themonasnovels Chapter 14 The Mage at the Top of the Food Chain
Chapter 14 The Mage at the Top of the Food Chain
Snowball was unaware that something was wrong with Zag.
Or perhaps it noticed, but didn't care, and instead carelessly went off to duel with the claw-grinding pillar.
After copying the Prohibition order, Zag posted it out, and then copied two Level 0 requests, both from citizens of the town who had come to apply that afternoon.
One of the problems involved dealing with a shadowy figure that kept spying on the cow in the client's house. It was said that the shadowy figure only appeared in the middle of the night, and each time it would frighten the cow into mooing, waking the client up, but they couldn't find the specific reason for it, and could only see the shadowy figure quickly disappear into the woods.
Zag didn't think it was a magical creature, suspecting it was a wolf or some other animal, so he classified it as level 0. However, out of respect for the client's insistence, he still agreed to the request.
This is mainly because magical creatures generally do not approach large human settlements on their own initiative unless they are controlled or have gone completely insane.
Furthermore, if it were truly a magical creature, its covetousness of an ordinary cow wouldn't have made it so timid. Even a snowball—well, a snowball is a bit difficult, but even an immature Blackfang Hound could easily kill a cow, and wouldn't harass it for days without making any move.
The other is the most common ghostly event.
Generally speaking, ghosts cannot stay in places inhabited by the living for long; they need quiet, magical, and dark environments. Noise and excessive vitality will weaken ghosts, so unless there are special circumstances, ghosts will not come to towns, much less disturb any residents.
In past experience, investigations into these incidents have always revealed that they were either caused by humans, even children's pranks, or by magical creatures whose harm is negligible, such as ghost butterflies or ravens acting in retaliation.
Even so, for the first commission, Zag considered trying to stake it out himself to see if he could pocket the 10-shilling reward. He was completely out of his depth for the second, so he could only copy it down step by step, post it on the bulletin board, and let the real investigator handle it.
After finishing all the work, a lucky day came to an end. Subtracting the 36 shillings paid last night for the leather armor making, the net profit from snatching this commission was 164 shillings, equivalent to more than a month's income for Zag.
Bathed in the warm light of the kerosene lamp, Zag, slumped in his chair after a satisfying meal, couldn't help but sigh, "Mastering magic really does make more money as a detective!"
"That's because you made that money purely out of pocket!" Snowball muttered, washing his face with his paws. "If it were the normal process for an investigator to accept a commission, they would first have to pay 10% magic business tax and 10% local transaction tax. 50% of the remaining amount would be deducted and given to the association. Only the investigator's own income would be left."
"Let me calculate. If it's a Level 2 incident commission worth 200 shillings, and it's completed by an investigator alone, then he can get about... well, 81 shillings."
"It sounds like a lot, but don't forget that out of these 81 shillings, you have to deduct the cost of magical materials, and if you get injured, you'll have to undergo expensive magical treatments, plus room and board. In the end, you'll be lucky to have half left."
"But the noble lords in the royal city can easily spend more than 40 shillings in a single meal. That's why only mages from the lower classes and various guilds do this job full-time—the income is even worse than that of mercenaries. The only advantage is that it's safer. As long as you don't take on commissions you're not sure about, you won't easily lose your life."
Zag hadn't really thought that far ahead. Now, after hearing Xueqiu's calculations, he realized that it was true. Working hard for a day or two to complete a commission only earned him around 40 shillings, and the opportunity wasn't always available. It wasn't much higher than Zag's weekly wage of 30 shillings.
The difference may only be three or four times, but the danger is far more than that.
"The association's cut is really steep!"
"Higher-level investigators get a lower commission. For example, investigators at level 6 and above get 70% of the commission, and those at level 8 and above get 80%, but..." Snowball mocked, "Investigators certified at level 6 and above are at least at the level of intermediate mages. Such mages are sought after by lords and nobles with high salaries. Who would want to be a thankless and exhausting professional investigator? Level 8 is even more outrageous—a high-level mage! I really don't know which absurd Modo came up with that idea! A level 8 investigator is more than qualified to be a royal court mage advisor! They could even be an assistant professor in the Golden Palace! They could even find well-paid jobs in the magic towers of Lunaran. Which of those isn't better than being a professional investigator who's always out there sleeping in the open?"
"Perhaps there will always be someone who yearns for freedom?"
Zag said casually, sitting up straight and deciding not to give up for now.
At least examine your own cheat ability to see if there are any proficiency levels or other explanations. In particular, you should rule out any special restrictions on the use of spells, as this could be a matter of life and death in the future.
Of course, more importantly, earning more than a month's income so easily greatly increased Zag's enthusiasm for magic—
Mages are indeed at the top of the food chain!
"Flame, burning, destruction—"
As Zag whispered, a fireball the size of a fist quickly appeared in his palm.
This is the [Fireball] spell, which is currently the only spell he knows.
Why do I unconsciously utter these three words every time I cast Fireball?
This problem has puzzled Zag for a long time, but he hasn't had the time to study it carefully until now.
but……
"Snowball, why do I always mutter three words when I cast [Fireball]?"
Why not use Xueqiu (a Chinese encyclopedia platform) instead of Xueqiu (another Chinese encyclopedia platform)?
Zag chose to use Snowball directly as an AI.
Snowball was grooming its belly fur when it heard Zag's question. Without even looking up, it said irritably, "How should I know! Isn't this a spell you learned? Seriously, it's the shortest spell I've ever heard. Most spells are quite long, and those long-eared ones especially love to chant in Ancient Elven language, a single sentence can take half an hour! It's unbelievable! By the time they finish chanting, their heads and necks could each hold two separate eternal slumber rituals!"
"What...is it a spell?"
"A spell is a spell!"
"I mean, what are spells used for?"
"What's it for?"
Snowball finally poked its head out from its belly and looked at Zag.
It first looked Zag up and down with an expression as if he were an idiot, then flipped over, adjusted its posture, shook its fur, and with an extremely elegant and proud posture, lightly stepped onto its four legs and came to Zag, looking up at him.
"Since you did indeed offer the great Snowball some dried fish, I will mercifully explain some magical knowledge about 'spirituality' to you."
"This kind of knowledge usually costs hundreds of gold pounds and can only be learned in places like the Golden Palace Wizard Research Institute. You've hit the jackpot, Sentinel!"
Zag completely respected the hoggery's misunderstanding of its status and adopted a respectful demeanor: "Thank you, great Snowball, for your guidance on magic."
Zag's words pleased Snowball, who immediately flew onto the table, stretched, and began to act as the temporary professor of magic.
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【Dawn Protocol】: The Dawn Protocol is regarded as the beginning of the Eternal Era.
At the end of the Dragon Age, with the support of some demon gods and demons, humanity successfully resisted the dragons' enslavement, defeated them, and signed an agreement, the "Dawn Agreement," in the Dawn Mage Tower on the first day of the new era.
The agreement separated all the demon gods and demons who participated in the Dragon Slayer War from other demon races, and named them, along with several ancestral gods who were revered as ancestral holy spirits, the "Holy Spirit Race".
Of the nine Holy Spirits, seven are the demonic representatives who enjoy the fruits of this war. They are allowed to establish and spread their faith in the Eternal High Kingdom, enjoying offerings and respect to strengthen their power.