Chapter 478 - I Want to Make a Fortune Without Doing Anything Too (3 in 1) (2/2)

They had learned that Andonara was Roland’s woman, so they would rather keep a distance from her. Also, some of the students knew that Andonara was also a great fighter besides being beautiful.

Seeing that Roland and Betta were both reading the magic arrays, the mentors did not give the order to take off immediately. They simply waited at the square.

They waited from morning to noon, but Roland and Betta were still examining the magic arrays.

The mentors chit-chatted with each other, and the other eight students simply stood there with their servants.

When evening came, Roland finally came back to himself.

He left the magic arrays, and Andonara immediately fed the Red Sand Fruits that she had prepared in advance into Roland’s mouth gently.

One of the students said jealously, “If I had a maid like her, I would have to eat Red Sand Fruits every day too.”

All the mentors put on sympathetic smiles.

Very soon, Betta returned from the magic arrays. He had learned a lot too.

They apologized to the mentors first and then to the other students.

Alfred asked with a smile, “Roland, Betta, what have you learned?”

“I’ve found a node formation on the body of this magic boat that can adjust the frequency of the magic power outputted by a magic array. I can increase or lower the magic power the way I want.”

That particular node formation could be compared to an adjustable inductor on a circuit board.

Alfred looked at Betta again. “What about you?”

“I’ve learned how to switch a magic array on and off.” Betta chuckled. “I’m not as smart as Brother Roland.”

But Alfred was already satisfied. “Not bad, not bad. Both of you have learned a lot. The whole day of waiting was totally worth it.”

He looked at the other eight students, who were all from the Meteorite Cla.s.s, and shook his head. “How can the gap between him and you be so huge?”

The eight students faintly heard what the Great Elder said. They were all frustrated.

Before Roland and Betta came, they had been the superstars of tomorrow that everybody thought highly of.

But after Roland and Betta came, they became unimportant side characters.

Then, everybody boarded the magic boat.

The magic boat was activated and flew westward.

This place wasn’t too far away from the Monochrome Magic Tower, and the magic boat wasn’t flying very fast. Its speed was merely around seventy kilometers per hour.

Although the magic boat was very large in size, its balance was well-kept during the flight.

Every student was given an independent room. Naturally, Roland and Andonara got one too.

At first, Andonara intended to help Roland take care of his physical needs, but seeing that Roland was sitting still, she knew that he must be considering magic questions. Therefore, she didn’t do anything and simply fell asleep in her clothes. On the other hand, Roland had connected himself to the forum.

He posted the graph of the teleportation magic array, with the note that the teleportation magic array wasn’t a magic trick that had never appeared before, because Mordenkainen was capable of that in the legends. He had merely found this trick that had been lost for a long time, and it was pointless to offer it to the G.o.ddess of Magic. After making the thread, Roland read other players’ posts and learned their tips and experience. He also read about the interesting incidents that other players ran into in the game. Some of the players even posted advice about how to please rich ladies. Three hours later, Roland found that a friend had sent a message to him on the forum.

O’Neal: “Roland, I can understand the teleportation magic array you sent, but I couldn’t use it. It’s so weird.”

Huh?

Roland immediately replied, “Is it because your level isn’t high enough?” O’Neal: “I’m level seven. That shouldn’t be a problem.” Roland: “Then what exactly is the problem?” O’Neal: “Everything is a problem! It didn’t feel right from the moment I started trying it, as if the magic array was unwilling to acknowledge me.”

Roland: “Huh? Are you saying that a magic array has consciousness?” O’Neal: “:facepalm:” Roland returned to his thread and found that something was wrong. The replies at the beginning all said that they would learn after Roland and do business everywhere with teleportation. But the replies two hours later almost all became questions.

Everybody said that, while they copied Roland’s magic array, it was still impossible for them to teleport anyone. “d.a.m.n it, I can understand all the nodes that Roland wrote. They’re not hard at all, but why can’t I use the magic array?”

“Has Roland intentionally thrown out a fake graph to trick us?” “Unlikely. As a LV7 Mage, I’ve made a lot of studies on nodes. Considering the theories and the nodes that Roland described, the magic array is indeed about teleportation, but the problem is that I can’t activate it. The magic array accepts my magic power, but it does not teleport anybody away.”

“Same here.”

