Chapter 2102: Contract

The red orb was a technological light known as the Fire Seed Source.

It was also a close friend of the Light of Wisdom, one of Magus World’s civilizational treasures.

Back when Sein first returned to Magus World with the unfinished Magic Cube and presented it to the upper echelons of the Magus Civilization, the Fire Seed Source had been one of the first to lend a hand.

Together with the Light of Wisdom, it had helped upgrade the cube into a true world-class secret treasure.

That was precisely why the Fire Seed Source reacted so strongly upon sensing that the Magic Cube had since advanced to an even higher grade.

As for why the Fire Seed Source and the Light of Wisdom had helped Sein upgrade the Magic Cube in the first place...

Perhaps both of them had seen its immense potential for future growth, as well as the possibility that it might one day develop a certain degree of self-awareness.

This was especially true for the Fire Seed Source. As a technological law entity itself, it naturally possessed a strong affinity for world-class secret treasures like the Magic Cube, which had originally been created by the Gallant Federation.

The Light of Wisdom and the Fire Seed Source were both law lights that had developed consciousness of their own.

Existences like them were usually quite lonely.

Perhaps that was why the two had become such close friends. Their very natures were remarkably similar, making them kindred spirits in a sense.

Another extraordinary feature of Sein’s Magic Cube was its ability to grant self-awareness to metal and mechanical constructs.

It was precisely this ability that made both the Fire Seed Source and the Light of Wisdom regard the Magic Cube so highly.

At present, the Light of Wisdom was not in Magus World.

After accompanying Douglas, Magus World’s most erudite Rank Eight soul overmage, in dealing devastating blows to several Gallant Federation fronts on the civilizational battlefield, this civilizational treasure had remained under Lady Bev’s care in the Valthwain Star Domain.

The Fire Seed Source, meanwhile, had been rather bored lately.

After growing tired of watching the love story between an old man and an old woman at a soul tower on the outskirts of the Alveroth Empire, it had recently wandered over to Sky City for a change of pace.

Wharton, the Rank Six mage before it, was no ordinary figure.

Aside from being one of Magus World’s foremost space fortress designers, he had also once served as an experimental assistant to Douglas.

In fact, many of the top alchemists, apothecaries, array masters, and other specialists living in seclusion throughout Sky City had once served as experimental assistants to the soul overmages of Magus World.

Master Wharton was not Douglas’ apprentice. Even so, after spending so many years assisting him with his experiments, Wharton had always regarded Magus World’s most erudite Rank Eight soul overmage with almost the same respect an apprentice would show a mentor.

Master Wharton had already lived for more than two hundred thousand years, making him even older than Feylis.

It would not be much of an exaggeration to say that he had grown up hearing legends about Douglas...

The Fire Seed Source’s voice finally drew Wharton’s attention away from the experimental table before him.

He glanced at the fiery red orb of light, then looked out of his laboratory.

***

Master Wharton was a little “younger” than Sein had imagined.

Master Bortnew, whom the Capiche Business Alliance had assigned to help design and remodel Sein’s space fortresses, was an elderly mage with white, somewhat thinning hair.

Wharton, on the other hand, appeared no older than a middle-aged man at first glance.

Of course, that might also have something to do with his Rank Six life level.

Generally speaking, the higher one’s life level, the longer one’s lifespan.

Among mages, life level was sometimes regarded as one of the most straightforward ways to gauge a person’s accumulated wisdom and experience.

It was still a rather crude method of judgment, though, and many spellcasters considered such a view far too one-sided.

Sein had previously been turned away by Master Wharton’s assistant, so being suddenly summoned for a personal audience with Wharton himself left him both surprised and flattered.

In terms of status and influence within Magus World, Master Wharton, who appeared to possess only mid-stage Rank Six strength, seemed to stand even higher than Sein’s grandmaster.

