Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Twilight City, underground laboratory.

Ron stood in front of the workbench, holding a syringe that had just been completed.

The vessel is made of specially made blood crystal glass and filled with dark green liquid.

That was his latest concoction, the third edition of the "Immortality Erasure Potion".

"It's broken again."

He sighed and tossed the remains of the seventh syringe that had broken during testing into the waste bin.

The problem is not with the medication itself.

After repeated verification, this formula has been able to effectively weaken the immortality of vampires, prevent wounds from healing, and even stop regeneration at the soul level.

The problem lies in the carrier.

Ordinary metal syringes can be corroded by the chaotic components in the medication;

The specially made container reinforced with runes could not withstand the energy impact generated when the potion was injected;
Even blood crystal glass, which is theoretically the most stable material, will develop cracks after the third use.

"What is needed is more than just containers."

Ron pushed the scrap bin aside and quickly scribbled in his notebook:
"We need a carrier that can 'guide' the energy of the drug to make the injection process smoother."

"Ideally, it should also have additional destructive effects, such as automatically spreading a force field that weakens regeneration capabilities upon piercing the target."

He stopped writing and fell into thought.

This requirement goes beyond the scope of ordinary alchemy.

What is needed is a perfect combination of weapon forging and potion-making.

"Ralph".

Edwin's voice rang out from the doorway.

He wouldn't address Ron by his title when no one else was around.

Ron looked up and saw the giant with reddish-brown skin standing outside the door, looking somewhat uneasy.

"Come in, Edwin."

Edwin entered the laboratory, his gaze lingering for a moment on the pile of broken syringe wreckage, before turning to Ron:
"Looking for me? Finally, I have a task to complete?"

"Yes."

Ron pointed to the chair next to him:

"Sit down. I do have an important task for you."

Edwin sat down with his legs together, a somewhat awkward position for his large frame.

"Relax."

Ron chuckled:

"It's not a troublesome task; in fact, it's a good thing for you."

He pushed the notebook in front of Edwin:
"check it out."

Edwin looked down.

The notes were filled with various data and design sketches:
The structure of the syringe, the energy curve of the drug, and the test results of various materials.
"This is."

"A special weapon designed to target vampires."

Ron explained succinctly:

"To be precise, it's a 'carrier,' used to inject this drug into the target body."

"But now we've encountered a technical bottleneck."

He pointed to the records of failures:
"Ordinary forged containers cannot withstand the special properties of the medicine."

"What I need is..."

Ron hesitated for a moment before stating his request:

“A weapon that can ‘resonate with the potion’ is not just a container, but also an amplifier.”

Edwin frowned and looked intently at the design sketches.

Having honed his skills in the world of Initial Flame for many years, he was no stranger to weapon forging.

But the other party's description of this requirement
"You mean, to make the weapon itself capable of weakening vampire traits?"

he asked tentatively.

"Yes."

Ron nodded:

"The moment it pierces, the runes on the weapon's surface begin to work, suppressing the target's regeneration mechanism."

"Then the drug is injected, creating a second strike."

"at last."

His voice became deeper:

"If possible, I hope this weapon can 'memorize' the target's soul characteristics."

"This way, even if the target manages to escape, the weapon can automatically lock on the next time it encounters the target, causing double the damage."

Edwin gasped.

If this weapon could actually be manufactured, it would be a nightmare for vampires.

"But."

He said somewhat awkwardly:
"With my current skill level, I'm afraid I can't achieve such fine forging."

"I know."

Ron stood up and walked to the window:

"That's why I want you to go to Grey Tower Town."

Grey Tower Town?

"Find someone."

Ron turned around, a thoughtful look in his eyes:
“Gaetano Anvil, a Dark Sun-level wizard with dwarven blood, was also Dean Salamander’s senior when she studied at the Crystal Spire.”

"He is proficient in fire forging—an ancient technique that combines fire, metal, and will into one, which can be considered a branch of orthodox alchemy."

