Chapter 271: Separation and Temporary Stay

The mages gathered again for breakfast, and afterwards, the pair of mages left the inn and went elsewhere. Shaoke, parting ways with these two mages, continued walking along the streets. He wasn’t worried that the two mages would seek out other mage organizations or companions here to ambush him; rather, he half-hoped they would find others to try to ambush him. Only then would he have more reasons to hunt down a large number of mages, obtaining magic materials or other spoils from them.

He believed that as long as it wasn’t an Eighth-order Practitioner targeting him, he could handle any assassination attempts from peers or those one rank higher. After more than twenty years of secluded training, his spellcasting methods had gradually shifted toward that of ancient spellcasters. Some spells he could now fully cast using the Ancient Magic Tongue, following the methods of those ancient spellcasters. This further increased his casting speed and greatly enhanced spell power.

His most powerful Sixth Rank spells—Rending Ray, Death Slash, and even Green Flame Manipulation—he was confident could easily pierce through two layers of Seventh Rank defensive spells. What’s more, he also had two Fifth-Rank psychic attack spells, which ordinary spellcasters, especially warriors and other professions lacking mental strength, could hardly resist.

In the following days, the mage finally finished touring this enormous city. After spending several thousand common gold coins, he purchased a small manor here. This was only possible because the owner, facing financial difficulties, was forced to sell it. Of course, if it hadn’t been sold at a small auction, the price would likely have been lower. Still, Shaoke didn’t mind paying a large sum. He had no connections here, so he had to be careful. Moreover, he needed a temporary base to lay the foundation for his future work.

Though the manor was small, by his previous life’s estimates, it covered nearly one and a half acres. Nearby were similar manors. If needed, he could later acquire additional ones for expansion. For now, though, he had to consider how to fully operate the manor and hire workers for various tasks.

The service market easily solved his concerns. For less than a hundred common gold coins, he purchased ten young maidservants. After training, they could handle the manor’s daily operations. However, their service term was only three years. If they wished to leave after that, the manor owner could not forbid it. Of course, the owner could retain their services by paying ten gold coins per year.

These maidservants were not slaves. Those who mistreated them or violated rules, especially unprivileged merchants, would face punishment from all nobles. Such incidents had become rare over time; few now mistreated or coerced maidservants, instead using money to obtain services or other things from them.

The maidservants Shaoke bought were curious about their master. He often stayed indoors resting, occasionally walking in the yard to look at the well-tended flowers and pond. Sometimes he sat by the pond in a small pavilion, staring blankly at the fish. The maidservants dared not ask about his affairs; they only prepared exquisite meals.

Now Shaoke felt troubled. He planned to build an underground structure in the manor, but after digging only four or five meters down, hard soil blocked further work. The soil emitted faint magical array fluctuations. When he attacked it with spells, it felt like striking a city wall protected by defensive spells. After ten days of effort, he had only dug a hole barely a meter deep and just wide enough for one person—a frustrating result.

Only then did he recall that beneath every imperial capital, the ground was fortified by top-tier beings using treasures and special arrays. Without special potions, excavation was extremely difficult. Moreover, high-rank mages regularly cast strengthening spells on this layer, making it incredibly hard. The longer a capital existed, the harder the ground beneath it became.

Casually tossing leftover food to the pond fish, Shaoke sat in the pavilion, took out a book, and continued reading. A young maidservant gently massaged his shoulders and back to relieve fatigue, but only after receiving his permission.

While reading, another maidservant approached, bowed, and said, “Master, as you requested, the cloaks have been made. Would you like to inspect them now?” She glanced at him, then blushed and lowered her head, feeling an indescribable air about him—nobler and more mysterious than any noble she had met.

“Mm,” Shaoke replied, placing the book on his knee and leaning back in the chair, letting the maidservant behind massage his head. “Bring them over.” He closed his eyes and said nothing more. After hiring these maidservants, he had designed the emblem for his newly created organization, which included black cloaks.

The maidservant and two companions soon brought the cloaks. Over thirty of them, made of the best silk and other ordinary materials. Following Shaoke’s instructions, the maidservants used gold and silver threads to embroider patterns and designs. Inside the hoods, they embroidered a small golden sickle and a silver flame—rank insignia.

According to Shaoke’s plan, only mages who contributed magic materials and other items could rise in the organization’s hierarchy, not by strength alone. For each addition of magic materials, one silver flame would be added, up to nine flames. A single sickle represented mages of Fifth Rank and below; each higher rank added a sickle, up to nine sickles, indicating a Thirteenth-Rank Legendary mage. These were set in advance; whether high-rank mages would join later was not his concern. For now, he only hoped the two mages wouldn’t disappoint him.

After a brief inspection, Shaoke felt satisfied. The only flaw was that these cloaks couldn’t be imbued with even minor supportive spells, making them weak in protection. But he didn’t care—he had no time to enchant ordinary cloaks. They were merely identity markers. If other mages later added spells, he wouldn’t mind. He even planned to enchant all cloaks once the organization grew large.

Lost in thought for a moment, Shaoke signaled the maidservant to put away the cloaks. He gave each maidservant a few Blue Feather gold coins as extra payment for their work.

The maidservants weren’t surprised by their master’s generosity. They had noticed that he always paid extra for private tasks. Even a massage came with payment. Some now even hoped for more intimate relations with him, which would bring more money to support their families.

After dismissing the maidservants, Shaoke resumed reading until nightfall. He enjoyed dinner prepared by the maidservants, then strolled alone in the manor, performing physical exercises recommended by the military. Some maidservants, free from work, secretly watched their master, curious about his identity and movements.

After exercising, he rested briefly and followed his usual routine for bathing. With many merchants around, he could buy enough cosmetic potions. The maidservants poured the prepared potion into the bath and added charcoal beneath, then prepared to leave.

At that moment, Shaoke suddenly asked, “Who will stay to serve me?” He looked over the maidservants, finally fixing his gaze on the youngest, just eighteen. She had joined the maidservant trade to repay her father’s gambling debts.

Seeing his gaze, the young maidservant blushed, hesitated, then stepped forward, ready to help him undress. But Shaoke refused her help. The other two maidservants quietly withdrew, knowing that some of their companions would accept such service, while others wouldn’t. Serving their master while he bathed had obvious implications.