Unedited*
Lucius Asturias, the New Rising Star?
Only people ranked within the top 1 million on the Local Ranking were allowed into this establishment. Naturally, he could get in, being one of the top 1,500 strongest.
Although he immediately caught people’s attention, it didn’t last very long.
He was the rising star, but... the whole city still doubted his abilities. At least the wealthy did.
Lucius didn’t care much about what those people thought or whispered about him.
He entered the store and headed toward the tool counters.
There were many types of tools. Weapons, armor, support tools, and so on.
"They have a good variety of tools," Clara said.
"The variety is fine, but the quantity isn’t that great." Lucius picked one up from behind the glass and examined it closely. "Though the quality isn’t bad."
"I think that’s quite an amazing number," Clara said, doing a quick count. "I see at least 300 of them."
’Well, I suppose that must seem like a lot to her,’ he thought.
He was on a small Civilization Island, far removed from the major Civilization Islands. Here, people aren’t that strong—there isn’t even an S-Rank. There aren’t many tools available in desolate places like this.
After taking a look inside the first shop, they both went out and entered other shops.
They visited most of the mid-tier shops until they finally arrived at the Ancient Fountain.
In the middle of the road, standing in stark contrast to the city’s magical and futuristic style, stood an imposing water fountain in pure ancient style.
It looked as if it had been built thousands of years ago... and, in fact, it had.
𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶
It was so old that no one had dared to change a single thing about it, out of respect for its age. The street itself is named after this fountain, which stands right in the middle and covers almost the entire famous Old Square.
The contrast between the old and the new felt peculiar and naturally drew the eye.
This marked the beginning of the end of Old Street, as there were now only seven more establishments left.
The Seven Shops of the Seven Ancient Families.
These families are as long-standing as the Founding Families, but they were not among those who founded the island, as they have always been dedicated to the trade of antique tools.
Today they are among the wealthiest families in the country, though they still do not venture into any business other than that one.
And the Seven Main Shops on Old Street belong to them, since the Seven Families are based, precisely, in New Asturias.
Lucius looked at the imposing buildings and their pointed spires.
They were so tall that they made him feel small.
Among the Seven Buildings, Lucius focused on the one with a pattern resembling the number "3."
It was the Third Family.
Historically, the Ancient Families closest to the Asturias Family were the First, Second, and Sixth Families.
However, among the Seven Families, there was one that greatly respected and admired Lucius’s mother. That was the Third Family.
A family dedicated to the research of ancient tools. Its leader is even more famous than the family itself: Thalion Morwen, head of the Morwen Family, current Leader of the Ouroboros Guild, an A-Rank Ranker, and one of the most prominent figures in the country.
"I heard Lord Thalion is in town," Clara said suddenly. She, too, had fixed her gaze on the Morwen building.
Lucius glanced at her and walked toward the building. "Any business?" he asked.
"I don’t know. Apparently, he returned a few days ago."
Lucius nodded without stopping. "Well, from what I saw on The Wall, there’s now a Third-Rank A within the Morwen Family. Even though one of them is already halfway to the grave, they’ve managed to match the Founding Families. Maybe that’s why."
"Possibly some celebration related to that," Clara suggested.
They both entered the Shop. Unlike many shops on this street that had strict restrictions, the Shops of the Seven Families had no restrictions whatsoever, as they also functioned as a museum open to everyone.
"Gentlemen, are you here to shop or to tour the museum?" As soon as they entered, a well-dressed man approached them respectfully.
"We’re just looking around. We’d like to shop, but we’d also like to study. We’re students in the Department of Tool Design," Clara replied, maintaining the same level of respect.
The man nodded with a smile. "In that case, allow me to accompany you. I’ll treat you as customers to fulfill my duty, but I’ll show you around as visitors here for research. Does that sound good?"
Clara first looked at Lucius, and seeing that he thought it was a good idea, she nodded. "Very well, sir. Then we’ll be in your care."
"Please follow me."
They immediately began walking through the enormous store.
Almost immediately, the man asked another question. "What class do you belong to in the Department? It’s to determine the level of studies you’ve been taught so I can know what to teach you."
Lucius finally looked at him. "Do they teach you a lot about ancient tools, even though you’re just workers?" he asked.
The man was wearing the uniform of a first-class worker, the lowest rank. Did he really know what he was talking about?
’Although I don’t underestimate him, I wonder how far his training will take him,’ Lucius thought.
He smiled. "It’s difficult to be chosen to join this company, Young Lord. Entry is limited to a select group of people, even among first-class workers, as it requires a great deal of knowledge. Furthermore, after joining, we’re taught even more by specialized instructors."
"We go through grueling training focused entirely on theory, so only those with the greatest aptitude remain. In the end, we are the elite among the elite of those knowledgeable about both ancient and new magical tools."
Lucius nodded. "Well, it’s not for nothing that they’re Ouroboros’s closest allies," he said.
That guild’s name wasn’t very well known within the country, even though it’s highly respected among the elite. However, in other countries, it’s famous as a research guild.
Even in the Great Capital of Gaia, that name had once resonated. They hold great prestige in many areas.
The man smiled and nodded. "Well, I think Ouroboros benefits greatly from us."
Lucius almost burst out laughing on impulse, but managed to hold back. There was no need to put a lowly worker down.
"We’re in Class F, first year," Lucius finally replied.
The man nodded, unperturbed. "I see. Classes have just started, right? Does that mean you’re at the lowest level for now? Very well." He then proceeded to teach them.
Lucius and Clara looked at each other. Somehow, they hadn’t expected the man to act that way.
Didn’t he look down on them for being Class F? That was something new among the workers in this area, who usually looked down on Class Fs.
’Well, whatever.’ Lucius shrugged and continued walking behind him.
"Ancient tools are usually categorized by age in 50-year increments. There are 50-year-old ancient tools, like those over there."
"Age doesn’t guarantee that it’s better, but it does guarantee knowledge. Knowing how tools were made decades or centuries ago is something that has always helped in the construction of new and more versatile tools. Thanks to that, we’ve been able to develop new ways to create tools."
"That’s why the Antique Tools market is so important."
"Now, 50 years isn’t that long. It’s likely that tools were created 50 years ago using the same techniques we use today."
"That’s why tools from 50 years ago are relatively inexpensive, as you can see."
The tools from 50 years ago had relatively low prices. The main ones ranged in price from 3,000 to 10,000 mana credits.
But there were some that exceeded the ten-thousand mark.
As Lucius and Clara scanned all the tools from 50 years ago, they stopped at one of them when they noticed an exorbitant price.
1.5 million credits!
Clara was so stunned she almost forgot to breathe.
Lucius, on the other hand, frowned. ’It’s strangely familiar,’ he thought.
The man guiding them also looked over when he noticed they had frozen in shock.
"It’s a weapon that’s exactly 59 years old as of today. Its high price is due to the fact that it’s the very sword of Emperor Saki, from the Island of Shadows. It was difficult to obtain; our men had to venture into the Kalgarth Grounds to retrieve it a year ago. However, it was well worth it." The man smiled as he presented it to them.
’Oh, that’s why it looks strangely familiar. How did that end up there?’ Lucius thought.
Emperor Saki died 50 years ago. He was a brave man from one of the most powerful islands in the world.
It is said that he owned several swords, but among them, the newest was also the one he treasured most.
The intricate details had not faded, even though it had spent many years absorbing the dangerous energy of the Kalgarth Ground—yet another sign of just how remarkable it was.
It even looked brand-new and retained the harmony of a powerful sword; it still functioned, and mana flowed through it.