Felix had no intention of taking Susie along on his travels. She had family responsibilities to consider, unlike them—free to roam wherever they pleased. Without a fixed place to stay, communication would beco difficult, and naturally, her family would be worried if they couldn't reach her.
His current view of Susie was similar to how he saw Snowsant: she was still in the training phase and not yet suited to follow him during the early, more volatile stages of pioneering and conquering the world.
From this perspective, settling her in his second ho, Trimount, was the most suitable option. Although the scientific community in Columbia could be murky at tis, its practical applications of Originium research and technology remained highly advanced.
By contrast, while Leithanien's universities also taught Originium techniques, their approach was more abstract—focused on the harmony of musical movents and theoretical resonance rather than practical, day-to-day use.
If one aspired to be a musician or a conductor, Leithanien was a good choice. But for those looking to apply Originium arts in scientific or technological contexts, Columbia was clearly the better fit.
Felix's decision to send Susie to Columbia wasn't out of admiration for the place—it was simply the most convenient choice.
The next day, Susie returned to school. Mandragora spent a long ti speaking with her, sharing stories from her past and explaining her current relationship with her Pioneer brother.
Moved by Mandragora's words, Susie shed tears. Her impression of Felix changed once again, especially after Mandragora told her that it was thanks to him that she was saved and had beco who she was today.
While Mandragora and Susie's bond grew stronger, Felix was busy browsing the forums. He noticed that many players who had never previously spent money with him were now making their way toward the borders of Leithanien. The average deposit balance had climbed into five figures. So players had even purchased motorcycles—grumbling about rising fuel prices as they sped toward Leithanien.
It had been almost two years since the server launched, and most players had finally reached level 25. Their next objective was to drop redundant secondary professions and maximize their core stats and combat strength in preparation for the current endga.
Player teams had now beco powerful enough to overpower bounty hunters. Felix ca across a forum post by the Kazimierz Dreamchaser, who had just joined the "Jinxi" professional guild in China—just as he had in Felix's previous life. Their team accepted a commission to eliminate a group of bounty hunters and dispatched a 16-man squad to ambush a team of four fully armored bounty hunters. They successfully took them down and looted a wealth of equipnt, even if they didn't particularly value the bounty hunters' gear.
Players were beginning to realize that they weren't as weak as they'd once believed. Of course, they were still no match for high-level, high-danger NPCs. But with teamwork, they could take on lower-risk targets. The mission Dreamchaser received was a perfect example. The enemies were around level 30, yet they were defeated by players who were only level 25—or even below level 20.
None of the players felt any guilt. After all, these so-called "monsters" didn't trigger any hidden storylines. They posed little real threat. They were clearly not mysterious or significant high-ranking NPCs, so the players felt no remorse.
Terra was vast and rich in resources—thirty tis the size of the Blue Planet—so it was only natural that its population had grown exponentially. The death of a few low-level hostile NPCs was insignificant in the grand sche of things.
A month later, Mandragora left the Caster School. Before her departure, she gave Susie a handmade clay doll. The doll's features were modeled after Susie herself... It was the first ti Susie had ever received a gift from a friend, and she couldn't hold back her tears, letting the pearls fall silently.
Witnessing the deep bond between the two girls, Felix didn't interrupt them to say goodbye. Instead, he turned to Senomi and asked, "Have you said goodbye to your friends?"
"Mm... It's a bit sad, but I'm happy to travel with my master," Senomi said softly, leaning her head against Felix's arm. "Mandragora made a friend too—that's wonderful."
Hearing the trace of envy in her voice, Felix smiled and reassured her, "Once we arrive in Columbia, you'll have the chance to beco friends with Susie. You're so cute, Senomi—Susie will definitely like you."
Senomi nodded shyly and gave a soft hum of agreent.
Mandragora gave Susie a warm hug, then turned and walked quickly toward the military truck, taking two steps at a ti. From the window, she flashed a radiant smile back at Susie, who returned it with equal brightness. The pink-haired, folded-eared cat's smile shimred in the sunlight, like a clear, fleeting flash of light.
Felix smiled faintly. "Still reluctant to leave, Mandragora?"
