Chapter 232 The White Tower (Part 1) Heading to the White Tower, Nash, Vesper...
After deducting the ten boxes of white strawberries sent to the White Tower and the Papacy, as well as those previously sold to Grand Duke Eugene, this batch yielded nearly eight more boxes.
Lei ultimately decided to put them in the store to sell at the same price, but limited each person to one small box.
Whether you can buy one or not depends on your luck.
He figured that with strawberries this expensive, probably not many people would buy them.
Even so, it doesn't matter. Including the strawberries that have been pre-ordered, we have already recouped all the initial investment.
From the end of November, through the entire month of December, January, February, and the first half of March, it's strawberry season.
By the end of this period, Lei will have accumulated a considerable amount of wealth.
The invitation to the White Tower was for the following day. After sending a reply, Lai stayed in the manor all day and didn't go out.
Cher knew that Ray had been invited by the White Tower and had stayed at the manor to prepare suitable clothing for him.
The family was nearly wiped out, and the jewels that had been passed down through generations could no longer be found.
It's hard not to feel a sense of lament that the Victor family, which had lasted for over a century, has fallen to such a state.
The next morning, Lai arrived as promised.
He wore the clothes as suggested by Cher, with an extra layer of dark green mage's robe that Seyia had given him.
Aside from that, she wore no accessories and only ordinary clothes.
Lai tidied his hair, and Cher and the others agreed that Lai's entire demeanor changed after his hair was styled.
“Young Master Lei, you look so handsome! You should dress yourself up more often. Any noble lady who has seen you will surely give you her handkerchief.”
Kama praised him generously, her eyes full of admiration.
"You should have the tailor make you a few more well-fitting clothes."
Lei smiled and declined, saying he'd talk about it later.
The formal attire in the royal city, for both men and women, is extremely elaborate and form-fitting, striving to showcase the wearer's most authentic body curves.
Simply put, it's a bit tight and not conducive to daily activities.
Having grown accustomed to wearing loose-fitting clothes, Lai found it very difficult to adjust to the feeling of being constricted by clothing all day long. Therefore, she hadn't yet commissioned a formal dress.
At the same time, since he had to work in the greenhouse every day, he felt there was no need to dress so nicely.
But considering some upcoming plans, he might really need to have the tailor come to the manor after returning from the White Tower.
Everyone in the city's mage association can come and go as they please, but the White Tower is not so easy to enter.
As soon as Lai got off the carriage, before he even got close to the gate, he was stopped by the guards at the gate.
"Who are you? What business do you have at the White Pagoda? Ordinary people aren't allowed to come here casually, don't you know that!"
The guard was very tall and wore a thick suit of armor.
His lips were downturned, his eyes were wide, and he looked at him with a scrutinizing gaze.
Ray was no stranger to big scenes, so he wasn't intimidated by the guards.
He calmly produced the invitation from the White Tower. The guard's attitude didn't change upon seeing it, but he readily let him through.
"Someone will lead the way when you enter. Don't wander around on your own. There are many magic circles inside."
Thank you.
"Come in."
The main gate of the White Pagoda is open all year round, and everyone can enter and exit through the main gate.
Unlike other places where the main entrance is always locked and only opened during special periods or when receiving important guests, it is not locked.
This tradition dates back to the very beginning of the White Pagoda's construction.
The White Tower was created by a highly learned archmage. He believed that the doors to magic should be open to everyone, rather than closed off, and that everyone should have the right to understand magic.
Before magic, everyone is equal; only talent and strength are recognized, not family background or social status.
Therefore, entering and exiting through the main gate is no longer a privilege reserved for a select few.
The Vatican is the opposite; its main gate is always closed, and no one can enter or leave.
Because "that door can only be opened for the supreme God."
This is also a long-standing tradition of the Vatican.
Lai entered the White Tower with ease, holding the invitation in his hand, and proceeded without hindrance.
After passing through five checkpoints, they met the guide the guards had mentioned.
“Are you Mr. Ray Victor? I am Nash, the chief mage of the White Tower.”
"Hello, I am Ray."
“He is a mage,” Ryan said.
"OK."
A mage is a high-level mage; above them are archmages and holy mage.
The two shook hands and greeted each other.
Nash was naturally unaware of the conversation between Ray and Ryan.
He wore an exquisitely crafted mage's robe, with a small bottle of potion hanging from his chest. He openly observed Ray, his gaze direct and undisguised.
"You're a mage too?"
"Yes, I am a wood-type mage."
No wonder you can grow white strawberries.
"It's just a coincidence."
Lei replied modestly.
Do you know who invited you here?
"I don't know. Could you tell me which senior it is?"
Ray recalled the details of the handwritten invitation, noting that the signature was just the letter V.
"Hehe, it's the great Holy Archmage Vesper, he wants to see you."
Saint Magus Vesper?
A very unfamiliar name.
Ray really didn't know who this person was, or why he wanted to see him.
