Outside the city gates.
The entrance intended for commoners was already packed with people.
Four lines.
They stretched from the city gates to over a hundred meters away.
They meandered like four gray serpents.
The people in line were dressed in coarse cloth clothes.
Some carried bundles on their backs, some held children, and some leaned on canes.
Their faces were filled with exhaustion and anxiety.
No one spoke.
They simply moved forward silently, inch by inch.
On both sides of the lines stood members of the Defense Force.
Wearing standard-issue armor with longswords hanging at their waists.
Their eyes scanned the crowd with indifference.
Occasionally, someone would cut in line.
A guard would walk over, grab them, and pull them out.
They were pushed aside and forced to the very back of the line to start over.
Those punished did not dare to make a sound.
With heads lowered, they hurried to the end of the line.
Lin Gui manipulated his staff, slowly descending.
He had originally intended to wait in line like everyone else.
Just as his staff touched the ground.
A member of the Defense Force spotted him.
It was a middle-aged man.
He had a bushy beard, a square face, and a burly physique.
His gaze first landed on Lin Gui’s staff.
Then it shifted to the height at which the staff was floating.
Those indifferent eyes lit up instantly.
He hurried over.
A smile broke out on his face.
"Lord Wizard."
"You do not need to wait in line."
He stepped aside and made a gesturing motion with his hand.
"You and your friend may enter directly through the express lane."
Wizard.
A title used only within magic circles.
It was specifically for mages who knew Levitation.
Males were called wizards, while females were called witches.
Lin Gui had just descended from the sky.
The staff was floating, and two people were riding it.
It was hard not to be noticed.
He nodded.
Manipulating his staff, he floated toward the express lane on the other side.
Elvia followed behind him.
The express lane also had a checkpoint.
A guard stood there.
His strength was at the Mid-tier Transcendent rank.
Seeing Lin Gui float over, he immediately stood up straight.
"Lord Wizard."
He lowered his head slightly, his tone respectful.
"May I ask where you have come from?"
Lin Gui said flatly.
"Withered Wood Town."
The guard nodded and made a note in the logbook.
He asked again.
"For what purpose do you visit Coppergate City?"
Lin Gui said.
"To participate in the transport team selection."
The guard’s eyes brightened even more.
He put down his pen and handed the logbook over with both hands.
"I see."
"My Lord, please sign your name here, and then you may enter."
His tone was even more respectful than before.
He even added a hint of fawning.
Lin Gui took the pen and signed his name.
The guard took the logbook back and gave another bow.
"I wish you success in the selection, My Lord."
"Please."
He stepped aside to make way.
Lin Gui manipulated his staff and floated through the gate.
Elvia followed behind.
As they passed through the gate.
She let out a light laugh.
"I didn't expect your Levitation to have this kind of use."
Lin Gui said flatly.
"A mage who knows Levitation, regardless of their rank..."
"Can truly become a member of a transport team whenever they wish."
"They gain a transcendent status."
His gaze landed ahead.
"Just like them."
Elvia followed his gaze.
On the inner side of the city gate, near the base of the wall.
A transport team was stopped there.
A massive Wheelless Train was loaded with goods.
The image of an eagle with spread wings was printed on the side of the vehicle.
A few people wearing luxurious robes were standing beside the vehicle.
Leading them was a plump middle-aged man.
He wore several rings on his fingers—gold ones, ones with gemstones.
He was hunched over, his face covered in smiles.
He was saying something to a person from the transport team.
The person from the transport team was a tall, thin young man.
Wearing deep blue mage robes with a transport team badge pinned to his chest.
He leaned against the vehicle with his arms crossed.
His face was filled with nothing but impatience.
The fat noble said a few more words.
The young man suddenly raised his hand.
He slapped the noble across the face.
Slap!
The crisp sound of the slap echoed through the city gate tunnel.
The fat noble’s head was knocked to the side.
The smile on his face froze for an instant.
Then, he turned back.
His smile grew even deeper.
Bending his waist, he leaned in.
He continued speaking.
His tone was even more humble than before.
The young man let out a cold snort.
He waved his hand as if shooing away a fly.
The fat noble nodded repeatedly.
He took a few steps back.
Then he turned and hurried away.
That fawning smile was still plastered on his face.
Lin Gui sat sideways on the staff.
The staff floated slowly forward.
He watched this scene as if watching a play.
Elvia followed his example.
She sat sideways.
Then, she actually pulled a piece of fruit from her robes.
Crunch. She took a bite.
Juice trickled down the corner of her mouth.
She wiped it away with the back of her hand.
Her eyes stared unblinkingly at the scene.
The fat noble walked a few steps.
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of them.
He saw the two people sitting leisurely on the staff, munching on fruit.
A black-haired mage.
A blonde woman.
Just hanging there in mid-air.
Watching him like it was a monkey show.
The fat noble’s face turned red instantly.
He clenched his fists.
He took a step forward.
Then.
He saw Lin Gui’s feet hanging in the air.
His steps came to a sudden halt.
His fists slowly unclenched.
The anger on his face faded away bit by bit.
He lowered his head.
He turned around.
He hurried away.
His pace was even faster than before.
The thin, tall transport team member also saw Lin Gui.
His gaze fell upon the floating staff.
His eyes lit up.
He walked over quickly.
"Lord Wizard."
His face was covered in a smile.
He was like a completely different person compared to a moment ago.
"I am the Vice Captain of the 'Iron Feather' transport team."
"I wonder if you have already joined a transport team, My Lord?"
Lin Gui said flatly.
"I have."
The young man’s smile froze for an instant.
But it quickly recovered.
"That is a pity then."
He pulled a business card from his robes and handed it over with both hands.
"If you should change your mind, My Lord, you can come find me at any time."
"Our Iron Feather transport team offers excellent benefits."
Lin Gui took the card and gave it a quick glance.
He nodded.
The young man gave another bow and turned to leave.
The staff continued to float forward.
The city gate tunnel was very deep.
The walls of Coppergate City reached into the clouds.
And its thickness was even more staggering.
A full hundred meters wide.
The staff floated through the tunnel.
On either side were grayish-white stone walls.
Above was a high vaulted ceiling.
Magic glowstones were embedded in the walls, emitting a faint light.
The light was dim and carried a chill.
The staff's shadow was stretched very long.
Within this hundred-meter-long tunnel.
Lin Gui had acquired three more business cards.
They had all been pressed into his hand during the time it took to cross the tunnel.
Some were from transport teams, some from chambers of commerce.
Aside from the first transport team, most were groups that had not registered with the Transport Guild.
Most likely, they were also here to participate in the transport team selection.
Seeing Lin Gui’s floating staff.
They had approached, handed over cards, and tried to establish a connection.
Lin Gui accepted them all with a smile.
He neither refused nor agreed.
Finally.
Light appeared ahead.
The staff passed through the tunnel.
They had officially entered Coppergate City.
Rate on N.U.
