Due to the irreversibility of the effects caused by the previous Meditation Method, meditation would more or less produce some of the former Magic Power...
This path was clearly unviable.
The auction continued.
The mechanical voices of bidding rose and fell in succession.
Several times, Colin saw items being auctioned that tempted him.
But after hesitating for a moment, he still chose to withdraw his hand that was about to touch the Bidding Crystal.
At the moment, the most important thing was to resolve the issue with the Meditation Method.
The auction item that could eliminate Magic Power... he still had no idea how much it would cost.
He really couldn't afford to spend money recklessly...
After an indeterminate amount of time had passed, the sound Colin had been waiting for finally rang out in the auction hall.
"Next is auction item number 32," the auctioneer paused, then deliberately lowered his voice and slowly continued, "the Absolute Demon Fruit!"
At the mention of this name, a surge of foreboding rushed through Colin's heart.
What he needed was something that could temporarily eliminate Magic Power, and ideally without any side effects.
This "Absolute Demon Fruit"... it did not sound like a gentle Magic Potion.
As expected, the auctioneer's next words confirmed his speculation.
"The Absolute Demon Fruit has only one effect, and that is to sever a Wizard's abilities and eliminate Magic Power, turning one permanently into a mere mortal.
Of course, this only applies to those below the level of an Official Wizard, and the scent of the Absolute Demon Fruit is powerful and distinctive..."
The auctioneer's voice continued, clearly delivered to every corner of the auction hall through the amplifying Witch Array.
But for Colin, the voice seemed to grow more distant, as if separated by an invisible barrier, making it difficult to hear clearly.
"3,000 Magic Stones!"
Before long, the bidding voices suddenly sounded.
"Whew—"
With a gaze sharpened, Colin was pulled back by the bidding voices, and the sounds around him became clear again.
Glancing around, he exhaled a breath of stale air and slowly rose to his feet to head out of the auction hall.
'The feeling of dashed hopes isn't pleasant, but I can't just give up.'
Colin walked along the corridor and out of the auction hall.
It was evening now, with the rich orange glow of the setting sun bathing the earth.
He looked at the burning clouds on the distant horizon, leaving behind dazzling orange embers.
A sudden sense of release washed over him, and he silently added in his mind,
'But I also can't be blind... half a year. If I haven't found a solution within half a year, I'll have to change my Meditation Method directly.'
He hailed a public carriage and headed home.
The swift wind lifted the heavy curtains of the carriage window, and amidst the shifting light and shadows, he soon arrived at his front door.
But as soon as he stepped out of the carriage, he came upon an unexpected figure.
"Good afternoon, Senior Marjorie. What brings you here?"
Marjorie approached him with a smile and said,
"Hadn't you asked me before if there was a kind of object or Magic Potion that could temporarily eliminate the Magic Power within one's body?"
"I've gone through the records and found several, but either they're extinct and difficult to find,
Or they would permanently eliminate Magic Power or cause great harm to the body... The effects don't match what you described."
Marjorie paused, then a smile spread across his face.
"But the reason for my visit is to bring you some good news."
Colin was taken aback, a flutter of uncontainable joy welling up inside him.
"Senior Marjorie, do you mean you've found one?"
Marjorie shook his head.
The rising joy in Colin's heart came to an abrupt halt, yet before the disappointment could show on his face, he heard Marjorie continue,
"Though I haven't found one myself, I went to seek help from Senior Lillian."
'Senior Lillian?' Colin frowned slightly.
'Could it be Lillian Rudolph that I met before in the tutor's study?'
But none of that mattered now, as he gazed at Marjorie, waiting for his next words.
Marjorie didn't keep him in suspense, and decisively said:
"Yes, you guessed right, Lillian... Sister knows of a magic potion that can meet your requirements... and it's right in Neustadt City."
Colin was slightly startled, and after confirming Marjorie's words, a complex mix of joy inexplicably grew in his heart.
