“No, this isn't a scam at all.”
Mr. Madison, holding his wine glass, shook his head:
“Miracles are definitely real. As for whether the ritual truly needs to be that complicated, I don’t know. I only know that the last person who learned this Miracle also did it this way. That was a story, and the story itself was a description of the ritual.”
Xia De was very familiar with such things; the Sea Return Ritual was also hidden in a nursery rhyme.
“In fact, there’s reason to suspect that most fairy tales, songs, and poems passed down from ancient times conceal elements of mysticism.”
“You’re lucky that Xia De came to investigate, but what will you do afterward? Since the Church has already noticed you, even if the spice itself isn’t a problem, you’ll eventually be under close scrutiny.”
The doctor asked again, and Mr. Madison sighed:
“Then I can only temporarily leave St. Anthem Square and go to the countryside to sell spices. It wasn't easy to find such a good place. To avoid paying protection fees to the gang, I… never mind, safety is most important. I can only wake up early every day to be a traveling merchant in the countryside. Mr. Hamilton, please write in your investigation report that I suddenly disappeared. That way, your friend won’t get into trouble, and neither will I.”
“No problem.”
Xia De nodded, and the doctor asked again:
“What is the effect of your Miracle?”
Only true friends would ask such a question. Mr. Madison didn't care that Xia De was present and said with a sigh:
“【Merchant’s Instinct】, corresponding to the Ling Rune 【Trade】. This is a passive Miracle. Once I master it, whenever I discuss the price of goods with anyone, whether buying or selling, I will subconsciously know their psychological price.”
Doctor Schneider and the Outsider both showed envious and surprised looks.
Six-Ring Arcanist Mr. Madison was skilled in alchemy, but his combat ability was not particularly outstanding. He and Doctor Schneider had known each other for many years. To be precise, Mr. Madison knew Doctor Schneider when he was only a One-Ring Arcanist.
Speaking of this, Xia De was a little curious about how Doctor Schneider's team was established. After all, when the other team members joined, Doctor Schneider was always the most senior member of the team.
It's just that the doctor didn't seem to want to talk about it, and Xia De didn't press him. While the doctor, having drunk too much tea, got up to relieve himself, the turban-clad Mr. Madison lowered his voice and told Xia De:
“When I knew Schneider, your team actually had three people. Besides Schneider, who was only a One-Ring Arcanist at the time, there was also a Three-Ring Arcanist and an Eight-Ring Warlock in the team.”
“Eight-Ring?”
Xia De looked at this gentleman with some surprise:
“I thought Letter-based Ring術士s could only reach Hexacle or Seven Ring at most.”
“I'm not clear on the specifics, but that one was the most powerful Letter-based Ring術士 in Tobesk fifteen years ago. I even heard Schneider say that that gentleman intended to advance to Nine Ring in Tobesk and then directly apply for a lifelong professorship after entering Saint Byron's.”
Speaking of this, the turban-clad middle-aged man sighed with emotion:
“Truly remarkable.”
The rules of the Three Great Academies are basically the same, and the rules for entering the academies are also the same. That is to say, the highest-ranking individuals in a team would be very willing to find new talented individuals when the team numbers were insufficient, so it is very rare for a Letter-based Ring術士 preparing to advance to a high ring to appear.
“What happened then? Mr. Madison, honestly, I haven't heard anyone talk about this. I always thought the doctor built our team from scratch.”
“No, no, he was also a talented person found by his predecessors. As for the two who were more senior than Schneider…”
He quietly peeked in the direction of the corridor, then whispered:
“Schneider never brings it up, and don't say I told you. More than ten years ago, a very famous major event occurred locally. The two more senior Ring術士s in your team both died in that accident. It is said that the Eight-Ring gentleman and the Three-Ring lady were in a romantic relationship, and the Eight-Ring gentleman's lifelong dream was to enter Saint Byron's to become a teacher.”
Mr. Madison paused, shaking the wine glass in his hand with a touch of melancholy, watching the beer froth:
“When that happened, I happened to be out of Tobesk. Later, I heard rumors that those two saved Schneider, who was only a One-Ring Arcanist at the time. This struck him very hard, even causing his Ring術士 studies to fall behind significantly, and he wasn't very willing to recruit new team members. Later, Schneider vowed to inherit that gentleman's wish and go to Saint Byron's to become a professor…”
He sighed, and Xia De looked at him with some surprise.
“Otherwise, Mr. Hamilton, why do you think Bill Schneider, who is successful in Tobesk, is so persistent about going to Saint Byron's?”
Mr. Madison shook his head:
“Sometimes, inheriting someone else's wish is more terrifying than having your own.”
Xia De pondered the last sentence:
“Who said that?”
“I did.”
Mr. Madison said, then continued the story:
“Let me tell you what happened more than a decade ago. What happened that year was only worse than this year. Someone opened a Level 0 relic in the city. Hamilton, do you know what Level 0 is? Then evil…”
“What are you two talking about?”
The doctor walked over, asking with a chuckle. He probably didn't hear what the two were saying.
“rhode cards, we were talking about rhode cards!”
Xia De immediately said, then winked at Mr. Madison, and the turban-clad middle-aged man understood:
“Yes, we were just talking about rhode cards. I was telling Mr. Hamilton that the owner of this inn is also a rhode cards master and loves to gamble with others using special cards as stakes.”
“Oh, Xia De, don't forget what Priest Augustus said, never get addicted to gambling.”
The doctor said with some concern, the previous matter was brushed aside.
Adult men all had their own things to do, so after chatting for a while at the Three Cats Inn, they each left.
Before leaving, Xia De and Mr. Madison exchanged business cards. It was then that Xia De learned that Mr. Madison's true profession was indeed a spice merchant. But not the small merchant doing business in the square, but a true large goods merchant in the Lower City.
Xia De intended to continue inquiring about past events with this gentleman, but given his busy schedule, it probably wouldn't happen today. However, Mr. Madison gave Xia De a small bottle of sleep-inducing spice as a gift, as a token of their acquaintance.
Living in Delarion, known as the Northern Pearl, it's certainly not wrong to have more friends.
“Doctor, Saint Byron's is on the great ice cap in the far north, so where is Serex Higher Medical College?”
The doctor would pass Saint Delan Square on his way back to the clinic, so Xia De rode in the carriage with him.
“I heard it's in the sea.”
“In the sea?”
That was an unexpected answer.
“In the southern waters of the Old Continent, but I certainly don't know the exact location. It is said that the founder of Success Higher Medical College used some large ritual to open up a huge water-repelling space on the seabed. Xia De, don't overestimate them too much; after all, Saint Byron's is also a habitable space that Miss Felianna carved out of the extreme cold. The living conditions north of the ice cap in the far north are no better than those in the deep sea.”