I headed straight to the Neca market. The market office was a five-story building located in the heart of the city, serving as the city hall with different floors handling various tasks. The first floor was packed with people waiting for their turn, which would likely take half a day.
As I navigated through the crowd, a guide rushed over and bowed deeply.
"Thank you for visiting! As a member of the Arahan family, you may proceed directly to the fifth floor."
I nodded, acknowledging the influence of the Arahan family in Neca. I received a mix of admiring and fearful glances as I made my way to the fifth floor.
"Welcome, Zed Young Master," a middle-aged man greeted with a slight bow.
His name was Douglas Hooper, the mayor of Neca and a 6-circle mage.
"Hello, Mayor," I replied.
"I'm honored that you recognize me," Douglas said with a warm smile.
One thing I knew about him was that he hadn't been swayed by any of the Arahan siblings. As the mayor, he had to maintain neutrality to ensure fairness in the city.
"I can only offer you this tea. I hope it meets your taste."
The tea had a subtle aroma and rich flavor, much like Douglas's character. Eddie had told me that Douglas was a fair and excellent figure who genuinely listened to the people's grievances.
It seemed intentional that such a person was chosen as mayor, especially in a city like Neca, where the Arahan family held significant power.
I sipped the tea and handed him a contract.
"This is a sales contract. I'm buying a building, but the owner claims the documents were stolen."
Douglas raised an eyebrow.
"Ah, a sales contract. That's a common issue in the city."
"I want to get it notarized."
"I understand. Let me check the documents."
Douglas brought out a thick stack of papers and confirmed the address on the contract.
"The owner is listed as Warren Vitti. I've verified it."
"Can you notarize it immediately?"
"Yes, if it's a legitimate transaction, there shouldn't be any issues. Just pay the remaining balance."
I completed the transaction in front of Douglas, and Vitti received the payment with a mixture of excitement and greed.
As Vitti left, I noticed that his behavior seemed suspicious, and I sent two unit members to follow him.
"Make sure he doesn't get robbed. And don't think about taking the gold for yourselves."
The unit member asked, "Really? You're not going to let us take it?"
I sighed, realizing that even mages thought about seizing opportunities.
"Don't make me regret trusting you. That gold is for the building, so don't get any ideas."
Later That Day
I had plenty of gold left after purchasing the building, thanks to receiving three years' worth of operational funds for my small mansion. I used some of it to buy furniture and other necessities. In the evening, I sent the Kinzer brothers to fetch Eddie.
"Wow... this is really your building?"
"It will be your workplace too," I said.
Eddie smiled, seemingly pleased with how quickly things had progressed.
For someone from a humble background, owning such a building was a dream come true.
Eddie handed me a piece of paper without me asking.
"This is a list of magicians hiding in Neca."
"Why magicians?" I asked.
"You need a mentor, don't you? Becoming stronger is a lifelong goal for the Arahan family."
I had thought about finding a mentor but hadn't pursued it seriously, as it wasn't common.
Eddie pointed to a name on the list.
"Klang Guttera?"
"I've never heard of the Guttera family."
Eddie explained, "They were famous mercenaries in the west. It's an old story, but they were quite renowned."
"A magician who worked as a mercenary?"
Eddie nodded.
"For smaller families, being mercenaries was a lucrative option. The public's perception might be skewed, but it was a viable choice."
The Kinzer brothers chimed in, "Ah, we've heard of the Guttera family! There was a saying that hiring one Guttera was better than employing an entire mercenary group."
Eddie added, "Yes, they were expensive, but worth it for wealthy nobles."
I found the idea intriguing.
"If they were mercenaries, they must have a lot of experience. Perhaps they're skilled in reconnaissance or assassination?"
Eddie agreed.
"Guttera would be a great mentor for you. You're not a typical mage, and you excel in combat. I think you two would match well."
"Why did you list so many candidates?"
"Well, Guttera's personality is a bit eccentric. I wanted to have backup options in case we couldn't secure him."
"Is Guttera your top choice?"
"Absolutely."
Initially, I was indifferent, but now I was curious.
If Eddie, who was obsessed with gathering information, strongly recommended Guttera, he must be exceptional.
I wasn't interested in typical magical training, sitting in a meditation room. Real training involved sweat and hard work.