As Lynn pushed open the door, his eyes were met with the sight of a massive underground tavern.
In stark contrast to the desolate and dilapidated exterior, the inside was brightly lit and bustling with activity.
The air was thick with the strong scent of alcohol, mixed with various other aromas. His ears were filled with the sounds of conversation, clinking glasses, and even occasional arguments and wild laughter.
The hall was packed with figures of all kinds, dressed in different attires, exuding mixed auras.
In the distant private booths and on leather sofas, more individuals were seated some engaged in hushed discussions, some appearing cautious, while others were fully immersed in the atmosphere of drinking and negotiation.
Lynn took a step inside, his nose catching the rich scent of alcohol lingering in the air.
Although he was not particularly fond of drinking, nor well-versed in alcohol, the moment he caught a whiff of the rich aroma, he felt an unusual craving stir within him.
His gaze casually swept across the room and landed on the bar to the left.
Several patrons sat at the counter, colorful glasses in front of them, the liquor inside shimmering under the warm glow of the lights.
Behind the bar, a bartender was watching him with a slight smile.
Dressed in a well-tailored dark outfit, the man had sharp features and an expression laced with a hint of amusement someone experienced in dealing with people.
"Good evening, sir. It's a pleasure to serve you. What would you like to order?"
His voice was steady and composed, but Lynn was slightly taken aback.
The man hadn't spoken in the common human language but in the tongue of the Wizarding World!
A flicker of surprise flashed beneath Lynn's mask, but he quickly composed himself. After glancing at the menu on the counter, he casually selected a refreshing cocktail and said calmly,
"I'll have a Daiquiri."
As he spoke, he flicked two magic stones onto the counter and watched silently as the bartender expertly mixed the drink.
Yet, all the while, his peripheral vision remained focused on observing the figures within the bar.
The reason Stone Rock City was so lively was due to its proximity to the Atlas Mountains, where a key pass led into the Dark Wizard Territory.
As a result, the patrons of this tavern were not just residents but also many travelers from the Dark Wizard Territory.
And not just humans!
With just a casual glance, Lynn spotted several figures that felt both familiar and unfamiliar.
Familiar because he had seen their descriptions in records.
Unfamiliar because seeing them in person was a completely different experience.
Dwarves, elves, half-orcs… and even rare mixed-bloods!
The development of the Wizarding World has always been inclusive and expansive. While humans made up the majority, wizardry was not an exclusive profession for them powerful wizards had emerged among many races.
And because the guests in the tavern came from different countries and races, their languages varied widely.
In such a setting, the only language that allowed smooth communication was the wizarding language!
After all, as long as one embarked on the path of wizardry, they would naturally learn this language.
Lynn gently tapped the table, quietly watching the bartender as he skillfully mixed the drink.
White rum, lemon juice, and sugar syrup blended in his hands, while the transparent ice cubes clinked crisply inside the shaker, merging with the liquor.
Moments later, a pale yellow liquid was carefully poured into an elegant glass. Ice cubes swirled gently within, reflecting a faint greenish-yellow hue under the light, with a thin slice of lemon adorning the rim refreshing and inviting.
Lynn accepted the glass, raised it to his lips, and took a sip.
A burst of tartness exploded on his tongue first, followed by a mild, soothing sweetness that left a lingering aftertaste.
As the liquid slid down his throat, he noted its unique flavor dancing across his palate. But what surprised him even more
This drink seemed to subtly enhance mental activity!
"Good drink."
Lynn nodded in approval, his eyes flickering with intrigue.
The bartender simply smiled, as if every compliment from a customer was the highest praise for his craft.
Lynn swirled the ice in his glass absentmindedly, then smirked slightly and asked,
"What's the current fee for crossing the pass?"
His tone was casual as he flicked a few more magic stones onto the counter, their faint glow shimmering in the dim light.
However, the bartender only chuckled, making no move to collect them. Instead, he gently pushed the magic stones back toward Lynn.
"We do not charge extra fees from our guests."
This attitude piqued Lynn's interest.
