Cross-regional travel is a troublesome affair. When the Tower of Truth was first established, geographical division was taken into consideration, with most uninhabited areas located at the edges of the Tower's territories.
While this ensured that each Tower of Truth's territory was roughly the same size, it also made communication between the Towers more difficult.
Generally speaking, to traverse the uninhabited areas for cross-regional travel, one needed at least the strength of a Third Circle Wizard.
And even for Third Circle Wizards, crossing these uninhabited areas was not entirely safe. Many Third Circle Wizards had perished in these regions during their travels.
However, this was only for Wizards traveling on their own.
If a Wizard was willing to spend money or had connections with a Wizard Chamber of Commerce, they could use the commercial routes of the Chamber for cross-regional travel.
And this was precisely the purpose of Richard's journey.
Seeing that Bob had already taken care of things, Richard was naturally overjoyed.
He gave Bob a thumbs-up: "I knew you were reliable, Brother Bob. So, which Chamber of Commerce's route am I taking this time?"
"Who else could it be but our Nine Stars Commerce?" Bob said proudly. "Don't underestimate our Chamber just because it's a newcomer. In terms of development, we're not weaker than those ancient Chambers with histories spanning tens of thousands of years.
Cross-regional commercial routes have been a major focus of Nine Stars Commerce since the days of the Old Chairman.
After I took over the Chamber, thanks to the Old Chairman's groundwork, I managed to complete this project. Now, Nine Stars Commerce's routes can reach any Tower of Truth in the Wizard World.
In the near future, our shops will also expand beyond the Fourth Circle Tower of Truth and spread throughout the entire Wizard World."
Although Bob's words were somewhat boastful, his idea was fundamentally sound.
As long as a Wizard Chamber of Commerce's sales network was extensive enough, even worthless trash could find buyers.
In the current Wizard World, this meant that no matter how peculiar a resource was, the Chamber could find a Wizard who needed it.
For a Wizard Chamber of Commerce, this was undoubtedly a great advantage.
However, expanding a Wizard Chamber of Commerce was no easy task. Every Tower of Truth had its own local Chambers of Commerce.
These Chambers were already in fierce competition with each other. If an outsider suddenly appeared to take a share of the pie, the outcome was predictable.
At best, they would engage in price wars. If they encountered a more ruthless Chamber, their shops could be destroyed.
In the commercial wars of Wizard Chambers, physically eliminating competitors was also a strategy.
"Good, good, good. That's a great idea, Brother, but you must be careful."
Bob waved his hand: "Don't worry, little brother. I'm a man who fears death; I wouldn't risk my life."
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Richard returned to the airship and led out the Magic Dwarves.
To transport these Magic Dwarves, Richard had specially chartered an airship.
"Wow, Magic Dwarves! These are rare indeed."
Bob, being from the Chamber of Commerce, was well-versed in natural history, not inferior to Richard, an Alchemist Wizard.
"I remember these were thought to be extinct in the Wizard World, with only a few surviving in the Secret Realms of Great Wizards. Little brother, have you made connections with a Great Wizard?
The Black Tower Great Wizard?"
Richard shook his head: "Don't guess wildly. To be precise, these Magic Dwarves belong to the Council of Truth.
Not long ago, we fought in an Academy War. In the Mirror of the World, I happened to help these Magic Dwarves resolve some trouble and received some benefits in return.
This cross-regional journey of mine is to return these Magic Dwarves to their ancestral lands."
After hearing Richard's explanation, Bob's body trembled.
"Little brother Richard, you can't mess with the Council's property. Did you sign a contract with these Magic Dwarves? If you did, revoke it immediately.
If the enforcement Wizards from the legal department find out you've taken the Council's property, no matter how small the amount, you'll be in for at least this long."
Bob held up three fingers.
As for the unit, it was clear from Bob's expression that it was millennia.
Richard patted Bob's shoulder and smiled: "Don't worry, these Magic Dwarves are completely legitimate. I haven't broken any laws; what can the enforcement Wizards do to me?"
Although the enforcement Wizards from the legal department had significant power, they were also subject to strict limitations.
Soft extortion of Nine Stars Commerce was the extent of what they could do by exploiting loopholes, or rather, what the Council allowed.
Any further actions would cross a red line. If an enforcement Wizard crossed that line, the only things awaiting them would be internal investigations and soul annihilation.
Enforcement Wizards were harsh on mad Wizards, and they showed no mercy to their former colleagues either.
"Legitimate?" Bob's mind was momentarily confused.
Weren't these Magic Dwarves the property of the Council of Truth? How could Richard taking them out of the Mirror of the World seem legitimate?
But seeing Richard's confident demeanor, Bob chose to trust him.
Based on his understanding of Richard, Richard would never be careless in important matters.
"Well, if you haven't done anything wrong, little brother, then I won't pry further. I remember you're on a path of physical evolution, so I've arranged a banquet in the city to welcome you.
Cross-regional travel can wait; you must attend."
"Hahaha, since you've already prepared, Brother, how could I refuse?"
...
Richard left with Bob, while the remaining Magic Dwarves were taken by Bob's attendants to explore the City of Bliss.
For the Magic Dwarves, every plant and tree in the City of Bliss was a novelty. The lives of Magic Dwarves could almost be described as ascetic, with virtually no entertainment in their daily lives.
