Chapter 122: Stealing Knowledge, Blocking the Path

"Jianaer, is that you?!"

Xia Duo looked back and saw that the person who had arrived was none other than Jianaer, who had taught him the "Magic Enlightenment Course." However, since that course, Xia Duo had had no further interaction with him, and he had not expected to meet him here.

Moreover, the other party had taken the initiative to seek him out.

"Hehe, Mage Xia Duo, you still remember me!"

"Of course I remember. Back then, it was you, Jianaer, who taught our batch of New Apprentices the Magic Enlightenment Course. However, please do not mention the title of Mage again; it was just a joke among Adventurers."

Xia Duo was unsure of the other party's intentions, so he could only follow the other party's lead. He signaled for Donald and the others to push their chairs together and squeeze in to make a seat for Jianaer.

"Thank you."

Jianaer sat down directly and reached out to tap the table, then immediately withdrew his hand. Xia Duo, who was still in a state of spellcasting focus, immediately discovered that a spherical space with a diameter of about one meter, centered on the spot Jianaer had just tapped, had undergone a slight change.

This change was not difficult to understand. Almost instantly, Xia Duo judged that this was a unidirectional sound-isolating Jieti, a Ring Spell—quite creative.

Jianaer probably never imagined that he had just cast a small spell casually, only to have his secrets seen through by Xia Duo. He continued speaking, completely unaware, "Xia Duo, is it true that you killed a necromancer?"

"It is true, but the facts are not as exaggerated as the Adventurers claim."

"Then did you obtain any spoils of war?" Jianaer's words were mixed with a hint of eagerness, and his eyes were fixed tightly on Xia Duo's eyes.

Xia Duo couldn't help but laugh, "I merely killed an ordinary person who had lost the ability to cast spells. The one who truly made that necromancer lose his spellcasting ability was Lord Leonard, and he was also the one who collected the spoils."

Of course, there was no need to mention that Leonard had let him choose one item of loot, and he had chosen the Pikachu pajamas.

Xia Duo's explanation naturally could not make Jianaer fully believe him, but his original purpose was not that. Instead, he looked at Aideliqi and said, "Aideliqi, say hello to your brother for me!"

After saying this, he left directly, not even looking at Dien and the other two properly the entire time. Xia Duo was left bewildered by Jianaer's inexplicable behavior.

After Jianaer left, Aideliqi kept staring in that direction and said enviously, "Jianaer has become an Official Mage!"

"Jianaer has become an Official Mage?!"

The same sentence, but with a completely different tone. Except for Aideliqi and Xia Duo, the other three appeared much more shocked. Just a moment ago, an Official Mage had been sitting with them!

"Xia Duo, are you very close with that Mage Jianaer?" Sami was the first to ask.

"Not very close. As you heard just now, I only took his Magic Enlightenment Course. Ah—"

Only then did Xia Duo realize that they had been shown up by him. Although it wasn't a direct slap to the face, the situation was indeed a bit unpleasant.

However, thinking that he would soon be able to become an Official Mage, he felt happy again. A question came to mind, and he immediately asked Aideliqi, "Do you know what arrangements the Mage Tower makes after one becomes an Official Mage?"

Sami and the others were also very interested upon hearing this question. After all, for them now, becoming an Official Mage was no longer an unattainable dream.

Thus, four pairs of eyes looked at Aideliqi in unison.

Aideliqi deliberated for a moment before saying, "After my brother became an Official Mage, he became a student of the Lord. As for others, as far as I know, they generally choose a mentor in the Mage Tower to receive guidance."

"Some people also leave the Mage Tower at this point to seek guidance from true Arcanists, after all, the Lord—"

Xia Duo nodded to show he understood. Those who left were simply those who felt that since even the Lord had not advanced to an Arcanist, there was no hope for them if they stayed.

The principle that people move to higher places and water flows to lower places exists even in this other world. Xia Duo continued to ask, "Are there only these two types? Are there any others?"

"There are also those who do not choose a mentor. After all, if you choose a mentor, you gain guidance but also have certain obligations. If you don't choose a mentor, the cost of obtaining Knowledge within the Mage Tower is double or even more than that of other mages. Some people can't stand it and run off to the Mage Guild to 'retire'."

Huh—

"'Retire' at the Mage Guild?" Xia Duo was somewhat puzzled and hurriedly asked what this was about.

Aideliqi scratched his head and said, "I don't know the specifics either; I heard my brother mention it before."

Xia Duo wanted to ask more, but he noticed that the sound-isolating Jieti had just disappeared. Although he had already seen through the secrets of the sound-isolating Jieti, he worried that casting it rashly without experimental verification and subsequent practice would cause problems, so he did not force a spell.

"Let's stop here for today. We've seen the Elf Hot Dance, so you all should hurry home to reunite with your families. I also need to return to the Mage Tower."

"Alright!"

The Moon Festival of this other world was not Xia Duo's August 15th. The purpose of coming out had been achieved, and it was time to return.

After parting ways with Aideliqi and the others at the Central Plaza, Xia Duo returned to the Mage Tower alone. Just as he was about to leave the Central Plaza and step onto the final stretch of the stone path, a person dressed as an Adventurer but with their face covered suddenly blocked his path.

Xia Duo subconsciously stepped aside, but unexpectedly, the person moved as well, blocking Xia Duo again. Xia Duo immediately entered a state of spellcasting focus; there was no Magic Aura on the person in front of him.

However, Xia Duo still did not relax. This person, with only their eyes exposed, was clearly targeting him. Although Xia Duo did not quite believe that anyone would dare to attack him within the town, he could not afford to lack necessary vigilance.

After experiencing the magical dream, he had become a Sorcerer, and his physical fitness had become much stronger because of it. At this moment, seeing this person, he was actually feeling a bit eager to try.

"Who are you?" Xia Duo asked coldly.

"I have no malice." The masked person carefully spread their hands to show they had no weapons, then stated their purpose, "I know you killed Lao Neil and took some things, but those things belong neither to Lao Neil nor to you. I hope you will return some of them to me."

Xia Duo was startled, feeling the panic of being caught doing something wrong, but he soon calmed down. Killing Lao Neil, although partly stimulated by the Pikachu pajamas carried by the necromancer, was a choice he had made after careful consideration.

Even if it were exposed, it wouldn't matter much. At most, it would be a fine, and the extremely small probability of an attack by a brain-dead Paladin. As long as he hid in the Mage Tower, who would dare to come!

Hearing that this masked person wanted to demand items, it seemed to involve him in trouble again, so he couldn't help but ask: "What items do you want?"

Hearing Xia Duo's tone soften, the masked person could not help but feel a bit excited. If things could be resolved with words, who would consider using violence? He hurriedly stated what he wanted:

"A small brown Small Wood Carving, and two Account Books."