Wizard + System

CH258

The tavern forum had many small rooms, some public and others private, requiring a password to enter.

Helag observed for a moment and thought this feature would be quite useful for remote discussions or meetings.

The cities in the Land of Dawn were spread out, and the polluted areas made travel inconvenient.

With the magic stones, many of these issues were resolved, providing wizards with a lot of convenience.

Using the magic stones to accept tasks was much more efficient than in Moonlight Woodland, as the system integrated magic stones, gold coins, and contribution points. Task rewards could be settled directly through the magic stones.

All of this was backed by the six major wizard organizations.

Unless the six organizations collapsed, the gold coins and magic stones would remain secure.

But if the six organizations did collapse, then gold and magic stones would be worthless anyway.

Helag planned to deposit some magic stones and gold into Seranthiel's bank. He was quick to adapt to these "new things" and didn't have many doubts about them.

After all, he had dealt with similar systems in his previous life.

Helag checked the friend interface and searched for Lilian's magic stone number. Soon, her brief information appeared.

He sent a friend request, waiting for her to accept.

The magic stones used real names, so there were no nicknames or aliases, and the information couldn't be altered.

Once Lilian saw the message, she would know it was from Helag.

What puzzled Helag was that Lilian already had a magic stone from the Land of Dawn before she arrived.

It seemed that Augustus Academy and Seranthiel had some differences.

The organization behind Augustus Academy in the Land of Dawn was also called Augustus Academy, or rather, this was the true Augustus Academy.

Augustus Academy controlled the northern part of the Central Zone, which was the northernmost region of the Land of Dawn.

That entire northern region belonged to Augustus Academy.

Seranthiel, where Helag was, stood in opposition to Augustus Academy, with the two factions occupying the south and north.

The magic stones in the Land of Dawn had fewer restrictions, allowing for free communication with others.

Although the six major wizard organizations often had conflicts, they generally cooperated and maintained unity.

They all faced the same problems, and only by working together could they hope to deal with the threats from the polluted regions.

The immense external pressure kept their internal conflicts within reasonable limits, preventing all-out war.

"That's pretty much how it works. Any questions?" the city hall staff asked.

"No, I'm good. Thanks," Helag replied. He had picked it up quickly and fully understood how to use the magic stones.

The group left the small room, and Pruis said, "I suggest you head to Seranthiel's bank and deposit some magic stones and gold. It'll make things easier later."

"Sure," Helag agreed. He had been planning to do that anyway.

Seranthiel had banks in every city, even in cities controlled by other wizard organizations.

The bank in Silvermoon City wasn't far from the city hall, just across the street in the city center.

Seranthiel's bank was massive, rivaling the size of the city hall, and it was bustling with people.

The security here was clearly much tighter. Helag spotted at least six first-level wizards patrolling the hall in uniform.

Deeper inside the bank, there were undoubtedly even more powerful guards.

Pruis, familiar with the place, quickly found a staff member he knew and helped Helag and his companions open their accounts.

Helag deposited 60,000 magic stones, keeping about 40,000 on hand. Reese and David also deposited some of their magic stones.

He also deposited 100,000 gold coins, which would cover his expenses for a long time.

Helag checked his magic stone, and the balance for both gold coins and magic stones was displayed instantly.

Only the contribution points section remained at zero. Contribution points could only be earned through official tasks issued by Seranthiel.

Alternatively, special contributions or achievements would also earn contribution points.

Participating in conquest wars, for example, would yield a significant amount of contribution points.

Helag's performance at Base 27 would have earned him quite a few contribution points.

Unfortunately, at the time, he wasn't a member of Seranthiel, so he couldn't receive them.

Within Seranthiel, there were many things that couldn't be bought with money alone; contribution points were also required.

This was one of Seranthiel's ways of testing its members. Contribution points provided a clear measure of each person's value.

It wasn't possible to just coast along and rely on seniority within the organization.

What mattered was how much you contributed, and contribution points were a direct reflection of that.

After completing the paperwork and opening their accounts, Pruis said, "Helag, your current salary is 1,000 magic stones per month, which will be deposited into your account on the first of each month. Any additional rewards will also be credited to your account."

