Chapter 173 - 132: How is That Expensive?

In the next moment, wisps of flame emerged from his chest. After circling around him, they transformed one by one into duplicates of himself. Standing in a line, they gave a slight nod to the players.

"Holy shit, that’s insane!"

"Shadow Clone Skill?"

"Isn’t that like the Monkey King plucking his hairs?"

"Damn, if only I could use this in real life. I could use it with my wife... hehehe..."

"Alright, alright, so we’re playing like this, are we?"

"I want to learn this!"

"..."

The players’ eyes lit up, and they all surged forward.

After creating so many clones, the pressure on Burton naturally lessened.

He quickly suggested that the players form a line and be dealt with one by one.

With fewer people crowding around, the players weren’t as anxious, so they calmly formed a queue.

Seeing this, Luo Ge, who was observing in secret, couldn’t help but click his tongue in amazement.

’I’ll have to find Burton and get this magic from him sometime. This Skill is just too useful.’

"...Inscribing magic by using retained memory power. It’s the same principle as the ruin puppets I’ve seen before, but far more exquisite... I see... a very convenient structure."

"However, this also completely cuts off any possibility of breaking through one’s limits through self-enlightenment..."

After getting a grasp of the situation, Burton pondered for a moment before speaking.

"...Your Ignition Points are still too low. You can’t directly learn some of the more High-Tier, profound magic."

As he spoke, he gently waved his hand in front of him.

In the next instant, a ball of blue fire, symbolizing Spiritual Power, appeared before each clone.

"Touch the flame. Feel the lingering warmth of knowledge."

Burton nodded.

This was the teaching method Luo Ge had agreed upon with him from the start.

He couldn’t possibly teach these players one by one from books. It was obvious they were a completely different breed of Warrior.

"Tsk, this is designed pretty damn well..."

After a few of the leading players voiced their admiration, they reached out to touch the flames.

Upon touching the flame, a simple shop interface appeared before the players’ eyes.

[Magic: Mithros Starlight]

[Type: Magic]

[Quality: Residual Ash]

[Effect: Swiftly and efficiently release a starlight-like Magic Attack.]

[Price: 30 Wax Oil]

[Explanation: The most Initial Stage magic of Mithros, a basic Skill widely studied by magic apprentices. It also serves to test one’s aptitude. Can release a starlight-like Attack with low consumption.]

[Magic: Mithros’ Replacement]

[Type: Magic]

[Quality: Embers]

[Effect: After a short chant, displace your body over a short distance.]

[Price: 80]

[Explanation: An advanced magic from the Mithros Academy, yet a foundational magic required to become a Grand Mage. Those with insufficient aptitude may still be rejected by the Arcane Mystery... Where the mind goes, the body follows.]

[Magic: Arcane Shield]

[Type: Magic]

[Quality: Molten Slag]

[Effect: After a period of preparation, create a long-lasting Arcane Shield that can be maintained for a long time with only a small amount of Spiritual Power.]

[Price: 150]

[Explanation: A defensive magic created by Burton Mage, combining several types of magic and knowledge. It has excellent physical and magical Defense.]

Burton was truly worthy of being a high-Tier Grand Mage.

Of the magic he offered, there was a whole pile of Molten Slag Quality spells alone, dazzling the eyes of all who looked.

And this was after he had removed some of the more complex magic at Luo Ge’s request.

If there were this many Molten Slag Quality magic spells, there was no need to even mention the number of Embers and Residual Ash Quality ones...

"Holy crap... This is insane."

The players’ jaws dropped.

Most of them had expected this new NPC to offer only a few simple, Initial Stage magic spells, and not very many at that.

But they hadn’t expected this new NPC to offer such a substantial number of Skills, and the quality didn’t seem bad either!

Some players were immediately overwhelmed by the choices, exclaiming in constant surprise.

Their reactions naturally made the players further back in the line, who hadn’t seen yet, extremely antsy and impatient.

"Damn, hurry up and buy something so you can move! Leave some time for the rest of us to take a look, okay?"

"Hurry up, bro, I’m begging you. Let me see, too."

Hearing the urging from behind, the players at the front of the line snapped back to reality and focused their attention on making a purchase.

But soon, they discovered an awkward problem.

"...Burton Mage, aren’t these magic spells a little... expensive?"

