Alden sat at his desk, his fingers tapping idly against the wooden surface. His mind was deep in thought as he considered his current limitations.

In the past few weeks, he had grown stronger, far beyond what anyone had expected from a supposed "F-rank." His Mark of Connection had given him the ability to channel mana and aura through objects, bypassing direct contact. His Telekinesis had reached a level where he could wield a dagger with his mind while fighting with his katana. And his Eclipse vision, the most dangerous tool in his arsenal, had already proven its worth.

But there was one problem.

Mana.

The Value of Mana Cores

Every ability he possessed required mana.

Voidstep, the most broken ability he had, required an insane amount of mana to use effectively. Right now, he could only sustain it for a few seconds before it drained him dry. His Eclipse vision-based illusions also consumed mana, though they weren't as demanding as voidstep.

Then there was his general combat usage—coating weapons in aura, reinforcing his body, and using telekinesis. All of it added up.

And the solution?

Mana Cores.

Mana cores were the crystallized essence of mana, harvested from monsters. The stronger the monster, the higher the purity and quantity of mana inside its core.

They had multiple uses:

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Refinement: Consuming mana cores could help increase a person's mana pool and refine their body.

Replenishment: Mana cores could be used as a power source, instantly restoring lost mana when absorbed.

Enchanting and Forging: High-rank mana cores were used in the creation of powerful artifacts and weapons.

The issue was how to get them.

The Price of Strength

There were only two ways to acquire mana cores:

1. Buy them.

2. Hunt monsters and take them.

Buying was the easiest method but also the most expensive.

A single F-rank mana core was cheap, affordable even for commoners.

But E-rank cores were already several times more expensive.

D-rank cores? A luxury only nobles or rich mercenaries could afford.

C-rank and higher? They were treasures, used by elite warriors or reserved for noble houses.

Alden wasn't poor.

With the money he had inherited from blackwood noble status, he could live comfortably for the next 4–5 years. But if he tried to buy mana cores at the rate he needed?

He'd go bankrupt in months.

That left the second option.

Hunting.

The Path of the Hunter

Alden could enter dungeons, kill monsters, and harvest mana cores himself.

The problem?

His rank.

Right now, he was only D- rank.

That meant he could only legally enter dungeons with D-rank monsters or lower.

Hunting stronger monsters without permission was suicide and illegal unless he joined an official hunting party.

Still, even if he could only hunt low-rank monsters, there was another advantage: selling monster corpses.

Mana beasts weren't just valuable for their mana cores. Their blood, bones, fangs, and hides were all used in various industries. Selling full monster corpses could be very profitable.

If he played his cards right, he could both earn money and strengthen himself at the same time.

Another Path – The Future Investor

There was one more method Alden had to make money—the traditional method of someone who knew the future.

Investment.

This world wasn't medieval fantasy. It was a fusion of magic and modern society. That meant there were companies, stock markets, and businesses that would boom in the future.

If he invested in the right places, he could turn his money into wealth beyond imagination.

The issue was time.

Investing would take months, even years before he saw real profit. Right now, he needed money fast—at least until he could set up long-term investments.

That meant dungeon hunting was his best option for immediate power and profit.

Planning the Next Move

Alden leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly.

He needed mana cores to maximize his abilities.

He needed money to sustain his lifestyle and buy higher-rank materials.

He needed to increase his strength before the next major event in the timeline.

The best approach?

1. Join dungeon runs to farm mana cores and make money selling monster materials.

2. Use his knowledge of the future to invest in rising companies for long-term wealth.

3. Slowly build his reputation in the academy to gain access to higher-rank dungeons.

He had two weeks before the academy resumed full activities. That meant he had two weeks to grow stronger.

It was time to hunt.