“You failed?” Raven asked with a frown.
In front of him, Ivor Ashen knelt down with his head bowed.
“That’s right. When I tried to kill him, he played many tricks and made things difficult for me. I made a big mistake by underestimating him.”
“Can you explain?”
“My Lord, that man… is not simple. When I fought him, he seemed to have known about my arrival and calmly got out of the spell I released. When I was about to kill him, a chain appeared and bound me which caused my strength to drop drastically. When I broke free, he attacked me from a distance among the crowd. When I thought that he was cornered, he fought me with a strange martial art and I had to lose to him.
“All of those events seemed to be in his grasp and I seemed to be playing around in the palm of his hand. My Lord, that man is not simple.”
Raven who heard that frowned slightly.
How is that possible? Shouldn’t that man die?
The Eye of Truth had already shown the vision of where he would die. Ivor would cut that man’s neck and kill him so easily. Now, why is it Ivor who is being pushed back?
Raven frowned even more. Until now and even in the past, the eye of truth has never been wrong in showing the truth. It must be the truth and there is no way the truth will be wrong.
“If you want to take another step for that person, I am ready to sacrifice myself to kill him.”
Ivor wanted his master to take action directly but Raven refused.
“No. Not for now. The White Snow Academy entrance exam will begin soon. I need to get ready.”
Raven put down the book he was reading in his hand. There were dozens of similar books on the table. Some had old covers while some had new covers.
He stood up and put on the white robe he brought. The clothes really suited him especially his eyes which were now a mix of blue and gold.
“Come with me. We are going to the core laboratory of the White Snow Academy.”
“White Snow Laboratory?!” Ivor was shocked when he heard it. His body immediately shook when he remembered the words the man said.
“Why are you suddenly like this? Is there something wrong?”
“No… No. I’m fine. It’s just, why do we have to go to that core laboratory?” Ivor said while forcing himself to calm down.
Raven looked at Ivor with a strange look. He was silent for a moment before saying. “White Snow Academy wants to present the Potion they developed to us. They want to be one of the potion suppliers for us and the Astrea family.”
“Ah… so that’s how it is.”
Outside, the two were already awaited by Veronica. She did not greet the two or show a friendly smile. Indifferently, she said to Raven.
“Follow me.”
Veronica took Raven to the White Snow Academy’s core laboratory. To get there, they were escorted by a space mage who was assigned.
Through teleportation magic, the two arrived in front of a large white building. The entire building was made of white sand that could only be found in the remote lands of the northern plains.
Adjacent to the White Snow Academy’s core laboratory, a large tower that towered into the sky was right next to it and connected to it by a large bridge.
Raven saw that there was no one around this place and more than 100 people were guarding the Laboratory. Everyone here, they were people with the second awakening stage.
“Raven Astrea, you have been registered as a visitor and will meet the head of the laboratory. Mrs. Veronica, my task is finished here. Then, I will take my leave.” The magician left and left Veronica, Raven, and Ivor alone.
“So, Veronica… can you show me this magnificent place?” Raven asked kindly. However, Veronica did not answer.
She just remained silent while staring at the large building in front of her. A white building that seemed to radiate light from the sun. Tall and majestic, with a symbol of snow crystals carved in pure gold, the White Snow Academy was a large organization in this place.
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Even so, Veronica was not impressed with what was in front of her. After waiting for a while, she looked back at Raven with cold eyes.
“Come with me.”
Veronica walked and led them around several areas of the laboratory. Those were public places such as the cafeteria, break room, public library, and a fairly large Greenhouse.
She didn't say anything and just guided Raven and Ivor around the place. The one who explained some things was a pretty young Magician.
The woman was named Avenia. She explained things perfectly and was quite active in conversation. Sometimes, she would joke around with Raven, very different from Veronica’s personality.
“This is the core area where potion production is done.” Veronica said as she took out a card from her pocket. She inserted it into a magic tool that read the card and the iron door in front of them opened.
After taking back her card, she walked away and left the three of them behind.
From the start, she had no interest in doing this. The only reason she did it was because Denver asked her to do it.
Veronica took out the glasses she had gotten earlier and put them on. In an instant, a new world where the Intent and emotions of living beings were displayed before her eyes.
Silently, she walked while observing the Intent and emotions of the people there.