“Shoot! Then what’s going on exactly? Is it because Roland has a special talent that none of us have?” “That’s a possibility.” “Ah, my future to be a great merchant who makes dozens of gold coins has to be postponed! Are we all stuck here? How exactly can the magic array be activated?” “All those magic nodes are perplexing and heartbreaking. I don’t know what to do with them at all.” Roland read all the replies. Then, he fell into deep thought. That didn’t look right. The magic array was definitely usable, or he couldn’t have sold the Red Sand Fruits.

Weird.

Unable to think it through, Roland stood up and intended to ask Freud. But when he looked out of the gla.s.s window on the boat, he saw that it was completely dark outside. Since it was very late, Freud probably had gone to bed.

He might as well ask tomorrow.

Hearing Roland stir, Andonara immediately opened her eyes and clung to him. She raised her head at him and said affectionately, “Talk to me. I can’t sleep.” Roland subconsciously laid his hands on Andonara’s high b.r.e.a.s.t.s. While touching them gently, he talked about trivia with her.

Andonara loved Roland’s touch, wherever he touched. Gentleness from the man she loved brought comfort to her mind. For her, peace and delight were far better than physical excitement. Therefore, she got more and more relaxed, and she soon fell asleep after only a brief conversation with Roland. Seeing that she had fallen asleep, Roland smiled and moved his hands away from her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. Then, he logged into the forum again. The problem that the teleportation magic array was unusable was still brewing on the forum. At this moment, every Mage wanted to learn that skill, and every guild wanted to hire a Mage who was capable of a teleportation magic array. They were all fully aware of the strategic significance of this skill. Apart from being useful for traveling merchants, this skill could teleport troops, or the players who had just been resurrected, to the front line in a war. So, it was possible to turn things around even if one seemed to be losing a battle. Besides, in peacetime, teleportation would mean that someone could go anywhere they wanted.

It was the best skill to complete quests and go traveling

But the problem was that, up until this moment, Roland was the only person who could use the teleportation magic array. As for the skill to teleport oneself, it was said that Master O’Neal had already grasped it. In any case, the matter regarding the teleportation magic array was getting huge. Many high-level Mages were going mad because they knew that the great skill was out there but couldn’t use it.

At the same time, certain players who were good at sarcasm started trolling.

Of course, some other players had serious a.n.a.lyses on why the teleportation magic array couldn’t be used. In only two hours, they had come up with three possibilities. First, it was because Roland had intentionally kept the central nodes to himself (which was unlikely, as Roland had proven that he was trustworthy with all the spells he had shared earlier).

Second, it was because they lacked certain special skills (which was more likely).

Third, it was because they didn’t have enough mental power, which decided a Mage’s speed of magic power regeneration. It was very important apart from the magic power. (This was the most likely possibility.)

However, Roland didn’t think that any of the three possibilities was true.

He had specifically simplified the teleportation magic array. Even an NPC Mage who just became an Elite should’ve been able to use it. But why couldn’t the other players use it? Roland spent the whole night considering the problem.

The boat kept its balance well during the flight, and there was barely any shaking. Andonara had a good sleep, but she woke up when dawn just arrived.

The moment she opened her eyes, she grabbed Roland’s hands and put them on her b.r.e.a.s.t.s without any hesitation. She said with a smile, “I like it this way!”

Roland squeezed her b.r.e.a.s.t.s helplessly and said, “Okay, rise and s.h.i.+ne. Let’s go out and have breakfast. I need to ask the mentors some questions.”

Andonara got up rather unwillingly. Leaving his room, Roland found Freud in the cafeteria. The man was eating omelets and drinking milk. Sitting down opposite him, Roland said, “Sorry, sir, but a question just occurred to me, and I was wondering if you could answer it for me.”

“You are really diligent, aren’t you?” Freud disliked being disturbed when he was having food, but since it was Roland who was asking him a question, then it was no problem. He put down his knife and fork and said, “Just ask me whatever question you have. I won’t keep the answer a secret as long as I know it.” “I’ve created a magic array, and I want to let my friend use it too. However, it’s impossible for him to use it.”

Roland didn’t say that he had invented a teleportation magic array, but he told Freud the basic situation without the details. Then, Freud stared at him as if he were a freak. The other mentors in the cafeteria stared at Roland with a similar expression on their faces. Roland felt rather guilty. “Sir, you look slightly odd.” Freud heaved a sigh. “Roland, do you know how strong a Mage must be to activate a magic array under normal circ.u.mstances?”

“He must be at an Elite level?”

