Chapter 107: Rewards from the Academy

Albert looked at Victor lying on the hospital bed and couldn’t help laughing as he scolded him.

"You brat! You nearly lost your life, yet the first thing you think about after waking up is how to squeeze more benefits out of the academy?"

"Vice Dean, you can’t put it like that."

Victor leaned against his pillow, his expression perfectly serious.

"I risked my life fighting a Level 45 Second Tier magical beast to save the academy’s students. Surely you can’t expect me to pay my own medical expenses?"

"Naturally, the academy will cover your medical expenses."

"What about compensation for emotional distress?"

"..."

"And there’s the damage to my weapon, the recovery potions I used, and the cultivation time I lost while saving everyone."

The corners of Albert’s mouth twitched slightly.

The two instructors standing behind him exchanged glances, momentarily unsure of what to say.

If it had been any other student, receiving a personal visit from the Vice Dean would probably have left them so excited that they wouldn’t know how to behave. Yet this young master of the Alves family was different. Every other word out of his mouth was about compensation, as though he hadn’t just narrowly escaped death but had instead completed a business transaction.

The worst part was that they couldn’t even argue with him. After all, Victor really had saved quite a few people.

"Enough."

Albert waved his hand, pulled over a nearby chair, and sat down.

"The academy won’t treat you unfairly. However, before we discuss your rewards, there are a few things I need to confirm."

The smile on Victor’s face faded slightly.

"Go ahead."

"That Abyssal Bone Spike Wolf, was it..."

"Yes." Victor answered without letting him finish. "Its abyssal mana resembles the beast from the Seventh Magical Beast Trial Ground."

Albert nodded slightly.

Naturally, he was already aware of that incident.

When the accident occurred in the Seventh Magical Beast Trial Ground, he had personally been present. Victor had torn the Abyss Induction Crystal out of the Star Devouring Shadow Beast, causing the creature to collapse.

He glanced back at the other instructors. That was enough of a clue for Victor to know that they would have to keep all their questions at a surface level and not go any deeper.

"Do you think there’s a connection between them?"

"Possibly." Victor thought for a moment before continuing, "But I’m not a researcher, and I don’t know much about the specific classifications of abyssal magical beasts. If you want to determine whether they came from the same place, I’m afraid you’ll have to let the academy’s specialists examine the corpse."

Albert glanced at him.

"You certainly know how to push responsibility onto others."

"Everyone has their own specialty." Victor smiled. "I handle the killing, and the academy handles the research. A perfectly reasonable division of labor."

Albert shook his head helplessly before asking several more questions about the battle, particularly why the Abyssal Bone Spike Wolf had suddenly entered a berserk state and how Victor had managed to disrupt its mana circulation with his final attack.

Victor didn’t completely conceal the truth when answering these questions. Instead, he explained the effects of Mana Devour as a special talent capable of interfering with the circulation of abyssal mana.

He had already used this ability several times during the battle, and the surveillance recordings had captured quite a bit of it. Completely hiding its existence was simply unrealistic.

However, there was naturally no reason to reveal the talent’s exact grade, its growth potential, or its ability to permanently increase his maximum mana capacity.

After listening to his explanation, Albert remained silent for a moment.

"A special talent capable of interfering with abyssal mana, combined with that astonishingly powerful fire swordsmanship of yours... No wonder you dared to face a Second Tier magical beast alone."

At this point, he suddenly raised his head.

"However, Victor, there’s something I must remind you of."

"What is it?"

"The fact that you survived this time wasn’t entirely because of your strength. Luck played a considerable part as well."

Albert’s expression turned serious.

"The difference between Level 22 and Level 45 isn’t something that can be easily overcome with a few pieces of high grade equipment. If that magical beast hadn’t already been injured, or if your final sword strike had missed its vital point by even a little, the person lying here today probably wouldn’t be alive."

Victor didn’t argue because he knew Albert was telling the truth.

Only someone who had personally experienced that battle could truly understand just how dangerous it had been.

Especially when he used Mana Plunder for the final time. The violent abyssal mana had nearly overwhelmed his entire body. If Mana Devour hadn’t possessed such a powerful ability to break down contamination, he probably wouldn’t even have been able to swing that final sword.

"I understand." Victor nodded. "If something like this happens again, I’ll try to wait for the rescue team."

"Really?" Albert looked at him.

"Of course." Victor smiled. "Provided the rescue team can arrive in time."

The Vice Dean was left speechless. Only after a long moment did he let out a helpless sigh.

"Forget it. Trying to reason with you, brat, will probably drive me to an early grave."

He took out a silver white card from his storage ring and placed it on the small table beside the bed.

"This is the academy’s first reward for you."

Victor’s eyes lit up like stars.

"What is it?"

"A redemption voucher for the Royal Academy’s Advanced Resource Treasury, worth three hundred thousand academy contribution points."

"Three hundred thousand?" Victor raised an eyebrow.

Academy contribution points were not ordinary gold coins.

Many of the Royal Academy’s precious resources were not available for external purchase at all. Only students who possessed sufficient status and authorization could exchange contribution points for them.

This was especially true of the Advanced Resource Treasury, which contained numerous rare materials capable of improving professional potential, enhancing mana affinity, and even assisting with life evolution.

Three hundred thousand contribution points was already enough to represent several years of hard work for an ordinary student.

"Besides that, the academy will cover all your medical expenses from this incident and grant you one additional opportunity to use our advanced cultivation facilities."

Albert continued, "As for your performance during this incident, it will be officially recorded in your personal academy file. Once you’ve recovered from your injuries, I’ll personally arrange a special assessment for you."

"A special assessment?"

"That’s right."

Albert gave him a meaningful look.

"The Royal Academy has never overlooked students with genuine ability. Since you’ve managed to cross the gap between life tiers and kill a Level 45 magical beast, you’re naturally qualified to receive better cultivation resources." ℯ

Victor nodded thoughtfully.

A special assessment sounded pretty good. However, compared to these things, there was something else he was more concerned about.