Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 20: The Spreader is Pressed for Time
Pushing the door open and looking out, I saw a familiar figure staggering past - it was Andy, another candidate apprentice who came to the Black Mist Jungle at the same time.

This young man from a merchant family always looks timid.

At this moment, he was holding a pile of books and running towards the library in a panic.

"Another one trying to find a breakthrough at the last minute," Ron shook his head secretly.

This has been happening more and more recently.

As the assessment deadline approaches, those candidate apprentices who are not sure of passing the assessment will either go astray like Locke and Emily, or study hard like Andy.

But no matter which path you choose, the results are often unsatisfactory.

"We still have to proceed step by step."

Ron looked at the refreshing potion in his hand and made up his mind.

Although his current progress is not particularly fast compared to those geniuses of higher star levels, this is just the beginning of his growth path.

On this road, every step is taken firmly, every bit of progress is visible and tangible, and we will move faster and faster, eventually surpassing everyone.

Thinking of this, he sat back on the bed, ready to continue his practice today.

Time is precious, and we can't waste the effects of this refreshing potion.

………………

Ron had just finished his meditation and was resting when he heard laughter coming from the corridor.

"That necklace is so beautiful, it must be very expensive?" A female voice came through the door.

"It's okay, it's all a reward from the master. By the way, do you know what Master Marcus has been researching recently?"

He opened the door a crack and peeked outside quietly. From a distance, he could see that the people talking were the apprentices' servants. From the sound of their voices, it seemed that they were not the same group of people as last time.

But from their elaborate clothes and jewelry, it can be seen that their status is far beyond that of ordinary servants.

"Alas, not everyone has this kind of luck."

One of the voices was slightly envious:
"I heard that the new guy, the one who just 'broke through' last month, seems to have also used a special channel."

"Shh—keep your voice down. But seriously, I heard it too, it really only took three days."

"Really? I remember he was from the black market."

"Don't go into too much detail about this kind of thing, but I heard that a few new merchants have come recently, specializing in buying some rare materials."

The tone of the speech was understated, as if it was just a casual chat, but there was a hint between the lines.

Ron noticed that there were faint lights coming from behind several closed doors.

The candidate apprentices, still struggling for a breakthrough, were clearly listening.

"Hey, who's that over there? Yes, the one who went to see the black marketeer a few days ago."

One of the servants suddenly lowered his voice and said, "I heard."

"Stop talking about it, stop talking about it. It's better not to talk about this kind of thing."

Another quickly interrupted: "But it's true that the things those merchants have are quite powerful."

"Yes, yes, I heard that the effect is very fast. My master said that as long as you master the dosage and timing, especially in..."

Hearing these servants' conversation, Ron suddenly remembered that just as he left the herbal medicine shop yesterday, he encountered several brightly dressed female servants wandering around the street corners of the market. At that time, their gazes were somewhat inquisitive. Now thinking about it, they were probably searching for possible "targets."

Those slaves had obviously received special training.

They always choose to talk loudly about those "special channels" in crowded places, and they are all beautiful women, so they attract more attention and appear more natural when speaking.

Every detail was carefully designed to make those desperate apprentices believe that this was "reliable news."

"This method is really..." Ron sighed lightly.

Growing up in Earl Ralph's mansion, he was very familiar with this kind of "information guidance".

Back then, subordinates who wanted to please their father would often deliberately spread rumors that were beneficial to themselves on certain occasions.

But in the Black Mist Jungle, the consequences of such measures are much more serious.

Here, a wrong decision not only means a decline in status, but may also directly threaten one's life.

The servants continued to chat idly and gradually walked away.

But those vague "news" have already started burning secretly in the dormitory area like sparks falling on dry wood.

"How insidious." Ron sneered and shook his head.

The example of the "three-day breakthrough" they mentioned was referring to the mutated Locke.

But in their narratives, they deliberately ignored the final tragedy and only emphasized the effect of the potion.

For those desperate apprentices, this is undoubtedly a fatal temptation.

"A three-month deadline is too short for some people."

He looked at the gradually darkening sky outside the window and sighed inwardly.

As time goes by, those who see no hope will inevitably become more and more desperate.

The spread of these "news" is undoubtedly adding fuel to the fire.

In just a few days, several candidate apprentices have taken risks.

Locke and Emily are just the beginning. I'm afraid there will be more people who will go down this path of no return.

It is not difficult to guess who is behind those slaves who spread the news and who those black market traders are related to.

In this world where the strong prey on the weak, the weak are always the targets of hunting.

Whether becoming a test subject or becoming a slave to others, for some people it is just a game of gain.

"I still need to get stronger quickly. I don't want to be manipulated like this all the time..." Ron took a deep breath and readjusted his mindset.

He closed the door tightly and sat back on the bed.

Although the discussions coming from outside gradually faded away, the deliberately spread "news" had already left ripples in the dormitory area.

He could hear pacing coming from Darend's room next door. Apparently, this neighbor, who was obsessed with noise magic, was also affected by the discussions.

Darend usually focuses on his own experiments and rarely pays attention to what is happening outside, but now even he can't sit still.

"Time is really running out," Ron felt a sense of urgency in his heart.

(End of this chapter)