Chapter 11 Stepping Up

The two continued up the stairs, inadvertently winding past layer after layer of long steps.

Lanci fell into thought after hearing Hyperion's words.

He was now burdened with credit card debt because of the [Poet of Great Love].

Although the card was worth spending any amount of money on, Lanci hadn't forgotten that his initial goal in coming to the royal capital was to get rich as soon as possible.

If he could become a little stronger and accumulate some connections, then no matter who the potential enemies threatening his Wilford Merchant Guild were, Lanci wouldn't be too afraid.

The judge would use invincible laws to judge everything.

To gain the favor of major forces and powerful individuals, besides becoming a renowned card maker, achieving outstanding results in challenging Shadow Worlds was also a viable path.

Currently, it seemed that trying to quickly make money in a short period solely through card making would likely exhaust him to death in the card-making workshop.

As for selling paintings… Lanci wasn't sure if selling his paintings on a large scale before becoming strong enough would attract any unforeseen trouble.

If his paintings were too valuable, and he himself was weak, it might be a terrible thing, perhaps attracting the attention of unsavory characters.

So, unless he was really short on money, he wouldn't consider easily selling his paintings, and even if he did, he wouldn't sell them under his real name.

From this perspective, while studying card making, striving to increase his rank and become a high-level card maker was the long-term plan for getting rich.

High-intensity card-making practice could slowly train his mental power, thereby promoting breakthroughs in rank, but it was indeed too slow.

The fastest way to improve his rank was also to challenge the Shadow World—

Successfully clearing a Real Shadow World would grant a corresponding rank amplification effect!

Therefore, many card makers chose to become "Battlefield Card Makers" to advance their ranks in the Shadow World.

This was an auxiliary combat profession transformed from a manufacturing profession.

Since challengers in the Shadow World would gain new identities and situations, they couldn't bring any items or potions when entering or leaving the Shadow World, only being able to carry magic cards bound to their souls and stored in their soul space.

Battlefield Card Makers would bring [Portable Card-Making Tool] kits in the form of equipment cards into the Shadow World, and then they could create targeted magic cards for their teammates in real time based on the situation in the Shadow World!

Even with such support in the team, they could bring back some materials that originally couldn't be taken out of the Shadow World to the real world through the method of "making them into magic cards and then soul-binding them," thereby increasing the team's completion rewards.

Therefore, in many cases, even if a Battlefield Card Maker was indeed just a freeloader, many powerful teams were willing to take one along as a tool to increase the team's rewards.

Lanci certainly possessed some potential for the role of Battlefield Card Maker.

But with his current unstable card-making skills, he was far from qualified to serve as one.

It could only be said that having more skills didn't hurt.

While Lanci was lost in thought, Hyperion spoke again from the side:

"If there are candidates with particularly outstanding results in the annual entrance exam, they may be exempt from the Challenger registration qualification exam. If nothing unexpected happens, you will receive a notice after the start of the semester, and then you can go through the formalities to challenge the Real Shadow World."

The structure of the entrance exam itself was similar to the formal registration exam.

If one could pass with an absolutely high score, Ikeryte Academy, as a certified partner institution of the association, would also apply to the academy for exam exemptions for students.

Other freshmen would have to spend a lot of time participating in the South Continent Shadow World Management Association's Challenger registration exam before they could challenge the Real Shadow World for the first time.

Hyperion was certain that Lanci's performance wouldn't have any reason to not receive an exemption.

As for teammates… Lanci didn't need to worry either, as many upperclassmen and teams from various departments would take the initiative to contact Lanci.

"Oh, oh, I understand. Thank you, Hyperion."

Lanci quickly thanked her upon hearing this.

As expected of a great noble from the royal capital.

She knew everything about many things that weren't written on the admission details.

"It's nothing."

Hyperion simply looked ahead at the stairs, nodding slightly.

Hyperion's reminder just now made Lanci feel much happier.

Since it was possible that he wouldn't have to participate in the registration exam at the South Continent Shadow World Management Association, then, if all went well, he could directly become an Iron-level registered challenger after completing the formalities.

