Chapter 2 - CHAPTER 2: FIRST PATRON

Just as Xavier was about to drift off to sleep—his impending doom quantified by a lack of reproductive certainty—the glass door of the Library of Truth creaked open.A light breeze swept in, carrying the faint scent of fresh earth and morning dew, a stark contrast to the Sovereign City's usual mix of arcane incense and spice. The man who entered had an elegant yet carefree aura, his steps light and unhurried.His black robes were simple but well-made, carrying the embroidered crest of a soaring, stylized wing—the emblem of the Ascendant Wind Mages' Academy.His long, dark hair was tied back loosely, with a few stray strands framing his sharp yet handsome features. This was Lin Yijun, one of the inner disciples of the Academy, already renowned despite his youth for his flawless control over Tier 2 wind magic.Lin Yijun was far from the typical obsessive mage who locked himself in a tower for months, chasing after elemental breakthroughs. Instead, he preferred to travel, explore new places, and enjoy life at his own pace. Some called him a genius. Others called him a lazy bastard who wasted his potential.Xavier raised his head from the counter and lazily greeted him."Welcome."That was it. No fake enthusiasm. No attempts to lure the customer in, as the system strictly prohibited any active promotion. No advertising. No explaining unless asked.Lin Yijun, who was used to shopkeepers eagerly trying to sell him artifacts or talismans, was momentarily caught off guard by the sheer apathy of the greeting.He didn't dwell on it. Instead, his gaze swept across the interior. The architecture was seamless, the marble floor spotless, and the lighting—emanating from floating, silent mana orbs—was warm and inviting.He had passed by this strange glass building a few times but never managed to peer inside from the outside. That alone had been enough to pique his Tier 2 mage's curiosity.However, after looking around for a few moments, his expression slowly turned odd.Something wasn't right.The Library was vast, its shelves stretching into apparent infinity... yet they were all completely empty, save for a single, small pedestal near the center.Lin Yijun walked over, narrowing his eyes at the object displayed on the polished stone pedestal.It wasn't a book, a potion, or an artifact. It was a simple, unassuming crystal display panel, barely the size of his palm, hovering above the stone. On the screen, a large, flowing font glowed with a single message:"Lifetime Patron Registration Fee."Below that, bold, glittering numbers flashed the price.For a moment, Lin Yijun simply stood there, staring.Then, his eyebrow twitched.His lips parted slightly.Finally, he spoke."One Mana Crystal?!"Xavier sighed. Here we go again.But unlike the previous customers who had stormed out in anger, Lin Yijun didn't leave immediately. Instead, his brows furrowed in thought. He channeled a faint wisp of wind mana toward the display, probing the energy signature of the panel.... Nothing.His brows furrowed even deeper. He sensed no fluctuation of spiritual qi, no hint of a concealed formation, not even the faint presence of a protective ward. It was utterly inert.For a mere reading pass to be priced at one Mana Crystal—enough to purchase a rare Tier 3 elemental core—something had to be terribly wrong. He suspected the entire building was a massive, high-grade spatial formation concealing a hidden treasure, and this fee was the key.Still facing the pedestal, Lin Yijun walked up to the counter and faced Xavier."Boss, what exactly does this 'Lifetime Patron Registration' grant?"Xavier paused, leaning back against his chair. He was required to answer when asked.After a moment, he nodded seriously."Unrestricted access to the collection."Lin Yijun tapped the counter."And what does the collection contain? Ancient artifacts? Lost techniques? The true formulas of creation?"Xavier maintained a perfectly straight face."Knowledge."Lin Yijun: "..."For a second, the store fell into silence.Lin Yijun's lips twitched. He suppressed the urge to walk out. Forget it. It's a gamble, he rationalized. He pulled a pristine, glowing mana crystal from his storage ring and placed it on the counter."Alright, boss. Just take my money. Let's see what this absurd 'knowledge' is worth."Xavier blinked, an internal cheer of pure relief erupting in his mind. My lineage is safe!Without any change in expression, he casually pointed toward a small etched plaque on the wall."Are you sure?"Lin Yijun followed Xavier's finger.Rule No. 2: No Refunds, No Returns. Once purchased, the registration is bound to the buyer. Even the heavens cannot reverse a transaction.But since he had already made up his mind, there was no turning back."Alright, boss. Just take my money."Xavier grabbed the mana crystal. It dissolved instantly as he placed it against a small black sensor beside the counter. A faint, almost musical chime echoed in the quiet library.[Transaction Complete. Main Task (0/1) updated to (1/1).][Penalty Averted. Reproductive Capacity Secured.][Reward Unlocked: Basic Spell Tomes & Beginner Alchemical Recipes. Delivery scheduled after hours.]Xavier let out a silent, internal cheer of pure relief. He then motioned to the back of the Library, where the vast, empty aisles blurred into apparent infinity."Registration complete. Now, how do I actually read anything? There are no books," Lin Yijun asked, looking pointedly at the bare shelves.Xavier finally allowed a hint of a small, smug smile to cross his lips. He gestured toward the very back wall, where the glass seemed to blur into a rippling nebula of stars."You're a patron now," Xavier said. "Go over there. That's the Dimensional Nexus Gate. Step through, and the Library will generate your first reading chamber based on your needs."Lin Yijun frowned, curiosity finally overriding his skepticism. A spatial gate? For a library?He walked toward the shimmering nebula, ready to face the trap, the hidden monster, or the grand treasure. He was ready for anything but the simple truth.