My inventory is full of monster materials.

Chapter 127 Trading Building

A bookworm?!

Mark chewed on those words over and over, his eyes suddenly lit up, and his face lit up with delight.

"Reading is great! I love reading too. It seems like we'll definitely get along well!"

Dylan glanced at him with a strange expression, saw his excitement, coughed lightly, and quickly corrected him.

"Ahem, you might have misunderstood. Osborn didn't like reading. On the contrary, he would go crazy if he read for more than ten seconds. It was precisely because of this eccentric personality that he was known as a book fanatic."

"9

"ha?"

Mark's joy froze on the spot. He really hadn't expected the so-called madman to mean this, but then he asked again with a puzzled look on his face.

"You mean Osborn can't even hold his gaze for ten seconds? How did he become a fully-fledged mage then?"

As we all know, becoming a formal mage requires more than just talent; it also requires continuous learning and study of magic.

If you can't even read books, there's no way you'll be noticed by a wise lady.

Dylan seemed to have anticipated Mark's question and answered without hesitation.

"This problem is actually not difficult to understand."

"First of all, Osborn is not a mage using the 'Wisdom' pathway, but rather a 'War Mage' using the 'War' pathway."

Upon hearing this, Mark nodded in agreement.

The path and the profession are independent of each other.

In principle, any deity who controls this pathway can create any profession that corresponds to it, if they so desire.

The God of War, Vargris, has always been inclusive and does not exclude any profession. As long as one can be driven by war, he can gain his approval.

Speaking of "Battle Mage", this class has a completely different combat style from "Mage".

Primarily, they use magic to enhance themselves, combined with mastery of one or two melee weapons, before charging directly into close combat for real fighting.

Mark's brow remained furrowed, his doubts unresolved.

"No, even a 'battle mage' needs to master magic, right?"

"This still doesn't explain it. Osborn can't even read books, how could he learn magic? Cast spells?"

"Don't rush, let me explain slowly."

Dylan continued to explain with a smile.

"Osborn's adoptive father was Albright Fox, a renowned spellbook master in the association, whose specialty was creating custom spellbooks..."

Dylan then recounted a story he had heard from his mentor, Maurice.

Back then, when Master Albright returned from his field research, he brought back a half-orc child, who is now Osborn.

Due to the racial characteristics of orcs, no matter how hard Osborn tried, he was unable to concentrate and calm down to read.

In addition to his identity, Osborne suffered discrimination and bullying from his peers from a young age.

Seeing this, Albright felt particularly sorry for her adopted son, so she spent several years painstakingly creating a magic book just for Osborne.

From then on, Osborne only needed to copy some specially made spell scrolls onto the spellbook without changing them, and then infuse them with magic to cast spells directly.

It was precisely because of this unique skill that Osborne was able to pass the "War" test and successfully advance to the rank of "Battle Mage".

After hearing this story, Mark's eyes widened instantly, finding it unbelievable.

Orcs can actually become mage professionals!

But soon, Mark's attention shifted to his personal magic book.

Mark had heard of this stuff.

In layman's terms, a magic book is like a fantasy version of a laptop, its core function being to store the spells of a spellcaster.

It shares similarities with the Magic Network in function, but they are fundamentally different.

The former is tailor-made for individual mages and has a very high degree of compatibility; the latter is a public and shared magical channel and has relatively average compatibility.

More importantly, a unique spellbook can be considered a piece of magical equipment, which can enhance spells of corresponding attributes based on the characteristics of the materials used in its creation.

Of course, spellbooks also have a significant drawback: once the equipment is finalized, the number and quantity of spell rings that can be recorded in it will be fixed, and any subsequent changes or upgrades will require a great deal of effort and materials.

Overall, this type of exclusive equipment is extremely helpful to mage players, and its status is comparable to that of a staff.

After careful consideration, Mark subconsciously touched the mithril dimensional pouch in his pocket, and had already made up his mind.

Mark looked up at Dylan again and asked in a low voice.

"Dylan, are you acquainted with Master Albright?"

'

""

Dylan instantly understood Mark's thoughts, but hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"Mark, I know you want to have your own custom spellbook made, but unfortunately, Master Albright stopped making spellbooks several years ago."

"I see."

A hint of regret flashed across Mark's face, but he quickly perked up and came up with a new idea.

"Actually, I've been practicing spell copying and making magical items lately. I wonder if I could pay a visit and learn a trick or two from a master?"

After saying that, Mark reached out and moved a bunch of spell scrolls on the table toward Dylan, gesturing for him to take a look.

"Huh!"

Dylan was immediately drawn to the scrolls, picked one up, and gently unrolled it.

The runes on the scroll are intricately structured, intertwined layer upon layer, and finally converge to form a lifelike eye.