"I'm very sorry, I don't know this gentleman."
Lei was telling the truth.
“I like your personality.” Nash wasn’t offended by Ray’s lack of knowledge of the Archmage.
"It's okay, you'll get to know him when you meet him."
The White Tower is a very tall building, a rarity even on the entire continent. Some of the interior design elements show traces of modern design.
Lai didn't know if this was made by the first person to come to the magic continent.
He followed Nash up step by step, listening to him explain the function of each floor of the White Tower.
The atmosphere was very harmonious.
"Nash!"
The two arrived on the sixth floor when someone called out to Nash, who was leading the way, without noticing that Rye hadn't caught up yet.
"You're back?"
"Yes, the teacher told us to come back first."
Ray stood next to Nash and saw three white-robed mages walking towards them from the corridor.
Nash clenched his right fist and tapped his left shoulder twice.
"Vocaine, long time no see."
"haven't seen you for a long time."
As the white-robed mage approached, Lai recognized them.
It was these three, along with Edmund, who together disposed of the animal carcasses in the withered forest, preventing a potential plague crisis from reaching the small mountain village.
Ultimately, this whole thing is Ryan's fault.
Lei glanced at the Wood Elementalist, pretending to be casual.
"Have we met somewhere before?"
Of the three white-robed mages, the most active one stared at Laiyi.
Lai didn't know his name, but he remembered that one of the three of them seemed to be a wood-type mage.
"A small mountain village."
Wokain stated this with absolute certainty.
"Huh? What about the small mountain village? Which small mountain village?"
Another white-robed mage covered his face with one hand; sometimes he was just so stupid that he could die.
What are you doing here?
Wokain continued to ask.
Just as Ray was about to answer, Nash had already explained it for him.
"It was Lord Vesper who invited Mr. Victor over."
Ray could feel Wocain scrutinizing him from head to toe. He was somewhat annoyed by Wocain's condescending attitude.
What? Are ordinary people not worthy of being invited by you respected adults?
Lei thought to himself, "I'm cursing."
"You should go up quickly, don't keep the adults waiting."
"Alright, let's go then. We'll talk about the situation with the orcs later."
Nash turned and left with Rye.
Lai could feel three pairs of eyes watching him from behind.
"They didn't leave."
Ryan reminded him.
"good."
"You two know each other?"
"Not familiar with it."
On the other hand, Wocain received the same question.
"Ugh, are you trying to die of stupidity?!"
The answer came from another monk.
"When we went to repair the boundary markers in the small mountain village next to Eaton Forest, we accidentally discovered something unusual next to the village."
"Oh, I remember now! So that person was from a small mountain village?"
"You're smart this time."
"Let's go, let's go to the teacher's side."
Wokain was the first to go downstairs and leave, his expression as cold as ever.
Nash wasn't one to pry into things, so he didn't mention what had just happened again. He led Ray all the way to the tenth floor and then stopped.
"Lay, the master is on the eleventh floor. You can go up by yourself. I can't go over without permission, so I'll wait for you here."
"Okay, thank you."
Lei went up to another floor.
A small golden butterfly suddenly appeared in front of him, circled him twice, and then flew into the corridor, as if waiting for him to catch up.
"Follow them."
"good."
Ray followed it to a door.
The light butterfly disappeared, and a somewhat aged voice came from inside the door.
"Come in."
The door opened automatically, but you couldn't see what was inside; there was a wall of light separating you from it, just like when you entered the Elf Kingdom.
"What's this?"
"Barrier".
"Do you want to go in? Will it be dangerous for you?"
Ray continued to ask Ryan in his mind.
"It's alright, go inside."
"Are you really alright?"
"Um."
Only after hearing Ryan's affirmative answer did Ray step inside.
Beyond the wall of light, as expected, lay a completely different scene—not a room, but a small courtyard.
"What's going on? Warp space?"
Ray and Ryan have a private conversation.
"Teleportation magic circle, we've arrived at another location."
"Okay, why all the secrecy?"
An old monk in white robes stood under the tree, looking at Ray with kind eyes.
It gives the impression that it's not a complete stranger, but rather a loving elder in the family.
His hair and beard were completely white, and his face was covered with wrinkles.
But his eyes were not cloudy; they were full of wisdom.
At first glance, he perfectly fits the image of a highly respected and reassuring monk in people's minds.
Ray was about the same height as him, and the two were evenly matched when standing together, but Ray was a bit less imposing.
There was no sense of oppression; instead, there was a strange sense of peace within me.
"You must be Lord Vesper?"
“It’s me. Let’s not stand here, let’s go inside and sit down. And your little friend, come along too.”
"Can he see you?"
Lei asked calmly.
A flash of golden light, and Ryan appeared openly before the two of them.
He floated over first, and Lei followed obediently behind him.
"Space-type Saint Magister, improvise as needed."
Ryan's voice appeared in Ray's mind.
"good."
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