The Wizard Has A Biochip

— My name is Lurdot.

— I am a Level 3 acolyte, and I have lived in the City of Distant Wind for approximately four years.

His gaze became distant for a few seconds, as though recalling part of his long life.

Then he looked at me again.

— And you?

I inclined my head slightly.

— George Gill. A Level 2 acolyte... and currently a wandering mage.

I gave a slight bow.

— I arrived in the city recently and intend to remain here for several years.

Lurdot’s aged eyes slowly swept over my body.

He seemed to be assessing my age.

My posture.

My mana.

Then he smiled faintly.

— I can tell that you’re still very young.

— Reaching Level 2 at your age demonstrates considerable talent.

I smiled modestly.

— I was simply fortunate along the way.

Outwardly, I remained calm.

Inwardly...

I had already issued another command to the Biochip.

— Biochip... initiate a complete scan.

[Bip!]

A translucent blue window appeared before my eyes.

[Name: Lurdot]

[Level: Acolyte III]

[Gender: Male]

[Physical Status]

[Strength: 1.90]

[Agility: 1.70]

[Vitality: 1.10]

[Mana: 12.0]

[Status: Healthy.]

[Threat Assessment: Relatively dangerous.]

I observed the data for only a fraction of a second before it disappeared.

As expected.

Physically, Lurdot was already quite frail.

However...

His mana reserves were greater than mine.

Moreover, a Level 3 acolyte who had survived alone for so many years certainly possessed numerous spells, traps, and hidden resources.

Old mages were never dangerous because of their bodies.

They were dangerous because of their experience.

Fortunately, I had no intention of making him my enemy.

Quite the opposite.

Among all the acolytes detected by the Biochip since my arrival in the city, Lurdot emitted one of the strongest magical signatures.

Building a friendly relationship with him would be extremely advantageous.

We spent several minutes talking about trivial matters.

Books.

Travel.

The province’s climate.

Only afterward did I naturally guide the conversation toward the true purpose of my visit.

— Actually...

— I intend to establish permanent residence in the City of Distant Wind.

He remained silent.

I continued.

— I also wish to open a shop specializing in mundane alchemical ingredients.

— The problem is that all the bureaucratic procedures require a local resident to act as a guarantor.

— So you’ve come to ask me to be your guarantor?

— Exactly.

The old man calmly picked up a cup containing reddish tea.

He took a small sip before replying.

— You know...

His tone became relaxed.

— When someone devotes an entire lifetime to the pursuit of truth, gold and coins cease to hold much importance.

He set the cup back down on the table.

— I have no idea what brought you to this city.

— Perhaps a whim... perhaps a personal project...

— Frankly, that matters very little to me.

— Fortunately, I have a good relationship with the lord of this city.

— In fact, one of his sons receives academic guidance from me.

— Besides...

— No sensible ruler would refuse a simple request made by an acolyte.

I nodded.

That was exactly what I had expected.

— Your residence permit...

He raised one finger.

— The license to open your shop...

He raised another.

— And all the necessary documentation...

— All of that can be settled with just a few words.

I respectfully inclined my head.

— In that case, I am truly grateful.

The old man merely nodded.

— There’s no need.

Even so, I added,

— If there ever comes a day when there is something within my power that I can do to repay this favor, do not hesitate to ask.

Lurdot let out a quiet chuckle.

The two of us both knew that those words were part of the etiquette among mages.

The bureaucracy that would take weeks for an ordinary citizen to resolve would cost him only a few minutes of conversation.

In return, I offered him something equally valuable.

Goodwill.

Trust.

And a future cooperative relationship.

Neither of us was naive.

This was not the beginning of a friendship.

It was the beginning of an alliance that was convenient for both of us.

.

.

.

.

.

.

— The City of Distant Wind is a rather peaceful place.

— If what you’re seeking is peace in order to pursue your studies, you’ll hardly find a better place.

— In time, I can also introduce you to a few acquaintances of mine.

I nodded in agreement.

That was exactly the kind of connection I intended to establish.

— However...

— There are a few customs that all resident mages follow.

I inclined my head slightly.

— I’m listening.

He let out a soft chuckle.

— Don’t worry.

— Nothing too complicated.

— They’re simply common-sense rules to avoid unnecessary conflicts.

Then he added in an amused tone,

— For example... no massacring the city’s residents to conduct experiments.

— I completely agree.

I hadn’t crossed half of Urna only to draw attention to myself as soon as I arrived.

I had fled from war.

From politics.

From the disputes between the towers.

My objective was simple.

Build a secure foundation.

Grow stronger.

And continue my research.

Any extravagant action would be completely contrary to my interests.

Our conversation continued for hours.

We discussed countless topics related to magic.

Lurdot shared his experiences trying to perfect spell models over the decades.

He explained the many difficulties acolytes faced while advancing their mana.

