Chapter 113 - 112: Transaction

Chapter 113: Chapter 112: Transaction

Once Commissioner Rachel left, only Gaode and Mage Lael remained at the door.

"Mage Lael," Gaode greeted respectfully.

"Let’s go inside to talk." With Master Rachel gone, Mage Lael seemed to have entered his home turf, assuming a posture of total control.

And indeed, he was in control. He didn’t believe the Wild Mage before him—who clearly hailed from the countryside—had any means of refusing an academy commissioner like himself.

Gaode hastily stepped aside. Mage Lael walked into the room, and without any visible movement from him, the door silently clicked shut.

"I won’t beat around the bush with you. I’ll just speak plainly," Mage Lael said, getting straight to the point. After all, what need was there for verbal sparring when dealing with someone far inferior in strength, age, and status? Lowering himself to negotiate was already giving the young man enough face. Mage Lael carried himself with immense arrogance in front of Gaode.

"There is something Commissioner Rachel didn’t mention just now. According to the academy’s rules, any Mage recruited with the highest tier of privileges also receives one bottle of Spirit Ascension Water," Mage Lael stated.

This was something Gaode hadn’t known at all. The recommendation letter hadn’t stated this, nor had Madam Misu ever mentioned it to him. Whether she was unaware of it or had deliberately kept it a secret, he didn’t know. But now Gaode knew, and he had already guessed what Mage Lael was after.

"Seeing as you are only a Second-class Mage Apprentice, you won’t have any use for this bottle of Spirit Ascension Water for at least the next year or two. Therefore, I would like to borrow it from you for now. What do you say?" Mage Lael asked nonchalantly.

"Of course I’m not willing..." Gaode thought to himself. Though he wasn’t yet sure exactly how difficult the Rising Ring process was, he knew just how precious Spirit Ascension Water could be. At the very least, Mage Seda had labored in Hogan City for half his life just to obtain a single bottle.

"Rest assured, as a commissioner of the academy committee, I certainly won’t take advantage of a new student.

"If you lend the Spirit Ascension Water to me for now, I will return an identical bottle to you once you become a Third-class Mage Apprentice and are preparing to advance to a 1st Ring Mage.

"In truth, this bottle of Spirit Ascension Water was originally meant for me. Because of your sudden arrival, our dean wanted to honor Dean Gavin’s recommendation letter, which is why this bottle was reallocated to you," Mage Lael explained. His tone carried a subtle hint of a warning, implicitly reminding Gaode that this allocation of Spirit Ascension Water had effectively been snatched from his own hands.

"Therefore, even if I don’t borrow it from you, I am still slated to receive a bottle of Spirit Ascension Water as compensation by next year or the year after. You don’t have to worry about me not having anything to pay you back with.

"If not for the fact that my apprentice will miss his golden window for advancement next year, I wouldn’t be borrowing this from a new student like you. I would just wait until next year.

"And I won’t borrow it for nothing. A couple of Rare Magic Formulas or a small sum of money—I can easily afford that," Mage Lael added.

Hearing this, Gaode felt slightly better. At least the man wasn’t planning to fleece him entirely for nothing. Of course, only slightly better. Although unspoken, the coercive undertone in Mage Lael’s voice was blatantly obvious.

The problem was, did he have the right to refuse? This Mage Lael was an academy commissioner, a high-ranking official with real authority. If he refused the man’s request to "borrow" the Spirit Ascension Water now, how could his future days at the academy possibly be peaceful?

When the circumstances are against you, you have no choice but to bow your head. But bowing your head was an art form in itself.

"I know my talent as a Mage is mediocre. Just as you said, Mage Lael, I certainly won’t have any use for the Spirit Ascension Water in the short term." Gaode’s words sounded agreeable, but he intentionally put on a troubled expression. "However, it is precisely because my talent is mediocre that the Spirit Ascension Water is all the more crucial to me..."

"Naturally, I understand that. But I am merely borrowing it from you, not demanding it.

"Furthermore, didn’t I just tell you? If you hadn’t come, I would have had a share of this year’s Spirit Ascension Water anyway.

"Although an unexpected situation occurred, the Spirit Ascension Water has only been temporarily allocated to you. My share hasn’t been canceled. In a year or two, when my quota is approved, I will return it to you."

"Mage Lael, of course I trust you. It’s just that no one can guarantee these kinds of things, right? The academy’s supply of Spirit Ascension Water is limited. If you give up a share this year because of me, there might be other unexpected incidents next year..." Gaode spoke tactfully, but his meaning was crystal clear. His tone, however, was gradually softening, fully putting his internal struggle on display.

Seeing Gaode’s posture, Mage Lael knew he had him hooked. He began assuring Gaode from every angle, constantly upping the stakes to shake his resolve.

In his heart, Gaode didn’t believe a single word of Mage Lael’s promises, but outwardly, his resistance grew weaker and weaker, giving the Mage the impression that he could be won over at any second.

"How about this? If you are willing to temporarily lend me the Spirit Ascension Water, I will give you a Rare 1st Ring Magic Formula along with the corresponding Magic Potion. You’ll be able to use it the moment you advance to a 1st Ring Mage. Furthermore, until I return the Spirit Ascension Water, I will pay you 20 Gold Coins every year."

Seeing that Gaode was hovering in an ambiguous state of being almost persuaded but not quite agreeing, Mage Lael finally couldn’t hold back and went in for the kill.

"The average price of a 1st Ring Magic Formula is 25 Gold Coins, and the corresponding Magic Potion averages around 40 Gold Coins." Seeming to fear that Gaode didn’t understand the market, Mage Lael began to educate him. "And depending on just how rare they are, the prices of Rare Magic Formulas can surge by another thirty to fifty percent.

"Most importantly, many Rare Magic Formulas cannot simply be bought with money."

Hearing this, Gaode knew this was probably the maximum Mage Lael was willing to offer. If he continued to draw it out, the other party might start getting displeased.

Putting on a conflicted expression, he nodded helplessly. "Since you have put it like that, it would be extremely ungrateful of me to refuse you again. I will lend this bottle of Spirit Ascension Water to you for now, Lord Mage."

Seeing Gaode nod, Mage Lael beamed with visible joy and repeatedly promised, "You can put your mind at ease. As a commissioner of the academy committee, I certainly will not use my seniority to bully a new student. When the time comes, I will absolutely return the Spirit Ascension Water to you!"

"I have never doubted your integrity," Gaode hastily said with tact.

Mage Lael, now in a great mood, burst into hearty laughter upon hearing this. He was satisfied with both the success of the transaction and Gaode’s sensibility.

He took out a parchment booklet and a small bottle of Magic Potion from his robes.

It was truly a small bottle—exceptionally tiny, about the size of a tiny vial of medicated oil from Gaode’s past life. Inside the transparent glass was a viscous, light green liquid.

"Here is the Rare 1st Ring Magic Formula and its corresponding Magic Potion that I mentioned," Mage Lael said as he handed the parchment booklet and the tiny bottle of Magic Potion to Gaode.