章節 20: Chapter Ten 2
When Ivan finished reading the words on the page that had emerged, the words gradually disappeared, and then the words on the second page emerged.
The first stage of the course had as many as six pages. Most of it was some knowledge and guidance, as well as some exercises. The last part was about three magic experiments. The parchment recorded every step, the materials needed, and the matters that needed attention in detail. However, it didn't tell him what the results would be.
The last few lines were blank. It seemed that they would only show up after the experiments were completed.
Ivan picked up the third piece of parchment, on which was recorded in detail how to use the magic mirror.
It turned out that the magic mirror had two uses.
The simpler one was that by writing words on the magic mirror, people in the distance could know one's information. This wasn't difficult for Ivan. The only thing he needed to do was to prepare a special kind of ink.
On the parchment, the materials and the steps for making the ink were listed in detail. It didn't seem too difficult.
As for the second method, it was beyond what Ivan could master at present.
Through the magic mirror, one could freely talk with people in the distance. The magic mirror could project people's images. Another greater use was that it could transmit special talismans or magic arrays, which was something out of reach for Ivan at present.
On the last piece of parchment, the old magician wrote: "My student, I must say that you've done quite well. For this, you deserve a reward. I have completely restored Aubrey Dee's golem. It's a gaseous life form and one of the masterpieces created by Aubrey Dee.
"That golem now belongs to you. However, before the magic contract is renewed, it's safer to keep the golem in the laboratory. As for the method of making the contract, when you have learned everything recorded on the handwritten parchment I left for you, you will naturally know what to do.
"Besides, to express a bit of my apology as an incompetent teacher, I've also left another gift. For a magician, the strength of the inherent magic power is as important as magic knowledge. Moreover, most magic experiments require certain magic power support. If I were by your side, I could provide you with assistance in magic power. However, I need time to study Aubrey Dee's magic notebook. Therefore, I'm giving you an 'Enchanter's Tablet'.
"It's the legacy left by the ancient Antair people and the crystallization of ancient magic wisdom. Now, the method of making it has long been lost. I found this tablet in the ruins of the ancient Antair people. This tablet can store magic elements. Although the amount isn't large, the stored magic power is enough for the needs of experiments. You can charge the magic elements into the tablet by yourself or ask other magicians for help.
"If your studies go smoothly, you should be able to find the way to use this tablet by yourself. It's not difficult. This tablet can also allow you to quickly cast three pre-prepared magics, which might be quite convenient for you.
"However, my student, remember that this tablet can be used by any magician.
Although most magicians are noble in character, there are still quite a few evil ones. When you want to ask for help, you'd better see clearly who the other party is. This tablet can't be contracted. If it's lost, it won't belong to you anymore. Unless, of course, you have the ability to take it back."
After reading this piece of parchment, Ivan shifted his attention to the two things placed on the table.
There was a smooth, light gray slate, only about the size of a palm. There were shallow grooves carved on it. On the back of the slate were three concave pits the size of silver coins. Presumably, this was the tablet.
The ancient Antair people were an ancient ethnic group that had long disappeared in the long river of history. There wasn't even detailed historical records left, only some ruins remained to prove the existence of this ancient civilization.
Beside the slate was a silver coin. Except for being smoother and brighter, it was no different from an ordinary silver coin. However, what was cast on this silver coin wasn't the portrait of His Majesty the King, but a mysterious and complex magic array, exactly the same as the magic array drawn on the back of the magic notebook left by Aubrey Dee.
Ivan was full of curiosity about the gifts left by Teacher Lavash. However, he also knew that when he wasn't yet able to use these magic items, it was safer to leave them in the laboratory. This was also what Odrie had taught him before.
Therefore, Ivan resisted the strong desire to take them with him and turned his attention to the parchment.
For Ivan, it was obviously difficult to come to the laboratory every day. Avila was more than a hundred kilometers away from Piton. It was a rather long distance. Moreover, coming here would inevitably run into the Lipper baron's family, which was quite an embarrassing thing.
Ivan didn't want to get into such trouble.
He estimated in his heart that coming once a week should be about right.
