As the academy classes came to an end, Arthur decided to visit the market once again. His last trip had proven fruitful, and now, with his recent breakthrough to the Second Circle, he wanted to see if there was anything new worth acquiring.

More importantly, he needed a way to advance further.

The mana cultivation technique provided by the academy elder only covered cultivation up to the Third Circle. Beyond that, he was on his own. He had no interest in joining a powerful family or institution just to get his hands on a better technique, he preferred to be independent. That left him with one option: the Merchant Guild.

The guild wasn’t just a hub for trade in physical goods; it also dealt in rare resources, techniques, and information, anything can be bought with the right amount of money.

Arthur moved swiftly through the bustling streets of Brightwater. The marketplace, as always, was teeming with activity, but Arthur wasn’t here to browse.

Soon, he arrived at an imposing white stone building with a golden insignia of a golden coin encircled by a serpent engraved above its entrance, the Brightwater Branch of the Merchant Guild. This is the second time Arthur visited the place.

Pushing open the grand double doors, Arthur stepped inside.

The reception hall was as refined as he expected. Several merchants, adventurers, and nobles were seated in private waiting areas, discussing business.

Arthur walked up to the reception desk, where a young woman with short auburn hair and sharp green eyes greeted him with a professional smile.

“Welcome to the Brightwater Merchant Guild. How may I assist you today?” she asked, her voice smooth and practiced.

Arthur met her gaze. “I’d like to inquire about purchasing a mana cultivation technique.”

The receptionist’s expression barely flickered, but there was a momentary pause before she nodded. “Mana cultivation techniques are considered high-value items. Please wait a moment.”

She turned and walked away, disappearing behind a set of doors leading deeper into the guild.

Arthur took a glance around while waiting. The guild was a place where wealth dictated power, and it was clear that many of the people here had deep pockets. That suited him just fine.

A few minutes later, the receptionist returned and gestured for him to follow her. “This way, sir.”

Arthur followed her down a carpeted hallway to a large office. Inside, a middle-aged man with neatly combed black hair and sharp brown eyes sat behind an ornate wooden desk. He wore fine merchant robes lined with gold embroidery, a sign of his high status within the guild.

The receptionist gave a polite bow. “This is Guildmaster Rhys Vale, the branch manager of the Merchant Guild in Brightwater.”

Arthur inclined his head slightly. “Arthur Sully.”

The receptionist took her leave, closing the door behind her.

Rhys studied Arthur for a moment before speaking. “I was informed that you’re looking for a mana cultivation technique. What grade and up to which realm?”

Arthur didn’t hesitate. “The best you have.”

Rhys’s eyebrows lifted slightly. “That will not come cheap, I assure you.” He leaned back, interlocking his fingers. “Are you certain?”

Arthur met his gaze evenly. “I don’t care about the cost. I want the highest-grade technique you can provide.”

Rhys let out a quiet chuckle. “Well, that simplifies things.” He gestured toward a crystal orb on his desk, which began to glow faintly. “Before we proceed, allow me to explain how cultivation techniques are classified.”

Arthur nodded, listening.

“There are five main grades of mana cultivation techniques,” Rhys began, raising a finger. “Low, Mid, High, Supreme, and… an unknown grade above that.”

At the mention of the last grade, Rhys’s eyes flickered with something unreadable, but he quickly continued.

“In the market, acquiring anything above Mid-grade is exceedingly difficult. Powerful families and prestigious institutions fiercely guard their techniques, ensuring that they do not fall into the hands of outsiders.”

Arthur already expected as much. “So what’s the best I can get?”

Rhys folded his hands together. “We can offer you a Mid-grade technique that allows cultivation up to the 9th Circle. Anything beyond that is impossible to obtain unless you join an influential faction or earn their favor.”

Arthur considered this. The 9th Circle was far beyond his current realm, and he could always figure out a way to advance further when the time came.

“How much?” he asked.

Rhys smiled, leaning forward slightly. “1.5 million low-grade mana stones or 15,000 mid-grade mana stones.”

Arthur wasn’t surprised by the exorbitant price. Cultivation techniques were the foundation of power in this world. Only the truly wealthy or privileged could afford the best.

“You don’t accept Platinum coins?” Arthur asked, just to confirm.

Rhys shook his head. “Not accepted for this kind of purchase. Payment must be in mana stones.”

Arthur nodded. His recent excavations had left him wealthy in mana stones, so this wasn’t an issue. Without hesitation, he reached into his dimensional pocket and pulled out a large bag.

He placed it on the table. “15,000 mid-grade mana stones. Count them if you want.”

Rhys quickly cast a spell to determine the amount on the bag. After a few seconds, a soft chime confirmed the exact amount.

The Guildmaster’s smile widened. “A pleasure doing business with you.”

He retrieved a small, locked box from his desk, pressing his thumb against a magical sigil. With a faint click, the box unlocked, revealing a single ancient-looking book made of dark parchment.

Rhys carefully handed it to Arthur. “This is the [Astral Flow Technique]. It’s a Mid-grade technique capable of carrying you to the 9th Circle.”

Arthur took the book, and quickly stored it away in his dimensional pocket.

