Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 32 "Rules of the Game" A New Look for Mrs. Allen
Andre's expression changed subtly, a hint of alertness flashed in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.

As a prince who grew up in the palace and was accustomed to power struggles, he instantly understood the true meaning of Ron's words.

"You want to contact the black market?" Andre's voice lowered a few degrees. "That's not a wise choice, especially in the recent situation."

Ron didn't respond directly, but waited patiently for the other party to continue.

Andre sighed: "If it's just for potion research, I can give you some advice."

He walked to the window and confirmed that there were no suspicious energy fluctuations around before continuing:
"Underground transactions in the Black Mist Jungle mainly take place in three places:
The safest is the special exchange at the Sunset Tavern, where guards ensure the privacy of transactions;
The second is Lizard Alley. Although it does not have any additional security, the variety of traded items is much wider than that of the Sunset Tavern.

Finally, there's Blackwater Bay, the most dangerous place. It's said that even powerful wizards occasionally go there to find things that interest them.

Ron took note of this information carefully, and noticed how familiar Andre was with these places; it was clear he wasn't just hearing it from hearsay.

"There are a few things you need to pay special attention to when trading," Andre continued, his tone filled with the sound of experience:
"First, never reveal your true identity. Second, bring enough magic stone fragments, but don't carry them all on you. Third, it's best to find a trustworthy middleman to introduce you. The first transaction is the most dangerous."

He paused, then said in a very serious tone, "Most importantly, don't be greedy. Buy only what you really need, and then leave immediately."

Ron nodded. "Sounds like you're familiar with this."

Andre gave a complicated smile. "To survive in the Black Mist Jungle, sometimes you need some... rather special channels."

He didn't explain further, but Ron got the idea.

In this cruel world, everyone has his own way of survival, even the noble Thirteenth Prince is no exception.

"Thanks for your advice," Ron said sincerely. "I'll be careful."

The two chatted about recent events, and then Andre said goodbye and left.

Ron, now alone, began to sort out what he had seen and heard.

Oliver's sudden visit, the changes in the black market potion, and Marcus's malicious eyes, everything seemed to point to some ominous premonition.

But now he is no longer that weak apprentice candidate.

The qualitative change in his mental strength gave him the ability to compete with higher-level apprentices, and the professional linkage system in his body gave him a powerful trump card.

"No matter what Oliver is planning," Ron clenched his fists, not feeling much fear in his heart. "Just give me time to develop, and everything will be solved."

However, the black market channels he just talked about with Andre made him think of some things.

Ron spread out the school's quarterly newsletter that he had recently obtained by chance, which recorded the important events of the school in the past three months.

Turning to the "Mentors' Council" section, he found some interesting content:

Mentors evaluate apprentices in the school every quarter, and those who perform well will often receive additional resources and guidance opportunities.

But what is puzzling is that on the next page of the newsletter, there is a list of apprentices who have recently been punished for violating the rules.

Several of them even mutated due to taking banned drugs and were eventually executed or sent to the laboratory.

"Locke, Emily, Darende" Ron's eyes lingered on these familiar names, and a hint of doubt arose in his heart.

If mentors truly valued their apprentices so highly, why were these banned potions so readily available? Why did some apprentices always take such desperate risks?
He flipped through older communications and discovered that this situation was not uncommon—there were similar cases almost every quarter, and the circulation of banned drugs seemed to have become part of the Black Mist Jungle.

"Is there any logic in this that I don't see?" Ron frowned and thought carefully.

If those powerful official wizards really want to completely eliminate the circulation of banned potions, they can do it with their ability and authority.

But in fact, these drugs not only exist, but also seem to be condoned to some extent.

Ron remembered what Andre had mentioned before, that the dangerous black market in Blackwater Bay was even frequented by people at the level of formal wizards.

"Could it be..." A bold idea came to Ron's mind: "Could it be that the circulation of these banned potions is, to some extent, condoned or even encouraged by the official wizards?"

Although this idea is crazy, it explains many phenomena.

Perhaps in the eyes of mentors, this is a screening mechanism - truly talented and self-disciplined apprentices will choose a steady growth path, while those who are untalented, eager for quick success, and lack patience will be tempted by banned drugs and ultimately destroy themselves.

"This is like a game," Ron concluded in his mind. "A promotion-elimination game with rules set by the mentors."

They hope that talented newcomers will emerge in the school, but they also don't want an overly comfortable environment that will make the apprentices lack a sense of crisis.

