Master Scott's usually rigid face twitches slightly.

  "You really are stubborn," he remarks. "There's no need to act anymore. We saw everything through the drone when you killed Sam."

  Hearing this, Aaron purses his lips, and an awkward tension fills the air.

  Master Scott turns to Ava, "You go out first."

  "Yes, Master," Ava replies, turning to exit.

  As she passes by, Aaron notices her cheeks flushed red from suppressing laughter.

  After a brief moment of eye contact, Aaron lowers his gaze to the floor.

  The ground feels solid beneath his feet, with the clear patterns of the insulating boards visible. If only there were a pile of sand...

  Aaron falls into contemplation.

  He clinged to his denial, hoping for a sliver of luck.

  But since Master Scott knows his name, it’s clear Ethan must have revealed everything.

  The identity of the kidnapped individual is one thing, but why Master Scott went to such lengths to find him is another.

  The issue likely stems from the poison powder he spread around the camp.

  Besides Sam, others were also affected.

  Those people must have realized he was the one who poisoned them and guessed he had some knowledge of potion-making.

  Master Scott, being a master in the field, might have developed an interest in his talent.

  This is the only reasonable explanation that makes sense.

  Having figured everything out, Aaron turns to face Master Scott and bows deeply.

  "I have wandered for over a decade without meeting a worthy mentor. If you don't mind, I wish to become your disciple!"

  Outside the yurt, the sound of silvery laughter rings out.

  Hearing it, Aaron's cheeks flush slightly, but he maintains a steadfast gaze on Master Scott.

  Seeing Master Scott's expression remain unchanged, Aaron lowers his voice and says softly, "Master, honestly, my loyalty to the Empire isn't as strong as it seems."

  Though he is unsure if Master Scott holds any other positions besides being a potion master, Aaron chooses to speak his mind.

  Master Scott's eyes twitch almost imperceptibly before he gestures to a stack of books on the table. "Take these with you, and remember, speak less and do more."

  "Yes, Master," Aaron replies.

  Seeing that Master Scott hasn't rejected his request to become a disciple, Aaron feels a bit more at ease.

  It seems Master Scott has tacitly accepted their master-disciple relationship, which means he is safe for now.

  Aaron respectfully bows, gathers the books, and leaves.

  After Aaron departs, Master Scott watches his retreating figure and remarks, "He's quite a promising talent, but... also quite shameless."

  ……

  Inside the pink yurt, Aaron asks with a blank expression, "So... you saw everything I did by the drone, clearly?"

  "Yes, that's right. Including the writing on the ground—it was really ugly," Ava replies.

  "Why didn't you tell me during dinner?" Aaron inquires.

  "You didn't ask," Ava shrugs.

  "And why didn't you warn me before I went into Master Scott's room?"

  "I did! I was laughing pretty happily!" Ava says with a grin.

  "..."

  A long silence follows. For the first time, Aaron truly understands what it means to die of embarrassment.

  Seeing his silence, Ava tries to console him, "If you can't make it as a pharmacist, you could always try acting. I think you could win an award. Being a star pays well."

  "You could play the wrongly accused suspect, the aspiring young man of integrity, or the gentleman who repays kindness. You've got quite a range," she teases.

  Aaron lets out a cold laugh. "Do you think you're funny?"

  "Kind of. My friends say I'm good at telling jokes."

  At that moment, a voice comes from outside. "Ava, may I come in?"

  "Come on in," Ava replies.

  A man enters, glancing at Aaron with a smile. "So, you're the new junior disciple? Hello, I'm Bruce, your second senior brother."

  Master Scott has already informed him that Aaron has been accepted as a disciple.

  "Hello, Senior Bruce. I'm Aaron," Aaron says, forcing a smile.

  "You're impressive! You actually managed to kill a force adept," Bruce says, giving Aaron a thumbs-up with an expression full of admiration.

  After observing through the drone, Bruce has developed a favorable impression of his resilient new junior brother.

  When Master Scott informed him about accepting Aaron as a disciple, Bruce eagerly took on the responsibility of looking after him.

  Hearing this, Aaron's face darkens, and he remains silent.

  Ava's smile only grows wider, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

  Noticing Aaron's silence, Bruce isn't surprised.

  From what he saw on the screen, Aaron is meticulous and ruthless, not one for many words—much like Master Scott, so Bruce doesn't mind.