Therefore, no matter what, the materials and instruments for the experiments had to be moved back to Mr. Juan's manor.
Ivan carefully studied the content about the experiments on the parchment. The equipment needed was rather simple. Only a small crucible of size No. 9 and a stone mortar of size No. 7 were required. As for the set of handmade tools mentioned on the parchment, they were placed on the table.
However, where could he find those materials? Although he recognized some of the things, he hadn't even heard of most of them.
Ivan scanned the countless drawers on the surrounding walls. If he had to search through all those cabinets one by one to find the things he needed, it would be an extremely arduous task.
"Hey, how could I possibly know which drawer the aquamarine and turquoise are in?" Ivan sighed deeply.
Just when he was feeling downcast, suddenly, a slight buzzing sound came to his ears.
Ivan turned his head and saw that the small metal butterfly was flapping its wings and flying around in the room.
Ivan felt very strange. After observing carefully for a while, he found that the flight path of the butterfly was fixed. It flew from a drawer on the southeast wall to another drawer on the north wall and flew back and forth like this.
Ivan ran to one of the drawers full of curiosity and took a look. The label on it read "Aquamarine".
"Great! Then there's no problem. Long live magic!" Ivan cheered excitedly.
"Turquoise."
"Copper."
"Lead block."
"Sparkling crystal."
"Spider silk."
"Bat urine."
"Lizard tail."
"Salamander blood."
...
Ivan counted the names of the materials listed on the parchment while running around in the laboratory following the metal butterfly.
"Small crucible of size No. 9."
As soon as he said that, the little butterfly stopped on top of a fist-sized, pitch-black and dull small crucible beside the table.
"Alright, now all the materials are complete," Ivan said to himself happily.
Suddenly, as if he had thought of something, Ivan ordered, "Mithril.
The metal butterfly fluttered towards the eastern wall and stopped on the top drawer.
Ivan tiptoed up the stairs and slowly pulled the drawer open.
Inside the drawer were several pieces of shiny metal scattered around. The small ones were only about the size of a button, and the large ones were roughly the size of a thumb, lying here and there in a scattered manner.
This was the legendary metal. Although there wasn't too much mithril in the drawer, unlike most of the other drawers that were stuffed full, it was already far more than what ordinary kings could collect.
Ivan tremblingly took out a small piece of mithril from the drawer, the smallest one.
This tiny piece of metal was probably enough to buy the luxurious mansion left by Baron Lipper's ancestors!
Maybe giving this extremely precious metal to the baron could at least make up for the harm he had caused to him and his family.
Thinking of this, Ivan gently put this small piece of mithril into the pocket of his undershirt close to his body.
After walking down the stairs and returning to the table, Ivan sorted out the materials on the table and wrapped them up with oil paper by category. The ball of spider silk was the most difficult to handle. Ivan had to use two thick pieces of cardboard to tightly clamp this thing that was easy to clump together and couldn't be separated anymore.
After getting everything in order and taking the two pieces of parchment, Ivan walked out of the laboratory.
The Enchanter's Tablet and the golem were temporarily left in the laboratory.
Ivan stuffed all the things into the saddlebag in front of the saddle, then quickly mounted the horse and galloped along the way he had come. The low bushes in front of him parted to both sides one after another, and they returned to their original state after he passed by.
When he was about to reach the main road, Ivan stopped and listened carefully around him. This was a skill taught by Herbert, and it was very useful for him now.
After confirming that there were no pedestrians or carriages on the main road, Ivan rode his horse out of the path.
Behind him, the row of low bushes closed silently like a big gate, and no one could tell that there had been a path here before.
Riding on the main road, Ivan was thinking about how to explain to Odrie and Mr. Juan when he got back, because his experience this time was really mysterious and hard to believe.
How to make these two people who were proficient in deception believe his words was really a headache.
Thinking about problems while galloping on a horse on the road was a dangerous thing anyway. Ivan didn't want to joke with his own life, so he slowed down the speed.
If when Ivan came here, his mood when galloping on this path on his horse was extremely excited and uneasy, now Ivan's heart had already calmed down, because his identity was a bit different now.
