Lin Gui did not expect that the shopkeeper's commission was merely the beginning.
As he bustled through various shops to purchase supplies for his long journey, news of him taking on the “Carrier Pigeon” commission had already spread through the streets and alleys like wildfire.
In the slums, people whispered to one another, their eyes shining with disbelief.
New Covenant City, the City Lord's Mansion.
After listening to his subordinate's detailed report, the city lord, dressed in fine silk robes, frowned as his fingertips lightly tapped the expensive wooden table.
The candlelight flickered in the study, casting a shadow over his mercurial expression.
“Are you saying that rogue mage named Lin Gui went to the Magic City and actually returned in one piece?”
His voice carried a trace of incredulous curiosity.
Over the past ten years, the number of demons in the wilderness had surged.
Of the guards and adventurers sent out to scout, they were lucky if even one out of ten returned.
Even his strongest knights could not cross the Black Demon Forest right outside New Covenant City.
They claimed that it would require the escort of a Transcendent expert to barely make it through.
How did he, a lowly mage who started out as a homeless orphan, manage to do it?
And to the Magic City, tens of thousands of kilometers away, no less?
“It is absolutely true, City Lord.”
The subordinate replied respectfully.
“At the auction a year ago, that Everbright Crystal Lamp that fetched an astronomical price was brought back by him from the Magic City. The Captain of the Guard saw it with his own eyes.”
The city lord's gaze swept across the desk to the magic lamp, which was currently emitting a soft, magnificent glow. His tapping finger paused, and he slowly nodded.
That lamp was indeed extraordinary; its magical craftsmanship had completely captivated the finest blacksmith in New Covenant City.
“What is the assessment of his strength?”
“According to the Adventurers Guild's observations, he should be a Low-tier High Rank mage, specializing in the elemental powers of wind and earth.”
“His actual strength... no one knows for sure, because no one has ever witnessed him in battle.”
“In my opinion, he might be only slightly inferior to the Commander of the Defense Force.”
“Oh?”
The city lord drew out his words, leaning forward slightly as his interest was piqued.
A High Rank mage comparable to the Commander was a rare find in all of New Covenant City.
“Should I take some men and 'invite' him to accept the mission to escort the young lady to Caran City?”
The subordinate inquired cautiously, placing extra emphasis on the word "invite."
“Hmph.”
The city lord let out a contemptuous snort.
“Entrust my precious pearl to a rogue mage born in the slums? Absolutely impossible.”
He paused. Although the man's background made him instinctively repulsed, his daughter's departure was indeed imminent.
For the continuation of their family, the political marriage in Caran City could no longer be delayed.
The Dark Tide... was coming. This time, it was highly likely to appear on the southwestern border.
After contemplating for a moment, his fingertips resumed their absentminded tapping on the table as he commanded,
“...We will wait for him to return. As long as he can return alive, proving his ability and luck, I will grant him an audience.”
“Understood.” The subordinate bowed and withdrew.
The agreed-upon day arrived in the blink of an eye.
In the slums, inside a dilapidated three-story wooden house.
Lin Gui packed the items he needed for his long journey. After neatly arranging his purchases in his backpack, his hands paused, and his gaze shifted to a locked wooden chest under the bed.
With a sigh, he dragged it out, unlocked it, and opened it.
Lin Gui took out a small wooden box, a vial of purple liquid, and a book.
Holding the book titled Heavenly Star Registry, a slender figure flashed through his mind, and he placed it at the very bottom of his backpack.
As for that vial of potion, Lin Gui concealed it deep within his pack.
Shouldering his packed, half-man-tall backpack and cradling the small wooden box in his arms, he left his home.
In a secluded, deserted corner, Lin Gui buried the box in the dirt.
With everything ready, he stepped out onto the street.
Taking a deep breath of the cool air, he planted his oak staff firmly on the ground in front of him.
Instantly, a magic circle intricately outlined in flowing silver light appeared on the ground.
A low, clear chant resonated.
Each syllable precisely manipulated the surrounding mana, causing subtle yet distinct vibrations in the air:
【Shadow that wanders the void, heed my call】
【With mana as the bridge and contract as the guide, pierce through the barrier of realms】
【...】
【Come forth, Beast of Burden!】
Mana began to gather frantically, and the air in front of Lin Gui blurred and shimmered from the distorted energy.
