Ron was not surprised to hear the news.
Trish was from the worst background among the group of people from the same village, but she also had the best mental aptitude.
He could still remember when he first met that thin girl; her long brown hair was casually tied into a bundle with hemp rope, and her clothes were patched.
According to the well-informed Andrei, the other party was the daughter of an ordinary hunter in the mountains.
He was found by that white-robed wizard from who-knows-where, and surprisingly, he was found to have a third-class spiritual aptitude.
The so-called star rating is a standard of spiritual ability promoted by wizards based on astronomical concepts, with the first-class star rating being the highest and the sixth-class star rating being the lowest.
Ron measured a sixth-magnitude star, barely above the standard line, while Andrei did a little better, measuring a fifth-magnitude star.
The difference between each star rating is a full 2.5 times, and they are multiplicative; the difference between the first and sixth star ratings is a full 100 times.
The third-rank star is the dividing line between mediocrity and genius. It is believed that as long as one does not die prematurely, there is hope of successfully becoming a formal wizard.
As for a sixth-rank star... becoming a high-ranking apprentice would probably be extremely difficult, only slightly better than a Muggle, probably considered a Squab?
Ron chuckled to himself as he added a few black nettle leaves to the cup and brewed a cup for Andrei from a thermos.
"Wow, not bad, you're being so generous today."
Andrei examined the ceramic cup handed to him. In the rising steam, tiny black particles could be vaguely seen floating in the tea.
"These days, it's not easy to get a sip of bitter water infused with nettle leaves."
His calloused, large fingers were gently stroking the rim of the glass, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"But I didn't expect that our young master Ralph would be willing to bring out such a treasure to entertain guests."
Indeed, this kind of tea that can invigorate the spirit is a rare find in the Black Mist Forest.
Its taste was far from delicious; in fact, it was quite awful.
First, a stinging spiciness hits the tip of the tongue, followed by a bitter taste that makes you want to vomit, and finally an uncomfortable numbness in the throat.
All of this is thanks to the trace amounts of toxins contained within.
But it is precisely this characteristic that allows one to stay awake even when drowsy that makes it a coveted treasure among these aspiring apprentices who are desperately studying for promotion.
Ron chuckled inwardly as he looked at Andrei's affectedly elegant demeanor.
The prince's current situation is actually not much better than mine.
"If Your Highness likes it, I can come again another day..."
"Stop."
Andrei raised one hand, his smile unchanged, but his tone became more wary:
"Your unusual behavior is making me even more worried. Tell me, what's wrong?"
Ron chuckled upon hearing this; he knew that this Thirteenth Prince was an expert in this area.
Back in the capital, Andrei was known for his understated sharpness, which is why his older brothers were particularly wary of this seemingly humble younger brother, and even found an excuse to send him here.
"Alright, since Your Highness is being so direct, I won't beat around the bush either."
Ron straightened up, his tone becoming serious: "I would like to purchase the 'Corona Breathing Technique' from you."
"puff--"
Andrei almost spat out the tea he had just taken a sip of, and a crack finally appeared on his usually elegant face.
He quickly put down his teacup, a look of disbelief flashing across his face: "What did you say?"
"The Corona Breathing Technique," Ron repeated, his eyes unusually firm. "I know it is one of the core traditions of the Farouk royal family, and also the best breathing technique in the kingdom."
Andrei's expression instantly turned serious, all his previous gentle and polite demeanor vanishing, replaced by a sharpness incongruous with his age.
"I never expected you to make such a request; this is the foundation of our royal family..."
"I understand," Ron interrupted him calmly. "It is precisely because I understand its value that I have set this price."
As he spoke, he pulled a cloth bag from his inner pocket.
Andrei's pupils contracted slightly as he emptied the contents of the bag onto the table.
It was a pile of crystal-clear fragments, emitting a faint glow in the dim candlelight—fragments of a magic stone.
In this black mist forest, magic stone fragments are the only hard currency among apprentices.
One hundred magic stone fragments can be exchanged for one complete magic stone, but very few people are willing to do so.
A single fragment of magic stone is enough to indulge in extravagance in some nearby markets, and ten fragments can even buy a strong alien slave.
As for the "Basic Meditation Method" distributed by the white-robed wizards, it was priced at only one complete magic stone.
"Thirty magic stone fragments," Ron said, emphasizing each word.
Andrei merely sneered, not even glancing at the magic stone fragments on the table: "With these... are you trying to fob me off like a beggar?"
"You're right." Ron gave a wry smile, his gaze lingering on the pile of magic stone fragments for a moment. "Thirty pieces are indeed too few."
He counted out a few more pieces from his pocket, made up the total, and gently placed them on the table: "How about forty pieces?"
Andrei maintained his indifferent expression, but his eyes were slightly narrowed, as if he were thinking about something.
Ron knew it was time to reveal his trump card.
"As you know, with my limited mental strength..."
He paused, his tone tinged with self-deprecation: "For a poor sixth-rank star, it's almost impossible to complete the promotion within three months."
"At that point, I'll either become experimental material or be exiled to the wilderness. And me..."
Ron's voice softened, with a barely perceptible tremor: "I don't want to die, at least not without dignity."
Andrei's expression softened slightly, but he quickly reverted to his cold demeanor: "So?"
"That's why I need the Corona Breathing Technique."
Ron looked directly into Andrei's eyes. "Of all the breathing techniques I know, this one is the most effective and has the greatest potential."
As he spoke, he added ten more magic stone fragments to the table: "Fifty fragments, that's all I can offer."
Andrei stared at the small pile of faintly glowing crystals on the table and fell silent.
Ron knew what the other party was hesitating about. Although, in the eyes of the high and mighty wizards, these secular nobles were not much different from ordinary people.
But the extraordinary heritage that these wizards look down upon is the foundation upon which the Farouk royal family is able to rule over mortals and other noble knights, and it is also the capital they have to stand in this world.
"You know," Andrei finally spoke, his voice tinged with weariness, "this isn't just about money…"
"I assure you," Ron said solemnly, "this breathing technique will never fall into the hands of a third person, and…"
His gaze lingered on Andrei for a moment, as if he were carefully choosing his words:
"I've noticed that you've been studying other wizarding arts lately, and I suppose you need some extra resources."
This statement clearly hit the nail on the head. Andrei's eyes flickered for a moment, then he revealed a helpless smile: "You certainly know how to exploit people's weaknesses."
He sighed softly, "I must say, you are much more... cunning than I imagined."
Recalling the taciturn count's son from a week ago, and looking at the eloquent trader he is now, Andrei couldn't help but feel a little emotional.
This change is not necessarily a bad thing.
"However," he straightened his posture, his tone regaining its usual elegance, "since I'm going to teach you the Corona Breathing Technique, I have to start with the very basics…"