He was a magic apprentice, not a highly trained swindler and thief, nor a small shop assistant who was eager to climb to the position of an accountant. However, this change in identity made Ivan feel confused and hesitant. He didn't know how to face Mr. Juan and Odrie.
Undoubtedly, neither of these two people was a gentleman. A gentleman couldn't be the leader of thieves and swindlers. However, they couldn't be associated with the image of those extremely vicious thieves in his imagination at all.
If we put aside their identities, Mr. Juan was undoubtedly the most remarkable navigator and explorer Ivan had ever seen. Such a person was originally the one he admired and envied the most.
As for Odrie, it was not excessive to say that he was a learned scholar and a shrewd businessman. Mr. Juan's property was managed by Odrie. As far as Ivan knew, Mr. Juan's legitimate annual income was at least one hundred thousand gold francs.
Both Odrie and Mr. Juan could be said to be the people he admired.
However, Ivan had always been bothered by the scam they were planning. He didn't want to be an accomplice in a scam. What's more, the target Mr. Juan wanted to defraud was very likely to be a prominent noble.
For a wealthy person like Mr. Juan, defrauding those rich people everywhere in South Port was obviously not his interest, because he was already much richer than these rich people. Moreover, he could also slowly squeeze their wealth through commercial exchanges. Based on Ivan's understanding of Mr. Juan's brilliant business strategies, Ivan was completely sure that Mr. Juan could definitely do all of this.
Therefore, the target of the fraud could only be those nobles. In France, a large amount of wealth was gathered in the hands of those noble families. They had countless manors under their names, which enabled them to have a fixed and huge amount of wealth to maintain their luxurious lives.
These noble families also collected a large number of precious artworks and jewelry handicrafts. The most fertile land in France undoubtedly belonged to them. In addition, there were rich mineral deposits in the territories of some nobles.
Copper and lead mines could make a noble family worth millions.
If it was a silver mine that was discovered, then tens of millions of wealth was without a doubt.
Although once a gold mine was discovered, the ownership of the gold mine would be taken away by His Majesty the King, but the mining right belonged to the owner of the territory.
Five percent of the gold mine's income enabled that noble family to obtain tens of millions of francs in income even without manipulating the accounts.
What's more, hiding the discovery of a gold mine, privately mining it, or making some manipulations in the accounts, gold mining, smelting, and casting processes were all enough to make these noble families become extremely wealthy and powerful tycoons.
Therefore, the noble families in France were undoubtedly the richest group of people.
If Mr. Juan wanted to make plans, it must be aimed at those noble families.
Moreover, it was obvious that Odrie was training him in this way. He wanted to train Ivan into a noble.
However, why not train him to be an arrogant and domineering child of a wealthy noble family, but instead train him to be a mature descendant of a declining noble family who was trying to revive the family?
Although they were both nobles, these two kinds of nobles didn't belong to the same class at all. What on earth was Mr. Juan's plan?
Ivan felt a bit puzzled.
The sun had risen high in the sky and then gradually slanted towards the west. When Ivan, who was a bit distracted, rode his horse back to the manor, it was already afternoon.He led the horse to the entrance of the manor. Before he could ring the doorbell hanging on the porch, the gate opened by itself and the butler walked out with a smile."Glad to see our little magician is back. Did you have a pleasant journey?"
This greeting shocked Ivan. How could the butler possibly know all about this?Could it be that Magician Lavash had visited Mr. Juan?It must be so. Magician Lavash was acquainted with Mr. Juan and Mr. Lipper, and they should have worked together for a period of time and knew each other very well.Moreover, Magician Lavash cared a lot about him. He must have deliberately visited Mr. Juan and told him in person about taking him as an apprentice. That's what Ivan guessed.He took out the tightly wrapped things from the saddlebag in front of the saddle.
Under the guidance of the butler, Ivan came to the lounge upstairs.Opening the door, Ivan froze. He saw a middle-aged man sitting beside the brazier. The thin figure was wearing a pair of gold-rimmed glasses. It was Baron Brown.Ivan was puzzled as to why Baron Brown would appear in this place."Ivan, come in. Sit down and tell us about the wonderful experiences you had during this trip. I'm quite interested in that," Mr. Juan greeted with a smile.
