Ethan paid no attention to Michael's nonsense.
Regarding this silly boy's constant drooling over "sisters," Ethan could only say he was promising at a young age.
At this moment, Ethan's attention was drawn to the notice board.
Since fleecing the Malfoy family for seven hundred Galleons, Ethan had stopped taking part-time jobs. He threw himself wholeheartedly into preparing his art exhibition, consuming canvas and paint like snowflakes.
The cheapest unframed linen canvas cost about 12 Sickles, and a basic set of paints cost 2 to 3 Galleons.
Though he wasn't poor, Ethan couldn't help but sigh that money flowed like water.
"The notice board is quite lively today."
Ethan murmured, looking at the crowd gathered three layers deep around the notice board.
Most students had no need for part-time work.
Therefore, apart from initially arousing the curiosity of new students, the notice board usually only had scattered upperclassmen around it.
Could there be some new activity?
Ethan stepped forward.
When his figure appeared outside the crowd, like Moses parting the sea, the crowd automatically made way for him.
"Ethan, you came to look too!"
A Ravenclaw upperclassman girl waved at him familiarly.
"Come, come to the front to see!"
Ethan obligingly passed through the crowd.
His small stature among the upperclassmen somehow carried the presence of someone two meters tall.
Completely indifferent to the appraising gazes from all directions.
Following beside Ethan, Michael nervously swallowed his saliva.
Finally understanding what "when one person attains enlightenment, even his chickens and dogs ascend to heaven" meant.
"Hello, Ethan, I've been wanting to talk to you!"
The upperclassman girl with long sideburns said, looking at Ethan eagerly:
"I'm Penelope Clearwater. If nothing unexpected happens, I'll be Ravenclaw's next prefect."
Ethan looked at the girl's sparkling eyes, his lips parting slightly to utter one word:
"Pity."
"..."
Penelope froze, looking at Ethan's seemingly genuine expression, then suddenly burst into laughter.
"I finally understand what Robert meant by 'you need to be mentally prepared to talk to Ethan.'"
His thought process was different from others.
Very hard to connect with.
Ethan blinked, noncommittal.
He turned his head to look at the notice board.
He saw floating above the various commissions a line of newly added large text—
[Off-Campus Competition Season Begins! Those interested in registering or consulting related matters, please contact your respective House Heads!]
Below, it listed various competitions such as "Green Thumb Gardening Contest," "Hippogriff Magical Creature Breeding Contest," "Wizards and Witches Forward March," and other diverse competitions.
"The most famous on campus is naturally the Quidditch competition," Penelope said brightly. "But besides Quidditch, there are competitions in other areas too."
"For example—the Paintbrush Young Wizard Art Competition. Would you like to participate, Ethan?"
Ethan smiled slightly: "Are you sure?"
Penelope: "..."
She recalled Ethan's transcendent aesthetics and skills and said firmly:
"No, let's forget about it."
A big shot going to the newbie village to crush weaklings was still acceptable.
What was most feared was leaving those young wizards with lifelong psychological trauma.
One participation, lifetime ban, right?
"What are the benefits of participating in these competitions?" Ethan asked casually.
Penelope: "Uh—there are benefits, like making friends with young wizards who have similar interests, though you probably don't need that. Like gaining honor..."
Penelope racked her brains thinking.
Someone as extraordinary as Ethan surely wouldn't care about such mundane things.
What Ethan pursued must be greater, more profound goals!
"Like prize money—"
Ethan suddenly looked up: "There's prize money?"
"Ah? Yes, yes, there's prize money." Penelope instinctively replied. "For example, the Secret Realm Tracking Challenge with a maximum prize of one thousand Galleons..."
Hearing this number, Ethan's breathing stopped, his pupils dilating.
Like a cat seeing dried fish.
One thousand Galleons!
Three hundred Galleons more than the huge sum from the Malfoy family!
The same prize money as the frequently deadly Triwizard Tournament.
Though this might also mean this competition was equally dangerous.
But Ethan felt it was very reasonable.
After all, the more dazzling the gold, the more it was watered with blood, sweat, and tears.
Ethan grinned.
Sunlight from outside streamed through the Great Hall's huge stained glass windows, illuminating half his face in stark black and white contrast.
"Senior Clearwater."
Ethan looked up, under the sunlight's blessing, showing an incredibly innocent smile.
"I want to register for this."
"...Alright."
Penelope's eyes widened slightly, murmuring in a daze.
—She was completely dazzled by this smile.
It was like someone had placed a flickering fluorescent light right against her face.
Those handsome, beautiful, cobalt-blue eyes seemed to pass through her chest and grasp her soul.
When Penelope came to her senses, she had already brought Ethan to Professor Flitwick's office.
"Please come in."
Professor Flitwick, who was grading papers at his desk, looked up.
Seeing it was the two of them, his eyes lit up as he said warmly:
"What's the matter, Mr. Vincent, Miss Clearwater? Is there something you need?"
Ethan: "Good morning, Professor Flitwick. I'd like to register for the Secret Realm Tracking Challenge."
Hearing this, Professor Flitwick raised his eyebrows in surprise, looking at Penelope:
"Miss Clearwater, didn't you explain the dangers of this competition to him?"
"...Sorry, Professor."
Penelope lowered her head in shame, screaming internally:
It wasn't that she didn't want to, but Ethan came with a built-in Imperius Curse!
Who could resist being asked by such a pretty little face?!
Ethan blinked innocently, standing with his hands behind his back.
"This competition is very difficult, extremely difficult, Ethan, almost second only to the Triwizard Tournament," Professor Flitwick said.
"The Secret Realm Tracking Challenge is a professional competition testing wizards' comprehensive abilities, held every three years, for students aged 16 and under—that is, underage wizards. The content is generally exploring a dangerous secret realm full of crises."
"Because every session has various accidents, applicants must first pass the school's selection and then be recommended by the school to participate."
"Although it's aimed at underage wizards 16 and under... most participants are 14 or older. Even third-years are rare, let alone you, who are just in first year, Mr. Vincent."
Hearing this, Ethan fell into thought.
If it was held every three years, then he could indeed wait...
But that was a full thousand Galleons!
The "Purple Epic" grade artwork required for his advancement would surely cost many Galleons.
Holiday expenses, second-tier artwork investments—all needed money.
But he had to ensure he could compete for first place and get the highest prize money.
Otherwise, it would be somewhat of a waste of time...
Just as Ethan was torn, Professor Flitwick's voice rang out again:
"Moreover, this competition's secret realm is the most dangerous in years—"
"Located in the Great Rotting Swamp in northern England, the abandoned mansion of the dark wizard Herpo."
"Uh? Mr. Vincent, what's wrong with you?"
Ethan raised his eyes, which sparkled with an unusual light.
The dark wizard Herpo's mansion.
This was exactly where the system had once told him a secret treasure was hidden!
[Chapter Complete]
***
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