  The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  "Come on, junior brother. You'll stay with me tonight, and I'll help change your bandages," Bruce offers.

  "Was it you who treated my injuries while I was unconscious?" Aaron asks.

  "Yes," Bruce confirms.

  "Thank you, senior Bruce," Aaron says sincerely.

  "We're fellow disciples; no need to be so formal," Bruce replies with a dismissive wave.

  As they leave, Ava calls out to Aaron, "Sorry for meeting you in such a way, Aaron."

  At her words, Aaron momentarily stiffens, then quickens his already brisk pace.

  Inside the pink yurt, Ava's laughter rings out even more freely.

  The night passes without incident.

  On the road to Bert City, they encounter no major obstacles.

  They do come across a group of bandits, but upon realizing that the Silver Fox Hunter Group is not to be trifled with, the bandits quickly turn away.

  In Aaron's eyes, these people can hardly be called bandits—they're more like refugees.

  They are barely clothed, unkempt, and while a few carry firearms, most wield knives or even sticks, wandering the wilderness, exposed to the elements.

  The fortress city and the wilderness are two vastly different worlds.

  Within the city, residents enjoy the conveniences of advanced technology.

  Although many face financial pressures like mortgages and car loans, their lives are not in danger. They can watch movies, enjoy a meal of hotpot, and relish brief moments of leisure.

  Moreover, the city offers a variety of social circles—entertainment, painting, racing, boxing, fishing, and more—allowing residents to pursue their interests and find mental solace and relaxation.

  In contrast, the wilderness is governed by the law of the jungle, where the weak fall prey to the strong, and survival is a daily struggle for food.

  The first generation of wilderness refugees mostly consisted of exiled murderers and political prisoners. Over time, with the exploitation by plutocrats, bankrupt commoners, fugitive slaves, and thrill-seekers hoping to strike it rich have all joined the ranks of the wilderness.

  Generations later, this has resulted in a large population of wilderness refugees.

  Many of these refugees spend their entire lives accumulating wealth, only to have it end up in the pockets of city registry officials in exchange for their children's right to become city residents.

  If not for leveraging Master Scott's name, Aaron would likely find it extremely difficult to gain entry into the city.

  ……

  “Science is one of the brightest jewels in the history of human civilization's progress. Over the course of three centuries, the empire has witnessed the rise and fall of technology.

  In the first century, science began to sprout. Pioneers in this field discovered truths and laws, validating them and laying a solid foundation for the development of science.

  The world celebrated these individuals, hailing them as the greatest figures of their time. They were showered with flowers, applause, money, honor, and power—everything society could offer.

  The second century marked the peak of science. Scientists harnessed the power of technology to achieve monumental success in communication, transportation, aviation, information, and weaponry.

  The citizens of the empire fully enjoyed the benefits of technological advancements. The power of science left them in awe time and again.

  Various scientific disciplines flourished throughout the empire's university cities, with countless experts and scholars dedicating their lives to exploring the frontiers of science, striving to prove that there exists a force beyond the divine.

  In the third century, science reached its zenith. Many great scientists, standing on the shoulders of giants, glimpsed into new worlds.

  Yet, following these revelations, the greatest scientists of the era began to take their own lives. The citizens of the empire did not understand, attributing it to the confusion of old age.

  Over time, the theory of science's supremacy declined.

  Intellectuals gradually realized that scientific truths might only apply within a certain scope, and that scope was not vast.

  A diamond.

  A finely crafted, exquisitely shaped diamond inspires awe and commands high prices because such beauty and intricacy can never naturally occur in nature. Its creation is the result of countless master craftsmen working tirelessly to perfect it.

  Science, too, is like this.

  Scientists, reaching the end of scientific exploration, discovered that science is merely a breathtaking "diamond."

  It is not naturally occurring.”

  ...

  —Excerpt from "Science and Theology"

  Author: Zach

  Aaron closes the yellowed book, processing its contents in his mind.

  "Hey, Zach—isn't he the Empire Traitor?"

  Bruce exclaims upon seeing the author's name on the book.

  "Empire Traitor?"

  "Yes! He's the biggest outcast in the empire, topping the empire's most wanted list. His books are all banned," Bruce remarks with disdain.

  "My master asked me to read it."

