Unexpected Encounter

' Hmm… finally! ' Ian glanced at the map in the notebook and tore it apart before crushing and throwing it aside.

He never expected to get lost due to the map he created not to get lost!

"Anyway... this must be it. " Ian muttered, if he isn't wrong, then this must be the closest sewer hole to the Herbology Lab.

It took him 2 hours to find this!

"Fortunately, I made a new map! I don't think I will get lost next time…" Ian muttered incredulously, not knowing if he should laugh or cry at this fact.

He expected that it would take Atmost 10 minutes to reach the lab, but it took two hours.

He climbed out of the sewer hole and looked around himself.

The crescent moon hung in the midnight sky. There were a few old buildings around him emitting a strange pressure, causing him to fear entering them.

The silence, coupled with the strange pressure, would instantly terrify any normal human being.

' Yup, I think this is the right place. ' Ian gazed at one of the buildings among the many and walked towards it.

If he isn't wrong, then that building must be the herbology lab. He inadvertently turned his gaze towards the tallest building in the bunch.

It is a colossal tower in the center of every building.

Just glancing at it caused him to feel a sense of dread and terror at the bottom of his heart.

Ian knew what that tower was - The University Library

'If only the security isn't so tight there...' Ian gazed at the tower unwillingly, before diverting his attention to the building before him.

" Herbology lab... huh"

Ian eyed his surroundings a few more times before walking towards an inconspicuous corner. He dug a few inches into the corner and found a small handle, which he pulled.

Then Ian began to hear sounds of some moving parts of machinery coming from below the surface. Shortly after which, a small entrance that could fit a person appeared in front of him.

The entrance automatically closed after he entered it.

'This mechanism is quite good!'

This entrance was something from the time when the university opened; Ian didn't know who made it but was later found by none other than the lucky guy- Asher! Which Ian didn't find surprising.

Almost all the treasures, secret entrances, secrets, and whatnot; were found by none other than - Asher Crowley, The Son of Fortune.

' If only I had that luck... ' Ian felt envious of Asher.

It's not only Asher or Aeric he was envious of, In the central realm, there are hundreds of people with talents that can cause Ian to drown in envy and question his very existence.

But recalling his peculiar Regressions and the Knowledge he knew about the future, he felt slightly better.

He also had a cheat! Even if it's quite painful sometimes...

' Why am I thinking of these... concentrate on the present ' Ian shook his head and walked towards one of the lab rooms.

Luckily for Ian, there are no surveillance cameras in the Lab... Not only the lab, but the whole university didn't have any cameras in them.

Ian has to thank those old farts from Secrecy clans for this.

They didn't want their descendants to be monitored by Osiris 24/7 ... At least that's the reason they gave when they protested against placing cameras on the campus.

But even a fool would recognize that the reason those old men were against cameras was to keep their spies from getting caught.

After entering the lab, which resembled a scientific laboratory. Ian turned on some lights and went through the wardrobes.

'As expected... there are some stalks of herbs here.'

In no time, he found all the herbs he needed.

Not willing to waste any more time, he took a glass beaker along with a tripod stand from a shelf.

He took some crystallized water found sealed in a flask and poured it into the beaker before starting to heat it with a bunsen burner.

' This is familiar...' Ian started recollecting the science labs when he was studying in high school.

But in the next moment, he accidentally set the temperature too high - causing the Crystallized water to explode.

"Cough Cough... Dammit, I shouldn't have gotten distracted "

The treasures used in Herbology are - Herbs, Natural Treasures, and Biological Treasures... simply put Consumable Treasures.

Crystallized water is a natural treasure formed at the depths of some caves.

It's no different from drinking water based on its looks and taste besides the fact that it is rare and a better fluid to use in making potions when compared to water.

Of course, if a person replaced normal water with Crystallized water from their diet, their health would gradually improve over time.

But the problem with it is if heated at the wrong temperatures, it will explode- as it did right now.

Ian stared at the broken beaker with annoyance and couldn't help but curse.

"Fu*k, I will do it again! Let's see if it fails now."

In indignation, He took a new beaker from the shelf and once again started heating the Crystallized water.

When he was focusing all of his attention on the Beaker, a sudden tap on the shoulder awoke him from his concentration.

In alarm, He held the hand that tapped him and wanted to pour the crystallized water on it.

"Woah! Chill dude, Chill... It's me "

Before Ian could pour it on the hand, the owner of the hand said in a hurry.

"Eh? Asher " Ian looked at the familiar golden-haired dude and couldn't help but question something.

' Why is he here? '

When Ian thought carefully, this 'accidental' encounter caused him to frown deeply.

It is so coincidental that it seemed suspicious to Ian.

Asher let out a sigh and relief and said while smiling.

"Don't pour those liquids on people. It will have dire consequences. " Asher's eyes slanted, but they returned to normal before Ian noticed it.

Ian looked at the Beaker in his hand and let out an awkward chuckle.

When Crystallized water touched the skin, it will drain all the water content on it and destroy the skin in that region permanently.

It will forever remain as a scar- similar to the ones caused by acids.

Asher then looked around the lab and at the still burning bunsen burner.

" Why are you here? Isn't it prohibited to enter the lab without permission? Moreover, Students are not allowed to leave their dorms after 12 Am,"

Ian scoffed at Asher's question.

" Then How come you are here? You are also not allowed- Wait a minute! 12 Am!?"

"12 Am? it's already so late!? " Ian muttered in confusion.

When Asher heard this, He looked at him oddly before showing his phone to Ian.

Ian looked at the phone and muttered, "Ugh...4:26 Am? "

' I didn't even eat anything...'

Time sure flies fast.