He hadn't expected to come up empty-handed in both the shops and the auction and had even started to think about giving up, only to suddenly receive such a pleasant surprise.
It really was like... when one door closes, another opens, and after the dark willows and bright flowers, a new village appears.
Adjusting his emotions, Colin pondered for a moment and then asked:
"So, did Lillian... Sister mention what I need to give in return?"
"Give something in return?" Marjorie shook his head, "I don't know about that, you'll have to ask her yourself."
After saying this, Marjorie paused, then smiled and added: "But as far as I know, we all share the same mentor, Lillian Sister won't ask for anything from you."
"Mm." Colin nodded, paused sincerely, and said, "Thank you, Marjorie Senior, this information has been a great help to me."
"But I'm in a hurry to find Lillian Sister, how about I invite you to have lunch at Moon Viewing Restaurant another day?"
The Moon Viewing Restaurant was a mid to high-end restaurant nearby, renowned for its demon ingredient cuisine... Of course, it was also not cheap.
Usually, the two of them would probably spend at least two hundred magic stones.
"Moon Viewing Restaurant?" Marjorie hesitated and shook his head, "That's too expensive, Colin Junior.
If you really want to treat me to a meal, next time have your maid prepare a table full of good dishes, the last time I came here for a meal, that spicy... chicken?"
"Sautéed Diced Chicken with Chilies."
"Yes, yes, exactly, that one... I've been thinking about it ever since," Marjorie smacked his lips, then sighed:
"Too bad my cook doesn't have your maid's skill, I described it several times, but what she made didn't resemble it at all."
"If Senior wishes, I can ask my maid Renee to teach your cook the specific method of making it."
Marjorie's face lit up with joy at the suggestion, his greatest hobby was gourmet food.
He prided himself on having tasted every delicacy there was.
However, the day Colin invited him for a meal, he found that the dinner served by his maid was something he had never tasted before!
"Let's settle on that, then. I'll have the cook come over to learn tomorrow," he replied quickly with a smile, then paused and added:
"Forget about the Moon Viewing Restaurant, it's just gathering some information, no need to go to such expense."
"...Then instead of another day, how about tomorrow? But I'm preparing to find Lillian Sister today... tomorrow, then. Tomorrow I'll have Renee prepare a table full of fine food, waiting for Senior you to come."
Colin paused, opting not to insist any further, and changed the subject with a smile.
"That's fine." Marjorie readily agreed, as if remembering something, he looked at Colin and suddenly added:
"You probably won't be able to find Lillian now."
"Today is Thursday, Lillian Sister is probably still in the mentor's study and won't leave the mentor's residence until twelve o'clock."
'Still in the study?'
Colin glanced at the sun setting in the distance, with a touch of surprise he asked:
"I remember Senior, you once said that after twelve o'clock noon, one cannot enter the mentor's study..."
"Lillian is different from us," Marjorie shook his head, paused, and then said: "In fact, Lillian is the mentor's granddaughter."
"I see..." Colin nodded slowly.
Their shared surname had led him to this speculation...
Seemingly thinking of something, Colin suddenly asked out of curiosity:
"Marjorie Senior, I've heard you calling Lillian 'Sister', and I'm curious about her age... "
"Lillian Sister should be nearly seventy years old by now."
Apparently anticipating Colin's question, Marjorie preemptively replied.
'Nearly seventy years old?!'
Considering Lillian's appearance, which seemed no more than thirteen, Colin was astounded.
Marjorie looked at Colin's shocked expression, laughed a few times, and explained:
"Lillian Sister is mixed blood between a High Level Elf and a human, with a lifespan of at least six hundred years... Seventy years old, in human terms, is just like being twelve or thirteen."
"Let's go, since you can't find Lillian Sister now, maybe you have time to stay for dinner?"
Marjorie smacked his lips again, adding, "Of course, we'll still have that meal tomorrow."
"...No problem." Colin came back to his senses, taking Marjorie with him into the courtyard.