Chapter 204 - 199: A New Trial and the Choice of the Magic Mark
Chapter 204: Chapter 199: A New Trial and the Choice of the Magic Mark
[Advanced Trial: Creation (Special Class Quest)]
[As a Mage with an active mind, you have successfully created a spell of your own based on your understanding of Rules and Magic.]
[Completion: A, reward multiplier 3.0]
[Completion Reward: 6 Intelligence (2 Basic x 3.0), 6 Spirit (2 Basic x 3.0), 6 Free Attribute Points (2 Basic x 3.0)]
——
Six points in Intelligence and six in Spirit!
The total of 12 new Attribute Points made Jon’s mind feel incredibly clear, completely replenishing the mental energy he had just expended.
Meanwhile, the next part of his class quest was already sitting quietly in his quest log, awaiting his challenge.
——
[Advanced Trial: Condensation (Special Class Quest)]
[As a Mage with lofty goals, you are not satisfied with your current feeble control over Magic Power. You must seek a more refined catalyst.]
[Quest Objective: Find a Magic Mark (0/1)]
[Basic Reward: 3 Intelligence, 3 Spirit, 3 Free Attribute Points]
[This quest has no additional rewards.]
Note: Different natural Magic Marks have different effects. Please choose wisely.
——
A Magic Mark was a physical manifestation of the Rules of Magic, found within certain Demons or Elemental Creatures.
In layman’s terms, it meant killing a monster for a permanent buff!
For the average Mage, they could just find any old one to make do, since their effects were all mediocre anyway.
But for Jon, there was really only one choice.
A Magic Mark with the [Magic Recovery Bonus] attribute.
It was an essential component for unleashing the power of the [Heart of Balance]!
Jon’s ice-blue eyes stared at the invisible quest panel in the void as his thoughts drifted back to his distant days of gaming.
Back when he had achieved some minor success and could barely be called a "veteran," a newcomer had joined his team. Full of confidence, the rookie had chosen the [Heart of Balance], smugly proclaiming he would forge a new path and make it to the hall of fame.
Everyone laughed at his foolish delusion, but they still patiently acted as his babysitters.
He clearly remembered helping that rookie complete his Mage advancement quest. He had even carried him through a solo run of the [Demon Forest Ruins] in Trulane County, where they ended up getting a [Mark of Bountiful Echo] that had a 30% Magic Recovery Bonus.
"Trulane County..."
Jon murmured to himself, recalling the journey he once made.
It was the county neighboring Heta County, located to the southwest. The [Demon Forest Ruins] were in the distant outskirts of its subordinate, Roco Town.
The round trip would take four days at the absolute fastest, and that wasn’t even counting any potential mishaps along the way.
Here in Birch Town, the Workshop had Rosalind and Sutton, with Claudio holding down the fort. Normal operations wouldn’t be a problem. As for Reya, she had the sisters Xia and Xina, along with the Sun Church’s Defender Army, watching over her, so he could rest assured on that front as well.
The only concern was the current military stalemate. If something unexpected happened while he was away, he might not be able to return in time...
Just as he was frowning, trying to figure out how to shorten the trip and make a quick return—
"CREAK."
The door to the room was gently pushed open, and Rosalind’s figure glided in like a moonbeam.
Her silver hair cascaded over her shoulders, and the dancing firelight from the hearth cast a warm glow on her cool, elegant features.
"Master."
Her voice was as steady as ever, but Jon keenly detected a faint, almost imperceptible tension.
"Viscount Paris’s Envoy arrived at the Workshop a quarter of an hour ago. He requests a meeting with you at the Lord’s Mansion tomorrow at noon."
"The Envoy stressed that this matter concerns the very survival of Birch Town and hopes that you will be able to make time."
’Sending someone with a message this late at night, and talking about the town’s survival?’ Jon’s brow twitched, his expression noncommittal.
He currently had no goodwill whatsoever for that man, Paris. The Viscount would do anything for the sake of Birch Town.
Others might not know, but how could he not?
