Chapter 143: The Stirred-Up Mercenaries

A piece of news spread quickly among the entire mercenary community through the underground forces of Green City. The Mysterious Shop of the Crimson Mage Tower had opened for business. The Mysterious Shop, run directly by the Crimson Mage Tower, was selling various powerful magic scrolls. Moreover, those who made purchases on its opening day would enjoy a discounted price. As mercenaries who lived dangerously close to death every day, none of them took their safety lightly. Magic scrolls were always rare commodities—many times, even with money, they couldn’t be bought. Scrolls that were available often came at prices far beyond what most could afford. Hearing this news piqued the interest of many. The Crimson Mage Tower wasn’t exactly an unknown force in Green City. The tower’s master, Li De Kachar, a young noble from the countryside, was not only exceptionally talented but also became an Advanced Mage in his early twenties. He was also the direct disciple of Grand Mage Spark Ross. If there were a list of the most untouchable figures in Green City, this Advanced Mage would undoubtedly rank high. The announcement from such a formidable mage tower immediately drew attention. William Harlington was a down-and-out noble. Due to his family’s decline, he had no choice but to form his own mercenary team to make ends meet. After the Months of Deep Winter, the wealth he had accumulated over the past year had nearly been depleted during the harsh winter. With the cold retreating, a new round of adventures was about to begin. This morning, William picked up a mission at the Mercenary Guild to hunt down wild rhinoceroses in the barren plains. Perhaps the employer was in a hurry, as the reward for this mission was a whopping 50 Gold Pucks. By the Goddess, if they completed this job, they wouldn’t need to take another mission for at least two months. However, what troubled him was that wild rhinoceroses only resided on the outskirts of the barren plains, which were territory controlled by Beastmen. Even though it was now the planting season and the Beastmen had retreated deeper into the barren plains, the threat remained significant. Thus, William planned to acquire some powerful tools to ensure his safety. He was a mercenary, not a reckless adventurer. "Boss, should we check out the Mysterious Shop at the Crimson Mage Tower? I heard they’re selling a lot of magic scrolls today, and the prices aren’t bad either." William’s team consisted of eight people, including warriors, archers, and rogues—all essential roles. However, they lacked a spellcaster, as proud mages usually looked down on crude mercenaries. "Magic scrolls? Those damn mages sell scrolls worth 12 Gold Pucks on the market for 20!" William spat out bitterly. Due to the lack of mages, mercenary teams without spellcasters often relied on buying magical items as backup. Magic scrolls, with their immense power and ease of use, were typically the first choice for mercenaries. But on the market, magic scrolls were scarce, making affordable ones nearly impossible to find. If one wanted to buy, they had to pay above-market prices. Yet, mercenary teams were often not wealthy, so they both envied and resented the high cost of magic scrolls. William's team was relatively strong and affluent, which was why they considered purchasing magical items. "No, boss, I heard that the magic scrolls sold at the Crimson Mage Tower aren’t that expensive—just 12 Gold Pucks each. And since it’s their grand opening today, there’s a lottery discount. Someone reportedly got a 90% discount and bought a scroll for just 1 Gold Puck." Hearing this, William was tempted. This was a world of magic, and in many situations, the power of magic could achieve what warriors couldn’t. If they could afford to hire a mage, he would have done so. Having a spellcaster on the team could at least double their chances of survival. "Damn these bloodsucking leeches. Let’s go check it out." William spat on the ground in frustration. After entering the mercenary profession, his noble upbringing had long been abandoned in the face of life and death. His rude behavior didn’t offend anyone; instead, it resonated with others, who joined him in cursing those greedy spellcasters. How many mercenaries, who risked their lives daily, were delicate noblemen? The Mercenary Guild was located in the central district of Green City, not far from the southern district. One sun-hour later. "These damn bastards, how did they get here so fast?" William frowned as he saw the street packed with mercenaries clad in leather armor and weapons. "Hahaha, how many did you grab? Three? I bought five! This is all my savings. The scrolls here are really priced at market value—it’s such a steal!" "What do you mean? I got a 90% discount and could only buy three due to the purchase limit. Otherwise, I’d have bought them all." "The Crimson Mage Tower is truly impressive. They’ve put out so many magic scrolls. Thankfully, rumors spread before the Months of Deep Winter that they’d be selling scrolls, so I set aside some money." "Should we try the Ogre territory we found last time? If we can kill two Ogres, we’ll make a fortune!" "Are you crazy? Can we handle those Level 6 Ogres?" "What’s there to fear? With magic scrolls, if we can’t fight, we can still run, right?" The crowd buzzed with discussion. Some walked out of the street with obvious reluctance, holding scrolls emanating magical energy. Others clutched a few Gold Pucks tightly, their faces filled with disappointment—they clearly couldn’t afford the scrolls. Upon hearing the chatter, William exchanged glances with several teammates, excitement growing on their faces. They hadn’t expected to actually find reasonably priced magic scrolls here. "You guys wait outside—I’ll go check it out." Mercenaries and adventurers worked in high-risk professions, where every mission was akin to betting their lives. High risk meant high rewards. Thus, most adventurers had some savings, and biting the bullet to buy a magic scroll was within reach. The world of Glory was unforgiving to commoners—even surviving peacefully was a luxury. War and magical beasts could snatch away their lives at any moment. But for professionals, this world was paradise. With strength, anything was possible. An ordinary person might save only three to five Gold Pucks in a lifetime, while a professional could earn thirty to fifty from a single adventure. This world had never been fair. Those with strength clearly lived better. Among the hundreds of people, William, with his powerful physique as an 8th-level warrior, muscled his way through the crowd to the front of the Mysterious Shop. The Mysterious Shop was a newly built two-story structure. Its exterior walls, perhaps to match the Crimson Mage Tower, were coated with red alchemical materials. In the center above hung a plaque inscribed with the Tier 2 Spell—Universal Comprehension. The words: Vina’s Mysterious Shop. Whether or not one could read, simply looking at the plaque would reveal its meaning. The practice of inscribing the Universal Comprehension spell on plaques was common among large merchant guilds in Green City. With an excited expression, William squeezed into the Mysterious Shop. Inside, apprentices in gray mage robes maintained order. The restless crowd calmed slightly upon seeing them, though it remained crowded, much to William’s relief. Once he steadied himself, William took a moment to observe the shop’s layout. The shop was spacious, four blades high, and at least 35 blades long and wide. The gray oak shelves lining the walls, intended for displaying goods, were empty—clearly awaiting new stock. Behind the shelves, the crimson walls radiated a menacing magical aura, clearly arranged by spellcasters. Hidden deadly spells lay in wait for intruders. A tall oak counter divided the shop’s main hall. Behind the counter stood ten formal mages in mage robes, conversing with mercenaries who wished to make purchases. On the maple display racks behind the mages sat dozens of magic scrolls. They were categorized into several types, labeled in the continental common script: Small Fireball, Lightning Bolt, Mage Shield, Shadow Touch, Petrify Mud. Five types in total. "All magic scrolls are priced at 12 Gold Pucks each, with a limit of ten per person. Today is the Mysterious Shop’s grand opening. Dear guests, please draw your corresponding discounts. Do not crowd." Nearby apprentices shouted to maintain order, but amidst the surging crowd, they were like small boats in a storm, on the verge of being overturned. A group of burly men paid little heed. The apprentice mages’ deterrence was limited—perhaps only the shop’s owner, Li De Kachar, could rein in these mercenaries who danced with death. William, relying on his towering frame, finally reached the tall counter after much effort. Gripping the oak table to steady himself, he pointed at the magic scrolls behind the counter and shouted loudly. "Give me three magic scrolls!"