A mage's journey begins with a battle mage.

Chapter 107 Goodbye, Velisco

The hall was just as it had been when Jiang Shuzhou arrived.

A bustling crowd and a group of beautiful female monks and their apprentices.

Everything seemed unchanged.

"Master, how can I help you?"

It was the same receptionist, only the way she addressed me had changed.

"What's going on today? Why are there so many apprentices?"

"Today is graduation day, and they are here to complete the formalities."

Oh, I see.

"I want to buy something."

"Please speak."

"A portable alchemy laboratory."

Carrying a small box, Jiang Shuzhou left the Mage Guild.

"This stuff is really expensive."

The tactile experience of owning the box was far less intense than the emptiness he felt from having his account emptied.

That's a whopping five hundred magic stones. This huge sum was almost all the profit he got from the Alliance through the licensing fee for Melting Love.

Now, all Jiang Shuzhou has left are ten lonely magic stones.

The line between sudden wealth and abject poverty is very thin.

"My lord, what is this? Why is it so expensive?"

"A portable alchemy lab is bound to be expensive, that's to be expected."

Jiang Shuzhou spoke calmly, but his heart was bleeding.

It's worth it, though, since Jiang Shuzhou is going to the Northern Territory, a truly harsh and cold land, and he also wants to develop his own territory.

Unlike big cities, the territory doesn't have public alchemy labs for Jiang Shuzhou to use.

Jiang Shuzhou didn't want to be in a tent in the wilderness or a house without any protective measures, nervously preparing those medicines that could explode at any moment.

So there's no way around it, the money that needs to be spent still has to be spent; we can't save a little money and ruin something important.

Of course, the portable alchemy laboratory lived up to its name. Not only did it provide a lot of storage space to free up Hayes and Devalin's hands, but the various alchemy equipment inside was also enough for Jiang Shuzhou to use at a high level.

It's worth it.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Master, we've arrived at private room number eleven."

The waiter respectfully opened the door and led Jiang Shuzhou into a luxurious space that was completely unlike anything he had ever been on a train.

This was a special ticket that Alger had prepared for him, a privileged pass to the North.

The spacious private room and luxurious decor made it feel more like a luxury hotel than a train journey.

Outside the window, a bustling crowd of ordinary people had spent a fortune on tickets to escape the war in Velissco, just for a narrow seat on the train.

A richly dressed merchant was ruthlessly pushed aside by the guards, his coins scattering all over the ground.

A young couple wept uncontrollably through the car window. The man gave his ticket to his wife and children; this might be their final farewell.

Jiang Shuzhou watched all this with a blank expression.

Compassion exists only in the shadows.

Taking out a spellbook, Jiang Shuzhou immersed himself in it, no longer paying attention to the sounds from the outside world.

Time flew by, and soon, with a roar, the train pulled out of the station.

Jiang Shuzhou opened the curtain again, and what came into view was a snow-white scene.

The train was traveling on a stretch of ice, created by mages using magic specifically for carrying railway tracks, and capable of remaining frozen for several years.

Everything changed after the news of the appearance of the Goddess of Magic Network spread.

Previously, there was no train across the sea in Velisco, and the only way to travel was by boat. However, as soon as the news spread, the mages built a train across the sea in less than three days.

Numerous trains traveled back and forth, bringing countless supplies and personnel to Velisco. The mages were determined to completely crush the Goddess of Magic in the Storm Sea.

"What's going on? Why can't I go into the private room?"

The arguing outside the private room interrupted Jiang Shuzhou's enjoyment of the beautiful scenery.

With the principle of "the more the merrier," Jiang Shuzhou decisively headed to the corridor.

Let me see what's going on!

In the corridor, a young monk with pointed ears questioned the attendant in an arrogant tone.

"As a noble elf, I make a request of you, why won't you grant it!"

So it was an elf. That makes sense.

These humanoid creatures with pointed ears always seem to have some abnormalities in their brains.

They seem to be so immersed in the glory of the ancient times that they cannot extricate themselves.

Unfortunately, times have changed, and now the elves are vassals of the Mage Alliance.

If the elven leadership hadn't chosen to abandon darkness and embrace mages, resulting in the emergence of two legendary mages, the elven race might not even exist today.

"What are you looking at?!"

Suddenly, the elven mage pointed at Jiang Shuzhou.

How could this possibly be any of my business?

I think the elves are being a bit too arrogant.

"I saw it, so what, you're not happy about it?"

Eyes met, ready for battle.

Jiang Shuzhou had nothing to say to a mage who couldn't even get a private room.

Just now, Jiang Shuzhou had already figured out his strength.

First order.

To be honest, while getting a private room might be a bit unlikely, securing a VIP seat is a certainty.

It's a pity that some people always dream of receiving treatment that doesn't belong to them.

Lacking both ability and connections, yet still wanting benefits.

So you get all the good things in the world, huh?

"What, you're just a dead man, why aren't you staying in the forest? What are you doing in the Storm Sea?"

"Are you planning to expand your territory in the underwater forest?"

"You're talking nonsense!"

"You're in a hurry! You're in a rush!"

"I……"

"I think you've eaten too many mushrooms and are hallucinating. What kind of strength do you have to be so arrogant?"

"you……"

"What do you mean 'you'? If you have nothing to say, then get lost."

The self-proclaimed elegant and noble elf had never encountered a master of sarcasm like Jiang Shuzhou. The phrase "You fart" he just used was the only insult he had ever learned.

"You hairless monkey, you're asking for it!"

After saying that, the elven mage suddenly attacked, casting a Fireball spell.

No, it's already breached?

Jiang Shuzhou didn't indulge him at all, immediately casting a fireball spell while talking.

"Would you like to have a glorious mage duel with me?"

"Since that's the case, I have no choice but to agree."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Jiang Shuzhou's fireball struck the elven mage.

With a deafening explosion, the elven mage was now reduced to nothing but a fragment of his robe.

The walls of the corridor were blackened by smoke, but there was no sign of any damage.

Jiang Shuzhou finally received the long-awaited drop reward.

250 Gold Coins

There was nothing but gold coins.

"So poor, yet they dare to call themselves noble elven mages."

"Master...please come with me to give a statement. Don't worry, we all saw it. He attacked first. You were acting in self-defense. You'll be fine."

The waiter standing nearby stammered, clearly frightened by Jiang Shuzhou.

"No need, I saw it at the front of the car."

"Lord Atas."

The waiter standing nearby quickly greeted them.

"Hello, I am the train conductor, Atas, a mid-level mage. I saw what just happened through the monitoring array."

"I am deeply sorry for the inconvenience caused."

You've already apologized, so what else is there to say?

Anyway, the other side has all turned to ashes, what can I do about it?

"It's nothing, it's me who's causing you trouble."

"No trouble at all, no trouble at all."

His gaze fell on the alchemist's badge on Jiang Shuzhou's chest, and his eyes lit up.

"I see you are also an alchemist, and I know a little about alchemy. How about we discuss it?"

"That would be exactly what I wanted."

For a moment, the two sides chatted and laughed.

As for the elven mage? Nobody cared.

Those filthy aliens have come to our human territory to beg for food.