He placed his right hand on her body and activated his Midas Touch. The Silver Rank cultivator transformed into a massive mana crystal, even larger than the one from Captain Redfield. This one pulsed with incredible power—Silver - Mid Stage mana compressed into physical form.
Marcus sat down and began absorbing it immediately.
The mana flooded into him like a tsunami. So much power, so pure, so potent. His Bronze - Low Stage cultivation base expanded rapidly, the mana forcing its way through barriers and limitations.
BRONZE RANK - LOW STAGE: 41%... 67%... 93%... 100%
BREAKTHROUGH DETECTED. ADVANCING TO BRONZE RANK - MID STAGE.
His body transformed again, mana channels widening and reinforcing. His physical capabilities increased noticeably. The Midas Touch range extended to twenty feet.
BRONZE RANK - MID STAGE: 51%
And still the crystal had more to give. Marcus kept absorbing, pulling every drop of mana from the Silver Rank cultivator's remains.
BRONZE RANK - MID STAGE: 78%
Finally, the crystal was depleted. Marcus stood, feeling the new power coursing through him. He'd jumped from Bronze - Low Stage at 41% to Bronze - Mid Stage at 78% in a single absorption.
One Silver Rank target had given him as much progress as weeks of normal cultivation would have.
This confirmed his theory: the higher the rank of his victim, the more cultivation benefit he received. If he could consistently hunt Silver Rank targets, he could reach Silver Rank himself within months instead of years.
Of course, Silver Rank targets were dangerous. "The Surgeon" would have killed him without his 100x Effect and poisoned weapons. He'd need to be careful about which contracts he took.
Marcus collected the depleted crystal fragments and looked around the warehouse. "The Surgeon's" surgical tools were all expensive, enchanted items. Worth perhaps 20,000 gold if he could sell them discreetly.
He grabbed them, along with a journal he found in her cloak—probably containing notes on her victims. Evidence for the authorities.
Then he noticed something else: a locked chest under her operating table. Marcus picked the lock—easy work for someone with his experience—and found it filled with valuables taken from victims. Jewelry, coins, small enchanted items. Perhaps 15,000 gold worth of goods.
He took it all. The victims' families would never see it anyway, and he could put it to better use staying alive.
Phantom left through the same window he'd entered, disappearing into the night. Behind him, the drunk man was starting to wake up, confused and alive.
The City Guard would find "The Surgeon's" journal tomorrow, delivered anonymously. Thirty-one families would get closure, even if they never got their stolen belongings back.
Marcus felt no guilt about that. Survival trumped sentiment.
The next morning at Luminaris Academy, the news of "The Surgeon's" death spread like wildfire.
"Did you hear? The serial killer in the Lower District was found dead!"
"Phantom got her. They say she was Silver Rank - Mid Stage!"
"That means Phantom must be at least Platinum Rank to kill her so easily!"
Marcus munched on his breakfast pastry, listening to the speculation with internal amusement. The public kept inflating Phantom's estimated rank with each successful contract. Good. The more they feared him, the safer his civilian identity became.
"Mr. Aldrich!"
Marcus looked up to find Professor Blackthorne approaching his table, looking excited.
"Professor?"
"I've received a commission request. Lady Aria Thornvale, a Gold Rank noble, wants a custom potion created—a Vitality Enhancement Elixir of the highest possible grade. She's willing to pay 100,000 gold for a Legendary-grade potion."
Marcus blinked. 100,000 gold for a single potion?
"I told her I have a Bronze Rank student who's capable of creating Legendary-grade work under supervision," Blackthorne continued. "She's skeptical but willing to provide materials if you'll attempt it. The ingredients alone cost 50,000 gold. If you succeed, you'll earn 100,000 gold and incredible reputation. If you fail, you owe nothing—she accepts the risk."
This was exactly the kind of legitimate income Marcus needed. High-value commissions from wealthy nobles would explain his growing wealth far better than claiming to sell common potions.
"I'll do it," Marcus said immediately.
"Excellent. The attempt will be in three days. She wants to observe the creation personally." Blackthorne smiled. "This could establish you as a premier alchemist, Marcus. Don't waste the opportunity."
After classes, Marcus returned to his warehouse base. He had three days to prepare for creating a Legendary-grade potion while a Gold Rank noble watched. That meant he'd need to use his 100x Effect, but in a way that didn't make it obvious he was using an ability.
Tricky, but manageable.
More importantly, he now had 80,000 gold from "The Surgeon" contract waiting in his Starfall Guild account, plus about 35,000 gold worth of stolen goods and equipment to sell.
Current liquid wealth: 425,000 gold. Nearly half a million.
He was wealthy by most standards. Wealthy enough to buy his way to Silver Rank through mana crystals if he wanted.
But that would be wasteful when he could gain the same progress by hunting criminals and absorbing them.
Marcus pulled up his target analysis notes and reviewed potential contracts:
Target: Baron Aldric Blackwood Rank: Silver Rank - Low Stage Crimes: Tax fraud, embezzlement from royal treasury Location: Estate outside city Bounty: 45,000 gold
Target: Mercenary Captain "Iron" Garrett Rank: Silver Rank - Peak Stage Crimes: War crimes, civilian massacres during border conflicts Location: Mercenary compound in military district Bounty: 75,000 gold
Target: Alchemist Silas Vex Rank: Bronze Rank - Peak Stage Crimes: Creating plague potions, testing them on unwilling subjects Location: Hidden laboratory, location unknown Bounty: 40,000 gold
The Silas Vex contract intrigued him. Another alchemist, but one using his skills for evil. Finding him would be challenging since his location was unknown, but the bounty was good and the target's rank was manageable.
Baron Blackwood was tempting—Silver - Low Stage, relatively easy compared to "The Surgeon." But tax fraud and embezzlement seemed like minor crimes compared to murder. Marcus had standards.
"Iron" Garrett, on the other hand... war crimes and civilian massacres. That was exactly the kind of target Marcus preferred. But Silver - Peak Stage was dangerous, even with his new Bronze - Mid Stage cultivation and 100x Effect.
He'd need to scout carefully, gather extensive intelligence, and prepare even more paranoid contingencies.
Marcus spent the next hour crafting more poison, brewing more healing potions, and purchasing additional equipment. He bought a specialized artifact called a "Truth Stone" for 30,000 gold—it would glow if someone was lying, useful for interrogating informants about Silas Vex's location.
He also commissioned a custom enchantment for his Wraith Cloak: thermal dampening, making him invisible to heat-detection magic. Cost: 25,000 gold. The enchanter promised it would be ready in five days.
Every gold piece was an investment in not dying.
That evening, Marcus conducted his nightly cultivation routine, absorbing five high-grade mana crystals he'd created earlier.
BRONZE RANK - MID STAGE: 84%
Good progress. At this rate, he'd reach Bronze - Peak Stage within two weeks through normal cultivation, even without hunting targets.
But hunting targets was faster. And more profitable.
Marcus reviewed his goals again:
Immediate: Create Legendary-grade potion for Lady Thornvale (100k gold commission) Short-term: Hunt Baron Blackwood or find Silas Vex, reach Bronze - Peak Stage Medium-term: Reach Silver Rank within 3-6 months, establish elite alchemist reputation Long-term: Gold Rank cultivation, 1 million gold total wealth
Every goal achievable with his current methods. Poison, transmutation, absorption. The cycle of advancement.
Marcus lay down on his cot, still wearing his Bronze - Mid Stage badge. Three days until the high-stakes alchemy commission. Then he'd decide which contract to take next.
Always moving forward. Always preparing. Always paranoid.
Because paranoia kept him alive.
And staying alive was the only goal that mattered.