Chương 94: The City Of Genoa

We went down in the elevator, got out, and I looked up. I was afraid when I saw the giant rock floating above us. The elevator was like a needle sticking out of the base, stopping just above the ground. I could see workmen on the underside of the College working on the rock. We stepped down slightly onto paved ground. There was a small gap between the base of the elevator and the ground. The level of precision they achieved was exceptional.

"I wonder what they are doing up there?"

"They are dealing with cracks and stress points while smoothing out the rock carefully with various skills. In time, it will be the shape of a dome." A young man said. He had to be about four years older than me if I had to guess. Probably starting here at the College at age 16 instead of 12.

"Ah, forgive me for intruding. I am Xyon Fullbright, first year." I noted a large man in heavy armor standing behind him with a hand resting on the pommel of a massive sword.

"Justin Burnstock. Impressive placement. Number ten, if I recall correctly."

"Nothing compared to number one himself. The legendary child of Supreme Warlady Elena Burnstock," he replied with a grin.

"That can't be safe up there."

"There are safety harnesses and ropes you can barely make out if you squint. Heading into the city?"

"Yes. You?"

"The same. The College is like a crypt. I swear, it is like they suck the joy out of learning," he said, and I nodded.

"Exactly. I was thinking the same thing. Surprised you are a first year."

"Well, my parents wanted me to study at home until I was 16 to maximize my time at the College. I swear I would love to fail, but they would probably disown me."

"Nobles?"

"Worse, merchants. You need something, they can get it. The dwarves might make nice contraptions, but they need human merchants to deliver all the stuff to human kingdoms. My family has a large controlling interest in such trade."

"I know little about any of that. If you asked me about the dungeon or fighting, I could say, but my knowledge of trade is almost nothing."

"Don't worry. It is enough to put the dead to sleep, considering profit margins, index portfolios, and budget allocations. I swear, people invent new terms to confuse others. Now we have to wait for a magical carriage to come back. There are a couple that are constantly going back and forth to the city, transporting people and supplies. Here is one now," Xyon Fullbright said.

"This is Healer Melon," I introduced my bald companion.

"This hunk of metal is Skullcrusher," Xyon Fullbright said while gesturing at his guard.

"He is here to make sure I don't get into trouble or have too much fun." The mountain of armor didn't even nod.

"Strong and silent." I checked them over with Mana Vision and Shadow Vision. Nothing wrong with either of them. There was some Mana in the armor of Skullcrusher, but my Danger Sense wasn't triggering either. I had been on edge since the attack, checking everyone and everything just to be sure a person wasn't someone else in disguise. We got on the magical carriage, which had some seating and a large cargo area that staff members quickly unloaded. Soon, we headed towards the city of Genoa.

I noticed the magical carriage budge a little bit when Skullcrusher boarded.

"So what discipline are you focusing on?"

"Spell casting. My parents wanted me to go into crafting, but spellcasting seems like an easier way to make a living. I am the fourth son, so nothing major for me to inherit. I prefer to keep things simple. Just cast a spell and be done with things. What about you?" Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

"Runes for now, but then spells."

"For the dungeon?"

"Yes. I plan to become an adventurer."

"Dangerous. Shame about The Mathemancer going to the bottom. That is a death sentence."

"He might come back."

"No one comes back. The deepest anyone has returned from is the 25 th layer. Go any further, and getting back is supposedly impossible. I plan to live a comfortable life and die in a comfortable bed. Sorry if that offends you."

"I don't mind. Going into the dungeon isn't for everyone. I almost died during a solo descent myself."

"What happened?"

"Monster grabbed onto my face. A bug with a hard shell. It almost choked me to death. It was an Abnormal."

"Hmm, well, you clearly are capable. Seeing your skill level gain in just three months made me exhausted. I thought I had a chance at the top spot, but now I am happy making the top 10."

"It is hard work. Couldn't they make the classes more engaging? Like minor competitions against other students. The instruction is the best, but it just feels impersonal."

"No one wants to pay the cost if they aren't getting a lot of levels. I think we are in the minority."

"I know. Enough about the College. Do you know anything about Genoa? I plan to look for some sweets."

"A good idea. They are a major port city since it is an island nation. Perhaps a gambling hall."

"Pulse Strike for sure."

"Oh, you play?"

"Yes. You?"

"Of course. Now that is a fun way to learn math. We should look for a gambling hall after checking out the market." Skullcrusher let out two loud coughs.

"You are my guard, not my nanny," Xyon Fullbright said, rolling his eyes.

"You too?" I joked while giving a glance at Healer Melon, who just let out a sigh while he was trying to ignore the fact that we were traveling on a magical carriage.

"Parents and their minions can be a hassle. Don't worry, we will have a good time here in Genoa. It's a great mercantile city, with everything one could want, even for a discerning connoisseur."

"I heard it uses democracy to govern. People voting for their leaders? That sounds like it would lead to chaos."

"You aren't wrong. It adds a certain flavor to the place. I was here a couple of years ago when they were first trying to switch over. It was a mess then, but it is getting better."

"How does it even work?"

"With a lot of shouting and colors. It's good that you are wearing the school uniform. Basically, political parties in Genoa have taken over all the colors. Practically a spectrum at this point. But that is boring. Let's find some sweets first, then we can find some exciting place to hang out at," he said, and I nodded. It was nice to be out of the College.

"I will keep avoiding colors in mind," I said as we approached the city. There was no outer wall as the magical carriage went down the main road towards the city center.

"Good operation the school has going. Transport and resupply right from the city center. They should probably split the two tasks off. Specialization is always better for efficiency."

"Merchant knowledge?"

"Yes. They should have arranged a warehouse on the outskirts to move supplies and provided separate transport for people to the city center. They will figure it out in a couple of years, I am sure. The College of Advancement is never lacking in people who can figure out stuff like that. There are a lot of auxiliary business courses."

"I might have to look into them. The Oakshield Corporation approached me about using my name and image."

"You didn't agree to anything, I hope?"

"No, why?"

"Good. Dwarven corporations are incredibly ruthless. Competition breeds excellence, and the rivalry among corporations is intense. Probably some low-level employee putting on a big show, trying to make a major accomplishment by getting your support for cheap. I recommend staying away from all of them."

"All of them? Even if they offer better terms or a percentage?"

"You should find someone who can manage and negotiate for you. Specialization and all that. That's the problem with adventurers, thinking they can do everything on their own. No offense."

"None taken, and I get it. When you are down in the dungeon, you can only count on yourself for survival. Depending on others is incredibly risky, especially where combat against monsters is concerned."

"Don't let that mindset carry over into business. Trust me on that. That's why adventurers are always struggling to become rich and merchants rule the world," Xyon said. I didn't know how true that was, but I understood that money was a strategic resource at a certain point, as higher-quality metals could be used for higher-tier equipment.

"I will keep that in mind," I said as the magical carriage came to a stop. We got off, and I looked around at the bustling marketplace. A large section was reserved for the College of Advancement. I didn't fault the city for not permitting the College's location above it. Blocking the sun and the concern that it might fall wouldn't be good. No one wanted to be the second Undercraft. Better not to have two cities on top of each other at the same time in the event of an attack by powerful, crazy people.

"There is a sweet store." Xyon pointed at a building. He was taller, which made it easier for him to see past the crowd. We made our way over to the store, past several market stalls, and entered. I smiled as I looked over all the options. It was time to stock up on sweets.