Caster is a city-state by the sea, with the Cordo Sea to its west. Countless ships come and go every day.

Among them are large merchant fleets, fishermen heading out to sea, and even naval fleets flying the flag of the Caster City State.

Because of this, the Basil District, which is near the port, is much livelier than other districts.

Marco was very familiar with the area. "...There are many goods here from other countries. I sometimes come here to purchase a few things myself."

"Oh."

Wei’en looked around curiously. Not only was the area crowded, but it was clearly more vibrant than other districts.

Sturdier brick-and-stone buildings lined both sides of the street, most of them shops with signs hanging by their doors.

There were bustling taverns, seafood shops selling all sorts of marine products, and even more establishments with several scantily clad girls standing at their entrances.

"I’d advise you not to keep staring at those girls."

Marco leaned in close and whispered, "They’ll think you’ve taken a fancy to them... Of course, you can go and enjoy yourself if you want."

Wei’en quickly looked away. "I think I’ll pass."

’Though the girls are very enthusiastic, I’m not planning on giving away my first time in this world here.’

’Hmm?’

Wei’en noticed that every shop had a gas lamp outside its door. This detail alone set it far apart from the other districts.

’Hmm, they’re loaded.’

"Marco, those gas lamps... Do they stay open at night?"

"Of course. This place doesn’t just have enthusiastic girls, it has even more enthusiastic sailors."

Marco shrugged and jutted his chin toward a few men walking toward them. "There. As long as they’re around, business will never be slow here."

’Sailors?’

Wei’en followed his gaze and easily identified them as sailors.

They wore ragged blue shirts and dirty, egg-yolk yellow oilskin trousers. Weapons—pistols or knives—were tucked into their belts. They had thick beards and a habit of shouting at the top of their lungs.

"Hey, watch it! Don’t step on my lovely little boat shoes."

"Jello, look what I found! A tavern with empty seats!"

"I feel like I could down a whole barrel of buttered ale..."

"Get real. A rookie like you should learn to drink milk first, haha..."

Wei’en glanced around and saw that there were about as many streetlights here as on Golden Street. "Aren’t they worried about the red moon’s light?"

Marco replied casually, "Guys who spend their lives at sea are more familiar with the red moon. But they also have a habit of making a mess of things."

"But there is one thing I like..."

"What?"

"They don’t hate us like people in the other districts do."

Wei’en nodded thoughtfully.

He watched the "crude fellows" Marco had mentioned. He noticed their gazes were mostly fierce, their muscles perpetually tense as if to display their strength.

’Perhaps, in their eyes, hatred is a cheap commodity.’

"Hmm,"

Marco led him deeper into the district and turned into an alley, from which the sound of CLINKING and CLANKING could be heard.

"I don’t much like coming to the Basil District, but I have to admit the folks here have a few tricks up their sleeves. A lot of people from other countries like to hide out near the port and get up to all sorts of bizarre things."

Compared to the bustling street outside, this alley was rather deserted.

Not only were there no enthusiastic people at the doors trying to attract customers, but the few passersby were vigilant, most keeping their hands on their weapons as if ready for a fight at any moment.

Marco noticed them too and pursed his lips. "They’re all people who haven’t been here much."

"Oh?"

"As one of Shetland’s four great city-states, Caster isn’t just more prosperous; its order is also much better than in other regions. So, some people always treat their own things like precious treasures."

Marco stopped in front of a shop. "We’re here. This place should have what you need. But Jilman has a bizarre personality, so be careful."

"Okay."

With that, Marco pushed the door open and walked in. "Good afternoon, Proprietor Jilman."

Wei’en followed close behind, glancing around the shop and thinking to himself that Marco wasn’t exaggerating when he used the word "bizarre."

The entire shop was painted a dark color, and dim light filtered down from a lampshade made of some unknown creature’s skull, casting eerie shadows everywhere.

The surrounding walls were covered in brass ornaments, mostly carved with marine creatures like mermaids or Fishfolk, which appeared distorted in the dim light.

Directly opposite the entrance was a display case laden with various items.

There were old Scrolls, a few wooden objects that looked like telescopes and ship’s rudders, and some pocket watches inlaid with mysterious runes.

’Are these relics from the Deep Sea? Or maybe just pirate treasure?’

And behind the counter stood a shopkeeper wearing a mechanical mask.

Wait,

’That’s not a mask?!’

Wei’en realized with a shock that the shopkeeper was actually a Modified Mechanical Wizard from the Mechanical School.

The thing that looked like a mask had two eyes that could extend and retract, its lenses of polished black Gemstone glinting with a faint red light.

Her nose was also mechanical—a small, square box that periodically vented puffs of white smoke.

Only the lower half of her face retained human features: plump red lips and very white teeth.

’This is so mechanical...’

The shopkeeper sized them up and said, "Marco, you haven’t been here in a long time. Let me guess what you’re here for... To buy some Deep Sea Divine Oil?"

Her voice was surprisingly pleasant.

At least, that’s what Wei’en thought.

PFFT!

Marco nearly choked on his own spit. He quickly pointed at Wei’en and said, "Don’t talk nonsense! He’s the one who needs to buy something this time."

’Deep Sea Divine Oil?’

Wei’en had a strange feeling he knew what that was, and stepped forward. "Good afternoon, Proprietor Jilman. I need some tools and materials to build a Mechanical Puppet."

"A Mechanical Puppet?"

The Jilman Wizard’s "eyes" quickly retracted twice. "A Wizard Apprentice from the Mechanical School?"

"No..."

"Then you’re from the Ghost Soul School?"

Wei’en hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yes."

"Get out. My shop doesn’t welcome any Wizards from the Ghost Soul School."

The Jilman Wizard bluntly ordered them to leave, scoffing coldly, "A bunch of Bone-Eating Worms who only know how to reap without sowing. I will never respect your kind."

"Er..."

Wei’en was dumbfounded.

"Huh?"

Marco was also stunned for a moment, then quickly said, "Jilman, he may be an apprentice from the Ghost Soul School, but he’s also an Investigator for our Logistics Department. According to your agreement with Minister Yegor..."

BANG, BANG, BANG...

A series of clicks and whirs sounded as boxes opened, and the entire shop seemed to transform.

From within the walls on both sides, four mechanical cannons extended. A pistol popped out from under the skull lampshade overhead, and behind Jilman, all sorts of mechanical weapons were revealed one by one...

Wei’en stood frozen in place. ’I only mentioned "Ghost Soul." Is all this really necessary?’

He was only now realizing the apprentice handbook had been holding back...

’So this is how the other Schools, whose knowledge was stolen by the ghosts, view Ghost Mages...’