As the final syllable fell with resounding force, the center of the magic circle erupted with brilliant light.
A massive, emerald-green figure solidified from the glow.
It was a giant lizard covered in thick, armored scales, with a burly build and gentle eyes.
It affectionately lowered its head, nuzzling against Lin Gui.
“I'll have to rely on you again this time, Old Green.”
Lin Gui patted the giant lizard's rough skin, a rare expression of warmth appearing on his face.
He swiftly fitted the saddle onto the giant lizard he called “Old Green.”
After securely fastening the massive backpack to its broad back, he flipped himself up and mounted it.
“Old Green, to the Adventurers Guild.”
Crawling slowly onto the main street, he was stunned by the sight that greeted him when he arrived at the guild's entrance.
The entrance of the guild was packed so tightly that not even water could trickle through.
As far as the eye could see, it was crowded with plainly dressed, weather-beaten commoners.
Most of them clutched crumpled sheets of paper in their hands, their faces filled with anticipation and anxiety.
“Old Green's” unusual appearance was extremely eye-catching, and the crowd quickly noticed Lin Gui.
“Look! It's the mage! He's here!” someone cried out in surprise.
Instantly, the crowd surged toward Lin Gui like a rising tide.
He instinctively held his oak staff across his chest in a defensive stance, warily watching the crowd close in.
“Is there... something you all need?”
Lin Gui's voice carried a subtle, barely perceptible tension.
Being surrounded by so many people made him instinctively uncomfortable.
Seeing that Lin Gui seemed to be on guard, the people did not dare to get too close.
An elderly man stepped forward as a representative, speaking respectfully and eagerly.
“Um... esteemed Mage, we heard... you accepted the ‘Carrier Pigeon’ commission. Is that true?”
Lin Gui looked around in confusion. The dark mass of people before him numbered at least three to four hundred.
“Are you the clients? But there were clearly only fifty-four people on the commission list.” His tone was filled with bewilderment.
An older-looking elder in the crowd took two trembling steps forward.
He looked up, his face a mix of anticipation, unease, and deep pleading as he answered on behalf of everyone:
“Please understand, Mage... those fifty-four letters belong to the few families who first plucked up the courage to post the commission five years ago.”
“Over these past ten years... there are far more than just fifty-four families like us who have lost all contact with Caran City!”
The elder's voice choked up as he turned to point at the dense crowd behind him.
“Almost every single family here... has relatives in Caran City.”
“Either parents, children, or siblings...”
“It has been ten years. Families torn apart, and we don't even know if they are dead or alive!”
Another middle-aged woman squeezed forward, her hands tightly clutching a coarse apron, tears welling in her eyes.
“My Lord, we know the rules. We know that adding to a commission costs extra money...”
“But we... we really can't produce that many gold coins...”
She spoke, pulling a small cloth pouch from her bosom.
She opened it carefully, revealing a scattered handful of worn copper and silver coins.
“This was pooled together by 104 households in our neighborhood... We know this pittance is far from enough, but we only beg for your mercy, My Lord.”
“If your journey goes smoothly and you reach Caran City... could you... could you please help us ask around for news of our relatives?”
“All we need... all we need is for you to bring a word back to let us know if they are well...”
Seeing the people around him growing emotional and on the verge of breaking into a collective sob, Lin Gui felt his scalp tingle.
He quickly waved his hands to stop them.
“Wait! Don't cry yet! So... you all want to send letters to Caran City as well, is that it?”
The surrounding people looked at him with teary eyes and nodded vigorously.
“We only want you to bring a message to our families over there, so we can know how they are doing.”
“We wouldn't dare trouble you to carry actual letters and take up your precious space...”
Lin Gui sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
He had never expected that a simple mail delivery would involve so many people.
Lin Gui was also somewhat familiar with the Great Evacuation ten years ago, a crisis that had swept through the entire borderland.
It was caused by the 15th Dark Tide, the Eclipse Torrent, which was the closest to the borderlands ten years ago.
To be precise, it was a branch of it.
The branch had crossed the Giant's Chasm and flooded into the borderlands.
This forced countless small villages in the borderlands to migrate toward the nearest city-states.
The demons came too quickly, causing many to lose their way or perish during that massive evacuation.