***
The Core Area of the laboratory was incredibly large and filled with piles of paper and magic tools. Alchemy in this world had developed and far exceeded traditional medicine. The field of alchemy did not only focus on potions but had entered the realm of pseudo-creation.
White Snow Academy was not in the top ranks when it came to alchemy. However, they were able to enter the middle level of this world. This achievement alone made White Snow Academy so impressive.
They were only established 50 years ago and now they have become a terrifying giant in this world.
Ivor looked at the various formulas in this place. Hundreds of workers were moving and researching various formulas, forming hundreds of potions, and researching various magical ingredients that they found.
Avenia began to explain. “You may have heard a little about the core laboratory of White Snow Academy. This is one of the places that can only be entered by those who have truly joined the academy. No students are allowed to enter this place because everything here is confidential.”
“Of course, you two are a special exception,” Avenia added. She looked at Raven who was smiling and Ivor who did not care about Avenia’s words.
“The Head of the Laboratory has informed me to pick you two up. And when I found out about you, I was a little surprised.”
The brightest star of the Eternal Kingdom, the sole heir of the Astrea family, and the youngest person in history to reach the first awakening stage, the best swordsman in the kingdom.
Avenia was a little in disbelief when she saw Raven’s track record and information. It all really didn’t make sense.
“You praise me too much. There are many such outstanding people in the outside world.”
“No… no. I’m not exaggerating. Even in the White Snow Academy, Lady Veronica might be a little inferior to you.”
Raven laughed when he heard that. Comparing him to Veronica might be a bit of an exaggeration for Veronica. Although she could be considered a genius in her own field, all aspects of her seemed inferior to Raven.
Veronica's greatest achievement was being able to access several intermediate magics even though she was only at the first awakening stage. But Raven, what about him?
Although no one knew it, he could repel and even kill someone at the second awakening stage even though he was only at the first awakening stage.
He was the one who was able to withstand the test given by the king of assassins when he saved Ivor Ashen and refused to hand him back. Although no one knew this, Ivor knew.
Raven's greatest and most famous achievement was when he managed to survive against more than 100 first-awakening stage swordsmen when he was in the eternal kingdom.
Although he was not a Magician, his understanding of magic was amazing. In addition, he was known to have pioneered the concept of the Soul Core which made him so famous.
Even the empire almost captured Raven when he did this.
Meanwhile, Ivor couldn't help but think about Ivo Graham.
The order he gave kept echoing in his head. As the two talked, he looked around the large room.
How could I know what that person meant?
Besides, how could there be a potion like the one he meant?
As the two were talking, Raven suddenly turned his gaze to a place where an alchemist was resting while sleeping on his desk. What Raven saw was not the alchemist, but a potion next to him.
Ivor who realized this also paid attention to what Raven saw.
After taking a glance, Raven returned to talking to Avenia. His expression did not show any change as if he had never looked at the potion.
It was colorless and clear like water, emitting no light or magical energy. Furthermore, Raven's attention to the potion explained everything.
As long as I have the potion and give it to Ivo Graham, whether he will keep his promise or not, he is not sure.
However, as long as he gives the potion, at least there is a chance that the words Ivo said will be kept.
This was a gamble based on blind trust in someone he had just attacked.
Without anyone realizing it, a black shadow separated from Ivor's original shadow. The shadow moved from one place to another without anyone realizing it.
A tentacle slowly emerged from the shadow and reached for the Potion on the table. The moment the tentacle touched the potion, the Vial containing the potion sank into the shadow and disappeared from the table.
When the Shadow was about to leave, the sleeping alchemist slowly opened his eyes. He was still half-conscious and yawned.
"Hmmm…?" He looked around and glanced at the shadow beneath his feet.
"Is it just me?"
The man straightened his lab coat and stood up. "Right, I have to report to the headmaster today."
"???" His hand touched the table but he found nothing. The potion that he was supposed to hand over to the headmaster was gone from this place.
"Where? I should have put it up here?!"
No… no… no…
The potion can't be gone!
"Right! Protocol 1. I must immediately seal this place!” The alchemist immediately ran with all his strength. He went into a room and immediately closed the door.
After a while, a very loud alarm sounded and everything in this place was sealed.
The core laboratory of the White Snow Academy entered a level 1 emergency state.