CHAPTER 29: SUCCESS IS GUARANTEED

"Haa..."

A heavy sigh escapes my lips as I proceed out of the General Hall, alongside my fellow examinees. I glance around and notice the expressions of these people—most of them having the same troubled face I possess.

There were young and old alike who took this exam, and it’s evident that it wasn’t the easiest.

For High Nobility, examinations are seen as mere formalities, but those of us below them actually have to struggle to put in work. If we fail, everything falls apart.

Because of this reality, cheating is a tempting venture. Some idiots got caught for cheating and were immediately escorted out of the hall, facing the stares of everyone else in the hall as well as unimaginable shame when they walked out.

I paid very little attention to this, though, since I had to focus on my exams.

This topic still floats around the dispersing crowd, however, as some can’t help but wonder aloud what would happen to those who were caught cheating.

The atmosphere is tense, almost grim, as a result.

Of course, naturally, there are some among us who have relieved expressions on their faces.

A few even laugh and make silent jubilations.

I observe this and smile wryly.

’They must have gotten assistance from their sponsors. High Nobility often pick potential students from High-Rank Knight Households or Low Nobility and assist them in entering the Academy. This is likely so that they join their children’s faction and strengthen their influence in the school...’

Uncle Damon also saw this happen during his time in the Academy, so I am certain of it.

None of that concerns me, though.

I already know that this exam is a sifting ground for all of us.

Some examinees will pass. Others will fail.

’For the Households without sponsors, they would have used a lot of their accumulated wealth, or even borrowed money, just to give their children a chance to study in the Royal Academy... so failing would be a very heavy blow on them.’

Everyone has their unique circumstances, so even if all of us desire to pass, some are more desperate than others.

As for which side of the fence I fall on, it’s rather complicated for me.

’I did my best in the exams. Let’s just hope things work out...’ I hide my clouded emotions well, instead wearing a stoic expression as I walk down the path set out for us.

Since I don’t stand out too much, and everyone is occupied with their own problems, I am able to leave the school gates with no incident at all. I don’t speak to a single person, and no one speaks to me as well.

I find my Uncle among the crowd near the Academy’s entrance, and I quickly walk over to him.

He takes me to the place where he parked the carriage, and after settling the parking fee, we smoothly head back to the inn I’ve been staying in.

On our way back, Uncle Damon inevitably breaks the silence.

"How was the exam? Was it very difficult?" He bombards me with questions, his sickly thin face slightly unnerving me with concern. "Based on what I heard from those passing examinees, it was far more challenging than what they were expecting."

I don’t know if anyone has ever told him not to ask someone who has just concluded an exam so many questions, but hearing so many words at once is quite annoying.

It is honestly very overwhelming for me.

I refrain from chiding the man, though, as I take a deep breath and answer as honestly as possible.

"It was fine. I didn’t answer everything, but I made sure to manage my time well and started with the ones I knew best, working my way down the list..."

Now that the exam is over, I don’t want to think too much about it.

To distract myself when I left the hall, I made sure to observe my surroundings, appreciating it even more since I was unable to before the exam. I also kept my eye out for any member of High Nobility, but I didn’t even spot one—not to mention encounter them—at all.

Just as I suspected, it seems they have their own special entrance and exit within the Academy.

We eventually return to the Inn, and I waste no time in freshening up and relaxing a little. After all, I haven’t been sleeping very well due to my preparations.

I have done nothing but read for the past couple of days, too, so my mind is very spent.

After a much-needed nap, I wake up to find the streaks of orange lights dotting the sky.

The fresh evening breeze blesses me with its soothing cool, though I feel nothing can compare to what I experienced in the Academy.

Still, I feel a lot more refreshed.

All the exhaustion weighing me down has finally vanished, so I finally walk out of my room and step into my uncle’s after knocking.

Thankfully, he is awake, and he invites me in with a pleasant expression on his face.

That is certainly good to see.

He offers me something to eat, but I refuse. Honestly, I’m still not very hungry, though I suspect I will be very soon. Rather, there is something else I’m interested in. My uncle also realizes this, so he offers me a seat right opposite his bed.

"How have things been going on your end these past couple of days, Uncle Damon?" I ask curtly, my eyes sharp and my mind ready to work once again.

Now that I’m done with the exam, I can finally focus on my other plans.

’The exam is only one reason I stepped out of the Estate...’ I smile and watch my uncle bring out what resembles a ledger. He hands it over to me, and I quickly go over the information inside it, flipping through the pages in a calm, unperturbed motion.

As I do this, my uncle explains his activities over the past few days and how he spent his time.

"Just as you instructed, I started from the northern area of the city and scoured the stores and all the well-established places for reputable buyers of your products..." He went on to explain his process in detail.

I nod and take in this information, while also going over the names and numbers recorded in the ledger. My uncle is quite thorough with his information—as expected of a Scholar.

What exactly are my products, one might ask?

It’s simple, really.

I intend to sell unique formulas for medicines, cosmetics, and food. Of course, they are unique now because they are commodities that will only exist in the future. Using my future knowledge, I have been able to gather all the recipes I remember, and I am certain they will fetch a lot of money if I sell them to willing buyers.

No patent exists in the Randalorion Kingdom, so many keep secret recipes and formulas to themselves. But also due to this, many recipes and formulas have been leaked out and popularized.

This trend doesn’t stop in the future as well, which is why I know a small fraction of them even when such isn’t my area of expertise.

