Chapter 1363 Reuniting with Old Friends <TOC> Chapter 1365 Fortune or Misfortune?
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Translator: SumTLMan
On Leon’s first journey into the Wizarding World’s metropolis, he found himself utterly intrigued by the enchanting establishments owned by these otherworldly beings.
Hence, as he meandered down Monsignor Magic Material Street alongside Angel, he couldn’t help but let his gaze linger on the plethora of shops lining its bustling thoroughfares.
One peculiar storefront caught his eye in particular.
It was an oddly shaped metallic abode with two symmetric chimneys atop, reminiscent of a pair of ears. Equally captivating was the shop’s signage, prominently displaying a feline ear silhouette.
At first glance, it radiated an undeniable charm.
“Ear Bloodline Test Arena?” Leon mused aloud, trying to decipher the intriguing name on the signboard.
He could grasp the meaning of each term in isolation, but their confluence left him somewhat befuddled. What was the essence of this establishment?
In that moment, a husky voice echoed beside him. Turning, Leon saw Nausica, who asked, “It’s alright to address you as Leon, isn’t it?”
Leon nodded in affirmation.
“You’re curious about this shop?” Nausica inquired, her gaze falling on the uniquely fashioned ‘Ear Bloodline Test Arena’.
Leon replied, “The term ‘bloodline’ piqued my interest.”
“This establishment,” Nausica began, sizing up Leon, “is dedicated to specialized training for those with ears that have undergone a unique bloodline transformation. Given you’ve yet to undergo such an harmonization, you’re not eligible to enter. And even if you were to embrace such a bloodline, entry isn’t guaranteed.”
Nausica’s words, though enlightening, seemed tinged with contradictions.
As Leon gazed in puzzlement, Angel gestured towards a notice board on the other side of the shop. Only then did Leon realize the explicit proclamation written in large letters: “This establishment serves only those with ear bloodlines.”
“This is the norm on Monsignor Magic Material Street,” Angel explained. “Many shops here have their standards. If you don’t meet them, you won’t even have the privilege of entering.”
Indeed, as Leon followed Angel, he noticed a significant number of shops had explicit conditions for entry.
“Wizards Only,” “No Males Allowed,” “Rune Artisans May Enter”…
Such unabashed discrimination was blatantly displayed at the entrances.
What troubled Leon the most was that he hardly met any of the listed prerequisites.
Beyond these rigid stipulations, there were some ideologically driven conditions as well. For instance, Leon spotted an alchemy store where the entrance boldly declared in an unknown scarlet hue, “All those who support the Centhersus school of thought, steer clear of my shop or bear the consequences.”
The Centhersus school was a dominant faction in biological alchemy.
Of course, even if you internally resonated with the Centhersus ideology but didn’t wear it on your sleeve, it wouldn’t be an issue. After all, the enforcement of such ideological constraints really depended on one’s discretion.
Midway through Monsignor Magic Material Street, Angel pointed to a magic material store, saying, “I’ll go in to purchase some supplies. Please wait for me here.”
Had it been any other day, Leon would have followed without hesitation. But after witnessing the eccentric requirements of various establishments, he had learned to check entry conditions first.
“Fingernail Alchemy House,” Leon read the shop’s name and quickly scanned the entrance. To his surprise, there were no evident conditions. “Could it be that this store doesn’t have any specific entry requirements?”
As Leon grappled with his confusion, he noticed Angel approaching the grand entrance, engaging in conversation with a humanoid figure carved from aromatic wood.
The subject of their discourse eluded Leon, leaving him feeling as if he were trying to navigate through a thick fog. The only thing he could gather was some talk of “enchantment.”
After a significant pause, the wooden figure respectfully bowed to Angel, gesturing towards the interior of the establishment, and proclaimed, “Honored guest, you have passed our test. Please, come in.”
Was this all a test? Leon pondered in silence.
At that moment, Nausica provided Leon with clarity regarding the spectacle unfolding before him. To gain entry into this alchemy house, one must first succeed in answering a series of questions pertaining to alchemical knowledge. Fail, and you’ll be turned away at the door.
“Isn’t this a shop for magical alchemical materials?” Leon queried, his brows knitting together. “Not everyone who needs these materials is an alchemist. It seems a bit rigorous to require customers to be alchemists.”
Nausica replied, pausing for emphasis, “If you’re not an alchemist, you can simply convey your needs to the wooden figure, and someone else will bring the items out for you. But entry remains forbidden.”
“Why so?”
Nausica elaborated, “Such alchemy houses also function as a communal space for alchemists to exchange knowledge and insights. From what I’ve heard, many apprentice alchemists often engage in discourse within this very Fingernail Alchemy House. It’s a common practice across numerous similar establishments.”
Leon furrowed his brow further, “So, every visit requires one to undergo such a test? Doesn’t that seem a tad tedious?”
With patient understanding, Nausica explained, “If you possess an identity card from Sky Mechanical City, or even from Sky Tower, once you’ve registered on an initial visit, subsequent visits won’t require a test.”
Leon realized, “I see. But Angel didn’t present any ID earlier. Could it be that he doesn’t have one?”
