Alphonse regained his composure as he saw someone approach them.
A female clerk in a neat long-skirt uniform and a short robe emblazoned with the Magic Tower's crest approached their group. A highly trained, professional smile adorned her face.
"Good afternoon, Gentlemen," the clerk greeted in a measured, polite tone, bowing her head slightly. "Is there something that catches your interest? I can guide you through exploring this gallery if you so desire."
Alphonse adjusted his monocle with an elegant gesture. He returned the greeting politely. "Good afternoon. We are merely looking around."
Although confused by the standard cloaks they wore—which did not characterize any local nobility—the clerk quickly decided not to judge a book by its cover. Alphonse's natural authority and posture were enough to convince her that this man was no ordinary person.
"It is an honor for me to accompany you," the clerk said, assuming the role of a guide. She stepped gracefully toward the nearest display case. "Let us begin with the innovation that is most widely used by everyone."
The guide pointed toward a fist-sized crystal lamp that emitted a golden-white light without a wick or any spark inside.
"This is a Magic Lamp," she explained proudly. "Embedded in the base of this crystal is an illumination magic carving. To ignite it, you only need to insert one low-grade Mana Stone into the slot beneath it."
"One stone is sufficient to illuminate your room every night for three consecutive months. The price is very affordable, only three silver coins," she continued.
The guide then moved to the next display case showcasing a thick metal chest lined with copper.
"And this is a Freezebox. This metal chest is equipped with internal cooling magic that constantly emits freezing air to preserve raw food ingredients or potion materials. Because it requires a higher power output, one Mana Stone will only last for one month before its energy is depleted. The price is one gold coin."
Alphonse listened to that explanation closely. Beneath his calm expression, his brain was recording a system of energy that powered this real world.
Mana Stone. That stone was not merely a valuable currency or a rare material. In this world of Orion, Mana Stone was a universal "battery". It was the fuel that powered all the magical technology sustaining the civilization.
The guide then directed them to an area displaying weapons and magical attributes.
She showcased rows of carved wooden staves, their tips adorned with various types of crystals.
"For magic users, our magic staves are designed to facilitate spell casting and stabilize mana control while under the pressure of battle. The quality of the wood and the conductivity of the crystals from our tower have been guaranteed for hundreds of years."
Alphonse stared at the price plate beneath the row of magic staves. The cheapest figure started at ten gold coins and could reach dozens of gold coins for staves with purer crystals.
Maintaining his aristocratic mask, Alphonse gave a slightly stiff smile—the perfect camouflage to hide the painful fact that his remaining silver coins were worthless on this floor. He nodded slowly.
"The Magic Tower's reputation never disappoints. Truly magnificent work," he praised.
The guide smiled with satisfaction hearing that praise.
She also pointed briefly toward silk robes in the corner of the room, explaining that the robes were reinforced with weight-reduction and physical protection magic, making them as light as a feather yet as tough as leather armor—ideal for maintaining a Mage's mobility on the battlefield.
"However, Sir," the guide said, her voice dropping slightly to provide a dramatic effect. "All of that is merely a warm-up. Let me show you the ultimate masterpiece of the Magic Tower."
She led Alphonse's group to a thick glass display case standing separately in the center of the room. Upon a red velvet cushion lay a simple leather pouch no larger than an ordinary side-bag.
"This is a Magic Bag," the guide explained, her eyes sparkling with pride. "This pouch is a collaboration between our Enchanters and spatial mages. It is crafted using leather from the rare Marsupouch monster, then engraved with spatial magic."
She pointed to the small pouch. "Do not be fooled by its size, Sir. The interior of this pouch holds a space of two square meters. This item is incredibly popular among nobles, wealthy merchants, and of course... elite adventurers."
Alphonse stared at the leather pouch. His eyes glinted. As a result of losing his entire infinite Inventory system, possessing a portable storage space was a highly essential need for his group right now.
"What is the price?" Alphonse asked flatly.
"One hundred gold coins, Sir."
A lethal blow. Yet, Alphonse did not allow his face to show disappointment. Instead of retreating, his curiosity regarding the Magic Bag in this world took over. He began showering the guide with technical questions.
"Fascinating," Alphonse said, crossing his arms over his chest. "Tell me, will the weight of this bag increase if I place ten large boulders inside it?"
Hearing that question, the clerk's smile faded slightly, replaced by a strange gaze. Knowledge regarding magic bags was extremely common among nobles and upper-tier adventurers. Why was this authoritative man asking such a basic question?
However, maintaining her professionalism, she answered politely. "Of course not, Sir. The internal space inside the Magic Bag is entirely separate from the outside world. Whether you place a feather or a block of steel inside, the weight of this leather bag will remain constant as you carry it."
Alphonse nodded in understanding. "Good. Second question: can I place living creatures inside it? A horse, for instance, to facilitate travel?"
This time, the clerk had to force her smile to remain on her face. This question began to sound absurd to her.
"You could, Sir, but it is highly unrecommended," she answered cautiously. "The spatial dimension inside is airtight. Any living creature will suffocate within minutes."
"Worse still," the clerk continued, "if you place a living monster inside and it revolts, the magical space could become unstable. The spatial structure could collapse from within and trigger a chain explosion that would injure you."
Valuable tactical information. Alphonse filed it away in his mind.
"Final question," Alphonse continued, staring intently into the guide's eyes. "Does time stop inside that spatial dimension? Could I store fresh meat or monster carcasses inside it and have the item remain preserved forever without rotting?"
The professional smile on the guide's face finally collapsed entirely. Now, she stared at Alphonse as if looking at a lunatic who had just descended from the mountains.
