It was the first time Ronan had seen Old Wells look so solemn. He had even used the word "beg" with him.
"Go ahead."
Ronan's expression turned serious as well.
Old Wells seemed to find it difficult to speak. After struggling for a while, he said in a low voice, "I heard that someone is selling tickets for ships leaving Hoddam soon, but the price is very high. One ticket costs a High-Level Magic Stone."
"That's insane!"
Ronan shook his head, finding it absurd. "A ticket in the first half of the year only cost ten Low-Level Magic Stones."
Even with prices rising because of the war, they should not have become this outrageously expensive.
Would someone who could afford a High-Level Magic Stone really have trouble leaving Hoddam?
"Mm."
Old Wells nodded. "They're definitely asking an inflated price. I think ten Mid-Level Magic Stones would be the most it would actually sell for."
Ten Mid-Level Magic Stones was still an acceptable price. That made sense.
Ronan did not ask whether Old Wells's source was reliable. Old Wells had plenty of life experience and his own judgment.
"How many more do you need?"
Ronan asked directly.
"Eight."
Old Wells said, "It only needs to be enough for Venecia alone.
"She can take Sheryl with her."
Ronan said nothing, only looked into Old Wells's eyes.
He vaguely remembered Old Wells once telling him that he wanted to leave Hoddam, find some Secular Kingdom, and live as an idle old nobleman. If the invasion of the Whispering Forest had not happened, perhaps he would already have been basking in the sun atop some castle in a noble territory.
"I'll give them to you now."
Ronan let out a soft breath and reached for his waist pouch.
He did not have many Magic