By this calculation, he would not need more than a hundred copper coins. Around seventy-odd copper coins should be enough to advance to a senior wizard apprentice.
He had awaited this day for far too long. Potionology, magic pattern studies, materials science, even the biology Bal had recently found—he had begun memorizing them all long ago, all in preparation for becoming a senior wizard apprentice.
Aside from meditation, all such disciplines were collectively known as alchemy among wizards.
For wizards, alchemy's greatest purpose was analyzing all kinds of witchcraft and developing various alchemical equipment. A wizard might be unable to use witchcraft because he could not afford a spell model, but he could not afford to know no alchemy. At the very least, he had to master one branch of it, or he might not even be able to keep himself fed.
Wizards burned through money, but where did that money come from? From alchemy. They crafted all kinds of things and sold them to other wizards, warriors, and nobles. That was the basic path to earning money. As for wizards who knew no alchemy whatsoever, how much could they possibly earn by working for others?
Dole had long looked forward to the day when he could learn true alchemy.
One day in mid-October, Harley hurried into Montuo Smithy. He did not linger outside, instead heading straight to the back.
Recently, with the mountain road opening up, demand for various tools had dwindled. With autumn arriving, demand for weapons from both the military office and the police office had also gradually declined. Everyone had become idle.
The moment Harley entered, everyone paid close attention to him. After all, he was their immediate superior.
Soon, he came back out, with Uncle Hong following behind him.
Uncle Hong said a few words