Chapter 26: Conjecture: Four Magic Scrolls, An Unexpected Ambush

It seemed Tang Zheng had been looking for too long.

The mage named Vala had already regained his focus, an impatient look on his face as he looked at Tang Zheng: "Have you finally made your choice?"

Hearing the question.

Tang Zheng then moved his gaze away from the book and looked up: "I have chosen, but I have one more question I would like to ask."

"Speak."

Vala’s expression softened slightly; he reached out to take the manual and spoke indifferently.

"I see there are two types of magic scrolls for 'Papermaking.' I wonder what the difference is," Tang Zheng asked curiously.

While flipping through the book, Tang Zheng discovered that "Papermaking," a magic unique to this other world, had not only a Tier 0 magic scroll but also a Tier 1 version.

Since Tier 0 magic was unique to this other world, this was the first time Tang Zheng had seen the same magic at different tiers, and he couldn't help but feel curious about it.

Could people of this other world actually develop daily-life magic to the first tier?

You have to know!

In the game "Yggdrasil," magic tiers are fixed.

Whether you are level 100 or level 20, using a Tier 1 spell makes no difference; of course, the power changes based on the "Magic Attack" attribute, but it remains unchanged in essence.

Among them are more special spells, such as the Tier 3 "Fireball"!

This spell can increase its power and attack range based on how much mana the magic caster consumes!

But a Tier 3 spell is still a Tier 3 spell; that point cannot be changed.

Skills like "Low-Tier Magic Nullification" possessed by Ainz and other Floor Guardians in the "Great Tomb of Nazarick" can completely immunize against "Fireball."

Therefore,

In "Yggdrasil," to hunt a level 100 player, one must use at least an eighth-tier spell.

"There isn't much difference."

"If I had to say, it’s that the paper produced by the Tier 1 'Papermaking' magic scroll is whiter, finer, and better; it can be used for writing perfectly well."

Vala spoke lazily, seemingly not wanting to chat more about this, while his eyes looked over, as if saying you should be buying things now.

Hearing this.

A thought suddenly popped into Tang Zheng’s mind that shocked even himself.

Suppressing the thought in his heart.

Tang Zheng pondered for a moment and said: "Give me one Tier 0 'Papermaking' and one 'Heating' magic scroll."

"Also, give me one Tier 1 'Odorless' and one 'Magic Arrow' magic scroll each."

Hearing the magic scrolls Tang Zheng wanted to purchase.

Vala nodded, stood up, and walked toward the back.

Behind the front desk was a wall hung with a few murals; Vala walked straight into the wall.

Under Tang Zheng’s gaze, Vala passed directly through the wall and disappeared.

"Is it a magic barrier? I couldn't tell at all," Tang Zheng said, somewhat stunned.

Before long.

Vala walked back holding four magic scrolls.

"Two Tier 0 magic scrolls, the price is two gold coins."

"The Tier 1 'Odorless' magic scroll costs one gold coin and 10 silver coins, and the 'Magic Arrow' magic scroll costs three gold coins and ten silver coins."

"A total of seven gold coins and seven silver coins."

Vala placed the magic scrolls in front of Tang Zheng.

Hiss!

Hearing this price, the corners of Tang Zheng’s eyes twitched; after a brief hesitation, he took eight gold coins from his pocket and placed them on the table.

Even though they were both Tier 1 magic scrolls, the price of an attack spell like "Magic Arrow" was nearly three times that of "Odorless."

Vala looked at Tang Zheng with some surprise, but didn't say much, reaching out to collect the gold coins while finding six silver coins in change.

Currently, Tang Zheng had 14 gold, 7 silver, and 4 copper coins left; although not much, it should be enough to purchase supplies next.

Tang Zheng put away the magic scrolls and coins, then turned and left.

Walking out of the Mages Guild main entrance.

A thought crossed Tang Zheng’s mind, and he stored all the magic scrolls on his person into his item box, while quickening his pace to return to the inn where he was staying.

He needed to go back and test his previous hypothesis.

At this moment, the sun had already set.

The sky had turned completely dark; although there were lit street lamps in the street square, they were spaced far apart, only bright enough for people to see the road clearly.

Perhaps because it was a border city, there were no people on the streets at this time. Tap!

Tap!

Suddenly, a figure emerged from a small alley not far ahead, playing with a dagger in their hand and deliberately stepping heavily.

Tang Zheng frowned and slowed his pace.

Because not only had a person appeared in front, but a figure had also appeared behind him.

"Little brother, would you like to buy us a drink?"

The figure in front stepped out of the shadows; it was a man in black holding a dagger, wearing a mask on his face.

The figure behind also stopped, standing in the middle of the road, blocking Tang Zheng’s retreat.

Tang Zheng glanced with his peripheral vision.

The opponent was just like him, wearing a black robe on the outside, even covering their head with the hood of the robe, and combined with the nighttime environment, their appearance could not be seen clearly.

=9+Shu_Ba

"It looks like I’m being robbed," Tang Zheng said while pondering a countermeasure.

"No, no."

"We just want you to buy us a drink, and borrow some money while you're at it," the thief holding the dagger said, spreading his arms and shrugging his shoulders.

The figure behind did not speak, which made Tang Zheng feel even more dangerous.

"How did you know I had money?"

Tang Zheng narrowed his eyes, drew his short sword under the cover of his black robe, and continued:

"Was it the Mages Guild? No!"

"People from the Mages Guild have no reason to do this, and I only just left; with the pride of the people in the Mages Guild, even if they were short on money, they wouldn't be eyeing the small amount I have."

"And I only arrived in 'E-Rantel' today, so..."

Tang Zheng said this, having already guessed something, and let out a cold laugh: "You’ve been targeting me since I entered the city, right?"

If he guessed correctly.

When the captain of the "Rocks" team, Dosari, handed him the money pouch, these two must have seen it.

Perhaps these two were specifically targeting outsiders coming to "E-Rantel," looking for lone individuals to prey upon.

"Oh, what a smart kid."

"In that case, we won't waste words; hand over all the magic scrolls you bought and your money, and we can spare your life."

"Otherwise!"

The thief holding the dagger chuckled, his voice turning cold: "I wouldn't mind cutting off the legs of a black-haired bastard like you and selling you as a slave."

"I’m sure many people would love a black-haired faith-based magic caster slave who can cast 'Lesser Heal'."

Hearing this, Tang Zheng’s eyes changed abruptly.

Had his information been leaked?

Besides the "Rocks" team, the only ones who knew he could use healing magic were Nfirea’s grandparents.

But neither side seemed to have a reason to betray him.

First, Nfirea’s grandparents could be ruled out, and as for the "Rocks" team, not to mention that he saved their captain’s life, they had also been hoping for him to join them.

They shouldn't have leaked his information.

Did they reveal it by accident?

That was even less likely; the "Rocks" team was a silver-rank adventurer team, after all, and they had professional standards; how could they be easily tricked into leaking information?

Thinking it over, it seemed it could only be the "Rocks" team... wait.

To be precise.

They weren't the only two parties who knew he could use healing magic; when he was at the Adventurer’s Guild in the Royal Capital, many people saw him cast healing magic!

The thief using the dagger didn't just want his money; he wanted to turn him into a slave.

Such behavior—

"Eight Fingers!"

Tang Zheng suddenly spat out two words.

The thief playing with the dagger in his hand paused.

(End of chapter)