“Yes, theoretically.” Freud nodded. “But only theoretically.” “Then how strong a Mage must be to activate a magic array in general?” “They need to be at least Masters!” “Why is that?” Roland found it very curious. “It’s simple. Because normally speaking, few Mages can be so talented as to create a magic array on their own, and even fewer can do so when they are not even Masters yet.”

Freud cut the omelets so hard with the kitchen knife that they were all shattered into pieces.

Roland listened quietly. Freud had lost his appet.i.te. He pushed the plate away and continued, “Spell models are generic standard models that allow anyone to cast those spells as long as they understand the mechanism of the models, but magic arrays are an advanced version of regular spells.” Roland nodded his head. He admitted that the magic arrays were indeed more advanced than spells. “Magic arrays are essentially representations of your own mental frequency.” Freud’s gaze became weirder and weirder. “That is to say, the magic array you create is a manifestation of your will and an extension of the frequency of your mental power. It belongs to you. Anyone else has to simulate your mental power in order to successfully cast your magic array, unless they have pa.r.s.ed your mental power and modified the nodes and routes based on their own mental frequencies. Do you understand it now?”

Roland quickly got it. “Oh, you’re saying that only the Masters can have the ability or skill to modify the frequency of mental power?” “Yes, that’s exactly what I mean.” Roland was lost for words. He didn’t know that things were as simple as that. The crux of the matter was, he had made a mistake because of his lack of common sense. After thanking Freud, Roland walked away and sat down with Andonara. He asked for a piece of omelet and had it while he posted another thread on the forum.

In the thread, he apologized and wrote the information he just acquired. Soon, all the Mages on the forum learned of the matter.

When they realized that the teleportation magic array wouldn’t be available for them until they became Masters, their blood immediately boiled and they were more determined to level up.

Of course, some other people began to a.n.a.lyze Roland’s magic array and rewrote the nodes and patterns with their mental power, hoping to transform his magic array into their own.

The journey on the boat wasn’t very comfortable, because the students had been forbidden from leaving the cabins in case they were accidentally blown away by the fierce wind. The free fall would be too fast for the mentors to rescue them even though all the mentors were capable of Wind Soaring, because Wind Soaring was too slow.

Some cabins were very cramped. There was nothing in them except a bed, a desk, and a chair. Therefore, certain special activities became the only entertainment on the boring journey. This was also why every student was allowed to take one servant with them. Roland was bored too. Although the boat was steady, the noises caused by the wind were quite loud. However, those noises were perfect cover for the special activities in the cabins.

The wind noises weren’t a problem for Roland when he was on the forum. After all, it was only entertainment. However, it was impossible for him to do any magic experiments in such an environment, because his mind might be distracted by all the noise. Magic experiments were delicate operations that could end in failure because of one instance of carelessness. Roland, who wasn’t in the mood for the forum, hugged Andonara and cuddled her.

He felt strongly that it was truly wise of him to study and develop the teleportation magic array before. Amidst the noises, the magic boat flew for two days and two nights and finally reached its destination in the morning of the third day. After the boat landed, everybody got out of their cabins.

Roland discovered that almost all of them were pale and looked exhausted.

The mentors who were older, in particular, looked even weaker.

Roland touched his abdomen again and felt his kidneys were cold. After getting off from the magic boat, Roland began to observe the surroundings. Around the s.p.a.cious square were houses that were built with nothing but white sand. None of those houses were higher than three floors. On the right side of the square, three enormous boats of different sizes were docked. It seemed that the other Magic Towers had arrived earlier.

Before Roland’s boat, a team of people were walking toward them. One person wearing a long transparent robe that looked like a plastic raincoat approached unhurriedly. “Haha, Alfred, you’re the last to arrive.” The old man in the lead hugged Alfred and said with a smile, “You look rather exhausted. I’ve prepared a whole bunch of desert dancers. Do you think you still have the strength for them?” “Humph, I can do it for another ten days and ten nights.” Alfred pretended to be magnificent, but then he put on a smile. “I’m just kidding, I’m no longer as energetic as I was. Let’s leave the dancers to our young men. Old fellows like us should be more careful.”

The old man in the transparent robe patted Alfred’s shoulder and smiled. “This is the first time you’ve turned down my offer. It seems that you are truly old.” “I am old.” Alfred pointed at the mentors behind him and said, “These are all old acquaintances to you. I’ll save the time of introducing them to you. The students are all here for the first time. You can give each of them a pa.s.s. Right… give a library badge to the two students in the lead.” The old man in the transparent robe subconsciously touched his prominently receding hairline. He observed Roland and Betta and remarked, “The first kid is not bad. His capacity for magic power is as good as that of a Legend. The second kid’s capacity isn’t small either. Also, his vitality is quite high. He’s good at both magic and martial arts; another promising young man. Where did you find these two talents?”

