Chapter 231: Prelude

“This is the masterpiece of Advanced Wizard Apprentice Betty, the Magic Heat-Driven Train. It’s practically half a Magic Item.” Carlo was explaining emotionally to several young militia.

“Captain, why can the train move by itself?” a militia asked in confusion.

Luther pricked up his ears; he also wanted to know the reason.

“Because there is a sealed Magic Heat-Drive Device in the locomotive. I heard Lord Betty initially developed a steam drive device, but later, following Lord Ace’s suggestion, she changed it directly to a magic heat drive, greatly improving efficiency!”

Carlo said, spraying saliva.

“But I heard this kind of magic device is very expensive to build, and daily use requires Mana Stones. Even the lowest grade Lesser Mana Stone is equivalent to ten years of our Work Points!”

A young militia raised a question. Luther listened intently, although he didn’t quite understand.

“That’s why I said it’s half a Magic Item. Although the drive device is composed of sophisticated mechanical cylinders and Rune Arrays, the key heat source is burning coal. Replacing Mana Stones with coal greatly reduces the cost of daily consumption.”

Carlo said with a proud look. He hadn’t been idle these past few years, often networking with the Wizard Apprentices stationed at the port. The mysterious world of Magic in the eyes of ordinary people wasn’t so mysterious to him.

Thinking this, Carlo inadvertently touched his chest, where a Lesser Mana Stone lay.

Thoughtfulness appeared in Luther’s eyes, but the unfamiliar environment made him subconsciously vigilant. He only listened with his ears and absolutely did not speak.

The sun gradually set, and the train arrived at the platform outside Nightlight City.

Carlo and ten other militia led this batch of “Preparatory Freemen” into the city. After handing them over, they went straight to the Territory Administration Office.

Luther followed the crowd dazedly to a camp. The aroma of barley porridge filled the air, along with the smell of meat, making Luther salivate uncontrollably.

“This aroma… it must be pork sausage!”

Luther’s eyes were bright, and he swallowed several times.

Soon, their dinner was served: steaming barley porridge, buttered white bread, and two sizzling roasted sausages.

After wolfing down the food, they quickly finished the “battle.”

Several people who seemed to be so-called Wizard Apprentices led them one by one to stand on a stone platform painted with strange patterns. When it was Luther’s turn, he stumbled onto the stone platform, staring at the unknown patterns under his feet and listening to the people beside him.

“Activate. Detect Hostility. Detection complete: No hostility.”

On the other side, a person wearing a neat, fitted black formal suit was recording in a small notebook.

“Covenant. Secrecy. Loyalty.”

As the voice fell, Luther felt as if he had gained some restraint, but upon careful search, it vanished.

Then, the Wizard Apprentice pointed a finger at Luther. Luther felt his vigilance disappear, trusting them immensely.

The person in the black suit asked Luther many questions. After Luther answered in detail, he switched to another booklet and continued questioning the next person.

The black suit would file the booklets into the territory’s household registration archives. Currently, the territory had achieved one file per person; no one was undocumented. These archive materials were tools of rule.

After everyone had signed the Secrecy Covenant and Loyalty Covenant, the black suit said to the crowd:

“In the High Tower Territory, except for Sin-bearing Slaves, everyone is a free person! Although you were bought as slaves, here, you will all have the opportunity to become completely free people.

As Preparatory Freemen, you will perform three years of directed labor under the arrangement of the Administration Office. As long as you pass the Work Point assessment within three years and do not violate the territory’s laws, you will all become true Freemen…”

At night, in the temporary dormitory, Luther curiously examined the ceramic water pipes and faucets. Looking at the lights outside the window, he thought: Everything seems to be getting better. If only my parents and sister were here too, that would be even better.

A few hours earlier.

While Carlo entered the Administration Office, Eddie had already arrived.

Eddie had just submitted his task and was casually browsing the tasks in the hall.

According to Resolution No. 4 of the Magic Council, every Wizard Apprentice graduated from the Elementary Magic School needed to complete one paid task issued by the Administration Office every year.

A task caught Eddie’s attention.

【Clear the Unknown Monster Group in the Northern Mining Area.

Relevant Intelligence: This Monster group has attacked hundreds of people in the northern mining area and even killed three Wizard Apprentices.

The Monsters appear as transparent liquid and seem capable of devouring other living or dead Monsters and Wizard Apprentices, assuming their appearance and abilities.

Any member of the Magic Council can apply. Deadline: April 30th. Minimum team size: 10 people.

Task Reward: Lord Ace will grant a customized Magic Item.】

This is a very difficult task, Eddie thought.

His brain wasn’t fried; having just completed a paid task, he didn’t want to get involved in such a troublesome task with uncertain returns.

I finally saved enough Mana Stones to buy the Advanced Gargoyle I’ve wanted for a long time, Eddie thought.

This was a high-quality Gargoyle handmade by Lord Ace himself. Its main material was magic mud converted from powerful low-level Monsters. Both the core rune structure and the inscribed rune arrays were Soul Runes.

The Advanced Gargoyle also possessed an intelligence level close to a ten-year-old human child. Owning it was like having a familiar equivalent to a Pseudo-Hero.

Of course, he envied Polina even more. As the Wizard who proposed the initial manufacturing principle of the Gargoyle, any Wizard trading Gargoyles had to provide her with a 10% patent fee.

Eddie walked quickly away, heading for Ace’s Magic Item Shop, passing right by Carlo.

Carlo did not stay in the hall but went straight to a courtyard behind the hall, pushing the door open quickly.

“I am Formal Citizen Carlo. This is my Identity Badge, and these are my Work Point proof materials. I am here to exchange for a Lesser Permanent Mental Blessing.”

While speaking, Carlo shook hands with the Wizard Apprentice in charge and slipped a Lesser Mana Stone into his hand.

The Wizard Apprentice, whose expression was initially somewhat indifferent, instantly became warm. He stuffed the Lesser Mana Stone into his pocket and said to Carlo: “Just so happens, an excellent Mental Blessing Potion just arrived. The concentration of ‘Pollution-Free Lesser Soul Powder’ inside is 30% higher than ordinary ones.”

Carlo smiled憨ly and said: “I leave it entirely to your arrangement, Lord Wizard.”

While Carlo was undergoing the Lesser Permanent Mental Blessing spell, Eddie had taken a Magic Carpet to the street in front of the Magic School Castle. This street was the most prosperous and luxurious place in Nightlight City, managed by Torch-Bearer Ace’s father, Romon.

Thinking of Romon, Eddie couldn’t help but sigh. Even Lord Torch-Bearer couldn’t accomplish some things.

Romon was a person with unsuitable mental aptitude. Lord Ace had tried almost every method but still failed to help Romon achieve Mental Overdrive. This situation was not uncommon.

In Nightlight City with a population of 30,000, over 4,000 people had received the Lesser Mental Blessing or taken cheap Lesser Wisdom Potions, but only a little over 1,100 people achieved Mental Overdrive and became Wizard Apprentices.

As for the path of Knighthood, the conditions were even harsher. Not only was Mental Overdrive required, but one also had to condense a virtue creed. Despite Lord Ace’s full support, there were only twelve Knight Squires in the entire territory.

Thinking this, Eddie walked into the largest Magic Item shop—Ace’s Magic Item Shop. As for the Magic Item shops opened by others, neither the variety nor the quality could compare.

Eddie chatted familiarly with the shop manager for a few sentences, then suddenly turned pale.

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