Seeing Durin decline their invitation, these mercenaries could only sigh at each other. If a Mage were to join their team, clearing out the Gnolls outside the lumber mill would undoubtedly be much easier.
Durin refused for two reasons: firstly, he was worried that this group might be mercenaries sent by Silco to ambush him; secondly, even if they weren't, he was concerned that Silco, upon receiving the news, would send people to wait outside the city.
For Durin at the moment, going solo was his best option, and the mission locations were at most in the suburbs of Piltover, not entirely outside the city.
He continued to browse the papers on the bulletin board. Durin soon realized that most missions issued in Piltover required completion outside the city. These missions were more like material lists for certain resource demands.
For example: animal furs, certain special ores, timber, sources of certain foods, and so on.
The types of missions Durin had taken in Zaun before were almost nonexistent in Piltover. For example, fighting-related missions like working as a gangster's thug were nowhere to be found.
The reason was simple: Zaun was often in a state of anarchy, where any petty theft or illicit task could be issued. But Piltover had a government formed by a council and its own armed forces.
The Enforcers, clad in soft armor and tight combat suits, wielding rifled guns, could resolve most problems.
They were essentially a combination of police and armed police, possessing a certain degree of mobility and independence. From minor civil matters, such as neighborhood quarrels and brawls, to major incidents like terrorist bombings and panic events, they could resolve everything.
Only those troublesome and tricky cases that were impossible to investigate would be handed over to capable individuals in the private sector, or when certain materials were scarce, mercenaries would be needed to collect them from specific locations.
The remaining missions were simply escorting a caravan somewhere, or ships docked at Piltover's Sun Gates recruiting sailors.
Forget it, I'll fill my stomach first!
Durin walked to the circular counter and looked through the menu. He had to admit, the dishes here were much richer than in Zaun. Besides fried foods, there were many other dishes, such as beef pies, potato cakes, and vegetable salads.
Some dishes had names that sounded completely unheard of, such as starfish canned goods, charcoal-grilled stick insects, and chilled giant ocean crab...
"Give me a signature grilled meat pizza (12 copper circle coins), and a free-refill chilled beer (3 copper circle coins per person)," Durin scanned the menu briefly and said casually.
"15 copper circle coins."
The pub owner quickly recorded it, then tore off a small slip of paper and handed it to the kitchen. Turning around, he took an already chilled empty beer glass from the ice cabinet, then filled it from a large oak barrel placed on the bottom shelf of the liquor cabinet, while promoting, "Would you like some pirate specialty liquor? Most people here drink privately brewed liquor; a Mage of your distinguished status probably wouldn't be accustomed to it."
Durin thought about it. It seemed what the other party said was right. He was, after all, a Mage Apprentice now; his status was different from before, so a little luxury wouldn't hurt.
But the lesson from the 'ice cream assassin' before he transmigrated had instilled in Durin the good habit of always asking the price before buying something: "How much?"
"We have a promotion now, only 2.8 silver lun coins per bottle," the pub owner said with a smile. "How about it, shall I open a bottle for you to try?"
2.8 silver lun coins a bottle?!
That expensive?!
Are you sure the cork of this bottle isn't silver-plated?! Drinking this bottle would be like drinking money.
"Just the beer then."
Durin shook his head decisively, instantly losing all interest, and replied.
Soon, the pub owner brought a plate of fragrant grilled meat pie and placed it in front of Durin, saying with a smile, "It's purely wood-fired, everyone who's tasted it raves about it."
Durin took a piece and put it in his mouth. Indeed, the meat was tender and fragrant. Then he casually took out 12 copper circle coins from his inner pocket and placed them on the table.
His current total assets were: 5 gold cogwheels, 14 silver lun coins, and 80 copper circle coins.
Durin drank a mouthful of chilled beer and ate a piece of grilled meat pizza. Unconsciously, several large glasses of beer went down. Whether it was due to the alcohol or not, he felt his thoughts seemed to have become much slower.
This was not a good sign.
How could he, as a Mage, have sluggish thoughts?!
Durin, Durin!
You must quit drinking!
After returning home, Durin, feeling drowsy, finished washing up and immediately returned to his bedroom, lying down on the bed.
...
"Miss Styraatu."
A voice suddenly echoed in the darkness, breaking the pitch-black surroundings.
The scene that lit up afterward was in a scorching yellow desert. A tall, thin man, completely shrouded in a white robe, stood on the yellow sand, saying in a deep voice, "Release the first spell I taught you earlier. It's time to test the results of your training."
His voice was like a storm brewing, yet it was impossible to discern its true nature, like muffled thunder in ominous clouds.
"Yes, Master."
The speaking girl stood beside the tall, thin man, dressed in a magnificent palace gown. Even though the sun was so hot and the yellow sand beneath her feet emitted scorching white steam, her whole being was still filled with a cold and elegant demeanor, instantly revealing her noble birth.
Many beautiful and mysterious pale red magical elements swirled around her fingertips, rotating rhythmically like a flock of birds. Her hands gradually condensed a fire elemental composite rune, and then a complete magical circuit was constructed from this arcane-energy-infused elemental composite rune.
Countless floating light points, under the girl's control, acted like a group of hunters, capturing fire elemental power everywhere. Immediately, the light points instantly re-condensed, forming a high-temperature gas mass with a diameter of about 1 meter, emitting a dark red glow.
The high-temperature gas mass paused in the air, then shot towards one direction of the yellow sand.
Boom!
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