Moderate danger and competition can actually stimulate a stronger desire for survival and motivation for progress.

Ron had previously viewed it too simply as the oppression of the weak by the strong, but now it seemed that the situation was much more complicated.

In this case, the risk of being captured as an experimental subject might not be as high as he imagined, especially if he showed enough potential and self-discipline. Those wizards would be more happy to see him grow into a future colleague rather than an experimental material that had lost the ability to think.

Taking out Darend's notebook, Ron prepared to take a look at the concept of the sonic spell first.

Now that Oliver has shown interest in it, this spell could very well be the key to future confrontations.

The focused study lasted for several hours and it was gradually getting dark.

Ron rubbed his eyes, stood up, and decided to go to the herbal medicine store.

Firstly, he wanted to inform Mrs. Allen that he had been released from confinement early, and secondly, he wanted to ask this experienced old pharmacist some questions, especially about Oliver and higher-level meditation methods.

The slightly reddish sunset cast a strange halo on the dark foggy jungle, and the flow of people in the market had thinned out a lot.

When Ron walked to the door of the herbal medicine store, he found that the door was closed. The living vines on the door twisted and coiled, forming the words "This store is closed".

Ron felt strange because normally Mrs. Allen's herbal medicine shop should not be closed yet.

He was about to turn around and leave, but suddenly stopped.

The keen perception brought by the advanced apprentice allowed him to clearly capture the unusually active magic behind the door.

It wasn't a dangerous fluctuation, but it was definitely not the calm that should exist after the store closes.

After hesitating for a moment, Ron knocked on the door gently.

"Who?" An old voice with a bit of fatigue came from inside. It was the voice familiar to Mrs. Allen.

"It's me, Ron," he replied softly.

There was a brief silence behind the door, followed by an inaudible sigh.

"I'm very busy now. If you have anything, come back tomorrow morning."

Ron could hear some well-hidden irritation in Mrs. Allen's voice. As a person with basic emotional intelligence, he didn't want to cause trouble for Mrs. Allen.

"I understand, ma'am. Well, I'll come visit again tomorrow morning," Ron said tactfully, already turning to leave.

"Wait..." Mrs. Allen suddenly changed her tone, with a hint of hesitation in her voice: "Come in, since you are already here."

Accompanied by a sound of metallic friction, the tightly closed shop door opened automatically.

Ron stepped into the store cautiously, and the familiar aroma of herbs hit him, but mixed with a strange fragrance he had never smelled before, a bit like tuberose, but with a richer sweetness.

The lighting in the store was also dimmer than usual, with only a few faint magic crystal lights flickering, giving the space a hazy atmosphere.

As soon as Ron walked in, his eyes were immediately attracted by the figure behind the counter - there was a young woman standing there, sorting out the account books.

She has stunning long pink and purple curly hair that cascades down like a waterfall, shimmering dreamily in the light.

The woman's profile was gorgeous and delicate, her porcelain-white skin had a healthy luster, and her big, bright eyes were like gems.

The most eye-catching thing is the high nose bridge, with a proud and elegant curve, which is so perfect when combined with the whole face that it is almost unbelievable.

"You are." Ron asked hesitantly, searching the store for Mrs. Allen.

The woman was only wearing a loose silk nightgown, the neckline and cuffs of which had slipped down a little, revealing a large area of ​​fair skin and breathtakingly proud curves.

That casual and unconscious posture was more deadly than deliberate charm, and was completely different from the image of the old witch with wrinkles, a hooked nose, and a hunched back in Ron's memory.

"What's wrong, little guy? Don't you recognize me?" The woman turned her head halfway and said in a familiar tone that made him shudder.

Those dark green eyes—they were exactly Mrs. Allen’s unique eyes!

"Mrs. Allen?!" Ron couldn't believe his own judgment, but those eyes were definitely right.

The other party chuckled, which was exactly the same slightly hoarse old laugh as Mrs. Allen.

But when it came out of the mouth of this young woman who looked only eighteen or nineteen years old, it gave people an extremely incongruous feeling.

"It seems that my change has surprised you." She put down the account book, supported her hands on the counter, and leaned forward. This unconscious movement made the neckline of her nightgown even looser.

The inspiration for Mrs. Allen’s character comes from: Granny Genkai from “Yu Yu Hakusho”. I wonder how many old readers still know this character.

In addition, this book may not have a female protagonist in the strict sense. After all, wizards are all immortal, so there is really no need to linger on those things.

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(End of this chapter)