"If someone in this world of chaotic blood can solve this problem..."

"That must be him."

Edwin's eyes lit up.

He had certainly heard of the name Gaetano Anvil.

In the world of the First Flame, Salamander would occasionally mention this senior.

His tone always carried a strange sense of melancholy—a mixture of respect and regret.

"I remember my mentor saying..."

Edwin recalled:

“The wizard Gaetano was once one of the most talented blacksmiths of the Crystal Spire.”

“He showed amazing talent at a young age and was even considered to have the potential to become a great wizard.”

"But later, it seems he offended some big shot."

His voice trailed off.

"This led to being sent to this world, where I stayed for hundreds of years."

Ron picked up the conversation:

"Yes, talent, resources, and opportunity—these three things are indispensable."

“Gaetano is talented, but in this barren world, he doesn’t get enough resources to support him.”

"When a wizard is away from the academic circles of the main world for a long time, unable to access the latest research results or exchange ideas with other wizards of the same type."

"No matter how talented you are, you will be left behind by the times."

He walked back to his workbench:

“Dean Salamander has become a high wizard, and Gaetano is still stationed here.”

"My classmates from back then are now worlds apart."

Even so

Ron's tone became serious:
"He remains the world's greatest blacksmith."

"and"

He looked at Edwin:

"You should go and see him too."

"Because the path you've taken is very similar to his."

Edwin paused for a moment, then understood what the other person meant.

Flame forging—this was the direction he had tried.

To be honest, in the world of the First Flame, he was learning more about "combat" than "creation".

How to kill with fire, how to increase temperature and destructive power
He is very good at all of these.

But how can we use fire to "shape," "endow," and "create"?
He still has so much to learn.

"I understand."

Edwin stood up and said seriously:
"I will visit the wizard Gaetano."

"It's not just about completing a task."

A fiery light ignited in his eyes:

"It's also for my own sake."

"very good."

Ron nodded in satisfaction:
“Ivy will go with you. She knows the officials there and can help you with some miscellaneous matters.”

As for the specific requirements for the weapons...

He handed the notebook to Edwin:
"It's all here. Take it to Gaetano and hear his opinion."

"Yes."

Edwin took the notebook and carefully put it into his pocket.

"And one more thing."

Ron suddenly said:
"If Gaetano is willing to teach you something real, don't let this opportunity slip by."

"Fire forging is a skill that is being lost."

He looked at Edwin:
"You have the Heart of Lava, an affinity for fire, and sufficient comprehension."

"perhaps."

Ron subtly levitated with magic and patted the giant in front of him on the shoulder: "You can become the new inheritor of this skill."

“I understand, Ralph, and thank you for helping me get this opportunity to ‘further study’.”

Edwin nodded gratefully:

"Finally, I can do something meaningful."

………………

Grey Tower Town.

When Edwin stepped onto the steam train platform, his first impression was that this place was completely different from Twilight City.

The smell of industrial coal smoke still lingered in the air, but the oppressive, bloody, and potentially out-of-control feeling had disappeared.

Instead, a more "orderly" atmosphere has emerged.

The buildings on both sides of the street are neatly arranged, each with a clear number and functional label.
The streetlights are no longer dim kerosene lamps, but rather [constant light source] rune devices that emit a soft white light;
Even the pedestrians' steps seemed relaxed and purposeful, without any sense of tension as if they were ready to flee at any moment.

"It's so much more comfortable in a city directly managed by a wizard."

Edwin sighed softly.

In Twilight City, wizards are more like "guests" or "collaborators," needing to carefully maintain a balance with the vampires.

But here, the wizard is the absolute ruler.

At the street corner, a towering gray spire pierces the sky; that is the iconic building of Gray Tower Town—the Ash Tower.

The tower is constructed entirely of some kind of magic-resistant limestone, with a crystal ball suspended at its apex.

Flames flickered inside the crystal ball, like an ever-burning eye, overlooking the entire city.

