From that direction, it was where the herd of Arrowhogs had retreated.

“I wonder if it’s them or someone else who set off the signal flare.”

“I hope it’s them. That would be satisfying.”

Aresia added, “If it’s them, it provides us with a clue—a team that was eliminated early.”

The others nodded in agreement.

They no longer needed to track the herd of Arrowhogs. Instead, they headed towards a specific target.

This time, they were lucky. They searched for half a day at the target location and finally found a hidden patch of Colaklare Grass.

This magical plant closely resembled ordinary weeds, making it difficult to notice among other plants. It didn’t compete for nutrients or sunlight like other common plants. As a result, it was challenging to find it in a suitable environment.

Having collected the Colaklara Grass, their task was completed. They still had time before the trial ended, so they decided to have lunch first. Afterward, they would continue searching for magical beasts and magical plants, hoping to gain more points during the peak hours.

They quickly found a spot with a water source according to the map and began preparing lunch.

Aresia and Karina didn’t have the opportunity to cook. They weren’t allowed near water due to the danger, so they couldn’t help with cleaning the food either. They relied on others to cook.

They didn’t make it too complicated and simply set up a fire pit to roast the meat. They also prepared a pot of wild vegetable soup.

Although the taste of the wild vegetable soup wasn’t great, the roasted meat was well-received.

Before long, they had a delicious meal. The four of them were skilled in roasting meat, especially Jorgus, whose roasted meat was particularly flavorful. The aroma of the meat made the hungry youngsters unable to resist and salivate. Karina couldn’t wait and took a bite, ignoring the hot temperature.

“Dig in!”

Karina had just swallowed a mouthful of roasted meat when Jorgus gave a thumbs up. Aresia nodded in agreement, and Jorgus received their approval. Although Jorgus’s roasting skills couldn’t compare to those of a professional chef, the flavor was on point.

No one knew how he did it, but the combination of spices he used for marinating and roasting the Arrowhog meat completely eliminated the usual drawbacks of it being heavy and tough. It had a mouthwatering aroma and was tender to chew. Coupled with their hunger, the meat was even more enjoyable.

Vic and the others who were roasting meat laughed and said, “Our roasting skills are unmatched. Even the combination of spices in this marinade is his secret recipe.”

Jorgus casually replied, “I just have some special spices. I’ve done some research in this area.”

“Speaking of which, what do you do for a living? And in which city?” someone asked curiously.

Jorgus rarely mentioned his occupation, so the others were curious to hear about it. Even Aresia couldn’t help but perk up her ears.

Jorgus shrugged and continued roasting the meat while casually responding, “I’m from the city of Santala. As for what I do, it’s hard to summarize. I’ll let you know when my mother figures it out. She says I have some involvement in various fields.”

Jorgus had been assessed as a gifted individual, and his mother had arranged for a professional mentor to train him. Apart from the training specific to his field, he wasn’t allowed to disclose much. Jorgus himself didn’t have a clear concept of what he was doing. He knew it was something important in Santala, where he had a considerable reputation. The city’s ruler even granted him some recognition.

Upon hearing the name Santala, Karina exclaimed in surprise, “Santala City, the renowned commercial hub?”

Jorgus nodded.

Karina was taken aback because she had seen him as a wealthy merchant, but it turned out he was involved in the commercial sector. It was quite a difference.

Santala City was located south of the main city, Holy Lotean. Although it wasn’t situated on the border, it served as a meeting point for cities in the southern region and was well-known for its bustling commercial activities.

In an interesting twist, Santala City wasn’t under the control of any noble family. While it had a city ruler, the actual governance was led by the merchants within the city. These merchants held a unique position in the city, different from those in other regions. Among them, influential merchants held even more power than some nobles.

If Jorgus truly came from this city and had involvement in various fields, his situation might be different from that of others. In Santala City, where influential merchants could transcend boundaries in their dealings, ordinary merchants focused on local businesses.

Karina, who had only heard of Santala City in passing, wasn’t sure if it was true or not.

Apart from Aresia, who was interested in investigating Jorgus’ background, the others were surprised. They had never heard of Santala City before and were unfamiliar with its situation. Perhaps they were less acquainted with this area than Aresia and Karina who is both noble. They had even explored the surroundings during that time.

As for Jorgus, he was supposed to arrive in Holy Lotean earlier than Vic and the others. However, he had been delayed on the way due to an unexpected mudslide, causing a significant delay. He almost missed the registration deadline. Upon arrival, he went straight to the academy, so he didn’t have much time to explore the city. That was why he was unfamiliar with Holy Lotean City.

Hence, Vic found it a bit strange and asked, “Why did you get delayed for so long?”

Jorgus replied, shaking his head, “I encountered a mudslide on the way, which caused a long delay. We had to take a detour and even faced a large-scale monster rampage. When the convoy fled, we got separated, and it took quite some time to find each other.”

Actually, it wasn’t just that. Jorgus had encountered many obstacles on his way, including mudslides, monster rampages, and even a bandit robbery. It seemed as though someone was deliberately causing trouble for their convoy.

“Speaking of summer break, are you going back to Santala or staying here?” someone asked.

Jorgus had already made up his mind. He shared a piece of roasted meat with the two youngsters who had finished eating and replied, “I’m staying here. The journey back is too long, and I’ve already spent a month traveling.”

Vic and the others planned to return, as Holy Lotean City was closer to their home. Rony chimed in, “When you’re not busy, why don’t you visit me? I can show you around. My father knows someone who specializes in providing warhorses to the Legion. With his connection, I might be able to help you buy one.”

Although Roney’s family didn’t raise horses on their farm, there was a nearby farm that specialized in supplying warhorses to the Legion. With his father’s connections, he might be able to help Jorgus acquire a horse.

Jorgus hesitated and declined, “I’ll stick with a magical beast mount.”

He had experienced the presence of a horse-shaped magical beast before, and its aura had made his horse uneasy and restless. Jorgus was determined to stick with this method.

The others agreed, realizing that a magical beast would be a more suitable choice for him.

“Perhaps there’s a suitable one at the auction,” someone suggested.

Jorgus nodded. “That’s my plan.”

At least in Holy Lotean City, the knowledge of beast companion contracts had become public. The auction had obtained many powerful magical beasts for sale, and there was a bustling auction specifically dedicated to magical beasts. It was a highly sought-after event, and some people were lucky enough to receive an invitation.

Jorgus had some connections in Holy Lotean City, although it wasn’t a large-scale organization. It would be relatively easy for him to obtain an invitation.

Aresia listened to their discussion about summer plans and suddenly remembered her mother’s invitation for them to visit during the break. She had almost forgotten about it. Since they were already present, there was no need to wait until they returned. Aresia promptly invited them to visit her home.

“My mother has been wanting to meet my teammates. Would you all be available to visit me?”

Hearing that it was an invitation from the Duchess, none of the five could refuse. They all agreed without hesitation.