Chapter 1: Black tower

　　 Richard Abraham, standing in the crowd, glanced to the side inadvertently from boredom, it was a huge mirror-like floor-to-ceiling window.
　　 Looking down from the window constructed by the iron fence, I can see countless undulating mountains and wide rivers. The scenery is magnificent and beautiful. No matter how many times I have seen it, I am deeply moved. Outside the glass windows is a smooth and wide metal wall, and a faint cloud of mist surrounds it, so you can't see the end at a glance. Occasionally, you can see white flying birds with flapping wings passing through the clouds and gliding in the high and low towers.
　　 The place where he is now is a tall tower, but this is by no means an ordinary place to be seen, because the tower does not stand on the ground, but floats among the clouds. As long as someone stands by the window for a while, they can notice that the mountains, rivers and earth underneath are slowly moving towards the back of the field of vision as time passes. This is proof that the entire cloud tower is sailing. On the mainland, this kind of tower that can fly like a bird has a well-known name:
　　"Witcher Tower".
　　 As the name suggests, this is a place where wizards built and lived. Only a few wizards with powerful magic power can build and maintain such a cloud tower, because it needs huge energy support to function normally, and it needs a perfect protection array to stand tall in storms and high air currents. The wizard tower It is a symbol of strength and status in itself.
　　 And the wizard tower that Richard is currently in, even among its peers, still looks different: it is taller than the average wizard tower, and the interior area is vast, equivalent to a town.
　　 It is almost impossible for mortals to maintain such a heavy flying tower. Even the legendary wizard at the top can hardly possess this degree of magic; in fact, there is more than one powerful wizard who rules here.
　　 This wizard tower, also known as the "Black Tower" and "Magic Tower", gathers free wizards from all over the world. They do not belong to any school, do not serve the country, and may even be defectors and wanted criminals belonging to certain forces. Therefore, it is regarded as one of the most dangerous and chaotic places in the world.
　　The Wizard Tower is divided into seven floors. Different floors are separated into different levels. Each floor is densely placed and distinct. Living on the top floor is the highest wizarding council composed of a five-member group called the "Steppenwolves", who are the masters of the entire tower. There are more than 3,000 official wizards in the magic tower, with a total number of more than 10,000.
　　……
　　 There are three huge fireballs hanging in the sky. Today's sunshine is particularly shining, so the residents of the magic tower on the first floor are fortunate enough to enjoy the bright light that can shine through the windows.
　　 Normally, the shadows cast by a large number of expansion buildings on the upper floors tend to block the light. This results in the dome hall at the center of the first floor being dim and dim even during the day, and the people on the bottom floor spend a long time at dusk and night.
　　Of course, no one would complain to the people above because of this-even if the number of people living on the first floor is the largest. Because everyone knows that in the magic tower, power can represent everything; the apprentices living at the bottom have no right to speak at all. The only way to get out of the predicament is to keep climbing up.
　　 The dome hall was bustling. Because of this scarce sunlight, people with gloomy faces on weekdays will also smile unconsciously. But Richard is an exception, because today is hard to say is a good day for him.
　　 "Two ounces of black snake grass, one-tenth ounce of orange-red crystal, one-third ounce of star flower, ten ounces of refined red sand...what's left?"
　　The man standing beside Richard said with a gloomy expression. He was wearing a black robe with delicate fabrics, with a clean and straight mouth, and tall and thin, making him look like a tower wizard. It's just that the huge hooked nose and the dark eyes of the bird ruined his appearance, and he was not a good person at first glance.
　　 "Yes, I'm sorry... I don't have that much stock in my store..."
　　 A short, fat young man knelt on the ground, his round face was pale and bloodless, his forehead was stained with sweat, and his heavy body was shaking like a sieve.
　　 "Oh?" The thin man deliberately extended his tone. The man glanced at Richard calmly, saw him shook his head, and then continued, "You should thank the envoy for his kindness, Mr. Ender. He allows you to use gold coins to advance what you owe. The Rhine Kingdom currency system , The missing materials are made up at a floating rate of one-fifth of the market price. Do you understand?"
