Chapter 31: Living Curse, Black Market Channels6d

Ron responded politely, his newly heightened perceptive abilities—sharpened significantly since his promotion—allowing him to catch a subtle detail on Oliver's face.

It was an extremely fine stitching mark, almost imperceptible to the naked eye, but clearly visible to his enhanced spiritual perception, which had recently advanced to a new level. He instinctively associated it with Marcus's grotesque, stunted appearance, and then contrasted it with Oliver's near-perfect facial features…

He quickly interrupted his own thoughts. It was dangerous to continue down that line of speculation.

"Well then, I won't disturb you any further," Oliver said, bowing slightly in a gesture that was both refined and deliberate. "I hope we'll have the opportunity to meet again."

Marcus followed closely behind his brother, glancing back at Ron before leaving.

That single glance was loaded with complex emotions—pity, as if looking at a dead man; schadenfreude, as though enjoying some secret revenge; and something else unspoken, a kind of deep, vindictive satisfaction.

The look made Ron's heart sink.

His instincts warned him that Oliver's "courtesy visit" was anything but simple or benevolent.

Only after the two figures disappeared at the end of the corridor did Ron exhale a long breath. He quickly gathered his belongings. Now that he had regained his freedom, there was no reason to remain in the isolation room.

More importantly, with his current level of mental perception, he could clearly sense the presence of a strange residual energy—some sort of magical trace that Oliver had deliberately left behind.

A chill ran through him. He had no idea what kind of twisted scheme Oliver was plotting, but one thing was clear—he wasn't strong enough to face it yet.

He had to leave this place immediately.

The moment he stepped out of the isolation room, he took a deep breath.

The air in the Black Mist Forest still carried its signature sweet yet faintly pungent scent. For someone who had just been released from the oppressive isolation room, even this was a luxury.

"What exactly is that guy planning...?"

Ron's thoughts churned as he walked. First, he'd return to his dormitory, then find Andre to get a clearer picture of the current situation.

As he moved, he could feel how much he had changed in just two weeks.

His spiritual breakthrough had elevated his perceptive capacity dramatically. Even the way he walked had changed—lighter, more agile.

Every reserve Apprentice he passed radiated like a flickering flame in his spiritual vision. He could now roughly gauge the strength and frequency of each person's spiritual fluctuations.

This ability might be commonplace among other Apprentice-level sorcerers, but for Ron—who had just broken through—it still felt surreal and fresh.

Before long, he arrived at his room.

The lock was intact, suggesting no one had entered while he was gone. Still, Ron didn't lower his guard.

He carefully examined the traps and markers he had left behind—subtle clues placed strategically to detect any intruders.

After a thorough inspection, he finally relaxed.

"Guess I was being overly cautious," he muttered with a self-deprecating chuckle, then began unpacking and organizing his belongings.

The dormitory room was modest and somewhat cramped, but it was still far better than the suffocating environment of the isolation chamber.

Just as he was about to sit down and rest, a rapid knock sounded at the door.

"Ron, you're back?" came Andre's voice.

Ron raised an eyebrow. The Thirteenth Prince's network was as efficient as ever.

"It's not locked. Come in."

The door creaked open. Andre entered, visibly surprised.

"I was eating in the dining hall when someone said they saw you in the dorm corridor. I had to come check. Did you use extra magic stone shards to buy your way out? That's a bit extravagant..."

His voice trailed off mid-sentence, and his eyes widened as realization struck. "Wait, no... you've already—"

Ron smiled, knowing what he had noticed. "That's right. I broke through."

"Elementary Apprentice?!" Andre gasped. "In the isolation room? That's—unbelievable."

His disbelief faded quickly, replaced by quiet awe.

"But given how fast you've been progressing lately, I suppose it's not that surprising."

Ron motioned for him to sit and then briefly recounted his breakthrough—deliberately omitting the crucial role his profession panel had played.

"As expected of you," Andre said sincerely. "What's hell for most people somehow turned into an opportunity for you."

A flicker of complex emotion flashed across his face—part admiration, part frustration.

"Ron, I have to ask... how do you advance so quickly? Sometimes I really wonder how you manage it."

Ron just smiled, deflecting the question. "Let's change the subject. Do you know what kind of person Oliver really is?"

The mention of the name made Andre's expression turn serious.

"He came to see you?"

Ron nodded. "He's the reason I got out of the isolation room so fast. He used magic stone shards to pay for it."

Andre's face darkened. "That's not a good sign. Oliver doesn't have a good reputation at the School. Everyone calls him a wolf in sheep's clothing. And his research... it's disturbing. Even some High Apprentices avoid him."

"Can you be more specific?" Ron asked.

Andre hesitated, clearly unsure how much he should reveal.

"His area of focus is 'Living Curse Mediums.' He uses living people as conduits for curses—as both vessels and components in ritual spells."

His voice dropped to a near-whisper. "Most of the 'materials' he uses are said to be slaves captured by Marcus."

Ron's mind flashed to Emily, the girl he'd met in the past. His stomach churned.

"But what I don't understand," Andre continued, frowning, "is why he came to see you personally. A minor grudge between Marcus and you shouldn't matter to someone at Oliver's level."

Ron spoke softly. "I think it might be related to Darrend's sonic spells."

Andre's eyes lit up. "You mean he's interested in that research?"

"More than just interested," Ron said, recalling Oliver's earlier words. "He said curses and sound waves share a fundamental principle—they both continuously affect a target using specific mediums."

"That... actually makes sense," Andre muttered, thoughtful. "Still, it's strange. Why would a High Apprentice go out of his way to contact a freshly promoted Apprentice?"

A heavy silence settled over the room as both men considered the implications.

Eventually, Andre broke the silence. "Either way, you need to be extra cautious now. Oliver is dangerous. Even the Royal Family's influence doesn't extend far enough to deal with someone like him lightly."

Ron nodded solemnly. He understood how serious the warning was.

"Oh, by the way," Andre added, remembering something, "the Black Market merchant has been active again while you were gone. A few more reserve Apprentices ran into trouble recently."

"The same kind of forbidden potions?" Ron asked.

"Yes, but this time it's more complicated," Andre said grimly. "The mutations triggered by the potions seem... more controlled. It's like they were precisely designed."

A chill ran through Ron.

"You think Oliver's involved?"

Andre shrugged cautiously. "It's just a hunch, but the timing is too perfect to ignore."

Ron's thoughts raced. Then he casually changed the topic.

"I was wondering... could the Black Market have special materials? And maybe unique formulas?"

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