The Wizard's Pursuit of Truth

Hanhai Wizard City

The inland sea was named Hanhai. Closer to the interior of the Wizard Continent, Hanhai Wizard City was one of the Dark Land’s most important maritime trade hubs. A portion of its Wizards were even assigned to form a shipping department, bringing in profits from the Endless Sea.

The Thousand-Eyed Jellyfish that Wang Ya had once encountered were part of this income. The catches from the Wizard Ships couldn’t compare to harvesting Extraordinary Resources from a Wizard Secret Realm, but their persistent efforts had still contributed to the Dark Land’s overall strength.

A salty, damp sea breeze blew from the west, making the deck feel as if it were swaying nonstop. Like a row of ducklings, the Wizard Freshmen poked their heads over the railing, gazing at everything the Wizard City had to offer on the streets flanking the waterway.

Compared to Ancient Forest Wizard City, this place was even more prosperous. Throngs of people bustled everywhere—Wizards, of course, but also no shortage of mortals. In a Wizard City with such high Particle Energy radiation, most mortals didn’t live past fifty, but perhaps it was worth it for that slim opportunity.

These mortals, who yearned for the mysterious and the Extraordinary, were nobles, wandering poets, and even Knights. If they were lucky enough to pass through the Witch Array designed to beguile mortals and enter the Wizard City, they would witness the splendor of the Wizard World. After that, they would never want to return to what they now considered the mire of the Mortal World.

Wizards needed mortals, too. All sorts of Wizard Experiments required human observation and experimentation. Thus, they tacitly allowed the mortals to multiply, even adding features to the city’s Witch Array to shield them from some of the energy radiation.

Some mortals were even willing to trade their own bodies in the slave market for Magic Stones or other Extraordinary Resources, upholding the principle of equivalent exchange.

But Wang Ya had to admit, as the Wizard Ship passed the slave market, he was profoundly shaken. It wasn’t just humans; there were Elves, members of Humanoid Races, and many other species. With their numb gazes, they were little more than walking corpses.

Many of the Wizard Freshmen, who had not yet formed their Wizard’s Heart, were so frightened their faces turned ashen. Hanhai Wizard City was more prosperous than Ancient Forest Wizard City, but it also laid bare the harsh realities of the Wizard World.

Gray, on the other hand, was as boisterous as ever and didn’t seem to react to the sight. He had, however, sought Wang Ya out privately on the ship earlier, shouting things like, ”You really know how to hide your strength!” ”You’re a genius!” and ”And you don’t consider me a brother!”

SPLASH!

The Wizard Ship came to a halt. The waves it stirred up crashed against the dock, splattering water everywhere.

There were far fewer Wizards than mortal laborers, who were busy dragging ropes to the mooring posts. Wizard Yi Si was the first to disembark and began speaking with an approaching figure who bore the Dark Wizard Mark Rune on his Wizard Robe.

Lando Wizard couldn’t help but yawn. He looked lazy and sleepy-eyed, which for some reason, gave Wang Ya a strange sense of affinity. ’He’s just like those young people from my past life, the ones who embrace ’slacking off’ and ’lying flat’.’

”Hey, kid, there’s something off about that look in your eyes. I get the feeling you’re saying bad things about me in your head,” Lando Wizard said, suddenly narrowing his eyes and fixing his gaze on Wang Ya.

The other freshmen on the ship turned their attention over. Seeing Ghostman Wang Ya being called out by a Master Wizard, they all looked ready to watch a good show. His reputation was built on a pile of bloody corpses, which put immense pressure on the other freshmen; they didn’t even dare approach him. It was an oppressive aura that needed to be shattered.

But to their disappointment, Wang Ya showed no fear or nervousness. His expression was placid as he gave a slight bow and said, ”Master Lando, you’re joking. I would never...”

”Okay, okay! Stop, stop! I give up, you win!” Lando Wizard interrupted hastily. ”Why does a Little Wizard like you talk just like that old stick-in-the-mud, Saiya? And you sound just like that hardass, Yi Si.”

He then muttered under his breath, ”Honestly, someone might think you were actually related by blood to Saiya and Yi Si.”

Lando Wizard immediately snapped his mouth shut. The stone-faced Wizard Yi Si had walked back onto the ship and shot him a look. Lando gave an embarrassed laugh in response.

”Disembark. You are permitted to be active within Hanhai Wizard City for one day and one night. Tomorrow at noon, gather at the Teleportation Array in the city center.”

Wizard Yi Si added, ”Your rooms at the Wizard Mansion have been arranged. Your Wizard Marks will provide the location, your room numbers, and tomorrow’s gathering point.”

After saying his piece, he left the Wizard Ship without another word, his figure blending into the crowd on the street.

The Wizard Freshmen didn’t know what to say, but they figured that was just how Wizard Yi Si was.

Lando Wizard yawned. ”Welp, I’m off. Time to head to the mansion and catch some serious Z’s.”

Wind Wizard was at least responsible enough to add a word of caution as they disembarked. ”Hanhai Wizard City is under the jurisdiction of our Dark Land. You all bear the Dark Wizard Mark, so you shouldn’t face any real danger. Of course, it’s still best to stay in the mansion. If you go out and cause trouble, you’ll be on your own to face the consequences.”

An idea sparked in Wang Ya’s mind. ’I still have quite a few Extraordinary Materials in my Silver Bracelet that I have no use for. I need to sell them. This is a good opportunity to get a feel for prices and learn the rules of the Wizard World.’

’More importantly, it’ll help me avoid getting ripped off later. My knowledge of the Wizard World is still half-baked, based only on what I’ve read in books.’

’I wonder what eighty Magic Stones can actually buy.’ With that thought, he became the first of the freshmen to step off the Wizard Ship.

Gray’s voice echoed from behind him. A number of other highly talented freshmen had also been hoping for a chance to speak with him, but by the time they disembarked, Wang Ya had already vanished into the crowd. They could only shake their heads in resignation.

Gray couldn’t help but grumble, ”Damn, that kid’s fast. Wonder what he’s up to now.” He then turned to the half-human-sized lizard in his arms. ”Kebik, you’re the only one for me. Let’s go to the mansion together.”

The large lizard, its skin turning black, flicked out its long, forked tongue and licked Gray’s lips. Gray’s face froze. Kebik’s tongue was poisonous, which meant he would have to spend the next half-day using Particle Energy to detoxify himself.

”Kebik, I’ve decided my brother Wang Ya is ten thousand times better than you!”

...

The huge pendulum of a conspicuous clock tower, rusted by the sea wind, had long stopped swinging. Wang Ya stood beneath it at a fork in the road. The street ahead saw heavy traffic from Wizards, while the one he had arrived on was a mix of mortals. Two other paths branched off from here. One led across the waterway to the slave market, a short walk from the High Arch Bridge. The other path led toward the city center, where buildings like the Wizard Mansion and the Wizard Restaurant were clustered.

Harak perched obediently on his shoulder, its blood-red pupils watching the passing crowds alongside Wang Ya’s. Beneath the cuff of his black Wizard Robe, Wang Ya opened his palm and glanced at his Dark Wizard Mark. Finally, he turned and walked down the street that was more populated with Wizards.

This was Freedom Street, the Wizard City’s hub for trading Extraordinary Items.