In the Barrens, 1,000 magic stones a month would have been a substantial income.

But in the Land of Dawn, it didn't go very far, especially when Helag had to support himself, David, and Reese, all of whom were first-level wizards.

Helag had already learned on the airship that the cost of living in the Land of Dawn was quite high.

Due to the limited amount of usable land, the production of vegetables and fruits was very low.

While wizards used knowledge of potion-making and herbalism to artificially cultivate large quantities of food, it was only enough to ensure that people didn't starve.

Vegetables and fruits had become luxury items, as they weren't mass-produced, and their yield was much lower than that of staple crops.

Helag suddenly thought that the ordinary people in the Barrens might be living better than those here.

Resources were distributed from the top down, so the lowest-ranking people here were likely worse off than the common folk in the kingdoms of the Barrens.

At least in the Barrens, ordinary people could afford to eat vegetables and fruits if they wanted to.

But the Land of Dawn ensured a minimum standard of living—no one would starve to death. In the Barrens or on the Corcen Continent, people starving to death was a common occurrence.

Helag thought that, in this era, ensuring that everyone had enough to eat was already a remarkable achievement by the wizards of the Land of Dawn.

"I've arranged for you to stay at an inn for half a month, free of charge. After that, you'll need to sort out your own accommodation, either by renting or buying a house," Pruis said.

Helag thought for a moment. Since it seemed he would be staying in the Land of Dawn for a long time, it might be better to buy a house rather than rent one.

Of course, that was assuming he could afford it.

CH259

Helag remembered that as an official member of Seranthiel, he had a one-time opportunity to buy a house at half price.

So, he asked, "Mr. Pruis, how much does a house in Silvermoon City usually cost?"

Pruis thought for a moment and replied, "It depends on the area. Prices vary a lot. Let's head out first and get you settled at the inn. Buying a house isn't something you can finish in a day or two."

"Thank you, Mr. Pruis," Helag said gratefully.

Pruis waved it off with a smile. "No need to be so formal. We're in the same faction. Besides, your introductory task will earn you 20 contribution points. That's easy points for something with no difficulty."

Pruis led them through several streets, winding their way to a tall inn at a busy intersection. The area was bustling, and Helag guessed that staying at such a well-located inn wouldn't be cheap.

Fortunately, Seranthiel was covering their stay for the first half-month, so there was no need to worry about the cost.

After Pruis helped them register at the inn and showed them to their rooms, he checked to make sure everything was in order.

The rooms were smaller than what Helag was used to, likely due to the prime location. Still, they had all the basic amenities, including a bathroom and even a small kitchen.

Pruis said, "Helag, I'll give you the magic stone number of someone from the property management center. He's also a member of Seranthiel, so he won't rip you off. But just to be safe, check with me before you make any payments. If everything checks out, then you can go ahead."

He sent the contact information through his magic stone, and Helag saved it, noticing the person's name was James.

"Thank you for your help, Mr. Pruis. If there's anything I can assist with in the future, don't hesitate to ask."

Pruis had been incredibly helpful, and Helag was genuinely grateful. Without him, Helag would have been lost upon arriving in the Land of Dawn.

Pruis chuckled. "It's no big deal. I'll be heading out now. Get familiar with the place, and if you need anything, contact me through the magic stone."

"Will do. Thanks again, Mr. Pruis," Helag said as he and his companions saw Pruis off at the inn's entrance.

After returning to his room, Helag noticed his magic stone light up. James had accepted his friend request.

"Mr. Helag, Pruis has already informed me about your situation. Welcome to Silvermoon City, and welcome to Seranthiel," James greeted him.

Helag replied, "Mr. James, I'm looking to buy a house. Do you have any recommendations?"

"Prices vary greatly depending on the area. Generally, the closer you are to the city center, the more expensive it gets. The closer to the city walls, the cheaper it is. But there are exceptions. Do you have a map of Silvermoon City? I can guide you through it," James explained.

Magic stones could only send text messages, not images or store pictures.

Helag glanced at his map and replied, "Yes, I have one."

James asked, "What kind of environment are you looking for?"

