Chapter 76: He Looks Like a Clown

"What?" Wang Yu was somewhat bewildered. Xia Er's behavior struck him as odd; hadn't Avia failed? Surely, cracking only the fourth layer couldn't be considered much of an achievement.

"By the Light, where did you find a mage like her? She bypassed the active circuits entirely and connected directly to the mana source and nodes. How did she even spot that? This level of computational power and her grasp of the grand architecture of magic is terrifying. If I hadn't watched her perform, I doubt I would have ever conceived of such a method."

"It looks like it collapsed once she reached the fourth layer. The internal structure must have been compromised first, causing the outer layers to cave in. Regardless, her qualification is certainly secure."

Xia Er recalled the way Avia had handled the cube, and no matter how he analyzed it, he found her technique nothing short of exquisite.

"Is that so? That's good." Wang Yu’s perspective was far simpler: as long as she secured the qualification, that was enough. As for Avia’s talent and aptitude, Wang Yu was likely the person who understood it best, aside from the girl herself. He could only say... it was exactly as expected.

However, the fact that Xia Er could see through it so clearly made Wang Yu wonder just how much modesty was hidden in the man's claims of being "unskilled."

Avia walked back to Wang Yu's side and whispered, "I didn't fail. I manipulated the internal structure, which caused the outer layers to collapse. The qualification should be fine."

"That's good." Wang Yu and Avia exchanged a light high-five and began to wait for the others to finish their attempts.

The total number of students present was small, only about fifty. If it were like the universities of his past life, this ballroom wouldn't even be able to hold them, and they wouldn't finish until tomorrow night.

Most of the subsequent students managed to solve the first five layers of the magic circuit, but once they hit the active circuits beyond that, they would collapse after a step or two. Although they all carried magic potions to ensure a sufficient supply of mana, none could match the performance of young Daniel.

Unexpectedly, around the fortieth student, one from a wealthy background successfully unraveled the entire structure.

As he completely cracked the cube, a surge of mana erupted from all directions, surrounding him and autonomously forming a spotlight-like environment, making him the center of attention.

The Dean’s voice, laced with a smile, drifted over: "Congratulations to our first student tonight to fully solve the structure. Let me see... it’s Lucas. Good fundamentals, and, hmm, a certain amount of trickery. Acceptable. Congratulations, you definitely have a spot for this qualification."

Lucas, who was slightly plump, opened his mouth on stage but said nothing. This rich student didn't seem particularly comfortable being the center of attention. The atmosphere turned awkward, and the Dean said nothing more. As the cube reconstructed itself, the other students continued their attempts.

"He’s quite clever," Xia Er remarked, continuing his commentary for Wang Yu and Edward.

"How so?" Wang Yu had already learned to play the straight man to Xia Er’s performance.

"Because the structure of this cube dictates a limited number of layers. The active circuits inscribed within are also limited in number because the inner layers are smaller than the outer ones. As long as you have enough data, you can complete an exhaustive search."

"This fat boy, Lucas, bribed a dozen or so students who felt they had no hope of solving it, asking them to collect and memorize the data for all the inner active circuits. While it might not be complete, it’s clear that with a bit of luck, he succeeded."

"Still, his level is quite impressive. To memorize over a dozen brand-new, never-before-seen magic circuits in such a short time and reproduce them without error—he has both the talent and the ability. No wonder the Dean approved of him."

"Of course, I find our Miss Avia even more terrifying now. May I ask, Miss Avia, you didn't want to be the center of attention, did you?" Xia Er turned to Avia.

The girl nodded shyly. "Yes. I only noticed what would be triggered if I completed the final node connection; I didn't expect it to turn out like that. But I am indeed not very good at handling such scenes."

"Brilliant!" Xia Er applauded.

Soon, the remaining students finished their tests, and no one else managed a complete solve. As the last student finished their attempt, the cube slowly dissipated, and the Dean spoke once more.

"Students, I will notify you of the qualifications privately. I will inform your mentors so they may relay the news to you. As for why, I trust some of you know exactly why."

"Tsk." Many people quietly abandoned their ill-conceived plans. The Dean’s words clearly pierced through the malicious intentions of some students; delaying the announcement was an effective way to help those who qualified avoid unnecessary trouble.

As for the Dean rigging the results? Don't be ridiculous—this was never meant to be fair. The Great Library belonged to them; even if they didn't hand out a single qualification, the students wouldn't have a word to say.

