Besides, they had also heard from Gavin and the mages of the Tower of Dusk that the town was not just a town for living. If they were to encounter another attack like the last time, they would definitely be able to guarantee that no one would be hurt again. How could the words of the mages be false? They had a new house to live in, new furniture, and guaranteed safety. That was definitely a fairyland life in Anril.
Lin Li was about to go to the new Black Clouds Town to see the residents, but he was attracted by a strange scene when he walked to the gate.
Is that … a mage? The magic robe on his body had lost its original color. Apart from being washed white, there were also many patches of various sizes. Such clothes were rarely worn by ordinary people, but now, they were worn by a mage.
"I heard that you provide food and accommodation here, as well as clothes and magical equipment. I wonder if it's true," said the dejected mage who was asking the receptionist at the door about the benefits of the Tower of Dusk.
"You …" The receptionist sized up the man for a while, and asked suspiciously, "Are you really a mage?"
The one in charge of reception was only a level-nine magician. However, looking at what he was wearing, he was much better than the person who claimed to be a magician. He didn't say anything mean, but he really doubted the identity of the person who came. How unlucky must he be to be in such a state?
The receptionist couldn't tell, but Lin Li, who had already reached the Legendary-realm, could tell at a glance that the dejected mage was actually an Archmage who was around level-19. That made him suspicious. How could a level-19 Archmage be in such a state? Even a random small force wouldn't be in such a state, let alone the Tower of Dusk which offered high benefits.
"President, this person is called Apuda," said a voice from the side. It was Gavin who was going to accompany Lin Li to the new Black Clouds Town.
"Do you know him? I think he's pretty strong. How did he end up like this … "Lin Li couldn't bear to continue.
"Miserable? He's always been so miserable. It's said that his teacher is a Legendary-mage, but he refuses to reveal who it is. "Gavin looked at Apuda, who was arguing with the receptionist, with a helpless expression.
Gavin and Apuda knew each other, but they didn't have a deep relationship. In fact, very few people had a relationship with Apuda because he was too different. Although Apuda had the abilities of an Archmage, no one was willing to stand with such a beggar. It was too embarrassing.
Apuda was 44 years old this year, but it had been more than 10 years since he reached level-19 as an Archmage. It was said that his teacher was a Legendary-mage, but no matter who asked, he was tight-lipped and refused to reveal anything, so no one took it seriously.
Gavin introduced the weird Archmage Apuda to Lin Li softly.
Everyone knew that being a mage was a very expensive profession. Food, drink, clothing, and anything that had anything to do with magic was expensive. Even if they could save on magical equipment, they still had to spend a lot of money. Otherwise, it would be much more difficult to practice magic.
Humans were not as talented as the High Elves when it came to magic. Why did humans overthrow the High Elves' rule in the end? One of the main reasons was that humans found a way to break through the shackles of magic, and had the capital to compete with the High Elves in terms of magic. That was the Activating Potion.
It was said that when humans began to learn magic, the information was presented to the Elven Queen. On the issue of whether to ban humans from learning magic, several lords agreed that humans with short lifespans were destined to be unable to surpass the High Elves in terms of magic. Hence, to the High Elves, allowing humans to learn magic was just like having more cannon fodder who knew magic. Another reason was that human mental strength was too rigid, and not suitable for learning magic.
The Activating Potion was a potion used to improve the condition of human mental strength. It was precisely because of the Activating Potion that humans could go further on the path of magic. Not everyone had Lin Li's insane mental strength. Hence, the Activating Potion was like the key to opening the door to magic for mages. It was an indispensable aid on the path of magic.
However, such an indispensable item would not be cheap, let alone something that was necessary for mages. Each high-level Activating Potion cost thousands of gold coins, and even the inferior ones cost hundreds of gold coins each. However, for an ordinary mage, spending a few hundred gold coins every month to buy a few Activating Potions was something that even the most destitute of mages could do.
However, Apuda was so poor that he could not even fork out a few hundred gold coins. He had reached level-19 more than 10 years ago, but had been stuck at the peak of level-19 until now.
Actually, being a mage was a costly profession, but mages were also very good at making money. Apuda would not be in such dire straits if he joined an adventurer team and did some simple tasks, let alone joining any organization.
Gavin continued to speak, and Lin Li finally understood that Apuda had brought this upon himself.
For a level-19 Archmage, not joining any organization was tantamount to cutting off the best source of income. After all, a level-19 Archmage was definitely in high demand in the Breezy Plains. It was said that the patriarch of the Malfa Family, Hutton's father, Sorenson, had personally come to recruit Apuda, and offered him very generous terms. However, Apuda rejected him without hesitation. Even the Malfa Family could not move him, let alone other forces.
If he joined some large and medium-sized forces, potions like the Activating Potion that were not very precious would be considered a kind of welfare that would be given to the mages on time. If he were to join some small forces, Apuda would probably be the leader given his level-19 strength. However, Apuda seemed to be paranoid. No matter what forces tried to recruit him, he rejected them all without hesitation. He even hid in the Dragon Mountains for a few years because of this.
It was not that there were no people who did not join any organizations. The founder of the Malfa Family did not join any organizations, and relied on his own strength to fight for a foothold in the Breezy Plains. Thus, he founded the Malfa Family. Apuda, who was level-19, might not be able to do that, but he could at least lead a good life if he put in some effort. However, he deserved it. Not only did he not join any organizations, but he also refused to accept missions from the adventurer's guild. No one knew the reason, and the only explanation was that he was lazy. As a result, Apuda might not even be able to raise enough money to buy the Activating Potion in a year, let alone magical equipment.
