by Zhuang Bifan
Cromwell could not help but frown as he watched Lin Li from behind. What a country bumpkin who had not been exposed to the world…
His emotions were complicated as he was remorseful yet indignant. But, more than that, he felt hatred towards Lin Li.
He had utterly regretted plunging into the Sunset Mountains. He would not have encountered the Leviathan Gorilla if he had not entered the Sunset Mountains, and he would not have fled without taking Ina with him. There were many ways to win Ina's heart, but he had chosen the most stupid one.
He was completely stunned the moment the Leviathan Gorilla took Ina away. A level-eight magical beast was so powerful that Cromwell could not help but shiver just standing in front of it. He tried to run after Ina, but his legs wouldn't budge. The confidence from the past had vanished and all that remained was endless fear.
At last, fear had triumphed over reason, and Cromwell chose to escape.
All that followed was simply a nightmare to him.
He had fled in panic back to the cave, but this low-life mage managed to save Ina. Ina's attitude towards him changed, no longer being polite. There was only disdain now, the kind of disdain that she regarded him as air. Until now, Ina had still not looked him in the eye—not even once.
Cromwell was not dumb and knew what this meant. It meant that he had lost all hope in winning Ina's heart.
After the initial remorse, Cromwell naturally pinned all the blame on Lin Li. It was because of his arrival that he had lost the opportunity to fight the Wyvern and save both Ina and her father. It was also because of his presence that he had performed badly in front of the Leviathan Gorilla.
He had even come to believe that these were all part of Lin Li's plan. This damned mage already had the thoughts of competing for Ina, and that was why he had appeared in the Sunset Mountains at that very moment.
Cromwell, caught up with his conspiracy theories, had no time to think what a difficult task communicating with a level-eight magical beast was.
For the zealous mage, Lin Li was the root of all evil. As long as he got rid of him, he could be together with Ina.
Lin Li entered Jarrosus City—this was undoubtedly the best opportunity.
As the heir to the family, Cromwell knew very well just how powerful his family was in Jarrosus. Even the leadership of the Guild of Magic were unable to ignore the suggestions of the Merlin Family. Once Lin Li joined the Guild of Magic, Cromwell would have his own ways to deal with him.
At this thought, there was finally a smile on Cromwell's gloomy face.
It was probably the reason why Cromwell, who had not spoken a word to Lin Li along the way, took the initiative to ask, "Mage Felic, are you going to report at the Guild of Magic? If you need help, do feel free to ask me. The Merlin Family does have a say in the Jarrosus' Guild of Magic."
"Report?" Lin Li was just looking around when he did a double take at the word.
"You don't know?" Cromwell swore silently at the country bumpkin, but kept the smile on his face. "The Supreme Council has made it clear that all mages above level five must report to the city's Guild of Magic upon their first arrival."
"Hold on… What's the Supreme Council?"
"You don't even know of the Supreme Council?" Lin Li's ignorance had been an eye-opener for Cromwell. Feeling his vanity greatly satisfied, he couldn't help but swear inwardly at the country bumpkin again. "The Supreme Council was established after the Dark Ages, and its full name is the Supreme Council of the Anril Guild of Magic. The purpose of its establishment is better supervision and management of the guild. Of course, the mage families are not included in the management—like the Merlin Family."
"Oh…" Lin Li nodded, but asked again doubtfully, "So the Guild of Magic is considered a subsidiary of the Supreme Council?"
"Sort of. But the Supreme Council usually isn't directly involved in management."
Lin Li did not question further. In his mind, he thought, Anril World is much more complicated than I expected it to be .
Just as he was absorbed in his thoughts, the party had reached the doorstep of the Adventurers Guild.
It was an enormous building, taking up most of the street. The decor was simple and plain, and if seen from the outside, you'd never expect it to be the largest and ric.h.e.s.t institution in all of Anril. Behind the front door was a spacious hall; according to McGrenn's introduction, this was where they usually received their quests. The hall was packed with all kinds of adventurers—some were waiting for new tasks while others had already collected them and were preparing to leave. These adventurers covered almost every profession Lin Li knew, from mages to warriors and from archers to thieves. Most of them carried a faint smell of blood on them. Lin Li knew that it was the legacy of years of fighting demons.
