Chapter 63

Here's the English translation:

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Seven thousand words, dear readers! It's time to collect, they are almost ripe!

Nali walked away for no more than half an hour and came back with a flushed face, shouting from afar, "Rodi, Miss Micky, good news! Good news!"

Rodi also stood up, as did Micky and Cook. Rodi asked with a smile, "Nali, what good news?"

"After my report and the transmission of the test results to headquarters, headquarters has decided to formally invite Miss Micky and Miss Lori to attend the Unparalleled Academy. All expenses will be waived, and each will receive an annual reward of 100,000 gold coins. Moreover, once the two ladies graduate from the Unparalleled Academy, their guild badges can be directly upgraded to B-rank," Nali said loudly, smiling at Micky. This was because Nali had discovered two top talents for the guild, and Lori's enrollment indirectly brought Mengqi into the Mage Guild. Therefore, the Mage Guild was very satisfied with Nali's performance and had already rewarded him.

"B-rank!" Rodi was also shocked. In the Mage Guild, the badge of a newly joined mage who hasn't made any contributions is F-rank. In the future, whether buying or selling items in the Mage Guild, the amount of money corresponds to points, which are used to purchase limited-edition items. For example, a mage can only buy one magic attack scroll per day, and if they want to buy more, they must pay the equivalent amount of money and the corresponding points. Of course, points are deducted once used, and if points drop to a certain level, the badge rank will also decrease.

There are also discounts. F-rank gets a 2% discount, which might seem small, but considering that magic materials and magic scrolls often cost thousands or tens of thousands of gold coins, and some items cost millions or tens of millions of gold coins, the 2% discount is significant. If F-rank is not impressive, E-rank is 5%, D-rank is 10%, C-rank is 20%, B-rank is 30%, A-rank is 40%, and S-rank and above are supplied at cost price. This shows how crazy the profit margins on magic items are. That's why Rodi was stunned by the B-rank badge. Although Mengqi is the court mage of the Roland Empire and receives nearly ten million gold coins annually from the empire, this amount is for all court mages, not just Mengqi. Most of the ten million gold coins are spent on magic materials. With this B-rank badge, imagine how much money could be saved, and that's just for one year.

"Additionally, headquarters has specially authorized me. If Miss Micky and Miss Lori are willing to attend the Unparalleled Academy, you can travel there via the magic teleportation array, sparing you the trouble of a long journey," Nali said again.

"Thank you! However, Lily needs some time, so she will go to the Unparalleled Academy in about a month, and Miss Micky will go as well," Rodi said to Nali.

"Alright, but it's best to finalize the list of travelers, as the teleportation array requires advance preparation and communication with headquarters. Additionally, Miss Micky and Miss Lori can each bring one maid for free, which is also covered by the Mage Guild," Nali said with a smile.

"Nali, Cook wants to be an auditor. Is that possible?" Rodi asked, knowing that the tuition at the Unparalleled Academy is extremely high, with even an auditor costing at least 100,000 gold coins per year, not to mention other miscellaneous expenses.

"This?" Nali hesitated for a moment.

"Ha ha, please!" Rodi asked, hoping for a chance. After all, it's unknown how long it will take to graduate from the Unparalleled Academy. One year at 100,000 gold coins, five years, seven years, plus other expenses, the total would be a significant amount.

"Alright, I'll try. You know how popular the auditor spots are at the Unparalleled Academy." In fact, Nali had the authority, but he wanted to do a favor for Rodi, or more accurately, to show goodwill to Rodi's mentor, Mengqi.

"Thank you, Nali!" Rodi knew that if Nali agreed, it would definitely work. The auditor spots at the Unparalleled Academy are always sought after by major nobles and royal families because the academy is full of geniuses, and these geniuses are highly coveted by major forces on the continent. Being an auditor is the best way to get close to these geniuses. However, the number of auditor spots is limited to avoid disrupting the geniuses' studies, so the competition for these spots is fierce each year. Additionally, the auditor qualification is only valid for one year, and a new exam and review are required annually. Of course, if an auditor can transfer to a regular student, they can continue their studies.

"Ha ha, please convey my regards to Sir Mengqi. I will visit him in a few days," Nali said with a smile.

"Welcome, welcome, Nali. I'll be on my way." Rodi responded warmly and prepared to leave, as the matter was settled. This time, they saved at least several million gold coins, just for Micky and Lori's tuition and other expenses, which would have been over 100,000 gold coins per year. The actual tuition for students is not very high, but this is only in comparison to auditors. Mengqi had admission spots, but they came at a cost.

"Goodbye!" Nali personally escorted Rodi and his group out the back door, as the area behind it was part of the mage tower.

"Great job, Rodi!" Mengqi praised when he heard the news.

"Mentor, no one expected Micky to have such talent—nine times the average mental power and SS-level elemental affinity," Rodi said, incredulous. They were alone, with Micky and Cook having gone to accompany Lori.

"Ha ha, that's what natural awakening is like." Mengqi couldn't stop smiling, as Micky's strength and talent were beneficial for the Clarri family.

Rodi then took out another test result and handed it to Mengqi, saying, "Actually, Micky doesn't surprise me. This is what surprises me."

