Chapter Ninety-three: A Difficult Problem
What Li Wen said was actually the experience of another beta player.
During the beta test, the other party was appreciated by Miranda and taken as a magic apprentice. When the game was officially released, the other party excitedly went to Golden Scales, only to find that their teacher had gone to the ends of the world, and was immediately stunned.
This unlucky beta player was the head of the logistics department of the strategy team, and in a sense, Li Wen’s superior.
Later, when this player was “making a living” in Leicester using the magic taught by Miranda, they encountered Marymana by chance. Marymana easily uncovered their background with just a few words. Then, while complaining about her friend’s lack of responsibility, Marymana brought the player back to Talanis to temporarily look after them.
Until the news of Miranda’s failed advancement and death was sent back to Golden Scales, Marymana, having received the news from the latter, did not abandon the player but truly took them as her own apprentice and taught them carefully in silence and sorrow.
When the strategy team began to formulate their strategy and discussed how to persuade the Bird Association to lend their strength, this player and minister jokingly said: “Then just pretend to be me.”
All in all, regardless of the reason, the other party had done their best to save the world for this difficult goal.
“Since that is the case, you can stay here until Miranda comes back,” Marymana said kindly.
But Li Wen shook her head, “I’m sorry Miss Marymana, as I stated in my letter to you, we merely wish to use Talanis Air Continent to leave Black Dragon Territory and will not be staying here long. As soon as we reach the next stop, we will leave immediately. As for the reward… perhaps I can solve the problem you are currently facing.”
Marymana looked at her very seriously.
“You may have misunderstood. What I meant by ‘staying here’ is to teach you magic theory and spells on behalf of Miranda, not to detain you here. I will be a true teacher, telling you the secrets of Aether, the origin of source elements, and all sorts of dazzling magical knowledge and spells. The entire library of the White Ring Bird Association will be open to you. You may not know Miranda’s relationship with me, so I hope you will reconsider.”
“I know,” Li Wen said. “Thank you for your kindness, Miss Marymana, but my mind is made up.”
After all, she was not a true apprentice of Miranda. Impersonating this identity primarily allowed her to gain the qualification to communicate and trade with Marymana.
After a long silence, Marymana seemed to see the determination in Li Wen’s calm eyes, and shrugged helplessly, “Truly teacher and student are alike, you are even stubborn in the same way. However…”
She changed the subject, “Did you just say you could solve the problem I’m currently facing?”
Marymana’s ruby-like dazzling eyes looked over, filled with curiosity and interest in addition to kindness.
“Yes, you seem to be looking for a Transcendent who is skilled in rituals and formations, and I happen to know a little.”
Li Wen’s tone was neither salty nor indifferent, with no emotional fluctuation, as if she were just greeting someone casually.
“Oh? Where did you learn that?”
“The bounty from Treeline Hut.”
Upon hearing Li Wen’s answer, Marymana’s doubts vanished.
Treeline Hut is an illegal, neutral organization that provides services to Transcendent beings of all kinds. This includes magic materials, magic items, illegal books containing obscure knowledge, prohibited rituals and potions, all within their trading scope.
More importantly, Treeline Hut sometimes acts as an intermediary, providing various forms of assistance for transactions and commissions between Transcendent beings.
It is rumored that a Treeline Hut exists underground in a tavern in the Black Dragon Territory forest that had been looted by bandits.
However, Marymana had never been there herself. She had placed bounties with all the illegal and legal Transcendent organizations in Arthas’s southwest.
“Just knowing a few small rituals won’t be enough,” Marymana said with a smile as she looked at Li Wen.
“I am quite confident in my ritual studies.”
As one of the top three most skilled ritualists in the former strategy team, Li Wen believed that there were very few people in the entire continent who could surpass her in ritual studies now.
Marymana didn’t ask further but looked at Moria and the others.
“Are they your companions?”
“They are travelling companions, so to speak.”
Li Wen did not want to mention Moria and the others at this time, as one was a Holy See Knight and the other two were Wild Mages. Holy See Knights were okay. Although mages were not very friendly towards Glor due to historical issues, they were at least of the same order, so they wouldn’t openly display their conflict.
Wild Mages were different. In a narrow sense, Wild Mages refer to people who have no background, no teacher, and study magic and related knowledge on their own. Harik and Nasha were such people, and they made up a very large portion of the mage community.
However, in the eyes of the Magic Committee and its member associations, any mage not certified by the Magic Committee is a Wild Mage, regardless of their organization or origin.
While the committee would not strip uncertified mages of their right to cast spells, discrimination and contempt in various aspects were unavoidable.
The White Ring Bird Association, as a well-known magic association within Arthas, was naturally a member of the Magic Committee. Although Li Wen could see that Marymana was not that kind of person, it was better not to say anything if it could be avoided.
“This is Moria, a Knight from the Holy See. These two are Harik and Nasha, magic apprentices.”
Li Wen introduced them one by one, but only mentioned Moria’s background, and briefly glossed over the Wild Mage duo.
As expected, upon hearing the word “Holy See,” Marymana’s attention was entirely drawn to Moria.
“The Holy See…” Marymana squinted her eyes and smiled kindly, “This is the first time I’ve seen a true Holy See Knight.”
What is a true Holy See Knight? Or rather, can there be fake Holy See Knights?
Moria didn’t care about these things. He calmly said, “Greetings, Madam Marymana. I am Moria, from the Holy See.”
Earlier, Li Wen had told him it was best to say nothing and do nothing, and to leave everything to her performance. So after speaking, Moria wisely shut up, like an unknown audience member watching a performance from below the stage.
What a strange character…
Marymana withdrew her gaze and gave her evaluation in her heart.
Her friend’s disciples were all inscrutable.
Li Wen herself was beyond doubt. The cloak she wore was an extraordinary magical item. Those two magic apprentices, or rather Wild Mages, looked ordinary and indeed were, but they seemed to be surrounded by traces of some strange residual spells. These traces were extremely hidden, and even a mage of her level would overlook them if not careful.
As for that Holy See Knight, he was a heavyweight.
Marymana could not see through him at all, but she had a subtle premonition that if she came into conflict with this Knight, she would be at a disadvantage.