Without the presence of players, the scale of this incident in Heta County was certainly much smaller than it had been in the game. And since Paris had gathered the forces of numerous nobles, it was impossible for him to be showing signs of defeat so soon.
It was nothing more than his offensive being stalled on some front, and the nobles on his side being unable to stomach their losses. They just wanted to get some more powerful weapons from the [Giant God Workshop].
"I know."
Jon nodded, indicating he had received Paris’s message, then held out a hand and beckoned lightly.
Without another word, Rosalind understood.
She moved with light steps around the foot of the bed, making almost no sound, like flowing moonlight.
Her cool fingertips lifted the silky corner of the duvet. The silver-haired beauty obediently lay down beside Jon, her cool body temperature like a handful of crisp spring water, making his thoughts even clearer and more distinct.
Following her movement, Jon naturally tightened his arms, pulling her into his embrace.
He tilted his head slightly, his cheek brushing against her silky silver hair, and took a deep breath of her unique, familiar scent—a mixture of a faint, cool fragrance and the smell of paper and ink.
"Rosalind."
Jon’s voice grew deeper, tinged with a rare sense of ease.
"If... I need to leave Birch Town for a while, for about... six to seven days, will there be any problems with the Workshop?"
The beauty in his arms stiffened almost imperceptibly.
Rosalind looked up, her silver eyes shimmering with surprise and confusion in the warm light of the hearth.
She hadn’t expected Jon to suggest leaving at such a critical stalemate.
"Leave?" she repeated instinctively.
"Master, is there something that must be dealt with immediately?"
"Yes. I’m about to advance to the Official Level, and to complete the trial, I must make a trip to Trulane County as soon as possible."
Jon didn’t elaborate on the details, but Rosalind instantly understood the gravity of the situation.
After a moment of thought, as the de facto manager of the Giant God Workshop, she gave her assessment.
"If Master leaves for a short period, the Workshop’s own operations will not be fundamentally affected."
"The core production process for the Mechanical Bodies has been fully streamlined. Master Sutton’s clansmen and apprentices are more than capable of handling the component manufacturing and pre-assembly for current orders."
"The infusion and final calibration of the Crystal Energy Cores can only be completed by you, Master. However, our current stock of cores is sufficient to meet the delivery deadlines for our orders. As long as you can return within the agreed-upon time, we won’t be in breach of contract."
She paused for a moment before continuing.
"As for potions, we also have a surplus in stock, so there’s no need to worry there either."
"My concern is not internal, but rather the external situation. Viscount Paris’s urgent summons for you, Master, must mean he wants more support from the Workshop to deal with pressure on the front lines, or to placate those allies who are wavering because of their losses."
"If you leave, Master, he might apply pressure, or even try to bypass you and make additional demands directly to the Workshop, or requisition supplies in the name of a ’wartime levy.’"
"Those nobles might also try to take advantage of your absence, Master, by delaying or even refusing to pay their remaining balances."
She listed the potential risks one by one, clearly and calmly, without exaggeration or understatement.
Finally, she reached out with her slender fingers, gently took Jon’s large hand, and intertwined their fingers.
"But please rest assured, Master. Even in your absence, I will do everything in my power to maintain the situation. I will not allow anyone to harm the Workshop’s interests."
Her voice was quiet, but incredibly firm.
Jon gazed at the cool, beautiful face so close to his, a flicker of emotion passing through the depths of his eyes.
He tightened his arms around her, lowered his head, and placed a gentle kiss on her smooth forehead—a kiss filled with deep comfort and approval.
"Rosalind..."
"Having you by my side is truly my greatest fortune."
Having spent so much time together, Rosalind had long grown accustomed to this kind of intimacy.
But receiving Jon’s affirmation still brought a barely perceptible smile of relief and contentment to her lips.
She gently rested her head back on Jon’s solid chest, listening to his steady heartbeat as she replied in a low voice.
"Easing Master’s burdens is my duty, and also my... wish."
The last trace of hesitation in Jon’s heart about the long journey was completely dispelled.
He needed that mark, and while he was away, the Workshop had Rosalind.
That was enough.