The witch Rose left Silver-Clad Peach Garden, her expression rather ugly. In her eyes, Wizard Terence's refusal had been utterly irrational.
A vicious glint flashed through Witch Rose's eyes.
"Joshua, didn't you say the other party was a smart man? He made me come all this way for nothing. Come on, let's go meet the head of the Weapons Division of the White Wizard Association along the banks of Heaven River. I have an appointment with him this afternoon."
"So foolish. Then he's my enemy. There's nothing more to say."
Wizard Joshua pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, clutching a book as he followed her.
Witch Rose led Wizard Joshua toward the branch headquarters of the White Wizard Association along the banks of Heaven River. That afternoon, they arrived in the branch's territory, where Rose saw Wizard Terence in the reception hall, along with the leaders of the other two large weapon-dealer alliances along Heaven River.
One was the Angela shop alliance, which specialized in selling golem war machines, while the other was the Hundred Demon Scrolls shop alliance, which specialized in selling magic scrolls.
Angela had originated locally, while Hundred Demon Scrolls had come from Thunder Marsh Lowland. It was also a century-old establishment, but its situation was better than Silver-Clad Peach Garden's because it was backed by a super-large chain alliance with Hundred Demon Scrolls branches everywhere. There was even one in Cloud Marsh Wetland. The only exceptions were Golden Crown Mountain and near the Rose Council Academy. Those two Wizard Universities had to protect the spell-scroll shops opened by their own students and Formal Wizards, so they had found ways to drive Hundred Demon Scrolls away.
Witch Rose narrowed her eyes, her expression unfriendly. She had realized that an official of the White Wizard Association from this lower-level