A mage's journey begins with a battle mage.

Chapter 40 A young man arrived in Velisco

Jiang Shuzhou wasn't very clear about his own position. He hadn't even put down his knife since he got off the ship, meaning he hadn't directly attacked anyone. Anyone would think he wasn't someone to be trifled with.

"Sir, please."

"By the way, sir, is this your first time in Velissco?"

Chick said with a fawning smile.

"I haven't been here for a while now."

There was neither a yes nor a no answer. Jiang Shuzhou could handle an ambiguous response; he wanted to see what this person was up to.

"I see, sir. I have a map of Verisco here. Since you haven't been here for a while, you should definitely experience the local customs and culture of Verisco this time. Consider this map my gift to you."

So sensible!

Chick's response was also quite tactful; he didn't inquire about the reason for Jiang Shuzhou's visit, while cleverly handing over the map.

"Very good, this is my reward for you."

Jiang Shuzhou casually tossed a gold coin as a reward, showing no stinginess.

"Sir, this is what I should do; you don't need to do this."

Chik picked up the gold coin and then respectfully handed it back to Jiang Shuzhou.

So sensible!

Looking at Qike in front of him, Jiang Shuzhou sighed, "If this guy were born in China, he would at least be a top salesman. He's too good at flattering people."

"If it's a reward, then it's a reward. Take it."

Jiang Shuzhou wasn't that petty. He came here not only to return to the civilized world, but also to settle a score and fulfill a promise.

Do you know these two people?

Taking out his pocket watch, Jiang Shuzhou pulled out First Mate Baker's family photo. After all, they were all seafarers, and the man in front of him might know something.

"This is the Baker family; the adults live here..."

Chick bought Baker without hesitation. After all, Baker wasn't a good person. Many times, his men found blood on the cargo when unloading it, so he was probably a pirate.

However, Chick hadn't cared about that before; he only cared about whether the money had been paid enough. As for where the goods came from, why bother?

"Good, here's another gold coin for you. And remember to keep this a secret. If anyone else finds out..."

Jiang Shuzhou threw out another gold coin. He was really going all out to keep his promise. He only had ten gold coins in total, and he had already spent two. Luckily, he had a mother and son who could generate gold coins. He could take some money after he fulfilled his promise.

"Don't worry, I definitely won't talk nonsense."

Chick made a shushing gesture, then took out a pen and drew a circle at a spot.

"Sir, this is Baker's home address," Chick said respectfully.

Sensible.

Nodding, Jiang Shuzhou didn't say anything more. He was now eager to fulfill his promise.

Jiang Shuzhou was well prepared. He released his mage armor again, then slowly walked forward and out of the dock. He was on high alert, keeping an eye out for any ambushes around him.

Jiang Shuzhou was not ambushed until the very end, and then he let go and disappeared into the night.

"Phew, that person is finally gone."

Looking at the gold coins in his hand, Chik was very happy. First, he had survived from the hands of a killer, and second, he had not only survived but also made money.

Two gold coins are equivalent to two hundred silver coins, which is no small amount. Even for a foreman like Chik, he only earns 75 silver coins a month.

Don't underestimate these 75 silver coins. They are enough to feed a family for half a year. You should know that if you don't eat meat often, an ordinary person's daily food only costs 10 copper coins, and a meal with meat only costs 20 copper coins. These 75 silver coins are enough for his family of three to eat with meat for a month and still have some left over.

A high-ranking monk casually rewarded him with more than two months' salary, which was quite a windfall.

"Lord Chik, would you like to begin work now?"

"A dockworker nearby asked."

"Of course! Do a good job. I'm in a good mood today. After we finish tonight, I'll treat you to meat."

Chick was never the kind of person who would exploit workers. He himself had worked his way up from the bottom as a dockworker, so he understood what these people wanted.

Everyone here receives a monthly salary of 20 silver coins, enough for them to eat meat once a day, yet they are reluctant to part with it.

This time was an exception, though. Chick made a lot of money and didn't mind treating his dozens of dockworkers to a meat feast.

"Lord Chik's kindness can never be repaid!"

"Long live Lord Chik!"

"..."

Upon hearing this, the dockworkers under Chick cheered, drawing envious glances from the other dockworkers, who not only received low wages but also never received meat as a treat from their boss.