Without the help of the Activating Potion, his magic cultivation naturally came to a standstill. Thus, Apuda became known as the most unconventional mage of the Breezy Plains, and was stuck at level-19 for more than 10 years.
Lin Li shook his head. That was why people said that pitiful people were detestable. A level-19 Archmage would not be in such dire straits if he put in some effort. Even if he could not break through to the Legendary-realm in more than 10 years, he could at least reach the peak of level-19.
"President, this …" Gavin pointed at the door, and asked Lin Li softly.
Lin Li sighed, and said, "Take him to settle the formalities. After all, we are all mages, and the purpose of the Guild of Magic is to help everyone solve their difficulties."
The original purpose of the Supreme Council establishing the Guild of Magic was to support mages who did not care about worldly affairs and only knew how to focus on studying magic. Compared to mages who served various forces or went on adventures all day, mages who focused on magic research obviously contributed more to the development of magic. Although they can't make money on their own, and can't even fight for benefits for the Magic Union, but every one of their research results will benefit all the mages.
However, now, it seemed that no one remembered the purpose of the Guild of Magic anymore. One by one, the Magic Unions became like those local forces, scheming against each other for the sake of competing for benefits, and even fighting each other.
Of course, it was not all the President's fault. After all, society was developing, and if the Guild of Magic was full of mages who immersed themselves in research, what would they do if they were bullied? For example, the Jarrosus Guild of Magic had always been suppressed by a few local forces, and had even been attacked by the Shadow's Nest. Wasn't it because they did not have a strong force to back them up?
In the beginning, the Supreme Council supported the Guild of Magic, but as time passed, the Supreme Council had not interfered in the affairs of the Guild of Magic for a long time.
Since the Supreme Council could not make decisions for the local Guilds of Magic, it was not up to them to decide whether they had violated the purpose of the Guild of Magic or not. Hence, the Guild of Magic became more and more like the local forces, because they needed to rely on benefits to attract powerful mages to join.
Everyone was realistic. What was the point of learning skills? Wasn't it just to fight for wealth? Since they could live comfortably in the local forces, why would they join the Guild of Magic and live a boring life like an ascetic monk? Hence, if the Guild of Magic wanted to not be at a disadvantage in the fight for benefits, they would have to have strong forces. In order to have strong forces, they would naturally have to attract people with wealth.
Anyway, Lin Li was not short of money now. Regardless of whether Apuda was in dire straits because he was lazy or because he only knew how to focus on research, his level-19 strength was worth spending money on.
Gavin pretended to have just recognized Apuda, and pulled him to complete the procedures to join the Tower of Dusk while Apuda looked at him blankly. After completing the procedures, Gavin casually asked Apuda why he joined the Tower of Dusk now since he refused to join any organization previously.
Apuda did not hide the question. In fact, the reason was very simple. If there had been a Guild of Magic in the Breezy Plains, he would have joined it long ago.
After meeting Apuda, Lin Li asked Gavin to take Apuda to familiarize him with the people and environment of the Tower of Dusk. He then left the Tower of Dusk, and used the Power of Flight to go to the new Black Clouds Town to see his former neighbors. He then attended the bonfire party to celebrate the construction of the new Black Clouds Town.
Although mages were high and mighty masters to ordinary people, Lin Li, who was only 20 years old, did not make the residents of Black Clouds Town feel restrained at all. No matter how hard they tried, they could not associate the young man who danced around the bonfire with the sorcerers who were so majestic that no one dared to look at them.
The bonfire party only ended at midnight, and Lin Li had also received many small handicrafts from the affectionate ladies. However, he was not in the mood to think about those things now.
When Lin Li returned to the Tower of Dusk from Black Clouds Town, he saw more than 10 luxurious carriages parked in the small square in front of the Tower of Dusk. Without much thinking, Lin Li reckoned that Gerian had probably returned, and it seemed that the matter had been settled. He walked into the gate of the Tower of Dusk, and indeed saw the chubby Gerian greeting him with a flushed face.
"Haha, fortunately, I didn't let you down. I've tricked the people you wanted into coming," Gerian said smugly after reaching the President's office.
"Hey, what are you talking about? How can you say it's a trick? It's their fortune to let them come," Lin Li said seriously.
What Lin Li said was the truth, but Gerian did not care about that. Anyway, he had gotten the people he wanted, and this trip to Alanna had really made him proud.
It was not that Gerian had not gone to the Pharmacist Guild in the past for the sake of the supply of potions from the Jarrosus Guild of Magic. However, to the people of Alanna, Jarrosus was like a countryside, and the President of the Jarrosus Guild of Magic had never been an impressive figure. In particular, to pharmacists, the status of mages was the same as the status of ordinary people in the eyes of mages. As for Gerian, the President of the countryside Guild of Magic, he naturally had never been taken seriously by the pharmacists.
However, it was different this time. When Gerian arrived at the entrance of the Alanna Pharmacist Guild and said that he wanted to see their President, Balbo, the two pharmacists were still mocking him as if he was a beggar who wanted to see the king. However, no one, including Gerian himself, had expected that the President of the Pharmacist Guild, Balbo, would personally come downstairs to welcome him after receiving the news. At this moment, the expressions of those people were as interesting as it could be.
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