A Secret Meeting

While Ryan and the other students ate dinner, Instructor Oliver and Instructor Rus sat in the Viscount's study alongside Mage Addison and the Viscount's butler.

Oliver was reporting the results of the exam. The Viscount listened without any visible reaction before asking the most important question.

"Is this batch better than the previous one?"

Oliver nodded. "Yes, sir. It performed better. With the introduction of new skills, courses, and the ever-present threat of death, the students are giving everything they have just for a chance to live."

The Viscount smirked slightly. "Then should we increase the number of students? Raise the death rate? That way, we might uncover even more talent."

Oliver hesitated before replying, "Sir, that would be a stretch. If we add too many students in the next batch, it will become difficult to manage them properly."

The Viscount leaned back. "We'll decide that later. For now, are there any exceptionally talented students with the potential to kill a Rank 2 Extraordinary?"

"Yes, sir," Oliver said. "A few students performed remarkably well—Addison, Adrian, and Ellis. They ranked at the top of the class. And then there's Ryan… He's different. His quick thinking gives him a chance to kill an Extraordinary by surprise."

The Viscount seemed pleased. He turned to Mage Addison. "What do you think? Does this training meet the First Prince's expectations for his secret army?"

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Mage Addison replied, "The results are promising. This batch is better than the first. The real test will be on the battlefield, but I will report the truth. Your contribution will not be forgotten."

A pleased smile crept onto the Viscount's face before it turned serious again.

"Can you request the First Prince to stop the Third Prince's inspectors from entering Pearl City? They're coming for an inspection."

Mage Addison chuckled. "Don't worry. You are one of the First Prince's men. Nothing will happen to you. The inspectors may arrive, but they won't find anything. And even if they do… they won't be able to send their report back to the capital."

The Viscount looked delighted at those words.

Then, turning back to Oliver, he gave one final order.

"For the next exam, there will be no deaths. But for the final exam—thirteen must die. This way, the students will train at full capacity, and only the best will survive."

With that, the meeting ended.

As a new day began, the students continued with their grueling training.

By now, it had become a habit.

Ryan even thought to himself, If I don't do these exercises, I might start feeling uncomfortable.

Despite the passage of time, the aftermath of the previous exam still lingered. The camp was unusually quiet—as if someone had pressed a mute button. The only sounds were the occasional murmurs and the clashing of weapons.

That evening, during sparring and weapons training, Instructor Oliver made an announcement.

"From now on, the students who consistently rank in the top five in exams will have the opportunity to become knights under the Viscount."

The students erupted with excitement.

Even Ryan had to fake enthusiasm to avoid standing out.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months.

Ryan grew stronger and smarter thanks to his Limitless Star ability. He learned new skills, improved his weapon techniques, and mastered survival tactics.

And he was taking it all very seriously.

He knew that once he left the camp, these skills would be the foundation of his survival.

But deep down, a shadow loomed over his progress—the poison.

No matter how strong he became, as long as the poison remained in his body, true freedom was impossible.

But before seeking freedom, he had to survive.

Soon, the time for the second exam arrived.

The format remained the same, but this time, there was a slight change in the rules.

Instructor Oliver announced, "In this exam, no one will die, even if they rank last. This is a mercy granted by Lord Viscount."

The students were shocked.

For the survival phase, instructors would be stationed throughout the forest to prevent students from killing each other. If anyone was caught fatally wounding another student, they would be executed.

The students cheered.

No one had to die this time!

But in their excitement, they forgot one simple truth.

Even if they survived this exam, they might not survive the next.

Still, they chose to celebrate the present rather than fear the future.

And so, the second exam passed peacefully.