According to what Lanci had heard in his hometown of the South Vantina border territory, the South Continent Association recognized seven levels of challengers. After each successful clearance, the association would grant records or promotions based on the degree of contribution, and the higher the level, the higher the corresponding benefits, authority, and status.

Starting from the lowest Iron level, the subsequent levels were Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Magic Crystal, and Hero.

Leaving aside the novice Iron and Bronze levels, those who could reach the third level, Silver, were already quite experienced Shadow World veterans and the backbone of this world's Shadow World siege.

If one reached the fourth level, Gold, then they would have a prominent social status no matter where they were!

And from Platinum level onwards, even if they went to other continents, they would be recognized by related associations with different systems, and were truly super powerhouses with world renown.

After the two practical experiences of the entrance exam, Lanci found that he seemed to have some good potential as a Shadow World challenger.

He couldn't wait to start his challenger career.

"Do you know what level students in this school can reach?"

Lanci asked curiously.

"If Ikeryte students can reach the Gold level, it's already quite impressive. As for the Platinum level… it only exists in the fourth year and part-time system."

Hyperion thought for a while and replied somewhat unwillingly,

"Those kinds of people no longer need to stay in the academy and can leave at any time."

If she could also reach this level, even without her father's protection and the status of the Duke's family, she wouldn't fear those who wanted to harm her.

Unfortunately, she didn't think that with her talent, she could reach that step like the few monsters standing at the top of the academy.

"Part-time system?"

Lanci looked at Hyperion, puzzled.

He understood the fourth year, but he didn't know that this academy had "part-time" students.

"Generally speaking, students can apply for graduation in their third year, and they will also be granted a lot of Challenger points or recommended to major associations for employment."

"Every year, there are a few extremely outstanding students who choose to follow their favorite senior professors in the academy for additional academic years. They may stay in school for several years without leaving. These are collectively known as 'Fourth-Year Students.'"

"'Part-Time System' refers to a small number of challengers who already have senior Shadow World challenge experience and study part-time at our school. We are equivalent to 'full-time' students."

Hyperion patiently explained to Lanci.

Unknowingly, they had reached the last level of the long staircase while talking.

"I see, thank you for your explanation!"

Lanci smiled and thanked Hyperion, who answered everything he asked.

After walking a few more steps forward, a huge hollow glass curtain wall came into view, allowing a full appreciation of the beauty of the entire campus, including the flowering trees, buildings, and lawns. Everything was beautiful.

A fork in the road also appeared on the mid-air transfer platform in front of him.

"See you at the start of the semester, I'm going to find a friend over there."

Lanci stopped, pointed in the direction of the terrace, and said goodbye to Hyperion.

He was going to the terrace area connected to the first floor to find Talia, the demon mentor who was waiting for him.

Compared to Talia, who never said more than ten words in a sentence, Lanci felt much more comfortable chatting with Hyperion. As expected, women who are old and can't get married have problems of their own, more or less.

"Goodbye."

Hyperion nodded in response.

Thus, their shadows diverged, walking in two different directions.

…

Three days later, early morning.

The Crete Empire, south of the Kingdom of Hutton.

Due to the continuous mountains separating the two countries, even if one wanted to transport a large amount of goods from the southern border of the Kingdom of Hutton to the northern border of the Crete Empire, it would be more convenient to go around to the east and take the sea route by merchant ship.

Many of the northern cities of the Crete Empire were built on mountains. The towering buildings and undulating terrain coexisted continuously, and one could even see the scenery of classical buildings surrounded by blue sky and white clouds.

Granville City, a main city of the northern border territory of the Crete Empire, can be said to be one of the most prosperous cities in the north. It leans against the mountains that reach into the clouds to the north, borders the sea to the east, and the docks are bustling with activity all year round.

The upper echelons of Granville City on the northern border were built in the air between several intersecting peaks. The buildings were mostly in a classical style of dark gray or beige, the climate was warm and bright, the air was filled with the scent of flowers and deep music, and the streets were wide and clean, filled with merchants, knights, and priests in gorgeous clothes.