Mandragora grinned. "I'm already looking forward to seeing Susie again in Columbia, Brother."
"That's good."
Degenbrecher double-checked the girls' seatbelts while Felix started the engine. After refueling, the Military truck rolled out once again from the border city of Boschendal.
Everything had gone smoothly in Boschendal this ti, but Mr. Glitter's attitude toward his own body made Felix sigh. Everyone had their own fate—he only hoped that Mr. Glitter wouldn't overwork himself.
Victoria was very close to Leithanien. At the very least, their borders intersected. Between them lay a naturally uninhabited zone.
Leithanien was a country saturated with magical energy. Originium Arts there were widely practiced and frequently intertwined with music. This fusion had led to a flourishing musical culture and made Leithanien one of the more tolerant nations toward the Infected.
These were details Felix had read from archived records.
Leithanien was once ruled by the Witch King Herkunftshorn, who initially brought great prosperity to the nation with his mastery of Originium arts. His imnse talent made him the most powerful spellcaster in Terra's history. However, for reasons unknown, his reign took a dark turn—stories began to erge of him using Originium powers to carry out horrific massacres.
In 1077, the Twin Empresses defeated the Witch King and assud the throne. His horns were severed, and his body was put on public display. Yet, the shadow of the Witch King did not disappear. Even now, remnants of his loyalists—opposed to the rule of the Twin Empresses—remained. They ca to be known as the Witch King's Remnants.
At present, Leithanien is ruled by two monarchs—the Black Empress and the White Empress. As the saying goes, a nation should only have one voice, and any country or force ideally should be led by a single ruler. Yet, over the years, the people of Leithanien have gradually grown accustod to being governed by the Twin Empresses.
Since ascending to the throne, the Twin Empresses have vigorously promoted the developnt of Originium arts, music, and tourism. In accordance with their directives, many mobile cities began expanding their local tourism industries.
"So this is what Leithanien is like," Felix sighed as he drove.
In his previous life, he had visited Leithanien only once, near the end of version 2.0. He hadn't played a Caster class, and his trip here had been solely for a mission.
He glanced at Degenbrecher, who wore her usual calm expression, and asked, "Will you be our tour guide later?"
"I haven't returned to Leithanien in over nine years. Most of what I rember is probably gone," Degenbrecher replied lightly. "But since it's the boss's request, I can still recomnd a few classic Leithanian dishes. How about sausages and beer?"
"Sounds good. Let's head to a mobile city tonight and grab a drink," Felix offered.
Degenbrecher chuckled and nodded in agreent.
Leithanien is divided into two types of administrative zones: mobile cities and mobile towns.
However, a mobile town is different from a beginner's town. For players, without having acquired official identity permissions, entering a mobile town with a mobile core is temporarily impossible.
As night fell, they finally saw a long line of vehicles up ahead. Their destination was the mobile city of Leipzig, known for its strong academic atmosphere. Leipzig is ho to nurous colleges and universities, including the prestigious Leithanien William University, one of the nation's most renowned institutions of higher learning. The university offers a wide range of disciplines, from Originium Studies and Crafts to Natural Environnt Studies. It is a top choice among Leithanien's college-bound youth.
Noticing that Senomi and Mandragora had fallen asleep in the back seat, Felix didn't speak further. He quietly steered the Truck into the city of Leipzig.
Thousands of lights sparkled throughout the urban sprawl.
Degenbrecher narrowed her eyes slightly. She had never spoken to Felix about her past, but it hadn't been an easy one. Branded a defective product who knew nothing about magic, she had once been called a benchmark of the tis by the Kazimierzian dia. Her fallout with the Chamber of Comrce had left her stranded. If it hadn't been for Felix, she might never have been able to return to this holand.
But the past was like the wind—what truly mattered was the present.
After tucking Mandragora and Senomi into bed, Felix and Degenbrecher headed out for drinks. When they returned later that evening, Felix realized it would be better to wake the girls up and have them shower—after all, it was always more comfortable to sleep clean.
Leithanien, as ntioned earlier, draws inspiration from real-life Germany. And what is Germany known for? Beer and sausages—along with all kinds of barbecue.
