Chapter 78: Meeting the Protagonist Again [2] Fixed

The young man was walking alone from the freshman teaching district with his signature longsword strapped across his back. He wore an ordinary academy training uniform, and there was even a freshly repaired tear on one sleeve, yet the students passing nearby still visibly gave him a second glance.

After all, Level 18 freshmen were already uncommon. Plus, Ryan’s recent performance in the training grounds had attracted the attention of quite a few instructors.

Ryan paid little attention to those passing looks. His pace was steady, and apart from the dust clinging to the lower edge of his uniform, there was little indication that he had just finished another demanding training session.

He had taken only a few steps before he spotted that distinct tall figure with an air of arrogance and dominance.

"Victor," he said when they met in the middle of the road. ℯℯ𝘭.

"Ryan."

Victor’s gaze swept across the longsword on his back.

"Finished training?"

Ryan was slightly taken aback by the question, as this was the first time Victor had asked him something like this. Although this was common among other seniors, coming from Victor, it somehow felt strange.

"Yeah," he replied eventually.

Then he glanced toward the training ground Victor had just left.

"I heard Leah’s there too."

"So?"

"Nothing."

Ryan shook his head.

"It’s just that news about her has been spreading quickly these past two days since her awakening."

Even if the academy deliberately tried to control the information, there was no way to completely hide it from every student. Especially now that she had been designated a priority cultivation target.

Victor could tell from Ryan’s expression that this was not the real reason he had stopped him. The young man seemed to be considering whether the question he truly wanted to ask was worth raising.

Ryan stayed silent for a moment before suddenly asking a question Victor didn’t quite expect.

"How much do you know about the Third Enclosed Ecological Zone?"

Victor’s gaze flashed.

"You’re investigating it too?"

"We’re going inside the day after tomorrow." Ryan’s tone remained calm. "A place sealed for four years suddenly being used as an examination ground for hundreds of students doesn’t seem normal, no matter how you look at it."

That reaction surprised Victor slightly.

Apparently, the protagonist of the original story wasn’t the kind of idiot who blindly charged wherever rewards appeared.

Although Ryan didn’t know it, the way Victor looked at him changed slightly.

"Your uncle didn’t tell you anything?" Victor asked casually.

Ryan immediately frowned.

"Uncle Grant?"

"Do you have another uncle in the academy?"

Ignoring Victor’s tone, he replied, "He’s still in the Western Territory."

"Have you contacted him?"

"I sent him a message two days ago. But he hasn’t replied yet."

Ryan’s expression tightened slightly as he said this. Although his tone remained calm, it was obvious that his uncle’s continued silence had begun to bother him.

Victor nodded and did not ask further.

The issue involving Grant Carter’s authorization still had not been resolved. There was no point in throwing his suspicions at Ryan directly, especially when Ryan might not even know that someone had already used his uncle’s credentials.

"Then I’ll give you one warning," Victor suddenly said.

Ryan’s eyes narrowed as he looked up. He was wondering what had gotten into this guy’s head today.

"What?"

Regardless, he still asked.

"During the screening, don’t lose your head the moment you see a Mana Core Badge."

"What do you mean?"

"Exactly what I said." Victor smiled. "If you want a core cultivation slot, fine. But you’d better make sure there’s nothing wrong with the badge first."

Ryan looked at him. Clearly, he hadn’t expected Victor to warn him voluntarily. Their relationship had never exactly been friendly.

In fact, Ryan was sure the old Victor wouldn’t have minded assassinating him if they were alone and there were no witnesses.

"Why are you telling me?" Ryan frowned.

"Because I don’t like people causing trouble on my turf." Victor didn’t explain further. "Especially not by using something like the academy screening."

Ryan was silent for several seconds. Then he nodded.

"I’ll keep it in mind."

He walked forward two steps before suddenly stopping again.

"One more thing."

Victor turned around.

"Mm?"

"What about the academy tournament?" Ryan looked at him. "Will you be entering?"

The corner of Victor’s mouth lifted slightly.

"Of course. I still need to put you in your place, commoner."

Ryan’s lips twitched. For a moment, he had actually thought this bastard had changed and that they might even get along. After all, it was no longer a rumor that the heir of the Alves ducal family was beginning to turn over a new leaf.

But in the end, he was still full of shit.

"See you then," he said eventually, only to turn around and discover that Victor was already gone.

"..."

From quite a distance away, Victor watched Ryan’s departing back, his gaze gradually returning to calmness.

If Victor had never interfered in advance, then according to the original storyline, Ryan should have continued encountering opportunities for growth over the next several months before ultimately defeating the original Victor during the academy tournament.

But now...

The plot had already changed far too much.

Even some of the dangers Ryan might originally have encountered later were beginning to surface ahead of schedule.

Victor had no intention of running over to save Ryan from everything simply because he knew the other party possessed protagonist level fortune. That would do nothing except waste his time and turn him into a genuine supporting character revolving around the protagonist.

His goal had always been clear.

Build his own faction.

Expand his investments.

Continuously accumulate strength.

As for Ryan...

If an opportunity arose in the future, they could naturally settle things.

But at the same time...

A cold gleam flashed across Victor’s eyes.

..He wouldn’t hesitate to end him either if it would help achieve his goal.

...

Thank you all for your support! I really Appreciate. Let’s don’t forgot our Golden tickets and power stones Goals!