It is said that this "Tower of Ashes" was specially built by the City Hall for Gaetano.

Unfortunately, the dwarven wizard seemed to prefer staying in his workshop, leaving the landmark building idle for a long time.

The deeper he went into the city, the more he felt an unusual sense of oppression.

It's not hostility, it's more like filtering?

"Be careful."

Ivy suddenly stopped in her tracks:

"His Excellency Gaetano's residence is just ahead."

"but."

Her expression turned serious:

"There is a [Rejection Barrier] there."

"Those whose strength is not enough to become a formal wizard cannot even get close."

“Even a certified wizard can be ‘guided’ elsewhere without ‘permission’.”

Edwin frowned.

He sensed the flow of magic around him and indeed discovered something amiss.

A layer of extremely intricate rune network permeated the air, the runes intertwining to form a vast three-dimensional array.

Ivy continued to explain:
"Lord Gaetano does not like to be disturbed."

"So he set up this barrier to keep all 'unauthorized personnel' out."

"Only two types of people can get in."

"Strong enough, or smart enough."

She looked at Edwin: "Are you ready?"

Seeing this, Edwin said nothing more, but simply took a step forward.

The [Heart of Lava] in his chest throbbed violently, and a faint ring of flame patterns spread from his feet.

"Zi"

The rune network has begun to "make way".

The protective array that was originally densely woven together now parted to both sides like a tide, leaving him a straight passage.

"Let's go."

Edwin strode forward.

Ivy quickly followed, and the two passed through the area that was originally shrouded by the barrier, arriving in front of a three-story building that looked somewhat dilapidated.

The building's exterior walls were covered in vines, and the windows were covered in a thick layer of dust.

The sign at the entrance was crooked and crooked, with the words written in Dwarven and Common:

The Fire Forge of Gaetano

No unauthorized visitors allowed; appointments required.

"right here?"

Edwin was somewhat puzzled.

Given the dwarves' pride in their craftsmanship, he expected to see a magnificent and ornate workshop.

But the building in front of us looks like a dilapidated house that's about to collapse.

Don't be fooled by appearances.

Ivy chuckled softly:

"His Excellency Gaetano is notoriously 'unkempt'."

"He focused all his attention on forging and paid no attention to the appearance of the workshop."

"It is said that once, a newly appointed municipal official in Grey Tower wanted to help him renovate his workshop in order to curry favor with him."

"As a result, not only did Lord Gaetano not appreciate it, he also 'forged' the official's desk into a pile of scrap metal."

As she spoke, she stepped forward and knocked on the door.

"Dong dong dong."

A dull echo reverberated through the narrow street.

no respond.

Ivy frowned and knocked on the door again, this time with more force:

"Boom boom boom!"

“Your Excellency Gaetano! I have been entrusted by Associate Professor Ron Ralph to bring Mr. Edwin here for a visit!”

Still no response.

Just as Edwin was about to suggest "come back another time"...

"boom!"

A loud bang came from inside the building.

Immediately afterwards, thick smoke billowed out from the crack in the door, accompanied by a pungent, acrid smell.

"Damn it! It exploded again!"

A gruff voice roared:
"I clearly lowered the temperature by fifty degrees! Why is there still an overheating reaction?!"

"There must be something wrong with that batch of blood crystals! That vampire swindler! Next time I see him, I'll shove his head into a furnace!"

Edwin and Ivy exchanged a glance.

A moment later, the door creaked open.

A dwarf, charred black, with his hair standing on end and half his beard burned off, appeared at the door.

He was only about 1.3 meters tall, but he was extremely strong, with muscles that bulged like rocks.

Wearing a tattered apron covered in burn marks and molten metal slag.

What's most striking about him are his eyes.

Those eyes burned like molten lava; even from several meters away, Edwin could feel the fervor within them.

"who are you?"

The dwarf sized the two up, his tone unfriendly:
"I don't remember having an appointment today."