At this time, in this city-state, on the fourth floor of a building called "Wilford Merchant Guild," in a room with a chairman's office nameplate inlaid on the door, a middle-aged man sat in a comfortable armchair behind his desk. He put on his glasses and began to browse the Hutton Times from two days ago.

He was the chairman of the Wilford Merchant Guild and Lanci's father—Noah Wilford.

Since the Wilford Merchant Guild had an important channel for trade between the two countries, it was not difficult to buy newspapers issued throughout the Kingdom of Hutton, but sometimes they might be delayed by two or three days, and sometimes they might be delayed by seven or eight days if there were no merchant ships circulating.

"Let me see what news there is recently."

Noah leisurely browsed the newly acquired Hutton Kingdom newspaper.

He didn't read it every day, but occasionally, when he was done with his affairs and had a little free time, he would get the latest Hutton newspaper from his employees and read the news.

[A young boy from the Holy Church Research Association, after being kicked out of the team by his companions, became a love saint in a fit of anger and took down all of his companions' mothers. When the companions regretted and prepared to apologize, he chose to send their mothers to prison instead, on the grounds that he was a minor.]

[A man from the South Vantina border territory resented his boss due to overtime work. At the same time, he learned that his boss was allergic to healing potions, so he beat his boss with his hands covered in healing potions, but he didn't cause his boss to have an allergic reaction and instead severely injured him. After a month of detention, the man sued the potion manufacturer in court, on the grounds that they produced counterfeit and shoddy healing potions. Currently, the man has received 650 pounds in compensation from the manufacturer.]

Noah shook his head while flipping through the pages, trying hard to suppress the twitching of his lips.

The Kingdom of Hutton was a place with outstanding people.

Sometimes laws are often amended, because there were no such laws before, and they needed to be added based on the new bizarre crime situations.

In some cases, the Hutton Times was even more interesting than a typical joke collection.

In this way, Noah flipped through the newspaper, enjoying his rare leisure time.

The walls of the chairman's office were hung with exquisite oil paintings and embroideries, the floor was covered with soft carpets, and the scenery of the sea of clouds could be seen outside the window, making Noah, who had stolen some time from his busy schedule, feel very comfortable.

Soon, he found a report about Ikeryte in the royal capital—

[In the annual entrance exam of the Ikeryte Magic Academy - Sage's College, there was a serious accident…]

[Examiner Ferat Chavenson Viscount is out of danger after being rescued.]

[It can be seen that artificial Shadow Worlds still need many safety improvements.]

"I wonder what unlucky student could seriously injure the examiner. What a sin it is to raise such a thing in one's family."

Noah laughed gleefully, sighing.

It's good that Lanci is mediocre, at least he won't cause such accidents.

Communication magic is expensive, and cross-country communication magic requires permits and multiple built stations. Unless there is an emergency, Noah rarely contacts his home in the South Vantina territory of the Kingdom of Hutton.

Noah didn't need to ask at all about whether Lanci had passed the exam.

Naturally, he performed terribly on the Alchemy College entrance exam and went home dejectedly.

Noah had already told the butler, Hans, to cut off his funding supply when Lanci returned home with a bruised face, so that this useless idiot could suffer a little!

When he returns to the South Vantina territory next time, he will see if Lanci has grown a little bit.

Continuing to read, the news hadn't ended yet.

[During the exam, the artificial Shadow World start terminal also had a malfunction once, suspected to be caused by the candidate's abnormal operation. According to an interview with Professor Polao of the Ikeryte Academy - Magic Engineering College, he said that the current repair has caused the Magic Engineering College at least 8,000 pounds of Southern Kingdom Union currency in losses…]

The picture surrounded by the newspaper text showed a grimacing Magic Engineer handsome old man.

Although he seemed to be holding back his anger in front of the camera, the look in his eyes that wanted to stab someone couldn't be hidden.

[…This is reporter Louis Hill reporting for you.]

Finally, it ended there.

Noah shook his head and closed the newspaper.

"Heh, what a talent, to be able to break the exam terminal. If he's sued for compensation by the Magic Engineering College, his family will probably be doomed."

After reading today's Hutton jokes, Noah only felt satisfied.

He hoped that there would be some more explosive news next time.