Chapter 4

"Magic Stone?"

Lin Ke took this news to heart, silently noting it.

However, let alone the wizards' currency Magic Stone, he hasn't even touched a gold coin used on the island.

After painstakingly saving for over a year, he only managed to scrape together ten silver coins, meeting the top‑up condition of at least one gold coin or ten silver coins for the pay‑to‑win gacha system.

Thereafter, to exchange for more gacha draws, he needed ten gold coins or a hundred silver coins.

"Make money!"

Lin Ke sighed; it seemed that no matter which world, one had to make money.

"Who among you has a Magic Stone?" Jimni suddenly asked.

Chris and Christina both shook their heads, and Lin Ke spread his hands openly.

Mo Li hesitated a moment, then softly said, "My family gave me two pieces."

"Tsk, a rich lady."

Lin Ke felt it as a joke, but he had no other thoughts.

As long as one is willing to strive, gold coins will come, and Magic Stones will too.

But saying this, the topic seemed to be wrapping up.

Having just finished a hearty lunch, the five felt a bit drowsy, so they tacitly stopped chatting, each reclining in their seat and closing their eyes for a brief rest.

Only then did Lin Ke have the leisure to delve into the Brain Seal Technique he had drawn.

The Brain Seal Technique originates from the Harry Potter world; it is a magical art of sealing the mind to resist external mental infiltration and magical intrusion.

The basic level of the Brain Seal Technique mainly works by clearing memories and emotions from the mind, turning one into a wooden person, to counter 'Spirit Capture and Thought Extraction'.

In other words, Lin Ke's Brain Seal Technique, just after getting started, can clear away stray thoughts at any moment, leaving the mind empty and mindfulness unified.

The more advanced form of the Brain Seal Technique can clear, disguise, or shape specific memories and emotions.

In Lin Ke's view, this is another meaning of acting freely without overstepping bounds.

Lin Ke believes the Brain Seal Technique will play a major role in the future.

Thinking thus, Lin Ke slowly fell asleep.

However, not long after he slept, the hovering vehicle came to a stop.

They had arrived at Catopuli Harbor.

Para Wizard stepped out of the front carriage, disembarked first, and the five novice wizard apprentices followed in single file.

The harbor was bustling, ships constantly coming and going, crowds flowing like a tide.

Yet strangely, no one noticed a hovering vehicle stopping not far away, nor a group of people stepping out of it, as if they were completely invisible.

"Invisibility? Or a Muggle‑repelling charm?" Lin Ke guessed idly.

Para Wizard gestured backward with his hand.

The hovering vehicle shrank rapidly to palm size and flew into Para Wizard's hand.

"This..."

Lin Ke was stunned by Para Wizard's trick.

"Size‑changing? A treasure?"

"How cool! I want one too!"

Lin Ke drooled, looking utterly naïve.

Jimni, Chris, Christina, and Mo Li were much better off; they had obviously seen this before.

"Board the ship."

Para Wizard remained as terse as ever, swiftly moving through the crowd that automatically made way.

His target was also clear: the all‑metal ocean vessel occupying the harbor's largest dock, the White Sail.

Only now did Lin Ke notice that, among the harbor's wooden sailing ships, this all‑metal ocean‑going vessel stood out like a crane among chickens.

Since taking the wizard aptitude test today, his repeatedly shocked heart was shocked once more.

This was not merely about a ship; it indicated that the industrial level of the mainland they were about to visit far surpassed that of the Quet Islands, exceeding Lin Ke's expectations by far.

Wasn't it agreed that the wizarding world's social environment and development were akin to Western medieval times, with only personal prowess praiseworthy while everything else was backward?

Clearly the Quet Islands fit that setting, but…

An all‑metal ocean‑going vessel—even in Lin Ke's previous life, where science and technology were highly advanced, only a few countries could produce such a ship on their own.

"I'm the frog in the well; I've been viewing the sky from the bottom of the well!"

Lin Ke timely reflected, believing he must discard prejudice and preconceptions, adopt a humble attitude to integrate into the wizarding world, lest he repeat the error of the overconfident Ye Lang.

While thinking thus, Lin Ke had already followed Para Wizard to the vicinity of the White Sail.

The White Sail's bow had a gangway extending to the dock.

Para Wizard led Lin Ke and the five others straight up the gangway onto the ship.

At the top of the gangway was a small door, unattended.

Para Wizard slipped his right hand into his pocket, produced a flat rectangular block, and pressed it against the slightly protruding square plate in the center of the small door.

"Welcome back, honored Para Wizard."

The plate first glowed with a clear blue light, scanned the rectangular block in Para Wizard's hand, then emitted a mechanical‑neutral voice: "Detected five unregistered personnel behind you; register them as your attendants?"

"No."

Para Wizard replied, "Register them as Newblood."

"Okay, registered as Newblood. Please collect your temporary pass."

After the plate's voice finished, a tray extended upward, holding five metal pieces the size of mahjong tiles.

Para Wizard removed the flat rectangular block from the plate and picked up the five metal pieces from the tray.

The tray immediately retracted.

The small door also swung open automatically.

"Hold onto it, don't drop it; getting a replacement is a hassle."

Paro Wizard casually flicked the metal piece backward, miraculously giving each of the five people one, which hovered steadily in front of each person's chest.

Lin Ke hurriedly caught it, took a quick glance.

One side of the metal piece bore the words 'Temporary Pass', the other side showed the cabin deck number and room number.

"My task ends here."

Paro Wizard walked into the door, then stopped his steps, unusually saying a few more words: 'You yourselves go find your rooms according to the numbers; inside there are some materials, you should look, think, and consider more.'

Having said that, Paro Wizard quickly entered the cabin and soon disappeared from sight.

This...

Lin Ke and the others stared at each other.

For Lin Ke and them, the wizard aptitude test and journey to the Mainland were huge matters, but for Paro Wizard it was merely a task lacking technical substance and wasting time.

No wonder Paro Wizard always appears aloof and perfunctory, with such a tight schedule.

"Be self-reliant, everyone."

Lin Ke raised the metal piece in his hand and said optimistically.

Afterwards, he led the way into the small door, intending to find Room 3—016 on the third deck of the cabin.

Upon entering the small door, Lin Ke immediately sensed something different.

The air inside the sea vessel seemed to contain a special substance, or rather the concentration of that special substance was far higher than outside.

After just a few breaths, Lin Ke felt his body much lighter and his mind much more active.

The difference was like that between the air of a heavily polluted factory and that of a natural oxygen bar in a vast forest.

Lin Ke also discovered a reason why Paro Wizard did not want to linger longer in the Quelto Archipelago.

(End of chapter)