by Zhuang Bifan
And because of this, Lin Li had been earnestly making more money these days.
How else would this lazy fellow be willing to sweat buckets in a forge otherwise?
Even when he was in Jarrosus, Lin Li knew that the world was mercenary; why would anybody work for him if he wasn't wealthy?
Basel's suggestion was very attractive to Lin Li indeed.
The group sitting in Doland's library was as good as a Guild of Magic; only, its structure was more lax. The power of knowledge brought together all of Doland's mages, and made them somewhat compliant to Basel, who owned the library. If Basel was willing, he could definitely gather many powerful mages for Lin Li!
Lin Li gritted his teeth, and said, "Tell me your terms!"
"Haha, my terms are very simple…" The old man smiled as he stood up from the bamboo chair for the first time. "Save me a spot in the Guild of Magic."
"Huh?" Lin Li was stunned.
Long before he spoke, Lin Li had already considered what terms Basel would lay out, yet he never would have thought that what Basel wanted was a spot in the Guild of Magic. W-w-what kind of terms are these? Even Lin Li was unable to tell how powerful Basel was, which meant that he could probably be at the Legendary-level…
A mage of a Legendary-level asking to join the Guild of Magic, at the same time promising to gather him a group of decent mages…
This was as good as a newly orphaned beauty with a large inheritance crying for your hand in marriage and offering to find you a harem of concubines. Wasn't this what they called free lunch?
Chapter 313 - Head Referee
While there were many Guilds of Magic in the Felan Kingdom, only Alanna's Guild of Magic was helmed by a true Legendary mage. Having stayed there for a couple of months, Lin Li was well aware that this Legendary mage, Aldwin, was the real reason they were able to maintain their position in Felan's capital, seeing as they were only mediocre in their capabilities.
Aldwin has rarely intervened personally in the past decade—the only time he had done so was to fight the Sword Sage of the Storm for the map of the Highlord's mausoleum. Even then, nobody dared to belittle him. Lin Li recalled his fight with Matthias; even though the Marathon Family basically controlled the whole of Alanna, they did not dare deal with him openly as Aldwin had said before that anybody who dared find trouble with the young mage was provoking the Guild of Magic.
Provoking the Guild of Magic was equivalent to challenging Aldwin's authority, and even the powerful Marathon Family was not prepared to deal with the rage of a Legendary mage.
Strength, how straightforward and effective it was at times—so long as one held enough power, they would not even have to do anything, as anyone who harbored ill will for them would be sufficiently deterred with just a few words.
The strength of a Legendary mage would be especially amplified in a place like the Breezy Plains' Guild of Magic. It was newly established, and much too weak to withstand the attack of any decent force. If a Legendary mage were to join them now, it would buy Lin Li some precious time for him to build up the Guild of Magic.
The surprise had come so suddenly that it was almost unbelievable, which made Lin Li doubt his ears. Surely free lunch like this did not exist?
Soon, however, Lin Li calmed down…
Lin Li had to repeatedly remind himself to be cautious against this heaven-sent offer as a free lunch simply meant he would have to pay for it in another way. Granted, he couldn't wish for anything more than to have a Legendary mage on board, but what would come after that?
There had to be a reason behind everything, even if it seemed like nothing more than a convenient coincidence. To have a Legendary mage join them? Not bad, it'd call for a celebration indeed, but the first thought that came into Lin Li's mind was…
"Why?"
"Of course, I have my reasons…"
"Mr Basel, that was hardly convincing at all—"
"Listen to me, Mage Felic…" The old man cut him off somewhat rudely, and slowly stood up from his bamboo chair, an unusually stoical expression on his wrinkly face. "I assure you I have no ill intentions. It is true that I have my own reason for wanting to join the Guild of Magic. While this reason does not negatively affect you, I cannot tell you know about it for the time being."
Basel paused for a moment. Perhaps to make himself sound all the more convincing, he sincerely added, "But, I guarantee that I'll tell you the real reason when the time is right."
