George turned the talisman over in his hands for a long while before finally preparing to tear it open.
There were two ways to activate a magic scroll. The first was for a mage to use an incantation and mana to assist in its release, fully unleashing the spell's power. The second was the brute-force method George was about to use—ripping the scroll open. This caused the stored mana elements to collide and reassemble, releasing the spell, though at a significantly reduced potency.
The first method was typically used for casting spells above one's level, such as a Primary Mage attempting a Tier 5 or 6 spell. The second was for those without mana, like warriors or non-combatant nobles.
"Wait!" Seeing George about to tear the talisman, Thunder shouted to stop him.
The Five Radiance Divine Lightning Talisman was, after all, a basic talisman from the Talisman Sect and slightly different from this world's magic scrolls. Thunder wasn't sure if tearing it would even work.
But his warning came too late.
With a *rip*, George tore the talisman open.
*Crack!* A bolt of lightning struck precisely into the existing crater.
"Uh…" Witnessing this bizarre phenomenon firsthand, Thunder was at a loss for words. *Was this world really so different from Earth?*
"What's wrong?" George looked at Thunder with excitement.
"Nothing."
"The power is incredible! Even when torn, it matches a Tier 2 spell! If activated with an incantation and mana, this would rival a Tier 3 Falling Thunder!"
It was unbelievable. The single-target Falling Thunder was merely a Tier 1 spell for lightning mages. How could it be so powerful when inscribed as a scroll?
"Sir, may I ask your name?"
"Call me Colin." Thunder was still puzzled. It seemed he'd need time to study this world's mana. The talisman's inscription method was flawless—the only variable was the mana elements themselves.
"Master Colin, are you looking to sell these?" The shopkeeper asked eagerly. His store only carried scrolls up to Tier 2. Tier 3 and above were practically unavailable on the market, and George lacked the connections to procure them.
"That's the plan." Thunder pulled out over a dozen talismans from his robe. "Name your price."
"So many…" George nearly fainted. Inscribing even a single scroll required significant time and effort from a mage, not to mention the high failure rate. Most mages wouldn't bother with such thankless work.
Yet this young man had casually produced a stack—and not even using standard blank scrolls.
His shock lasted only a moment before George composed himself, carefully assessing the talismans' value.
"In the market, Tier 2 scrolls sell for ten gold coins, and Tier 3 for fifty. But yours… well, they're Tier 1 Falling Thunder spells with Tier 3 power. However, Falling Thunder is still fundamentally a Tier 1 spell, and this new type of scroll would require investment to establish a market. How about twenty gold coins per scroll?"
A fair offer. George didn't seem like a swindler, and Thunder, aside from being skilled in talismans, was also a decent judge of character.
"Deal. But I have one condition. If you agree, there'll be more opportunities like this in the future."
"Name it."
"Give me one of each scroll in your shop, and never reveal that I made these."
"Done!" George, a straightforward businessman, promptly paid the gold and bundled up his store's scrolls for Thunder. As for leaking trade secrets? No merchant would be that foolish.
Exiting the shop, Uncle Oak carried a large bag while Thunder juggled gold coins in his hand.
"Young Master, where did you get so much gold all of a sudden?" Oak asked, bewildered.
"That shopkeeper's my nephew. Didn't you know?" Thunder tossed two coins to Tifa. "Take these. Buy whatever you like."
Tifa glanced hesitantly at Oak, who shook his head. She didn't dare accept.
"Take it! Don't be dense!" Thunder stuffed the coins into her pocket.
He had sold fifteen talismans for three hundred gold. With his current mana reserves, Thunder could inscribe seven or eight scrolls a day. *Money really does grow on trees.*
Next, they visited a tailor's shop. Spending a few gold, Thunder had all three of them outfitted from head to toe, plus a bundle of extra clothes. Oak winced at the expense, while Tifa fidgeted awkwardly in her new attire.
"Looking good." Thunder admired Tifa in her fresh clothes—delicate, charming, and blushing furiously. She was a natural beauty, just a bit too thin.
Tifa's face burned red as she ducked her head.
*The young master never used to talk to me like this…* Her heart swelled with warmth.
Nearby, a jewelry shop caught Thunder's eye. With a wave, he declared, "Follow me!"
Oak pressed his lips together but said nothing, though his pained expression spoke volumes.
Dressed in their new finery, the trio entered the shop, immediately drawing the clerk's flattery. Tifa, in particular, turned heads with her delicate features.
Thunder felt like a king.
"How much for this hairpin?" He picked up a jade pin and slid it into Tifa's hair. The contrast between the dark red of her locks and the green jade was striking.
"One gold coin!" The shopkeeper fawned. "It complements the young lady's beauty perfectly."
Tifa shot the clerk a glare, and Thunder chuckled. Who knew the usually meek girl had such fire in her?
"One gold is too much," Oak muttered.
Next, Thunder selected a dark-red bracelet and slipped it onto Tifa's slender wrist. The rich hue stood out vividly against her pale skin.
Noticing the calluses on her palm, Thunder's heart ached. Tifa, flushing crimson, quickly pulled her hand back.
"And this one?"
"A bit pricier—one and a half gold."
"If I buy both, what's the total?"
"Two and a half gold!" The shopkeeper replied earnestly.
"Do I look like I can't do math?" Thunder glared.
"Haha, how about two gold and thirty silver then?"
**Will Thunder's newfound wealth attract unwanted attention?**