　　 The fat wizard kneeling on the ground opened his mouth and murmured after a while.
　　 "But, but... I don't have that much money..."
　　 The thin man raised his eyebrows, and when the attack was about to happen, the wizard jumped up and hugged Richard's feet-this was obviously the only way he could think of. There is no point in asking for mercy from the person next to him. He knows the cold and cruel character of the other person. If he asks the young and kind-looking messenger from the top, there may be a faint hope.
"Please, Envoy! Please allow me a few more days, I really have nothing now! I, I have been deceived! I was deceived by people from the Black Blood Society, so I... !"
　　 Black Blood Society. Richard has heard of this name. It is a wizarding society that covers almost every layer of the magic tower. It is one of the most powerful groups within the tower. No one wants to provoke such a behemoth. The reason for this momentum is obviously inseparable from its backstage: the leader of the Black Blood Society is one of the "Steppenwolves."
　　 The thin man gave Richard a concealed look again. This time, even though Richard sighed slightly in his heart, he nodded slightly. As a result, the neighborhood supervisor next to him no longer hesitated. He snapped his fingers, and only heard a "pop", an electric flame flashed on the fat wizard, bounced him off.
　　 Most of the residents of the magic tower on the first floor are apprentices, that is, at level 1 or 2, and this fat man is no exception. In the eyes of most wizards, people at this level cannot even be called a true caster.
The skinny man is different. He is one of the seven block supervisors on the first floor. He has now achieved the official rank of level 3. It is really easy to beat the opponent-not to mention the timidity and timidity regardless of the difference in strength. Cowardly apprentice wizards cannot have the guts to defy each other.
　　 The fat wizard shivered on the ground like a ball. The district supervisor walked towards him unhurriedly. He grinned, his pupils flashed with greedy light like a shark staring at the prey, and he bent down and said in a low voice.
　　 "You said you have nothing? Mr. Ender, this is probably not the truth. Don't you still run an alchemy shop?"
"no, do not want……!"
　　 The fat wizard who was still silent just now screamed.
　　 "That was left to me by the teacher! You can't take it away!"
　　 The man opened his arms, so the trick tried to grab someone else’s foot. But the block supervisor obviously wouldn't give him this opportunity. The official wizard Shi Shiran snapped his fingers again. The apprentice in front of him just reached half of his hand before he was bounced off again, and the whole figure rolled back twice like a ball. ring.
　　 Richard narrowed his eyes slightly and said nothing.
　　 Although it is not the first time I have seen such a scene, he still feels heaviness in his heart. But Richard did not choose to stop, because he did not have this ability. Only those who obey the rules can survive in the magic tower. This is a place of chaos, the weak must find a strong enough refuge, and once the rules are exceeded, it will only cause fire.
　　 "Don't cry like a prostitute." The corners of the thin man's lips were slightly raised. "Trust me, I will ask someone to help. If you can pay off your debts and pay a little bit more for the management expenses during this time, Mr. Ender, that shop is still yours."
　　 He ignored the poor worm lying on the ground, bowed slightly to Richard and made an inviting gesture.
　　
　　 is completely different from the greedy and threatening expression just now. At this moment, the gloomy face of Mr. Supervisor who is accompanying him is trying to squeeze a smile, and it looks quite sullen.
　　 "Mr. Messenger, thank you for your help this time."
　　 Richard shook his head.
　　 "It's me who should say thank you. I can levy the monthly tax so quickly, thanks to the help of the supervisor."
　　 "You are polite, this is what I should do."
　　 The thin man grinned and said modestly.
　　 They walked on the streets covered by low iron eaves. Sewage flows across the bluestone pavement below your feet, and the damp corner exudes a rotten smell. In the distance, row upon row of buildings spread to the edge of the street where the side is almost invisible, and steaming white steam emerges from the high and low chimneys.
　　 This is the scene at the bottom of the magic tower...Although it is not the first time, Richard still feels a little dazed. The environment here is quite different from the top-level environment.