Feylis might possess peak Rank Six strength, but Wharton’s immense academic achievements in space fortress construction had made him a figure revered by countless alchemists throughout Magus World.

This alone showed why judging a mage solely by life level could sometimes be misleading.

Master Wharton was not one for small talk. Like most mages deeply immersed in scientific research, he went straight to the point and asked Sein why he had come.

Sein then gave him a general overview of the space fortress project he was currently working on with Steel City and the Capiche Business Alliance.

As Sein explained his plans, the gleam in Master Wharton’s eyes gradually grew brighter.

Clearly, the experimental nature of Sein’s design had caught his interest.

Wharton repeatedly picked out the key points in Sein’s explanation and asked further questions about them, causing their discussion to stretch on for quite some time.

During their conversation, Wharton’s assistant, a Rank Four mage named Sina, refilled their teacups more than once.

It was a type of magic tea brewed to keep the mind alert, using ingredients so precious that they nearly rivaled those found in some of Lorianne’s potions.

As Magus World’s foremost space fortress builder, Wharton was clearly wealthy enough to spend on such daily luxuries.

Sein usually preferred sweet fruit juices over tea, which carried a slight bitterness followed by a lingering sweetness. But tastes could change.

After taking a few sips of Master Wharton’s tea, Sein gradually began to find it quite pleasant.

As a result, Sina ended up refilling his cup more frequently.

“I think your idea is excellent, and there’s a very good chance it can be realized. No wonder Master Bortnew recommended that you come to me. Hmmm, a central fortress capable of coordinating the entire fortress cluster, huh...?”

Master Wharton paused briefly before continuing, “We can solve the technical challenges one by one. For now, may I take a look at your Magic Cube?”

“Of course,” Sein replied.

Under the curious gazes of Master Wharton and Sina, Sein took out the exquisitely beautiful blue crystal cube.

Master Wharton had seen countless world-class secret treasures over the course of his long life. In fact, more than ten space fortresses that had passed through his hands had eventually reached the level of world-class secret treasures themselves.

Therefore, although a trace of surprise appeared in his eyes when he saw the Magic Cube, his reaction remained relatively calm.

Sina’s reaction was quite different. As a Rank Four mage who had clearly inherited much of Master Wharton’s knowledge, she possessed considerable expertise in both alchemy and space fortress design.

The moment she saw the Magic Cube in Sein’s hand and felt the unique law fluctuations emanating from it, her jaw dropped in astonishment.

“It’s indeed an excellent world-class secret treasure, and it has already reached the middle grade of the upper tier,” Master Wharton commented with a nod.

“I can see runes imprinted on its surface, but this wasn’t originally a magic artifact of Magus World, was it?” he asked.

“No. It was originally a treasure I seized on the front lines during this civilizational war,” Sein replied after a brief pause.

Master Wharton nodded. After examining the Magic Cube for a while longer, he finally said, “I can accept this commission. However, the fortress won’t be completed for at least three hundred years.”

“For now, I’ll set the estimated budget at one hundred million magicoins. If additional funds are needed later, I’ll let you know. You’re from the Divine Tower of Ashes, correct?” Master Wharton asked as he casually began preparing a magic contract.

Sein had not expected him to accept the commission so readily.

After a brief moment of surprise, he glanced at the contract gradually taking shape before Master Wharton and replied, “Yes. I’m from the Divine Tower of Ashes. My name is Sein Grantt.”

Master Wharton gave no response. His attention remained entirely on the contract before him.

One by one, he added the necessary terms.

Compared to the comprehensive procedures Sein had gone through at the Capiche Business Alliance and Steel City, the magic contract personally drafted by Master Wharton was remarkably simple.

There was also one major difference. Master Wharton offered no loans. Sein would have to pay entirely in cash.

Once the contract was complete, Sein signed his real name and left behind his elemental seal.

Master Wharton then looked at him and made one final request.

“I’ll also need to keep your Magic Cube here for a while. I hope that won’t be a problem?”