One player tore his eyes away with difficulty and spoke with some hesitation.

Even the most basic, cheap, and practical Mithros Starlight cost 30 Wax Oil...

Although it was perfect for beginners, most beginners were still in the red when it came to Wax Oil. This was more expensive than a Spirit Fire Raft and almost as much as starting a Spirit Candle Building. It was definitely not a small amount...

Seeing this, the secretly observing Luo Ge smiled.

’Expensive? How is this expensive? We may have just opened for business, but this has always been the price. Don’t just spout nonsense, okay? It’s hard being an NPC, too. Sometimes, you should reflect on yourselves. After all this time, has your Wax Oil stock gone up? Have you been working hard, killing mobs and grinding for Wax Oil?’

"..."

Although Burton didn’t know how large a sum this much Wax Oil was to these Warriors, judging by their reactions, it did indeed seem a bit expensive.

’Connecting this to Luo Ge’s earlier request for him to raise the prices, he felt that these players must have done something to displease the Candlefire Controller...’

"...My apologies, children. This is the Candlekeeper’s requirement."

Burton said, slightly apologetically.

’How should I put this... he was actually getting a "cut" of the profits...’

Of course, Burton wasn’t that kind of person. If circumstances allowed, he wouldn’t mind lowering the price for these Warriors.

But this was what Luo Ge required, so there was nothing he could do.

"The Candlekeeper?"

The players were instantly bewildered upon hearing this.

Why would the Candlekeeper raise the prices so high?

"Someone must have been bad-mouthing the Candlekeeper, and he heard it."

A player guessed.

"Hah, no way. You think he can browse the forums or something? If that’s true, I’ll eat everything at the Bottom of the Well on the peninsula, okay?"

A player scoffed.

"Sigh, forget it, let’s just get it over with. It’s not like it costs real money. Worst case, we just have to grind more..."

"Looks like I have to be a Prison Guard again. I’m gonna puke..."

"Oh god... just thinking about it makes my liver hurt, ugh..."

"Fuck, I get squeezed dry by my boss at work, and now I have to get squeezed dry by an NPC in a game after work. If I could actually beat him, I’d hang this Candlekeeper from a lamppost, dammit!"

"..."

The players could only wail and accept their fate.

Complaining was one thing, but they still had to buy what they needed.

In fact, a small portion of players saw no problem with this and were actually happy about the situation.

After all, high demand for Game Coins meant the game’s currency wouldn’t be useless!

It had been a long time since they had to scramble for Game Coins.

"Burton Mage, I’ll take one of that... whatever Starlight thing..."

"I want this Flying Fire thing..."

"I want this one..."

Soon, the players reluctantly parted with their beloved possessions, taking out their long-saved Wax Oil from their inventories and heart-wrenchingly handing it over to Burton Mage.

Seeing the pained looks on each of the players’ faces, Burton Mage couldn’t help but chuckle in amusement.

After each successful transaction, Burton, following Luo Ge’s instructions, condensed the Spiritual Power directly into the form of a Magic Battle Ash and handed it to the players.

And after several successful transactions...

Something unexpected happened.

"...My apologies." Looking at the player before him, Burton sighed softly. "Your aptitude is insufficient. You are unable to learn this magic. It’s best not to waste your effort."

"...Huh?" The sturdily built player in leather armor was a bit surprised. He scratched his head. "I can’t even buy it just to have it?"

Such a whale-like comment naturally drew a wave of "denunciations" from a group of Mage players.

"There he is! The Low IQ Knight!"

"Haha, look at this stinky melee main coming to us Mages to beg for scraps, huh?"

"Your Intelligence is insufficient. Please top up your account!"

"..."

The group of Mages was having the time of their lives.

Seeing this, however, Burton frowned. The next moment, he raised his hand. As a blue Warfire flickered, the group of players suddenly felt their mouths clamp shut, unable to utter a single word.

Under these circumstances, the players were completely dumbfounded.

?

[You have been silenced by ’Burton Mage’]

Under the astonished gazes of the players, Burton’s brow was furrowed as he slowly spoke.

"A flame does not choose where it ignites."

"People are divided by aptitude, but to use one’s innate Talent as capital to discriminate against others... is shameful."

"Although I am doing this at another’s request, since you are learning magic from me, you are, in a way, my apprentices. If this happens again, then do not come to me for instruction again..."