"Let's go. No need to worry. With Miss Avia’s ability, getting a qualification is too easy." Xia Er waved his hand, his face full of pride and disdain, as if Avia’s achievement were his own doing.

Having no other objections, Wang Yu planned to go back and get some sleep. He hadn't slept in two days; while it didn't have a huge impact, it was still necessary to rest.

Xia Er said he wanted to grab some juice to take back, insisting that the juice here was a grade higher than anything outside and he didn't know when he'd have another chance. He ran back into the banquet hall halfway there, and Edward, fearing this unreliable fellow would cause some kind of trouble, followed him.

Wang Yu and Avia walked ahead, heading toward the carriage at the academy gate to wait for them.

The two walked toward the entrance of the banquet hall. The hall was vast, and with the fifty or so students dispersed, it felt empty; they hadn't seen many people on their way out.

As they reached the main doors, a figure made Wang Yu narrow his eyes. With unkempt hair and loose, sloppy clothing, young Daniel was leaning against the doorframe, looking toward them.

Wang Yu narrowed his eyes further. The guy was looking at Avia. He didn't know what the other party was up to.

He didn't pause; if the other party didn't take action, he would simply ignore him. Wang Yu had no interest in caring about what others were looking at.

"The two of you, please stay a moment. May I ask the name of this young lady?" Young Daniel’s words halted Wang Yu and Avia’s pace.

Wang Yu frowned. It seemed they couldn't just walk away. He was annoyed by this extra trouble, so he decided to see what this guy wanted.

"My name is Avia. Is there something you need?" There was nothing to hide regarding an identity that could be checked easily. The girl answered, her tone flat and cold, using honorifics only out of politeness.

"Did you see through the inner structure of that magic circuit? Although it looked like a failure, you actually completed the cracking of the internal structure, didn't you?" Young Daniel threw out a string of questions, his face filled with excitement and curiosity.

"Yes," Avia replied simply.

"Fantastic! Just as I thought! How about this—are you interested in joining our family as a professional magic-pattern scholar? I really need an assistant to study magic patterns with me. The compensation is quite good, really!" Young Daniel revealed his motive for stopping them.

"Not interested. Thank you." Avia gave her standard, simple answer.

"Don't be like that. The compensation can be negotiated. But talent like yours is worlds apart from those mediocre fools; I really need your help! Your ability, in my view, is something even our mentors couldn't achieve." Young Daniel didn't intend to give up, making no effort to hide his desire.

"Sorry, I refuse. If there is nothing else, I must be going." Avia frowned; she really didn't want to get entangled with this inexplicable person.

"Sigh, why are you so stubborn? Studying magic patterns and alchemy is so interesting and wonderful! With your talent, you must understand the fun of these things! Perhaps if I take you to see our family's industries, you'll agree. My family is a Count's house, after all; it would be best not to refuse."

Young Daniel shook his head in frustration, a hint of malice and madness appearing in his dark-circled eyes.

He waved his hand, and a servant dressed as a knight walked in from outside the door, heading toward Avia. "Sorry, Miss, but I hope you can give Young Master Daniel some face. I don't want to hurt you."

The knight’s strength was decent; he was likely a formal knight. That was the upper limit of strength allowed for outsiders entering the academy. He strode over, reaching out toward Avia.

"Snap." A palm caught the wrist of the knight’s reaching arm. Wang Yu’s eyes were cold as he blocked Avia.

"Hmm? I can understand your loyalty as a servant, but it’s really unnecessary. Your strength hasn't even reached the intermediate level of a formal knight. Give up; it’s better for both of you." The knight shook his head, looking at Wang Yu, who was holding his wrist.

"Crack, crack, crack..." There was no answer. Wang Yu’s skin began to turn red as he silently activated the Blood-Burning Drive. The force on the knight’s wrist increased bit by bit, and the wrist began to emit sounds of unbearable strain, the metal bracer on it beginning to twist and deform.

"What are you doing!" The knight felt the pain and roared, trying to pull his hand away. However, Wang Yu’s pure strength, under the influence of the Blood-Burning Drive, was terrifying. Unless one was above an intermediate formal knight, it was best not to go head-to-head with him. The knight felt as if his wrist were being crushed by an anvil, unable to pull free.

"Damn it!" Unable to pull his hand back, the knight swung his other fist at Wang Yu’s face. "Boom!" Wang Yu’s raised palm easily blocked the knight’s punch.

The knight’s forcefully swung fist was tightly gripped by Wang Yu. With both hands caught, the veins on the knight’s forehead bulged as he tried with all his might to break free, but it was meaningless against Wang Yu’s sheer strength advantage.