"What? Four times the mental power, and already an apprentice mage? I remember Cook only started learning magic a little over a month ago?" Mengqi was also stunned after looking at the test results.

"Not a month, but half a month. The month included the time for awakening martial qi, and the actual meditation practice was only half a month. And during the test in Kubal City, it was three times the mental power," Rodi said with a bitter smile.

"Half a month to become an apprentice mage, and he didn't know any magic before?" Mengqi asked, puzzled.

"This is Cook's background. He hardly left the village from birth, and he only went to town once for his coming-of-age ceremony. This is confirmed by Viscount Rock and the people around him. Before awakening martial qi, he worked as a kitchen helper in Viscount Rock's house and had no time to practice, nor did he leave the sight of others," Rodi handed another document to Mengqi.

"Also, the evaluation results from Kubal City, which Viscount Rock gave us at the time. The test results in Kubal City were not as accurate as in the capital, but they were still correct," Rodi added.

Mengqi was puzzled, as Cook had brought him too many surprises. A magic apprentice daring to climb a great snowy mountain to steal a dragon egg, infiltrate a high-level banquet in an enemy country, and rescue his son and several unknown pets, all showed that Cook was bold and meticulous. Mengqi knew that Cook was determined to exchange Kunknie for battle merit, and now, although his talent was not outstanding, his advancement speed was incredibly fast.

"Rodi, what do you think?" Mengqi rubbed his head and put down the documents, as there were no loopholes. This information came from the empire's intelligence department and the family's own intelligence personnel, so it was definitely accurate.

"Is Cook's talent growing?" Rodi thought for a moment and asked.

"Whew, not that crazy, right?" Mengqi inhaled sharply, unsure.

"Should we try?" Rodi was also uncertain and asked tentatively.

"How do we try?" Mengqi asked.

"Give him a few wood element magic cores, and test him again in a month," Rodi said, shrugging.

Mengqi clapped his hands and ordered, "Alright, give him a fourth-level magic core and say it's for practice."

"Okay, mentor, I'll take care of it." Rodi was also curious and turned to leave, while Mengqi smiled with anticipation.

"Cook, does meditating here make you faster?" Cook opened his eyes to see Lori staring at him with wide eyes.

"A bit faster," Cook nodded. In fact, Cook didn't think much of the meditation magic array here, as he had the Earth Element Stimulation Method, which restored magic power quickly. He also found that using the Earth Element Stimulation Method, although it caused headaches afterward, it increased mental power slightly. When Cook was tested and found to have four times the mental power, he knew how much it had increased. Therefore, Cook wouldn't give up the Earth Element Stimulation Method.

"Then stay here with me and Micky, okay? You can use this meditation magic array," Lori asked, her face slightly flushed.

"Miss Lori, I need to go home and spend time with my parents. I'll be leaving for the Unparalleled Academy in a month, and I don't know when I'll return," Cook didn't want to waste time here. The Earth Element Stimulation Method restored magic power in just a few seconds, and even the headache only lasted a few hours. Here, it took at least five or six hours, and Cook always felt someone was secretly watching. Of course, spending time with his parents was also a genuine thought.

Lori was slightly disappointed but said generously, "Alright, spend time with your parents."

Cook left the Mage Guild, feeling the hard object in his pocket. It was a fourth-level magic core given by Rodi. Rodi didn't say much, just that it was from Mengqi. Cook knew that a fourth-level magic core cost nearly a thousand gold coins, and the price of magic cores increased by a factor of ten for each level. A first-level core cost a few gold coins, a second-level core cost dozens of gold coins, a third-level core cost hundreds of gold coins, a fourth-level core cost thousands of gold coins, a fifth-level core cost tens of thousands, and a sixth-level core cost hundreds of thousands to millions. Seventh-level cores and above were priceless and often unavailable.

"Hey! Guys, isn't that the kid who was with that bastard Cassi that night?" As Cook was about to board a carriage, a young man pointed at Cook's carriage from a distance, standing next to a fat man.

"Is that so? Let's go! Damn it, we lost face that night, and those bastards disappeared. Follow him and catch that kid," Tini was also furious, as that night had humiliated his group. After returning home, he was beaten and scolded by his elders, who said, "If you have the skills, go and get revenge, see how cowardly you all are!" Tini couldn't help but be angry, as a great swordsman had ambushed them, which was not gentlemanly. So Tini planned to visit the Mage Guild to see if there were any good equipment, such as magic scrolls, to take revenge. When he heard about Cook, he was even more furious.

"To the Hunter's Guild!" Cook was about to return but thought, as a hunter, he should get a Hunter's Guild badge.

"Thank you for your patronage, one gold coin!" The carriage had only been moving for a minute when the driver opened the door politely.

"Really? Where is the Hunter's Guild?" Cook looked around, seeing only shops.

"Go down this alley, and you'll find the Archer's Guild and the Hunter's Guild," the driver smiled, pointing to an alley.

Cook got out of the carriage and saw the alley, but it was lined with women dressed in bright colors. They all gave Cook flirtatious looks as he got out. Cook asked, shocked, "Are you sure you didn't take me to the wrong place?"

