Chapter 80: Transaction

Lao Mao walked to the center of the room, clapped his hands, and signaled everyone to be quiet.

"Everyone, this is the new friend; he wishes to join our gathering," Lao Mao said, then turned to Robin, "According to the rules, a new member must demonstrate his ability."

Robin felt a tightening in his chest; he knew his Meditation Method was only at Entry Level, though his Spiritual Power was a bit stronger than an ordinary person's.

But he could not show weakness here, or he might be suspected and even expelled.

He took a deep breath, focused his mind, and tried to sense the surrounding environment.

Suddenly, he noticed a Crystal Ball on the table faintly glowing, seeming to react to his Spiritual Power.

He reached out, gently touched the Crystal Ball, and the light inside brightened instantly, as if responding to his touch.

A low murmur of awe rose in the room, and Lao Mao gave a satisfied smile.

"Not bad, you truly are a Wizard Apprentice, just at Entry Level, so you can't sense much yet," Lao Mao nodded, "Welcome to our gathering."

Robin exhaled, knowing he had temporarily passed the test.

He walked to an empty chair, sat down, and began to observe the people around him carefully.

These people were clearly Wizards or Wizard Apprentices, their conversation covering various mysterious Incantations, Runes, and magical items.

The atmosphere of the gathering grew hotter during the trading segment, the Wizards' voices low and mysterious, as if each word contained an unspeakable power.

Robin sat in the corner, his gaze drifting among the crowd, his ears perked straight, fearing to miss any scrap of information.

His heartbeat quickened as the trades progressed, because he realized the items the Wizards were dealing were far more dangerous and forbidden than he had imagined.

"I need three Dragon Blood Herbs and two sheets of Lizard Birch Bark."

The lady with a veil spoke in a cold voice, as if from a distant place.

Her face was hidden by the veil, revealing only a pair of deep eyes, within which a hard‑to‑grasp chill lingered.

"I have the Dragon Blood Herb, but only one sheet of Lizard Birch Bark."

Responding was a middle‑aged man wearing a white mask. His voice was hoarse, and the eyes beneath the mask flickered with a cunning light.

He slowly took a small cloth bag from his chest, opened it, and revealed several dark‑red herbs and a piece of bark that glowed with an odd sheen.

Robin's eyes fixed tightly on those items.

Dragon Blood Herb he had obtained before; in the Black Forest it isn't a rare herb.

But here it's another matter.

Lizard Birch Bark is even rarer; it is said to be found only in certain ancient magical forests and can be used to craft powerful protective Talisman spells.

"Take it!"

The veiled woman nodded without hesitation, then pulled a heavy purse from her sleeve and tossed it onto the table.

The white‑masked man took the purse, weighed it, nodded with satisfaction, and pushed the Dragon Blood Herb and Lizard Birch Bark toward her.

After the trade, the room fell into a brief silence, but it was soon broken by the next transaction.

"I need a Night Shadow Eye; the price is negotiable."

A tall, thin man in a black robe stood up; his voice low and hoarse, as if echoing from the depths of hell. He held a staff set with a black gem, within which a faint dark‑red glow swirled.

"Night Shadow Eye? That's a rare item."

A woman wearing a silver mask let out a light laugh and rose from her seat.

In her hand she held an exquisite Wooden Box; when opened, a pitch‑black gem lay inside, its surface swirling with countless tiny vortices that made anyone who looked at it feel dizzy.

"Price?"

The black‑robed man asked directly.

"Two hundred Gold Coins, or equivalent high‑grade magical materials."

The silver‑masked woman spoke calmly, but her eyes held an unmistakable resolve.

The black‑robed man fell silent for a moment, then took a crystal flashing with purple light from his chest and placed it on the table.

"This is a Void Crystal, enough to trade for your Night Shadow Eye, right?"

The silver‑masked woman picked up the crystal, examined it carefully, then nodded with satisfaction and pushed the Wooden Box toward him.

Robin watched all this, his heart shaking with awe.

Every item the Wizards traded was extremely rare and dangerous magical material, some of which he had never even heard of.

This was the true world of Wizards.

At that moment, Lao Mao suddenly stood, clapped his hands, and signaled everyone to be quiet.

"Everyone, today's gathering ends here. I will notify you separately of the time and place for the next meeting."

His voice was low and powerful; the Wizards in the room rose, began packing their belongings, and prepared to leave.

Robin also stood, ready to follow the crowd out, but Lao Mao stopped him.

"Stay, I have something to tell you."

Lao Mao whispered, his eyes carrying a hint of deeper meaning.

Robin nodded, sat down again. After everyone else left, Lao Mao finally spoke slowly:

"Your performance today was good, but I can feel that you still know nothing about all this."

Lao Mao's voice carried a trace of probing.

Robin did not deny it, nodding: "Yes, I only happened upon that Rune and found this place. I don't understand the world of Wizards."

Lao Mao smiled, took a battered book from his chest, handed it to Robin: "This book records some basic magical knowledge and common magical materials. You can read it; it might help you."

Robin took the book, feeling grateful: "Thank you."

Lao Mao waved his hand and continued: "However, remember, the world of Wizards is not as simple as it appears. What you see in the trades is only the tip of the iceberg. Some people will do anything for power, even at the cost of everything, even… sacrificing others."

Robin felt a chill, and whispered: "Do you mean there are larger conspiracies behind these trades?"

Lao Mao did not answer directly, but gave him a meaning‑laden look: "Time will give you the answer. For now, you must quickly improve your strength. Otherwise, even self‑preservation will be hard."

Robin was silent for a moment, his face showing unease, and said: "It's just that I'm currently wanted throughout the city; it's hard to cultivate peacefully."

Lao Mao asked, "You are Luobin Gabriel."

Luobin Gabriel paused briefly, then nodded.

Lao Mao scoffed, "Hmm, wasn't it just killing a low‑rank border noble!"

Luobin Gabriel quickly refuted, "It wasn't me who killed him; the lord and an evil Wizard colluded, trying to forge some Knights in the domain into puppets, so we were forced to resist, and the lord was also slain by other Wizards, none of which concerns me."

(End of chapter)