Chapter 599 - 38: Silver Tower

Chapter 599: Chapter 38: Silver Tower

Carlos’s fingers tightened slightly, his knuckles turning white.

He wasn’t mistaken.

It wasn’t a hallucination.

It was real.

His mentor, Douglas, was holding hands with that nightmare experiment.

An indescribable emotion surged in Carlos’s chest.

It wasn’t anger.

It wasn’t jealousy over looks.

He didn’t care about that.

’How could a mere First-Level Wizard like me possibly harbor such improper thoughts about my mentor?’

’That would be a death wish.’

He cared about other things.

Graduation.

A recommendation letter.

His future.

He was Cheris’s disciple and had been with her for several years now.

’How much had he done for her? How many errands had he run? How much trouble had he dealt with?’

’But what had he gotten in return?’

’An ambiguous "observation period."’

’A graduation date that could be postponed at any time.’

’A recommendation letter that was nowhere in sight.’

And now, this nightmare experiment dragged out of the sewers, this *thing* that he was supposed to have escorted back like "cargo," was so intimate with his mentor!

’If I had that kind of relationship... if I could be that close to Cheris...’

’What would graduation matter then?’

’What would a recommendation letter matter?’

’Wouldn’t it all be settled with a single word from her?’

Not only that, but an even greater future would await him.

Carlos’s breathing quickened slightly, but he quickly forced himself to calm down.

’I can’t think about it.’

’I absolutely cannot think about it.’

’The weak have no right to harbor blasphemous thoughts about the strong.’

’If Cheris were to detect these thoughts—’

Carlos shuddered.

He hurriedly collected himself, burying those improper thoughts in the deepest recesses of his mind and forcing a respectful expression back onto his face.

The car drove smoothly, passing through bustling streets and heading toward a towering building in the distance.

...

The Silver Tower, one of the tallest buildings in Zlesko City.

The tower itself was built from pure white stone that shimmered with a faint silver light in the sun.

Its towering spire pierced the clouds, its walls covered in intricate reliefs and runes. Each floor had large, floor-to-ceiling windows with silver-plated frames.

In front of the tower was a wide plaza paved with smooth white flagstones, with a massive sculpture standing in the center.

It depicted a Wizard holding a Magic Staff and gazing up at the sky, their expression solemn and their robes flowing.

At this moment, the plaza was already filled with all sorts of vehicles: discreet black sedans, luxurious stretch limousines, and even a few hovering sky-cars.

Today was the Silver Tower’s monthly auction.

Only the wealthy and powerful could enter.

And at the entrance to the auction hall, a middle-aged man in a dark blue attendant’s uniform stood by the door, a professional smile on his face.

He looked to be about forty, with a pale complexion, sharp and handsome features, and iron-gray hair combed meticulously.

The attendant’s uniform was well-tailored, and on him, it almost had the air of formal wear.

"Alonso!"

An impatient voice called from behind him.

Alonso turned, an appropriately pleasant smile immediately forming on his face.

The speaker was a middle-aged man in a black formal suit with a gold badge on his chest. He was the floor supervisor for today’s auction.

"The VIPs will be here any second! What are you still standing here for? Get to the entrance and greet them! Don’t you dare embarrass me!"

The supervisor’s tone was impatient, as if he were scolding an ignorant apprentice.

Alonso bowed slightly, his smile unwavering. "Yes, Supervisor. I’ll go at once."

The supervisor snorted and turned away, muttering as he walked, "If we weren’t so short-staffed today, who’d bother with your kind..."

’He didn’t finish, but Alonso knew exactly what he meant to say.’

’You lot from the Outer Planes.’

’You lot with no status.’

’You lot who are only fit for grunt work.’

The smile on Alonso’s face didn’t change in the slightest.

He was long used to it.

Even though he was a genius from the Old Realm, even though he had been a First-Level Wizard of unparalleled talent back there, even though he had once commanded the wind and rain in the Castile Kingdom and been revered by thousands at the Tower of Secret Silver.

But here, in the New Realm, in the Empire, none of that mattered.

’Talent? Does talent put food on the table?’

’You want to level up? Fine. Show me the money.’

’You say you have no money? Well, you must have a recommendation letter, then, right?’

’You have neither? Alright, then go earn some money and come back.’

Talent was utterly unimportant.

What mattered was money, resources, connections, and status.

Alonso, of course, understood this.

It had been almost thirty years since he came from the Old Realm to the New Realm.

When he first arrived, he too had been full of ambition, thinking he could quickly establish himself in the Empire with his talent and strength.

But reality slapped him hard across the face.

Without Imperial citizenship, he couldn’t even reside there legally.

Without legal residence, he didn’t even qualify to apply for the Magic Net.

Without the Magic Net, even the most basic magical research was impossible.

He could only work menial jobs.

He worked himself to the bone.

Fortunately, his talent was unparalleled, and his talent for working menial jobs was equally so.

He had worked as a dockworker, a restaurant waiter, a servant in a noble’s mansion, and a janitor in a Wizard Tower.

He learned the Empire’s language, learned the Empire’s rules, and learned how to survive in the cracks.

He also obtained a permanent resident card.

He could take on better, more prestigious jobs.

And he could grind even harder.

Ten years ago, he had finally saved up enough money—enough to advance to a Second-Level Wizard.

Back then, he had even contacted a small Wizard Organization willing to accept him. All he had to do was successfully advance, and he could officially obtain Imperial citizenship.