Expressionless, Wang Yu glanced at young Daniel, who was standing to the side, slightly dazed. Without hesitation, Wang Yu flew a kick into the knight’s breastplate, leaving a dented footprint while kicking the knight toward young Daniel.

The figure flew back, knocking young Daniel to the ground. "Damn it!" The knight was burning with rage. As he helped the disheveled young Daniel up, illusory flames began to appear around his body—a special ability of a formal knight: Internal Combustion.

"Forget it, Beck. We’re really not a match for them." Young Daniel patted Beck, who was intending to charge at Avia and Wang Yu with his Internal Combustion active, and looked at the two with resignation.

Wang Yu looked at young Daniel indifferently, faint white steam dissipating from his reddened skin. At some point, his hands had changed from bare skin to being covered in iron gauntlets.

Behind Wang Yu, the Void power and mana were already intertwining on Avia’s Twin Star gloves. Two scorching fireballs were beginning to gather heat, slowly merging, their blinding light impossible to hide.

Forcing a fight would definitely lead to failure; young Daniel was very clear on this. Suppressing his desire and dissatisfaction, he spoke in a flippant tone.

"Fine. It seems I really can't invite Miss Avia to visit our family this time. This was just a small accident, but what about later? Although our title isn't particularly high, we are still a Count's house. Miss Avia should think it over carefully; after all, this isn't a bad thing."

Emphasizing his title—a clear threat. It was cliché, but still effective. The power of status had never changed.

"Yes, your family's title is just *so* low. It's been a long time since I've seen you, when did you become just like your old man, Old Daniel? And when you die, you'll probably end up just like him, too."

Without the slightest restraint, a reckless mockery came from behind Wang Yu. Wang Yu smiled; he didn't need to guess who it was—Xia Er.

Edward and Xia Er walked out from behind them, Xia Er actually carrying a large wooden bucket filled with juice.

"Xia Er... a guy whose own family doesn't even want him, trying to meddle in other people's business?" Young Daniel looked at Xia Er, who was walking over while mocking him, his expression very ugly.

"Ah, ah, ah, that's right, I forgot. The Reid family doesn't want me anymore, boo-hoo-hoo. So, what are you going to do, you thing that only knows how to bark like a dog? Your old man is dead, and you, a waste with nothing but a title, are here throwing your weight around? Oh my god, I'm so scared."

Xia Er put on a series of pretentious tones and gestures that made anyone who saw him want to beat him to death.

"You! The Reid family has officially announced they will no longer provide you with family member benefits! If I want to make a move, none of the three of you will get off easily!" Young Daniel, his expression gloomy, was as unable to suppress his rage as the drunks in the tavern who had been driven mad by Xia Er.

"Ah, yes, yes, yes, I'm scared, I'm scared, is that enough? Wang Yu, Avia, you guys be polite and act scared too, okay? Give this waste who only knows how to bark some face. Oh, right, Edward—uh, never mind, I don't dare offend you, Edward!"

Xia Er continued his exaggerated performance, his tone changing to one of sycophantic flattery when he mentioned Edward, giving Edward goosebumps from the sheer discomfort of the change.

"You!? Edward... Edward... are you the son of the Lionheart?" Little Daniel’s fury, ignited by Charles’s mockery, curdled into a venomous, cold spite; once they stepped beyond the academy walls, the trio would surely learn the true reach of a Count’s influence.

But the moment his eyes fell upon Edward, the image etched in his memory aligned with the figure before him, and his rage vanished, extinguished as if doused by a sudden, icy deluge.

Though both held the title of Count, old Daniel’s rank stood before the title of Grand Duke Lionheart—Edward’s father—much as a commoner might stand before a king.

"I... forgive me... I am deeply sorry for my insolence. I shall trouble you no further." Little Daniel stifled every grievance and resentment, swallowing them whole, and with his head bowed, he retreated alongside his knight.

Wang Yu watched them depart, the crimson fire of his blood-driven state fading away.

"Thanks." Wang Yu pulled Charles into a brotherly embrace, thumping him firmly on the chest.

"Heh, don't mention it." Charles scratched his head, looking uncharacteristically sheepish.

"Don't let it go to your head; we only survived because of Edward’s name." He struck Charles again, warning him not to get carried away.

"Alright, alright, let's go. Running into the Daniel family is nothing but bad luck; let's get back and get some sleep."

Shrugging their shoulders, the four of them walked away from the academy, much like a satisfied audience leaving a circus after watching a clown’s performance.