Chapter 306: A SOS Letter Thirty Years Late

Oh, Teacher Carter, I really don’t know what to say about you. You have at least eight hundred, if not a thousand, items in your collection, but less than one percent are genuine.

However, what I mean by ‘genuine’ are the genuine items you correctly identified. Many things far more valuable than the so-called genuine articles were actually identified by you as fakes, and of course, some fakes were mistaken by you for genuine articles.

Little Weir chose a beast-skin scroll with dwarven treasure recorded in giant script, a unicorn python’s spine (actually a dragon’s tailbone), a thousand-year-old bog-wood (a precious necrowood), a wooden carving of the Earth Goddess (containing a wizard’s storage bag with unknown contents), and a five-hundred-year-old antique kettle that Little Weir identified as genuine.

The kettle would be the experimental item for the next archaeological appraisal club activity. The other items were exchanged by Little Weir for ten thousand-year-old gold coins and a genuine antique ornament.

The ‘fake’ for genuine exchange made Teacher Carter feel a little embarrassed, and he insisted that Little Weir take a few more items. However, Little Weir, who had gained a significant advantage, also felt a bit awkward.

He could only make an excuse, saying that he would carefully appraise them next time and take away more valuable items from the teacher, which made Teacher Carter laugh heartily.

“This is most of my fortune,” Teacher Carter said with a touch of pride, “although most of it is fake, every single item has its merits.

To teach, I’ve invested almost all my wealth. I love my profession, and I love my students.”

This was one of the teachers at Drake Advanced Academy, a respected teacher. Even though his students were few each year, he remained one of the main reasons why his specialty had the best atmosphere at Drake Advanced Academy.

Little Weir fell silent. He suddenly realized something: Teacher Carter seemed to have lost money, but in fact, he had made quite a profit.

The genuine items he identified as genuine could probably offset one-third of his investment. Although his appraisals were somewhat inaccurate, the overall error rate was not high.

Teacher Carter was a very meticulous person; anything he was unsure about was set aside and never declared genuine. Among these items, there were a few genuine ones, and their value was quite good, at least much higher than the acquisition price.

As for the genuine items among the other fakes, just the few items Little Weir had in his possession were quite valuable, enough to offset all of Teacher Carter’s investment with some left over.

Hmm, as for how much was left over, that would depend on what good things were inside that wizard’s storage bag.

This seemed like a pretty good method. Little Weir stroked his chin. He went to the black market every month, and although he covered his face and disguised his figure, he usually made a profit each time.

He would gradually become a target, especially since he could avoid those people’s traps most of the time. This was a big problem.

Now, if he saw something he liked, he had to ask someone else to buy it for him, otherwise, the seller would demand an exorbitant price.

So, should he change his identity now? As Teacher Carter’s student, according to Teacher Carter’s method, what was real was real, and what was fake was fake.

He would buy the fakes too, even more actively than the real ones, with a perfectly valid reason: for teaching!

“Teacher Carter, after a few more archaeological appraisal activities, I plan to take them to the black market to broaden their horizons. Would you like to lead a team this time?” Little Weir suddenly made a request.

Carter paused, a little hesitant. “Wouldn’t that be a bad idea? I’m afraid they might lose control and be tempted.”

“It’s simple. Have each of them bring a notebook. With us accompanying them the whole time, each person chooses three items, bargains with the owner, and then doesn’t buy them.

Afterward, we explain each item to them, letting them know how much they would have lost or overpaid.” Little Weir’s words made Teacher Carter’s eyes light up. This seemed feasible.

“What if they actually appraise something accurately?” Teacher Carter asked. Little Weir shook his head gently and said, “Our principle is to only buy what seems valuable, not what is truly valuable.

The genuine articles are too expensive and not suitable for teaching.”

Teacher Carter’s face darkened. So it was really just to hone their skills. However, handling it this way was still quite good. “Won’t this displease those black market merchants?”

“It’s fine. We have a large group and we’re using the name of Drake Advanced Academy. They wouldn’t dare do anything to us.

At worst, we can just bring an security officer from the City Hall’s Security Department. I still have that kind of leverage.” Little Weir was full of confidence, but Carter could only give a thumbs up. “You’re amazing. Bringing your own enforcer means those people wouldn’t dare to mess around.”

Since joining the All-Trades Guild, Little Weir spent less and less time at home. He even missed breakfast and dinner, which made Mojes and Little Wei Ya quite unhappy.

Rhea, however, didn’t mind, as she would always follow Little Weir. She was now also a nominal Level 1 clerk at the All-Trades Guild and had her own salary.

However, she rarely carried out missions, and treating her companions was always free, which made her very displeased.

One had to know that the All-Trades Guild was full of rich women and men, but she was in the lower-middle class. Although she had a job at the Youth Activity Center, her work was far less significant than that of the Super Strength Loli, so her salary was naturally lower.

Little Weir rarely came home early today, which made Mojes and Little Wei Ya very happy. Wizard Stardashan also showed an approving expression, but he gave Little Weir a meaningful look.

