Chapter 52: Leah’s Mother is Still... Alive? [1]

[Level increased!]

[21 → 22!]

[Strength: 52 → 54]

[Constitution: 49 → 51]

[Agility: 77 → 80]

[Spirit: 51 → 52]

[Mana: 688 → 737]

A warm current swept through Victor’s body as his mana was instantly restored and his physique underwent the natural strengthening of a level up.

He slowly clenched one fist, feeling a sense of satisfaction washing over him.

Investment returns could grant him combat power far beyond his level, but he could not afford to neglect his actual level. Otherwise, he would be unable to reach the Second Tier bottleneck later.

Thinking about this, he turned to the steward.

"The remaining eight high level First Tier magical beasts."

The steward stepped forward at once. "Yes, Young Master."

"Keep all of them. Don’t arrange any beast fights. I’ll be coming here regularly from now on."

A brief frown crossed the steward’s face before understanding dawned in his eyes.

"Yes."

His gaze traveled across the rows of beast cages, and a new idea gradually took shape in his mind.

Why did he have to search for magical beasts himself?

The Alves family already possessed a complete procurement network for magical beasts through the northern territory, mercenary groups, the Hunters’ Guild, and adventurers.

As long as he was willing to spend money, he could have others continuously deliver magical beasts to him.

Then he and his subordinates would handle the killing. Levels, practical combat experience, Mana Devour, talent evolution, and even the growth of his subordinates could all be handled at once.

This was how a noble identity should truly be exploited.

He had money, people, and connections. Why should he behave like Ryan, that commoner protagonist, and run into the forest alone to search for monsters one by one?

"From now on," Victor told the steward, "prioritize the purchase of high level First Tier and low level Second Tier magical beasts, provided they are in good condition. Give special priority to those possessing unusual elements, bloodlines, or skills. You may offer ten percent above the market price."

The steward’s eyes widened. This would be a considerable expense, but he still accepted the order without question.

"What is the maximum quantity?"

After a brief pause, Victor gave the steward an answer the man clearly had not expected.

"There is no limit."

"..."

At that, the steward could no longer hide his shock.

"Young Master, if there is no limit, it may cost hundreds of thousands, or even more than a million gold coins, every month."

"I know." Victor’s voice remained calm. "Do it."

"Yes."

Ding!

[Detected that the host has established a long term growth resource channel.] ℯℯ𝑙.

[Stability of magical beast supply greatly increased.]

[This action is beneficial to the long term growth of multiple investment targets.]

[Investment System evaluation increased.]

Now this was more like it.

A true second generation villain should possess a second generation villain’s method of leveling up.

Other people could painstakingly search the forests for monsters. He would have people deliver the monsters directly to his doorstep.

...

At eleven in the morning, the training session ended.

No one had escaped the session uninjured, but none of the wounds were serious, and the gains far surpassed anything ordinary training could offer. Karl now wielded the White Rock Bulwark with visibly greater proficiency, while Milo had finally developed a genuine awareness of close range counterattacks. After killing three magical beasts in succession, Leah no longer froze at the sight of blood, and Noah had achieved the greatest breakthrough of all by awakening Sword Heart.

As for Victor himself, he was now Level 22, and his Mana had reached 737 points. The second Combat Intuition evolution condition had also reached [10/50].

Just as everyone prepared to leave the arena, Leah suddenly stopped.

She pressed one hand against her chest, her face instantly turning pale.

"Wait..."

Victor turned at once.

"What is it?"

"My Astral Core..." Leah frowned tightly as silver mana began emerging uncontrollably around her body.

Buzz!

A faint ring of starlight suddenly spread outward. This was not a loss of control. It felt more like some kind of resonance.

The last trace of ease vanished from Victor’s face.

"System, what’s going on?"

[Detected that an investment target is being stimulated by long distance Astral energy.]

[Distance to source: Approximately 6.7 kilometers.]

[Direction: Starlight Royal Academy.]

The academy?

They had already traveled nearly seven kilometers away from it, yet Leah’s Astral Core had reacted across such a great distance?

