[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-above-the-mage":3,"chapter-above-the-mage-above-the-mage-chapter-81":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Above the Mage!",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2257085,4404,"Chapter 81: Taking Root","above-the-mage-chapter-81",81,"\u003Cp>The house is settled, but this is only the first step to establishing roots in Bremen City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After seeing Mi Su off and leaving his luggage in Room 437, Gao De closed the door and prepared to head to his next destination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the money pouch was carried with him at all times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Take me to the most cost-effective clothing shop nearby—no problem, right?” he said to Lehman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clothing, food, shelter, travel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shelter is taken care of; the next step is naturally clothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De had been wearing nothing but the coarse linen garments he’d worn as an apprentice—not that they were unwearable, but clothes make the man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since he intended to work as a restoration craftsman, he was already too young; if he dressed any more shabbily, people would doubt his skill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lehman’s one-silver guide fee was certainly not earned for nothing; upon hearing Gao De’s request, he nodded instantly. “No problem, sir, follow me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where is the craftsmen’s guild in the city?” As he followed Lehman toward the clothing shop, Gao De inquired about Bremen City’s details.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aside from the Mage’s Association, most guilds in the city are located in the Sirene District.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But if you wish to join the craftsmen’s guild, you must either pass their examination or have a recommendation from a formal member.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lehman gave Gao De a detailed explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After quietly listening to Lehman’s full account, Gao De asked further: “How many Mage’s Associations are there in Bremen City?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Three,” Lehman recited like a catalog: “First is the Bremen Mage’s Association, owned by the city government; second is the Ancient Manuscript Protectors Association; and last is the Emerald Alliance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pierre hadn’t been boasting—the Emerald Alliance truly was one of Bremen City’s three Mage’s Associations; he just hadn’t mentioned that Bremen had only three in total.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kamengde District was home to a large concentration of small workshops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Gao De had walked with Lady Mi Su to Room 437, he’d seen scattered workshops along the way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, many artisans lived and worked in the same space, mostly in front-shop-back-residence or downstairs-shop-upstairs-residence layouts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lehman led Gao De around several corners, and as they talked, they arrived at a street lined entirely with workshops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On both sides of the street, the workshops displayed prominent signs or banners with patterns of bread, hammers, and other symbols, clearly indicating their trade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lehman brought Gao De to a shop whose banner bore the image of scissors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t be fooled by the small size—the old man Haton’s craftsmanship is widely recognized, and his materials are solid,” Lehman told Gao De.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De nodded slightly and stepped inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The interior was relatively cramped, with walls lined with all kinds of cloth goods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From rough, heavy linen to better wool, flax, and even silk—all were present.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Additionally, several wooden mannequins stood in the shop, displaying the latest clothing styles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air carried the scent of freshly cut fabric and tanned leather.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shopkeeper was an elderly man with faintly grayed hair and beard, hunched over a large wooden table amid piles of fabric and thread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing a customer enter, he immediately set down his work. “Sir, what are you looking for?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De thought for a moment and replied: “Two sets of everyday clothes—linen fabric.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wool and linen garments were the two most common types of daily wear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now was Flower Flame Month—the traditional fifth month—and the weather would only grow hotter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Considering this, the more breathable linen was clearly more suitable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait a moment,” Old Haton carefully scanned Gao De from head to toe, then rose and walked to the back of the shop. After a short while, he returned with several outfits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have a look—do these suit you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Summer clothing favored simplicity and practicality: loose, belted tunics on top, with long robes as an alternative; loose linen trousers below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even in his past life, men’s clothing styles were minimal; here, in this world, there was almost no choice at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Colors were even more limited, mostly browns, grays, and deep blues from natural dyes—fit was all that mattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, Old Haton’s eyes were still sharp; the single glance he’d given Gao De before retrieving the clothes had “scanned” his build.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, the final outfits fit perfectly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De ultimately chose one set in gray-brown and one in another shade as his everyday wear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two sets of linen everyday clothes, plus two pairs of low-cut leather shoes made of cowhide, cost Gao De twenty-six silver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After leaving the clothing shop, Gao De asked Lehman to take him to a watchmaker’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Life in a big city was different from Hogen City—accurate timekeeping was essential.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, a portable pocket watch became critically important.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under Lehman’s guidance, Gao De pushed open the heavy wooden door, and as a faint bell chimed, entered a watchmaker’s shop filled with the scent of leather and metal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the clothing shop, the watchmaker’s interior was far more elegant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gold-edged mirrors hung on the walls; display cases held exquisite pocket watches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shop attendant politely approached, gave Gao De a discreet glance at his clothing, then asked: “Sir, how may I help you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A precise pocket watch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The attendant nodded, bent down, and with gloved hands removed a silver pocket watch from the display case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sir, how about this one? Crafted by Master Nied. Look at the engraving—so elegant!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The watch case bore intricate floral carvings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How much?” Gao De didn’t care much for style—functional was enough. He cared more about price.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not expensive—just one gold, includes a watch chain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Also, if the hands ever stop or become inaccurate, bring it back to us—we’ll fix it for free.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if fearing Gao De thought it too costly, the attendant pointed to other gold-cased watches in the case. “Those start at five gold.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine, I’ll take this one.” Gao De followed the will of his purse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the attendant’s guidance, he paid at the counter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he left the watchmaker’s, Gao De glanced at his new pocket watch—it was nearly five o’clock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thanks for your help today—you can go back now,” Gao De said to Lehman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need for thanks, sir!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After sending Lehman off, Gao De did not return home immediately. Instead, he found a small restaurant nearby for dinner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today, after all, was his “move-in day”—worth celebrating with a good meal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be honest, this was his first time dining out since arriving in this world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De ordered a pork chop with apple sauce for seven coppers, a large cup of tea for one and a half coppers, sausage with mashed potatoes for three coppers, one serving of vegetables for one copper, and a fried egg for one and a half coppers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Total: fourteen coppers—equivalent to one silver and two coppers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still unsatisfied after finishing all the food, he added one more copper for a slice of buttered bread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A very generous meal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But expensive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My savings are about to dip below three hundred gold.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After paying, Gao De found only four three-leaf silver coins and a few scattered coppers left in his pocket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1182,"2026-06-19T14:28:48.629Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","9ea156387c36fce7bbc4b7dff5e0b33dc6222e31d2787db13221ce13aca396b4","above-the-mage-chapter-82","above-the-mage-chapter-80",529,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fabove-the-mage-cover.jpg"]