"Of course not, Sir!" the clerk answered in a slightly elevated tone, unable to hide her astonishment. "Time inside this bag flows exactly as it does outside. Meat will continue to rot."
The clerk stared at Alphonse, trying to find signs of whether this man was joking.
"Only the legendary Storage Ring artifacts that are relics from the Ancient Era are rumored to possess a space where time stops. Our current technology has not yet succeeded in recreating that item."
Hearing the words 'Ancient Era' and 'Storage Ring', a wild theory began to form in Alphonse's mind. In this world, an inventory system that delayed the rotting process was considered a miracle lost to history.
Seeing Alphonse's expressionless face after hearing the price of one hundred gold coins, the clerk's merchant instinct immediately kicked in. She misinterpreted Alphonse's silence as the thorough deliberation of a high-end client.
With an even wider polite smile, the clerk leaned forward slightly.
"Seeing your reaction, Sir, it seems you do not yet possess this masterpiece. Are you interested? I can offer you a special deal and an attractive discount if you purchase three bags at once for yourself and your two comrades."
Behind his black cloak, Alphonse's jaw tensed. He struggled hard to maintain his aristocratic posture, even though the stiff smile on his face nearly cracked.
Three Magic Bags. Three hundred gold coins.
Imagining that figure while their money pouch did not even touch a single gold coin made the guild leader's pride bristle. Of course, he could not admit that they were currently poorer than a grain merchant on the ground floor.
"An intriguing offer," Alphonse answered in a calm and highly convincing tone, playing a bluffing tactic. "However, unfortunately, I already possess them."
The clerk blinked, slightly confused. "Then... why were you asking about the technical details so specifically, Sir?"
"I asked for the details merely because I heard rumors," Alphonse lied smoothly, staring at the clerk with a gaze full of appreciation.
"I heard that the staff at the Wealden branch of the Magic Tower are highly skilled, knowledgeable, and exceptionally friendly. I was merely testing the truth of those rumors. And I must admit, you have served me very satisfactorily."
That alibi tactic worked perfectly. The female clerk flushed, feeling highly flattered because her performance was recognized by a guest she perceived as an elite noble.
"Ah, you flatter me too much, Sir," the clerk replied with a sincere wide smile. "We are indeed strictly trained to serve honorable guests every day. Please do not hesitate to ask if you need anything else on this floor."
Realizing that lingering here would only increase the risk of his lie being exposed, Alphonse decided to retreat.
"I will keep that in mind. Unfortunately, I cannot stay long," Alphonse said, cutting the interaction off smoothly. "I have an important appointment on the 5th Floor and must go up immediately."
Hearing the mention of the 5th Floor—the gathering place for Mages and nobles—the clerk immediately bowed her body deeply.
"Oh, forgive my impertinence for taking up your important time, Sir! Please proceed, may your business go smoothly."
As a final touch to perfect the illusion of his authority, Alphonse reached his left hand backward without turning his head, giving a finger signal to Vrischil.
Vrischil, who understood the leader's intent immediately, stared at Alphonse's back with ice-cold eyes. Inside her heart, the Elf held back a sharp grumble.
She reached into the leather pouch containing their pathetic remaining money, grabbed a single silver coin, and placed it in Alphonse's palm.
Alphonse handed that silver coin to the clerk. "Take this. A small gift for your hospitality and your highly detailed explanation."
Receiving a tip directly from a tower guest merely for 'answering questions' was incredibly rare. The clerk accepted it happily and bowed once more.
Alphonse and his group passed toward the stairs, the clerk stared at the silver piece in her hand. Her brow furrowed slightly.
A noble who had access to the 5th Floor and was testing knowledge about bags worth a hundred gold coins... only gave a tip of one silver coin?
"A very strange noble..." the clerk muttered softly, shaking her head before returning to her guard post.
Once they had walked far enough from the shop clerk's view and approached the spiral staircase, Arcus did not waste this golden opportunity. The blonde archer leaned in close to Alphonse's shoulder.
Arcus unleashed his most dramatic and annoying theatrical tone.
"Leader of the Pioneer Guild..." Arcus whispered in a heavy, intentionally exaggerated voice, quoting their past titles. "The richest king among the Ten Monarchs... the Akashic Sovereign... and the handsome mage with the highest mana capacity in the game..."
Arcus snorted softly, holding back laughter ready to explode. "...now has to spin lies in front of a shop clerk because he has no money to go shopping. May I laugh now, My King?"
That incredibly accurate theatrical mockery pierced their defenses.
Vrischil, who usually possessed an ice-cold expression, could not hold back. A faint, crisp laugh, a rare sound almost never heard from the Elf's lips, escaped just like that.
Hearing Vrischil's laughter and Arcus's mockery, Alphonse felt the tips of his ears heat up. The embarrassment mixed with wounded pride made his jaw tighten.
In one swift motion, Alphonse raised one hand to cover part of his face, hiding the crimson flush spreading across his cheeks. He stared at Arcus from between his fingers with a murderous glare.
"Shut your mouth, Arcus," Alphonse hissed softly yet sharply, which only made Arcus smile wider.
Alphonse glanced briefly toward the rows of other merchandise display cases on that floor. The copper nameplates all marked with 'Gold Coins' seemed to mock him from behind the glass.
His nausea toward his own poverty, now worsened by the mockery of his own best friend, finally reached its limit.
He did not want to linger any longer in a place that continuously tore down his dignity as a ruler. Without looking back, Alphonse quickened his pace, leading the group up the stone stairs toward the 4th Floor.