The light in the meditation chamber was soft. Calming incense candles burned slowly, filling the air with a fragrance of citrus mixed with lavender.

Lynn sat cross-legged on a cushion, eyes closed, his breathing steady and deep.

Invisible streams of mana surged in from all directions, drawn in by the runes etched into the chamber, pouring into his spirit and gradually strengthening it.

After a long while, Lynn finished his meditation. His eyes opened, and in the pale gray of his pupils, a fleeting glimmer of light seemed to flash.

As was his habit, he looked inward. A shimmering panel of light condensed before his vision.

Lynn exhaled softly, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

*“Just two more points of progress, and my second-tier apprentice rank will reach completion.

The further I go, the slower each step becomes. Two points of progress… that should take another two, maybe three days.”*

It had now been half a month since he joined the Security Corps.

That day, after careful thought, Lynn had chosen not to tell Leah about the extortion he’d witnessed.

Since then, their patrols had been uneventful, and the crystal shop in question was still open for business, apparently doing fine.

Standing, Lynn glanced at the time.

It was already three in the afternoon. In six hours, he would need to head out on patrol again.

After two weeks, the shifts had rotated: the Sixth Squad now handled the day shift, while his Eleventh Squad was on the night shift.

He and Leah had discussed it with Kaili and Theodore, deciding that they would take the first half of the patrol, and the other pair would take the second.

Heading downstairs, Lynn was met by Adeline, who handed him a letter.

“This arrived at two o’clock,” she said.

Lynn nodded, unfolding the notice.

The very first line made him pause.

“Notice Regarding the Reform of the Apprentice System in the Hossens School.”

This was the reform Lucas had mentioned weeks ago, and it had finally been made official.

And just as Lucas had said, apprentices would now be clearly divided by rank.

But it wasn’t only “ordinary” and “elite.”

Instead, there were three main classes, subdivided into five ranks.

The elite class corresponded to Gold-Thorn Apprentices, while the ordinary class was now called Silver-Thorn Apprentices.

Beneath them was a third category, Bronze-Thorn Apprentices, essentially apprentices assigned to chores and menial duties.

Bronze apprentices received no mana supply benefits, earned fewer contribution points, but in exchange were paid slightly more magic stones.

The five sub-ranks existed because the very top tier of Silver-Thorns and Gold-Thorns was each further distinguished by the titles of Silver Thorn and Gold Thorn, respectively.

These were not just honorary titles; the benefits were substantial.

Moreover, aside from the Bronze tier, Silver and Gold apprentices were subject to a system of elimination and promotion.

In other words, a Gold-Thorn apprentice could be demoted to Silver, and a Silver could rise to Gold.

Compared to the previous system, where apprentices were all nominally equal, this reform was a sweeping change.

And the differences in treatment between the ranks were stark.

*“When it comes to mana density, the most crucial factor… ordinary Silver-Thorn apprentices will receive mana supply one minor tier higher than their current level.

The very top Silver-Thorns can receive supplies two minor tiers higher.

But Gold-Thorn apprentices? Their baseline benefit is one full major rank higher.

And the top Gold-Thorns can receive mana supply equivalent to four full minor tiers higher!”*

Lynn’s brow furrowed deeply.

At present, he enjoyed the mana density of a mid-tier first-rank, a full major rank higher, equivalent to three minor tiers above his own.

But under the new rules, if he were classified as only an ordinary Silver-Thorn, his mana density supply would plummet… all the way down to upper-tier zero rank.

He continued reading, carefully examining the criteria for Silver and Gold classification.

The detailed rules filled two entire pages, complicated, with different requirements for each stage of apprentice.

But overall, the core standards still boiled down to two things: age and advancement speed.

*“For second-tier apprentices:

* Those raised in the School from childhood, if they are under 10 years old and reach third-tier apprentice from mortal within 5 years, they automatically qualify as Gold-Thorns after review.

* Ages 10 to 15 must also pass additional testing.

* Over 15 years of age are, in principle, ineligible except in rare cases.”*

“For apprentices recruited from outside the School, the age requirements are reduced by one year, and additional trials are mandatory.”

The standards were undeniably harsh.

Lynn was already 17. Clearly, he couldn’t meet them.

He read on.

*“For first-tier apprentices:

* School-raised, age 15 or younger, automatically qualify as Gold-Thorns. For outsiders, 14 or younger.

* Ages 15 to 35 must pass additional tests to qualify.”*

If the Transcendence Barrier was the first threshold on the path of a wizard, then the advancement to a First-Rank Apprentice was the second.

It was clear from this that the age requirements for Gold-Thorn Apprentices at the first rank were much looser.

Seeing this, Lynn let out a faint sigh of relief.

The new apprentice system would be rolled out gradually over the coming weeks, with the final deadline set for one month later.

As long as he could advance to First-Rank Apprentice quickly, he still had a chance to qualify as a Gold-Thorn Apprentice.

After that, the School would only conduct new evaluations once every three months.

Which meant that if he missed this opportunity, he’d have to wait another three months.

That thought stirred a sense of urgency in his chest.