“I picked them up by chance!” The old man in the transparent robe laughed. “No wonder you admitted your old age. You were only hoping to best other people through your students. However, I’m told that the Evocation Magic Tower and the Abjuration Magic Tower have both sent geniuses here too. You’d better not underestimate your enemy.” Alfred grinned. “You don’t need to underestimate anyone when you’re absolutely stronger than them.” Hearing that Alfred was so confident, the old man in the transparent robe observed Roland and Betta for a while longer, and in the end tossed two wooden badges to them. Betta raised his hand and accepted the badge.

But the badge thrown at Roland was intercepted by Andonara, who examined it for a while and said after confirming that there was nothing wrong about it, “It does not contain poison or any traps. It’s safe.”

Roland looked at Andonara helplessly. Andonara’s sweet smile made it impossible for Roland to be angry with her.

The old man in the transparent robe finally noticed Andonara. He immediately pulled a long face. “Alfred, what’s the meaning of this? Have you sent a Legendary Great Swordsman to threaten us?”

Alfred shrugged and cackled. “It’s none of my business. She is that boy’s personal bodyguard and maid.” “You expect me to believe you?” The old man in the transparent robe found it unbelievable. “He asked a Legendary Great Swordsman to be his maid? It’s preposterous even for the lowliest knight novel.” “But she is his maid.” The old man in the transparent robe took a deep breath and walked to Andonara. Then he said, “I don’t care what you’re here for, but this is the Monochrome Magic Tower during an academic gathering. If you’re planning anything malicious, you’d better think twice. A Great Swordsman is indeed strong, but there’s nothing you can do against thirty Legendary Mages.” His words were full of warning.

Andonara said with a smile, “Whether or not I’m up to anything malicious is not up to me, but my master. I’ll do whatever he asks me to do!”

Andonara’s declaration sounded arrogant, but it delivered one message. She was only the person who carried out commands, not the one who made decisions.

She sounded rather threatening on the surface, but she was actually secretly adulating Roland.

The old man in the transparent robe looked at Roland, shook his head, and left. As an old and sophisticated man, he knew the real relations.h.i.+p between Roland and Andonara from how closely they were standing next to each other.

“These young people nowadays really know how to play.” He let out the same remark that the mentors of the Red Magic Tower did.

Then, the old man in the transparent robe led the mentors away, and the outside students were received by the local students.

Roland’s guide was a young man around seventeen years old, who was apparently nervous and did not even dare to look Andonara in the eyes.

That was typical of rookies who were never in a relations.h.i.+p. They tended to be overwhelmed and think too little of themselves when they had a crush on a beautiful girl.

Since all the students were guests, Roland didn’t have to stay in a one-room dormitory. Instead, he had been given a house that had three bedrooms and one living room with reasonable decorations.

Also, the sand house was quite exotic and interesting to live in.

This area was a special guest area. After the young man led Roland and Andonara here, he was reluctant to leave, but in the end, he found that Andonara didn’t even bother to look at him at all, so he could only depart regretfully.

Back on the magic boat, Alfred had already informed Roland and the other students of the itinerary of the academic meeting.

During the first eight days, the Magic Towers would take turns introducing their academic discoveries in the past year.

Roland wouldn’t miss those sessions for the world.

On the ninth and tenth days, the students would spar and communicate.

The mentors could brag about all their academic findings, and it was easier to find out who was the best in a fight.

The mentors were too old and proud to fight each other, so their students would have to fight on their behalf.

In the house, Andonara began to check if the beddings were clean and safe.

Lying at the window, Roland appreciated the buildings that were entirely different from those in the Red Magic Tower.

At this moment, Betta suddenly came to the door and said loudly, “Brother Roland, I saw another light pillar of money! It’s huge! Super huge! I’m afraid that I can’t take it away even if I dig it out! You can come with me. Bring Andonara with you too. We’ll be more likely to claim the money if we’re backed by a Legend.”

Roland was surprised at first; then he was b.u.mmed.

Why can you pick up money everywhere you go?

Can I quit being a Mage and transform into a Divine n.o.ble?

I want to make a fortune without doing anything too!