"Felic, take a seat here first. Ina and I are going to turn in our quest; we'll be back soon."
McGrenn was about to turn and leave when Lin Li stretched out his hand and pulled him back. "Didn't you fail the quest?"
"We have to turn in failed quests as well, or we won't be able to receive new ones."
"Then, do failed quests give you any trouble?"
McGrenn shook his head. "There is no trouble at all, just some loss of money."
"Wait a second for me here."
He found a quiet corner and silently opened up the Ring of Endless Storm. From inside the ring he took out half of the Manticore's hook, which he had nicked off from the dead Manticore he'd encountered when he was out picking wild steelbloom for Andoine.
"Is it alright to turn in this for your quest?" Lin Li handed the half piece of Manticore's hook to McGrenn.
"You…" The middle-aged adventurer had not expected that the problem he was so worried about could be solved so easily. Thinking of all the help Lin Li had rendered them along the way, the middle-aged man who was bad at words didn't know what else to say for a long while. He merely repeated, "Thank you, thanks…"
"You're welcome, I've got no use for it anyway…" Lin Li smiled. "I have things to do, so I won't be going with you anymore. If anything happens to you in the future, you can find me at the Guild of Magic. I should be staying there for some time if nothing else happens."
"Mr Felic!" Lin Li had just stepped out of the Adventurers Guild when he saw Ina running after him. The long-legged beauty's blond hair flew in the air; Ina's pretty face was flushed, her expression one of bashfulness and carrying a hint of reluctance to say goodbye.
"Hm?"
"Mr Felic… I…" Ina's small, fair hands were clenched as she was cheering for herself mentally. But after a few stammers of "I", all she said at last was: "Goodbye, Mr Felic."
"Goodbye, Ina."
Lin Li smiled and was about to turn around when he suddenly felt a gush of sweet wind. Ina, who was blushing just a moment ago, finally summoned up her courage and stuffed an item into the palm of his hand. "This is for you!"
After passing the item to Lin Li, Ina's ears had turned red with embarrassment. Without waiting for Lin Li to respond, the long-legged beauty fled back into the Adventurers Guild like a frightened white rabbit.
Lin Li was stunned as he stared at the figure that had just left. He stood at the street for a long time until he finally remembered the item in his hands.
It was a newly-sewed scroll pouch. The craftsmanship was a tad rough, but nevertheless, it was meticulously sewed. He could almost feel Ina's warmth on the pouch as he held it in his hands…
Chapter 13 - Emerald Tower
The Guild of Magic was located at the southern end of Jarrosus City. It was a huge building as well, no less so than the Adventurers Guild. The Guild of Magic was also known as the Emerald Tower in Jarrosus City. Standing on the streets, one would be able to see the tall spire of the tower from a distance.
Lin Li had asked several passers-by on the way and very soon found the direction to the Emerald Tower.
The Emerald Tower was unusually quiet as compared to the bustling Adventurers Guild. Lin Li stood outside t
he gate for a long time, but did not hear a sound at all. There was only a faint wave of magic coming from the tower. The magical wave was majestic and mysterious, and it made Lin Li feel as if what he was facing was an insurmountable mountain.
Walking in through the gates of the Emerald Tower, what he saw was likewise a spacious hall.
At a glance, the hall was empty, and not a single person was in sight.
"What kind of situation is this…"
Lin Li stood at the door, bewildered. Just then, he heard a commotion coming from the upper story.
"Shadow City wants the control of the Demon Fall Valley? Sure! But you'd better be prepared to bleed!" A furious roar came from upstairs. Lin Li saw a round gray figure just as he looked up.
"President Gerian, you're too irrational…" The man who was driven out of the door by the round figure was a middle-aged man in his forties. He wore a tight black leather jacket and emitted a thick smell of blood from his body. When he turned around, Lin Li suddenly felt as if he was being targeted by a venomous snake.
Hold on… President Gerian?