"If you're here to buy weapons, get lost."

"I'm not in the mood to entertain guests right now."

After saying that, he was about to close the door.

"and many more!"

Edwin quickly spoke up:
“I was introduced by my mentor, Salamander.”

The dwarf stopped moving.

He looked Edwin over again, this time with a sharper gaze:
“Salamanda? Oh, that guy did mention that one of his students came…”

"Yes."

Edwin nodded:
“My mentor said that if I want to take the forging of flames to the next level, you are the best teacher in the world.”

"Humph."

The dwarf snorted coldly:
"The old man is quite the smooth talker."

"But he's not wrong. Not to mention in this broken world, when it comes to fire forging techniques, there aren't many people in the main world who are better than me."

He stepped back, clearing the doorway.

"Come in, don't stand outside in the way."

The two entered the workshop.

The interior scenery is in stark contrast to the exterior.

Although equally chaotic, that chaos reveals a peculiar "order".

The walls were covered with all sorts of tools—hammers, pliers, files, chisels…

Each piece is meticulously maintained, its surface gleaming with a metallic sheen.

The ground was piled high with raw materials—ores, metal ingots, blood crystals, rune plates…

Although it looked messy, Edwin noticed that the materials were arranged according to "frequency of use" and "durability".

The most attractive feature is the furnace in the center of the workshop.

It was a giant furnace, three meters high, cast entirely from some kind of dark red metal.

"This is……"

Edwin took a few steps closer, feeling the heat emanating from the furnace:
"【Conversion Furnace】?"

"Oh?"

Gaetano raised an eyebrow:

"Do you recognize it?"

"I've seen something similar in the Primal Flame World."

Edwin explained:

"However, those furnaces are all stationary and require a huge energy system to support them."

"But your house..."

He carefully observed the structure at the bottom of the furnace:
"It's running independently?"

"of course."

The dwarf's tone revealed obvious pride:
“Those ‘fixed’ big machines, although powerful, are too inflexible.”

"Moreover, it is completely dependent on external energy supply, and if a problem occurs, the entire furnace will shut down."

He patted the outer shell of the furnace:
"At the core of my furnace is a [Heart of Eternal Flame]."

"That was a treasure I dug out from the depths of a volcano in the First Flame World, a treasure I spent fifty years digging out."

"In conjunction with my own designed rune circuits and cooling system..."

Gaetano's eyes began to glow:
"It can run continuously for hundreds of years without going out!"

"The temperature adjustment range is from 500 to 5000 degrees Celsius, with an accuracy control within plus or minus one degree!"

"sharp……"

Edwin was genuinely impressed.

"Awesome my ass."

Gaetano suddenly cursed:
Didn't you see the oven explode just now?

He pointed to the still-smoking pile of ruins in the corner:
"Those are materials that I spent more than half a year preparing, and they are worth at least five hundred magic stones."

"The entire experiment was ruined because one of the damn blood crystals wasn't pure enough!"

The dwarf became more and more agitated as he spoke, his beard trembling:

"I swear, if I ever see that vampire again, I'll throw him into the furnace and burn him to ashes!"

Ivy was trying not to laugh.

Clearly, this dwarf wizard's temper... is as volatile as rumored.

"Cough cough."

Edwin coughed, trying to steer the conversation back on track:
"Lord Gaetano, regarding the study of fire forging techniques..."

"study?"

The dwarf suddenly turned his head, his lava-like eyes fixed on him:
"You think fire forging is so easy to learn? Just some random wizard who knows how to set fires can become a fire forger?" He strode up to Edwin, his imposing presence undiminished despite the significant height difference.

"Kid, I have a question for you."

What is the essence of fire?

Edwin paused for a moment; the question was... far too broad.

As a fire elemental wizard, he had naturally studied fire.

But to accurately define "essence"...

"Energy release?"

He answered tentatively.

"wrong."

