Ethan was shocked by the level of free speech in Fireplace Bay: you could even openly discuss topics like eliminating the Imperial Knight Commander here. He couldn’t help but marvel at how people become more assertive once they don a mask.
"Don’t misunderstand, this is just a precautionary measure. We won’t use it unless absolutely necessary."
Noticing Ethan’s shocked expression, Miss Xiangwei explained, "Besides us, there are many who want to get rid of her. Even if it comes to using the scroll, we’ll handle the aftermath, ensuring that neither you nor your Magic Scroll Shop is in any way involved."
"Is the Knight Commander’s reputation really that bad?"
Ethan couldn’t help but ask, as it seemed like everyone was eager to see her gone.
"The Knight Commander is one of the few righteous individuals left in the Empire today. She adheres to the knight’s code and is a model for the Kingdom Army. I greatly admire someone like her, and precisely for this reason, she must die."
In a tone of praise, Xiangwei revealed a terrifying truth.
Turns out, it’s about picking sides.
Ethan suddenly understood. At a good time, a loyal and upright Knight Commander would undoubtedly be the strongest support for the Empire. But now, the Empire’s situation is miles away from any "good time" standard. Back when he was a clerk at the Guild, he almost always heard hunters discussing that the King wouldn’t live long.
If the turmoil in the capital was severe enough for even border residents to frequently discuss it, it meant the situation was already very serious.
Hunters felt deep unease and bewilderment over the King’s impending demise, as if the glory of the Empire that they used to speak of was drifting away from them.
So, if caught in bad times, someone like the Knight Commander would probably be eliminated at the first opportunity.
"If the Knight Commander were to die at the hands of the Evil God’s Followers, it would be the most dignified outcome for everyone. If she somehow survived, then someone must ensure that the Empire stays on the right track."
"War will break out, is this what you believe the right track to be?"
This was the greatest concern for border residents; once war breaks out, small towns like Ximu Town on the border would be the first to suffer.
"If you’re worried about these issues, how about living in the Western Continent? The Deep Sea Council has established a new civilization there, where Steam Technology will replace the old order. The consortium can prepare a large ship for you."
Speaking, Xiangwei looked up at the sky of Fireplace Bay, eternally shrouded in darkness, as if inspired, "If the sun is eventually to set, the key is what we can gain before it does, isn’t it?"
In a few words, she predicted the future of the Empire.
Ethan understood, to some extent, this also represented the consortium’s assessment of the Empire’s future situation. Rather than endless power struggles, they chose another path.
Seize everything by fair mean or foul, then migrate to the Western Continent said to nurture the new civilization’s seeds.
Therefore, the consortium couldn’t wish more for a war to engulf the Empire. When the court and nobles were too exhausted dealing with the war, they could seize wealth unabashedly. In the history before he crossed over, many had gained massive wealth this way.
"Mr. Heisenberg, I’ve heard some rumors about you."
Xiangwei withdrew her gaze and looked directly into his eyes behind the mask, kindly reminding, "If it were me, I might turn Gold Lion into gold, energy crystals, or magic potions — commodities common in Fireplace Bay. Maybe soon, money will be worthless."
"Thank you for the reminder, your words have greatly benefited me."
Ethan sincerely expressed his gratitude, suddenly feeling a sense of enlightenment.
"Then regarding the order, what’s your response?"
"The Old Sen Magic Scroll Shop’s principle is to meet all customer needs, even if you want to deal with the Empire’s Knight Commander."
Then he changed his tone, "But since the target is extraordinary, I need to use a unique and dangerous spell. Before that, you must know some important matters related to my reputation."
Xiangwei earnestly took out a notebook, the stone in her heart finally set down.
Heisenberg agreed with their philosophy, or perhaps they were fundamentally of the same kind.
"As I mentioned, this spell involves some forbidden knowledge, so until absolutely necessary, it must not be used. Whoever you plan to send for the job must understand that the cost of this spell is his life."
Ethan cited terminology from "Fireball and Ice Arrow Magic Power Theory," "The essence of elemental spells is emotion. The more desperate the situation, the stronger the spell’s power. You need someone who is ready to die."
Xiangwei noted down every word, a smile appeared on her lips. Heisenberg’s warnings made her believe the spell’s power is unimaginably strong.
Having advised these, Ethan once again looked at the bright and dazzling sign of the "Old Sen Magic Shop," changing his mind, "As agreed, I’ll run this shop."
Xiangwei’s earlier words had enlightened him, showing that his thinking was ultimately too conservative. When the consortium offered an olive branch, he instinctively didn’t want to partner with them.
But as Xiangwei said, if the sun is eventually to set, what can they gain before it does?
What will not disappear due to war?
The answer is knowledge and skill proficiency.
And in Star Gnomon Lane, Ethan found everything he needed.
Magic potion shop, Magic Scroll Workshop, the countless knowledge in the Magic Book store, and the seemingly endless materials for alchemy and elemental mapping in the workshop.
As for promises, grievances, debts, as Xiangwei said, once war breaks out, it will turn into an asset impossible to calculate, with at least half of those registered magicians heading to the battlefield.
Before then, all of this can be his!
After bidding farewell to Xiangwei, the enlightened Ethan went straight into the shop, simply greeting staff before heading for the workshop. The consortium provided him with the absolute finest drawing tools, those measurement tools he’d only seen in the "Magic Scroll Simple Production Process," neatly arranged on the workbench.
More importantly, there was a stack of energy sheepskin in the workshop, several piles each of low-grade and high-grade, seemingly countless when first glanced over.
At this moment, he finally didn’t have to consider customer needs, mechanically improving elemental mapping skill proficiency like he used to make scrolls in the game.
Ethan diligently worked on the workbench for over two hours. When he got the prompt that his elemental mapping had improved to a beginner level, the workbench had more than twenty ice arrow scrolls stacked on it.
He took these over twenty scrolls out of the workshop, almost immediately garnering surprised looks from the staff.
Most of them had been in the Magic Scroll Workshop and knew it might be one of the most meticulous tasks in the world, with even the best Magic Scroll Painter unable to produce more than a few high-level scrolls in one night.
And their boss had made over twenty in one go!
"Boss, what’s the pricing for these scrolls?"
Everyone was fully alert.
"Pricing? No price, take these scrolls to the merchant ships at the port dock and distribute them to hunters and investigators. The key is ensuring they soon find occasions to use them."
Based on the principle of shared proficiency in magic scrolls, Ethan devised an upgrade chain for himself.
These basic scrolls aiding elemental mapping proficiency could be re-used, acting to have others fight monsters for leveling up.
"Distribute? If I understood correctly, you’re implying to give them for free?"
"This is commercial operation."
Ethan said sternly, pretending to be profound, "First, we need customers to understand the quality of the product!"
Even though beginner elemental magic scrolls had lost the market, they couldn’t resist being given away for free.
The only drawback to this method is that it burns money.
But fortunately, someone was willing to help him increase proficiency for free.
What more could he say?
This scroll is sponsored and distributed by the Lofic Consortium.