Old Sen's Magic Scroll Shop

A person, a book, a gas lamp, a night, a miracle.

Ethan felt as if he had returned to his past life of reading by lamplight. By the time he finished the entire book, his eyes were already starting to ache. The book was highly specialized, and mostly consisted of overview-style text with very few case studies. What's more, it was about a field he was completely unfamiliar with. If he got even slightly distracted, his mind would fall behind, and he'd have to flip back several pages to reread it.

There's no harm without comparison.

He couldn't help but admire the anonymous Mr. who wrote "Fireball Ice Arrow Magic Mechanics," managing to summarize the profound principles of Elemental Shaper into something even a complete novice who had never touched magic could understand.

But fortunately, Ethan came from a background of rote learning and had even been a top performer in that field. He surveyed the learning trends of the Empire and believed no one understood the grind of studying better than he did.

Anyone else would have given up long ago, but Ethan was different. He wouldn't sleep until he finished this book.

This was the composure of a strong individual who dared to leave their winter break homework until the last three days.

Finally, his efforts paid off. When he closed the book, a new skill appeared in his proficiency bar.

"Elemental Cartography (Beginner): Proficiency: 1/45"

Ethan spread the Energy-Storing Parchment on the table, arranging it neatly. He then propped his left hand on his chin, covering his tired, swollen eyes. Although he had finally learned the craft of Elemental Cartography, he still had to say that the artisans hired by the Imperial Capital June Flower Publishing House were terrible. They had almost no summarizing ability, could infinitely complicate a simple issue, and ultimately made it incomprehensible to non-professionals.

No wonder people nowadays generally believed that you couldn't learn a trade without becoming an apprentice.

The teaching quality was truly abysmal.

In the Sixth Era, year 171, Ethan, a scholar from Brookwood Town, offered the following critique of the current educational environment in the Imperial Capital.

In reality, Elemental Cartography was far less profound than the book described. It essentially tested the cartographer's control over their own magic. To put it more simply, it involved using magic to draw an Ice Arrow on Energy-Storing Parchment, and a magic scroll was complete.

This was not difficult at all.

Ethan could not only draw an Ice Arrow on Energy-Storing Parchment but also change its form, mimicking other shapes.

He found it hard to imagine how these so-called master artisans associated such a simple principle with concepts like meditation, spirit, and perception, which were completely unrelated.

If Mr. Anonymous had written this book, he would have mastered this craft hours ago.

He could feel that Mr. Anonymous was an educator with progressive ideas. If possible, he wished he could meet him.

But it wasn't too late. If all went smoothly, he could craft twenty Ice Arrow magic scrolls before dawn, then head to Fireplace Bay to sell them all, completing the first order for Old Sen's Magic Scroll Shop.

Building on the Ice Arrow, he would make full use of the Level 2 proficiency's characteristics to create works with a style unique to Old Sen's Magic Scroll Shop. How about synthesizing three Ice Arrow scrolls into one powerful Ice Arrow? Oh, right, the Hailstorm he used to bury Miss Becky and the seven old stewards could also be incorporated into the production plan.

He had also thought of a strategic partner: a Magic Scroll Shop on the number one merchant ship near the port in Fireplace Bay. The cost per scroll was 50 Silver Antelopes, and he priced it at 1.5 Gold Lions. After all, it was a beginner spell, so the price couldn't be too high; the key was steady, long-term business.

This way, he could save on the fees for setting up a stall on the merchant ship.

The proceeds from the first batch of magic scrolls would be 30 Gold Lions, minus the 4 Gold Lions and 50 Silver Antelopes he still owed Ivy...

One transaction would earn back the money he spent on the book!

Ethan felt greatly encouraged. Businesses related to Occultism were indeed one of the fastest ways to make money. He could see the door to wealth opening before him.

Regarding this, the owner of "Archmage Magic Scroll Shop," who had seven years of experience selling magic scrolls, offered the following assessment:

"Are you f***ing robbing people?"

When Ethan, carrying twenty Ice Arrow scrolls, excitedly approached the old gentleman and stated his intention, the old man was so shocked that the cigarette in his mouth fell to the ground. "One Ice Arrow scroll for 1 Gold Lion and 50 Silver Antelopes, are you crazy?"

This unexpected turn of events left Ethan somewhat stunned. He subconsciously glanced at the dazzling array of magic scrolls on the shop's shelves. "But, these are Ice Arrow scrolls."

The old man couldn't be bothered to explain. "The basic Elemental Shaper scrolls are on the third shelf. See for yourself."

Ethan hurried over, taking three steps at a time.

A prominent sign next to the shelf read: "Beginner Elemental Shaper Spells, Masterfully Drawn, Crafted with Heart, Unit Price: 60 Silver Antelopes."

A bolt of lightning flashed through Ethan's mind. This sudden blow made his limbs go cold. As a novice opening a shop for the first time, he realized he had paid a heavy price for his youth. He had only heard that magic scrolls were profitable and had thrown himself into the business without a second thought, neglecting market research!

This was his miscalculation.

But...

Why don't you just give them away?

He wanted to retort in his mind to the owner of the magic scroll shop, considering that one Energy-Storing Parchment alone cost 50 Silver Antelopes.

He couldn't help but look at the notice board again.

They really were giving them away.

Buy 10, get 1 free.

When he returned to the counter, the boss had already raised the "white flag." Another line had been added to the notice board next to the counter: "No buy-back of beginner Elemental Shaper spells."

"But, my Ice Arrow scrolls are designed. Using three at once offers a small surprise, and they work better on rainy days or near water."

"I don't care about your reasons. All the scrolls on the shelf were drawn by teachers from the academy, textbook-level magic scrolls, and they just don't sell!"

The boss waved his hand impatiently. "The era of Elemental Shapers is long gone. For this money, I'd rather buy a gun, wouldn't I? Why would I need your one-time use magic scrolls? If you really want to make money with magic scrolls, go learn something nobody else knows."

The last path was also blocked. It seemed he wouldn't even be able to get the meager 10 Silver Antelope safety net.

But Ethan didn't understand.

Guns and gunpowder were certainly good, but Elemental Shaper spells weren't as useless as the boss claimed, were they?

He had seen the power of the Ice Arrow. It was comparable to a modern anti-materiel rifle, far surpassing the firearms of this era. The only problem was that magic scrolls were single-use; you had to buy new ones after using them.

But guns also consumed bullets, didn't they?

Ethan stumbled out of the Magic Scroll Shop, his original plan being to have 30 Gold Lions in his pocket, not Ice Arrow magic scrolls that hadn't sold a single one.

Was Old Sen's Magic Scroll Shop going to sink before it even set sail?

He thought about the entire fortune he'd spent so heavily yesterday, and how he was still 4.5 Gold Lions in debt. Thinking about it, this seemed like going all-in in a certain sense.

A sea breeze blew in, carrying the salty, fishy smell of the Sea.

It was so cold.

"Mr. Elemental Shaper, please wait."

Someone suddenly called out to Ethan. Someone had chased him out of the Magic Scroll Shop, their voice somewhat familiar. Even though they were wearing a Mask from the ball, the radiance the same color as Gold Lions made him recognizable at a glance.

It was the Pure Love Noble Son.

The Noble Son placed a hand on his shoulder. "I heard you say earlier that three Ice Arrows would come with a small surprise. Could you explain in detail?"

Thanks to Shu Ye Qing _ Lu for the reward of 100 Qidian coins!

Thanks to in Pa Tai Ge for the reward of 1000 Qidian coins!

Thanks everyone for your monthly tickets and continued readership~