He told stories of ancient journeys, forgotten ruins, and several far from pleasant encounters with magical creatures.

Although he had never reached the rank of an Official Mage, his experience was extraordinary.

I listened attentively to every word.

Much of the information was new even to me.

At the same time, I realized that Lurdot was watching me with growing curiosity.

Whenever we discussed a more complex subject, I responded almost immediately.

My memory, aided by the Biochip, allowed me to retrieve any stored information effortlessly.

Moreover, my understanding of magical theory frequently surprised the old man.

At one point, he simply shook his head and smiled.

— It’s a shame we didn’t meet sooner, George.

— I share the same opinion.

Before I realized it, lunch had already been served.

We continued talking throughout the meal.

Then came a few more cups of tea.

When I checked the time again, the sun was already beginning to disappear beyond the horizon.

Twilight slowly enveloped the residence.

We stood up.

Lurdot accompanied me to the door.

Before leaving, we agreed to meet again within the next few days.

I would certainly return.

After leaving the residence, I walked slowly down the street with Jane beside me.

As I walked, I mentally organized everything I had learned.

According to Lurdot, virtually all the magic practitioners residing in the City of Distant Wind were merely acolytes.

Official Mages appeared in that region only very rarely.

That meant one thing.

For someone at my level...

It was practically the ideal place to remain hidden for a few years.

The only question that remained unanswered was the strange phenomenon in the forest.

Not even Lurdot knew much about it.

According to him, he completely avoided that area.

He was already too old to risk his life investigating mysteries.

It was understandable.

I continued walking.

The first street lamps began to be lit.

Their yellowish light partially illuminated the Gothic buildings around us.

Jane remained a few steps behind me.

Silent.

Unobtrusive.

She understood perfectly when I was deep in thought.

She never interrupted my thoughts unless it was necessary.

Throughout the entire walk back to the inn, I continued refining my plans.

When we finally arrived, several people were already waiting for us.

Dormato.

Larsy.

Kant.

Tinod.

They bowed.

— Young Master.

I nodded in satisfaction.

It was good to see that everyone had already adapted to their roles.

— After dinner, everyone come to my room.

— We need to discuss our next steps.

A short while later, dinner was served.

The meal was simple.

Mutton soup.

Vegetables.

Salads.

Large dry biscuits.

When I finished eating, Jane discreetly cleaned my hands while the others waited.

A few minutes later, everyone had gathered in my room.

I calmly sat down in front of them.

— Let’s begin.

My gaze shifted to Dormato.

— How did the search for a residence go?

The old man immediately stepped forward.

His expression revealed a certain excitement.

— Young Master, I found exactly what we were looking for.

I folded my fingers together on the table.

— Go on.

— A knight named Troz intends to leave the city permanently. He has put his mansion up for sale.

— Today, Larsy and I went there.

— The property is excellent.

— It has enough space to accommodate more than a hundred people.

— There is a small lake stocked with fish.

— Ornamental palm trees.

— A mill.

— Several storage buildings.

— Stables.

— As well as a spacious area surrounded by stone walls.

It was obvious that the residence had been built for a minor feudal lord.

When he finished, I asked,

— And the price?

— Six thousand gold coins.

I thought for a few seconds.

— That’s not expensive.

Dormato seemed relieved.

For an ordinary citizen, that amount represented a fortune.

For me...

Gold held little importance.

My true wealth was magical crystals.

Any mage’s market could easily convert them into thousands of gold coins.

However, I preferred to avoid doing that.

Magical crystals were far more valuable.

Spending them on ordinary expenses would be a waste.

If I truly needed gold...

I could simply ask Lurdot for a loan.

In return, I would produce a few Explosive Fire crystals.

Everyone would come away satisfied.

I turned my attention back to Dormato.

— Tomorrow we will visit the property.

— If everything matches your description, we’ll sign the contract immediately.

— Yes, Young Master.

Then I continued.

— I have another task.

I looked at Dormato and Larsy at the same time.

— I want you to search the entire city for small herb shops that are struggling financially.

The two of them seemed puzzled.

— The herb shortage has certainly affected many merchants.

— I want to find out which of them intend to sell their businesses.

Larsy discreetly scratched his beard.

— Forgive my question...

He seemed somewhat hesitant.

— Do you intend to open an herb shop?

— Exactly.

Dormato frowned slightly.

— But obtaining a license for that kind of business is usually extremely difficult...

— You don’t need to worry.

I looked at both of them calmly.

— That problem has already been resolved.

— The license will arrive in a few days.

The two exchanged a quick glance.

They said absolutely nothing.

But I could clearly tell what was going through their minds.

Until that moment, they had only suspected my origins.

Now...

They were practically certain that I was someone of high nobility.

After all, only someone with tremendous influence could resolve such a bureaucratic process so effortlessly.

...

1782 Words