The other party does have the ability to support the entire phantom projection, but without a projection crystal stone, the cost would certainly be very high; projecting once would be equivalent to casting a sixth or seventh ring spell.
By switching to this traditional method of blending bards with the new projection, however, the cost can be greatly reduced; it just takes a bit more talking, and two mugs of dark beer can settle it.
As for the projection, there's absolutely no need to spend money.
Those selected excerpts at most are just tricks; even magic apprentices can use them extensively, let alone a legendary mage, who can easily perform them.
This middle-aged man is none other than Valo, Gaven's target for this trip.
This archmage is extremely narcissistic, using a printed image of himself as the cover of all his travel books, only in different poses.
