NEC Chapter 44: Apprentice Chen Enters the Mage Tower

In truth, Vincent’s heartfelt “sincere words” to Chen Mo were not entirely honest, carrying a hint of exaggeration.

The federation both courted and guarded against mages. Every mage tower, even a preparatory one, inevitably had informants planted by the federation.

The apprentice identity Vincent arranged for Chen Mo was, in fact, one of the spies the Skill Level Certification Office, under the Mercenary Guild’s commission, had placed in Master Hal’s tower.

Those tasked with such covert roles were often mediocre in talent and limited in potential. Year after year, they lingered in various mage towers, always stuck just shy of advancement, repeatedly eliminated and forced to start anew elsewhere.

Once they grew too old, their usual fate was to end up doing odd jobs in a corner of the Certification Office.

The apprentice Chen Mo was replacing at Master Hal’s tower fit this profile perfectly. If this individual failed the upcoming assessment, their tuition would skyrocket, and during the next large-scale apprentice recruitment, they would surely be replaced by a newcomer. This made them an ideal candidate for a lucrative swap.

Even with his cheat device, Chen Mo had been thoroughly outmaneuvered.

Of course, Vincent wasn’t entirely deceiving him. One thing he said was true: pulling off a substitution required greasing every single connection, from top to bottom, inside and out.

Every insider, associate, and handler had to be paid off, and the deputy director himself couldn’t work for free. It was indeed an expensive endeavor.

In this world, money might not solve everything, but without it, the chances of solving anything were drastically lower.

Even if the price was a tad higher than the market rate, as long as gold coins could pave the way to success, it was fantastic news for Chen Mo.

Early the next morning, the eager Chen Mo arrived at a consignment shop in the city affiliated with the Mercenary Guild. There, he spent twenty gold coins to order a “Startear Crystal Mind-Clearing Set.”

As for when or if the item would arrive? That wasn’t Chen Mo’s concern. He simply paid the fee and “accidentally” dropped the receipt behind him in front of the cashier, sealing the deal.

Letting someone catch you with leverage? What a joke!

Soon after, a gray-robed staff member from the Certification Office led Chen Mo to a secluded location. There, he met the “classmate” he was to replace.

The other party had a mop of disheveled, nest-like hair, sunken eyes bloodshot from chronic sleep deprivation, and a slightly hunched frame draped in a tattered, stained apprentice robe. He exuded a heavy air of dejection.

The contrast with Chen Mo’s appearance was stark, to say the least.

The gray-robed staff member stepped forward, gave a few cautious instructions, and the apprentice approached, pulling a badge from his belt.

“This is the credential used in the mage tower. My name’s Roy.”

“Remember that name, and don’t get it wrong.”

“I’m in Glimmer Group Three. When you get to the gate, a classmate will come to guide you in. Don’t say anything, just follow him. He’ll arrange everything.”

The apprentice took a few steps, then turned back with a serious reminder: “Remember, Roy. Don’t mess it up!”

Waving goodbye to Little John and Little Josie, Chen Mo took a deep breath, carefully leading his skeleton companion, Little White, toward the building known as the “preparatory mage tower.”

The sight before him was far from what he’d imagined. It was essentially a slightly oversized rural courtyard. Weeds stubbornly sprouted through gaps in the slate-paved ground, low walls were smothered in tangled vines, and the weathered walls bore the marks of time.

The so-called preparatory mage tower was, in reality, a temporary venue rented by a mage who couldn’t yet afford to build their own base, a “paid tutoring class” of sorts.

At the courtyard gate, a stern-faced middle-aged gatekeeper stood with arms crossed, eyeing the approaching Chen Mo up and down.

His gaze felt like two sharp knives, making Chen Mo feel a chill run through him.

Steeling himself, Chen Mo approached, about to speak, when a booming voice came from behind the gate: “Roy, why’re you so late? I’ve been waiting forever!”

Chen Mo froze for a moment, then saw a tall, lanky figure waving frantically at him from behind the gate.

Right, I’m Roy.

“Got held up on the way, just a small delay, uh…”

Before he could finish, the lanky guy’s voice boomed again, so loud it made Chen Mo’s ears ring.

It felt surreal, like a bass cannon disguised as a bamboo pole.

Was this an apprentice mage practicing sonic magic?

The lanky guy didn’t care, shouting, “Hurry up already! I’ve been waiting forever. Any later, and you’ll miss dinner!”

The gatekeeper took the badge, slotting it precisely into an elliptical magical symbol recessed in the stone pillar. A soft hum sounded, and a gentle white light flowed from the symbol, washing over the badge’s surface.

“Glimmer Group Three apprentice Roy, returning from leave. Identity verified, entry granted!” the gatekeeper announced flatly, as if speaking to no one in particular. He tossed the badge back to Chen Mo and pulled a fist-sized, faintly glowing magical seal from his belt pouch, deftly rotating it in a larger symbol on the nearby wall.

After a series of faint clicks, the “country inn” style mage tower opened its gates to Chen Mo.

And so, he walked in. As for Little White, trailing behind with bags piled high, the gatekeeper acted as if he didn’t exist.

The lanky guide, named Kato, bore the typical traits of a Crescent Moon Federation highland northerner—broad-boned, with skin rough and slightly red from plateau sun exposure.

He was incredibly enthusiastic, and it didn’t seem solely because of payment. He was just naturally outgoing.

Leading Chen Mo into the so-called “castle,” his mouth ran like a wound-up clock, never pausing.

“Look over there!” Kato pointed at a white building gleaming in the sunlight. “That’s our head instructor’s residence and training ground! Remember, brother, never, ever, EVER go near it without the instructor’s guidance!”

Chen Mo squinted slightly, activating the miniature camera pinned to his chest and turning a full 360 degrees.

Kato, oblivious, kept jabbering.

“The gray-walled building is our apprentice dorm. The yellow one with the chimney is where we eat. Those three rows of brown buildings I pointed to are the study halls.” He swung his arm in a wide arc. “These three areas are the only places Glimmer Group is allowed to go. Don’t wander anywhere else!”

“If you cross the line…” Kato made a grimacing expression, “you’ll regret it, trust me!”

“Come on, let’s hit the cafeteria. Any later, and there won’t be any food left!”

Chen Mo: “Should I drop my stuff off first?”

“Food first, food first! Nothing’s more important than eating!”

“Dawdle any longer, and there won’t even be breadcrumbs left!”

Chen Mo: “…”

Fine. Regardless, on that day, Chen Mo, once a preparatory apprentice of Black Crow Castle, became Roy, an official apprentice of Hal’s Mage Tower.

He had finally stepped into the learning environment he had tirelessly pursued since his escape. A bright future was waiting just ahead!

I want a heavy machine gun, I want an armored vehicle, I want… maybe next time I make an offering, I’ll ask for a smartphone?

After some thought, Chen Mo gritted his teeth and stomped his foot. Nah, forget it.

That thing would be too distracting for cultivation!

>>> NEXT CHAPTER