"Well, Mr Basel, I'd like to know when will the time be right?"
"In three months."
"No, no, Mr Basel, three months is too long a time; there's no saying if anything I have no control over will happen in this time. I hope you understand this as I have to answer to the members of the Guild, the Supreme Council, and to myself."
"Alright, two months, then. However, Mage Felic, this is my last offer, and if you cannot wait this little bit of time, I'm afraid that'll be the end of our deal…"
The Legendary mage and the Archmage haggled like a couple of street hawkers. After arduous negotiations, they finally settled on a month.
After that, Lin Li stared at Basel for a good 10 minutes before he suddenly smiled warmly. "Welcome on board, Mr Basel."
"My p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e." The old man sat quietly and did not look the least bit surprised, as though it was as he'd predicted.
"Right, Mr Basel. I wonder what position you'll like in the Guild of Magic? Honestly, with your status as a Legendary mage, you can definitely be the president, but that'll be tricky as this was decided by the Supreme Council. If I were to transfer this position to you, it may take a long time for the Supreme Council to agree… I should be able to call the shots for any other position, though."
"The position of the president is a pretty humorous idea. I've never thought about wanting that position, but since President trusts this old man so much, I cannot stand on ceremony with you. If it's possible, I want the position of the head referee."
"The head referee?" Lin Li paused. It was a very important position in the Guild of Magic, and it's authority was comparable to that of the president. They could handle any matter that concerned the safety of the Guild, and their authority sometimes surpassed that of the president. A head referee was to some extent another president in the Guild of Magic.
Perhaps for this reason, the position of the head referee was empty in most Guilds of Magic, or the president occupied both positions. Take Alanna's Guild of Magic for example: even with Macklin's influence and power, he was not appointed the head referee. As for Jarrosus' Guild of Magic, Gerian himself was the head referee. Anything that provoked him was treated as a threat to the Guild's safety, and he was perfectly capable of leading a group of mages to eliminate it.
However, Basel's request was not seen unkindly by Lin Li, who secretly heaved a sigh of relief instead…
Basel was a true Legendary mage. With his power, it would have been perfectly reasonable for him to ask for the position of the president. Lin Li was not worried that he would ask for an important position; quite the contrary, the more important the position Basel asked for, the better. It would only be an issue if he asked for an unimportant one…
Since the head referee was such an important position, they would have to notify the Supreme Council of it, and they could have the Supreme Council send a few people to examine the issue as well. Anyway, the most important thing was to blow this matter out of proportion so that everyone knew of it, then it'd be great for Lin Li. Stand me up? No problem, the Supreme Council will take care of you. Set a trap for me? Not an issue, either, the Supreme Council will take care of that too…
With the Supreme Council backing him, Lin Li would be more than a mere president of a Guild of Magic. He would represent the authority of the Supreme Council, and anybody who dared go against him would be directly challenging the Supreme Council's authority. Would the sick elders holding unimaginable power let you go easily?
"Haha, I'm sure you'll be well-assured after this, ri
ght, President Felic?" The old man looked at Lin Li with a half smile.
Clearly, Basel was well aware what being the head referee entailed, and he did so to prove his sincerity. By tying himself to the Guild of Magic, he would avoid creating any issues when the pair worked together.
Lin Li was apparently a fan of such a solution too…
Of course, Lin Li would never admit this. Once he got what he wanted, he immediately put on a smile. "Hahaha, Mr Basel, you're pretty humorous too, what would I be worried about? You're a well-respected man of impeccable morals, it is the honor of the Guild of Magic of Breezy Plains to have you on board as well as my honor as a junior. Head referee aside, if you wanted the position of the president, I'd give it to you in a heartbeat…"
After serving up a flurry of flattery, Lin Li changed the topic suddenly. "Right, Mr Basel, when do you intend to announce this to the mages in the library? As you know, government organizations like the Supreme Council like to take their time, and if I don't notify them of your new appointment as soon as possible, I've no idea when they'll send your letter of appointment over…"
"…" No matter how refined his manners were, Basel could not help feeling baffled by this blatant lie.
