After leaving the encampment, Wei’en took Tina for a stroll, bought a few bestselling knight novels, and then found an inn in the shopping district to serve as their temporary residence on the island.
This was an inn belonging to the Bascabiru Clan from the Southern Continent. With its grass-green wall paint and surrounding flowers and trees, the inn had an air of being close to nature, which made it stand out starkly from the other shops around it.
At the entrance stood a Thousand-leaf Grass, half a man’s height. The veins on its crystal-clear leaves were distinct, and a faint, shimmering light made it look like a work of art carved from jade.
’Rune Power?’
Wei’en sized up the Thousand-leaf Grass’s stems and leaves. It was indeed a plant imbued with the power of a special Rune Array.
’The leaves hold Rune Patterns, the junctions between the main stem and branches are the rune nodes, and the core... hmm, it must be in the rootstock, hidden beneath the soil.’
Noticing his gaze, the inn’s proprietor, Ericon Bascabiru, smiled and said, "Wei’en Mage, you must have a profound knowledge of runology, don’t you?"
"Yes. What does it do?"
With the introductory knowledge of runology that Wei’en was about to fully master, it wouldn’t be difficult to analyze the Rune Array on the Thousand-leaf Grass, but he would need auxiliary observation instruments and a certain amount of time.
"It’s just for purifying the air. As you know, there are many pirates on the island, and they, hmm... mostly don’t like to bathe..."
Ericon was a very interesting nobleman. He wasn’t old, only five years Wei’en’s senior, yet he seemed exceptionally mature.
Then again, an Extraordinary Noble who could establish a foothold in a pirate city-state like Aleksey certainly needed some ability.
That was why, when Wei’en and Tina were passing by, he had proactively approached them, hoping to offer them lodging. At the same time, he had thoughtfully prepared two gifts for them, saying it was to welcome them to Aleksey Island.
Wei’en found this quite interesting.
After all, while he and Tina were strolling through the shops, all they had heard and seen from the pirates was fear, suspicion, and ulterior motives.
As for the powerful Extraordinaries of noble birth, they mostly regarded them with scrutiny and disdain. Ninety percent of the Pirate Gangs sailing the Cordo Sea Region could plunder the "cowardly purple flower" family; that was nothing special.
As for the Caster City State incident...
In the eyes of those nobles, it was nothing more than a farce. The well-informed even knew about the Ernst Clan’s role in it—undoubtedly more capable than a seemingly powerful Mutated Mage.
Some even believed that if not for Wei’en’s appearance, Old Ernst would have certainly become a "legendary" noble by seizing Caster City State through the methods at which nobles excelled.
Therefore, given this perception, Ericon’s appearance was particularly conspicuous.
"Purifying the air?"
Wei’en looked at the Thousand-leaf Grass with great interest. Although the effects of its two runes weren’t particularly powerful, they were very practical.
If Laos District had had a few similar plants back then, the environment there would have been much better.
"Mr. Ericon, do you know where I could buy one?"
"Wei’en Mage, you... you want to buy a Thousand-leaf Grass?"
Ericon was quite surprised. Based on his understanding of Wizards, they were a breed of monsters who pursued knowledge and power, rarely paying attention to abilities like air purification that offered them no direct benefit.
"Yes," Wei’en nodded. "If possible, I’d like to buy quite a few."
’Come to think of it, it has been a month since I left Caster City State. According to what Marco said, the reconstruction work should be completed soon.’
That’s why he wanted to buy some Thousand-leaf Grass to send to Lisi, as a way to commemorate his time as an Investigator, and as compensation for those who were harmed in the disaster.
"Well..." Ericon hesitated for a moment before saying, "Actually, the Thousand-leaf Grass is very common in the Southern Continent, just an ordinary plant. If you need to purify the air and improve the environment, I can find others for you."
’Very common?’
Wei’en raised an eyebrow. ’Are they all over the place in the Southern Continent?’
’It seems the environment in the Southern Continent must be very good.’
"The Thousand-leaf Grass will be fine. I can buy a larger quantity."
"Alright," Ericon nodded. "How many do you need?"
"Enough to adorn a city-state. Hmm, a city-state about half the size of this one."
"That’s a considerable number. I’ll contact my clan."
"Thank you! Please have the Thousand-leaf Grass sent directly to Caster City State in the Shetland Kingdom on the Eastern Continent. The recipient is Director Lisi Jeannece Montoya of the Secret Investigation Department."
Wei’en glanced at the Thousand-leaf Grass, imagining what the whole of Caster City State would look like in the future, and pushed aside the disastrous images hidden in the depths of his heart.
"Understood."
Realization dawned on Ericon. ’So, it’s for Caster City State.’
’It seems the rumors can’t be trusted. This Mutated Mage, hunted for judgment by the Dawn Church, isn’t as violent or evil as the newspapers claim.’
After settling the matter of the Thousand-leaf Grass and finding a temporary place to stay, Wei’en told Ericon not to let them be disturbed. He then stayed in the room with Little White Fur.
Afterwards, he used the Golden Key to return alone to the theater space to handle a few matters, leaving Tina outside for the time being.
He wasn’t worried about this.
With Little White Fur’s current strength, plus Mr. Clown, there wouldn’t be any danger or unexpected incidents.
"You’re back?"
Pavla, who had been lying listlessly at the dining table, saw Wei’en suddenly appear. Her bright eyes couldn’t help but look left and right, and after seeing that nothing had happened, she muttered in disappointment, "How mean..."