Claire’s Office.
Ize looked on with an expression of pure disbelief. “Professor Claire, are you making a mistake? You’re letting me lead the group to the Land of Laws?”
“I’m just a piece of trash with only five percent elemental affinity. Are you sure any student would find a single opportunity with me leading them?”
Claire smiled. “You are my disciple. How could you be trash?”
*Hmm? Claire’s attitude is a bit off.*
“Besides, I’ve asked around. Whether it’s Professor Isa, Sarah, or Emma—they all have a very high opinion of you. They think you are more than capable of this position.”
Ize: “…”
Ize tried one last desperate salvage attempt. “But I’m just a second-tier mage. Will those nobles beneath me even listen?”
Claire countered, “Why wouldn’t they? If for nothing else, then for that black uniform of yours…”
“Starting tomorrow, you will put on the black academy uniform.”
“If you have talent, show it. If you have status, flaunt it. I don’t understand why you’re always trying to hide yourself!”
Ize’s heart skipped a beat. “I don’t have talent, though…”
At that moment, Claire pulled out a magic projection stone from Still Moon Pier.
Ize froze. He hadn’t expected this projection stone to actually end up in Claire’s hands.
“That… that only proves I have a tiny bit of talent in business…”
“A tiny bit?”
Claire looked at Ize’s constant evasions, feeling both annoyed and amused.
She didn’t give him another chance to argue. She pulled open a drawer and took out a thick dossier, slamming it onto the table with a loud *thud*.
“Here, see for yourself.”
Ize leaned in curiously, his gaze falling on the open file. After just one look, his pupils shrank violently.
Clearly recorded there were all the academy commissions he had accepted and completed over his six years since enrollment. Following the long lists of mission numbers, names, and difficulty ratings, the uniform evaluation for every single one consisted of two glaring words: “Unscathed.”
“Since you began steadily taking on missions in your second year, you have completed a total of three hundred and seventy-four commissions. Not a single failure. More importantly, you completed them all independently, with no record of injury.”
Claire’s fingers tapped on the data, her tone calm but carrying an undeniable weight. “A 100% unscathed completion rate. Ize, since the founding of Starry Academy, you are the only one. Even your dazzling senior, Sarah, couldn’t achieve this.”
She raised her eyes, her gaze sharp as if trying to pierce through the calm facade he was trying to maintain. “Don’t tell me this was just good luck.”
Ize’s throat felt dry. He was backed into a corner.
He had calculated everything, only choosing low-profile missions where he could act alone without being exposed. He never expected to trip up here.
*Then again, who has the free time to organize someone’s commission records…*
Claire didn’t press him further. Instead, she suddenly shifted the topic, dropping another bombshell.
“Also, Sarah came back and told me that in the Raymond territory, you were able to simultaneously control five different types of basic elemental magic?”
Claire leaned forward slightly, excitement on her face.
“Controlling five attributes at once? Do you know what that means? Setting power aside, that level of meticulous mana control and the talent for multitasking is something even I—an eighth-tier Great Archmage—wouldn’t dare claim to do perfectly!”
*Sigh. When I was dealing with those goblins, I really didn’t know that controlling five spells at once was considered difficult for others.*
Otherwise, Ize wouldn’t have done it.
Seeing Ize’s frozen expression, she finally softened her tone. “Alright, Ize. Let’s leave it at that.”
Ize looked up, stunned.
Claire waved her hand. “Everyone has their secrets. If you don’t want to talk, I won’t pry. It was my negligence before; I always thought your talent was limited and your personality was dull, so I didn’t pay much attention to you. But now it seems I was wrong.”
Her gaze lingered on Ize, lacking her usual casualness and instead holding a more serious scrutiny and… a hint of faint relief?
“I just hope that from now on, you won’t avoid me like the plague. Being low-key is a good thing; it avoids a lot of trouble. But hiding yourself too much can sometimes cause you to miss out on even more.”
*So Claire already noticed I was intentionally avoiding her…*
Claire paused, her tone even carrying a bit of “disappointed elder” energy. “Wouldn’t it be nice to occasionally show off your abilities and give your teacher, the Principal, some face?”
Ize went silent.
He could feel the sincerity in Claire’s words and that slight hint of helpless complaining.
For a long time, he had habitually hidden himself under the shell of a “loser,” thinking it was the safest route.
He never thought that such a thorough concealment would appear abnormal to those who were paying attention, causing even more curiosity and speculation.
