Leaving Master Pin, I returned to my world. While the girls rested, I had business left. For our next training, I needed to deal with one person first. Otherwise, instead of training, they'd try to kill us... So I set off.
This time, I couldn't just fly to my destination on a military White Eagle—no base there. Where else to find an illegal mage fight arena but a city full of criminals? More precisely, consisting only of them.
Kowloon City was destroyed fifty years ago by a monster wave and officially wiped from human territory, like Jinlin. But while the city sent for university exchange students was to be reclaimed after scouting,
Kowloon was cleared and claimed by criminals, bypassing state forces. If it were maniac killers, they'd be long gone. State doesn't want a crime nest nearby bleeding them. But a profitable one paying tribute...
Now Kowloon is a smuggler hub trading semi-legal goods, not touching hardcore bans—so they're left alone. Ruled by a third-step High-level ice mage—Lai Chansin.
This sturdy fifty-year-old gray-haired guy looks like a textbook Triad boss. But deals can be made—he's a smuggler, profit first. And I'm not short on means.
First I flew to the nearest military post on White Eagle, then went on foot. Trip should take a couple days. Faster if I knew contacts there.
Then, I could have gotten there much faster on the transport they organized, yeah, on that same White Eagle. I won't believe that the smugglers don't have a few of those for hauling cargo.
But I'm more familiar with this city from rumors and stories from a few mages who'd been there and showed it to me on a map. In my past life, I got to chat with all sorts of people. But I hadn't actually been in the city itself, so I headed there alone first, not wanting to put the girls in real danger.
After all, if it's a High-level mage, I can definitely escape from him, or who knows, maybe even kill him. Especially if his main element is ice. But protecting the girls on the side? I'm not sure I could manage that. So this is a solo trip for me right now.
After a couple of days wandering through the forests, where I had to clash with local monsters a few times—Underground moles—I finally reached Kowloon.
But those damn moles... If I didn't have spatial perception and the spirit element, my trek could have been way more dangerous. Those beasts sense people walking on the surface through earth sense and just dig a pit under them.
I would have gladly used magical wings, but the skies were ruled by the local clan of feathered folk—Vine Woodpeckers—who could control the trees they perched on... Anyway, I hoofed it on foot.
The city was a pitiful sight and hardly differed from the Jinlin I'd mentioned earlier. The same ruined buildings. But there were differences, like not just abandoned vehicles, but machines creating a real carnival of wreckage on the roads, in various states of destruction.
Some even bore traces of long-dried blood. Unlike Jinlin, they hadn't managed to evacuate this city in time, and most of its population stayed there forever. Sigh, a sight like that brings on melancholy—you immediately understand your place in this world.
Shaking my head to chase away the grim thoughts, I moved along the cluttered roads toward the city center, where life was supposedly buzzing according to my intel, contrasting sharply with the surrounding desolation.
Kowloon had only about ten thousand residents, almost all mages and smugglers by trade. Since the city lived off trade, people were constantly coming and going. I need to learn their established routes—I don't want to go through mole guerrillas again.
After half an hour on foot, I finally reached the part of the city that showed signs of restoration. And right then, a middle-aged man in a tattered cloak rolled out from an alley and stopped two paces from me. He felt like a peak Initial-level mage.
"Purpose of visiting Kowloon?" he asked calmly. Apparently, I'm not the only one taking uncharted paths.
"A business proposal for Lai Chansin worth a hundred million, and while I'm at it, a fight in the arena. Haven't stretched my bones in a while." I replied just as calmly. Why provoke a guy just doing his job?
"...If you can't back up your talk, you'll leave the city in pieces. Follow me." After a moment's thought, the guy replied with equal nonchalance and led me toward the city center—I assume to the tower there.
Along the way, I kept looking around. This part of the city didn't look abandoned at all. It was still a bit battered, but there were repair traces everywhere, and people scurried about. Lots of people.
As we headed to the tower, I saw tons of shop signs hawking all sorts of goods. After dealing with the local boss, I should check them out. Or save the exploring for a stroll with TuTu?
At the tower entrance sat a couple of guards on chairs. The guy handed me over, whispered my visit's purpose in their ear, and left. Man, he didn't even give his name.
"Follow me," one guard said calmly and led me upstairs.
Are they all so chill here? Where's the standard setup with humiliations and underestimating me, so I can beat faces later while overcoming their boss? Sigh, I'll never be the main hero—that only happens to Mo Fan.
Finally, the guard brought me to a lavish oak door, knocked in a special way, entered, and left me waiting. A couple minutes later, he came out and said I could enter, then trudged back. I didn't hesitate and went in.
It was cozy inside. Good lighting, a nice sofa, fireplace, velvet curtains, and behind the oak desk sat him—Lai Chansin in the flesh.
"I was told you have business with me worth a hundred million. If this turns out to be a flimsy excuse to get in here, you'll leave this office as ice crumbs," the middle-aged man pressed with his tone. At least one bandit is scaring me properly. I was starting to think I'd come to the wrong place.
"No tricks. I have a business proposal for you worth a hundred million, Mr. Lai. It concerns your magic battle arena," I replied calmly and sat on the sofa without invitation—very comfy, by the way. Why not? I walked a long way and deserve a rest.
"I'm listening," he said with a stone face, ignoring my slight that bruised his pride. Knew it—merchants don't have any.
"You might have heard of me. I'm Mu Bai from Mingzhu University." As soon as I said my name, the old man's eyes lit up like yuan signs. Man, what kind of reputation do I have?
"I've heard. 'The Legendary Gigolo.' What brings such a privileged figure to my backwater?" He warmed up immediately. Smelled a good customer.
"As you understand, the favor of rich women comes and goes, so I'm currently cozying up to a couple of clan princesses and convinced them to train with me. Naturally, I chose your arena for it. The girls get real battle experience against mages. I show off for them. Dangerous environment, new thrills, adrenaline. No need to lecture you on tactics for getting close to women." I winked at him.
"Just two requests from me. First—arrange a steady stream of opponents for these two girls. No holding back; they need to see real training effects and grow through defeats. Don't worry about their safety; they have magic armor tough enough not to die." Anticipating his questions, I reassured him.
"Second request: set up a High-level mage as my opponent. Ideally a few, but at least one. No holding back either; my goal is honing my skills too. Money alone won't get you far. And as a small bonus to our deal, the city's problems will steer clear of us during our stay. How's my proposal?" I asked him.
"...Two hundred million," he stated with a stone face.
Well, congrats to me. Deal closed. Just need to haggle a bit—he's asking too much. My inner Jew is outraged.