"That's... a combustion reaction of matter?"

"Still wrong."

"That is……"

"stop."

Gaetano raised his hand, interrupting his thoughts:
"Your answers are both right and wrong."

"Because you only see the 'phenomenon' of the flame, but do not understand the 'will' of the flame."

He turned and walked toward the furnace, reaching out to touch its scorching surface.

The temperature that would have burned an ordinary person was like warm sunshine in his hands.

"The flame is alive."

The dwarf's voice became deep and solemn:
"It has desires, emotions, and its own thoughts."

"It craves to burn, craves destruction, craves to turn everything to ashes."

"Can be done simultaneously..."

His palms began to glow, and a pure flame danced in his palms:

"It also yearns to create."

"Fire can destroy a city, or it can forge a divine weapon."

"The key lies in..."

Gaetano looked at Edwin:
"Can you understand it, respect it, and then... guide it?"

He tossed the flame in his hand into the air.

The flames deformed in the air, gradually coalescing into a small dagger.

The dagger was made entirely of flames, yet its shape remained as stable as real metal.

"This is the core of the Fire Forging Technique."

The dwarf explained:
"It's not just about using fire to 'heat' the metal, it's about using fire to 'shape' the metal."

He snapped his fingers again.

The flaming dagger fell to the ground with a "clink" and cooled into a real metal dagger.

Edwin walked over and picked up the dagger.

He was stunned the moment he got his hands on it.

This dagger is forged with incredible precision.

The curvature of the blade, the weight distribution, the comfort of the grip...

Everything was just right, as if it were tailor-made for him.

But Gaetano only used it for a few seconds and didn't even touch the metal itself!
"Did you see it?"

The dwarf grinned:
"This is the difference between fire forging and ordinary forging."

Edwin finally understood why Salamander and Ron both held the dwarf wizard in such high regard.

This is no longer just a "skill," but a "way," a profound understanding of the nature of fire and metal.

"so……"

He took a deep breath:

How should I begin learning?

Gaetano looked him up and down:
"First, forget all about your 'First Flame World' flame control methods."

"what?"

"Don't make me repeat myself."

The dwarf walked to a cabinet and took out a small piece of iron:

"In the world of the Primordial Flame, fire is a 'weapon'."

"What you're after is temperature, destructive power, and kill radius..."

"But here, the flame is the 'paintbrush'."

He handed the piece of iron to Edwin:
"Your first task."

“Use flames to ‘draw’ your name on this piece of iron.”

Gaetano emphasized:
"It's not about crudely carving it out; you have to let the metal sheet 'grow' your name on it."

"Reorganize the molecular structure of metals to form the characters you want."

"and……"

He pointed to the edge of the metal sheet:

"There must be no excess heat dissipation."

"The flame can only be applied to the area where you need it, and the surrounding area must be kept at a constant temperature."

Edwin took the piece of metal and felt a headache coming on.

This task... sounds impossible to complete.

The essence of flame is diffusion, so how is it possible to achieve "precise control down to the molecular level"?

"how?"

Gaetano crossed his arms:

"You're already thinking of giving up?"

“If that’s the case, then you can leave now. Fire forging is not suitable for those who lack patience.”

Edwin remained silent for a moment.

"Do not."

"I want to learn."

"No matter how difficult it is, I will learn it."

Gaetano nodded in satisfaction:
"very good."

"Then you can stay here."

“There are empty rooms on the second floor of the workshop; you can stay there.”

"Training starts at six every morning, and you can only rest when I tell you to stop at night."

"No slacking off, no complaining, and absolutely no giving up halfway."

He turned and walked toward the furnace:
"besides……"

"Don't call me 'mentor,' I don't want that old bastard Salamander coming after me."

Edwin paused for a moment, then smiled:

"Yes, Your Excellency."

After settling Edwin in, the dwarf glanced at Ivy, who had been standing quietly to the side:
"Vampire maid, you didn't come here just to learn fire forging techniques, did you?"

