Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 94 The End of Intimate Relationship

"A musical instrument?" he asked, somewhat bewildered. "This... is indeed a very special gift for this place."

A sly glint flashed in Tracy's eyes. "During our last chat, didn't you mention that you'd hit a bottleneck with your sonic magic? It felt like you'd hit a dead end?"

Ron recalled that conversation. He had indeed complained to Tracy that his research on sonic vibrations was progressing slowly and he always felt that there was a lack of some kind of breakthrough.

"Dawood once mentioned that he came from a family of musicians."

Tracy continued, her eyes gleaming with intelligence:
"I think understanding sound waves from a musical perspective might give you new insights. After all, music is essentially a carefully designed vibration frequency."

Ron felt enlightened. He gently plucked the strings and listened to the clear sound echoing in the air. If this violin was sold in the mortal world, it would probably be worth a lot of money.

A new idea flashed through his mind.

This is really a case of pure confusion on the part of the person involved. Some time ago, he was only thinking about how to increase the power of sonic oscillation.

But I never thought that the essence of sonic magic lies not only in the vibration of a single frequency, but also in the complex combination and rhythm of sound waves!
Through his recollections, Ron was surprised to find that the music theory and instrument making in this world had developed to a fairly mature stage, almost comparable to the modern level on Earth.

Similar products of various Western musical instruments can be found here, and the theoretical system is relatively complete.

Even because of the fusion of supernatural elements and alien world culture, some areas are even more advanced than modern developments.

"This is... awesome!" he said excitedly, his eyes sparkling with inspiration.

"I've been delving into the vibration effects of a single frequency, but have overlooked the combination and layers of sound waves! Through musical performance, I can create more complex and subtle sonic attack patterns."

His thoughts raced, and he had already begun to conceive of a new spell model:
"Perhaps in the future, I won't even need any instruments. I'll be able to simulate various musical effects with just my magic power, creating that invisible, permeating melody of death... After all, the enemy won't give you the chance to play the violin in battle."

Tracy looked at the light of inspiration in Ron's eyes and couldn't help feeling a little satisfied.

She had originally prepared the gift on a whim, but she hadn't expected it to bring him such important inspiration.

"It seems I chose the right gift." She smiled slightly. "I'm glad it can help you with your research."

Ron put down the piano and said sincerely, "This may be one of the most valuable gifts I have ever received. Thank you, Tracy."

Their eyes met briefly in the air, and then they looked away.

"Speaking of which," Ron changed the subject. "I hope to expand the sales of potions. Although I've already obtained the status of a potion master, to run a good workshop, customer sources are the key."

Tracy nodded, understanding what the other party meant: "You need me to introduce you to clients."

"Yes, but I have a special request."

Ron's tone became serious. "In addition to brewing potions, I also have to meditate and practice spells, so my energy is limited. I hope to go the boutique route. I don't ask for a large number of customers, but high quality is required."

The girl thought for a moment, then smiled:
"This isn't a difficult task. I know quite a few mid-level and high-level apprentices in the sequence. They all have sufficient purchasing power and are willing to pay a premium for high-quality potions. I can introduce them to you."

"That's great." Ron nodded gratefully. "I will ensure the quality of the potion and continue to offer you a friendship discount."

After finishing the business, the two chatted casually about some recent events, and the atmosphere became relaxed.

While chatting, Tracy suddenly looked around and said with a little disgust:

"Honestly, you've become a professional potion master, why are you still living in such a shabby dormitory? It's not very convenient to come to see you every time."

Ron scratched his head awkwardly. He did have a stingy habit inherited from his ancestors. It was just like that on Earth.

"Actually, I've already applied to the school for an independent workshop. A messenger should be delivering the contract soon."

………………

When she arrived at the dormitory area for the reserve apprentices, Gwyneth was still in a complicated mood, and she had already thought of the words to apologize.

But when she stood in front of Ron's door and was about to knock, the door suddenly opened by itself.

A girl in a light-colored long dress opened the door from the inside, followed closely by a slender and elegant leopard girl.

Gwyneth recognized the other person instantly—Tracy, the talented apprentice who had recently become the most popular in the school and the favorite student of mentor Corinna.

"Apprentice Tracy?" Gwyneth blurted out in surprise.

The brown-haired girl turned her head and looked at her with her bright eyes: "Hmm? You are?"