"Sir, I grew up in the capital. There's nowhere in the capital I don't know. Go straight, and the Hunter's Guild is at the end," the driver replied irritably.

"Alright!" Cook reluctantly gave the driver a gold coin, as the starting fare was one gold coin. In Cook's village, one gold coin could support a family of four for a year, but here it only lasted a minute.

"Sir, sir, come and play! Just fifty silver coins, fifty silver coins for anything you want."

"Handsome boy, come to me, I'll make sure you...!"

Cook was surrounded by women as soon as he entered the alley. The cheap perfume made him dizzy, and some women even touched him. Cook clutched his money bag and shouted, "I'm going to the Hunter's Guild!"

"Hunter's Guild, twenty silver coins, and I'll take you there after you play."

"Right, if I knew it was the Hunter's Guild, I wouldn't have asked for fifty silver coins. I'll give you a discount, handsome boy!"

Cook was sweating profusely, clutching his money bag and pushing his way through, ignoring the women's tugging.

"Ouch!"

"Ouch!"

"Hmph, poor hunter, if you have no money, say so!"

"Right, if I knew you had no money, I wouldn't have wasted my breath."

"Country bumpkin, you made me waste my makeup!"

Cook ignored the curses and looked around when he reached the end of the alley. He realized he didn't recognize the common script of this world. He wanted to go back and ask the women but felt uneasy. Reluctantly, he entered a house with an open door, as there were only two houses with open doors.

"Is anyone here?" Cook asked softly after a while, as it was dark inside.

"Is anyone here?" Cook looked around, seeing a shop with few items, just a few bottles without labels, and asked again.

"What do you want?" A voice came from the back of the house, and a short, fat middle-aged man walked out, asking irritably.

"Can you tell me how to get to the Hunter's Guild?" Cook asked quickly when he saw someone.

"Spit! You shouted so loudly just to ask this? Boy, didn't you see what was written on the door?" The short, fat man jumped up and shouted, pointing to a large wooden board with writing.

"Sorry, I can't read," Cook said, embarrassed.

"Hmph, come with me to the constable. This is breaking and entering, and you can't just barge in without reading," the short, fat man pushed Cook out and grumbled.

"Hey, handsome boys, are you looking for that poor hunter? He just went in!"

"Or handsome boys, the Hunter's Guild is right there!"

"Shut up, lead the way!"

Cook was pushed out and heard the commotion. He saw Tini and his group surrounded by women. Before he could say anything, he was pushed back into the shop, and a voice shouted, "Boy, what are you doing?"

"I'm buying something." Cook stood to the side, hiding in the shadows and said, as he couldn't go out and die.

"Buying something? The lowest price here is one thousand gold coins per item. See the board? Do you see the instructions?" The short, fat man asked irritably, looking at Cook suspiciously, doubting his ability to buy.

"One thousand gold coins, you...!" Cook was about to argue but stopped when he heard the commotion outside.

"Hmph, if you have no money, get out!" The short, fat man grumbled.

"Here, I don't have enough money, but this should be enough." Cook knew he would be in trouble if he showed his face, so he bit his lip and took out the fourth-level magic core.

"Hmm, this is barely enough." The short, fat man looked at it and nodded.

"Then introduce what you have for sale." Cook felt a pang of pain as the man took his magic core.

"What to introduce? Everything here costs at least one thousand gold coins. Choose whatever you want. If you're lucky, it might be worth more than one thousand gold coins. Hehe, it's all about your luck," the short, fat man said with a grin.

"Ugh!" Cook was dizzy, and if it weren't for the enemies outside, he would have beaten the short, fat man. One thousand gold coins, why not rob someone?

However, when Cook used his Magic Eye to examine the few items, he found they all emitted a faint magical glow, indicating they were magical items.

"Look over there, the one-thousand-gold-coin items are there!" The short, fat old man waved his hand and pointed to another side.

"You...!" Cook saw that the one-thousand-gold-coin items were in a corner, all damaged items like swords, bows, and bottles. A sign with the number "1000" was on a board, which Cook recognized as the numbers in the common script were the same as in the magical script.

"You what? Those items are not for sale. Hurry up and choose one, I'm busy," the short, fat man said impatiently.

"Guys, charge in! This damn Hunter's Guild, let's smash it first!" Tini stood in the middle of the alley, his back to Cook, and shouted. Cook peeked through the door crack.

"Ya! Ya! Ya!" Tini's friends charged in, shouting.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!" However, they came out faster than they went in, flying through the air.

"Ouch!"

"Ouch!"

"Ouch!"

"Who said they wanted to smash this place?" Tini's friends groaned in pain, rolling on the ground, while a man from the Hunter's Guild asked sternly.

"Damn, how is this a general?" Cook was surprised when he saw the man's attire.

"You... Gulp! Gulp!" Tini was about to curse, but when he saw the golden moon on the general's chest and the silver longbow on his back, he swallowed hard.

"Who said they wanted to smash this place?" The general's small eyes fixed on Tini, and he asked sternly.

"General Laruf, I... I... I... Slap!" Tini