"We found some strange experimental records and alchemical tools in her residence. Our preliminary judgment is that she may have attempted a dangerous experiment, or has defected."
This news shocked everyone present.
Defection was exceedingly rare in the Black Mist Order, as all apprentices signed contracts upon joining.
Defecting meant suffering the contract's backlash, pain, or even death.
One reaction stood out: Oliver.
His expression didn't change, but Robb keenly noticed that his fingers suddenly stopped tapping. Clearly, the news had struck a nerve.
"Continue the investigation. Report immediately if anything new is discovered," the Vice-Chancellor ordered before turning to the next topic:
"Now, let's discuss preparations for the opening of the Bloodline Altar, scheduled in six months."
At the words Bloodline Altar, Robb instantly focused.
He wasn't alone. Almost every Wizard Reserve Track member showed great interest, even the usually composed Talisa revealed a flash of anticipation in her eyes.
"According to the allocation from the Crystal Spire, our Order has been granted five slots for entry into the Bloodline Altar. These will be selected from the top ten members of the Wizard Reserve Track. The final list will be decided at the next quarterly evaluation."
The Vice-Chancellor swept his gaze across the room.
"So, the next three months are critical for you to compete for those slots. I hope to see more young talents like Hugo, Talisa, and Robb rise above the rest."
Hearing his name mentioned alongside Hugo and Talisa stirred a small sense of satisfaction in Robb.
It meant the Order's leadership had officially recognized his progress.
And it gave him a clear goal: he had to rise into the top ten, or even the top five, before the next quarterly meeting to secure a guaranteed spot in the Bloodline Altar.
The meeting moved on to administrative matters before ending to a round of applause.
As people began to leave, Robb walked to the stone steps outside the hall.
A hand reached toward him. Sensing a familiar aura, he didn't dodge.
A gentle pat landed on his shoulder. He turned and, just as expected, it was Talisa. Her eyes sparkled with joy and a desire to share.
"Congratulations, Robb," she said calmly, though the happiness in her eyes was impossible to miss.
"Rising to 14th place in less than half a year is a rare feat in ranking history."
"You're impressive too. I recall you joined the Wizard Reserve Track less than a year ago?" Robb replied with a friendly tone.
"Going from the 20s to 10th place is no less remarkable."
Talisa nodded, a flicker of delight crossing her face before she resumed her cool composure.
"Lady Corinna has been intensifying my training, especially in bloodline activation."
She glanced around cautiously to make sure no one was watching, then lifted her hair slightly to show Robb her ear.
It had clearly begun to take on forest elf traits, sharply pointed and more pronounced than the last time they met.
"Looks like your place in the Bloodline Altar is all but secured," Robb said sincerely.
"You have a good shot at getting in too."
Talisa's voice softened, a rare trace of warmth entering her tone:
"With how fast you're rising, you should easily make the top ten next quarter. If so, we'll enter the altar together."
As they talked, Hugo approached with a polite smile:
"Congratulations to both of you. Especially you, Robb, your progress is impressive."
Robb knew Hugo, as the Wizard Reserve Track's leader, maintained good relations with all members. Still, he returned the gesture:
"Thank you, Lord Hugo. You've always been an example for us all."
Hugo nodded slightly, eyes showing sincere praise:
"I've heard you've made strides in both alchemy and elemental control. I look forward to exchanging insights sometime."
"The honor would be mine," Robb replied politely, avoiding any firm commitment.
He casually activated his Extraordinary Appraisal, scanning those nearby.
Most Wizard Reserve Track members lacked special talents, they had strengths in certain areas but not to that level.
Hugo, however, remained in first place not just because of his high aptitude, upper four-star, but also due to his well-rounded skill set. A true "hexagon" type with no obvious weaknesses.
Plus, he'd been in the Order long enough to establish unshakable status.
As for trying to scan a formal wizard, Robb didn't dare.
His current Adept-level Appraisal might be detected by their hypersensitive mental fields.
His instincts screamed: Don't risk it.
One by one, other top-ranked Wizard Reserve Track members also came over to greet Robb.
Clearly, his outstanding performance had caught the Wizard Reserve Track's attention. Everyone now wanted to build rapport with this rising star.