"I'm Gwyneth from the East District Registry. You may not have heard of me..." She explained awkwardly, "I'm here to deliver the workshop contract to apprentice Ron."

"Oh, the workshop contract." Tracy smiled slightly and stepped aside to make way. "He's in there, so it's a good time for him to pack up and get ready to move."

Gwyneth nodded and walked into the house.

The scene before her was different from what she had imagined. The room was small but neat and tidy.

Dozens of bottles of potions were neatly arranged on the table, each emitting stable energy fluctuations, obviously a high-quality finished product that had just been completed.

Ron was sorting some potion materials. When he saw someone come in, he looked up and asked, "Senior Gwyneth? What's going on?"

Gwyneth was surprised to find that the boy had somehow learned her name, even though they had only met once and that encounter was not pleasant.

"Ron the Apprentice... No, Ron the Potion Master." Gwyneth quickly corrected her address, her tone clearly nervous.
"I'm here to deliver this workshop contract."

She handed over the document carefully, her eyes shifting between Ron and Tracy, her heart shaken by this astonishing discovery.

This most sought-after young talent in the school actually has such a close relationship with Apprentice Ron!
"Also." Gwyneth took a deep breath, a trace of apology appearing on her face:
"I want to apologize for my attitude a few days ago. I didn't understand your strength at the time, and my words were a bit offensive..."

Ron took the contract, opened it and took a look, then smiled at Gwyneth:
"It's okay, I understand. After all, there aren't many potion masters of my age."

"No, that's not an excuse." Gwyneth said sincerely, her eyes firmer.
"As compensation, I've already bought a set of furniture for your new workshop. Although they're made of ordinary materials and lack extraordinary effects, they're all large, practical pieces. I hope they'll be of some use."

She took out a stack of carefully drawn furniture drawings and decoration plans from her bag and handed them to Ron.

Detailed dimensions and materials are marked on each drawing, and it is obvious that she has put a lot of thought into this matter.

Ron looked at the drawings in surprise. "That's... too polite, Senior Gwyneth. Is this too much trouble for you?"

"Please accept it." Gwyneth insisted, with a sincere apology in her eyes.
"I've already arranged with the merchant, and it will be delivered to your new workshop tomorrow morning. This is a small token of my appreciation, and also a welcome from the school to the new potion master."

Realizing the other party wasn't being hypocritical, Ron could only nod gratefully. "Then I'll be more than welcome. Thank you so much, Senior Gwyneth."

Tracy, who was standing by, saw all of this and a smile of understanding appeared on the corner of her mouth.

After completing her task, Gwyneth tactfully said goodbye and left.

Before leaving, she couldn't help but sigh: "Geniuses really are all in a small circle..."

Watching Gwyneth's departing figure, Ron half-closed the door and turned to Tracy: "It seems that my new workshop can be moved into tomorrow." "East District? That's a good location." The brown-haired girl raised an eyebrow: "It seems that Master Magnus thinks highly of you."

Ron shrugged. "Maybe it's Mrs. Allen's connection. She and Master Magnus seem to be old acquaintances."

"Moving tomorrow?" Tracy stood up and adjusted her skirt.
"Do you need help? I can ask Beaver Moon to lend a hand. She's very strong."

"No need." Ron shook his head. "I don't have much stuff. Andre has already agreed to help. Two people are enough."

"Alright then." Tracy nodded and prepared to leave. "I have some things to take care of. I'll come visit your new workshop another day."

After seeing Tracy off, Ron stood at the door, looking at the workshop contract in his hand, with complicated thoughts welling up in his heart.

Just a few months ago, he was just a candidate apprentice who was under threat of death at any time. No one cared about him and he was struggling.

Now he has become a professional potion master, is about to move into his own independent workshop, and has an increasingly extensive network of contacts.

"The rules of this world are so simple and cruel. As long as you show enough value, people will come forward to win you over even if you just sit still."

He looked at the Potion Master badge on his chest, then glanced at the musical instruments and workshop contract on the table:

"The wisdom of our ancestors, that even if you are rich in remote areas, you still have distant relatives, is truly true everywhere."

………………

In the dim morning light, thick fog drifted through the branches of the black fog jungle, shrouding the entire candidate apprentice dormitory area in a hazy atmosphere.

Andre walked towards Ron's dormitory along the mossy cobblestone road.

