61: Good guy Higgs?

"Lord Higgs, is this the person you recommended?" the youth nearby asked to confirm.

The Arcane Arts Society has an internal referral mechanism, where members of a certain status can recommend suitable candidates to join the society.

It was like an alternative version of the recommendation system from ancient times.

"That's right. He can skip the testing and go straight to the enrollment process," Higgs said, patting the boy's head.

"Understood, Lord Higgs." The boy nodded and quickly ran toward the registration desk to handle the series of enrollment procedures.

"I picked this child up ten years ago and left him to be raised by the Society. I haven't seen him for a while, and he's already grown so much."

Higgs looked at the boy, his eyes full of memories and sentiment.

Seeing this, Ronan felt a bit puzzled. This Blood Controller actually seemed like a good person?

"After I join the Society, what will I need to do?"

He wanted to understand how the operational system of the Arcane Arts Society worked.

The Adventurers Guild revolved more around missions, where everything was mission-oriented.

The Arcane Arts Society seemed to have a similar mission system.

Ash Leaf's Team 408 had also been constantly taking and completing missions before.

"You can join a mission squad and earn resources by taking and completing missions."

"But you need to maintain your academic rank within a certain timeframe."

Higgs explained very considerately, "academic rank is the hard metric for whether you can stay in the Society."

"From the moment you join, your academic rank is Level 0. Within three months, you need to propose your own Research Topic to be promoted to Level 1."

"Until your academic rank reaches Level 5, you need to periodically propose or supplement new Research Topics; otherwise, you'll drop back to Level 0."

"That is what maintaining your academic rank means."

"Of course, for the first few months after you join, low-level knowledge is open to you for free."

Higgs shrugged, "Provided you can understand it."

Ronan nodded, instantly understanding that the purpose of this system was to expand and enrich all kinds of knowledge to the maximum extent.

Everyone who joined the Society had their own Research Topic—no wonder it was called the Arcane Arts Society.

In that case, Ash Leaf's mana system and her alternative Ritual Magic should be the contents of her Research Topic.

"Lord Higgs..."

"You can just call me by my name," Higgs interrupted him with a smile.

Ronan was naturally happy to comply and immediately changed his address, "Alright, Higgs."

"What kind of low-level free knowledge is there?" He spoke cautiously, "Is there magic knowledge?"

Ronan planned to look for magic related to the soul.

"There is, but you might not necessarily find what you want," Higgs seemed to see through his thoughts.

Everyone who joined the Arcane Arts Society always wanted to find what they desired from the free knowledge first thing.

"Lord Higgs, it's—it's done."

The youth, referred to as 'little guy', ran back out of breath holding a stack of materials.

"Good job," Higgs praised the boy, then looked at Ronan. "I'll have him take you to learn about other things next..."

"In the future, if you run into any trouble, you can use my name. However, you still need to work hard and be careful yourself."

After saying that, Higgs waved his hand and departed.

Even though I'm an undercover agent, you might not believe it... but I'm actually here to learn. It's not as dangerous as you think, Ronan thought to himself.

Based on today's interaction with Higgs, the man really didn't seem like a bad person.

He remembered Ash Leaf saying that Higgs had given them false information with the intent to frame Red Star.

But thinking about it now, with Higgs's strength to take on a whole squad alone, there seemed to be no need for him to do such a thing.

However, you can't judge a book by its cover; he wouldn't judge someone so easily.

"Where are we going now?" Ronan asked.

He was currently following the youth through a pitch-black passage.

"My Lord, the quarters prepared for you have been arranged. I'll take you there first."

The youth replied, his voice a bit dry.

Ronan nodded in silence. He was quite satisfied with having housing provided; it would save him a lot on accommodation fees.

The passage was dark and long, empty except for the sound of their two pairs of footsteps.

"What is your name?" Ronan suddenly asked.

He realized he didn't know how to address the youth. A term like 'little guy' was clearly only for use between acquaintances.

The youth turned around with a face full of tension and terror.

"I—I didn't scream..."

Ronan: "..."

The kid's comprehension skills were a bit too advanced.

"I was asking what your name is," he explained patiently.

"Oh, oh! My name is Darsi, My Lord." The youth clutched his chest and let out a huge sigh of relief.

Darsi had just thought that this newly joined student lord behind him had heard 'Darsi's' voice.

With nothing else to do, Ronan and Darsi started chatting idly.

"Darsi, where is the free knowledge located?"

"In the Second Level area."

"And my quarters?"

"Student housing is on the First Floor."

Second Level, First Floor... These didn't seem to be the same place, but was it necessary to use two different ways to say it? Seeing that Darsi answered everything and seemed to have no guile, he tested him,

"Do you know Higgs's junior fellow student?"

"My Lord, which one are you talking about?" Darsi turned back to ask.

Ronan was very curious, "Does Higgs have many junior fellow students?"

"A lot..." Darsi thought for a moment and explained, "Many people like to use Lord Higgs's name."

"Especially outside, the title of 'Junior Fellow Student of the Blood Controller' is often very useful."

"This has also led to Lord Higgs often inexplicably taking the blame for things that aren't his fault..."

No wonder Higgs said he could use his name if anything happened... It turned out it could not only be used to command respect but also to find a scapegoat.

"Then do you know Red Star?" Ronan went straight to the point.

"I'm usually responsible for receiving foreign guests, and I don't know much about students below Academic Level 3. Let me think..."

Darsi stopped walking, tilting his head as he tried hard to recall.

"A while ago, there was indeed a conflict between two students, and the codename of one of them seemed to be Red Star..."

"Then do you know who Red Star's mentor is?" After asking this question, Ronan subconsciously held his breath.

Red Star's mentor was the mastermind behind the previous underground pollution incident and was very likely hiding within the Arcane Arts Society.

"They don't have mentors."

Darsi looked over with a face full of confusion, as if asking who had come up with such a question.

"No mentor?" Ronan was stunned.

The scene of Red Star being used as energy fuel, his soul being sucked into the spatial wormhole, flashed through his mind.

Whether in their previous conversations or in his desperate screams before death, Red Star had mentioned his mentor.

But now, someone was telling Ronan that the mentor Red Star spoke of did not exist.

"Darsi, are you sure?" Ronan's face was grim as he asked again.

"Yes, one can only apply for a mentor's guidance after reaching Academic Level 3." Darsi nodded solemnly.

"I know all the Level 3 students, and there is no student named Red Star among them."

For a moment, Ronan couldn't figure out if Red Star had been deceived by some mentor, or if that person wasn't from the Arcane Arts Society at all.

"My Lord, this is the student housing on the First Floor." Darsi led Ronan to a door with the room number "762" on it.

The two entered. The room was exceptionally clean and spacious enough, roughly divided into a work area, a rest area, and an entertainment area.

All kinds of furniture were provided, and a neatly folded uniform was placed on the bed—it should be the Society's standard attire.

"The Society uniform issued to you has also been delivered. The size will definitely be correct."

Darsi's tone was somewhat proud; his work efficiency and visual measurement skills were top-notch in the Society.

"Thank you, Darsi." Ronan nodded in thanks.

"My Lord, would you like to rest first, or shall I take you to get familiar with the various places?" Darsi asked.

"The other places can wait. Take me to the Second Level area first."

Ronan couldn't wait to dive into the free knowledge immediately.

He had decided that his identity as Black Day would develop in the direction of a Necromancer.

He had decided that his identity as Black Day would develop in the direction of a Necromancer.