"Please have a seat, sir" the petite librarian said, her voice slightly trembling, pointing towards a small wooden table placed near the cashier's counter. On the table were a porcelain teapot and two cups, along with a small plate of butter cookies. "This is the test, please complete it within one hour."

Rober nodded and sat down. The librarian handed him a thick stack of papers, held together by a brass clip. He took it and flipped through it. The first page bore a handwritten, elegant inscription: "General Knowledge Test, Kalis Marry Bookshop."

Below were numerous multiple-choice questions. Rober frowned and began to read. He immediately realized that this was not a typical general knowledge test. It didn't just revolve around book knowledge, but also tested his deep understanding of this world, of Edoras, and of things beyond ordinary logic.

There were questions about the customs and traditions of the people of Edoras, about ancient rituals and traditional festivals. There were questions about the social classes, about the complex relationship between the aristocracy, merchants, and commoners, about prominent social issues such as the wealth gap, gender inequality, and corruption.

Then there were questions that made Rober frown, about the underworld of Edoras, about secret criminal organizations, notorious gangs, illegal activities taking place right under the noses of the authorities, and the dark conspiracies being hatched in the shadows.

And that wasn't all. The test also had questions about mythical creatures, from mighty dragons, immortal phoenixes, to bloodthirsty vampires and ferocious werewolves. There were questions about strange supernatural phenomena, about different types of magic, and about parallel dimensions where the usual laws of physics no longer applied.

Interspersed with these were questions about literature, about the classic works of Edoras, about famous writers and poets, about diverse literary genres, and about literary movements that had once taken the world by storm.

The test also didn't forget to test Rober's knowledge of history, not only the history of Edoras and the kingdom, but also the history of the entire world, including both the official historical events recorded in books and the stories passed down through folklore, or hidden by powerful forces.

Of course, science was also an integral part of the test. There were questions about the basic laws of physics, about chemical elements, about the unique flora and fauna of this world, about fascinating natural phenomena, and about scientific and technical inventions that had changed people's lives.

And to further challenge Rober's abstract thinking, the test also included questions about philosophy, about different schools of philosophy, about famous philosophers, about complex philosophical concepts, and about eternal ethical, political, and social issues.

Religion was not overlooked, with questions about the mainstream religions in Edoras, about scriptures, about rituals, and about different doctrines. Then there were questions about geography, about different lands. Politics, economics with questions about essays. Art was also not an exception, with questions about painting, architecture, and so on.

Rober couldn't help but be amazed at the breadth, diversity, and somewhat... eccentric nature of the test. He realized that this was not just a simple knowledge test, but also a test of his ability to think, analyze, synthesize, and connect information. It required him to have a deep understanding of all aspects of life, and also an ability to "sense" the things hidden behind the words.

He took a deep breath, picked up his pen, and began to work on the test. Thanks to the Sage System, his current knowledge was sufficient to answer the questions easily.

The librarian stood behind the counter, unable to hide her surprise at seeing Rober work on the test so quickly and decisively. She had never seen anyone able to answer those tricky questions so easily. From time to time, she would glance at Rober, her eyes filled with admiration, and also a bit of... suspicion.

In less than thirty minutes, Rober had completed the test. He put down his pen and pushed the stack of papers towards the librarian.

"I'm finished" he said.

The librarian was startled, she hurried over and took the papers. She flipped through each page, comparing Rober's answers with the answer key printed on another sheet of paper that she took out from a drawer under the counter.

Her eyes widened with each correct answer Rober had given. Her mouth opened slightly, but she didn't utter a word. Finally, when she checked the last question, she couldn't contain herself and exclaimed:

"Sir... you answered... all the questions correctly!"

Rober smiled, saying nothing.

The librarian looked up, gazing at Rober with eyes full of admiration. "Congratulations, sir" she said, her voice still trembling. "You have passed the test. Please follow me."

She led Rober to the end of the room, to the wooden staircase leading to the upper floor. She bowed to Rober, and then returned to the cashier's counter.

Rober took a deep breath, and then stepped onto the stairs. The old wooden steps creaked under his weight. The surroundings gradually became darker and quieter.

When Rober reached the second floor, he was astonished by what he saw. This place was completely different from the ground floor. There were no towering bookshelves, no reading tables, no comfortable armchairs. Instead, it was a large, empty space, with a marble floor, and a high ceiling, decorated with murals depicting constellations.

And, most strangely, dozens, hundreds of books were floating in the air, as if they had magic. Books of all sizes, shapes, and colors, floated gently, slowly, creating a surreal and enchanting scene.

Rober entered the room, feeling like he had entered another world, a world of dreams, of wonders. He looked around, trying to understand how these books could float.

He realized that on each book there was a mysterious symbol, drawn with a type of energy. He recognized them as magical circles that allowed these books to overcome the law of gravity.

Rober approached a book floating nearby. He reached out and touched the cover. Immediately, the magical circle on the cover faded, and the book gently fell into his hand.

Rober opened the book and read the title: "The Origins of Elemental Magic." He flipped through a few pages, skimming a few paragraphs. The content of the book described in detail the various types of elemental magic, such as: fire, water, earth, wind, and light. It explained the origin, operating principles, and methods of using these types of magic.

Rober smiled. He realized that he already knew all the knowledge in this book. The Sage System had provided him with this knowledge long ago. He closed the book and raised it. A small amount of energy radiated from Rober, causing the magical circle on the cover to reappear, shimmering, and the book slowly floated up, hovering in the air.

Rober continued to walk around the room, exploring other books. He realized that most of the books here were related to magic, mythology, and the mysteries of the world. There were books about spells and charms; there were books about mythical creatures, such as dragons, phoenixes, unicorns, and mermaids; there were books about other dimensions, about parallel worlds, and about nameless gods.

But, even after looking through dozens of books, Rober still couldn't find any new or useful information for him. All the knowledge in these books, he already knew, thanks to the Sage System. He began to feel a little disappointed, and a bit... bored.

Finally, Rober reached the end of the room, where there was a large, intricately carved wooden door. He wondered, what was behind this door? Was it another room, containing even more "discerning" books?

He looked around, searching for a sign or an inscription that could give him more information. And he found it. Right next to the door, a small, brass plaque was mounted on the wall, with the words engraved: "Consultation Room."

Rober frowned slightly. A bookstore, with a consultation room? Consultation about what? About books, about magic, or about something else? He suddenly remembered the information that Jacob had provided, about Kalis Marry, the headmistress of the Royal Academy, being connected to this bookstore. Could it be that this consultation room was where she met people, or handled private affairs? If so, then this might be a chance for him to meet her directly and learn more about the Academy.

Rober thought to himself: Kalis Marry is a book lover, passionate about knowledge, and has made great contributions to the development of the Academy's library. Her opening a bookstore, and even having a consultation room, was probably also to pursue that passion, to share knowledge, and to help those with similar interests.

If that's the case, then the person in this consultation room is very likely Kalis Marry. And if I can get in to talk to her directly, it would be a great opportunity for me to approach this next target.

With that thought, Rober took a deep breath, composed himself, and then raised his hand, knocking gently on the wooden door three times.

Knock, knock, knock.