Thankfully, Basel had had more time to cultivate his manners than most of the young, and only frowned slightly before he relaxed again. "Why the rush, my President? I'd like to discuss something else with you before you announce this news…"
"Something else?"
"Yes, about the kidnapping of Rolan's castellan…"
"Oh? I wonder what do you think of this, Mr Basel?" Lin Li lit up at this. Recall that the map of Dragon Mountains had been given to him by this old man. He had to have a good understanding of the bandits of the Dragon Mountains. Lin Li had originally come today to find out more from him and had been worried about not having a chance to bring it up. To think that Basel would bring it up first…
Chapter 314 - Ruins of Syer Town
"I do have some ideas about this…" As they returned to their initial topic, the old man slowly regained the wise demeanor of an elder. He drank his tea leisurely as he spoke in a mild and slow manner. "If I'm not wrong, the people who kidnapped the castellan's son were the Syer Bandits…"
"…" Lin Li pursed his lips secretly as he thought, What a nonsense! Everyone in the Breezy Plains knows that the ones who kidnapped the poor kid of the castellan's family were the Syer Bandits—they are the survivors of the epidemic in Syer Town, and have a leader called Vanskore!
"Haha, I'm sure you're secretly scolding me for spouting nonsense…"
"…" Lin Li almost bit his tongue as he stared at Basel both in shock and suspicion. He had so many questions. Surely this old man isn't capable of mind-reading? How come he knows what I'm thinking…
"Don't worry, President Felic. I'm not able to read your mind, and even I know that what I just said was nonsense…" The old man smiled as he looked satisfied with himself. "But that's not the point. The point is, I'm afraid not many know that the Dragon Mountains are not the real hiding spot of Vanskore…"
"Huh?" Lin Li was stunned when he heard this. "It's not the Dragon Mountains? Then where would it be…"
"A place you wouldn't think of."
"My dear Head Referee, can we not go around in circles? What do you mean a place I wouldn't think of? Don't tell me Vanskore is hiding in the ruins of Syer Town…" Lin Li suddenly froze at this, and after a minute, he carefully gulped and said, "That… that can't be it, right?"
"It is." Basel smiled and nodded his head as though he hadn't just seen President's blank expression, and carried on speaking, "Roland City has been increasingly hard on the Syer Bandits for the past few decades, and even had the Sky Knights from Alanna thoroughly search the Dragon Mountains once. However, they haven't found anything besides a few low-ranking men—not a single core member of Syer Bandits has been found. My dear President, do you know why that was the case?"
"This must be because Vanskore has got many spies in Roland City…" Lin Li shook his head as he spoke. "No, no, not spies; no matter how powerful Vanskore's spies were, they couldn't have made it into the Sky Knights… So many searches, yet they haven't caught a single core member, that must mean that the Syer Bandits were able to escape quickly enough each time. So, Sir Head Referee, you're saying that there must be a special way they use to escape, something like a secret passage…"
"Yes, one that leads to the ruins of Syer Town!"
"I understand…" Lin Li nodded his head as he was really enlightened this time. No wonder the Syer Bandits had been so bold as to kidnap the son of Roland City's castellan. Who else would dare do this? Even if they were stronger than the Syer Bandits, surely they would find it difficult to go against Roland City's army?
Moreover, the Salaz Family that ruled Roland City was an important noble family in the Felan Kingdom, and held power in Alanna as well as the Breezy Plains. They had also been on good terms with nobles like that Marathon Family, and who knew what would happen if the nobles joined forces?
Only the Syer Bandits would be brave enough to this…
They were not in the least bit afraid of Roland City's castellan, because if he wanted to completely uproot their organisation, surely he would have to find their base first.
