeded the norm."

Cynthia narrowed her eyes, thoughtful: "So, you're telling me to endure it for now?"

"Of course, that is the wise choice." Oliver nodded: "Once he fails the Alchemist certification, he will naturally be assigned to field missions next month. By then, we will have plenty of opportunities."

"I'll grant you that you're making sense this time."

Cynthia put away the disdain on her face and turned to look at the orc, who had already been hypnotized into a drowsy state, a trace of morbid anticipation flashing in her eyes:

"So, do you mind if I try out this new toy now?"

"Please feel free to use it." Oliver bowed slightly: "My laboratory is very soundproof; no one will disturb your fun."

After saying this, he walked toward the door, and just as he touched the doorknob, Cynthia suddenly spoke:

"Oliver, don't think I don't know what you're planning."

Her voice was low and dangerous: "You want to know my secrets, yet you are always afraid of being influenced by me. Be careful of playing with fire and getting burned."

Oliver stopped, but did not look back:

"Everyone is playing with fire, Cynthia. The only difference is that some people get burned, while others... become the fire itself."

The moment the door closed behind him, the perfect smile on Oliver's face gradually disappeared.

A trace of disgust flashed in his eyes, like the discomfort of being stained by filth.

"Cynthia, you underestimate Luo En too much." He whispered to himself: "Pleasure, emotional manipulation... in front of a true talent, these are nothing but small tricks."

Oliver looked at the flickering lights in the night of the Black Mist Forest, his thoughts drifting back to memories from a few years ago.

At that time, he was just a sixth-rank star candidate apprentice with poor aptitude, not much different from Luo En's aptitude when he first arrived.

That was his first year at the Black Mist Forest, and Holt, who arrived at the same time as him, had an outstanding fourth-rank star mental aptitude and was highly regarded by all parties.

And he could only hide in a corner, silently watching that star-like dazzling figure.

"Another success. Apprentice Holt fully mastered the basic meditation method in just three months and was promoted to a junior apprentice."

Having finally squeezed out the money for a paid course from magic stone fragments, he could only remember the praise echoing in the classroom:

"This level of comprehension and control ability is rare even among fourth-rank star aptitudes. Now, please have him share his specific meditation experience with everyone."

Oliver, in the back row of the classroom, clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms.

His eyes were fixed on Holt's figure as he gladly accepted the praise, his heart filled with endless jealousy and longing.

"Why couldn't it be me?" He shouted in his heart countless times: "Why is fate so unfair?"

Until that night that changed everything, he accidentally discovered an incomplete ancient book that mentioned an ancient spell concept called "Brain Extraction Technique":

"Every living being's talent and wisdom are hidden in specific areas of the brain."

The words within were like a demon's whisper: "As long as you master the correct method, you can extract it and use it for yourself."

This discovery kept Oliver awake all night.

He began to secretly study this forbidden art, from initial experiments on small animals to later "collecting" from failed slaves.

Every step was accompanied by great risk and pain, but it also brought amazing rewards, and he also stimulated his talent for curse spells and biological modification in the process.

The first complete "extraction" success was in the second half of the year after arriving at the Black Mist Forest; he secretly captured a child from an alien village, and that child possessed a rare natural affinity.

The process was extremely bloody, but the result was exhilarating; his mental power actually increased a bit, and his ability to perceive natural elements also increased accordingly.

This success completely changed his path.

In the following years, he gradually perfected this art, constantly "collecting" the abilities of various special talents.

Every "collection" would take his power a step further, while also making his mind increasingly twisted.

Three years ago, when he successfully promoted to a high-level apprentice, the mentor who hadn't even looked at him once finally looked at him squarely.

"Sometimes, I really wonder if you are that kid who had no talent at all."

The mentor exclaimed, "Your progress speed is simply incredible."

Oliver just smiled slightly: "Everyone has their own path, teacher; I just found the one that suits me best."

Today, he is a leader among the candidate wizard sequence, only one step away from the threshold of an official wizard.

And all of this is built on the pain and death of countless "collectibles."

"Luo En..." Oliver whispered to himself, a trace of elusive light flashing in his eyes: "I will definitely find out the secret you are hiding."

The black mist outside the window gradually thickened, as if responding to the darkness deep in his heart.

Oliver knew he had gone too far to turn back.

But he didn't care, because at the end of this path was the power and status he had long craved.

As for those brains he "collected," they were nothing but stepping stones to the peak.

………………

The day after submitting the application, Luo En devoted himself entirely to preparing for the Alchemist certification exam.

He covered his dormitory table with various notes and materials, and all the potion formulas that might appear in the exam were organized in a special notebook, filled with his own insights and improvement plans.

"According to Lady Allen's hints, the exam usually randomly selects three from these ten types of potions."

Luo En muttered to himself, flipping through his notes: "Refreshing potion, healing potion, sobering potion, mana recovery potion, stardust liquid... each one must be mastered to the point where it can be prepared with eyes closed."

He picked up the silver pocket watch and poured his consciousness into it.

The black gemstone on the pocket watch immediately emitted a faint light, absorbing the fatigue from his body.

[Successfully reset negative status: mild fatigue, energy -1]

After the fatigue in his body disappeared, Luo En immediately continued to work, using small refining tools to practice the most difficult parts of the potion formulas.

After completing a practice session, he checked the finished product, recorded the problems, and then used the pocket watch to reset his status again to start a new round of practice.

This almost frantic practice rhythm lasted for three days, until the morning of the fourth day, when a light knock interrupted his focus.

"Luo En, it's me." A familiar voice came from outside the door.

Luo En opened the door and saw Andre standing there with rare worry on his face: "Good morning, Andre, is there something urgent again?"

"It's the latest news from my investigation."