Wolf's Travels

The next day, Ange was awakened by a knock on his hotel room door. Rubbing his eyes, he sleepily opened the door. Standing there was a hotel attendant who informed Ange that a young lady was looking for him downstairs. Ange didn't react at first, but quickly realized it might be Joseph's sister. He told the attendant he would get ready quickly and asked him to wait a moment.

Ange quickly finished his morning routine and put on the new clothes he bought yesterday. He thought that perhaps bringing his Refined Steel Knife would be more appropriate, as he didn't know what this meeting might entail. He grabbed Joseph's token and hurried downstairs.

When Ange reached the hotel lobby, he immediately spotted the girl standing by the counter. She had bright eyes and golden curly hair that fell over her shoulders. She wore a robe that looked like an Academy uniform. Her tall stature and elegant demeanor made her stand out. Ange walked up to her, waved Joseph's token in front of her eyes, and asked, "Are you Mary, Joseph's sister?"

Mary had already been observing Ange as he came downstairs. Ange was well-built, about 1.8 meters tall, with a resolute aura forged in the military camp, making him particularly striking. She smiled slightly, nodded, and said, "Yes, I am Mary. You must be Ange? My brother asked me to find you. He told me to show you around Wolf City and be your guide. He also said you have many questions about magic."

Ange smiled and nodded, feeling a sense of relief. Mary's appearance made him feel less alone in this unfamiliar city. He said, "Thank you for coming to find me, Mary. I do have many questions about magic that I'd like to ask you."

Mary chuckled softly and said, "Then we can go to a nearby drink shop and sit down. The environment there is nice, and we can chat at our leisure." Ange readily agreed, and they left the hotel together, heading towards the drink shop not far away.

Along the way, Mary introduced Ange to the sights and local customs of Wolf City. Ange also shared some of his experiences in the military camp. They found themselves chatting very congenially. Ange discovered that Mary was not only beautiful but also intelligent and had a profound understanding of magic. He began to look forward to their discussion about magic.

Upon arriving at the drink shop, Ange ordered two cups of their signature cocoa grass tea and two desserts. Mary took a bite of a dessert and let out a soft sigh of satisfaction. She told Ange that the desserts here were especially good and that whenever she felt down, she would come here to eat desserts, which helped her quickly forget unhappy things. Ange smiled upon hearing this and said, "I can see that, the desserts here are indeed excellent."

As they ate and chatted, Ange couldn't help but praise her, "Mary, you are truly both beautiful and elegant. I didn't expect Joseph's sister to be so outstanding." Mary blushed upon hearing this and lowered her head shyly.

Ange continued, "I only arrived in Wolf City yesterday and am not familiar with this city. If you have time, I hope you can show me around. I will also pay you the corresponding guide fee." Mary smiled and agreed, saying, "Of course, I'd be happy to show you around the city."

Next, Mary began to tell Ange about the origin of Wolf City. Although Joseph had already told Ange on the way, Ange still listened attentively without interrupting her. Mary systematically explained the founding background of Wolf City and its importance in the Maple Sugar Plane. Ange once again realized the city's status and role within the Duchy.

Mary described the layout of Wolf City in detail. She said, "Wolf City is divided into several main areas. The city center houses the Lord's Mansion and the main administrative bodies, surrounded by many shops and markets. The eastern part is where the Mage Academy is located. The streets there have many magic-related shops selling magical items and books. The western part is a gathering place for various workshops and artisans."

Hearing this, Ange's understanding of Wolf City deepened. Then, Mary began to talk about magic, which was what Ange was most interested in. "In Wolf City, the Mage Academy is the center for magic research and education. The Academy offers various courses, from basic elemental magic to advanced Forbidden Arts. Students here not only study magic theory but also engage in extensive practical training."

She continued, "If you are interested in magic, you can visit the library next to the Mage Academy. It has a vast collection of books, many of which can be borrowed. Also, the Academy holds a public magic exhibition every month, where you can witness the performances of many advanced mages. It's very spectacular."

Ange listened intently and couldn't help but exclaim, "That sounds truly magical! I must visit the Mage Academy." Mary smiled and nodded, saying, "I can take you there. The professors there are very friendly, and they will surely be happy to answer any questions you have."

The two chatted happily, which further fueled Ange's interest in Wolf City and magic.

Mary asked Ange with concern, "What are your travel plans? I know you've retired, are you planning to return to the Grand Duchy of Tan'anster?"

Ange replied with a smile, "Yes, but before I go back, I plan to stay in Wolf City for a while and explore properly. I've spent almost these past 5 years in the military camp, and now I need to understand this world better."

Mary nodded in understanding, "That's good. Exploring a new environment will be beneficial for you. Our Academy will be on holiday soon, but even during the holidays, you can still visit the Academy. After all, I am a local of Wolf City and am very familiar with it. You can visit the places I mentioned for the next couple of days, but I suggest you don't buy anything for now. Wait until I'm on holiday, and I'll take you."

Ange said gratefully, "Thank you for the reminder. I'll be careful."

Mary continued, "After the holidays, you can also go to the Academy library. However, please note that during the holidays, you can only read books within the library and cannot take them outside."

Ange indicated he understood, "Okay, I will abide by those rules."

Mary smiled with satisfaction, "That's good. When I'm on holiday, I'll definitely take you around. For now, you can get familiar with the city and experience its atmosphere."

After chatting for a while longer, Mary told Ange, "If you have any questions or need help, you can come to me anytime."

Ange nodded and thanked her, "Thank you, Mary. I will."

Afterward, the two concluded their pleasant meeting and went their separate ways. Ange was filled with anticipation for the days ahead, planning to make good use of this time to explore every corner of Wolf City and experience its unique charm.

Following his pleasant conversation with Mary yesterday, Ange decided to visit the Lord's Mansion today and see the fountain square. Mary had told him that the eastern district of Wolf City was the hub for the Mage Academy and major trade, the western district was for commoners' residences, the southern district was for Nobles and officials, and the northern district was the Wolf City military barracks and the Maple Sugar factory.

Ange first went to the Lord's Mansion. The architecture of the Lord's Mansion was imposing, and the fountain in the central square was stunning. Ange couldn't figure out where the water was spraying from. He stood by the fountain for a long time, marveling at the city's craftsmanship and design.

Next, Ange went to visit the southern district. As expected, the southern district was where the Nobles resided, with luxurious manors everywhere. Soldiers patrolled the streets.

The patrolling soldiers approached Ange, seeing him alone, and questioned him. Ange told them he was a tourist. The soldiers asked him to leave the area quickly and not to approach, lest he disturb the Noble lords. Although Ange was somewhat displeased, he followed the soldiers' instructions and left the southern district.

There was a high wall between the southern and western districts, clearly separating the lives of Nobles and commoners. The western district, where commoners gathered, had no patrols. The streets were bustling with people, making it very lively.

Ange walked alone through the western district, feeling a sense of contentment as he watched the people coming and going. He noticed some idle individuals staring at him, but since he was carrying his Refined Steel Knife, they didn't dare to act rashly and kept watching him until he left the western district.

The northern district was the military barracks. To avoid unnecessary trouble, Ange didn't look around much. He only caught a faint scent of maple sugar from a distance but didn't feel anything special.

Returning to the eastern district where he was staying, Ange spent more time observing the commercial center Mary had mentioned. He followed Mary's advice, merely observing various goods and shops without buying anything. Ange examined the shops carefully and found the merchandise truly rich and diverse, with many novel items that caught his eye.

After a day of walking, Ange felt a bit tired and decided to return to the hotel to rest. He felt he had gained a deeper understanding of the city.