Exploring Technology in a Wizard World

For nearly half a month, Richard had stayed in a guesthouse in "Linghua Town," not leaving as he continuously tested various ideas regarding the energy storage container.

But the results were not very good, as he eliminated many incorrect ideas without making much noticeable progress.

He tried using a variety of materials to create energy storage containers, but most completely failed to store free energy elements, and the few that could store them had many flaws.

Such as short storage times, unstable performance, and low conversion efficiency.

After half a month, Richard had to leave "Linghua Town" because he had nearly exhausted all the local materials he could test, and he needed more, more precious, and rarer materials for further testing.

"Linghua Town" was just an inconspicuous little town on the Main Continent; aside from him, there were only a few wizards, and the materials were quite mundane. To find suitable materials to make energy storage containers, he could only go to more prosperous places.

Such as some large cities, preferably near mountain ranges rich in ores.

With this mind, Richard headed north, deeper into the continent.

…

Days passed, and when the fourth color of the Mans Four-color Flower—the purple flower—was about to wither, Richard arrived at a small city called "Silver Maple Leaf."

This small city was not his destination, but merely a rest stop along the way.

At noon, Richard stopped in front of a tavern in "Silver Maple Leaf" city, handed his horse over to a servant of the tavern to feed, and stepped into the lobby.

The tavern's lobby was packed with people. After some difficulty, he found a seat near the entrance.

He walked over, sat down, and without being particular, quickly ordered some food.

Before long, his food arrived, and he started eating with the utensils provided.

Almost finished eating and taking a brief pause, Richard pulled out a rudimentary map from his pocket, glanced over it a few times, and his gaze settled on a black dot.

That was a city called "Jialan," his real destination for this trip.

While looking, he pondered how much further he had to travel when he suddenly heard the sound of swallowing nearby.

Richard turned his head towards the source of the sound, only to see a disheveled beggar standing at the tavern's entrance, staring eagerly at the leftover food on his table, looking as though he wanted to pounce on it and devour it but dared not—clearly afraid of being beaten up by the tavern's owner or servants.

Richard shook his head, not intending to pay any heed. He was about to look away when he suddenly felt that the person looked familiar. His eyes flickered as he looked more closely.

Sensing something, the other also looked over, their eyes met, and then the beggar's gaze froze, and he was stunned.

In the next moment, the beggar panicked and tried to run away, but whether it was due to hunger or fright weakening his legs, he fell to the ground outside with a "thump."

The person was none other than the robber who had once attempted to rob Richard.

Richard looked at him and asked, "What is your name?"

"J... Jia Lie," the other croaked.

"Do you still remember what I told you before?" Richard asked. "It's been over half a month now, not too long, but I hope you haven't forgotten."

"I... I haven't forgotten," Jia Lie, looking almost ready to burst into tears, didn't dare to hide anything and honestly replied, "Master Wizard, I remember what you said. You said 'If I see you a second time, things will turn out very badly for you.'"

"Indeed," Richard said, looking at Jia Lie, "Then why did you show up in front of me again? Honestly, I am not that kind-hearted."

"Do... Do you want to kill me?" Jia Lie shuddered, extremely nervous.

"Perhaps," Richard said.

Upon hearing these words, Jia Lie who had already collapsed from the waist down, now completely fell apart, and burst into tears sobbing, "Master Wizard, I... I truly made a mistake, I didn't recognize it was you earlier. Please give me another chance, I'll leave immediately, far away, so you won't ever see me again.

Master Wizard, please have mercy on me, it's been terrible for me the past half month, please don't let me die. I left my hometown city to make something of myself. Truly out of money, that's why I thought of robbing, and I ended up encountering you.

After one failed attempt, I heeded your lesson and gathered many people to rob a caravan, hoping to make a big score. Unexpectedly, just as we were about to strike, the comrades I called on shamelessly ran away, leaving me alone to be beaten by dozens from the caravan. Thus, I failed the second time.

After the beating, I was barely alive and escaped to the nearest city. I had given up on robbery, but I needed money for treatment, so I had no choice but to steal. Unluckily, while I was stealing, I was discovered by a female demon, beaten even worse, my arm was broken, and I failed a third time.

At that time, I felt I couldn't survive anymore, but a few days later, a kind soul appeared and gave me a silver coin. Just as I thought my luck might be changing, I was bullied by some local thugs. Not only did they take my money, but they also beat me again. Look at my arm, it's mangled."

As he spoke, Jia Lie shook his arm, showing a grotesque angle.

The catastrophe of Jia Lie, combined with his words, could truly be described as "heartbreaking to hear, tear-jerking to see," a situation of extreme misery.

Yet, Richard's heart was barely moved, listening silently until Jia Lie mentioned more.

Then Jia Lie continued, "Master Wizard, I have given up hope, I don't wish to venture out and try to make a name for myself anymore. I just want to return to the city of my birth, even if it means working as a miner in Jialan City for the rest of my life. I truly made a mistake, please let me go back."

"Hm? Jialan City?" Richard raised an eyebrow and asked.

"Yes," Jia Lie nodded, shocked, "I was born there, and I'm planning to return."

"Is that so," Richard narrowed his eyes and paused, "Actually, due to some matters, I'm also planning to head there."

"Uh..." Jia Lie blinked hard, somewhat unable to respond, not knowing what to say.

Richard continued, "One issue is, Jialan City is quite unfamiliar to me. Attending to some small affairs there might waste a lot of my time, so I need a servant who is familiar with Jialan City to serve me."

Upon understanding this, Jia Lie quickly stood up and ran into the tavern, fell to the ground with a 'thud,' and then passionately kissed Richard's boot with a 'smack.'

"The greatest Master Wizard, your faithful servant Jia Lie is right here. Please, what can I do for you?" Jia Lie earnestly said.

Seeing Jia Lie's demeanour, Richard imperceptibly nodded. Despite the somewhat exaggerated display, at least after a series of ordeals, his mind was much sharper than before.

This time, his visit to Jialan City would indeed be a lot more convenient with such a person handling small matters.

The next moment, Richard looked at Jia Lie and asked, "Are you sure you want to be my servant?"

"Absolutely certain, respected Master Wizard, ah no, Master," Jia Lie said, "Anything you need, I can serve you, Master."

"Good then," Richard said, looking at Jia Lie, "What you need to do now is take a bath, change clothes, eat a meal, then see a physician to examine your injuries, and finally follow me out of the city."

After speaking, Richard tossed him a Gold Coin, "This is for you, I hope you won't disappoint me. I'll wait for you here in two hours."

Jia Lie carefully caught the Gold Coin, glanced at Richard, bowed deeply, and the next moment turned and rushed out of the tavern.

After two hours... no, just one hour, Jia Lie came back completely transformed, wearing a coarse linen garment, with his injured right arm adjusted and wrapped in thick white cloth.

Carefully placing the remaining twenty-four silver coins on the table, Jia Lie looked at Richard and said, "Master, I have done everything you asked. Do you have any other instructions?"

"Keep the money with you, and then follow me," Richard said, turning and leaving the tavern.

Jia Lie glanced at the twenty-four silver coins on the table, hesitated for a moment, but eventually pocketed them and then followed Richard out of the tavern.

Soon, the two of them each mounted a horse and left Silver Maple City, heading north.

North, towards Jialan City, closer and closer.