Lin Li suddenly recalled—the name that the middle-aged man had called out seemed to be the one of the very person that Andoine had told him to look for.
At this thought, Lin Li was unable to restrain himself from taking another look at the plump figure.
Only then did Lin Li notice how old the figure in the gray mage robe looked. He had a kind countenance and was fair and chubby. Even when he was angry, he still looked cheerful. Lin Li felt a little dizzy; a fat old man like him who looked more like a businessman than a mage was actually the President of the Jarrosus Guild of Magic, Archmage Gerian!
"President Gerian, you are too irrational. Rejecting the friendship of Shadow City will only bring disaster to Jarrosus Guild of Magic." The middle-aged man dropped such a sentence on him and left the Emerald Tower without another look back. He only took another look at Lin Li when he passed by, and the feeling of having been targeted by a venomous snake tightened Lin Li's heart.
How does that man walk without a sound? Could he be possessed by a ghost? Lin Li's character was not that of one who was willing to lose out. He had been unsettled by the gaze, and so he naturally had to curse in his heart.
"Come if you dare! As long as you dare to lay a finger on the Demon Fall Valley, I'll chop the claws off your hands!" Who knew there'd be another even more fiery-tempered one? The middle-aged man had already gone far, but the fat old man never stopped berating. After some time, he finally noticed a presence in the hall. With a frown, he glared at Lin Li and asked, "Who are you?"
"You're President Gerian, right?" Lin Li hastily turned over his pockets. He took out Andoine's letter and handed it over. "I am Felic. Mage Andoine had told me to look for you. This is a letter he wrote to you."
"It's Andoine, that old chap!" The fat old man's eyes lit up at the mention of Andoine's name. The frown that was on his face dissipated, his chubby face radiant with smiles, and he looked just like an amiable businessman. "Where's the old chap? Why are you here alone?"
"Mage Andoine said he had something to see to; he'll only return to Jarrosus City in a week or two."
"Oh…" Gerian nodded and began to read the letter in his hands.
Gerian had found it odd from the start. Although Andoine was a member of the Jarrosus Guild of Magic, he had been immersed in pharmaceutics and had not done anything serious in the guild for decades. He'd occasionally show his face once in a while, but only when he needed ingredients for his recipes. Had the wind changed for the old chap to write someone a letter of recommendation…?
But as he read on, the expression on the plump mage's face changed. His eyes, narrow as he smiled, were as wide as those of a bull. He raised his head a couple of times to look at Lin Li as he was reading the letter. Finally, his hands that were holding onto the letter seemed to be trembling as well.
This… If what was said in the letter was true, was this guy still a human?
Look at what the old chap had said—a magic gift that was comparable to that of Geresco, the God of Mages!
The fat old man's pupils dilated when he saw the name. He had grown up listening to the legend of the God of Mages. Gerian could count with his eyes closed exactly what the noblest mage of the Dark Ages had done in his time. He was the only mortal that could fight the gods, and there was the legend of him annihilating the Magic Legion of the High Elves with his own power. Gerian had always thought that such a person would only exist in myths.
Gerian would definitely regard it as a joke if it came from the mouth of someone else. But he knew deep down in his heart that Andoine was a man of his words. He had never exaggerated anything once in the hundred years he had lived.
I've found a treasure… I've found a treasure… Gerian eyes were still on the letter, but his heart was bursting with joy. He wished he could pick up the letter and give it a few kisses. Jarrosus Guild of Magic had been down and out for decades, and now the opportunity had presented itself for them to turn things around!
Before the old man's joy could subside, another paragraph had caught his attention.
"Furthermore, he is a Master of Potions…"
Master of Potions… You must be kidding! Gerian rubbed his eyes as hard as he could, thinking he had seen wrong.
Gerian picked up the letter once again after he was done rubbing his eyes.
Damn! Really a Master of Potion!
Gerian had gone completely Spartan in his mind. This… was much more terrifying than a genius in magic!