If not for Basel's hint, Lin Li would never have thought that their real hiding spot was in the long destroyed Syer Town..
But how did Basel know this?
Basel only gave a vague reply to Lin Li's question. "I have my ways…"
"…" Lin Li rolled his eyes at that. Damn it, this old con man…
That said, Lin Li was in a pretty good mood as they had accomplished more than what he'd expected to during this visit to the library. They now knew where the Syer Bandits were really hiding, and they also got a Legendary mage and some other decent ones on board too.
While he was unsure where the loyalty of the Legendary mage lay, he was quite sure of the other mages joining them. If it all went according to plan, they would be the pioneer core members of the Breezy Plains' Guild of Magic.
He was confident that even if Basel decided to change his mind in the future, the other mages would still follow him loyally.
Who else besides him could provide these mages with state-of-the-art magical equipment, an endless supply of medicine, as well as a chance to learn advanced magic? Anril was materialistic like that—anyone willing to pay the highest price would have the most followers, and even if Basel was highly respected by the mages, he would surely be no match for Lin Li with what the latter could provide them with. Each of the three aforementioned points was more than enough to tempt any mage, and if he was willing to spend money, it was only a matter of time before he won them over.
"But, Mr President, there is something I have to remind you about. There is something strange about Syer Town, so you must be careful if you're going there."
Lin Li paused. "What's strange?"
"I'm not sure about that. I've been there a few years ago, and noticed that the magical wave there is somewhat different from other places. I haven't gone to investigate what's different, though. No choice, I'm a feeble old man, and not as hardy as you youngsters…"
"…" Lin Li couldn't hold back from rolling his eyes when he heard the old man pretend to be weak. Damn it, you're a Legendary mage! If you say you're not hardy, then who is?
But never mind, if he doesn't want to say it, there is no use in pressing him.
Having asked everything he wanted to know, Lin Li did not wish to stay longer. After a bit of chatting, he left the library with Norfeller and Duke.
Norfeller remained emotionless, and followed Lin Li like a shadow. Meanwhile, Duke looked as if he had just encountered something out of the world. He had a glazed expression, and occasionally stared at Lin Li as though Lin Li was a ferocious beast instead of a human while they walked…
Duke could not believe that he was walking next to an Archmage!
Goodness…
He had
tried to steal an Archmage's wallet!
However, Lin Li was in a rush, and did not seem to notice Duke's staring at all. Time was ticking, and he really wished he had a pair of wings as the week he had promised the dwarf was already half gone. He had originally thought that saving the castellan's son would only take a day or two, but after hearing what Basel said today, he realized this was not that easy. The bastards of the Syer Bandits had conjured up a secret passage between the Dragon Mountains and Syer Town!
This joke was getting out of hand…
The secret hiding spot of Vanskore for the past decade or so could not possibly be found so easily; who knew how long it was going to take him this trip.
"Duke, get a carriage and meet me at the Adventurers Guild." Lin Li led Norfeller down a few streets to the Adventurers Guild after giving instructions to Duke. Syer Town was strange indeed; he was going to have to get some help.
Lin Li walked into the Adventurers Guild, and went straight to the reception for mission recruitment announcements.
"Excuse me, I'd like to make a recruitment notice for a mission, reward will be 30,000 gold coins and I need at least three members. Best if one of them is a bandit and any adventurer who accepts the mission is at least level-15."
"Ok, please give me a moment." The receptionist was a young lady in her twenties. She had short, red hair and a delicate doll-like face, making her look exceptionally adorable. As she accepted Lin Li's crystal card, she could not help giving him a glance, surprise evident in her eyes. It was not often that someone announced a mission for 30,000 gold coins, and to think he would be so young too…
The young lady retrieved a form from the desk, and asked, "May I know what will the mission be about?"
"Searching a deadly area. It'll be highly dangerous and details will be given in person."
"Alright." The young lady filled up the form for Lin Li, and had him check it before asking someone from the staff to disseminate the information.