On the surface, he was only two points away from completing the Second-Rank stage.

But reaching completion was not the same as advancing.

As Lucas had once said, advancing safely required the guidance of a formal wizard as guardian, ideally paired with the use of an anesthetic Potion.

The reason was simple: at this stage, the veil of spiritual mist surrounding an apprentice’s mind would finally disperse, to be replaced by the Light of Knowledge.

This so-called spiritual mist was the pale-white haze that shrouded a mortal’s spirit under extrasensory vision.

It shielded the mind from outside corruption, maintaining stability.

When mortals suddenly went mad or suffered mental distortions, it was often because this mist had been damaged.

But while it was a shield, it was also a shackle.

It dulled meditation efficiency and stunted the growth of spiritual strength.

Thus, to advance to First-Rank Apprentice, one had to dispel the spiritual mist while simultaneously forming the Light of Knowledge.

Each step was difficult, but the most dangerous moment of all was the gap between the mist dispersing and the light forming.

In that window, an apprentice’s spirit was left utterly exposed, extremely vulnerable to harm and corruption.

A formal wizard’s protection and the anesthetic Potion were the best safeguards.

A formal wizard could use their extrasensory vision to detect and eliminate threats invisible to the apprentice’s eyes.

The potion, meanwhile, allowed the apprentice to avoid entering extrasensory perception altogether, preventing corruption outright.

It was said that before the anesthetic Potion was invented, the death rate during advancement to First-Rank Apprentice was as high as thirty percent, and of those who survived, half suffered some degree of mental damage.

*“I wonder how many contribution points it costs to exchange for the advancement course…

I’ve been busy with cultivation, never taking on extra tasks. Right now, I only have 65 points: 50 from the transport mission, and 15 from this month’s stipend with the Security Corps.

That’s still far from enough.”*

Setting the notice aside, Lynn thought for a while, then decided to visit Lucas.

...

“You’ve received the notice too, haven’t you, Lynn?” Lucas said after ushering him into the sitting room. His face carried deep regret.

“What a pity… what a pity… I’m 37 this year, just two years over the 35-year cutoff. No chance of becoming a Gold-Thorn Apprentice.

Those wasted years at the foot of the mountain… If only I had returned to the School sooner, received guidance earlier… ah, such a waste.”

Lucas sighed again, then glanced at Lynn with a sympathetic look.

“If I recall, you’re 17 now. That puts you two years over the age requirement, just like me.”

“It really is a pity,” Lynn echoed, before getting to his point.

“Lucas, I came today to ask about Master Chris’s advancement course. What exactly does it entail?”

“The advancement course? Isn’t it a bit early for you to be thinking about that…” Lucas began instinctively.

But when he saw the calm steadiness in Lynn’s eyes, his words stalled. With a note of incredulity, he asked:

“Could it be… your spiritual strength has already reached the threshold for First-Rank Apprentice?”

“It should have,” Lynn nodded slowly.

Lucas froze, then gave a wry smile.

“You truly are… gifted. Seems your expulsion back then really was just a fluke.”

He paused, then asked:

“What do you want to know about the course?”

“I want to know how much Master Chris charges.”

“For me, it was 500 contribution points. But for you, it should only be 300; there’s a discount. Apprentices under 20 get forty percent off, while those between 20 and 30 get twenty percent off.”

Three hundred contribution points.

That was no small sum.

At the rate of the transport missions, it would take Lynn a full year of nonstop work just to save that much.

“So there’s no way I can earn enough in the short term… I’ll have to take on more tasks, and wait for the quarterly assessments.”

Lynn sighed inwardly, falling silent.

He had expected the course, which included both an anesthetic Potion and the protection of a formal wizard, to be expensive, but not this expensive.

Lucas studied the young man, his expression tinged with envy.

“If you do manage to qualify as a Gold-Thorn Apprentice, you’ll just be in time for the chance to study abroad at the Silverring Academy, two months from now.”

“Study at Silverring Academy?” Lynn raised an eyebrow.

“Yes. From now on, every Gold-Thorn Apprentice will spend six months of the year studying there,” Lucas explained, eyes filled with longing.

“The Silverring Academy is far more prosperous than our Hossens School!

They say it has towers that pierce the clouds, strange, arcane constructs everywhere… even the fortresses that hold back world invasions can be seen there!

The students of Silverring Academy not only enjoy extraordinary benefits and wealth, but also venture into foreign worlds, bringing back exotic treasures and glimpsing countless wonders…”

The picture he painted stirred something in Lynn’s chest. He took a quiet breath, then asked:

“Lucas… do you know of any way to quickly earn a large number of contribution points?”

Faster steps win the race. In the chaos to come, only those who seize the initiative will find opportunity.

“Quickly earning a large number of points?” Lucas gave a bitter laugh.

“If there were such a way, I wouldn’t have only just advanced to First-Rank Apprentice.

Back then, I managed to save up quickly only because there were so many missions available. I grabbed several high-risk ones worth a lot of points… nearly died a few times before I scraped enough together.

