Ripped Off!?

"I've been working hard," Ron said perfunctorily, glancing at his Wealth Points.

Wealth Points: 161

He'd already passed the hundred-point mark.

In fact, his Wealth Points had reached 121 yesterday, which was more than enough to exchange for a few things.

For instance, he could exchange for one square meter of Cultivation Space and a Nether Orchid Seed, doubling the speed at which he could grow Nether Orchids.

Or he could exchange for the Seed Germination Technique. After all, he'd been a First-Order Mage for two or three days already, yet still didn't know a single spell. It was driving him crazy.

But with his current Wealth Points, he could only choose one of those options.

As for the first, his current Nether Orchid production rate was already sufficient. His stock was nearing a hundred plants, so increasing the growing speed wasn't urgent yet.

As for the second, though the prospect of using magic was tempting, a spell called "Seed Germination Technique" sounded rather useless. It didn't seem impressive at all, and certainly didn't sound powerful.

Besides, Cultivation Space accelerated time, so he didn't need magic to make seeds sprout.

On top of that, he had a title badge that would permanently double the effect of the first Wood Magic spell he learned.

Wouldn't using it on the Seed Germination Technique be a bit of a waste?

So Ron had decided not to spend his Wealth Points just yet. He'd save them until he really needed something.

The main quest would take a while to complete anyway, and a hundred Nether Orchids wouldn't sell out all at once.

And the system's next plant, Golden Red Chrysanthemum, along with its cultivation method, wouldn't be available until he completed the main quest.

So there was no need to expand his Cultivation Space in a hurry.

All in all, Ron was taking it easy. Every day, he meditated and trained, grew Nether Orchids, kept an eye on the shop, ate barbecue, read books, and played cards with Lyle and the others.

Life was good.

Once he completed the main quest and sold a hundred Nether Orchids, he'd earn 2,000 Wealth Points. Then he could spend them however he liked.

There was no need to rush.

With that thought, Ron returned to his study and continued his evening reading.

The next morning, Ron went through his usual workout and planted a dozen or so Nether Orchids.

At noon, he made himself a simple lunch.

As he tossed the leftovers into the alley's trash can, he suddenly remembered the homeless child he'd seen over the past couple of days. He paused to think.

The Flower Shop opened as usual that afternoon.

Aside from a few ordinary people who came in out of curiosity and left cursing, Ron also received a few Mage customers.

Most came in groups of two or three. As soon as they entered, they said they wanted to buy Nether Orchids, and paid without hesitation, as if twenty gold coins were nothing.

Ron's quest progress advanced rapidly, soon reaching 22/100.

His Wealth Points also quickly rose to 441.

He wondered where all these people were coming from.

"This is the place, right?"

"Eckley Street, Ruby District. Should be."

"There's only one flower shop around here. It's got to be the one."

Just as Ron was wondering, three young men in Mage robes walked in.

"This is definitely it." The first young man looked around the Flower Shop and spoke at once. "It only sells one kind of flower, and it's purple. The elemental concentration in here is really high, too. No doubt about it."

"Did you bring enough money? One Nether Orchid costs twenty gold coins," another young man said.

"Heh, I'm buying two. I'll put one in each of my villas, one east of the city and one west. That way, I won't have to carry it around," said the last young man.

Rich kids? Ron wondered.

He sensed their magical energy and found it faint in all three. They probably weren't First-Order Mages yet.

Apprentices who've just learned to meditate?

"Welcome. What can I help you with?" Ron stood and asked with a smile.

After all, he was running a business. He still needed to provide decent service.

"Ha! What else would we need here? You only sell one kind of flower, right?" one young man said with a laugh. "We're from the Magic Academy. We heard you have flowers that increase elemental concentration and improve meditation efficiency, so we came to take a look."

Ron nodded, understanding. Had word spread about Mason's advancement to Tier Four?

He led the three men to the square shelves and pointed to the row of purple flowers. "These are the Nether Orchids you're looking for. Twenty gold coins apiece."

"I'll take one."

"I'll take one, too."

"Two for me."

The three young men examined the flowers for only a few seconds before speaking up.

Judging by their clothes and manner, their families probably had money to spare. A few dozen gold coins likely meant nothing to them.

Ron took their eighty gold coins and watched them leave the shop. He saw that his Wealth Points had reached 521 and thought the number was rather romantic.

But the next second, Ron exchanged for the [Seed Germination Technique] in the System Shop, and his Wealth Points immediately dropped to 421.

There was no rush to get Cultivation Space. He could exchange for that after completing the main quest.

After thinking it over last night, he'd decided it was better to get the [Seed Germination Technique] first.

Mostly because his curiosity about magic had been urging him on.

In his old world, the internet had been full of all kinds of online games, but supernatural abilities had never existed in reality.

So even though Ron was gradually getting used to every aspect of this other world, he still yearned for supernatural abilities like magic and battle aura.

But after becoming a First-Order Mage, he hadn't used a single spell. He was bringing shame upon the entire profession.

So as soon as Ron exchanged for the [Seed Germination Technique], he opened his Inventory, tapped the [Seed Germination Technique] icon, and absorbed the spell.

Then Ron was stunned.

[Seed Germination Technique]: A combination of Tier One spells, including the prerequisite Dew Technique and Soil Tilling Technique. It can make plant seeds sprout quickly. (You must learn the prerequisite spells before you can cast this spell.)

"What does this mean?" Ron thought, What the hell? "I have to learn other prerequisite spells before I can cast this one?"

"System? Come out and explain!"

[Shop]

[Dew Technique]: 500 Wealth Points

[Soil Tilling Technique]: 500 Wealth Points

"Damn it!" Ron cursed aloud. "You greedy piece of shit! Are you trying to fleece me!?"

He was starting to seriously suspect that the system had been designed by some online game developer from his old world who'd been transported here.

This was way too damn shady!

It was one rip-off after another!

Wasn't this false advertising!?

And this was ridiculous! The prerequisite spells cost more than the combined spell!?

Struggling Author's Diary: If you ever get the chance to join a contracted writers' group, you'll discover something interesting—the more accomplished the big shots are, the more they like to pretend they're newbies. Even when they're found out, they still enjoy doing it. Later, I realized that everyone wasn't really being modest. They were just afraid that after hearing too many compliments, they wouldn't know which one was the backhanded insult.

(Hehe, just kidding. Don't take it seriously~)