*Maybe I should show a little bit of myself in the future?*
Seeing his attitude soften, Claire struck while the iron was hot, returning to the original topic. “As for leading the team to the Land of Laws, it’s settled. I know you’re close with that boy Luke, and he respects you. I’ll have him accompany you as your deputy. With him there, any gossip within the team won’t amount to anything. You’ll be responsible for decision-making and support during critical moments; you can leave the specific chores to Luke.”
Having said all this, all of Ize’s retreats were blocked.
Ize looked at the dossier on the table recording his “great achievements,” then at Claire’s non-negotiable gaze, knowing that further struggle was futile.
He could only let out a long sigh in his heart.
*Sure enough, I got a little too active in the Raymond territory, and now the karma has come.*
“Fine…” He finally lowered his head, accepting his fate.
Claire nodded with satisfaction, that slightly lazy smile reappearing on her face. “That’s more like it. Go back and prepare. Put on the black uniform tomorrow. You are, after all, my disciple.”
Ize gave a helpless bow and turned to leave the Principal’s office.
Watching Ize’s retreating back, Claire leaned against the back of her chair, her fingertips lightly tapping the armrest as a complex light flashed in her eyes.
This fourth disciple was much more interesting than she had imagined.
She wanted to see just how many “surprises” this kid could bring her during this trip to the Land of Laws.
***
As dusk fell, Ize dragged his heavy steps toward the old church at the edge of the academy, his face a picture of misery.
Rinko, who was busy helping organize chairs and tables, was the first to notice him.
The young girl put down her rag and ran into the kitchen. A moment later, she emerged carrying a small piece of beautifully decorated cream cake, holding it out carefully to Ize.
“Brother Ize,” Rinko’s voice was crisp, filled with a child’s genuine concern, “You look unhappy. This is a cake I learned to make from the lady. It’s super sweet. If you eat it, your mood will become super sweet too.”
Looking at the pure worry in Rinko’s clear eyes, the haze in Ize’s heart dissipated somewhat.
Naturally, he wouldn’t refuse her kindness. He took the cake, cut a small piece with a fork, and put it in his mouth. The taste was actually quite good.
“It’s delicious. Rinko is so talented,” Ize praised sincerely.
As usual, he reached out and gently stroked the top of Rinko’s soft hair.
Rinko thoroughly enjoyed Ize’s headpats.
During the magic lesson that followed, Ize keenly noticed a difference in Rinko. Not only was her learning speed much faster, but her large eyes followed his every move with focus. She practiced with extreme diligence, as if she were determined to do her absolute best.
Ize felt very relieved.
Rinko was truly a little sweetheart.
After the teaching session ended, Ize returned to the Starry Academy dorms.
The night was deep, but he didn’t feel sleepy at all.
After confirming no one was around, he nimbly threw on the [Misty Shadow Raiment], which could distort light and presence. Wearing an ordinary mask to hide his face, he activated a small teleportation array he had secretly set up in his room.
With a flash of light, his figure appeared in the backyard of an inconspicuous equipment shop on the commercial street.
“Old Jin, are all the materials I asked you to watch out for here?” Ize walked straight to the counter and asked the middle-aged shopkeeper who was dusting the shelves.
Hearing the voice, Old Jin looked up. Once he confirmed Ize’s identity, an enthusiastic smile immediately broke out on his face.
“You’re here! The materials have long been prepared. They’re all in your dedicated forging room. I guarantee the quality.”
He put down his work and leaned in curiously, lowering his voice. “Seeing you like this, do you have some new ideas tonight?”
Ize nodded slightly without much explanation. “Yeah, a few ideas. I’ll give it a try. I’ll tell you the details after I’m done.”
Stepping into the forging room, various rare metals and mana crystals were organized by category.
Ize took a deep breath and focused his mind.
What he wanted to make tonight was a portable magic tool that could pre-store mana and greatly increase casting speed.
When he was dealing with the goblins, he had a bit too much fun “poking” them. He needed a plausible “item” to fill that loophole.
Fortunately, the [Forging] talent granted by the system was absurdly high; making such a magic tool wasn’t difficult for him.
He recalled the structure of a classic weapon from his previous life. After sketching the blueprint in his mind, his hands began to move as if they had a will of their own.
Selecting materials, smelting, shaping, etching mana circuits, embedding the energy core… the series of actions was as smooth as flowing water, precise without a single redundant movement.
Complex magic array patterns were perfectly inscribed inside the metal components.
When Ize handed the finished product to Old Jin, who was waiting outside, even this well-traveled shopkeeper showed a rare look of confusion.
He turned the heavy “lump of iron” over and over. It was cold to the touch, and he couldn’t see the trick behind it.