"In that case, make me two more drinks," he said with a light smile.
"A Negroni and a Penicillin."
"Of course, please wait a moment."
This time, the bartender accepted the magic stones. As he skillfully prepared the new drinks, he spoke at a leisurely pace, his tone relaxed and unhurried:
"The standard passage fee is one hundred magic stones. This grants you entry through the pass, but once inside, you may face various dangers in the Atlas Mountains…"
"Of course, if you'd prefer a safer route, we also offer a 'Direct Route to the Atlas Mountains' service. We provide escorts to ensure your safe arrival in the White Wizard Territory. The cost is slightly higher eight hundred magic stones per person."
"Lastly, we have a 'Full Atlas Crossing' premium service. You will be accompanied by a true wizard who will escort you to Red Marsh. The fee is three thousand magic stones per person."
The bartender's voice remained calm and steady as if he were merely explaining an ordinary business transaction.
However, upon hearing these words, Lynn's mind stirred slightly.
So, this pass had become so commercialized and streamlined?
Whether one was heading to the White Wizard Territory or venturing deep into Red Marsh, they could simply pay for the level of protection they desired.
As long as they had enough magic stones, they could minimize the risks along the way perhaps even eliminate them.
Lynn's gaze swept across the bustling hall, a hint of contemplation flashing in his eyes.
"The wizard overseeing this pass… is quite the businessman."
He knew that the Atlas Mountains had once been the fiercest battleground between Black Wizards and White Wizards, with major factions setting up layer upon layer of strict defenses.
And yet now, it has turned into a commercialized gateway driven purely by money.
The number of travelers passing through each year must be staggering, and the hidden profits behind it.
A fortune of magic stones beyond imagination.
....................
"Get me an entry permit worth one hundred magic stones."
Lynn spoke, flipping his wrist, and a mid-tier magic stone lightly landed on the bar counter, emitting a faint glow its value was equivalent to one hundred ordinary magic stones.
"Alright."
The bartender smiled as he collected the magic stone, then retrieved a palm-sized black plaque from beneath the counter and handed it to Lynn.
"If you wish to leave, simply pass through that door."
Lynn followed the bartender's gaze and saw an unassuming black wooden door on one side of the tavern. The doorframe was embedded with a few obscure runes, faintly radiating weak energy fluctuations.
He nodded and put away the black plaque.
This entry token was merely proof that its holder was allowed to pass through this checkpoint.
But the real challenge lay beyond the checkpoint the Atlas Mountains.
That mountain range was fraught with danger. Whether one intended to traverse it to reach the White Wizards' domain or cross it to the Reed Marshes, deadly perils lurked at every turn.
For this reason, many travelers would choose to form teams inside the tavern before officially entering the mountains, hoping to improve their chances of survival by sticking together.
However, temporary teams formed in the tavern were not always reliable.
There was no mutual understanding among members, and many were constantly on guard against each other, wary of being betrayed, abandoned, or even robbed of all their possessions.
In contrast, the checkpoint's escort service appeared to be much more reassuring.
As long as you were willing to pay enough magic stones, you could secure a safe and stable passage, free from unnecessary risks.
But the cost was exorbitant.
Although Lynn was not exactly poor, forking out three thousand magic stones to hire a full-fledged wizard as an escort seemed excessive.
Besides, the Reed Marshes were not his final destination. That place was also fraught with dangers and troubles of its own.
Moreover... Lynn now had "Yfgríd" as his trump card. In a sense, he was already a "pseudo-wizard," infinitely close to the level of a full-fledged wizard.
With this confidence, he saw no need to spend a fortune on buying a so-called "safe" route.
"The Furnace Stone... I wonder if they're still hunting me down..."
Lynn's eyes beneath his mask flickered with a hint of coldness.
At this moment, he had no traces of wizardly aura protecting him. To the outside world, he appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary third-level apprentice, completely unremarkable.
Once a wizard became fully initiated, their permanent wizardry imprint would be etched into their soul, causing their body to constantly emit a distinct energy radiation, making them easily recognizable.
