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n?Waving her hand to reassure Nula, Howard, accompanied by Vivia, left the room.

nThe pair’s backs faded from the doorway, and their footsteps eventually vanished into silence before Nula settled back into her seat.

n“When do you think Howard will see through it?”

nA voice suddenly filled the room.

nIf Howard had still been there, he would have instantly recognized it as Dorek’s voice!

nFor a magus, the role of a mentor is incomparably different from that of teachers in magus schools.

nIf those teachers are responsible for opening the door to the world of magus for you, then a mentor is your first true guide on the path forward.

nNo magus could ever forget their mentor’s name.

n“Maybe a long time, or perhaps he’ll realize as soon as he descends the stairs. I can’t make that judgment.”

nNula’s voice was calm, emanating a chill that seemed to keep others at a great distance.

n“It’s not that you can’t, but rather you don’t want to, right? If it were you, you could probably see through what he’s thinking,” Dorek’s voice seemed to come from every corner of the room.

n“Mentor, do you know? It’s precisely because I understand too much that I dare not make any judgments,” Nula’s eyes reflected hesitation and fear.

n“Yet, among us, you’re the only one who might manage it,” Dorek’s voice carried a hint of resignation.

n“Otherwise, we could at least share some of the burden with you now.”

n“It’s no use, mentor,” Nula stated coldly.

n“It’s all up to you now.”

nDorek’s voice gradually faded, eventually disappearing altogether.

nSimultaneously, the faint mana that had lingered in the room completely dissipated.

nDorek hadn’t come to Rodel City.

nIf he were here, Nula wouldn’t be concerned about the assassination attempts; instead, she would be discussing with Howard how many captives to keep for interrogation.

nEveryone in the organization has their tasks, with Howard being her target, just as Dorek has his own.

nThe reason Dorek appeared in Lorinda last time was purely out of concern for Nula’s safety, essentially taking a break from his duties.

nThis time, he was stealing a moment from his busy schedule to chat with Nula through the mana network that spans the entire continent.

nFrom what Nula knew, Dorek’s target seemed to be a soul from the Alternate World as well, seemingly young, vibrant, and resembling a loli.

nCould that be the type Howard likes?

nNula’s thoughts drifted aimlessly.

nIf Howard were to truly fall for someone, what would that person be like?

nIf Howard hopelessly fell for someone, what characteristics would that person embody?

nCould this become a breakthrough?

nIn the slightly ajar room, Nula’s eyes narrowed as she smiled like a little devil. 𝘪𝑎.𝘤𝑜𝘮

n…

n“Hey! Howard, do I look good in this?”

nAgain!

nHoward ran his fingers through his hair, feeling that his hair was doomed for the day.

nIn the last hour, the two had hurried through half the city.

nStarting from the adventurer-dense western district, progressing along the central avenue, crossing the winding Rodel River that snakes through the residential areas, and finally arriving at their destination in the commercial district on the eastern part of Rodel.

nThis area is the only bustling commercial hub in Rodel and the sole place within the city selling scrolls and magic potions above the basic level.

nAlthough these items are primarily used by adventurers, merchants and nobles also fancy purchasing such exquisite trinkets, whether for self-defense or to bolster their status.

nAfter all, on this continent, magi hold the highest esteem.

nYou might encounter preparatory-level or level 3 magi among adventurers, but it’s nearly impossible to see magi of level 1 or higher.

nMagi at such ranks are almost always national treasures of their respective countries or belong to the upper echelons of nobility.

nThey may not be exclusionary, but the disparity in knowledge and understanding naturally makes communication challenging.

nTo capture the attention of these recluses, who prefer to stay within their laboratories, the best method is to present something that would undoubtedly pique their interest, thus drawing their gaze.

nHowever, Howard’s visit here was not to make a statement but to purchase items for Vivia’s self-defense.

nDirectly enhancing a person’s power might be challenging, but spending money on defensive means is straightforward.

nWhether it’s advanced Mana Shield scrolls, Liontiger magic potions, or spell wands with limited usage, all these items meet the requirements.

nNaturally, the price won’t be modest.

nEven the cheapest intermediate magic potion costs over a hundred gold coins per bottle.