Today is the day he helps his good friend move, and his mood is more complicated than he imagined.

Originally following his father, he was only the thirteenth prince of the Farouk Kingdom, had no inheritance rights, and had to swallow his anger in front of his brothers and sisters.

After arriving in the Black Mist Jungle, his situation became even worse than when he was in the palace.

But just three months ago, everything changed quietly.

"It's ridiculous. In the end, I still have to rely on the people I once looked down upon..."

He whispered to himself, his fingers subconsciously stroking the gray and white emblem on his chest.

That was his slave certificate, which Ron had applied for some time ago and was registered under his name.

Only with this can Andre be considered an insider of the school and stay.

Slave... Although the other party treated him as an equal and a friend, he always felt a lump in his throat every time he touched this special emblem.

Just as he was immersed in his thoughts, the sound of hurried footsteps alerted Andre.

He looked up and saw three disheveled figures stumbling towards him at the intersection ahead, their faces filled with fear and despair.

"Your Highness Andre! Your Highness!"

The voice was sharp and trembling, and Andre frowned - it was Byron Lehman, the eldest son of the Border Earl in his father's court, who came to the Black Mist Jungle with him.

Beside him were Helena and Tonys, both of whom were once well-known noble heirs in the kingdom.

On the way here a few months ago, these three people were in high spirits, talking arrogantly about how they should show their skills in the Black Mist Jungle.

Now he is dressed in rags, looks haggard, has sunken eyes, and his face is full of traces of struggling for several days without sleep.

"Your Highness, please be kind..." Helena rushed to Andre and knelt down on the ground, crying and sobbing.
"We know that you have a close relationship with that new potion master. Please introduce us!"

Andre didn't say anything. He frowned slightly and instinctively took a half step back, not wanting to be caught by the other party.

"Your Highness, please, please..."

Byron also knelt at Andre's feet, crying almost breathlessly:
"Today is the last day of the assessment period, and the law enforcement team has begun clearing the dormitories! We will either be picked up by senior apprentices or driven out of the Black Mist Jungle. You know what it's like out there!"

What is it like outside? A sour feeling rose in the blond boy's heart. He knew it all too well.

Although he and Ron had gone out to explore the black market a few days ago, they only dared to move around in the safe area around the school.

Even in the Sunset Tavern, where security was relatively stable, they were walking on thin ice.

The wilderness outside is filled with various alien races that are extremely unfriendly to humans, as well as terrifying monsters that are powerful enough to easily slaughter clusters of knights.

An ordinary person without any extraordinary powers would not survive more than three days in that environment, let alone trekking for several months back to human territory without any means of transportation.

"Your Highness, please..." Tonys also joined the pleading team, his voice trembling with despair:
"We don't want any reward. We are willing to do anything, even if it's just... even if it's just to be the lowest slave!"

Helena almost hugged Andre's legs, her eyes red with tears:

"We know that Lord Ron likes to live alone, but if you are willing to introduce him..."

"Listen, although Ron and I are on pretty good terms."

Hearing this, Andre quickly corrected himself, trying to clarify the boundary between them on this point: "But I am not qualified to make any decisions for him..."

"The law enforcement team is here!" Tonys suddenly screamed and pointed into the distance.

Andre looked in the direction his finger pointed and saw a team of apprentices in uniform gray uniforms checking each door in the dormitory area.

"Look at this batch of defective goods. They are as weak as ever."

A law enforcement officer sneered, his tone full of contempt.

They drove out the panicked apprentice candidates one by one and gathered them in the central courtyard.

Some of them struggled and tried to resist, but were knocked down mercilessly;
Most people just lowered their heads, allowing themselves to be manipulated like zombies, with resignation written all over their faces.

"Please, Your Highness..." Helena's voice was almost hoarse from crying:
"Introduce us to that potion master. Even if we have to do the most menial labor, it is better than being expelled..."

Andre looked at the three people begging humbly, and a complicated feeling welled up in his heart.

Apart from a trace of pure sympathy for one's own kind, there is more of a sense of powerlessness towards this cruel system.

Just as he was in a dilemma, a familiar voice came from behind him: "Your Highness Andre, what happened?"

Andre turned his head sharply and saw Norris standing there.

The team leader of the law enforcement team had a slightly sinister look on his face, but his eyes were extremely alert.

(End of this chapter)