In the luxuriously and uniquely decorated lounge, Mr. Juan, Baron Brown, and Odrie were sitting in a circle.Seeing Ivan come in, Odrie and Baron Brown each moved to the left and right, leaving the middle position empty."Ivan, let me introduce him to you. His name is Firth, and his full name is already known to you, Joseph Brown - Baron Brown. However, here we call him Firth," Mr. Juan introduced.
"Firth has told us a lot of interesting things about you. You must have had remarkable gains during this journey," Odrie asked."Oh, yes, Mr. Juan. I was just about to ask you if you know a magician named Lavash?" Ivan asked."Lavash? So it was he who took you as an apprentice. You're really a lucky guy," Mr. Juan said, "He took you as an apprentice but didn't tell you his identity?""Isn't Magician Lavash just a magician?" Ivan asked.
"Not just a magician. You'll know about this later. Lavash is a strange guy. He's also an odd one among magicians. I once worked with him. At that time, I was still young... at least not as old as I am now. Back then, Lavash was already a very old magician. I didn't expect that he was still alive after such a long time. Magicians are really long-lived. It's so nice to be a magician!" Mr. Juan sighed with emotion.
"It seems that Mr. Lipper has always been in contact with Magician Lavash," Ivan said."Yes,padraic and Lavash are good friends. They're very close. If it weren't for the fact that Porigee didn't have any talent for learning magic at all, Lavash would have taken Porigee as an apprentice long ago. Ivan, you're really quite lucky," Mr. Juan said, "Ivan, if I'm not mistaken, Lavash should already know what I'm planning. Didn't he tell you anything about it?"
"No, I only know that Porigee Lipper is also involved in this matter. Magician Lavash is quite certain about this," Ivan replied.His words were clearly unexpected for Odrie and Firth. However, Mr. Juan wasn't affected by it. He nodded and said, "Yes, I've also long seen that it was Porigee who was instigating everything behind the scenes. Ivan, it's time to tell you everything now. You're Lavash's disciple.
We can't force you to participate in this matter. However, since Lavash didn't oppose our actions, obviously, he doesn't think there's anything wrong with doing this."
"Ivan, after getting along for such a long time, if I tell you that we've carefully planned this for so long and taken such great risks this time, and it's not just to make a huge fortune, and even, to a large extent, it's not for ourselves, can you believe it?" Mr. Juan asked.
Ivan thought for a long time before nodding. Although he couldn't imagine how thieves could take great risks not for benefits. Thieves didn't seem to be the occupation of noble people. However, Ivan didn't doubt what Mr. Juan said, and he couldn't even tell the reason himself."Ivan, you should be quite clear about the history of the struggles in South Port and Avila. Originally, there were no such two counties in France. Unlike other cities, South Port and Avila were established by the order of the king. And it was the people living here who relied on generations of hard work to turn two originally barren and desolate lands into the prosperous places they are now.
"Remember the story I told you? When I was as old as you, South Port was just a small fishing village, and at that time, Avila was just a slightly larger town. After the efforts of countless people and half a century, this place has become the most prosperous place in the whole of France. Do you know why? Because we hope to live a better life. Aren't you also working hard for the same reason?
"But who doesn't hope to live a happy and fulfilling life? Are people in other places so stupid and don't know how to work hard? Would they rather live a poor and hard life?
"It's not that they don't work hard, but that no matter how hard they work, it's useless. South Port and Avila have a unique environment. Of course, it's not just because South Port is by the sea. There are many coastal cities in France, not just South Port. But the scale of trade in other places is very small and can't be expanded. Do you know why? Because there are no nobles, no lords here, and the king's authority is extremely weak.
"People can open shops without any restrictions or engage in maritime and land trade. As long as they pay taxes, there's no problem. There's no privilege here, and both sides of the trade are fair transactions."The reason why this can be achieved is that Porigee has put a lot of effort into it. He persuaded the Luxembourg lord who managed this land and bribed every important department in the whole of Luxembourg through this count. Most of the taxes collected in South Port every year are used to subsidize the expenses of numerous departments in Luxembourg. At the same time, he also lured the noble families in Luxembourg to invest in South Port, making South Port a real source of wealth for them. It can be said that Luxembourg has already been firmly controlled by the gold coins of South Port.