"That's all you've accomplished in your lives."

Chick shook his head, feeling rather speechless.

But there's nothing they can do about it. Eating meat is the most important thing to these dockworkers, without exception. As for the rest? That's beyond their control.

Even Chick couldn't make that decision.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Clang clang clang".

A knock on the door startled a woman awake from her sleep at 66th Street in the fourth district.

"Who's there! Who's knocking?"

"It's me, sister-in-law. First Mate Baker sent me."

A young man's voice came from the doorway, and what he said made the woman's heart leap with joy.

"Did Baker really send you?"

"It's true. First Mate Baker even had me bring over my pocket watch to increase credibility."

"That's what the man outside the door said."

"Put the pocket watch in through the seam."

The woman remained very cautious.

"Okay, by the way, sister-in-law, is your son still home?"

Soon, a familiar pocket watch was slipped in through a door that had been opened a crack.

She opened her pocket watch, and a familiar group photo came into view. The woman was so emotional that she forgot the inconsistency in the man's words outside the door.

"Peker is still sleeping."

The woman said this, and then, realizing something, she hurriedly opened the door and let the man in.

The man was wearing linen clothes that clearly didn't fit him quite well.

This actually made the woman lower her guard, since her husband's men were indeed all like that.

"Look, I forgot. I'm so sorry."

"I understand, your approach is correct, after all, First Officer Baker's position is somewhat special."

"Yes, he always is."

"By the way, did Baker send you over to see me about something?"

"I came here to fulfill a promise."

The man didn't offer any further explanation.

He took out five gold coins and said to the woman.

"This is from First Mate Baker, who asked me to deliver it to you."

The woman was taken aback for a moment, then a smile appeared on her face.

They're really greedy for money.

"Please keep this money safe. I have some news about First Mate Baker to tell you later."

"What news?"

"Rest assured, there is good news and bad news, but I can tell you in advance that you and your son will soon be reunited with First Mate Baker."

Hearing the man's words, the woman finally felt relieved.

She then gave the order.

"Please wait here for a moment, the money I deposited will be coming down soon."

With that, the woman went upstairs to the second floor.

She opened a hidden compartment in the bedroom, which was filled with gold coins. Clearly, these were the gold coins that First Mate Baker had saved up after doing so much dirty work for so long.

The woman put the money away, and as soon as she turned around, she saw the man standing indifferently at the door.

"Now that the money is in the account, I have good news and bad news for you."

"First bad news: First Officer Baker is dead."

"Next comes the good news: you and your son will soon be reunited with him."

puff.

The sound of a sharp blade piercing flesh rang out. The woman didn't even have time to warn her son before she died on the spot. Her blood stained her clothes, the mattress, and finally the pocket watch she clutched in her hand.

Jiang Shuzhou opened the hidden compartment, took out all the money inside, and stored it directly in his inventory.

Downstairs, the young man was unaware that he and his parents had been separated by death. But that didn't matter, because Jiang Shuzhou would soon help him and his parents overcome their estrangement, so that they could live together in love after death.

puff.

Blood stained the mattress, and Peck suffered no pain until his death, passing away peacefully in his sleep.

After cutting off a lock of hair from the woman's and Peck's heads, Jiang Shuzhou walked out of the house.

The pocket watch in his hand gradually deformed under the high temperature of the magical flames, the metal melted and burned, and with the help of the flames, Jiang Shuzhou set the house on fire.

Standing opposite the house, Jiang Shuzhou's pocket watch was severely deformed, and the photos inside had been burned beyond recognition.

With a loud crash, the house collapsed, and now there's nothing left inside.

Looking at the still-burning house after it collapsed, Jiang Shuzhou turned and left, all traces disappearing with the flames.

Upon arriving at the dock area again, Jiang Shuzhou tied the woman's and Peck's hair together with the watch chain of his pocket watch, and then threw them into the sea.

"I reunited your family. I keep my word and never go back on my word."

Jiang Shuzhou looked at the sea and smiled as he said that he had kept his promise, and the facts proved that he was countless times better than those who broke their word.

Of course, fulfilling the promise was certainly something to be happy about, but what really made Jiang Shuzhou smile was that string of numbers.

"519 gold"