Yfgríd was no exception. If he activated its power, his body would instantly radiate obvious energy fluctuations, marking him as a full-fledged wizard.
However, in the [Landscape], Lynn clearly remembered being watched.
Back then, his body was brimming with the fluctuations of a permanent wizardry imprint. If the people from Furnace Stone had taken note of him, they would undoubtedly treat him as a full-fledged wizard.
Thus, as a precaution, he temporarily used the Azure Spirit to suppress his Yfgríd. Now, he appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary third-level apprentice.
Even if the Furnace Stone sent people after him, they would be chasing a ghost they would never suspect a mere third-level apprentice.
Once he successfully left the Black Wizards' domain, he could lift the seal without worry.
After all, if the Furnace Stone truly had their eyes on him, with his current strength, he would be facing certain death.
That said, he had no real concerns about his safety.
With the Azure Spirit under his control, sealing and unsealing his power was merely a matter of a single thought.
As he drained the last sip from his glass, Lynn tilted his head slightly, then stood up, leaving the bar counter behind as he made his way toward the lounge area.
This tavern was a gathering place for supernatural beings from all nations and races, making it the first true step he had taken into the wizarding world.
At this moment, the sights in the main hall could only be described as bizarre and surreal.
Lynn's gaze swept across the room, and his brows furrowed slightly.
Not far away, a dwarf no taller than a meter was comfortably seated on the lap of an elven woman. The two were intimately close so much so that they were even feeding each other wine mouth-to-mouth. The sight was nothing short of eye-searing.
Further away, a human man was embracing a centaur though her lower half was humanoid... The scene was equally difficult to look at.
Such sights, however, were only the minority among the crowd. Most wizarding practitioners were merely eccentric, but not outright perverse.
"That should be the goblin clan over there... First time seeing a live goblin."
"And that one, chattering away, must be a Fishman..."
Taking advantage of this moment, Lynn observed many races that he had only read about in books.
According to what he had learned, all of this was a product of the wizarding world's expansion.
To put it nicely, as the wizarding world grew, these races gradually integrated into it.
To put it bluntly, the wizarding world had invaded countless worlds and planes, assimilating an immense variety of species.
For instance, in the goblin race back in ancient times, the archaic wizards had invaded their homeland and even developed a new underground wizarding profession...
After countless years of development, some races with a talent for wizardry gradually earned acceptance and became part of the wizarding world.
Lynn wove through the hall not aimlessly, but with a purpose.
Earlier, the bartender had informed him that those looking to form a party would usually place signs beside their booths to indicate their requirements and conditions.
However, most of the teams in the hall either had excessive demands or did not align with Lynn's objectives.
He neither wanted to spend a fortune on the checkpoint's escort service nor venture into danger alone.
He needed a party headed for the Reed Marshes, but he was also highly selective.
He refused to be bound by rigid team restrictions, insisting on absolute freedom of movement. He also rejected cumbersome contracts that could entangle him in unnecessary obligations.
Lynn had been traumatized by contracts from his dealings with Furnace, leaving him with a psychological shadow. After his journey through the [Landscape], Maple further reinforced the lesson that having contracts as safeguards did not mean one could blindly trust their teammates.
So he decided against adding any more unnecessary contracts or agreements.
However, traversing the perilous Atlas Mountains was a long journey filled with life-and-death trials. For this reason, most teams require members to sign a contract to prevent desertion or betrayal.
This was something Lynn could not accept.
As a result, teams that met his criteria were exceedingly rare.
That said, the world was vast, and nothing was impossible.
In this underground tavern, where all manner of people gathered, no matter how stringent his requirements were, there would always be a few like-minded travelers.
Before long, Lynn's gaze locked onto a table in a corner of the hall.
This particular team had no cumbersome contractual obligations its members simply looked out for each other when necessary. But if they encountered a fatal crisis, each was free to escape on their own, with no forced commitments.
It was precisely the kind of partnership Lynn wanted.
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