Inside a small room on the first floor of the Inspectorate Department, Benson wore an expression of disdain, imprisoned within a cage of flames.
This type of cage is a standard magical construct of the Inspectorate Department, similar to a concealment spell, and is activated by a scroll.
Moreover, it can form a prison of different elemental natures based on the magic element used in its activation.
Typically, it has a high success rate against anyone below the elite-tier.
It causes no harm, yet it effectively restrains both mana and movement.
Nathan had no intention of causing harm to this individual; his actions were directed against the Resource Department, not any particular person.
Thus, despite the arrogant demeanor of his captive, he remained unfazed.
After a brief inquiry, Nathan learned that this man named Benson was in charge of the magic potion exchange window.
His wife, Connie, who worked at the magic equipment exchange counter, was also mentioned.
Benson was an advanced warrior and an accomplished advanced potionologist.
Having spent the past few days lying at home, bored, Nathan had come across a tome on Potionology in his residence and had picked it up to pass the time.
As he read, several questions arose which he found puzzling.
Now, with the book at hand and Benson, the magic potion exchange supervisor before him, Nathan seized the opportunity to seek answers.
"I have a question for you. Why does something like the resonance pill exist?"
Nathan recalled the resonance pill from the tome, a magic potion reported to enhance the sensitivity during the concoction of other magic potions, thereby increasing the success rate of their creation.
"Cough, cough, you should visit me sometime; I'd be quite willing to explain," Benson replied, his eyes narrowing sharply and his complexion momentarily changing at Nathan's question.
However, he quickly masked his reaction and shifted his gaze away from Nathan.
"But now is not the time to discuss magic potions," Benson added, deliberately avoiding Nathan's gaze.
Upon witnessing this, Nathan's eyes immediately narrowed.
Something was off; what was this man thinking?
He had Sophia continue the questioning while he stepped out of the room, pacing back and forth in the corridor.
Upon seeing Aaron about to leave, he whispered instructions to him to acquire a resonance pill from the Resource Department and bring it back.
Ten minutes later, Aaron returned with a pill packaged in a small cardboard box.
The magic potion was the size of a grape, coated in a layer of wax, with nothing particularly remarkable about its appearance.
Nathan was deeply contemplative about why Benson had shown such significant emotional turmoil at the mention of the resonance pill.
Yet, on the surface, it seemed just an ordinary pill, unremarkable and yet, priced steeply at 500 credits each.
Holding the pill, Nathan pondered over Benson's reaction to the mention of the resonance pill.
Something was amiss.
His instincts told him there was a problem somewhere.
He was already discontent with the outcome of a previous incident, and according to his conjecture, the only person related to that incident, Anthony, was Frank's nephew.
It couldn't possibly be a coincidence.
Moreover, the Resource Department had intervened afterwards to mitigate the impact.
With resolve, Nathan decided that if it cost 500 credits, so be it.
Carefully, he began to open the pill, peeling away the wax coating to reveal a layer of gold foil underneath.
Beneath the gold foil was a black paste emitting a fragrant aroma, typical of a magic potion.
Yet, Nathan persisted in peeling away the layers of the paste.
What he found within caused his eyes to sharply contract, nearly dropping the potion in shock.
As he parted the black paste, a pale yellow sphere was revealed, composed of many tiny grains fused together.
Upon closer inspection, these grains turned out to be yellow larvae eggs.
He had encountered such a thing in a previous incident and was intimately aware of its eerie nature.
Nathan knew he was on the right track.
...
Barely half an hour later, Rudis arrived at the Inspectorate Department, his expression less than pleasant.
Upon entering, he immediately demanded Nathan be summoned for a discussion.
Nathan made his way to the second-floor office where Rudis was waiting.
Without any pleasantries, Rudis directly voiced his discontent: "I don't understand what you're up to, Nathan!"
Nathan bowed his head, replying respectfully, "My lord, I was merely performing my duties. Upon discovering fraudulent activities at the magic equipment exchange, I intervened to address the issue."
"And why have people been detained and not released?" Rudis interrogated.
"My lord, that matter has already been resolved. The salesperson was released on the spot," Nathan feigned ignorance.