Dylan looked him up and down, and was greatly surprised, as it was a spell he did not recognize.

"What kind of spell is this? Judging from the rune strength alone, it should be at least level 1!"

"Good eye!"

Mark smiled and nodded.

"This is a first-circle spell, 'Eye of Surveillance,' which I... bought from a magic shop. It can summon an invisible magical construct..."

Mark then gave Dylan a detailed explanation of the spell's magical effects and how it felt to use it.

Dylan's eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

"Your spell is practically equivalent to a 4th-ring Arcane Eye! It's incredibly powerful!"

"That's too kind of you."

Mark waved his hand modestly and explained.

"The 'Secret Eye' can see through invisible units and even penetrate simple obstacles."

"But the 'Eye of Surveillance' cannot do that; it can only perform basic remote surveillance."

Dylan nodded, offering a thoughtful comment.

"That's pretty good! I estimate that your 'Eye of Surveillance | Scroll' could sell for at least 20 gold coins in the trading hall, which is 2-3% more expensive than a regular 1-ring scroll."

"Trading building..."

Mark stroked his chin, lost in thought.

The Trading Building is a trading venue set up by the Mage Guild specifically for its internal members. It contains everything imaginable, including magical equipment, books and notes, ores and gems, monster materials, and even courses on magical knowledge sold by formal mages.

With that thought in mind, Mark's eyes darted around, and a perfect plan took shape in his mind.

In order to fulfill Margot's request, he needs to strike up a conversation with Osborne;

To commission a custom-made magic book, he needs to find Master Albright;

Since Osborne was Albright's adopted son, they decided to go all out and buy some suitable gifts from the trading house to "bribe" Osborne and, incidentally, sound out Master Albright's opinion.

If I could make a comeback, that would be the best. If not, I would at least like to learn some techniques for making magic books.

Killing two birds with one stone, it's perfect.

When Mark turned to look at Dylan, a sly smile appeared on his face, and his tone became more intimate.

"Brother Dylan, you seem quite familiar with the trading building?"

Dylan was taken aback by Mark's sudden address, and then answered truthfully.

"It's alright. I occasionally go there to buy experimental materials for my research projects, so I know a few people there."

"That's perfect! Could you come shopping with me?"

Mark picked up the scroll on the table, weighed it in his hand, and made up an excuse.

"I was just planning to sell these scrolls anyway, and also to familiarize myself with the whole process of the trading building. I might need to go there often in the future."

Mark knew it perfectly well.

I haven't been in Sergei City for long, my connections are limited, and my foundation is not yet solid.

Dylan, on the other hand, was different. Despite being just a mage apprentice, he was well-connected not only within the Mage Guild but also throughout the entire city of Serge, thanks to Professor Morris and his own noble status.

Whether it's going to the trading building to buy gifts or visiting Osborne and Albright to discuss matters, having Dylan's influence will undoubtedly make things much smoother.

Upon hearing this, Dylan frowned slightly, clearly finding Mark's suggestion somewhat unusual, and asked directly.

"Mark, if you just want to sell the rolls, you can have your assistant do it for you. She's more familiar with this kind of transaction process than I am."

"But if you have anything else to say, feel free to say it directly. There's no need for us to beat around the bush."

Upon hearing this, Mark nodded, no longer hiding anything, and sincerely told everyone what had happened.

"Actually, it's like this, I promised Margot, the owner of the Violet Tavern..."

Mark and Dylan have a gentlemanly relationship, and their actions are aboveboard. Besides, these things don't violate any rules, so there's no need to hide anything. Simply stating their needs directly makes both sides appear more sincere.

After listening, Dylan lowered his head and pondered for a while before slowly raising his head and speaking with a solemn expression.

"The request you made from the tavern owner isn't difficult at all."

"But the Albright family... to be honest, it's a bit tricky, and I'm not sure if I can help."

Seeing his hesitant expression, as if he had something difficult to say, Mark pressed him for an answer.

"Is there any other story behind this?"

Dylan shook his head and said.

"After all, I am just a mage apprentice, and I don't know much about the inner workings of the circle."

"I've only heard that Master Albright has rarely seen outsiders since he stopped writing, but since you have a need, we can give it a try."

"That's good!"

Mark was overjoyed and got up to straighten his robes.

"Let's head to the trading building now and see if we can find some good treasures!"

The lobby on the first floor of the trading building was decorated much like an art gallery, with individual booths scattered around, each displaying a dazzling array of magical items.

The apprentice monks, dressed in gray robes, frequently moved between the booths. Some loudly hawked their handmade props, while others haggled with the vendors. The scene was noisy and lively, with a touch of everyday life.

Mark and Dylan walked side by side, with their assistant Lina following closely behind, her arms tightly clutching a large stack of spell scrolls.

