Translator: AnubisTL
Amy turned to Victor.
"Someone like you, Victor, with a lineage from a great wizard family, doesn't need to worry too much. Even if you lack purchasing privileges at the academy, you can still obtain higher-tier spell artifacts from your family. But for someone like me, whose family's legacy barely spans a generation and lacks any significant backing, it's much more challenging."
Victor nodded in understanding. His family indeed had its own channels to compensate for the academy's limitations.
"Fortunately, there's still a way," Amy said, her eyes gleaming. "After wizards complete their mandatory military service as stipulated in their contracts, they can choose whether to continue participating in the Planar War freely until they reach the fourth-tier. After each conquered plane or the conclusion of a major campaign, a wave of wizards returns to rest and recuperate."
Jieming nodded, already familiar with this process.
"Since Noren Academy serves as the workshop's core hub for knowledge and power, many returning wizards choose to stay here, renting laboratories to rest, reflect, summarize their experiences, and research new spells."
"During this period, some wizards who are either 'poor' or in urgent need of funds occasionally sell their unused equipment," Amy said with a sly smile.
"Spell artifacts, if properly maintained, can function perfectly even after centuries. The only drawback is that the Witchcraft Models inscribed within them might be outdated."
"I get it," Jieming said, his mind clicking into place. "To put it simply, it's like a senior selling their old bicycle and used textbooks to a junior."
He had never encountered such a "secondhand market" before. Being wealthy, he always pursued the most advanced and perfect rune-imbued magical artifacts, never needing to consider such "make the most of what you have" approaches.
But how to put it?
While it made perfect economic sense, after Amy's explanation, Jieming couldn't help but feel a sense of disillusionment when looking at the fifth-tier spell artifact.
In his mind, it had transformed from a "magic artifact refined by a Void Refinement Realm powerhouse" into "a senior's hand-me-down bicycle, who knows how many owners it's had."
"Ah, this is beyond my knowledge," Jieming said, scratching his head awkwardly. "I've always bought directly from the academy's armory. I had no idea such organizations existed within the academy."
Victor couldn't resist chiming in with a sarcastic remark: "You're the one whose knowledge is beyond our grasp! Buying brand-new, high-tier spell artifacts outright... Typical rich guy! You have no idea how hard things are for us ordinary people!"
"Exactly! For someone like you, advancing to a first-tier wizard is as easy as breathing. You have no idea what we struggle with!" Amy chimed in, half-jokingly.
Jieming smiled noncommittally, offering no rebuttal.
He had indeed lived a life of such "abundance" that he had overlooked the survival strategies of these lower-tier wizards.
"I met this senior through my parents' connections," Amy continued. "She also returned from the Elosia Plane. Of course, the reason we've stayed in touch is because I not only bought her spell artifact but also regularly connect her with other apprentices in need, bringing her a steady stream of 'clients.'"
"So we're quite familiar. Trading with her shouldn't be a problem."
Jieming clicked his tongue, unable to suppress a sigh of admiration.
Amy confidently stowed her communicator. "Alright, I've contacted her. We can meet her now. Let's see if she can provide us with any useful intelligence or introduce us to wizard squads looking for assistants."
Watching Amy's confident smile, Jieming gained a deeper appreciation for her interpersonal skills.
Though Amy made it sound effortless, there was no doubt that her ability to secure cooperation with the senior wizard stemmed from her exceptional social prowess.
Jieming and Victor followed Amy through the camp, passing by simple yet functional structures.
They eventually arrived at a semi-permanent rune construct located in a secluded corner of the camp.
The exterior appeared unremarkable, but the mana fluctuations swirling around it were far denser and more stable than in other areas, clearly indicating the presence of a high-level elemental gathering array within.
Amy tapped lightly on the door, and the rune-inscribed portal silently swung open.
The interior was dimly lit, the air thick with the unique scent of magic potions mingled with ink.
A woman in a deep blue wizard's robe stood with her back to them, adjusting a complex rune matrix.
Her posture was elegant, and her long, silver hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall, reaching her waist and shimmering with a moonlit glow in the dim light.
Hearing their approach, she slowly turned around.
Her face was refined and mature, with faint lines of fatigue around her eyes that did nothing to diminish her grace.
She possessed a pair of deep, silver-gray eyes that resembled the starry night sky.
The woman was Viola, the academy senior Amy had mentioned.
"Amy? A rare sight. I never expected to see you here," Viola said, her silver-haired witch's tone tinged with amusement as her gaze swept over Jieming and Victor, carrying a hint of scrutiny.
"And you've brought two little ones with you. Shouldn't you be out there struggling to survive? What, already thinking of turning back so soon?"
"Long time no see, Senior Viola!" Amy smiled sweetly, stepping forward. "We're not that fragile. As I mentioned earlier, we came to ask for your guidance and... explore potential collaboration opportunities."
Viola raised an eyebrow slightly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with Amy's proposal.
She gestured for them to sit, then gracefully settled into a comfortable chair, her slender fingers tapping lightly on the table.
"We've already discussed this thoroughly through the communicator. However..."
"Cooperation? How intriguing." Viola smiled, but her smile carried a hint of pity. "You should know that transactions between wizards always adhere to the principle of equivalent exchange. So... what can you offer?"
Amy and Victor fell silent under her question.
They had been so elated by their recent advancement that they had overlooked this crucial point.
Although they had both advanced to first-tier official wizards, they hadn't yet accumulated any significant wealth. They simply didn't possess anything that would interest this senior wizard.
"Amy, considering our past acquaintance, I can provide you with two pieces of relevant intelligence free of charge," Viola said, her gaze earnest. "But that's all. If you want me to provide more information, you'll need to offer something of equal value in exchange."
"So... what do you have that might tempt me?"
"Perhaps... I have something?"
(End of the Chapter)
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