"Somewhere quiet, preferably not in a busy area with too much foot traffic," Helag said after thinking for a moment.

He didn't like crowded places, as more people usually meant more trouble.

The Land of Dawn was a complex place, and it was best to avoid unnecessary complications.

James replied, "Quiet areas tend to be more expensive. The cheaper places usually have a higher population density. What's your budget?"

"My budget is around a few tens of thousands of magic stones," Helag said. He had just over 100,000 magic stones, so his budget was limited.

"That's doable. Give me a moment, and I'll find a few options for you," James replied.

About ten minutes later, James sent a few locations.

Helag checked the map. The first option was a small courtyard in the eastern part of Silvermoon City, far from the city walls, priced at 80,000 magic stones.

The second option was a small courtyard in the southern part of the city, priced more affordably at 50,000 magic stones.

The third option was a small courtyard in the northwest, priced at 70,000 magic stones.

Helag immediately ruled out the southern courtyard because it was too close to the city walls, and the nearby map showed several taverns and inns, which meant the area would likely be noisy and full of strangers.

As for the northwest courtyard, Helag hesitated before ruling it out as well. It was too close to a densely populated residential area, and the map showed a high concentration of homes, meaning it would be crowded.

Although there was some distance between the courtyard and the residential area, Helag wasn't entirely satisfied.

The courtyard on King's Street seemed like the best option. The surrounding buildings weren't densely packed, and there were no large residential areas nearby, so the foot traffic would be minimal.

The only downside was the price—80,000 magic stones.

Helag replied, "Mr. James, could you send me a few more property listings? I'd like to compare a bit more."

"No problem," James quickly sent over a few more options.

Helag called Reese and David over to discuss the choices, narrowing it down to three potential locations.

Of course, Reese was the main one involved in the discussion, while David mostly just agreed with whatever was said, saying, "This one's good" or "That one's good."

To him, they all seemed fine.

"Mr. James, would you be available tomorrow to show us these properties?" Helag asked.

"Sure. You're staying at the Crossroads Inn, right?" James confirmed.

"That's right."

"Okay, I'll pick you up around 10 a.m. tomorrow," James said.

***

The next morning, Helag and his companions waited downstairs at the agreed time.

A carriage pulled up in front of the inn, and a man stepped out, glancing around before his eyes landed on Helag and his group.

"Mr. Helag?" James asked tentatively as he approached.

Helag nodded. "Yes, and you must be Mr. James?"

James extended his hand with a smile. "That's right. Nice to meet you."

After shaking hands, David and Reese introduced themselves, and the group boarded James's carriage.

As they rode, James said, "Mr. Helag, you have a good eye. The three properties you've chosen are all excellent. In my opinion, any of them would be a good choice. After you've seen them all, you can decide."

Helag smiled and nodded. He had chosen the three most expensive options, so naturally, they wouldn't be bad.

Over the next two days, Helag and his companions visited all three properties with James.

CH260

Silvermoon City was vast, and since the three houses Helag had chosen to view were in different parts of the city, it was impossible to see them all in one day.

After two days of riding around in a carriage, Helag and his companions finally finished inspecting the three properties and their surrounding areas.

After considering all the factors, Helag decided to purchase the house on King's Street.

Upon visiting the location, Helag found that the area was the quietest, with fewer residents around.

He learned that only members of Seranthiel were eligible to buy houses in this area.

Since Seranthiel didn't have a large number of official members, and Silvermoon City was so big, the residents in this part of the city were few, making it even more peaceful.

This suited Helag perfectly, as the simpler the environment, the better.

After weighing his options, Helag decided to go ahead and buy the house on King's Street.

As a first-time homebuyer and an official member of Seranthiel, he received a 50% discount.

The original price of 80,000 magic stones was reduced to 40,000, which Helag paid using his magic stone. After the transaction, he had 20,000 magic stones left, plus another 40,000 on hand, leaving him with a total of 60,000 magic stones.

The houses on King's Street were all individual courtyards, spaced several dozen meters apart from each other.

There were no bustling residential areas nearby, so the place was very quiet.

Helag placed his hand on the door handle, and with a touch, the door automatically opened.