Felix and Degenbrecher found a street food stall and sat down. A cheerful waiter approached them. He looked at Degenbrecher with the warm familiarity of soone from the sa hotown, while offering Felix polite, respectful service—clearly treating him like a tourist. Not that there was anything wrong with that.
The cocktails at Scarly Martin were all carefully crafted mixed drinks, while here, it was all quick-brew beer. The taste couldn't compare to Bald Martin's refined cocktails, but if you drank enough, you'd still end up with the drunk debuff. Degenbrecher downed several glasses in a row without so much as a blush. She smiled lightly and said, "Boss, you really can't drink."
Felix initially thought about responding with "A man should never say no," but quickly changed his mind. He recalled that a wise man doesn't argue with a woman.
Besides, he had important things to handle the next day—getting drunk tonight would be a terrible idea.
With that in mind, Felix admitted defeat without complaint.
---
The next morning, Felix resud his search for suitable schools for Senomi and Mandragora. After finalizing a few options, he loaded up a military truck full of goods and drove out of the mobile city alone, heading toward the nearest novice village.
After arriving in Leithanien, the dozen or so mbers from Yanyu Pavilion quickly adapted to their new surroundings. They bypassed the novice village and entered the novice town directly, and were soon impressed by the wealth of educational resources available here.
The people of Leithanien are generally well-educated. Originium Arts are part of compulsory education, and the arts—especially music—occupy a larger portion of the curriculum compared to other regions.
So Leitanians even believe that studying music enhances one's control over Originium Arts and helps ease the psychological effects of Oripathy.
International students who studied in real-life Germany often joked that "the three years you study in Germany are the most unforgettable seven years of your five-year degree." So this kind of academic rigor didn't co as much of a surprise to them.
Several Casters from Yanyu Pavilion paid the steep tuition fees and enrolled in the Caster School. If it weren't for the valuable experience points and progress bar gains, they might have given up—most of them couldn't understand the lengthy lectures or the specialized jargon the instructors used. If the final grade was based purely on theory exams, they'd be at the bottom of the class, dragging down the average.
---
To the west of Leithanien lies the novice town of Kabelsk, which beca a gathering hub for players from groups like Yanyu Pavilion. After waiting for what felt like forever, they finally saw the arrival of the Pioneer's truck.
The players of Leithanien had been eagerly awaiting the Pioneer since the revelations in Victoria. They believed he was their destined savior, their godsend—and now, at last, he had arrived!
Once Felix opened his shop, the players went wild. To their delight, the Pioneer's store carried Originium Staffs for Casters—rare treasures in any novice town. Previously, only a few lucky players had managed to get their hands on one through random encounters or rare quest rewards. Most players had long wanted one but couldn't find any for sale.
To make things even better, Felix had also stocked new leather armor styled like military uniforms. The attribute bonuses were impressive, and players who had been saving their in-ga currency since launch finally let loose. They shopped freely, and Felix quickly amassed a large amount of Leithanian currency and experience points.
The players put on the new leather armor and took a few steps—imdiately realizing how cool they looked. Many male players felt that the military-style uniform made them look especially dashing, while several female players looked sharp and heroic in their outfits. Yan Fei, for instance, was so taken with the design that she bought a whole set from Felix.
However, one thing left the players slightly disappointed—they didn't see Sister Degenbrecher or the two little girls from the team. They had co prepared with gifts for them, only to find that the trio hadn't shown up. What a letdown!
Felix, on the other hand, spotted a few unexpected faces. Among the crowd, he recognized Magic ZX, Dandao Dantart, and Qiu Muyu. Along with them was a small group of Sarkaz players.
"It's you. Long ti no see, adventurers," he greeted them with a warm smile.
He wasn't sure how they had managed to make their way all the way here from Kazdel, but that didn't matter. What mattered was seeing familiar faces.
For Magic ZX and the others, Felix's simple words felt like warm water washing over them—gentle, comforting, and full of respect.
That feeling—being seen, being valued—was just so… satisfying.
'Was this what it felt like to have true followers?'
Felix felt genuinely pleased.
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