If anything, forging and martial arts might be the only activities with any entertainment value.
But compared to the myriad forms of entertainment in the City of Bliss, these activities were as bland as water.
Soon, the thirty Magic Dwarves were captivated by the city's various amusements, except for Bruto.
Seeing Bruto's indifference to everything around him, the lead attendant was at a loss.
Bob had instructed him to ensure the Magic Dwarves had a good time, but after nearly touring the entire City of Bliss, this Magic Dwarf still showed no interest in any entertainment.
What was he supposed to do? He couldn't take him to the Wizard District to participate in activities meant for Wizards.
Those activities weren't necessarily suitable for ordinary beings.
"Why have we stopped?" Bruto asked, noticing the attendant's pause.
"Esteemed Sir, we've finished our tour. If we continue, we'll be heading to the Wizard District," the attendant said tactfully. "There's not much to do there."
Bruto nodded and then asked: "Do you have a library here? I'd like to find some books on architecture."
Reading... a very Wizard-like hobby.
But this request was something the City of Bliss could fulfill.
The city was home to a large number of Wizard Apprentices. With their knowledge not as extensive as full-fledged Wizards, they naturally sought ways to solve any difficulties they encountered.
Thus, the City of Bliss had established a library for these Wizard Apprentices to consult materials.
Since the knowledge was at the level of Wizard Apprentices, acquiring such materials only required a bit of money. There were even Wizard Chambers of Commerce specializing in this business.
They regularly updated the libraries of Wizard Academies, ensuring that the knowledge available to apprentices was accurate and up-to-date.
"You want to read? That's simple."
The attendant smiled and immediately led Bruto to the Apprentice Library.
But before they could take more than a few steps, a streak of light flashed across the sky, followed by several spherical security drones from the Security Department rapidly approaching the light.
"What's going on?" Bruto asked curiously.
The attendant, looking annoyed, said: "Nothing, just run into an enforcement Wizard. We don't need to bother with it."
"Is that so? I don't think so."
A voice sounded in the attendant's ear, and then a black-robed Wizard landed beside him.
"Kid, what's the deal with this Magic Dwarf? Magic Dwarves in the Wizard World were all gathered and cultivated by the Council of Truth over seven thousand years ago. Where did you get this one?"
Seeing the sudden appearance of the black-robed Wizard, the attendant forced a smile: "He's a companion of one of our esteemed guests. As for his origin, perhaps he's a clone."
Cloning was a mature technique in the Alchemy school, used by Wizards to rebuild their bodies after physical destruction.
With just a drop of blood and the necessary life information, a body could be cloned.
The black-robed Wizard examined Bruto and suddenly took out a crystal ball.
A faint light flashed on the crystal ball, and the Wizard's eyes sharpened.
"Wrong, he doesn't have a mark."
Cloning was too convenient for disguises. A mad Wizard could clone a body and disguise themselves as someone else.
Thus, all Chambers of Commerce offering cloning services and Wizards who used cloning would place different marks on the clones to indicate their origins.
But Bruto had no mark.
There were two possibilities: either the Wizard forgot to place one. This was simpler; the Wizard would just need to pay a fine or provide evidence for the Chamber that created the clone to pay the fine.
The other possibility was theft of the Council of Truth's property.
This was a serious crime, and catching even one was a significant achievement.
The black-robed Wizard immediately took out a scroll from his pocket and commanded the attendant: "As an enforcement Wizard, I now require your assistance in an investigation.
Summon the owner of this Magic Dwarf immediately."
The attendant looked troubled, but seeing the enforcement Wizard's scroll, he had no choice but to take out a communication crystal ball.
"Chairman, an enforcement Wizard has stopped us. We need Mr. Richard to come and assist in the investigation."
"...Alright, understood."
Soon, two streaks of light arrived at the scene—Bob and Richard.
The black-robed Wizard recognized Bob, so he immediately focused on the Wizard beside him.
With a stern expression, the black-robed Wizard asked: "Is this Magic Dwarf yours?"
Richard replied indifferently: "He's not mine. He's a free individual."
"Free individual?" The black-robed Wizard sneered. "That's a new one. Did you clone this Magic Dwarf?"
"No."
The black-robed Wizard's eyes lit up.
"No? Are you certain, Wizard?"
Richard remained unfazed: "I am certain."
Hearing this, the black-robed Wizard was inwardly delighted.
"Then come with me. Magic Dwarves were all gathered and cultivated by the Council of Truth over seven thousand years ago. I now suspect you of stealing the Council's property," the black-robed Wizard declared sternly.
"Is that so?" Richard calmly pulled out a scroll from his pocket.
When the scroll was opened, its contents and the five marks of the Towers of Truth below instantly froze the smile on the black-robed Wizard's face.
He hadn't heard of the contents of the scroll, but the marks were undeniable.
These Magic Dwarves had been recognized as Wizard affiliates by the Council of Truth, enjoying rights nearly equal to those of Wizards.
When had this happened?
Richard leisurely put away the scroll and said: "An enforcement Wizard who can't even remember the decrees of the Council of Truth.
Master, I suspect you of neglecting your duties."
(End of Chapter)