Who had ever seen a Master of Potion under the age of seventy—let alone at this time, thirteen hundred years after the Dark Ages? Gerian took a peek from behind the letter and carefully sized up this young man named Felic. The mage robe looked rather worn, but the magical wave coming from it was exceptionally clear. From Gerian's perspective, he could tell that this was not an ordinary magical item just by one look. He was tall and thin, with a face that looked slightly childish. He was probably not any older than 20 years old…
The letter also mentioned how powerful this young potion master was: powerful enough to outdo anyone in the Pharmacists Guild!
J… J… Jackpot… We have hit the jackpot this time!
A Master of Potion under the age of twenty… Gerian was trembling with excitement at the thought of it. From now on, the Pharmacists Guild was nothing to him! He would not have to go begging on their doorstep for a few bottles of potions, and would not even have to make contact with those pharmacists who had their eyes on the ceiling! Hell, what big shoes they wore when they didn't even have large feet! He had a potion master here with him now—there was no need to face their terrible attitudes anymore!
"Mage Felic?" The old man was utterly out of breath after finishing the letter. His fixed gaze on Lin Li was a glimmering green, sending a chill down Lin Li's spine. "Andoine has told me all about you in his letter. According to him, you have not gone through a level certification?"
"Level certification?"
Gerian knew he had said something nonsensical upon seeing Lin Li's confused eyes. He had slapped himself out of dismay and cursed himself silently. What a fool I am! This kid had just been exposed to magic three months earlier and had been learning from Andoine, how would he know of any level certification?
"Simply put, it is to certify your magic level. In my opinion, this is necessary for you because it is only after being certified that you will be able to receive spells corresponding to your level from the Guild of Magic."
Gerian kept a smile on his face when he was explaining what the level certification was, but in his heart, he felt an indescribable nervousness. This was about a magical genius who could rival Geresco, and even more about a Master of Potion under the age of twenty! Gerian even felt he was more nervous now than when he had advanced to an Archmage.
"Then, when can I get certified?" Lin Li reply was straightforward—he'd also like to know which level he was currently at.
"Anytim
e!" Gerian pulled Lin Li up the stairs. His chubby face was completely distorted from trying so hard to hold back his emotions. He wanted to pull Andoine into his arms and give him a few pecks on his cheeks. The old chap had been too lovely, he had to thank him when he returned to Jarrosus City.
Chapter 14 - Level Certification
"Kevin!" the old man screamed as he got to the second floor. "You lazy punk, get out here! There are things to do!"
A long silence. The fat old man got angry and the tightly shut door was kicked and split in half with a thud. Lin Li stood at a side, stunned by what he just saw. How was the old fellow so strong? Was he a mage or a beast?
"President Gerian…" The room was in ruin; inside was a thin, young mage who looked to be about twenty or thirty years old. He stood dumbfounded, looking at the door. He was about to say something but the fat old man shot him a fiery glare, and he could only swallow the words back down his throat.
"Come, let me introduce you. This is Mage Felic, a new mage. He has decided to go through the level certification in Jarrosus' Guild of Magic. Bring him down to process the doc.u.ments; I'll look for someone to arrange the certification. These little rascals are getting more brazen, hiding in the room early in the morning. I wanted to teach that bastard from Shadow City a lesson, but couldn't find any helpers to back me up…
"Oh, right. Felic, this is Kevin, the famous nice guy in Jarrosus Guild of Magic. You'll follow him to handle all the paperwork, I'll come and find you later."
The fat old man went off swearing, leaving Lin Li and Kevin standing there in a daze.
"Heh heh, the President's character… Uh… He's more straightforward, you'll slowly get used to it in the future." The young mage lifted the two broken pieces of door from the ground as he explained to Lin Li with a smile.
"Straightforward indeed…" Lin Li laughed. The fat old man was much more interesting than Andoine.
Gerian's kick was harsher than a beast's attack. The lock that was behind the door was broken with his kick. Kevin lifted the door up and examined it for a long while, soon realizing that it was impossible to repair it. He could only lean the broken door against the wall, and with a bitter smile, he said, "Let's just wait for the President to call for a repairman. I'll bring you down to process the doc.u.ments first."