The first thing Colin opened was a wooden box from the Law Enforcement Team.
Inside was a Magic Crystal set in a ring, with an accompanying description—
"First Rank Advanced Sun Fireball Magic Crystal."
Colin picked up the thumb-sized, fiery red crystal, somewhat surprised.
He had seen the same type of Magic Crystal at an auction before, with the final transaction price being around seven hundred and fifty Magic Stones.
He slipped the ring embedded with the Sun Fireball Magic Crystal directly onto his finger.
Unfortunately, a Low Rank Wizard using a High Rank crystal not only consumed more energy but also had its power correspondingly reduced.
He then opened another brown wooden box from the Haiya Chamber of Commerce.
What was inside was much more straightforward and crude compared to the compensation from the Law Enforcement Team.
A dove-egg-sized, round Magic Stone caught his eye.
Clearly, it was a Middle-grade Magic Stone, roughly equivalent to one thousand ordinary Magic Stones in value.
Colin put the Middle-grade Magic Stone into his Storage Ring without delay and continued on his way as planned.
Unlike the bustling Blue Bay Street Inn where he previously stayed, this inn was somewhat quieter.
But thanks to Bananka Island's prosperous trading environment, travelers were still seen everywhere.
After walking for a while,
the cries of a newsboy selling papers nearby caught his attention.
"Bananka Wizards set new trade regulations to protect the island's fair and just trading environment, and establish a Monitoring Office!"
Colin's eyebrows lifted, preparing to stop the newsboy to buy a newspaper,
when he heard a whispered conversation between two idle passersby leaning against the wall not far away.
"It looks like the Bananka Wizards are determined to clean up the Law Enforcement Team this time..."
"That's what I think too. Those outsiders may not know, but could we, the locals, not be aware?
How many people have been conned by the Law Enforcement Team in collusion with our Chamber of Commerce? They are stealing from the Bananka Wizards. I've long felt it's not right."
"Sigh... Who knows how our guild will handle this afterwards. Are we going to have to do legitimate business?"
"Who knows..."
Colin unobtrusively shifted his gaze back and said to the newsboy.
"Give me a newspaper."
"Here you are, sir."
He took the newspaper and unfolded it.
The front-page headline of the first page was the news he had just heard.
After reading carefully, he was somewhat astonished.
He hadn't expected the Bananka Wizards to make such a big move.
But it was no longer his concern.
"Let's go." Colin shook his head and continued towards his destination with Renee.
Before long, they arrived at the trading market.
"Spices, one kilogram of each kind, ten kilograms of rock sugar..."
Inside a shop, Renee was listing items one by one to the shopkeeper from a written procurement checklist.
"Excuse me, madam. Are you looking to purchase supplies for an ocean voyage?" the affable shopkeeper asked, interrupting her.
"Yes," said Renee, pausing.
The shopkeeper smiled, pulled out a somewhat yellowed checklist from the cabinet below, and said,
"If you're purchasing supplies for an ocean voyage, please take a look at this. Our Siwo Chamber of Commerce has specially tailored many preferential packages for long voyages."
"Okay." Renee nodded, receiving the list to carefully check it.
Colin, who stood behind her, retracted his gaze.
These things, he usually left entirely to Renee to handle.
His main purpose this time was to stroll around to see if there was anything else worth purchasing on the island.
After all, according to the planned voyage, once they left Bananka Island, the stops along the way would all be small islands.
It might be some time before they encountered another thriving trade island like Bananka until they reached the Siya Continent.
On the other hand, by coming out this time, he was also tasked with placing the purchased supplies directly into the Storage Ring, to avoid transportation and thus save some transportation costs.
Seeing that Renee was able to handle things with ease,
Colin did not pay further attention and simply waited quietly at the side, pondering the new Flying and Diving Skill he learned recently.
Suddenly.
Crash—
A noise of something falling and subsequent commotion came from not far away, followed by a painful scream.
"Believer! Stop him... He's a believer! A dog of the Divine!"
Colin's expression changed slightly, and he quickly walked to the shop's entrance to look outside.
At the roadside ahead, a vendor was clutching his chest and pointing at a gaunt man with his back to him, shouting loudly.
Upon hearing the vendor's words, the gaunt man's face changed, and without caring to remain hidden, he started to run.
His direction was towards Colin.
Colin's brow furrowed slightly.
Hisss—!
But the next second, the man's footsteps abruptly halted, and with hands painfully grasping his own throat, he emitted a rasping sound, then collapsed to the ground.
