Chapter 91: Exchange
Elina looked at Aaron and said calmly, "Aaron, did you forget about equal exchange?"
Aaron felt a flicker of annoyance. He sensed Elina was deliberately pressing the issue. Still, he reached into his bag and pulled out a spell slate.
"This is another spell I found in the cave, Rapid Growth."
Elina’s eyes lit up. Just as she leaned in to inspect it, Aaron swiftly pulled it back.
"Miss Elina, before you examine it, tell me, how much information can I get from you for this spell slate?"
Elina was stunned. She took a deep breath and composed herself.
"Aaron definitely knows nothing about the Wizard World," she thought.
"If I can trick him into giving me a few more slates, I could make a fortune. Even if I can’t use them, I could sell them for 15 to 20 mana stones."
Aaron noticed her silence and added, "I’m only lending it to you for three days."
Elina blinked, surprised. "Then I’m sorry, Aaron. I can only answer three of your questions."
Aaron sighed. He felt cheated, but he also knew he needed this knowledge.
He handed over the slate and asked, "How do I get to the Wizard World?"
Elina paused, then replied, "You need to cross one of the experimental regions. You people call it the Forbidden Zone."
Aaron was stunned. He fell into thought, while Elina examined the slate.
Her eyes widened. It was a rare dual-element spell, engraved with both water and light runes.
"This could sell for 30 to 50 mana stones," she thought.
"Alchemists would pay handsomely for it."
Aaron asked his second question, "Is there any other way to enter the Wizard World?"
He felt like she had tricked him, the first answer was vague and incomplete.
Elina smiled. "Yes, there is. You can pay with mana stones."
She pulled out a blue stone, flickering with light.
Aaron’s eyes widened. He recognized it, the same kind of energy stone he needed to upgrade his map. So they were called mana stones.
Elina continued, "It costs 2 mana stones to enter the Wizard World, and another 1 for an identity token. The token lasts a month, then you’ll need to buy another."
She paused. "As for how you’ll get there... that’s your third question. Do you still want me to answer?"
Aaron gave her a long look, then nodded.
Elina smiled. "I’ll be returning to the Wizard World within a week. If you want to come, pay me 3 mana stones. I’ll help you with your identity."
"Or," she added, "You can go to Verdia City. The royal family has a teleportation channel that leads directly to the Wizard World."
Aaron thought for a moment, then asked, "How long will it take to travel there?"
Elina raised an eyebrow.
"That’s an extra question. How about you lend me the spell for one more day, and I’ll answer it?"
Aaron nodded.
Elina smiled.
"It’ll take one day to reach the Wizard World. If you use the teleportation channel, you’ll arrive instantly."
Aaron nodded again, already reconsidering his plans.
"Miss Elina, please inform me one day in advance before we leave."
"No problem," she replied.
She stood, slipped the slate into her storage bag, and left the tent with a satisfied smile.
Even if she couldn’t keep the slate, she could still copy the runes.
Aaron sat quietly, deep in thought.
He knew one thing for certain he had to be careful when dealing with wizards. Their world was vast, mysterious, and full of hidden rules. Giving up his territory wasn’t part of the plan, at least not yet.
He needed to learn more about the Wizard World
before making any long-term decisions.
For now, he had two clear priorities:
1. Deal with the Gray Wolf Pack, a threat that couldn’t be ignored.
2. Study the Wizard Dictionary, to learn as many words as possible in the next three days.
The second task could wait. He could always buy another dictionary once he reached the Wizard World.
But the Gray Wolves, they were a real and immediate danger.
Aaron stood up, his mind focused, his next move clear.
Aaron stepped out of his tent and went straight to find the old chief.
"Old Chief, I’m going to deal with the Gray Wolves," he said firmly.
The old chief looked at Lord Aaron, his eyes narrowing in quiet observation.
He had always sensed Aaron’s strength as that of a Great Knight, but now... something felt different. His aura was deeper, heavier, almost unfathomable.
Had he misjudged him?
The old chief shook off the thought and spoke in a worried tone.
"Lord Aaron, it’s dangerous out there. Especially the foggy region, it blocks not just vision, but perception. And there’s a strange type of plant...very dangerous. Please be careful."
Aaron nodded. "Understood. I’ll leave the territory in your hands."
Without another word, he turned and rushed toward the Savannah Mountain Range,
A few minutes later, Aaron arrived at the Savannah Mountain Range. Unlike before, this time he came with unshakable confidence.
He opened his map red dots scattered across the terrain, each marking the presence of Gray Wolves.
He paused, then made a decision.
He would upgrade his Archery and Basic Sword Mastery to Level 10.
It cost him 8,600 experience points, leaving him with 90,400.
As his Bow Mastery reached Level 10, a vision surged through his mind a memory not his own, yet deeply familiar.
He was practicing for countless years, his fingers calloused, his breath steady.
One day, he stood before a tree, a target hidden behind it.
He loosed an arrow. It curved gracefully around the trunk and pierced the bullseye.
He practiced again and again, until the technique became second nature, perfected.
Then came the Sword Mastery.
As it reached Level 10, another wave of memory washed over him.
Years of training, his blade dancing through air, his body moving with instinct.
He could sense the flow of wind, predict the direction of attacks, and respond with precision.
One day, he stood before a tree. A gust of wind blew, and leaves began to fall.
He drew his sword, and in a single motion, sliced every leaf mid-air, then sheathed the blade without a sound.
He practiced until he could do it blindfolded.