As Robb prepared to leave, he noticed Oliver standing in a corner of the hall, watching him with a complex expression.
Oliver forced a smile and nodded at him before quickly walking away.
Robb returned a polite smile, but stayed on guard.
Once outside, he took a deep breath, already organizing his next steps.
He set a goal: by the next quarterly meeting, he would become a High Apprentice, complete his Bloodline Modulator specialization, and obtain formal recognition as a Modulationist.
Bloodline Modulation, as a branch of Alchemy, wouldn't draw much suspicion. He could easily explain it as accelerated learning due to existing foundations.
But pursuing Alchemist certification as well would be pushing it.
He had already checked, there was no special talent on record that explained dual mastery in both potion and artifact creation.
"Three months. That's enough." Robb silently affirmed.
"My first goal is to win the 'Blood Arena' one month from now to raise my reputation.
"Then, before the next quarterly evaluation, become a High Apprentice, gain Modulator certification, and reach top five ranking to secure my spot in the Bloodline Altar."
A daunting challenge, but not impossible.
Especially now that he had experienced the power of "Favor," his growth potential had soared.
Robb walked briskly along the path back to his workshop. In the extraordinary world, standing still meant death.
Nightfall.
Oliver stood alone at his window, staring through the thick fog toward the Order's distant, looming tower.
Candlelight cast a grim shadow on his face. He clutched a slip of paper detailing today's Wizard Reserve Track evaluation results.
"Sixth place… I was once second."
He suddenly crumpled the paper and hurled it into the fireplace, where flames quickly consumed it.
"I used to be the one people admired…"
He let out a bitter laugh.
"Everything's gone downhill since I got involved with those Black Warlocks."
He turned to a corpse in the corner, a young, non-human body, its skull hollowed out, brain completely removed.
It was his latest research subject, procured via a black market deal.
"The mental corruption is getting worse."
He stared at the black lines creeping up his right hand, aftereffects of prolonged contact with Sin Domain Black Crystals.
"If I don't find a better purification method soon, or a stronger energy source…"
He didn't finish the sentence, but the outcome was clear: he would be completely consumed by contamination and become a mindless husk.
Oliver stepped in front of a mirror, examining himself.
Outwardly, he still maintained a flawless appearance.
But only he knew the mental effort it took to tweak his reflection each time, just to hide the subtle mutations beginning to show.
He turned to the desk on the far side of the room, where an open manuscript lay: The Brain Extraction Ritual, detailed step-by-step.
"Was this ritual… really my mentor's goodwill?"
Oliver sneered as he flipped through the pages.
"Looking back, it was clearly a trap, meticulously laid to lead me astray."
He recalled how his mentor had "accidentally" let him discover the manuscript, casually hinting at the ritual's existence.
Oliver's eyes turned colder.
"It was all calculated. He knew I had the 'Living Assimilation' talent and deliberately lured me down this path."
He traced the intricate runes and diagrams on the pages, bitterly realizing how cleverly the limits were built in.
The technique seemed powerful, able to extract knowledge and abilities from another's brain, but it came with extreme restrictions:
It only worked on targets with significantly weaker mental strength.
It could extract only surface-level and non-core fragments.
Even with his special talent, Oliver couldn't obtain truly vital abilities through this method.
"These limits… these clever flaws… they're designed to keep me forever beneath the real geniuses."
"While people like Talisa and Robb are well-protected..."
His fists clenched, nails biting into his palms.
"I've absorbed so many subjects, yet maybe I'll never reach Hugo's level."
He looked at the hollowed-out corpse in the corner, his eyes filled with despair.
"All I'm doing is burning myself out, for crumbs of worthless fragments."
And the mental corruption, a side effect of this forbidden technique, was steadily eroding his sanity and future.
"Maybe Cynthia made the right choice in fleeing…"
As for him, he might have been under surveillance from the start, his mentor guiding him from the shadows, just waiting to reap him when the time was ripe.
The mentor who created this ritual might even possess a method to extract everything from a target, without suffering any backlash.
"Cynthia chose to run…"
He muttered, remembering his former ally.
"But I can't leave. The contract binds me too tightly. Unless…"
"Unless I undergo a complete Awakening, just like she did. Awakening… what a beautiful word…"