“Respected sir, do you need someone to guide you? I am well acquainted with every shop in Floating Clouds Square, and the price is only half a low-grade magic stone for half a day.”
A boy around twelve or thirteen years old, seeing that he was new, hurried to greet Sean before anyone else could.
“Lead the way ahead. I’m looking for a reputable shop to sell and buy some items.” Ivan did not refuse; the boy’s youthful face and sturdy build betrayed a clever agility, suggesting he had been a guide in the Floating Clouds Square for quite some time.
“Sir, actually all the shops in Floating Clouds Square are very reputable. If you’re looking for a larger one, you might want to visit the Cloud Eagle Trading House. Their selection is the most extensive in the entire square.”
“You’ve arrived at quite an opportune time. Cloud Eagle Trading House is about to hold an auction, and if you spend enough, you should be invited by the owner to participate. The auction will have many high-value items.”
“If you wish to craft or purchase potions, I recommend you check out workshop number 33. If you’re looking to buy magic puppets or puppets, you may consider going to—–“
As a qualified guide, the boy answered his questions and frequently introduced some of the famous shops in Floating Clouds Square, as well as apothecary and enchantment workshops, trying not to let the conversation die down.
The Cloud Eagle Trading House shop was located in the bustling area of the square, and after leading him to the shop’s entrance, the boy waited outside.
A portly store owner stood up and stepped forward.
“Sir, I am Malone, the owner of this shop.”
Ivan glanced around the shop’s interior, taking in the potions, magicalized items, and all sorts of materials that filled his view, alongside two imposing steel magic puppets.
As the boy had said, it was indeed a rather large shop.
“I need to sell a batch of potions.”
Hearing his intentions, the store owner realized this was an important customer and swiftly led him to a private room.
Ivan wasted no time, took out a Transfer Sealing Scroll, and retrieved the sealed boxes, six large ones in total, all filled with potions he had accumulated over time.
This was only a part of them; the rest were kept in the space worm nest of the Silkworm Queen.
Given his current level in apothecary skill, August could no longer handle such a large quantity of goods.
“These are all Level 1 potions, detoxification potions, Endurance Ginger Water, and another called ‘Turbid Potion,’ similar to blast potions and Ice Break Potions.”
“Please wait a moment while I get someone to check these out.”
Seeing box after box of potions before him, the store owner Malone became even more enthusiastic.
Shortly, he called over two potion masters who scrutinized each potion in the boxes carefully.
“Manager, the quality is upper class.”
“The quality is upper class.”
Ivan’s Apothecary Skill was nearly a Level 7 subject; naturally, he would not trick people with subpar products. The potion masters concluded their tests quickly and, as expected, certified them as upper-class quality.
“Sir, how should I address you?”
“Sean.”
“Sean, sir, what do you require?”
“Do you have any high-grade magic stones?”
“We do, but there’s an auction coming up soon, and most of the higher-value items, including the high-grade magic stones stored in the shop, have been sent there. You might consider bidding at the auction before it starts,” replied the store owner Malone, slightly embarrassed.
“What about mid-grade magic stones?”
“Certainly, we have those. Based on mid-grade magic stones, your potions are worth 610 stones. What do you think?”
“The price is fair,” Ivan murmured, nodding his head after several seconds of contemplation. It was higher by ten mid-grade magic stones than he had estimated, totaling to the equivalent of over sixty thousand low-grade magic stones, “I need to purchase a batch of materials.”
“Apart from universe stones for making Transfer Sealing Scrolls, our shop has all the other materials, and the universe stones might also appear at the auction,” Malone said as he took the list from Ivan and glanced over it, his smile becoming unstoppable.
Malone quickly estimated the value of the materials, which was nearly catching up to the total price of the potions just sold; with this back and forth, he had made a fortune that day. Your next read is at empire
“Do you have any Transfer Sealing Scrolls?”
“The auction—”
Upon hearing the same response as before, Ivan didn’t bother to inquire further and took out another Transfer Sealing Scroll, from which he retrieved a box of stored potions.
Half an hour later, Ivan walked out of the Cloud Eagle Trading House’s shop, bidden farewell by the attentive shopkeeper Malone.
“Sir, where would you like to go next?”
“Just wandering around.”
Having gathered all the materials needed for the large-scale Black Magic Wind Fire Array and having gained an additional seven hundred mid-grade magic stones, as well as receiving an invitation to the auction, Ivan was in a good mood and began to stroll around Floating Clouds Square under the guidance of the young guide.
Since he planned to attend the auction in a few days, he didn’t leave the square that evening and stayed at an inn.
Five days flew by, and Ivan made his way to the venue of the auction in time, which was located near another entrance at the auction hall.
There were quite a few sorcerers present for the auction, which increased the flow of people in and out of the Floating Clouds Square.
“Yo, you’re here too.”
“May I inquire who you are?”
As Ivan neared the auction hall, he spotted a familiar figure. He wasn’t planning to pay any attention as he was in disguise, but the other person recognized him through it immediately.
“Stop pretending— have you got any leads on your assessment?” Solomon said with a knowing look.
“I have a few clues, but as you must know the situation at our academy, it’s going to take a considerable amount of time to investigate,” Ivan said, looking morosely at Solomon, who was not wearing a mask, while wondering how he had seen through his disguise.
He remembered that he was being hunted, figured if Solomon could see through his disguise, others might have similar methods, and knew he had to be even more careful.
“Better hurry up, otherwise, I might struggle but take you as my subordinate. Actually, when I think about it, it doesn’t sound too bad,” Solomon said with a laugh.
“Well, thanks for that, even thinking of my way out for me,” Ivan said drily.
The two continued their conversation as they entered the auction hall, with Solomon finding his way into a premium box at the front. Faced with his invitation, Ivan followed without any reservations.
The boxes were situated to the sides, elevated above the main hall, and were only about five to six square meters in area. Through the crystal glass at the front of the small box, one could clearly see the auction hall and stage.
The hall was packed with attendees, many dressed as sorcerers.
“Quite a few people from the Star Moon Alliance are here,” noted Solomon.
“Indeed, I spotted a few familiar faces.” Ivan recognized Sorcerer Jeeson, whom he had met once before, and his mentor and friend Molly. They had arrived a bit late and went to a box on the opposite side.
They were greeted by many, suggesting that with the growing reputation of the Star Moon Alliance, their expansion must be swift, with perhaps more members than most sorcerers’ academies.
“Sorcerer Solomon, do you know about Shadow Power?”
“It seems your academy has discovered some clues,” Solomon turned to look at him, “That’s power from the Shadow World, a world that once invaded Danaila. The war back then taught us sorcerers a harsh lesson.”
“I went to the Night Forest recently and stumbled upon a few things inadvertently,” Ivan mentioned, bound by a confidentiality agreement not to divulge the specifics of his previous mission.
Their casual talk ceased as someone stepped onto the auction stage, a gracefully poised female sorcerer.