  "Oh, perhaps it's part of the master's collection. This traitor seems to be a highly skilled pharmacist, so maybe the master is looking for inspiration for innovative potion formulas by reading his book," Bruce speculates.

  "But you should be careful not to let others see it. The Hunter Union has a department dedicated to capturing outcasts, and if they find out you're reading this kind of book, it could cause trouble."

  Bruce then opens up about Zach, known as the empire's traitor, who was a remarkably talented genius.

  Not only was he gifted in potion-making, but he also excelled in technology, management, economics, and even the arts.

  Except for force cultivation, where he had no advantage, he was exceptional in every other aspect.

  Beyond his talents, Zach possessed an incredibly handsome face, and it was said that girls throughout the empire were enamored with him.

  He was also a close friend of the then-crown prince, now the emperor.

  In his youth, he was famous across the empire.

  Unfortunately, twenty years ago, the newly ascended emperor organized the empire's thirteenth grand expedition to the Western Continent, a century after the last one, mobilizing the entire empire's resources.

  The expedition was lavishly equipped, featuring thousands of mecha warriors with new-generation fire control systems, swarms of drones and flying fleet combat groups, elite Gene Warriors dispatched by major consortiums and the four top plutocrats.

  It also included fierce wolf warriors from the tribe's highest power center atop the mountains, powerful ability users and terrifying empire artifact holders, the most ruthless veteran hunters from the Hunter Union, top pharmacists stationed in various cities, billions of garrison troops drawn from cities, and the empire's elite forces from the imperial graveyard known only for their prowess in killing.

  …

  This grand and lavishly equipped imperial expeditionary force met its demise due to the traitor's betrayal.

  This battle turned the current emperor into a ruler seen as incompetent. It also led to the consortiums in various regions becoming almost like independent kingdoms. It broke the empire's backbone, causing the royal family to lose its authority.

  From then on, the name Zach became a taboo within the empire.

  ……

  "The bounty on the Empire Traitor in the Hunter Union is ridiculously high. Not only is the empire offering a reward, but each consortium is also adding to it," Bruce remarks with a sigh.

  "Smart people fear death. That traitor was too clever, thinking the empire was doomed, so he betrayed and sided with the Church."

  "He's certainly not simple," Aaron replies, placing the forbidden book atop a stack of others and stretching.

  Reading on the carriage is indeed tiring.

  Fortunately, they're nearing Bert City, where the roads are paved, making the journey smoother and easier for reading.

  The books mostly consist of basic potion knowledge, alongside brief summaries of imperial history and general life encyclopedias.

  Besides the book given by Master Scott, Aaron also skimmed through the potion books Bruce had brought, gaining a lot of insight.

  Bruce, glancing at the stack of books beside him, asks curiously, "You've read all these books?"

  "Yes."

  "Including the basic potion knowledge and potion formulas?"

  "Yes, I've read them. "

  Bruce looks bewildered.

  The so-called basic potion knowledge and potion formulas aren't just two simple books; they're two extensive categories.

  Basic potion knowledge spans over dozens of books, containing information on tens of thousands of herbs.

  The potion formula books are fewer, about seven or eight, but they contain thousands of formulas, which are incredibly complex to understand.

  "Are you joking? You've read all these books in three days?"

  "Not exactly. I've read the basic knowledge books before, so I just skimmed through them since they're similar to what I previously studied.”

  ”I mainly focused on the potion formulas."

  Through his conversations with Bruce, Aaron gains a clearer understanding of pharmacists.

  Within the field, there is a well-defined hierarchy. It is divided into pharmacists and pharmacist apprentices.

  Among apprentices, there are high, middle, and low levels. Only high-level apprentices who pass the exam organized by the Hunter Union can become pharmacists.

  Pharmacists themselves start from Level 1 and can reach up to Level 6.

  Bruce and Alex are merely high-level apprentices and do not yet qualify as pharmacists.

  And Master Scott is a Level 3 pharmacist.

  As for Master Rhine at the Mystery Tungsten Mine, he is probably just a high-level apprentice.

  If he were truly a Level 1 pharmacist, the consortium would never assign him to a mine.

  Even if he had offended someone in the consortium's upper echelons, they would likely confine him to a small room, imprison him, and have him continuously concoct potions rather than banishing him to a mine.