[System Prompt: The host has successfully purchased the Beast Trap for 10,000 points. It has been placed in the system space. Please check it yourself.]

As the system's voice echoed in Sylvus's mind, he noticed a small, palm-sized beast trap lying inside his system space.

"Little fatty, I've got something that might help you catch a magical beast. Want to give it a try?" Sylvus asked, smiling as he looked at Covin.

"What is it?" Covin asked, intrigued.

With a thought, Sylvus brought the Beast Trap into his hand. Both Covin and Meylan leaned closer, their expressions turning puzzled as they saw it.

"It's just a beast trap, right? What's so special about this? And it's made of wood! A First-Grade magical beast would break out of this, let alone a Third-Grade one," Covin said dismissively.

"Boss, when a knight catches a mount, they can't rely on external tools. If the mount is harmed, it won't submit, and capturing it will be pointless," Meylan reminded, worried that Sylvus might not understand how knights worked.

"I know, I know. Relax. With your current strength, you have an 80% chance of catching a Third-Grade magical beast, and a 70% chance for a Fourth-Grade beast. You can borrow this and give it a shot. You don't have any better options right now, do you?" Sylvus said with a smile.

"You don't even have to pay upfront. You can pay me later once it works. As the heir of the Steinway family, I doubt you'd run off and not pay what you owe," Sylvus added casually.

The Beast Trap didn't belong to the system, which allowed him to lend it without requiring immediate payment. With potions, that wouldn't have been possible.

And if Covin tried to dodge the debt, Sylvus would simply send Meylan to collect it. There was no way the Steinway family would risk angering a Nine-Star Saint Archmage over a mere 100,000 magic crystals.

"Boss, are you serious?" Covin asked, frowning. Sylvus didn't seem like he was joking.

"Of course. After you capture the magical beast, come back to my shop. I've got plenty of elixirs that can help you strengthen your abilities," Sylvus replied.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

He had taken a liking to Covin. Despite his wealthy background, Covin didn't carry himself with the same arrogance as others. He was a bit proud, but not insufferably so, unlike the obnoxious officials like Reggie.

Plus, the Beast Trap wasn't of much use to Sylvus. A trade of 10,000 magic crystals for 100,000 was too good to pass up.

"Alright, boss. If this works, I'll be sure to come back and thank you properly," Covin said seriously, taking the Beast Trap from Sylvus.

"Master, where are you? The lord is furious, and if you don't come back soon, he says he'll strip you of your inheritance rights!"

A voice called out from outside the shop just then.

Covin recognized it immediately. His father's men had finally caught up with him.

He put the Beast Trap away and gave Sylvus and Meylan a quick nod before heading out of the shop.

"Quit your whining. I was just out for a stroll, no need to get all worked up," Covin grumbled, annoyed as he approached the man waiting outside.

"Master Covin, thank goodness I found you. Your father has been worried sick," the man replied breathlessly as he ran up to Covin.

"Let's head back, then," Covin said, walking briskly toward the exit.

The man was stunned. Was this really the same Covin? The young master had never voluntarily returned home before. He had even been thinking about making up some excuse, like telling him his father was on his deathbed, to convince him.

Either way, as long as Covin was willing to return, he was relieved. Before leaving, he glanced back at Sylvus's small shop, wondering when such a store had appeared here.

After Covin left, the shop stayed open for a few more hours until the afternoon, when it finally closed.

Back in his room, Sylvus took a Second-Grade elixir and began his cultivation. By the evening, he had successfully reached the Nine-Star Mage rank.

"The time has come. Let's see what treasures the system shop has in store for me now," Sylvus smiled as he opened the system shop.

[System Prompt: The host has successfully purchased the Third-Grade Magic Spell: Meteor Firestorm for 1,000 points. The host has automatically learned the spell.]

[System Prompt: The host has successfully purchased the Forbidden Tome (Fragment) for 100,000 points. It has been placed in the system space. Please check it yourself.]

As the system's voice echoed, Sylvus's mind filled with numerous magical symbols. In just a few seconds, he had mastered the spell Meteor Firestorm.

"Haha, having a system is amazing. Learning magic is so easy! I wonder how powerful the forbidden magic is," Sylvus said, taking a deep breath, filled with anticipation. He opened his system space and found a black piece of parchment lying inside.

"This is the fragment of the Forbidden Tome?" Sylvus asked as he retrieved the parchment. It was covered in strange symbols, none of which he could decipher.

[System Prompt: The host has acquired a fragment of the Forbidden Tome. Would you like to fuse it with the existing tome?]

"Fuse it!" Sylvus said without hesitation. This was what he had been waiting for.

[System Prompt: Fusion of the Forbidden Tome has begun…]