"However, the prosperity of South Port has long been famous in France. Whether it's for the king or for the nobles in other places, South Port is a piece of extremely lucrative fat. The emptiness of the national treasury also requires a large number of gold coins to fill it. Although the total amount of tax paid by South Port to the national treasury every year is extremely large, the king won't be satisfied. The expenses of the national treasury are really too large, and these taxes are not enough to make up for the increasing budget expenditures. In the eyes of the king, South Port should make a greater contribution to the national treasury.
"However, simply increasing taxes is useless. As long as merchants transfer their property to other countries, increasing taxes will become a meaningless measure. Therefore, the only way is to completely control South Port and tightly control every family in South Port, just like dealing with people in other regions of France. Whether it's the king or other nobles, they all have the same idea.
"The only problem that makes their plan impossible to achieve is that the management right of South Port belongs to Luxembourg, and Luxembourg is a hereditary fiefdom, sacred and inviolable. From Avila to South Port, this land that was once considered barren can only have the final say on the property on this land by the Medin family. Anyone who wants to control South Port must first deprive the Medin family of their control over South Port.
"However, as the foundation of the kingdom, the system of the sacred and inviolable hereditary fiefdom makes no one dare to ignore or modify it. The Medin family also has strong economic strength and it's impossible for them to transfer or sell this fiefdom. Therefore, controlling South Port is almost an impossible thing. Unfortunately, the Medin family has a fatal weakness, that is, they don't have many descendants. Although in the south of France, the Medin family can be regarded as the first noble family, compared with other noble families, the number of heirs of the Medin family is simply incomparable.
"Therefore, someone plotted a conspiracy to assassinate the members of the Medin family. The old Lord Medin and his two sons died one after another. In Luxembourg, the only relative left by the old Lord Medin was his sister, an unmarried old maid. This old Miss Medin adopted an orphan girl as her adopted daughter. In France, women can't hold the position of the lord. Therefore, depriving the Medin family of their hereditary inheritance has become an unquestionable thing.
"However, the plotters miscalculated one person, or rather, an accident made all their previous efforts in vain. The Earl of Maidin had a daughter who fell out with the old earl over marriage issues and finally ran away from home. This earl's daughter married a wealthy noble from Xibai in South Port. However, both husband and wife died in the plague a few years ago, leaving only a son.
"In fact, that child also died of the plague soon after. However, the butler coveted the huge property of the wealthy merchant and concealed all this. He still managed the wealthy merchant's wealth in the name of the young master. Therefore, the news that the owner of the property had died must not be revealed.
"For this reason, he invited his elder brother who was doing business in Otto and hired a group of distant relatives to pretend to be mercenaries and concealed the news of the young master's death for several years. However, due to the death of the earl, that young master became the only hope to preserve South Port. Even Padraic, who was always law-abiding, would choose extraordinary means. Anyway, I don't know what method he used to make the butler confess everything.
"The butler was very scared because once this matter was exposed, he didn't know what kind of tragic end he would face. However, Padraic obviously thought there was still a chance, so he asked the butler to come to me because I'm an expert in this regard.
"Although I'm not a noble person, I don't want all the things I've worked hard to create to disappear just like that. I've also put my efforts into this prosperity. The more prosperous South Port is, the more benefits I can get from it. That's why I've never sheltered my subordinates when they did something wrong in South Port. No one would like a port full of thieves and swindlers.
But in other ports, these two occupations are always the most prosperous. Do you know why? Because I'm here, and I won't tolerate the appearance of another thieves' guild.
"Those who covet the wealth of South Port are not only nobles and the king, but also thieves. However, the system implemented by Porigee in South Port has left those weak and alone guys with no place to stand. But there are also some people he can't deal with, and I will help him deal with them. We've been cooperating like this for decades. Just like this time,Padraic needs my help."
Mr. Juan told Ivan everything from beginning to end. His tone was so calm, so gentle, and so leisurely, as if an old man in his declining years was recalling his past.
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
-- 推薦票