In response to this query, Nausica couldn’t help but chuckle, “Of course he possesses an ID, yet he simply chooses not to brandish it. As for the details, it’s not my place to elucidate. Why not inquire when he emerges?”
…
Angel was oblivious to the peril of losing face in front of his elder brother, Leon.
After undergoing the fragrant wooden puppet’s assessment, he ventured into the Fingernail Alchemy House.
Naturally, he was aware that the test could be bypassed, simply by instructing the wooden puppet about his desired materials and having it inspect the inventory. However, as an alchemist, he yearned to personally behold the magical ingredients. Moreover, for many a precious ingredient, if you don’t personally negotiate with the shop owner, they may not necessarily be inclined to sell.
Just as Angel entered the alchemy shop, he was halted by a petite and portly female apprentice.
“You seem unfamiliar. Are you from afar?” Despite the apprentice’s plump stature, her exposed skin was creamy and delicate. Coupled with her cherubic visage, she didn’t come across as disagreeable, “I don’t mean to pry into your origins. It’s just that I overheard your discourse with Neha, indicating your expertise lies in enchantment?”
Neha was the external fragrant wooden puppet, and the assessment Angel undertook was tailored to his expertise, thus all of Neha’s questions revolved around enchantment.
“I’ve recently arrived from Sky Mechanical City and indeed, I specialize in enchantment,” shared Angel, preparing to sidestep her.
“My name is Bolie. I harbor no ill intentions. In fact, I too am an alchemy apprentice specializing in enchantment.” After a brief pause, Bolie revealed her primary reason for intercepting Angel, “Currently, there’s an ongoing debate over there concerning enchantment and harmonization. Would you care to partake?”
Following her gaze, Angel indeed noticed a spirited debate underway.
He had presumed those engrossed in such a lofty discourse would at least bear the stature of full-fledged alchemists. To his surprise, they were all budding apprentices.
In the realm of enchantment, supporters are rare; those from the harmonization school overwhelmingly dominate, relentlessly overpowering the few novices present.
Yet, despite this imbalance, the alchemy apprentices of the enchantment school remain unyielding.
Whispers from their side carried mentions of Angel’s name, presumably using him as a case study for their argument.
Angel touched his nose bridge… feeling a sense of peculiar unease.
Perhaps because the enchantment school was so scant, Bolie, having overheard Angel’s conversation with Neha, disregarded Angel’s identity and sought to pull him into the debate.
“May I?” Bolie, noting Angel’s hesitation, added, “Perhaps this style of debate is unfamiliar to you. But in Sky Mechanical City, this dialectic is how we progress.”
Bolie’s point held merit. Yet, Angel declined decisively, “No, I have other matters to attend to.”
Enchantment vs. Harmonization — a Timeless Debate within the lore of metallurgy. An intricate argument where the sole consensus is the vast potential of harmonization and the simplicity of enchantment.
Even master alchemists couldn’t conclude this age-old debate, let alone these alchemy apprentices.
Bolie felt a pang of disappointment. She had hoped to persuade him further, but a tall, strikingly handsome man approached, remarking, “Enchantment is but a niche discipline; no matter how many supporters you gather, it’s in vain.”
As he spoke, the man scrutinized Angel from head to toe.
The disheveled clothes and unkempt appearance of Angel made the man frown, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes.
The man remarked, “You claim that the pinnacle of enchantment is lofty, but let me ask you, isn’t the mysterious realm the zenith of all heights? Can you cite a single instance from the past millennia where a wizard from our Southern Region’s Wizarding World has touched this mysterious realm through the art of enchantment? None, right?”
“I know you’re going to bring up Angel, but he’s an anomaly.”
“Why can’t there be anomalies in enchantment as well?”
Listening to the two individuals debating behind him, discussing him in his very presence, Angel couldn’t help but furrow his brows.
Truth be told, he found neither of their arguments compelling. Such profound philosophical quandaries demand an intellectual tango, a dense exposition of knowledge, a discourse on techniques, and the illumination of classical examples. Yet, these two had pulled such a classical debate down to the level of a common market squabble.
Angel could sense the man’s disdain for him, but he wasn’t perturbed. No scathing words had been uttered, and Angel wasn’t the sort of hothead who felt compelled to assert himself just because someone looked down on him.
He was now immensely grateful that he had declined Bolie’s proposition. Had he rashly engaged in this debate, it would’ve been nothing short of a nightmare.
Ignoring the ongoing dispute behind him, Angel briskly made his way to a nearby counter.
Watching Angel’s swift departure, the man’s eyes brimmed with an even deeper contempt, and he couldn’t help but sneer.
Bolie, on the other hand, felt a pang of regret. This foreign alchemy apprentice could have had the chance to enter the enchantment and alchemy circle of Sky Mechanical City. Yet, he had turned down her invitation.
“Once such opportunities are missed, re-entering the circle becomes an uphill battle,” sighed Bolie, her face etched with disappointment.
Chapter 1363 Reuniting with Old Friends <TOC> Chapter 1365 Fortune or Misfortune?