“Excellency, this is…?” Old Jin spoke hesitantly, though a spark of anticipation shone in his eyes.
Having collaborated with this mysterious forger for years, he knew that the things this man produced might look strange, but they often had startling effectiveness.
“I call it the [Desert Eagle].”
Ize explained, “An offensive magic tool. Its core function is mana storage. This one can store a total mana volume equivalent to about six standard third-tier spells. Most importantly, releasing stored spells through it has almost zero delay. Theoretically, if your finger is fast enough, it isn’t impossible to pour out six third-tier spells in a single second.”
Old Jin sucked in a cold breath upon hearing this. He knew exactly what that meant.
A normal third-tier mage, when casting spells of the same tier consecutively, would need at least twenty to thirty seconds for mana recharge and incantations.
And this [Desert Eagle] could actually release six third-tier spells in one second!
In a critical moment, this was a game-changing advantage!
“This… this effect… in my opinion, the quality of this magic tool can be rated as [Excellent]!” Old Jin judged excitedly.
Magic tool quality was divided from low to high into Common, Fine, Excellent, Epic, Legendary, and Artifact. [Excellent] grade was already an extremely rare treasure on the market.
Ize nodded, then added with a hint of regret, “The material quality is still the bottleneck. Otherwise, I could make a tool with even greater storage, capable of holding higher power, or even increasing the magic’s potency.”
Old Jin listened with fascination, his gaze toward Ize filled with admiration.
If the effects Ize described could be realized, the finished product would definitely reach the [Epic] grade!
That was a realm almost unreachable for human forgers in the Olay Empire; only the Dwarven race, famous for their forging, had such skill.
He even suspected for a moment if this mysterious person before him was related to the Dwarves.
Ultimately, limited by materials, Ize only successfully crafted three [Desert Eagles].
Following his usual routine, he gave one to Old Jin to sell on his behalf and kept two for himself.
“The rules are the same. Ten percent of the sale price is your commission,” Ize said.
Old Jin’s face blossomed into a smile.
An [Excellent] quality magic tool would sell for thousands of gold coins. Since this [Desert Eagle] had such a unique and rare effect, doubling the price wouldn’t be a problem.
Even taking only ten percent, it would equal his shop’s usual annual income.
“Don’t you worry! I, Old Jin, will definitely help you get an unprecedentedly high price for this!”
He patted his chest in a guarantee and carefully tucked the [Desert Eagle] into the shop’s most secret safe.
***
Returning to the quiet dormitory, Ize placed the two brand-new magic tools on the table, yet he didn’t feel much joy.
Wealth was no longer an issue for him.
Whether it was anonymously selling magic tools and potions, running his “author” side business, or even using magic arrays for smuggling—if he wanted to, his wealth could even surpass the Still Moon Chamber of Commerce.
“As for leading the team tomorrow… I just hope no more unexpected accidents happen this time.”
He whispered to himself with a deep sense of helplessness.
***
The next morning, all Starry Academy students with the strength of a third-tier mage or higher gathered in the central plaza. Everyone’s face was filled with excitement and anticipation.
Principal Claire stood atop the high platform, her Starry Principal robes making her presence extraordinary.
Her gaze swept over the students below, and her clear voice reached everyone’s ears distinctly.
“The Land of Laws, a secret realm full of infinite possibilities! Exclusive talents, high-quality magic tools, rare martial techniques, all sorts of magic… opportunities are everywhere, and wealth is all around!”
Her voice was persuasive. “As long as you have enough luck and courage, even if your talent is mediocre, you might find a turning point inside that changes your life, vaulting you into the ranks of the geniuses the Empire watches! For many of you, this might be the only time in your life you come so close to a miracle!”
Claire’s words immediately ignited the blood of all the young people in the plaza. The sound of uncontrollable, excited breathing rose from the crowd.
Claire watched the students’ reactions with satisfaction. Then her tone shifted, becoming solemn.
“However, opportunity and danger coexist. The person leading and exploring this place with you must be bold yet cautious, highly skilled, and possess superb judgment and adaptability to ensure the team’s safety and guide you toward true opportunity.”
She paused slightly, her gaze precisely hitting a corner of the crowd, then raised her hand to point.
“Therefore, I have decided that my fourth personal disciple—Ize—shall serve as the leader for this expedition to the Land of Laws! I believe he is the most suitable candidate!”
In an instant, every gaze in the plaza converged like a spotlight on the black-haired boy who was trying to hide himself in the back of the crowd—the one wearing a brand-new black uniform but still looking somewhat uncomfortable.
Ize: “…”
*Can’t they just let me stay low-key?*