"How is this possible! You actually passed?"
Catching the sheepskin scroll Brand threw over, Andy unrolled it with both hands. Disbelief washed over his face as he read its contents.
Andy had previously gathered detailed information about Brand’s life through various channels. No matter the source, the reports always included one resounding label: an ignorant incompetent. Andy had originally assumed that it would be a sheer stroke of luck if a good-for-nothing like Brand even managed to pass the exams. Earning anything above a passing grade was absolutely impossible! As for taking Rune Array Science as an elective? That was utterly absurd!
However, after repeatedly reading the sheepskin scroll in his hands countless times to confirm his eyes weren’t playing tricks on him, Andy finally forced himself to accept this outrageous reality. Secretly, he decided that once he returned, he would suggest his father dock the intelligence department’s pay for the year.
On Brand’s side, watching the rapidly shifting expressions on Andy’s face brought him immense joy.
An ignorant incompetent? That was just him being young and foolish! As the saying went, a person must be judged with new eyes even after a brief absence. It had been months—how could outdated information still apply to him now?
However, as a noble descendant with excellent moral character, Brand had always considered humility one of his virtues. After snatching the sheepskin scroll back from Andy, he smiled modestly. "It was luck, just pure luck. I definitely wouldn’t be able to do it a second time."
Brand then caught a glimpse of Andy’s "report card."
[Andy Claude]
[Evaluation Content: Basic Magic Knowledge, Magical Beast Taming]
[Evaluation Result: Excellent]
As the eldest son of a Count clan, Andy had received a strict education since childhood. Even before entering the Empire Mage Academy, he had already built a solid foundation in magic. Therefore, Brand wasn’t surprised by his results. On the other hand, someone like Andy was just an ordinary member of the masses. He completely couldn’t compare to a cheat-like existence such as himself. The source of this chapter is novelping dot com.
The students had held their report cards for a while now when the Dean of the Academy standing on the podium spoke up again.
"Alright, this semester’s report cards have been distributed to everyone.
"For the students who passed the exams, do not be complacent. The path of magic is boundless, and both you and I are but insignificant seekers of knowledge.
"For the students who failed to pass, do not be discouraged. On the Fains Continent, everyone has their own place. Change your perspective, and perhaps you will see more.
"The rest of the evening is free time. Enjoy the banquet!"
After the Dean of the Academy announced the start of the banquet, a group of waiters filed in, pushing dining carts. They served the pre-prepared delicacies dish by dish, portioning them onto the plates in front of everyone. Beyond their appetizing appearance and enticing aroma, these dishes all exuded a rich aura of magic power.
They were extraordinary ingredients.
Even an extravagant person like Brand had rarely enjoyed a dinner of this caliber. In terms of cost, a single person’s meal tonight was worth dozens, if not hundreds, of magic gold coins. And there were over a thousand people in the entire academy!
He could only marvel that the wealthy and imposing Empire Mage Academy truly lived up to its reputation!
After taking a few bites of the dishes meticulously prepared by the chefs, Brand’s thoughts began to wander. In his opinion, the taste was only average—completely incomparable to the delicacies of his past life that he had manifested from the Simulation World. However, he had to admit that dishes made with magic plants and demon beast meat possessed a significantly higher level of "class."
It was just a pity that his current net worth wasn’t substantial enough. Otherwise, combining the extraordinary ingredients of the Fains Continent with the various cooking methods and seasonings from his past life would result in absolute top-level class.
"Sigh, what a pity. If only Elder Master Holland were a bit more reliable."
Touching upon a sore subject, Brand couldn’t help but let out a melancholy sigh. Andy, who was gnawing on a beast leg with a look of sheer intoxication, shot him a bewildered glance. Seeing Andy so mesmerized by a bland, tasteless beast leg, Brand inadvertently revealed a look of disdain.
And he called himself the eldest son of a Count clan! Had he never seen the world?
Reaching into his pocket, Brand pulled out some pre-prepared seasonings and began a "secondary processing" of the food in front of him. The source of this chapter is g.com.
From Andy’s perspective, Brand took out several glass bottles filled with an unidentified powder. Uncapping them, he evenly sprinkled the strange powder over his various dishes.
Andy was confused by Brand’s strange behavior for two seconds. Then, a rich, indescribable, and incredibly enticing aroma wafted over from Brand’s plate. He wasn’t the only one; several other people at the table instinctively cast their gazes toward Brand. Although none of them were familiar with him or had much of a favorable impression of him, their bodies honestly betrayed expressions of curiosity and longing.
"What kind of magic powder are you sprinkling?"
Without realizing it, Andy had set aside the roasted beast leg that had absolutely captivated him just a moment ago. Leaning his head close to Brand, his eyes were locked onto the food in front of him. The gaze was so fiery that if they weren’t in a public setting, Brand had no doubt Andy would have reached out and robbed him on the spot.
Waving a hand to address Andy’s question, Brand explained casually, "It’s not any kind of magic powder. It’s just a seasoning, like salt or refined sugar. I’m quite picky when it comes to food, and lately, I’ve been craving stronger flavors, so I occasionally carry some flavor-enhancing seasonings with me."
Despite everyone’s longing expressions, Brand didn’t offer any further explanation.
The reason was simple: they weren’t well-acquainted. He had only known Andy for half a month, barely reaching the threshold of friendship, let alone the others. If it had been anything else, he might not have minded, but these seasonings were manifested through his own ability. In other words, just like his coffee beans, they were completely exclusive to him.
How could he casually share such a "precious" item with people he barely knew? It was worth noting that these few bottles of powdered solid seasoning—which totaled less than the volume of a cup of coffee—had cost Brand two entire points of his maximum spiritual power limit!
Naturally, Andy was entirely unaware of how "precious" these seasonings were. He asked with thinly veiled impatience, "Where did you buy them? Or is this a specialty of the Holland family? I’ve looked at your family’s merchandise catalog before, and I don’t recall seeing any seasonings for sale."
Swallowing his food unhurriedly and wiping the grease from his lips with a napkin, Brand finally met the crowd’s curious and eager gazes. "It is indeed a specialty of the Holland family. However, because the production volume is incredibly low, it’s hardly enough for our own family to use, so it isn’t sold to the public."
"Oh, right!" Having answered Andy’s question, Brand seemed to recall something. He took out the seasonings he had just stowed back in his bag and said to Andy, "I heard your region has a specialty called spirit calming wood. Accessories made from its core help improve meditation efficiency. If you happen to have any to spare, I’d be willing to trade these seasonings with you for a piece."