nAnd this isn’t even the price for combat-related magic potions, which generally cost about twice as much as those of other types at the same level.

nOn this outing, Howard had budgeted six hundred gold coins, hoping to purchase at least one suitable intermediate magic potion and several decent scrolls, with the most important being a teleportation scroll.

nInstant use, a dash of several kilometers, a supreme artifact for escaping, yet its price is far from friendly.

nFrom what Howard knew, the cheapest short-range teleportation scroll, capable of transporting someone less than five kilometers, also cost around two hundred gold coins.

nA single scroll and one intermediate magic potion could deplete Howard’s budget.

nMoney, oh money!

nIs there any quick way to earn it?

nThroughout the journey, Howard pondered this question.

nYet, Vivia seemed oblivious to these concerns, her eyes wide with wonder as she gazed at the exquisite dresses in the shop windows.

nThe love of beauty is, arguably, innate to every female, and Vivia was no exception.

nThe moment she saw those fine garments, she was thoroughly captivated.

nAlthough she knew their budget was limited and refrained from asking Howard to buy any, their progress was slowed significantly.

nThey would hardly cover a few meters before Howard had to coax Vivia away from another shop window.

nThus, after more than half an hour of delay, they finally reached their destination: Rodel Grand Marketplace.

nThe name might sound like a supermarket, and in fact, it indeed was one—a supermarket exclusively for magi.

nThis place sold nearly every common mana material available in the Northwestern Province, and even some of the rarer materials were regularly in stock.

nAs long as one was willing to pay the right price, they could be taken home immediately.

nNot just materials, the marketplace also sold many semi-

nfinished magic potions and semi-finished scrolls, or even just the base ingredients for magic potions and blank scrolls.

nAdditionally, some mana creatures could also be found here, including purely experimental mana constructs and others designed for specific purposes.

nOne such example is a special type of slime named “Happy Night,” a typical utility-focused mana construct.

nIts inherent corrosive qualities had been eliminated, with an enhancement in structural strength and versatility. 𝘪𝑎.𝘤𝑜𝑚

nAlthough its strength was reduced, its speed and the ability to survive in low-oxygen environments were increased.

nMoreover, it could sustain itself in a smaller form for extended periods.

nThe majority of purchasers were noblewomen or nobles with particular tastes.

nAnyway, Howard couldn’t help but twitch at the sight of this item.

nNot daring to linger too long in front of the “Happy Night” display, he quickly led Vivia to other counters.

nAfter a tour around the marketplace, Howard finally found the stall selling intermediate magic potions.

nIntermediate magic potions were considered relatively high-

nend in Rodel, and there were only two counters selling them, situated directly opposite each other, seemingly in a long-

nstanding rivalry.

nHoward wasn’t much bothered by this; direct competition was advantageous for negotiating a better price.

nChoosing a counter that seemed more appealing, Howard approached it and, without a word, placed his magus badge on the countertop.

nIn the Grand Marketplace, the identity of a magus could offer considerable convenience and effectively prevent scams.

nNo one dares to deceive a magus, as the price for such folly could very well be death.

nObserving the middle-aged man behind the counter, who had now fully focused his attention, Howard tapped on the surface with his knuckles, speaking in a measured tone, “Do you have any decent intermediate magic potions here?”

nA level 3 magus, although not the most distinguished figure in Rodel, could still be a guest of honor in any family, holding a position of significant esteem.

n“You have a keen eye, sir! You’ve chosen the right shop! Truth be told, we’ve just received a new shipment recently, which includes several bottles of quite exceptional intermediate potions.

nWhether for research purposes or self-defense while on the road, they’re an excellent choice!”

nFor most, the purposes of purchasing intermediate magic potions boil down to these two uses.

nIn comparison to the brief duration of basic magic potions, intermediate magic potions not only offer a substantial enhancement in effect but also last at least three times longer than their basic counterparts.

nThey are indeed the best option for combat or self-defense.

nConsuming one before an adventure pretty much ensures a safe journey ahead.

nOf course, the price will definitely reflect their value.

nUpdated from 𝘪.𝘤𝑜𝘮

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