He looked around at the people staring at him expectantly.
Many of them were old enough to be his parents or even grandparents.
What made his heart tighten even more was the sight of several ragged, emaciated street children scattered throughout the crowd.
“Alright, alright,” he raised his voice. “Go back and write down whatever you want to say.”
“I will wait for you at the guild entrance for one hour.”
“Seven copper coins per message. I won't wait for latecomers.”
“As for the owners of those original fifty-four letters, go cancel that commission at the guild first and take your money back.”
“Just pay seven coppers like everyone else, and I will deliver them for you.”
The surrounding crowd instantly fell silent, their mouths agape, hardly able to believe what they were hearing.
Heavens above, adventurers were notoriously greedy, never stirring unless there was profit to be made.
Let alone a powerful mage like Lin Gui, who had returned alive from the Magic City!
One had to understand that even the lowest-grade commission in the guild, such as clearing slimes clogging the sewers, was priced at least at one gold coin!
That was equivalent to a hundred silver coins!
Seven copper coins? This was unbelievably cheap, a sum even the poorest beggar could barely scrape together.
This was no longer a discount; it was practically charity!
Could there really be such a kind-hearted mage willing to risk his life to deliver messages for complete strangers?
The onlookers stood frozen in place, hardly daring to move, terrified that this was all just a dream.
Seeing this, Lin Gui could only sigh. He deliberately stiffened his face and warned them in a cold tone,
“I just happen to be going to Caran City on personal business, and bringing your messages is merely on the way.”
“There might never be another opportunity like this in the future, so you had better cherish it.”
Instantly, a familiar warmth washed over them. The crowd offered endless thanks, crying out that the gods had blessed them.
Having been graced with such good fortune, they hurriedly turned and ran back to their homes to prepare their letters or messages.
Most of the crowd dispersed, yet those few dirty children remained standing in place, motionless.
Lin Gui found it strange and asked, “Why are you still standing there? Aren't you going to prepare?”
The oldest boy, leading the group, uneasily rubbed the hem of his shirt and said in a low voice,
“Mage... we... we don't know how to read or write, so we don't know how to write a letter...”
Looking at their tattered clothes and skeletal frames, a bitter taste filled Lin Gui's mouth.
Having struggled to survive as a seven-year-old child when he first arrived in this world, he knew all too well how difficult it was for homeless orphans without adults to rely on to survive in this cruel world.
He gestured for the children to come closer, then pulled a homemade charcoal pencil and a small stack of coarse paper from his backpack.
“I'll write it for you. Who's first? Who do you want to send a message to?”
The children looked at each other before finally pushing the oldest boy forward.
“Um, Mage,” the boy's voice was very soft, “actually... I'm the only one who wants to send a message.”
Lin Gui glanced at the other children, who were generally under ten years old.
He understood in his heart that these children probably had no living relatives left to search for.
Just like him...
He did not pry, simply nodding.
“Alright, tell me your name, who you want to send the message to, and it would be best if you could describe what they look like to make it easier for me to find them.”
“Um... Mage, my name is Loken.”
“I want to send a message to my mother, Corona Wilke.”
“She has brown hair and black eyes. She should be... forty-eight years old now?”
“And... she always wears several rings on her hands...”
The boy struggled to recall.
Lin Gui wrote down the information provided by Loken stroke by stroke at the top of the paper.
“What do you want to say to her? Is it to let her know you're safe... to tell her you're here so she can come pick you up?”
“No!”
Loken snapped his head up to look at Lin Gui, his eyes devoid of sadness or hatred, carrying only a near-numb tranquility.
“I want to ask her why she pushed me off the carriage back then.”
“...”
Lin Gui's pen suddenly froze.
He looked up, taking a deep, long look at the unusually precocious and calm boy before him. In the end, he said nothing more, simply transcribing the sentence word for word onto the paper.
He then folded it carefully and slid it into an empty envelope.
“I will ask her for you, if she is still alive,” his voice softened slightly.
“Thank you, Mage. This is the payment.”
Seven copper coins, polished so brightly they could almost reflect a face, were handed over.
Lin Gui did not refuse, silently accepting the heavy copper coins.
Seven copper coins were indeed practically nothing, unable to buy even half a loaf of black bread.
Rate on N.U.
