There was nothing to hide about his plan to sell potions outside the Academy.
Other Potionology apprentices certainly had the same idea; it was just that no one would have guessed the staggering quantity he intended to release.
Still, he would have to conceal his identity during the sale. As long as no one recognized him, there would be no problem.
"The apprentices inside the Academy are indeed shrewd; they drive the price down ruthlessly!" Biji nodded. "Why don't you follow Senior Merlin's example? He signed a contract with a Wizard family. They provide him with medicinal ingredients for his experiments for free, and they buy his potions without limit!"
"I prefer freedom!" Leilin shook his head. He knew something of Merlin's choice. Merlin had signed a Wizard Contract with a family. That family provided a large quantity of medicinal ingredients for his experiments for free and later offered resources to assist him in advancing to the Wizard rank. However, once Merlin became a Third-rank Apprentice, he had to supply that family with a certain number of potions each month. After he became a formal Wizard, he would have to join that family entirely.
This was another method Wizard families used to recruit other low-level apprentices.
Without the Chip, Leilin might have walked this path too, or perhaps an even worse one—his aptitude might have been too poor, and no family would have wanted him.
"Biji, your family seems to be located within the Marsh Duchy, right? Do you know of any markets or exchange gatherings in the area?" Leilin asked.
"I do, but things there are complicated. There are many wandering Wizards and runaways; it's chaotic and very dangerous!"
"I know that, but I don't have to go in person. I could hire someone, for example!" Leilin began to speak with a straight face.
In the Academy's Task District, apprentices could also post missions, provided they had enough Magic Stones and paid the deposit.
"That's true! I'll copy over some information on this and send it to your room later," Biji considered for a moment before nodding.
"Thank you so much! I'll treat you to the cafeteria another day—the one on the second floor!" Leilin showed a look of pleasant surprise.
"Okay!" Biji's eyes curved into crescent moons.
...
In the time that followed, Leilin used the Chip to analyze two potion formulas while also searching for Zero-level Spells that could alter one's appearance or even aura.
Biji had long since delivered the information about Wizard markets, but as long as the unusual situation outside the Academy wasn't resolved, Leilin still didn't dare to go out.
In the free cafeteria on the third floor, Leilin was dining with Bill. Today they were having white bread and caviar, along with steak and juice.
"What? Perry is dead?! He was a Third-rank Apprentice!" Leilin was somewhat surprised. Perry had fifth-grade aptitude and a good mentor, advancing to Third-rank Apprentice four years ago. He could be considered a prominent figure in the Academy.
"Yes! He took on a mission to investigate the area around the Academy and even formed a small team! There was another Third-rank Apprentice in it!" Bill's face was grim.
"With that lineup, only a formal Wizard could possibly kill Perry," Leilin speculated. Perry certainly would have possessed Magical Items. His strength among Third-rank Apprentices would have been top-tier; perhaps his mentor had even given him some powerful life-saving items. To think he still died made Leilin even more wary of the dangers around the Academy.
"Maybe not. He could have been surrounded and attacked! They say when Perry was found, his lower body was already gone, and his internal organs had been eaten clean. It definitely looks like the work of Beastkin!"
"Beastkin?" Leilin recalled the content from his books. Regarding their origins, there were two theories. One said they were the failed products of human experimentation by Wizards. The other claimed they were a humanoid sub-species.
What they had in common was that Beastkin were inherently savage and extremely cunning.
"Didn't they always operate in the Desolate Waste? How could they have wandered over here? And they attacked apprentices—don't they know that's an outright provocation?" Leilin was puzzled.
"Their brains have never been particularly advanced; who knows what they were thinking. It's also because they've never dared to provoke formal Wizards, or they'd have been wiped out long ago," Bill added.
When the Academy's formal Wizards went out to investigate, they encountered no obstructions and found nothing abnormal. It seemed the Beastkin had concealed themselves in advance.
When they encountered apprentices, they would swarm them, displaying a rather bullying mentality.
"But they won't be arrogant for long! Perry was Professor Heilongsi's personal disciple, and Professor Heilongsi is famously image-conscious and protective. He will definitely take action!" Bill stated with certainty.
The Black Bone Forest Academy had been tolerating the Beastkin partly because their strength was too low to pose any real threat to formal Wizards, and partly to give apprentices a chance to train. But now that a personal disciple had died, the nature of the situation was completely different.
Yet Leilin still found it incredible that Beastkin had suddenly appeared around the Academy. Like the spider-faced creatures from last time, it gave him a sense of conspiracy.
"However, I'm not the only smart person in the Academy. Others can think of what I'm thinking. Why hasn't there been a single rumor about it?"
Leilin pondered quietly, "Something's off about this situation. I need to prepare in advance."
"Leilin!" A voice called from behind, sounding somewhat timid. Leilin turned to see Gulicha, the apprentice who had come to the Academy with him. He only had second-grade aptitude, and the aura he emitted now was still that of a First-rank Apprentice.
"He's a friend of mine. I'll get going now!" Leilin said to Bill.