"Does your master need my help to forge something?"

"You're right."

Upon hearing this, Ivy bowed slightly and replied respectfully:

“My master, Associate Professor Ron Ralph, has recently encountered a technical problem.”

"He needs to forge a special weapon."

The maid pulled out a sketch from somewhere and handed it to Gaetano.

The dwarf took the sketch and glanced at it casually.

But the more I looked at him, the more serious his expression became.

"A drug carrier targeting immortality..."

He stroked his beard and frowned:

"The weapon itself must also have the ability to suppress and regenerate..."

"It also needs to be able to 'remember' the characteristics of the soul..."

Gaetano looked up, a look of surprise in his eyes:
"Your master has quite the ambition."

"If this weapon could actually be made..."

He looked at his notes again:
"That's the real 'immortal killer'."

"Specifically targeted at vampires, demons, undead creatures, and all beings that rely on 'immortality' for survival."

………………

On the other side, Ron stood in front of a long table with three file folders in front of him.

Silas sat on a high chair beside him, the lenses of his rune glasses reflecting a faint light.

He pushed up his glasses:
"We intercepted seventeen of Ivan's communications."

The enchanter opened his notebook, which was filled with densely packed notes detailing the decrypted contents:
"On the surface, those letters were all about 'academic exchange'—theoretical discussions about bloodline modification, and optimization of the formula for chaos stabilizers."

"The wording is extremely careful, so that even if it is intercepted by a third party, no evidence can be found against it."

His finger lingered on one of the pages:
"However, when I activated the 'cryptic message decryption technique' and re-interpreted it..."

Silas turned the notebook towards Ron, and lines of hidden text appeared on the page:
"The third letter, ostensibly discussing the 'preservation period of the experimental samples,' actually concerns 'how long Euphemia's condition can be maintained.'"

"The seventh letter, ostensibly inquiring about the 'stability testing of the new formula,' is actually confirming 'when the Heart Clan's recovery team will set off.'"

"The twelfth letter."

His voice was lowered:
"This letter is the most explicit."

On the surface, it appears to be a lengthy academic paper abstract, but in reality, the first letter of each paragraph, when strung together, forms a complete coded message: 'Target is about to collapse, requesting immediate military intervention.'

Ron took the notebook and glanced at the decrypted text.

Every line is carefully disguised, and every word can be interpreted in two ways.

This is a common tactic used by intelligence personnel—even if their intelligence is intercepted, they can always come up with a plausible explanation.

Unfortunately, they were facing Ron's team, who possessed special magic.

Those "structures" hidden between the lines become as conspicuous as candlelight in the night under their secret language analysis.

"What about Serafina?"

Ron closed his notebook and looked at Miller beside him.

The old explorer pulled a thick stack of ledgers from his pocket; the edges of the ledgers were worn, clearly indicating they had been read many times.
"This woman is even greedier than I imagined."

Miller spat, his tone full of disdain:
On the surface, Twilight City's finances appear to be perfectly healthy.

The monthly blood crystal production, extraordinary material inventory, and even the artisans' wages are all meticulously recorded.

"On paper, the city's total assets are still growing steadily."

He turned to a page in the ledger and pointed to the numbers with his rough fingers:
"But I followed your instructions and traced the whereabouts of all the 'reasonable expenditures'."

"And then something interesting happened."

Miller unfolded a complex flow chart, on which the paths of funds were marked with lines of different colors:
“Look here, there is a ‘super materials procurement fee’ every month, which is not small, accounting for about 15% of the total expenditure.”

"The accounts state 'purchased rare minerals from the Eastern Chamber of Commerce,' and even include invoices, receipts, and transportation records."

"But the problem is..."

He drew a heavy circle around a certain point with a red pen:
"The 'supplier' from the Eastern Chamber of Commerce doesn't exist at all."

"The registered address of that business is a wasteland. The so-called 'mine' is just a marker on the map, without even a dilapidated shed."