The courtyard came equipped with wizard arrays, allowing the owner to record who could enter. The array would automatically recognize authorized individuals, while those without permission couldn't open the door.

The house had three floors and plenty of rooms.

David immediately volunteered to take a room on the first floor, while Helag and Reese chose the master bedroom on the second floor.

To celebrate moving into their new home, Helag decided to follow a tradition from his previous life and cook a meal for the three of them.

He and Reese went to the nearby market to buy ingredients and found that the prices of vegetables and fruits were outrageously high.

They spent five gold coins on a pile of groceries.

Although they bought a lot, the price was still shockingly high.

Helag didn't mind the cost, but he realized that ordinary people wouldn't be able to afford such luxuries. Vegetables were simply out of reach for most common folk.

Helag showed off his cooking skills, using the cookware he had previously commissioned from a craftsman to whip up a few dishes. David and Reese were stunned.

They had never expected Helag to be able to cook, and although the dishes were unfamiliar, they smelled incredibly appetizing.

At the dinner table, the three of them dug in with gusto.

After a while, Helag said, "We still have enough magic stones to last us for a while. During this time, we should focus on cultivating and improving ourselves."

"Aren't we going to take on tasks?" Reese asked.

"We can, but only if they're safe. Avoid anything too dangerous. We need to use this time to get stronger," Helag replied.

Helag's strategy was simple: play it safe.

He planned to use their current resources to exchange for more, while taking on low-risk tasks to earn more magic stones and contribution points.

Once they were stronger, they could take on riskier tasks if needed.

"Tomorrow, we'll head to Silvermoon City's library and try to expand our knowledge base," Helag said.

"Sounds good," David and Reese agreed, deferring to Helag's judgment.

That night, Helag checked his magic stone, but Lilian still hadn't accepted his friend request. He wondered what she was up to.

***

Silvermoon City's library had five floors. The first three were open to the public, though a card was required, costing 10 magic stones per month.

The price wasn't too steep, and most people could afford it.

As an official member of Seranthiel, Helag could access the first three floors for free.

The fourth and fifth floors were more exclusive. Helag learned that accessing the fourth floor required 100 contribution points, and books there were charged per volume.

The fifth floor required 500 contribution points, and it also charged per book.

Helag browsed the tavern forum and searched for information about the library.

He found that the first three floors contained mostly basic knowledge, with no advanced or in-depth material.

The fourth and fifth floors, however, housed more advanced knowledge, and each book required a separate fee to borrow.

Some books were priced as high as tens of thousands of magic stones, and that was just for borrowing, not purchasing.

The next morning, Helag and his companions took a carriage to Silvermoon City's library.

The library was a cylindrical building, towering over its surroundings and visible from a great distance.

"Hello, we'd like to register," Helag said as they approached the front desk.

The receptionist was a young woman, about twenty years old, with a weak magical aura, indicating she was only a first-level wizard apprentice.

In the Land of Dawn, wizard apprentices with poor aptitude often took on ordinary jobs, only slightly better off than regular people.

Many jobs only required a small amount of magical ability, and these positions were typically filled by those with lower talent.

"Sure, please present your magic stone," the woman said.

Helag handed over his magic stone, and the registration was quickly completed.

"Mr. Helag, as an official member of the organization, you have free access to the first three floors. However, since your contribution points are currently zero, you won't be able to access the fourth or fifth floors," the receptionist said respectfully as she returned his magic stone.

Helag nodded and let David and Reese handle their own registrations.

Each of them paid 10 magic stones, allowing them to access the first three floors for a month.

A month wouldn't be enough, but they could always renew their access later.

David and Reese each had 30,000 magic stones from their families, so they didn't need Helag to cover their expenses.

"Let's go. You two can check the catalog and pick out the books you want to read," Helag said.

Helag had a different plan. He intended to record all the books from the first three floors and then decide which ones to study in-depth.

Once inside the library, the three of them split up to find the books they were interested in.

Helag began rapidly recording the contents of every book he passed, flipping through each one and storing the information.

While recording books in the history section, Helag paused for a moment.

In a book titled A Brief History, he came across the words "Six-Ring Tower."