After confirming his choice of wanting to choose the [The Sevenfold Revelation Codex], Leo walked out of the manual choosing area and headed straight towards dorm number A-44, where a mage specialization student, with a particular set of skills resided.
Rumor had it that this particular guy possessed a method to smuggle skill manuals and scrolls out of the academy, thanks to some special artifact hidden in his possession.
Once outside, his contacts would swiftly replicate the contents before returning the originals— all without anyone inside ever suspecting a thing, which was why his services were rather popular amongst the first years trying to make a quick buck.
Leo understood that it would be impossible for him to fully master a meditation manual within the mere thirty days remaining before the semester ended.
As reaching the Transcendent stage wasn't something that could be rushed.
Even conservatively, it would take him at least a few years of relentless practice to reach the stage, if not a full decade.
Which was why he knew just how crucial it was to have this manual replicated before he left.
As without it, he would lose access to his daily progress meter once his time at the academy ended, making future progress far more difficult.
—-------
*Knock*
*Knock*
Leo rapped his knuckles twice on the door marked A-44, standing casually in the dimly lit hallway of the dormitory block.
A few seconds passed before there was a shuffling sound behind the door— followed by a click as it swung open.
Standing behind it was a lanky young man with messy auburn hair, thick glasses slipping down his nose, and an unbuttoned Rodova uniform draped loosely over his frame.
The moment Roger— the infamous "smuggler" of the first-years— recognized who was standing at his doorstep, he practically froze mid-motion.
His eyes widened into perfect saucers, darting between Leo's stoic face and the tiny Leo Skyshard action figurine sitting proudly atop a cluttered desk behind him.
"Oh my god... It's you! It's Leo Skyshard himself!" Roger gasped, pointing frantically between Leo and the miniature model.
He let out a choked laugh, running both hands through his hair in disbelief.
"I've always wanted to talk to you, you're like one of my heroes— Please, please, come in!" Roger said hastily, stepping aside and motioning him into the cramped but surprisingly well-organized room.
Leo nodded once and stepped inside, as the door clicked shut behind them.
Roger tried to compose himself, clearing his throat awkwardly as he practically buzzed with excitement.
"So... uh... what can I do for you, Mr. Skyshard?" he asked eagerly, clasping his hands in front of him like a nervous intern meeting a celebrity.
As Leo wasted no time and presented his demands.
"I need you to replicate something for me," he said, voice calm but carrying the unmistakable weight of seriousness.
Roger blinked.
"Replicate?" he echoed, his enthusiasm dimming slightly as he adjusted his glasses. "A skill scroll? Or a library book?"
"A meditation manual," Leo clarified, handing over the data slate with the authorization code for the [Sevenfold Revelation Codex].
The moment Roger read the label, his whole body stiffened.
"T-Transcendent-grade?" he sputtered, staring at Leo like he had just asked him to forge a starship out of scrap metal.
Leo only nodded once.
For a long moment, Roger looked deeply uncomfortable, fidgeting in place as he weighed his next words carefully.
"Look... I can smuggle it out for you. That part's doable," he said slowly.
"But copying a Transcendent-level meditation manual... that's an entirely different problem, im not sure I can do."Roger said, as his words made Leo frown.
"What's wrong? I'll pay you whatever you want…." Leo said, as he assured Roger to not worry about payments, however, Roger only shook his head in response.
"It's not about the money, sir, the problem behind creating or replicating a manual is that a warrior can only ever create a manual that's one grade lower than their cultivation and only ever replicate a manual that's the same grade." Roger began, as he adjusted his glasses.
"Meaning— if you're a Grandmaster, the best you can personally create is a Master-grade manual.
But if you were a Monarch, you can produce up to Transcendent-grade stuff, that's original and created by you."
He said while pacing a few steps nervously around the room.
"And while you need to be the same grade as the manual to copy it.
The manual you have brought me is Transcendent grade, which means I have to somehow find a Transcendent grade warrior to copy it for you.
And not just any Transcendent Warrior will do.
I need to find a Transcendent Warrior who is also a scribe and can endure the strain of replicating every rune, energy channel, and structure embedded inside without their life force collapsing."
Leo stayed silent, absorbing the information, as Roger continued, wringing his hands.
"Copying a meditation manual isn't like copying a normal scroll. It burns life force. A lot of it. It's a process that strains the soul itself— which is why most people only ever dare replicate lower-grade stuff for quick money."
He looked at Leo almost pleadingly.
"And finding a trustworthy Transcendent-level warrior on the outside? Someone who won't steal the copy, leak the existence of the manual, or try to blackmail you later?"
Roger shook his head miserably.
"That's very hard. The smugglers I usually work with for Grandmaster-level stuff are all people I know—people I can track down and punish if they cross me. But Transcendents?" He gave a helpless shrug. "Different league."
Leo's gaze sharpened slightly.
"Are you saying it's impossible?"
Roger hesitated.
"I'm saying... it's very risky." he said. "And it's very expensive."
Leo didn't move. He simply continued staring at Roger with that steady, patient intensity that made it clear he wasn't walking away.
Under that pressure, Roger visibly wilted.
He rubbed the back of his neck, muttered something under his breath, then finally threw up his hands.
"You know what? Screw it. You're Leo Skyshard," he said, grinning half-crazily. "I'll do it. I'll find someone."
"But it's going to cost you," he added quickly, raising a finger. "Two hundred thousand MP. Non-negotiable."
Leo nodded almost instantly, as if the amount meant nothing to him.
"Done," he said.
As Roger blinked again, clearly expecting a harder negotiation.
But seeing Leo's unwavering acceptance, he realized exactly what kind of man he was dealing with.
Leo Skyshard wasn't a peasant, and could actually pay 200,000 to have a manual copied, even though it was the same amount of money as a professor's yearly salary.
"Alright then," Roger said, voice firming up slightly. "Give me two days. I'll arrange it."
Leo turned toward the door, pausing just long enough to throw a short nod over his shoulder.
"Two days," he repeated. "Don't disappoint me, Roger."
Then he was gone, leaving Roger staring after him— half-thrilled, half-terrified at the job he had just agreed to undertake.
"I have to do this! I must not disappoint Leo Skyshard….. hahaha. This will be a story that my grandkids will tell their grandkids when Leo becomes a Monarch someday.
That their old man used to smuggle manuals for Monarch Leo Skyshard in Rodova!
Hahahaha—-" Roger said to himself, as he resolved to get this done anyhow.