"And those 'purchase funds'."

Miller's pen moved along the red line, eventually pointing to a small print on the edge of the map:
"It all flowed into the Heart Clan's secret account in the northwest corner."

Ron didn't speak, but just stared quietly at the flow chart.

The dense red lines on the map intertwine like a spider web, each representing a sum of misappropriated funds.

Some are disguised as "engineering maintenance fees," some are packaged as "personnel training expenses," and some are simply "emergency reserve funds."

The methods and approaches vary, but the only thing they have in common is their ultimate destination—they all point to the Heart Clan.

"Thirty-two percentage points."

Miller's voice became even lower:
“A full third of the wealth Euphemia accumulated over the past thirty years has been gradually devoured by this woman.”

"And she herself"

He sighed:
"They probably won't know how much their loyal 'financial controller' has embezzled until they die."

Ron put away the flow chart and his gaze fell on the third file folder.

That bag was thicker than the previous two, and the wax seal was a darker color, like congealed blood.

"Alyosha's evidence should be the most substantial one."

Silas added:
“Premeditated rebellion is a capital offense in any faction.”

Ron opened the file folder and took out a palm-sized crystal ball.

The surface of the crystal ball was covered with runes, and inside it was sealed a distorted ball of light and shadow.

It was a recording alchemical artifact, specifically designed to preserve sound and images.

He infused the crystal ball with magic.

"Click."

The runes on the surface of the sphere began to glow, then projected a semi-transparent image:
It was an underground chamber, with a dozen or so vampires sitting around a round stone table.

Alyosha stood in the center, delivering a passionate speech:
"Gentlemen, we've waited long enough!"

In the video, Alyosha waves his arms, his short hair flaming like a burning flame in the candlelight.
What did Euphemia promise us? Healing? Liberation? Dignity?

"But what have we gained?!"

He slammed his fist on the table.
"She turned us into half-baked idiots with those damn chemical contaminants!"
"Power weakened, bloodline degenerated, and even the most basic vampire traits began to be lost!"

"This is the 'treatment' she was talking about?!"

A chorus of agreement came from the audience.

Alyosha struck while the iron was hot:
"And now, she can't even control the chaotic power within her; she's turning into a monster!"

"How can someone who can't even save himself lead us?!"

His voice became even more inflammatory:
"The adults of the Heart Clan promised that as long as we cooperate, we can achieve a true 'rebirth'."

"Not the kind of life where you weaken yourself and just barely survive."

Alyosha's eyes gleamed with fanaticism:
"It is a true, complete, and powerful vampire body!"

Therefore, everyone.

He looked around at everyone present:
“When that ‘moment’ comes, I hope everyone will be on the right side.”

The video ends abruptly here.

The crystal ball plunged into darkness again, and the runes ceased to glow.

The laboratory was completely silent.

After a while, Miller spat again:
"This bastard is even better at fooling people than I thought."

"Of course he can fool people."

Ron put the crystal ball back into the file folder:
“The chieftains of those small clans were all trembling in the shadow of madness.”

"They yearn for hope, for redemption, for a 'certain future'."

Ron's fingers tapped lightly on the table:
"And Alyosha gave them this illusion—the protection of the Heart Clan, the complete bloodline, and immense power."

"He promised everything that everyone wanted."

As for whether it can be fulfilled?

Ron sneered:
"Wait until Twilight City changes hands, and until these people become complete vassals of the Heart Clan."

"By then, who will care about the promises made back then?"

Silas raised his head, his glasses reflecting a cold light:
"So, what should we do?"

Ron looked at the sand table.

On the sand table, the densely packed dots of light represent the distribution of various factions.

Miller's intelligence node is flashing.

Edwin's location in Grey Tower is marked.

Silas's laboratory, Euphemia's secret chamber, and the hiding place of the three traitors...

All the pieces are in place.

"Now."

Ron whispered the order:

"You all return to your posts; I'm about to close the net."