But now, the construction of Emerald Avenue is nearing completion. There aren’t nearly as many missions as before.

Making a fortune in contribution points in a short time… that won’t be easy.”

What he said was the truth.

Lynn pressed for a few more details, then finally took his leave.

...

During their night patrol, Leah also brought up the matter of the apprentice system reform.

“Lord Lynn, have you heard that apprentices will soon be divided into Gold-Thorn, Silver-Thorn, and Bronze-Thorn ranks?”

“Yes, I saw the notice from the School today,” Lynn replied.

“Do you want to become a Gold-Thorn Apprentice?” Leah asked curiously.

“Of course I do,” Lynn answered without the slightest hesitation.

Leah nodded, though her expression held an uncharacteristic hint of confusion and melancholy.

“And you, Leah? Do you want to become a Gold-Thorn Apprentice?”

After a brief silence, Leah shook her head.

“…I don’t know.”

Lynn gave a small nod. Leah was only fourteen this year; as a Second-Rank Apprentice, she theoretically had every chance to qualify as a Gold-Thorn Apprentice.

But from the way she spoke, she didn’t seem to have much interest in that path.

“Why do you want to become a Gold-Thorn Apprentice, Lord Lynn?” she asked again.

“Because I want enough strength to do what I want, and to go where I wish,” Lynn replied calmly. He didn’t try to lecture her; everyone had their own way of thinking.

Compared to the ambition of becoming a Gold-Thorn, Leah seemed far more interested in their security patrols. She always turned up punctually, full of focus…

Security patrols… wait. A thought suddenly struck Lynn. If I want to earn contribution points, maybe this is the angle I should work from!

In addition to their fixed monthly stipend, security apprentices could also earn contribution points for successfully resolving cases, the amount depending on the difficulty.

And cases…

Lynn’s steps slowed slightly as his gaze fell on the still-lit crystal shop nearby, his thoughts stirring.

After discovering the Sokol Syndicate that day, he had later inquired about the School’s stance toward such groups.

The answer he received was that the policy was not yet clear.

After all, these syndicates had only begun cropping up in Emeraldwood City in the past few months, and the Security Corps had yet to establish precedents for handling them.

However, by regulation, extortion schemes like the one he witnessed before or any form of “protection fee” were explicitly forbidden.

Just as in the past, all businesses in the Hossens Domain were required to pay rent to the School.

Now that groups like the Golden Shadow were gone, all rents and management fees went directly to the School.

In principle, opening a shop in Emeraldwood City only required paying taxes and this single rent fee.

Syndicate extortion or protection fees, in the long run, directly undermined the School’s interests.

For that reason, the School’s prohibition against such practices was firm.

Lynn pondered quietly, not rushing to act.

According to his investigations, the Sokol Syndicate’s strongest members were no more than a few First-Rank Apprentices. With his status in the Security Corps, he had little to fear.

But he was, after all, still just a Second-Rank Apprentice. Those First-Rank Apprentices weren’t easy to deal with.

He would need to take the long view; he had to gather more information about the Sokol Syndicate before making a move.

...

At three o’clock in the morning, it was time for the patrol shift change.

Kaili and Theodore greeted Lynn and Leah with friendly smiles. Once the two had left, they quietly slipped into a dim side alley.

It was already deep into the night, and the streets were nearly empty.

In the shadowed alley, Kaili exchanged a few words of greeting with the man waiting there.

After a brief exchange, the man asked in a low, serious voice:

“Are you certain you want to go through with this?”

“I’m certain, big brother.” Kaili nodded firmly, his eyes gleaming with naked ambition.

“One step ahead means every step ahead. I can’t afford to miss this opportunity.”

The man still hesitated, but seeing this, Kaili pressed on with determination:

“If I can earn enough contribution points, I’ll be able to exchange them for the School’s advancement course and break through as a First-Rank Apprentice.

“If I can become a First-Rank Apprentice, I’ll qualify as a Gold-Thorn Apprentice! That would be a great boon not only for me, but for your Sokol Syndicate as well.

“Just think, once I have access to the resources of the School, and even the Silverring Academy, your chances of advancing to a full-fledged wizard will increase dramatically!”

The man mulled it over for a long while before finally nodding.

“I’ll see to it that they cooperate with you.”

…

The next day, after finishing his meditation, Lynn received startling news

Kaili and Theodore had achieved a great merit during their dawn patrol.

According to several apprentice witnesses who had called for help, the two had investigated a crystal shop selling sorcery stones.

During their inspection, Kaili and Theodore uncovered solid evidence that the shopkeeper had been selling counterfeits.

With both witnesses and proof at hand, they prepared to escort the shopkeeper back to the Security Office for judgment.

But the shopkeeper suddenly erupted in violent resistance. Kaili and Theodore struggled fiercely to subdue him.

In the end, with Theodore sustaining only minor injuries, they managed to kill the shopkeeper on the spot.

The case was closed, and the Security Office praised their valor.

Captain Wilson even planned to call a meeting of the Eleventh Squad to hold a small commendation gathering and publicly honor the two for their actions.

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/AetherTL