Read Novel Full Chapter 675 - 8: Equality
Chapter 675: Chapter 8: Equality
The streets of Fran were far more bustling and..."equal" than Lynch had imagined.
He strolled with Naliti down a wide main road, beneath his feet were stone slabs as clean as jade, complete with a faintly cleansing array. On both sides of the street were rows of shops, selling everything from daily necessities to exotic Magic Materials. The crowd surged, noisy and full of vitality.
What astonished Lynch the most were the "people" here.
Walking among them were far more than just human Wizards. He saw a sturdy Dwarf with a thick beard, carrying a huge toolbox, fiercely discussing some kind of metal ratio with a human craftsman;
He also saw a Lizardman vendor with skin covered in fine scales and sharp eyes, peddling specialty herbs from the humid rainforest;
There was even a tall, robust Orc with a rugged face but peaceful eyes, carefully selecting a glowing pinwheel toy for his child.
And Naliti, the Elf from Jade Land, was not unique here either. Lynch’s sharp eyes caught a glimpse of another female Elf in the distance, with long pointed ears and a cool demeanor, standing in front of an alchemy plant shop, conversing with the shop owner.
Naliti saw it too, a flicker of familiar light passing through her lake-green eyes, but more of it was a calm integration.
"Ding-ding-ding—" A crisp bell sound rang.
A smoothly designed public alchemy carriage, powered by some kind of Crystal Stone and without horses, glided steadily along a fixed light rail above the street.
Through the spacious windows, one could clearly see the diverse array of passengers inside—a human old woman holding a basket of vegetables, a young goblin in apprentice robes, and even a human man whose aura clearly marked him as an Official Wizard.
They shared the same compartment, without apparent class barriers between them, as if this was just another ordinary day.
"The ’equality’ that Dean Abbas talked about..." Lynch murmured in his heart, "here, it seems not to be an empty phrase."
Of course, he knew well that this "equality" was built upon Fran’s absolutely powerful strength. Here, ordinary Official Wizards certainly didn’t count as big figures, and within higher levels of power structures, there were bound to be new orders and hierarchies.
Just as he could have a private courtyard at Starry Sky Academy, while ordinary Wizards could only live in dormitories.
But it’s undeniable, Fran was striving to spread the benefits of magic, reaching every resident. Along the streets, there were planted strange Magic Plants like giant trumpet flowers, their petals emitting a soft bright glow at night, serving as street lamps; while in the scorching daytime, the stamens would spray a fine cool mist, cooling and humidifying the streets.
He saw street vendors using portable freezing rune boxes to chill drinks; saw postmen wearing boots enchanted with Light Body Skill, bouncing lightly between rooftops with huge mail bags; and even saw children at play, riding on simple flying brooms, giggling and chasing each other in a designated area.
Magic, here was no longer a mysterious, lofty power, but had truly integrated into every aspect of life, becoming as natural as water and air.
"It’s really...unbelievable." Naliti couldn’t help but softly exclaim, her lake-green eyes curiously surveying everything around her, her face flushed with novelty and delight. The prosperity, order, and inclusiveness here far exceeded her imagination.
Lynch treated her to taste the sweet fruits from another world, magically ripened and sold by street vendors, and tried baked goods drizzled with wondrous glowing honey.
He also stepped into a distinctive clothing store, choosing a few pieces of clothing blending Fran’s style with elven elegance for Naliti. Naliti was initially a bit reserved and hesitant, but ultimately, under Lynch’s unwavering gaze, she joyfully accepted them, her face alight with unconcealable happiness as she hugged her new clothes.
After wandering for a while, Lynch remembered he needed to buy some lab supplies and followed the street signs into a relatively quieter alley.
The shops here had a noticeably different style, their signs mostly in old runes, displaying many mineral crystals, exotic plants, energy cores, or ancient scrolls.
The air was filled with a faint scent of Magic Dust and herbs, a place frequented by Wizards.
Naliti quietly followed Lynch, curiously observing the mysterious shops on either side.
As Lynch stopped in front of an alchemy materials store called "Dust of Thousands of Spells," examining a piece of shadow energy crystal through the window, a slightly sharp, familiar voice laden with a wheeling and dealing, anxious tone broke the alley’s tranquility, coming from the neighboring shop:
"...Boss! This price is too outrageous! This ’Dragon Blood Moss’ clearly has dark edges, its Activity seriously diminished, worth eighty Magic Stones at most! And you’re asking for a hundred fifty? Why not just rob someone!"
Lynch raised his eyebrows. That voice...
He followed the sound to see a shop next door named "Secret Magic Spring," where an elderly man, dressed in a slightly worn but clean grey Mage robe, his hair combed neatly yet still showing many silver strands, was passionately arguing over the counter about a piece of dark red, moss-like material resembling congealed blood, with a blank-faced chubby shopkeeper.
Lynch had a few friends in Fran.
The one with such a wheeling and dealing aura could only be his old friend from the Ancient Ruins, Graham.
At this moment, Graham was blowing his beard and staring, his face filled with shrewd calculation and anxiety over price gaps, just like how he would be ready to kneel for a few Magic Stones back at the Shadow Tower in the past, only with more traces of time having passed, yet his stinginess and love for a bargain seemed unchanged.
The chubby shopkeeper crossed his arms, wearing a "buy it or don’t" expression: "Old Sir Graham, this is already a discount for an old regular like you. Dragon Blood Moss is set at this price. Think it’s expensive? Try somewhere else?"
"But let me remind you, there’s a shortage of it lately; who knows when the next batch will come."
Graham’s face turned a little red with anger, even his fingers were trembling: "You...you’re just jacking up the prices! Bullying honest people!"
Lynch walked over and patted Graham on the shoulder.
Said wryly, "Hey, old friend, after all these years, your temper hasn’t changed at all!"
Then tossed a Magic Stone Bag onto the counter: "Please wrap this material up for him."