Next,
Swoosh!
A white-robed figure descended from the sky, landing behind the man.
Round-framed black glasses, white hair—it was none other than Qu Laidun, an appraiser from the Golden Anchor Auction House, whom he knew well.
At the moment, Qu Laidun's face was grim as he slowly approached the fallen gaunt man.
Tap tap tap—
Suddenly, behind him, a squad of silver-armored guards split the crowd and ran over.
At the forefront of the guards was a somber-faced middle-aged wizard, who swiftly came to Qu Laidun's side.
The two exchanged words in a low voice.
Seeing everything had settled down, Colin turned his attention back to pondering the Flying and Diving Skill of Oran.
However, not long after,
A familiar voice came from outside the shop.
"Master Colin, we meet again," Qu Laidun said with a smile as he entered the shop, greeting him.
"Master Qu Laidun," Colin turned around to respond.
"I was just nearby purchasing some items, and it's a coincidence we've bumped into each other again," Qu Laidun exchanged pleasantries, then continued, "Speaking of which, I have a matter I wish to discuss with you."
"Please speak," Colin said.
"It's nothing major," Qu Laidun said with a smile, and added, "I was just wondering about your plans for the future... Do you intend to leave Bananka Island, or are you planning to settle here for a longer period?"
"I haven't decided yet," Colin answered vaguely.
"Undecided?" Qu Laidun nodded, "May I ask what you think of the Bananka School?"
"The Bananka School... It's very good; their strength is also quite formidable," Colin replied with polite praise.
"Then, Master Colin, would you be willing to join the Bananka School?"
"Join the Bananka School?" Colin could barely hide his surprise.
Then he instinctively asked, "But I am already an Official Wizard. It would be difficult to change my practice to the Meditation Method..."
Qu Laidun paused, then chuckled,
"You misunderstand, Master Colin. I am talking about joining the school as an external deacon, without needing to change your Meditation Method."
He then added,
"However, as an external deacon, although not having access to the school's systematic knowledge, the rest of the benefits are actually equivalent to those of school members... What do you say?"
Colin furrowed his brow in thought.
After a long while, he slowly spoke up,
"I'm sorry, Master Qu Laidun, but I am used to my freedom, so..."
It seemed to catch Qu Laidun off guard, a flash of astonishment clearly crossing his face.
He paused, then with some patience said sternly,
"Have you considered this carefully, Master Colin? The Bananka School very rarely recruits external Wild Wizards.
Though you are a First Rank Wizard, if you wish to advance further, even if you cannot convert to the Bananka School's Meditation Method, staying within the school might still give you a much higher chance of advancement than if you were on your own!"
"Moreover, there are many other benefits to being in a school. I believe you, as a Wild Wizard, are very aware of this!"
Qu Laidun's tone was gentle, yet had shed some of its earlier warmth.
He had anticipated that Colin would be overjoyed, given the well-known hardships of a Wild Wizard... The chance to join a school, though not skyrocketing one to heaven, was still a transformation of one's being!
Which Wild Wizard wouldn't want that?
In fact, he wouldn't have come to recruit just any Wild Wizard, had he not reported the Law Enforcement Team incident back to the Bananka Wizards, who then mentioned it to him.
Yet Colin seemed rather uninterested in joining.
"I'm sorry... Master Qu Laidun," Colin repeated firmly but respectfully.
Qu Laidun watched him, saying nothing more.
"Since you do not wish to join the Bananka School, then I shall not disturb you further."
With mere words, Qu Laidun turned and left.
Watching his retreating figure, Colin remained impassive.
Leaving Bananka Island to head for the Siya Continent had been his plan from the very start, and he had never considered changing it.
Leaving aside the three-year contract with Erica, even for his own future, his best option was to go to the Siya Continent.
On Bananka Island, at best he could only be an external deacon to the Bananka School.
But if he went to the Siya Continent, perhaps he could become a true member of a new school.
The benefits of being a school member need not be overstated.
Compared to staying on Bananka Island as a deacon with no prospects, heading to the Siya Continent to join a new school was obviously a better choice.
Sunrise, sunset, high tide, low tide.
And so, time swiftly passed by another six days.
That day, just as dawn broke over the distant horizon of the sea,
Colin stepped out of the inn, accompanied not only by the Renee sisters,
but also by a young man—an employee from the Leiden Shipyard.
That's right, his Sea Swallow had been completed.
Now, it was time to proceed with the inspection!