　　 As soon as someone sees them on the street, they will immediately change direction or hide in a house on one side. It seems that the district supervisor can be called "notorious" in this area. But the thin man obviously didn't care about it. On the contrary, there were more elements of pride in his expression.
　　 Richard can understand his thoughts. As long as he still has an official rank of wizard and the high-level power behind him as a support, no one dares to move him. On the first level, such people have always acted unscrupulously.
　　 Richard guessed that this was the real reason they were unwilling to go to higher levels: once they reached the second level, the class like a thin man would immediately change from the dominant "privileged class" to ordinary people.
　　 Really talented and ambitious young wizards will naturally look down upon such people, thinking that they are like rats in the gutter. But Richard thought it was a wise move, because the most important thing in magic is talent, and mediocre people should learn to give up as soon as possible, otherwise they will end up miserably sooner or later.
　　 Just like the neighborhood manager next to him, his life must be very happy-although this "happiness" is obtained by oppressing people who are more mediocre and weaker than himself.
"My messenger, let me take you to your place to rest next? I have prepared everyone underneath, as well as a few beautiful young female apprentices." The thin man winked at him, "rest assured, they are all If you send it to your door voluntarily, you are guaranteed to be satisfied."
　　 Richard shook his head.
　　 "No. Take me to the ladder."
"Yes Yes."
　　 The district supervisor smiled and walked ahead. He is not surprised, because in his opinion, the age of the man in front of him is estimated to be around twenty years old. A wizard like this who can live on the top floor at a young age, without exception, is regarded as talented by big people. The young genius who is an apprentice has a bright future. For this group of people, it is not uncommon to think that exploring the mysteries of the magic way is far more pleasant than meeting physical needs.
　　……
　　 is a huge spiral building located in the southwest corner of the black tower, which is called "the ladder", and it can be seen in the same position on each floor.
　　All the way forward, they will soon be able to see the huge building standing at the end of the black tower. The ferocious corner of the spiral staircase pierced towards the bright and distant sky. It is like a giant crouching on the ground, with its back bulging high, looking down blindly at the tiny humans walking by the street in front of it.
　　 Once here, the rushing figures immediately sparse. The ladder connects the upper and lower floors, as well as the outside world, and ordinary people are not allowed to approach here without permission. Of course, Richard, as the top messenger, will not be subject to this restriction.
　　 The thin man stopped and said with a smile.
　　 "My lord, it's not a place for me to go further."
　　 "It's okay, just send it here."
　　 Richard shrugged, UU read www.uukānshu.com ready to go forward.
　　……
　　 For Mr. Supervisor, this is probably the gentlest top messenger he has ever seen. Those who were sent in the past were basically indifferent and arrogant types. Although it is not so boring to teach him, it is not uncommon to think of people as air.
　　 The thin man realized that this might be an opportunity. No matter what, there is no harm in having a good relationship with someone like the other person. According to previous experience, the messengers will not refuse the gifts of the lower class.
　　 He gritted his teeth and looked determined.
　　 "Wait, please stay, Mr. Messenger!"
　　 Richard turned his head, only to see that he was cautiously holding a glass bottle in his hand, looking like a treasure, but he stuffed it to himself.
　　 "This is a little bit of my heart..."
　　 Richard glanced down and blinked in surprise.
　　 This is a bottle of "vital potion", which can promote the activity of perceiving magic net after taking it, which is quite suitable for use before meditation. It's not a particularly rare potion on the top floor, but for the wizard who lives on the first floor of the magic tower, it is indeed a rare treasure. What's more, the two are only meeting for the first time, and there may not be a chance to see each other, because the messengers who come to collect the "monthly tax" will not be the same person next time.
　　 But he did not accept it. Richard shook his head, pushed the potion away, and turned away.
"This……"
　　 The thin man stood there blankly, looking at his back.
　　 This time it was really beyond his expectation. If the woman who refused to take the initiative to send it to the door could understand it, it would be unreasonable for any wizard to refuse materials that could help promote it. Does the other party really have no desires and desires to this point?