Chapter 1: Detection

Wizard World.

Storm Sea, Quelte Archipelago, Viscount Holiday's territory.

Outside the castle hall that the territory's residents could hardly approach on ordinary days, it was now crowded with people.

All boys aged twelve and over in the territory were summoned here by Viscount Holiday's people, standing in several rows, orderly waiting to enter the hall to undergo the wizard aptitude test.

Before entering the castle, the boys had been told that wizard aptitude is graded from first to fifth class, with first being the lowest and fifth the highest, each class further divided into upper, middle, and lower.

To obtain a precious ticket to follow the Wizard Sir to the main continent, one must be found to have at least a third-class lower aptitude.

After the test, if the requirements aren't met, one must not cry or make a fuss, otherwise Viscount Sir will be very angry, and the consequences will be severe.

Lin Ke certainly wouldn't be frightened by such talk meant to scare children.

As a transmigrator, he possesses the standard-issue golden finger, which is his confidence.

Along with his transmigration came a pay-to-win gacha system, and the system's interaction method is a simple panel.

The content displayed on the panel is not fixed, but changes with his cognition.

【Linke Grand

Aptitude: Fourth Class Middle

Card Pack: None

Used: None

Draw Count: 1】

Before, Lin Ke didn't know how wizard aptitude was graded, and the panel didn't have the 'Wizard Aptitude' field.

After learning the information, the panel then updated to show his wizard aptitude.

After a short wait, they were about to enter the hall.

"Well, let's draw the card, just to be safe."

Lin Ke made up his mind, no longer covering the money he had saved for over a year to barely exchange for the first draw opportunity; he summoned the system and shouted in his heart: "Euro God possess me!"

The system's draw had no special effects; only minor changes occurred on the simple panel.

【Linke Grand

Aptitude: Fourth Class Middle

Card Pack: "Brain Seal Technique" Study Card (lightly tap, instant mastery)

Used: None

Draw Count: 0】

"This..."

Lin Ke felt that his last-minute cramming seemed to have failed.

"Brain Seal Technique" seems to be of no help for the wizard aptitude test.

"Well, it was just for peace of mind."

Soon, Lin Ke stopped worrying about it.

He simply chose to use the Brain Seal Technique Study Card.

He shivered slightly, and a piece of information suddenly appeared in his mind; in an extremely brief moment, Lin Ke entered the Brain Seal Technique.

The next second, Lin Ke felt changed.

He became more rational, better able to control his emotions and memory.

Before Lin Ke could savor the change, the butler arrived and led the boys into the hall quietly and orderly.

In the hall, seated on the highest seat was a wizard wearing a gray robe with a hood.

Viscount Holiday, who held absolute power over life and death in the territory, sat below the wizard's left hand, lacking his usual imposing demeanor.

Lin Ke stood in the middle of the third column from the left.

He tilted his head to secretly scrutinize the wizard who had shaken the entire territory upon arrival yesterday, only to see a shifting cloud of mist, making it impossible to discern the wizard's appearance.

After staring a few seconds longer, his eyes felt a stinging pain, and tears involuntarily streamed down.

Lin Ke quickly lowered his head to avert his gaze.

"Is this a wizard? Indeed, he is extraordinary!"

Lin Ke felt somewhat excited.

Having transmigrated to this world over a year ago, while carefully playing the original role, he had often heard legends of wizards who master mysterious supernatural power, and had personally witnessed the astonishing destructive power of the knight system said to be a byproduct of wizard experiments, Lin Ke thus developed a strong curiosity about wizards.

Now, the opportunity to become a wizard is right before him, and Lin Ke wants to seize it.

Knowing he would surely pass the test, Lin Ke certainly wouldn't court disaster; instead, he thought of staying low-key and steady.

So he dared not continue observing the wizard, but instead watched the impending wizard aptitude test ceremony.

On the square table before the wizard, a crystal ball was placed on each side, left and right.

The left crystal ball was colorless and transparent, while the right one was black and transparent.

"Let's begin."

The boys waiting for the test sweated on their foreheads, anxious as ants on a hot pan, when the Wizard Sir finally spoke.

The four boys and girls standing behind the wizard exchanged glances.

Shortly after, a blonde, blue-eyed girl walked up to the square table, her back to the wizard, facing the crowd.

Her voice was clear and natural as she said, "You will do as I do now: place your hands respectively on the two crystal balls, and no matter what happens, do not let go until Wizard Paro Sir confirms the test results."

While speaking, she demonstrated.

She placed her hands on the crystal balls, and shortly after, each ball emitted a different light.

The light emitted from the colorless transparent crystal ball was mainly cyan, with small amounts of blue and yellow speckles.

The black transparent crystal ball emitted a dazzling white light.

What exactly are these separate tests?

Lin Ke looked somewhat dazed, and doubt arose in his heart.

At that moment, the Paro Wizard said: "Innate mental power 13, high affinity for the wood element, medium affinity for water and earth elements, overall wizard qualification rating: upper third class."

The golden-haired, blue-eyed girl obviously already knew her qualification; she had little reaction to this result, bowed to the Paro Wizard, then returned to her original spot.

Upon hearing that, Lin Ke pondered carefully, and a look of realization flashed across his face.

It is obvious that the black translucent crystal ball measures innate mental power, while the colorless translucent crystal ball measures elemental affinity.

It's just that the specific criteria for the wizard qualification comprehensive score are unclear.

Just as Lin Ke was thinking, the first boy in the leftmost column stepped forward for testing.

He was a little nervous and restrained, rubbing his hands vigorously on his clothes to wipe away the cold sweat on his palms, then cautiously placed them on the crystal ball.

The colorless translucent crystal ball emitted a faint yellow light and a darker black light, while the black translucent crystal ball emitted an almost invisible white light.

"Unqualified, next."

The Paro Wizard spoke in an indifferent tone.

The boy's expression was dejected, his mouth twisted, and tears fell silently.

Having missed the chance to change his fate and no longer be a fisherman, he felt heartbroken, but he dared not cry out loud or cause a scene.

The boy turned and left in dejection.

But the other boys and girls behind him were all excited and eager before the same result appeared on themselves.

But alas, fate never shifts according to one's own will.

"Unqualified, next."

"Unqualified, next."

"Unqualified, next."

Two full rows, twenty people, not a single one received a "qualified" evaluation from the Paro Wizard, nor did anyone know their exact innate mental power score or how their elemental affinity stood.

To the Paro Wizard, there was no need to waste words on the unqualified.

As people left one after another, the remaining youths awaiting testing were no longer as excited and expectant as before.

The atmosphere gradually grew heavy, and many people occasionally let out sighs.

Lin Ke's originally calm mind also began to tense up.

Note in advance: this book's setting references some excellent wizard-themed novels; if similar or identical content appears later, please don't be too surprised. Thanks!

(End of chapter)