………………

After everyone in the team went about their own business, Ron went to the lounge alone to think quietly.

Ivan, Serafina, Alyosha... the three traitors could no longer contain themselves.

Euphemia's "loss of control" was so convincing that they completely let their guard down.

Now, they are stepping up preparations for the final steps to take over Twilight City.

Further away, the Heart Clan's "recycling teams" should have already set off.

Before this "recycling team" arrives, I must deal with the marquis who saw the "worst outcome" in the divination.

He has already investigated the other party's background—"Blood Fang" Alex Valentine.

"tutor."

A familiar voice came from behind.

Ron turned around and saw Herman walking up with several other students.

The silver-haired youth was holding an exquisite metal box in his arms, its surface engraved with protective runes.

"As per your request, we have completed the special treatment of the weapon."

Herman handed the box to Ron.

The box was opened, and inside were ten short knives of different shapes, neatly arranged.

Each one is made of magic steel, with fine grooves carved into the blade.

"This is a poison-storing rune weapon."

Hermann detailed introduction:

"The blade has a miniature liquid reservoir inside, which can be pre-filled with contaminants."

"During combat, simply inject magic to activate the runes, and the contaminants will automatically seep into the blade's surface."

"Each successful hit injects pollutants into the target's body."

However, due to the corrosive effects of chaotic forces, once the highest-grade contaminants you extracted are injected, the knife will become a disposable item.

Ron picked up one of the short knives and examined it closely.

The rune circuits on the blade are designed with extreme ingenuity, and the connection between the liquid reservoir and the runes is seamless.

"well-done."

He sincerely praised:
"From the time the plan was established until now, you have completed such a complex process in such a short period of time..."

"It was mainly Senior Silas who helped a lot."

Liz said from the side:
"He improved the conduction efficiency of the rune circuits, allowing contaminants to penetrate the blade surface more quickly."

"And Lucia, she optimized the sealing structure of the reservoir to ensure that contaminants would not leak prematurely..."

As Ron listened to the students' introductions, one after another, a warm feeling welled up in his heart.

These young people are growing up in their own way.

They may be very inexperienced now, but given time, each of them will become a strong and capable individual.

"You are not to participate in the upcoming battle."

Ron suddenly spoke up.

The students were stunned.

"Professor, you mean..."

"That marquis is too dangerous."

Ron put the dagger back into the box:

"Even with contaminant weapons, the risk of combat remains extremely high."

"You are too young, there is no need to take this risk."

"But……"

Herman wanted to argue, but Ron stopped him by raising his hand:
"Hear me out."

His tone became serious:

"I need you to do something more important."

"After the battle begins, Twilight City will descend into chaos."

“Those intelligence agents controlled by Ivan, the financial personnel bought off by Serafina, the small clans bewitched by Alyosha… they will all jump out.”

"At that time, I will need your assistance to Silas in taking over the core systems of the entire city."

Ron looked at each student:
"Intelligence networks, financial systems, and people's hearts... these are the real battlefields."

"Defeating a marquis is, at best, removing one obstacle."

"True victory lies in controlling a city."

His voice was deep yet powerful:
"And this task can only be completed by you."

"When I am fighting on the front lines, you are my eyes, my hands, and my voice."

"Understand?"

The students exchanged glances and finally nodded solemnly.

"Understood, mentor."

Hermann answered on behalf of everyone:

"We will be prepared."

"very good."

Ron smiled with satisfaction as he watched the students leave.

He turned and looked at the sand table again, his gaze piercing through the layers of obstacles, as if he could see the conspirators stirring in the shadows.

Time is running out, and he still has many things to do.

Ron slowly exhaled, and began to sort out the timeline in his mind.

He needs a clear framework, a macro perspective that can piece all the pieces together.

Because he knew very well that the battle of Twilight City was just a small move in a long game of chess.

The real chessboard is far larger than this. (End of Chapter)