’Uncle Damon has been busy indeed. He was going all around the city looking for the right plugs while I was studying for my exam. Now that I am free from that burden, I can join him in this lucrative pursuit!’ I lick my lips with delight, already sweating a little while looking at the potential figures we could make from this trade.

It is regrettable that I do not possess any recipes for Potions or formulas for Armaments, else I could be swimming in a small fortune.

But there’s no helping it.

’Unlike food, cosmetics, and medicine, Armaments and Potions are too special. Their formulas are too well-hidden and complicated for me to accurately decipher. Besides, that industry lacks a lot of innovation, so even in the future, there weren’t that many new ones revealed...’

Even if I had access to such knowledge, I would rather not sell it yet.

Instead, I would bide my time.

After all, there would be even more opportunities to engage in commercial activities when I enter the Academy. Could I ask for better customers than those Nobles and spoiled children from such high-status families? I doubt it.

’The making of Potions and Armaments are specialized fields that belong to Alchemists and Fabricants, respectively. I didn’t know anything about it in my past life. I don’t remember any of the recipes available to the public back then, and even now... I have no idea what the current recipes are.’

This is why experts exist in the industry.

As a Knight, or even a Scholar, one only needs to purchase the appropriate Armaments or Potions without needing to know the content and method of production.

"Ah... you also managed to sell the Screech Feather already?" I spot the information in the ledger and mutter those words aloud, to which he responds in an affirmative tone.

He actually sold it on the second day of arrival, and the price is also quite decent.

Not bad at all.

’It’s several times cheaper than my D Grade Armament, but that’s because a single Rank 2 Special Resource gotten from a Cadre 2 Magivore has far less value than a processed weapon made by experts, using specialized techniques and materials from multiple sources, that is capable of slaying said Magivore.’

If I am to estimate, a single D Grade Armament is worth ten Cadre 2 Magivores.

Could be even more.

"You’ve been busy, Uncle Damon..." I smile at my uncle and nod in acknowledgment while shutting the ledger and handing it over to him. "I’ve gone through everything. This is great!"

"Thank you, Javier."

With my uncle doing all of the grunt work, I have a good idea of what the market price for all these goods is. I can also see the preferred buyers I would like to sell them to.

But there’s no need to rush.

’He hasn’t scoured every major part of the city yet. I should join him for the rest of the trip...’ I place my finger on my chin while thinking deeply about the matter.

Even though I have already found a suitable price, I shouldn’t be too hasty in reaching a decision.

This is because transactions are only my secondary goals.

I mainly wish to establish connections with these people, in case I have future transactions or I require certain information from them. As a powerless Heir who isn’t from a notable background that can offer support, I need as many contacts as possible.

Even if I do not end up attending the Royal Academy, there’s no harm in networking with these people and learning a few things from them.

I have time to spare, anyway.

And so, from the next day onward, Uncle Damon and I scoured the city and sought out other buyers. We were referred to shops, and we also got greater bargains from certain individuals.

Just as I expected, we could get an even higher price for the recipes.

However, after considering longevity and the value of the businesses I would like to transact with, I quickly realized I couldn’t do business with some of these people—even if they were offering me a better deal.

The advantage would only benefit me in the short term.

I have to be long-sighted and not be too greedy. In fact, my uncle also cautioned me on this, not realizing that I already had the thought.

Eventually, after spending a week scouring around and finding our preferred buyers, we sold everything. This earned us a lot of money, though not as much as what we had already gained from the other ventures I had my uncle participate in.

Still... it is a rather lump sum!

Far more than the annual budget of the entire Aditi Household.

While the foundation of the Aditi Household is incomparably greater than my current accumulation, I can confidently say that I am wealthier than my Main Family as of this moment.

There’s no way I could have earned so much on my own.

Not only would I be investigated for an obvious unnatural accumulation of wealth, but many of these reputable places wouldn’t even do business with me, to begin with. The main reason I could make it this far... is Uncle Damon.

None of this would have been possible without my uncle’s certification from the Royal Academy.

This shows just how influential Scholars are—even the Second Rate ones.

And so, after two weeks of staying in Loria and engaging in all manner of transactions, we finally leave the Academy City with wealth beyond what my family can currently fathom.

’Even though it’s a lot to us, compared to the influential figures in the Academy City and those High Nobles, this is really nothing...’ I can’t help but think as I sit back in my comfortable carriage. ’This must be why our transactions didn’t cause too much commotion.’

By the standards of the Randalorion Kingdom, we haven’t even crossed any notable margin for the limits of wealth.

There is still so much money to be earned.

"Javier... this is amazing! Who would have imagined I could obtain so much money in a single week!" Uncle Damon is flabbergasted by his sudden wealth, and he is unable to hide such pleasant surprise from me.

Since he is obtaining fifty percent, he is practically swimming in money.

Not even the Main Family is making as much as he is, and there’s no need to even consider the other Minor Families at all. He easily outstrips them in wealth, though I recognize that a lot of it will go into repaying his debts.

Even after that... he is still considerably rich.

"Thank you, Javier! For this opportunity you have given me... I will forever be grateful!" He bows his head and proclaims this at the top of his voice.

I merely smile at him.

"I can feel your sincerity, Uncle Damon. You don’t have to worry..." My voice, soft as silk, yet firm as a monolith, oozes out with pristine elegance. I give him a reassuring gaze and maintain an air of prestige.

"As long as you remain by my side... your success is guaranteed."