Mage Guild

The Punk walked into what could be described as a very deserted Mage Guild. The entire floor of the Mage Guild seemed to be carved from a single piece of quartz, lustrous and magnificent. Although it was also emerald green, it emitted a very bright glow. The entire Mage Guild was illuminated almost entirely by this "fluorescent floor." This upward illumination greatly enhanced the mysterious aura of the mages, but the cost was that besides a flashy, impractical, yet excellent visual effect, it brought only inconvenience.

There were very few people in the Mage Guild, only a few young mages in gray robes, their faces obscured, gathered around a small doorway listening to an old mage speak.

The receptionist at the Mage Guild was an Alchemy Golem that looked dull-witted. It was clear that this small golem was not crafted with care, and it was unclear how long it had been since its last maintenance. Many of its parts, inscribed with magic arrays, were exposed. Its joints creaked and groaned with every step.

The Alchemy Golem extended a thin, dry iron arm towards the Punk. The golden paint on its mechanical arm was cracked and peeling.

A magic array was released from the end of the golem's arm, and an interface resembling a "holographic projection" appeared, though the image quality was rather blurry.

Several options written in common script could be seen: Join Mage Guild, Consult, Post Mission, Purchase Items, Receive Mission, Complete Mission, Purchase Knowledge.

However, only the first four options were lit, while the last three were grayed out.

The Punk clicked on the "Join Mage Guild" option. The panel flickered, and the text changed to four lines:

"Please enter your Name."

"Please inject magic power to record your magic imprint."

"Membership Notice: None."

"Member Benefits: Right to receive missions, right to complete missions, right to purchase knowledge."

The Punk mused internally, "This world, which seems backward in terms of daily life, actually has some advanced things." He was also somewhat surprised by the rules of the Mage Guild. Although he already knew from his inherited knowledge that the Mage Guild was one of the most loosely organized groups, these regulations, which were no different from the strictness of a study group, seemed too lax.

However, the Punk decided to join the guild first. His current knowledge reserves were far from sufficient, and he needed to acquire more knowledge and learn from the experiences of his predecessors. To achieve this, joining a faction in the early stages was essential. Even for a loosely organized group like the Mage Guild, the Punk absolutely did not believe they would sell truly important knowledge to outsiders.

After only a few seconds, the Punk's application to join the Mage Guild was approved. He eagerly opened the "Purchase Knowledge" section. The Punk intended to buy one or two Alchemy Potion recipes and some basic alchemy equipment. Once he could skillfully make potions, he would have a steady stream of income. After all, his parents hadn't left him much money, and they clearly weren't skilled in alchemy. He had almost no memory of alchemy knowledge, so the Punk had to rely on himself.

The Punk opened the "Apprentice Level Alchemy Potion" section, and a dazzling array of potion names appeared on the panel.

Calming Potion, Lesser Meditation Aid Liquid, Ember Crystalizer, Cold Resistance Potion, Lesser Wind Elemental Concentrate...

The Punk soon took a liking to the recipe for "Night Vision Potion" and clicked on the potion's description with his slender fingers.

Knowledge Name: "Night Vision Potion Recipe Explained"

"Level: Apprentice Level"

"Difficulty: Medium"

"Effect: Grants Apprentice Level creatures the ability to vaguely perceive objects in darkness with a brightness of up to nine Ziru (unit of measurement) (equivalent to a cloudy night). Duration - One hour and fifteen minutes."

The Punk was quite satisfied with this potion. He could foresee that many Combatants would need a potion to help them see enemies in the dark.

Finally, the Punk moved his gaze down... to the purchase conditions section...

First: Become a member of the Mage Guild - very simple!

Second: Two hundred Kamos Kingdom gold coins.

"Two hundred gold coins, that's reasonable. The alchemy equipment is only ten gold coins. I can hunt some magic beasts or take on a few quests at the Adventurer's Guild, and I'll have enough gold," the Punk thought!

But when he continued to read... he froze...

The third purchase condition clearly stated: Must complete one Apprentice Level mission issued by the Mage Guild...

"Are you sure you're the Mage Guild and not the Sovereign's space?"

The Punk looked at the third condition, feeling both indignant and speechless. He now understood why the entry standards for the Mage Guild were so low. Such unreasonable knowledge monopoly tactics could firmly bind mages who desperately needed knowledge reserves to the Mage Guild's chariot. And unfortunately, the Punk was now in a predicament where he had to willingly jump onto that chariot!

"Young sir, what would you like to buy?"

The old mage, who had been speaking to the gray-robed mages earlier, had somehow appeared beside the Punk. When he saw the Punk staring blankly at the purchase panel for the "Night Vision Potion Recipe Explained," his old face, deeply lined like tree bark, crinkled into a smile.

"That potion recipe is quite good, but the purchase conditions... are indeed not very user-friendly. After all, this is just a small city, where are there so many Apprentice Level missions? Even if there were, they'd be snatched up by others!"

The Punk's brow furrowed slightly upon hearing the old man's words, but he didn't retort because he could sense the old man's Soul Level of 6 Journeyman Level, which was not concealed at all.

"May I ask for your guidance, old sir?" the Punk said in a calm tone, knowing that the other party had not come just to tease him with idle talk.

"Heh heh, young man, you're lucky. I happen to have an Apprentice Level mission here. How about it, are you interested?"

The old mage bared a mouth full of yellow teeth and, with a smile that he thought was very kind, opened his "claws." In his thin, withered palm was a pale white crystal. As the old mage injected his magic power, a mission description appeared in the crystal:

Name: "Investigate Undead Aura in Aigema Wasteland"

Completion Requirements: "Determine and record the location of the undead aura (using the Leizer Positioning Method for location)."

"So, what do you think? This kind of timely mission is usually snatched up by others. If you don't take it now, it'll be too late."

The Punk felt a twitch in his heart. "Isn't this the Forest of Undead that I've been trying to avoid? My premonition is proving to be true so quickly."

"May I ask why you don't go yourself?"

The Punk asked the old mage, who had the strength of a Journeyman Level, with some confusion: "Isn't this kind of mission a piece of cake for you?"

"I... cough cough... aren't I leaving some opportunities for you juniors?" The old mage straightened his hunched back, trying to appear like a senior expert.

However, upon seeing the Punk's "I don't believe you" expression, he had to tell the "truth":

"If I go to investigate, those church dogs will definitely follow. This is a prophecy made by our Konola City's only formal Professional - Lord Mainesi. And I heard there are some good resources worth acquiring. How can we let those divine frauds from the church get their hands on such a safe and easy opportunity?" The old mage's eyes shone with the same brilliance as a Hobgoblin seeing gold coins, and he even gesticulated excitedly for a moment.

The Punk decided not to comment on this mage, who was full of flaws. He quickly asked, "But I heard that the undead aura there has already corrupted a whole forest, and there are many..."

"Nonsense!" The old mage interrupted the Punk with a tone of "What does a child know?"

"It's just a small wasteland, not the Endless Abyss. How can there be so much danger?"

The old mage clearly disdained the wasteland.

"Young people nowadays are too timid, that's why they can't accomplish anything!"

The Punk originally wanted to refuse this mission, which seemed to have a conspiracy behind it. But he thought about the five gold coins his irresponsible parents had left him, and on the other hand, he was on the verge of breaking through to the Journeyman Level and needed some resources to aid his cultivation. Thinking that it was just a simple reconnaissance and positioning, with his peak Apprentice Level mage strength and two Journeyman Level equipment, he was confident he could escape even if there was danger...

After considering, the Punk pretended to be nonchalant and said to the old mage, "I'll take this mission then."