Impossible

Victoria knew she was being rude, but when she saw the two bright red marks on either side of Collins’ face, she couldn’t help but laugh.

Collins pouted, rubbing his face with his palm, then sat down next to Victoria.

He chose a seat half a meter away from her, and both of them deliberately maintained a safe distance.

After laughing enough, Victoria lowered her head and hesitantly asked, “Were you the one I bumped into just now?”

“Mhm. While I was helping you organize your materials, I scanned your experiment data with my mental power. That’s also when I realized what your experiment was about.”

“Your research isn’t practical. I think you’d better change your research direction, otherwise you might never get the teaching position you’re aiming for.”

Victoria’s experiment was titled Research Formula on Alchemical Purification Methods.

It belonged to the field of fundamental magic research and had little commercial value.

In fact, the more basic the magical research, the less practical use it had.

It was like Einstein’s mass-energy conversion formula—epoch-making and historically significant.

But no matter how great the achievement, or how long Einstein’s name would be remembered, the formula itself was still just a formula.

What truly made money were the derivatives born from that formula, like nuclear weapons or nuclear power plants.

Victoria frowned deeply, her eyes scanning Collins from head to toe.

“You… how old are you?”

Her voice was so soft it was like a mosquito buzzing. It took Collins a moment to understand what she meant.

Victoria was nineteen. Thanks to her exceptional magical talent and skills, she had graduated early from magic university.

Though shy by nature, she had her pride.

Looking at someone who seemed like he was still in high school, Victoria questioned whether this kind of person had the right to critique her research.

After all, she had once been hailed a genius by many.

“Me? I’m sixteen.”

Victoria puffed her cheeks in frustration, and with her annoyed expression, she looked somewhat cute.

“Only… only sixteen?”

She turned her head away, trying hard not to show the sense of triumph she felt inside.

But the tiny bit of glee still escaped and was sensed by Collins.

After all, the petite girl was already swinging her legs back and forth like someone in a good mood.

It was precisely this look that gave Collins the urge to tease Victoria. (Go ahead and bully her, but you’ll be paid back for it later.)

“But I’m already a mid-tier mage.”

Victoria quickly turned her head back, staring at Collins’ ridiculously young face.

Collins took out his mid-tier mage badge to show her.

“I’m currently studying at Royaltes Magic Academy. I’m the top student in both the Runes and Magic Array departments.”

“Mhm, I was admitted early at fifteen, and I’ve been studying there for a year now. I also have access to a professional magical laboratory provided by the school.”

Royaltes Magic Academy—just like the one Victoria graduated from—was an internationally prestigious institution, full of elites.

And being the top of not just one, but two departments meant standing at the pinnacle of the entire school.

Victoria herself had only been second in her own department.

Although she was still considered a top-tier student, there was a considerable gap between her and those who had been booked by major magic labs even before graduation.

Meeting Victoria’s surprised gaze, Collins, for some reason, felt a sense of victory.

“Say what you want, but I know the field.”

“Even if I don’t understand the data or experimental methods in your research, don’t you think I at least understand your goal and what kind of results it can achieve?”

Victoria’s mouth twitched involuntarily.

“I can tell you right now—your experiment has no future.”

“Oh no, it’s not that it isn’t impressive.”

“It’s just not the kind of project that can move a businessman’s heart.”

“Fundamental magic research just isn’t popular.”

Victoria lowered her head, her voice like a whisper, and it trembled as if she was about to cry.

“You… you don’t understand. My research—it’s groundbreaking. It’s truly powerful.”

“As long as—once I complete it, then I—I…”

“But you won’t complete it.”

Collins said firmly, without hesitation.

Victoria looked up again, her gaze fixed on Collins’ face.

Collins met her eyes and slowly said, “Your stability rune framework isn’t properly set up. Plus, your optimization of magical structures is lacking.”

“For something so basic as a purification magic framework, you’re using an extended structure based on Explosive Flame.”

“Aren’t you afraid your lab will blow up halfway through the experiment?”

Victoria snapped back angrily.

“I’ve already tried twelve different fire-element magic rune structures!”

“Whether it’s Flame Aura or Fireball, none of them have the temperature I need.”

“Only Explosive Flame can meet the basic temperature requirement for my purification experiment!”