Free Web NovelChapter 40: Chapter 40: Probing
As evening fell, Andre finished carving the last Magic Stone into its standard form and put it away.
’This time, not counting the minerals and Magic Plants, I dug up twenty thousand Magic Stones alone.’
Andre tossed the carving knife onto his bed and shook his sore wrist. He then stood, grabbed a tool, and swept together the Magic Stone powder scattered on the floor.
To an outsider, this Magic Stone powder would seem utterly worthless.
But to someone like Andre, who relied on Witchcraft Scrolls, this powder was a key ingredient for making them.
In fact, because so few people bothered to collect it, the powder was actually quite difficult to find.
It also had another use: if he didn’t have enough Magic Stones to feed the Earth Elemental Bear, this Magic Energy Powder could serve as a substitute, keeping it fed for a couple of days.
Andre swept all the Magic Energy Powder in the room together. He funneled it into a bottle to save for later, and when he looked up, his eyes fell upon the Earth Elemental Bear.
The little guy was already fast asleep in its small Magic Stone nest.
As for the nest he had built for it, the Earth Elemental Bear had already chewed away a tenth of it.
’This little nest took about forty Magic Stones to build. At this rate, it eats four Stones a meal, two meals a day... and I have to factor in its growth rate. So, this nest will last four days at most.’
When Andre finished the calculation, the corner of his mouth twitched uncontrollably.
He had brought back over twenty thousand Magic Stones from the Secret Realm this time.
At the bear’s current consumption rate, that was about seven years’ worth of food. But factoring in its growth rate and the need to buy Elemental Crystals, twenty thousand Magic Stones would last three to four years at most—perhaps even less.
Andre’s heart clenched at the thought of those numbers. ’It costs too much!’ Even with the Earth Element Crystals he planned to buy with his other Crystals, he could only feed the Earth Elemental Bear for five years at most.
This staggering rate of consumption made Andre realize he had to start earning money. He couldn’t rely solely on the windfall from the Secret Realm.
A haul from a Secret Realm was a lucky break—unpredictable and not something he could count on.
Other methods of earning money might offer smaller profits (compared to a Secret Realm haul), but they provided a slow and steady stream of income.
’Should I minor in Magic Potion Science, or would Witchcraft Artifact Study be better?’
Andre got up, left his room, and headed for the dining hall.
On the way to the dining hall, Andre mulled over how he was going to earn Magic Stones.
The fastest method, and the one he was most skilled in, was making Witchcraft Scrolls. freewebnovel.cσ๓
However, Witchcraft Scrolls were consumable items. Apart from defensive Scrolls, which sold reasonably well, other types didn’t have high sales. The profit margins were much lower than those for Witchcraft Artifacts and Magic Potions.
’Witchcraft Artifacts require large quantities of minerals, and minerals have always been expensive.’
’The Magic Plants needed for Magic Potions, on the other hand, are mostly renewable.’
’All things considered, I should study Magic Potions. I can also look into cultivation methods at the same time. The Magic Plants I brought back from the Secret Realm will only keep growing if I plant them.’
Andre was walking along the path when, not far ahead, he stopped in his tracks.
A short distance away, Lian was looking around. The moment he spotted Andre, his face lit up, and he started walking over.
’This guy. He was waiting for me specifically.’
As Lian approached, Andre stood his ground, watching him with a wary gaze.
’The timing is just too perfect. I just got back from the Secret Realm, and here he is, cornering me.’
’His target must be my haul from the Secret Realm. I see!’
In a flash, Andre understood Lian’s game. It was nothing more than trying to buy low and sell high.
He wanted to buy the spoils from the Secret Realm off him, then resell them at a higher price. Even if Andre found out later, he couldn’t blame Lian—he could only blame himself for not knowing the true value of his own things.
But if that was really Lian’s plan in approaching him, then he was about to be sorely disappointed.
"Andre, you’re back!"
Lian noticed the look on Andre’s face but kept a friendly smile plastered on his own.
"I am. Didn’t you go to the Secret Realm?"
Andre didn’t answer directly, instead turning the question back on Lian.
"I came back. You have no idea, it was impossible to move in the Secret Realm. It was packed with people everywhere. Going in was no different from not going at all."
Seeing Andre take the initiative to ask about the Secret Realm, Lian was inwardly delighted. ’Here’s my chance!’ he thought, putting on a helpless expression as he started to complain.
Andre, however, took a quiet half-step back, refusing to take the bait.
"That can’t be right. The academy opened two Secret Realms this time. No matter how many people there were, two realms should have been more than enough to hold everyone!"
Andre rolled his stiff neck and pointed out the hole in Lian’s story.
Lian didn’t show the slightest hint of panic at being called out and simply continued his explanation.
He had just started to speak when Andre cut him off.
"What is it you really want from me?"
Andre asked Lian point-blank.
Right now, the most important thing for Andre was making money to feed the glutton back in his room so that it would fight for him.
Once he fed the Earth Elemental Bear until it reached its growth stage, the cost of raising it would drop by more than seventy percent.
"Did you go to a different Secret Realm?"
Seeing Andre’s unyielding attitude, Lian let his smile fade and probed cautiously.
"You’ll have to wait for the academy’s official announcement. The mission isn’t technically complete yet, so I can’t discuss the details." fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
Faced with Lian’s indirect questioning, Andre again took half a step back.
Lian looked at Andre, a troubled expression growing on his face. It had only been a month, but Andre seemed like a completely different person. He spoke, but his words were so watertight that Lian couldn’t get any useful information out of him.
Without any solid information, he couldn’t find an opening in the conversation to pry open Andre’s defenses and get his hands on the haul he so desperately wanted.
"Anything else? If not, I’m heading to the dining hall."
Andre glanced at Lian’s reddening face, took another step back, and walked around him toward the dining hall.
Lian turned and watched Andre’s retreating figure, scratching his head in confusion.
’What in the world happened to Andre this past month? Why has he changed so much?’
Lian’s gaze was unfocused for a moment, but it soon hardened with determination.
’I’ve managed to squeeze plenty of benefits out of these newbies before by using my wits. I can’t just let this go. No matter what, I have to get my pound of flesh from Andre. After all, I’m practically a mentor to the new bloods on their path to growth!’
Lian hurried after Andre, but he had already vanished. Even when Lian reached the dining hall, there was no sign of him.
