Lei Lin's solemn tone immediately put Jonas on alert.
He shot a glance at Ernest, who caught on at once and snapped his fingers. A Soundproofing Spell and a Detection Avoidance were both cast in an instant.
Seeing that the precautions were in place, Lei Lin said softly, "I've already advanced to seventh-level wizard..."
"What?... What did you say?"
Ernest's eyes went wide. The man who had shown not the slightest hint of emotion just moments ago was now completely flustered.
"If I remember correctly, it hasn't even been a year since you broke through to sixth level?"
Ernest's face was filled with exaggerated emotion, as if he wanted to cry and laugh at the same time.
"Goddess above, are you telling the truth?" Ernest's face was practically pressed against Lei Lin's nose.
"In the name of Mystra, Goddess of the Weave, I swear! Everything I've said is true!" Lei Lin's expression was solemn as he invoked the oath upon the faith shared by all wizards.
As a wizard, the price of offending the Goddess of the Weave was most likely being unable to use the Weave for the rest of one's life—becoming a useless cripple. So the weight of Lei Lin's oath was immense, and Ernest believed him immediately.
"Heavens... Could you really be the Weave Goddess's illegitimate child?"
This pace immediately crushed Ernest's spirits. He was only a ninth-level intermediate wizard himself, and it looked like Lei Lin would catch up to him within a year or two at most.
It was perfectly normal for a student to catch up to his teacher, but being surpassed by a brat who wasn't even twenty yet? In that moment, Ernest was so dejected he could have retreated to a corner to draw circles on the floor.
Meanwhile, Baron Jonas, who had been the butt of the joke, wore a slightly awkward expression.
"Ernest, my friend, what does this mean? Why is it making you react like this?"
Suppressing a twinge of embarrassment—Jonas didn't actually know all that much about wizards—he immediately asked.
"Oh! Apologies! My friend!" Ernest's face flushed red, instantly replaced by even greater fervor. "A seventh-level wizard at fifteen! As far as I know, in the last three hundred years, Lei Lin's talent ranks among the top one hundred!!"
At this, his expression turned solemn. "Don't underestimate this ranking. Many of these individuals went on to become Archmages, and a few even advanced to Legendary rank..."
"...Cough... Actually..."
This level of achievement immediately stunned Baron Jonas. He stared at his son, his eyes filled with disbelief.
"Although I haven't received certification from the Mage Guild yet, casting third-level spells poses no problem at all..."
Lei Lin looked at his mentor. "So, if we leaked this information during the negotiations, do you think it would make Marquis Louis back down?"
A seventy to eighty percent probability of advancing to Archmage was more than enough to give the other side pause. After all, in the entire Danbres Kingdom, there weren't many high-level wizards who answered to the royal family.
If they learned that the Faolan Family had such a prodigious wizard, the chances of the other side making concessions were very high.
Of course, it was also possible that the other party would act out of desperation—crushing the threat in its cradle, going to any lengths to assassinate Lei Lin and eliminate future trouble.
"Well, the possibility is quite high, but there are other possibilities too. After all, talent and growth potential don't necessarily translate into actual strength..."
Ernest offered a word of caution.
"No! Absolutely not! This information must not leak out under any circumstances—I'm issuing a gag order immediately!"
Jonas understood at once. Even if there was only a one-in-ten-thousand chance, he wasn't willing to risk Lei Lin's death.
After all, with Lei Lin's talent, as long as he was properly nurtured, becoming a high-level wizard was only a matter of time—there was even hope for Legendary rank!
Compared to that, what were some temporary losses right now?
Seeing that both his father and his mentor were so resolute, Lei Lin could only smile ruefully and let the idea go.
"Fine! But I plan to seclude myself outside the estate to practice my spells in earnest. I hope Father will grant his permission..."
"Seclusion..." Ernest was somewhat puzzled. Wizards weren't ascetics—was it really necessary to give up luxury and fine food to temper one's willpower?
However... looking at this student who had advanced to seventh-level wizard at the age of fifteen, Ernest wisely chose to keep his mouth shut. After all, the other's achievements spoke for themselves.
Perhaps it was precisely this approach that allowed him to achieve such terrifying advancement speed.
Ernest stroked his chin, thinking that perhaps he should pay more attention to this kind of discipline himself.
"Since your mentor doesn't object, then neither do I. But you must be careful about your safety—after all, you are our family's future! I would rather lose the entire Faolan Island than lose you. Do you understand?"
Baron Jonas admonished.