In the end, Lord Buck did not impose any punishment on Frank, possibly attributing it to his youth and the potential for forgiveness. After all, Frank's magical talent was exceptional; he was a dual-element mage and also a prodigy in the cultivation of martial qi.

The incident had settled down for the most part. Regardless, Dick had benefited from a windfall of ten thousand gold coins, which would cover his future training expenses—quite a delightful outcome.

In a sense, Buck's reprimand of Mentor Buffon also served as a subtle warning to Liu Tiesheng lurking in the shadows. If Liu Tiesheng wished to target Dick again, he would need to seriously reconsider.

The mentors of the academy would also need to weigh the risks of associating with Liu Tiesheng. Accepting his favors came with significant dangers, and the rewards might not justify the risks.

Following his battle with Frank, Dick found himself reflecting deeply. Had he not anticipated Frank's scheming, he might have fallen victim to Frank's treachery.

This was merely a scheming within the confines of the academy. The outside world was far more perilous, and his own strength remained insufficient. He needed to continue his efforts diligently.

"Dick, Dick! I heard you achieved quite the feat, winning ten thousand gold coins in a single battle!" The holiday was nearly over, and the chubby Harvey had returned, brimming with excitement. As for Harvey and Angel's supposed romantic entanglements, such matters faded with time.

"Understood! Understood! Let's go for a magical feast! My treat."

"You've got the right idea!"

"Harvey, you're quite the 'informed' one, coming back to the academy and already knowing everything."

"Indeed, in a merchant family, staying informed is essential. I already knew about your battle with Frank while at home. I didn’t expect that Frank had concealed his warrior cultivation and magical sword," Harvey said with zest as they enjoyed their magical feast.

"Angel must have made significant contributions to Frank. Perhaps she taught him the family’s warrior techniques without the family's consent. Otherwise, Frank couldn’t have reached nearly the same level of martial cultivation in just a year."

"Ah! The young girl, her naivety is somewhat understandable. But that magical short sword Frank wields isn’t likely a gift from Angel; it might have been provided by Liu Tiesheng. It seems Liu Tiesheng won’t give up until he takes Alina from you."

"Harvey, what are you talking about? Alina and I are friends; there's nothing untoward."

"I know, I know, we’re just speaking casually. You, with your wooden head, don’t understand women. You’re right—people like us, from merchant and commoner backgrounds, are nothing without strength. Once you have power, who’s to say you won’t attract all kinds of beauties? Haha! Dick, upon returning home, my family arranged several beautiful 'trials' for me. It's quite exhilarating..."

"Seriously, Harvey, how old are you, and already...?"

"Cut it out! We’re mages, twelve years old isn’t too young. Look at my stature, I’m no longer a child." Harvey, already over 1.7 meters tall, was indeed a young man. "Besides, not being married, as a wealthy young master, who doesn’t have a few mistresses to attend to?"

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Children from commoner families, often malnourished, rarely reach such heights.

"Dick, you need to shift your mindset. You’re a mage now. The principal, Buck, is a prime example, with over a dozen women and dozens of descendants. The chances of magical talent among mage offspring are quite high."

"Alright, you’re right. Perhaps this is the way of mages in this world, given their noble status."

"Are the chances of magical talent among mage offspring significant? Nonsense! The majority of magical students are commoners."

"Enough with the nonsense!" Dick was not interested in discussing women with Harvey. "Harvey, I want to ask why Frank wants to switch grades with me? It doesn’t benefit him. Could it be he just wants to be in the same class as Angel? This excuse for a duel seems absurd."

"I actually know the answer. Although Harvey wasn’t at the academy during the holiday, his family’s intelligence network is truly remarkable. Wealthy families are often adept at acquiring such secrets."

"Frank’s ambition is truly impressive. Angel has likely become a mere 'stepping stone' in his growth, with Liu Tiesheng currently being his most crucial support!"

"I'm curious. Liu Tiesheng’s family is merely a viscountcy. It’s impressive enough to bribe academy mentors. Why does Liu Tiesheng have such a strong allure? What’s the reason?" Dick inquired.

"Dick, do you remember Liu Tiesheng advanced to a level two mage during the annual assessment?"

"Harvey, are you suggesting Liu Tiesheng has some special method to break through the level two mage bottleneck?"

"Dick, Frank has already advanced to a level two mage after his battle with you."

"Damn! First Liu Tiesheng, and now Frank? The mage bottleneck is notoriously difficult. Many students have been expelled for not breaking through in three years."

"If there’s a method for breaking through the second-level bottleneck, what about the third? Could the Liu family have special methods for breaking through even the fourth level?"

"At the very least, Frank’s breakthrough to a level two mage means he can focus on his training until thirty. This is crucial for someone of Frank’s commoner background."

"If that’s the case, isn’t the Liu family risking disaster? The significance of such breakthrough methods is immense for mages. Even the royal family might find it unsettling." A commoner holding a precious secret often attracts unwanted attention.

"There’s secret information that the royal family’s core members have already made contact with the Liu family, but it seems to have ended inconclusively. Apparently, the royal family has shown no interest in Liu’s methods. Perhaps there are serious hidden dangers."

"Impressive, Harvey’s merchant family even digs up such confidential information."

"However, for a commoner like Frank, the temptation might already be enough." Harvey’s words made Dick nod in agreement. Commoner students face greater challenges and fewer opportunities. If Frank didn’t strive hard, he would inevitably face retaliation from Angel’s family in the future.

"Damn it! Alina, how did you sneak up on me without a sound?" Dick was startled as Alina appeared like a ghost, sitting next to him.

"You two were so engrossed in your scheming," Alina said disdainfully, "Waiter, I’ll have a serving of the magical feast as well." Seizing the rare opportunity to tease Dick, Alina was unapologetic. "Angel has also advanced to a level two mage."

"Ah! Did Angel also fall under Liu Tiesheng’s influence?" Harvey was astonished, given that Liu’s breakthrough methods were rumored to have significant flaws.

"It wasn’t Liu’s method but rather Angel’s unexpected breakthrough due to the intense pressure from Frank’s situation," Alina explained. "Frank’s actions had a profound impact on Angel."

"So, Angel’s breakthrough was due to this stimulus. Bottlenecks are often a matter of luck and opportunity. I didn’t expect Angel to break through for this reason."

"Isn’t it said that Angel was deeply infatuated? Isn’t it said she had complete trust in Frank? In just one holiday, she saw through Frank’s true nature? The world is truly… unpredictable!"

"Liu’s methods can at most help break through to a level four mage," Alina added, which explained why Liu Tiesheng could influence the academy’s mentors. Mentors, mostly seasoned level three mages, would find the allure of advancing to level four irresistible.

"Is there a flaw with such level four mages?" Dick questioned, recognizing that if there were no flaws, the royal family would have shown interest.