This kid definitely had something up his sleeve, otherwise, he wouldn’t be so well-behaved. Moreover, this kid actually brought back a lot of food from the All-Trades Guild, making Little Wei Ya’s belly round.

Mojes also praised it endlessly. Only Little Weir and Rhea felt fine, having grown accustomed to it.

“Alright, tell me, why are you home so early today? What do you need me for?” Wizard Stardashan was very confident that this kid was looking for him, because there was no need to curry favor with Mojes in this way.

Little Weir shook his head gently and said, “Grandpa, you guessed wrong. This time, I’m looking for Mother.”

Saying that, he took out a wooden carving and placed it on the table. The carving was very delicate, but overall it was just ordinary. The wood was not precious, and the style was a common human style.

Although it was good, it didn’t reach master-level quality. If sold, it wouldn’t be worth many gold coins.

This wooden carving must have a problem, otherwise, this kid wouldn’t be so solemn. Wizard Stardashan casually cast an appraisal spell, then nodded knowingly, turning his gaze to Mojes.

The latter froze for a moment and immediately understood: “Just an appraisal spell, Father, are you underestimating me too much?”

Saying that, she also cast an appraisal spell. However, the appraisal result left her somewhat dissatisfied. Although the materials and techniques were identified, there was nothing unusual.

No abnormality was the biggest abnormality. Mojes frowned and carefully examined the wooden carving again, but she couldn’t see anything.

With a wave of her hand, she called out, “Good Rhea, come here and help Mom see if there’s anything strange about this wooden carving. No one in the family knows more about plants than you.”

“Okay, Mom.” Rhea had no resistance to calling Mojes ‘Mom.’ Wasn’t it normal to call her future mother-in-law ‘Mom’?

However, Little Weir could only roll his eyes in protest. “Alright, you two are mother and daughter, I’m an outsider, picked up from the side of the road, or given as a freebie with takeout bread.”

But Mojes was clearly looking for the wrong person. Even if Rhea analyzed this piece of wood logically, it was still just an ordinary piece of wood.

Indeed, Rhea’s conclusion did not satisfy Mojes, but this was the truth. Mojes looked suspiciously at her son and father: “You two aren’t trying to trick me, are you?”

“Mother, do you think I have the guts? What I need your help with isn’t this wooden carving, but what’s inside the wooden carving.” Little Weir hinted at something. Mojes immediately understood.

Something inside the wooden carving, which meant it was a hollow carving? She tapped it, but didn’t hear a clear echo. Was it really hollow?

“Try using an ‘Open Door’ spell directly.” Wizard Stardashan offered a reminder. Although it seemed seamless, there was actually a small hidden door.

However, this small door was at the bottom and was very solid, so ordinary people wouldn’t discover it. He only found some clues after appraising it.

“Open Door spell?” Mojes was slightly taken aback. Why not a 偵察術 (reconnaissance spell)? But since Father said so, she would try it.

After a simple ‘Open Door’ spell, a soft “click” sound came from the bottom of the wooden carving, and it fell off neatly.

Inside, on a base with rows of serrated shapes, a small bag was folded neatly.

“A storage bag?” Mojes was slightly surprised.

Stardashan nodded gently in affirmation, “An ordinary wooden carving that requires an ‘Open Door’ spell to open. Ordinary craftsmanship cannot open or assemble it.

Isn’t it normal for a wizard’s storage bag to be hidden inside? It should be an ownerless storage bag. Open it and see.”

“Hehe, I’ve wanted a storage bag for a long time, but Father never prepared one for me.

Now I finally have my own storage bag! I’ll see how big it is first.” Mojes, in a childish gesture, directly recognized it as her own, then couldn’t help but let out a cry of surprise.

This made Wizard Stardashan and Little Weir curious: what could be inside that would make Mojes react like that?

Mojes playfully blinked her eyes, then with a wave of her hand, a magnificent wizard’s robe appeared on her body. It was clearly a mid-level magic item, a wizard’s robe that only official wizards could wear.

Then, a magic wand appeared in her hand, its fluctuations revealing its extraordinary nature.

There were over two hundred magic stones, two diaries, a dozen other documents, over twenty pieces of clothing (women’s), three magic ornaments (junior magic item level), over three thousand ordinary gold coins, and finally, a map and a will.

“This is something like a message in a bottle, released by a wizard trapped underground through a narrow underground river. It contains most of her wealth and possessions.

She was a female Level 3 Wizard Apprentice from the Traveler’s Faction, and she’s been trapped for about thirty years. The place where she’s trapped is actually in Maburst County.” Mojes couldn’t help but shake her head gently.

A Level 3 Wizard Apprentice would basically have no chance of survival, especially since thirty years had passed.

“Maburst County is the territory of the non-human races. How did she end up there? Our family hadn’t moved here thirty years ago.

Perhaps Wizard Kendall might know some details. Don’t touch the contents for now; I’ll go ask tomorrow.” Wizard Stardashan suspected that this wizard from the Traveler’s Faction likely came from Drake City.

After all, this was the closest place to the Wizard Islands and was the human race’s port after negotiations between human and non-human wizards back then. Maburst County, on the other hand, became a gathering place for the non-human races.