Locke smiled at Douglas. "Have you spent so long on Golden Crown Mountain that you've forgotten you once spent time at the Black Wizard Academy in Cloud Marsh Wetland?"
Douglas rubbed his head sheepishly. Back then, he had been ignorant enough to believe it was some formidable Black Wizard Academy. In truth, it was just a Black Wizard's hut tucked away in a forgotten corner on the edge of Cloud Marsh Wetland's mortal lands. Looking back, most of the so-called Wizard Apprentices who studied there were ordinary people without mana. They had never been real apprentices, only servants, test subjects, and playthings for the hut's owner—a Liquefaction Wizard, or perhaps a Crystallization Wizard.
Douglas had later been forced to join Golden Crown Mountain, so he had never had a chance to go back and see it.
Douglas bowed to Locke. "Please explain, boss. I wouldn't say I spent time in Black Wizard territory. Back then, I was nothing more than that Black Wizard's apprentice slave.
"So I don't understand what you mean."
Locke paused, then smiled. "The world is full of substance and appearances. In the end, real ability is what counts, but sometimes a wizard has to put on a show to achieve his goal. On our pursuit of truth, we're bound to face difficulties and obstacles. Some will be beyond our ability to overcome by force, and that's when appearances become useful."
"A capable wizard knows how to balance the two and make the most of what he has."
Douglas caught on. "Then are we going to a Potion Shop at the Dragonblood Gathering? Or a magic-item shop, or somewhere that specializes in magical traps?"
"That's right. The Dark Great Evil King may be powerful, but we have a well-developed commercial society behind us. We can buy all