Rudis slammed his hand on the table, "The Resource Department has already approached me, claiming three of their people are still in our custody. What have you done?"
Nathan feigned surprise, responding, "Oh, those who attacked our Inspectorate Department officers? According to regulations, they must be strictly punished."
"If you continue with your strict punishments, we'll lose our resource quota for the year," Rudis retorted with a mix of anger and laughter.
"Think carefully about how to handle this. The Resource Department is demanding their people back!"
"Yes, my lord, I understand," Nathan promptly agreed.
He had already gathered the necessary information, and now, a minor magic potion supervisor could no longer satiate his ambitions.
Nathan's demeanor remained respectful throughout.
Rudis, seeing that Nathan was not unreasonable, breathed a sigh of relief.
"Hmm, the boy seems sharp in handling matters. Why then does he lack foresight? Does he not realize the Resource Department is not to be trifled with?"
"Go and release them, quickly. Oh, and you didn't harm them, did you?"
"Of course not, my lord. You have my assurance," Nathan stood up and left the room.
Rudis sighed, knowing that despite his pride, he had to bow before the Resource Department.
Resources are indispensable to everyone at Nebula Academy, as inevitably, dealings with the Resource Department are a necessity.
It's impossible for one person to gather all the resources needed for magical studies on their own.
Thus, exchanges with the Resource Department are essential, making it almost a lifeline for everyone within the academy.
In previous years, Rudis himself had clashed with the Resource Department over their unfair practices.
Despite being harshly reprimanded several times, though he was resentful, he could only suppress his anger.
With the matter now resolved, Rudis left the Resource Department behind.
...
At the Potionology Guild, the classroom was filled with over a dozen potion altars, each cluttered with an assortment of test tubes, lamps, beakers, bottles, and other equipment.
The shelves were neatly lined with various herbs and ingredients.
A group of students in the magic potion class were busy conducting experiments at their stations, each fully concentrated on the potion in their hands, daring not to be distracted even slightly.
Nicole moved behind a newcomer, gently correcting his technique.
Then she returned to her own spot, leaning over to diligently mark the experimental results of the students.
"Dunps, fifth attempt at concocting an intermediate magic potion, failed!"
"Laurie, first attempt at concocting an intermediate magic potion, succeeded, inferior-tier!"
As she kept record, the room was occasionally filled with the sound of potions erupting in flames due to incorrect mixing ratios.
Now and then, the scent of burnt concoctions wafted from the cauldrons, indicating a drying process gone wrong.
Nicole served as the teaching assistant for the magic potion class, a role she had occupied for a full decade.
Especially with the freshmen, managing to successfully concoct a potion once out of ten attempts was considered passing.
At that moment, a student mentioned, "If only we had a resonance pill."
"Laurie, what are you talking about?" Nicole asked with a frown, somewhat displeased.
Before her at the potion altar stood a somewhat shy boy.
Hearing Nicole's question, Laurie earnestly replied, "By taking a resonance pill, we wouldn't have to split our focus among so many factors. The enhanced potion resonance from the resonance pill would naturally allow me to grasp those complex factors."
Nicole offered a smile, enigmatic and deep, "I really wouldn't recommend anyone exchange for a resonance pill."
She left the reason unsaid, her doubts heavily influenced by Professor Palin's death.
She was uncertain how many students in other classes had exchanged for a resonance pill.
Traditionally, the academy strictly controlled such shortcuts as the resonance pill.
However, since Frank took over as head of the Resource Department, the exchange price for resonance pills had significantly dropped, making them affordable for the average student.
Such changes left Nicole wondering whether they were beneficial or detrimental.
She remembered that traditional Potionology did not include the resonance pill.
The pill was invented about 100 years ago by a magic potion genius named Rhode, who mysteriously disappeared later.
His research on the resonance pill remained obscure, known by few.
Somehow, the resonance pill had re-entered the public eye.
Nicole had always harbored doubts about the efficacy of the resonance pill, especially knowing that Professor Palin had taken more than one.
Moreover, a martial class freshman with a talent for potion-making had also disappeared along with Professor Palin.
Nicole suspected he too had consumed the resonance pill.
Just then, the classroom door was gently pushed open.