[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-above-the-mage":3,"chapter-above-the-mage-above-the-mage-chapter-92":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},2257096,4404,"Chapter 92: Human Nature","above-the-mage-chapter-92",92,"\u003Cp>“Airship?!” Gao De widened his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though he knew that in a world with supernatural powers, the technological tree would inevitably diverge drastically from Earth’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But hearing of an airship’s existence, he was still stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A world without cars or trains had somehow leapfrogged straight to “airship technology”? You’ve got to be kidding. “Yes, airships have always been the most common mode of transport for high-ring mages on the continent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Water routes require countless transfers, detours, and are still too slow; land routes are even more complicated, and travel through uninhabited regions is extremely dangerous.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By comparison, airships are the fastest and safest, most comfortable means of travel.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De suppressed the storm inside him, “Then why, after being in Bremen City for a month, have I never seen a single airship?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pierre sighed helplessly, “Because our country is just a small duchy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, Sein’s airships are not only outdated but also extremely rare—held entirely by the government, major trading houses, and nobles, never reaching civilian use.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“An airship costs exorbitantly, and buying one isn’t the end—you must pay hefty annual maintenance, repair fees, and hire dedicated staff; operating costs are astronomical.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For airships to become common among civilians, there must be enough passenger traffic to ensure profitability—or at least break even.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s impossible in a small duchy like ours.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because Sein is poor, and its people are poor—most can’t afford an airship,” Pierre spread his hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, there are no airships in Bremen City.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Gao De finally understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like on Earth, only a few cities have “airports.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if a pie fell from the sky, getting it into your mouth isn’t easy, Gao De couldn’t help but sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reliability of the “letter of recommendation” was still uncertain, and the next problem had already surfaced: the journey to Shengxi City was far too long and circuitous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From Hogen City to Bremen City, he could travel with a caravan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But from Bremen City to Shengxi City, finding a caravan willing to take him was nearly impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only an airship would be convenient. But where was there even an airship?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come on, lunch is on me today!” Pierre, unaffected by Gao De’s thoughts, cheerfully stood up. “Kid, if you’ve got nothing to do, come visit me more often—even just to chat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man had no family or relatives; since fleeing to Bremen City, he’d lost even his grocery shop and spent every day idle and lonely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De’s visits had opened him up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you don’t mind me freeloading, I’ll definitely come more often,” Gao De smiled. “But next time, I won’t bring any good wine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pierre was the first real acquaintance Gao De had made in this world, and there was some special feeling between them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I live at Kamengdejie 437, a repair craftsman, scraping together a living,” Gao De briefly introduced himself to Pierre.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As it turned out, Pierre was indeed wealthy—this lunch was at an extremely upscale restaurant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The food was luxurious:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Four silver for a custard, twelve silver for a grain-fed chicken, four silver six copper for ham paste, eight silver for asparagus, and three silver six copper for sweet wine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Total: one gold, twelve silver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the small eatery across from Mrs. Misu’s house, that sum would cover Gao De’s lunches for a month—with change to spare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sated and full, Gao De bid Pierre a temporary farewell, satisfied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his schedule for today wasn’t over yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the afternoon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kamengdejie 267.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A month later, Gao De knocked again on Mrs. Misu’s door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mr. Google, is something the matter?” Mrs. Misu opened the door, surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Madam, I have a small problem,” Gao De showed an anxious expression. “Ah?!” Mrs. Misu immediately leaned in. “What problem? Come in, tell me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De stepped inside without hesitation and sat in the reception area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mrs. Misu abandoned tea-making, sat across from him, and asked anxiously, “What trouble are you in?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your business has been doing well lately—could it be something wrong with your house?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De shook his head, pulled out a pre-prepared letter from his robe, and handed it to Mrs. Misu. “Madam, please read this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, he shifted his thoughts, and magical energy flashed through his spell model.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The door, still open, snapped shut the next instant, blocking any possible surveillance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Door Lock Spell].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Gao De’s serious expression, Mrs. Misu quickly took the letter and unfolded it to read.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the first glance, she couldn’t help gasping aloud, looking up at Gao De in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De said nothing, gesturing for her to continue reading.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mrs. Misu lowered her head silently and carefully examined the letter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De sat quietly beside her, observing her expression, trying to detect any shift in her emotions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The letter he gave her was the one Master Seda had prepared to send to Mrs. Misu—but never mailed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On its surface, it was merely an expression of longing and a report on recent affairs—no further details revealed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he saw nothing in the letter that directly incriminated him, Gao De still felt uneasy, uncertain how much Mrs. Misu truly knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But sitting idle served no purpose—he had no choice but to face her directly and improvise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, aside from the apprentices in the herb garden, ninety-nine out of a hundred outsiders would never believe Master Seda had been killed by an obscure little apprentice like him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was Gao De’s natural shield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, the worst-case scenario he’d feared had not occurred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Mrs. Misu finished reading the letter, her expression had turned unreadable—she seemed to have anticipated something, and looked sorrowful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked up at Gao De: “How did my husband’s letter end up with you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De answered honestly, “Madam, I lied to you before—I’m not from Kamengdejie. I’m from Hogen City.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My true identity is Master Seda’s apprentice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re my husband’s apprentice?” Mrs. Misu frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De nodded, then decided to probe further into what she knew, carefully recounting Master Seda’s situation in Hogen City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master had a herb garden in Hogen City and needed apprentices to manage it. He was kind—he saw many orphaned beggars dying on the streets, so he took in a few, including me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After bringing us to the garden, he took us as apprentices, provided food and clothing, and taught us to read, study magic, and brew potions,” Gao De spoke naturally, unfolding Master Seda’s deeds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words had no flaws—they were true, except he omitted the key point: that he took them in only to use them as test subjects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mrs. Misu listened intently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least, Gao De saw no telltale signs in her expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he could temporarily conclude that Master Seda had never revealed the garden’s true details to Mrs. Misu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was only natural.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before being driven out of Hogen City, Master Seda was not a “black mage” who treated lives as worthless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after choosing his own interests, his former conscience may not have caused guilt—but it likely made him conceal the truth from those closest to him, to preserve his image.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That is human nature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such is humanity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1189,"2026-06-19T14:28:48.629Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","be9f2bfd4a12edb68e9567fc704a824c3cf6c717f34b5702973f4fd158bff260","above-the-mage-chapter-93","above-the-mage-chapter-91",529,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fabove-the-mage-cover.jpg"]