[Analyzing energy source.]

[Analysis complete.]

[Energy Type: Contaminated Astral Energy.]

[Similarity to the contamination on Elena Vane’s storage ring: 92.4%.]

Seeing this, Victor couldn’t help but subconsciously compare the distance with the academy map in his mind.

If his calculations were correct, the source was not inside the White Tower, the archives, or even the freshman teaching district. It was inside the Seventh Magical Beast Trial Ground, the location of the assessment.

Leah raised her head, the silver light within her black eyes no longer able to hide her unease.

"Victor, there’s something there."

"I know."

"It feels like..." Her voice trailed off for a moment. "It’s calling me."

A crimson system warning instantly filled Victor’s vision.

[Warning!]

[Special Fate Event has occurred ahead of schedule.]

[Detected that the source of Astral corruption inside the Seventh Magical Beast Trial Ground has been activated.]

[Time remaining until the freshman practical screening begins: 39 hours and 17 minutes.]

[Originally estimated activation time: After the assessment began.]

[Fate trajectory has changed again.]

Elias had revealed only that an Abyss Induction Crystal was hidden inside the northern Mana Core Badge. The system’s later analysis had identified the energy associated with it as Contaminated Astral Energy and connected it to the contamination found on Elena Vane’s storage ring.

But now, the assessment had not even begun, yet Leah had already sensed the corruption.

That meant there were only two possibilities. Either the enemy was testing the object ahead of schedule, or there had never been only one tampered badge inside the Seventh Trial Ground.

"Return to the academy," Victor ordered, already striding toward the exit.

The others asked no questions. They could all feel the tension in the air.

Without slowing his pace, Victor took out his identity card and sent the first message to Cecilia.

[Find out who is currently inside the Seventh Magical Beast Trial Ground.]

The second was sent to Evelyn.

[Stop training. Go to the perimeter of the Seventh Trial Ground. Do not enter. Record everyone who goes in or comes out.]

Less than ten seconds later, Evelyn replied.

[Understood.]

Although Noah and the others did not know exactly what had happened, they all followed him, with Leah walking by his side.

"Is it because of me?" Leah suddenly asked in a very small voice.

Victor glanced at her.

"What?"

"My profession awakening two days ago, and this thing today." Leah spoke quietly. "Is it because I awakened as an Astral Spirit Envoy that..."

"Yes," Victor answered honestly. It was better for her to understand the reality of their situation.

At his words, her footsteps faltered slightly, and fear mixed with concern appeared on her face.

"H Have I brought trouble to all of you?"

"Leah." Victor stopped in his tracks.

"Yes?"

"Have you misunderstood something?"

She lifted her head, guilt appearing on her face.

"I saved you. I gave you resources. I helped you awaken. I didn’t do all that to obtain someone who starts questioning her own value the moment trouble appears," Victor said, his tone firm.

"Someone wants to kill you. That means you now possess enough value for them to consider you worth killing. What you should really be thinking about isn’t whether you’re causing trouble. It’s how to survive, then become stronger, and finally find the people who want to kill you."

For several seconds, Leah said nothing. Then her tightly clenched hands gradually relaxed.

"I understand."

[Leah Vane’s Loyalty +3.]

[Favorability +4.]

Victor turned toward the carriage once more.

"If you understand, get in."

"Mm."

Just as they climbed back into the carriage, Cecilia’s reply finally arrived. It contained only a few short lines.

[I found it. The Seventh Trial Ground was sealed at five this morning.]

[Official reason: Final safety inspection before the assessment.]

[Eleven people entered in total. Ten possess verified identities. But the last one...]

[...Used temporary senior researcher authorization.]

[Name: Elena Vane.]

Inside the carriage, Victor went completely still.

Leah sat beside him and had not seen the message, but he knew exactly what that name meant.

The next second, the system notification turned as red as blood.

[Detected that the identity authorization of a deceased individual has been reactivated.]

[Major change detected in the hidden plot.]

[Warning.]

[The incident surrounding Elena Vane’s death may not be over.]