Did Oliver Cross Paths with a Powerful Noble?

"I’m sorry, but I’m not interested in your land dispute," Oliver flatly refused.

The reason was simple.

Noble land disputes were always complicated, involving numerous interests. What would Oliver gain from getting entangled in their schemes? The profits from treasure hunting in the forest far exceeded what he could make from dealing with these conniving nobles.

And besides, even if he did join them, he wouldn’t be getting paid for nothing—he’d have to act as a mercenary.

Although Oliver wasn’t afraid of the mages in the service of other nobles, his priority was to grow stronger.

There was no time to waste. He needed to focus on studying magic and practicing spells. That was what mattered most.

“Lord Stark, please reconsider,” Baron Talbot pleaded anxiously, while the others put down their glasses, looking at Oliver with eager eyes.

"I won’t participate. You’ll have to find someone else," Oliver said firmly.

Baron Talbot was visibly disappointed but didn’t dare get angry. He could only ask sullenly, “But Lord Stark, owning vast land means easy profits. You could make money without lifting a finger while your serfs work the fields. Doesn’t that sound appealing?”

It sounded nice, but Oliver had a better option.

Of course, he couldn’t reveal that he was capable of finding treasures deep in the forest, so he simply said, “Professor Arcanus said that as core apprentices, we should focus on our studies and avoid distractions that could hinder our magical progress.”

As soon as the nobles heard the name "Professor Arcanus," they fell silent. Who dared argue when it was an order from someone of his stature?

After all, Oliver was merely a core apprentice, yet they treated him with so much respect. If that was how they regarded him, how much more reverence did Professor Arcanus deserve?

Even though Oliver rejected their offer, the nobles remained respectful and courteous, their enthusiasm undimmed. This was the advantage of being a core apprentice.

Later that night, Oliver left Baron Talbot’s manor.

Though the evening had passed without incident, it had given him a glimpse into the lavish lives of the minor nobles. It was a world full of decadence, and Oliver felt a bit more distasteful toward these decaying old aristocrats.

“So, this is what ‘nobility’ really amounts to,” he muttered to himself.

The next day, as Oliver returned to the academy, he ran into his senior, Hector, who had come to warn him.

"Oliver, you need to be careful. Stay away from remote places and avoid going out at night. Things are more complicated than we thought."

"Is this about that evil spirit, Kramar?" Oliver asked curiously.

"We still haven’t found Kramar or its minions. But we’ve just met with the local lords, and we've confirmed that all the mages under their command are absent and won’t be back in town anytime soon," Hector replied grimly.

"Right now, the town’s defenses are thin. If Kramar attacks, it will be problematic," he added.

"I see," Oliver nodded seriously.

The forest was a remote place, and it was a bit risky now, wasn’t it?

But Oliver had no intention of abandoning his hunts. He knew his combat abilities were much greater than Hector thought. After all, Kramar might have killed Griffin, but it wouldn’t be able to kill him.

"What exactly are the mages under the lords doing?" Oliver asked.

“They’re involved with that tax collector’s mentor," Hector said, shaking his head. "I heard the mage invited them to test out a new type of spell—a combined spell that requires multiple mages to cast. It's very valuable for research.”

“This mage is of yellow rank, very powerful, and highly respected."

Yellow rank?

That was a level above even Professor Arcanus! Oliver was surprised.

He had heard that Isabella was studying under this mage as well. He wondered how much stronger she had become.

The situation with the evil spirit didn’t significantly alter Oliver’s daily routine.

He spent his mornings at the academy practicing magic, his afternoons hunting in the forest, and his nights sleeping back at the academy.

Because of the threat of Kramar, Oliver avoided venturing deeper into the forest, sticking to the familiar areas for his hunts.

He wasn’t afraid of Kramar, but he wasn’t about to take unnecessary risks. If he got injured while fighting magical creatures in the depths of the forest, there was a chance he could encounter the evil spirit on his way back, which could prove dangerous.

Kramar thrived on magic, and Oliver knew that if he stumbled upon powerful magical plants or obtained a magic core, the spirit might be drawn to him.

If Oliver were at full strength, he’d be ready for such an encounter. But if injured, the odds would shift in the spirit's favor.

He was certain that Kramar posed a serious obstacle to his growth.

"I hope Professor Arcanus and Hector can deal with that thing soon," Oliver thought to himself.

That evening, Oliver went to the tavern as usual to sell the game he had caught. Gavin, the tavern owner, greeted him warmly.

Although Oliver had recently declined an invitation from Gavin's family, the tavern owner was no fool. He knew better than to offend a core apprentice and future mage.

As Oliver was about to leave with the silver coins he had earned from his hunting, a breathless villager burst through the door.

"Oliver! I finally found you! You’re in trouble—they’re blocking your door!"

The villager’s words immediately stopped all conversation in the tavern. The drunks and the locals turned toward him, eager to hear more.

Oliver? What’s going on?

"What trouble?" Oliver asked, his voice calm as ever, though a flicker of curiosity crossed his face.

"A noble lord and a whole group of people are blocking your door!" the villager exclaimed, flustered.

The man stumbled over his words, describing the noble in a deep crimson velvet coat with fur-lined trim. From the description, it sounded like a baron.

Oliver had indeed met a baron yesterday—Baron Talbot, who had treated him with great respect.

But there were barons, and then there were barons. The difference in status and power between them could be enormous.

For example, two of the four lords who controlled the town were also barons.

So, a baron’s title didn’t necessarily tell the whole story.

The villager was clearly afraid. “Oliver, the noble lord brought a huge crowd. What did you do to offend him? How could you get on the bad side of a baron?”

The drunks at the tavern also began to murmur, curious about Oliver’s situation.

Wasn’t he supposed to rise to fame now that he was a core apprentice? How had he gotten into trouble so soon?