Rhys leaned back, his gaze lingering on Arthur. “You’re an interesting fellow. Few people can afford something like this, and even fewer do so without hesitation. Are you someone from a different kingdom? I haven’t heard the name of house Sully here.”

Arthur simply shrugged. “Well…I am just rich, I don’t have any noble background.”

Rhys chuckled and continued. “If you ever find yourself in need of rare artifacts, materials, or information, the Merchant Guild will always be willing to do business with you.”

Arthur gave a slight nod. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

With that, he turned and left, exiting the Merchant Guild under the flattering, approving gaze of the Guildmaster.

He had already got what he came for. Now to find a place where he can practice his spells and experiment on them without any disturbance.

…

Arthur exited the Merchant Guild and made his way toward the bustling market. The lively chatter of merchants and customers filled the air, accompanied by the enticing aroma of freshly cooked food. The scent of grilled meat and spices led him toward a food stall where skewers of sizzling meat were being roasted over an open flame.

He stepped up to the stall and placed an order, watching as the vendor skillfully turned the skewers, letting the juices drip onto the fire, creating an irresistible smoky aroma. As soon as he received his portion, he took a bite, savoring the rich, seasoned flavor.

Just as he was about to take another bite, he felt a small tug on his uniform.

Arthur looked down and was met with a pair of large, golden eyes staring up at him. A little girl, no older than three, clutched the hem of his coat with tiny, dirt-smudged fingers. She was a fox-kin child, her small, fluffy ears twitching slightly, and her unkempt tail swayed behind her. Her clothes were ragged, her face streaked with dirt, and she barely reached past his knees.

The girl shifted nervously before speaking in a soft, timid voice.

“Mistah… c-could you pwease buy me one? I’m hungry.”

He crouched down, offering her a reassuring smile before holding out one of his skewers.

“Here, you can have this one,” he said gently.

The girl’s eyes widened in surprise before she eagerly took the skewer with both hands. Without hesitation, she started devouring the meat, her tiny fangs tearing into it like she hadn’t eaten in days.

Arthur chuckled softly and patted her head. “What’s your name kid?”

The girl’s mouth was still full, and she struggled to speak, her words muffled. “Lwesa…”

“Lisa, huh?” Arthur repeated, his smile softening. “That’s a nice name.”

Lisa nodded, still chewing happily. After a moment, Arthur decided to ask, “Where are your parents?”

The moment he asked, Lisa froze. The joy on her face vanished, and her small shoulders trembled. Tears welled up in her big golden eyes, and she lowered her head, gripping the skewer tightly.

Arthur blinked in surprise. That wasn’t the reaction he expected, before he could say anything, the stall owner let out a sigh and spoke.

“You’re not from around here, are you?” the man said, his voice tinged with weariness.

Arthur turned to him. “What do you mean?”

The stall owner wiped his hands on his apron before gesturing toward the street. “War. It’s taken a lot of lives. Soldiers, mages, mercenaries, many never make it home. And their children? They’re left behind, with no one to care for them. There are a lot of orphans like her wandering the streets of Brightwater.” He glanced at Lisa with a sympathetic look. “This kid’s just one of many.”

Arthur’s hands clenched into fists. His jaw tightened as he looked down at the little girl, who was still nibbling on the last bits of meat, her head bowed, and shoulders trembling.

A kingdom that relied on its people to fight and die in its wars, yet didn’t care for the children left behind? It was disgusting. He had seen injustice before, but something about this, about seeing someone so young suffering like this, made something inside him snap.

Arthur felt a pang in his chest at the sight of her. A child so young, begging for food in the streets, it was a bitter reminder of how cruel the world could be. He can sympathize with the kid as he was also an orphan in his previous life, but at least he had a roof over his head in the shape of an orphanage.

He exhaled slowly, pushing down his anger before looking at Lisa. “Kid,” he said softly.

She looked up, her golden eyes still shimmering with unshed tears.

Arthur gave her a small smile. “Would you like to come with me?”

Lisa stared at him, blinking in surprise. Then, after a brief pause, she gave a small, hesitant nod.

Arthur sighed, rubbing his temple. She was far too trusting. But then again, what choice did she have? If he had been in her place, starving, alone, desperate he might have done the same if someone showed a bit of kindness to him.

The stall owner raised an eyebrow. “You planning to adopt her?”

Arthur stood up, still holding Lisa’s tiny hand. “Something like that.”

The man let out another sigh. “Well, it’s good to see someone caring about these kids. But there are plenty more like her.” He shook his head. “You can’t save them all.”

Arthur was silent for a moment before responding, “Maybe not. But I can at least do something.”

Then a thought formed in his mind, can’t he establish an orphanage? A place where these kids could be safe, where they wouldn’t have to beg just to eat. He had the resources, then why not?

He turned back to the vendor. “Do you know where I can buy a house?”

The man scratched his chin. “If you’re looking to buy property, you should visit the real estate offices down in the southern district. They handle everything from small homes to large estates.”

Arthur nodded. “Thanks.”

After paying for the skewers, he picked up Lisa, who instinctively wrapped her tiny arms around his neck. She was light, far too light for a child her age.

With that, he turned and made his way toward the southern district to see if he could buy a house.

***

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