Mark quickly glanced at the exhibits in the hall, most of which were basic items suitable for apprentices, and then turned to Dylan and made a suggestion.

"Dylan, let's go straight to the second floor. Most of the things on the first floor are for apprentices, not suitable for us."

Dylan nodded repeatedly, agreeing wholeheartedly.

"Indeed, the level here is too low. The second floor is the trading area for formal mages, which is more in line with our needs."

, 7

The two quickly reached an agreement and turned to walk towards the staircase at the corner, but just then, a cheerful and excited female voice suddenly came from the side, breaking their rhythm.

"Lily! What brings you here? Aren't you always busy trying to win over your Baymax? What brings you here?"

The owner of the voice was standing in front of a booth not far away.

It was a girl with a high ponytail, wearing a well-fitting light gray apprentice robe, with bright eyes. When she saw Lina, she ran over excitedly, her single ponytail bouncing behind her.

On the other hand, Lina's cheeks flushed red to her ears the moment she heard the sound. She hurriedly buried her face in the pile of reels in her arms, trying to bury her head in the sand like an ostrich.

Popeye ran up to Lina, looking at her best friend's unusual behavior with a puzzled expression. She reached out and lifted Lina's face from the pile of reels, asking her earnestly.

"Lily, tell me quickly, how's it going with your 'Big White'? A whole bunch of us sisters are waiting to see you become a mage's wife and lead us all to prosperity!"

"Ugh... ugh... no... no..."

Lena's cheeks were pinched into chubby cheeks, making her speech unclear. She could only shake her head frantically, her eyes darting quickly towards Mark and Dylan, full of urgent hints.

Popeye was even more puzzled, muttering, "Why are you acting so strange?" Just as she was about to ask more questions, a clear cough suddenly came from behind her.

"Cough cough cough."

Popeye turned around at the sound of her voice. The first thing she saw was a pair of clear, dark blue mage robes. Then, following the robes upwards, she met a pair of clear, azure eyes with a faint smile in them, looking at her gently.

Popeye was stunned for a moment, and her cheeks flushed unconsciously.

But the next second, remembering the tall, fair-skinned mage that Lina and her sisters always talked about, her face turned deathly pale.

Could it be... that this mage in front of me is the "Big White" Lina mentioned?!

Before she could think any further, Popeye felt a sudden tightness in her chest and instantly realized how offensive her words had been. She quickly bowed deeply at a 90-degree angle, her voice trembling slightly.

"I...I'm so sorry, sir! I didn't mean to offend you. I apologize, I'm truly sorry!"

The hierarchy within the Mage Guild is very clear, with strict distinctions between formal mages and apprentices.

Under normal circumstances, a mage apprentice must never offend a formal mage in any way. At best, they will have credits deducted or be given a demerit; at worst, they will be expelled from the association or even imprisoned by magic.

That's why Popeye became so nervous.

Dylan, standing to the side, stifled a laugh, clearly pleased with the fitting nickname "Big White."

Mark shook his head helplessly, looked at the frightened girl in front of him, and said gently.

"Get up, I'm not blaming you."

"call"

Popeye and Lina both breathed a sigh of relief, their faces filled with relief that Lord Mark was magnanimous and easygoing, and hadn't held it against them.

Just then, Mark caught a glimpse of Popeye's booth out of the corner of his eye. It was filled with colorful bottles and jars, and he immediately became interested. He stepped forward and asked her a question.

"What kind of medicines do you have here? It looks like there are quite a few kinds."

Seeing her chance to shine, Popeye instantly composed herself and switched into "top saleswoman" mode, standing ramrod straight and speaking with a sharp and professional tone.

"Sir, you have an excellent eye! The potions here are all crafted with meticulous care by my senior apprentices, and each bottle comes with a certificate of authenticity, guaranteeing their genuine quality..."

As she spoke, Popeye skillfully picked up bottles of medicine and showed them their different properties to Mark and Dylan, even conducting skin tests herself.

It has to be said that the young woman in front of me is definitely cut out for this job; her professional skills are outstanding.

But Mark listened intently, then suddenly seemed to remember something, turned to Dylan beside him, and asked.

"Dylan, I remember you're still a bit short of the intelligence requirement to become a full-fledged mage?"

Dylan's face froze instantly, revealing a somewhat embarrassed expression. He scratched his head and offered a somewhat apologetic explanation.

"As you know, I've always focused on academic research and experimental projects, and I've indeed fallen behind quite a bit in brain development and spell training..."

Mark reached out to stop Dylan from saying anything more and gently patted him on the shoulder.

"Don't say anything, it's a small matter, I'll take care of it for you."

After saying that, Mark turned around, looked at Popeye, and asked directly.

Do you have any potions with the "Owl's Intelligence" attribute?