Blue Mountain City, situated beside the Andius Mountain Range, was the hereditary territory of the Ockhardt family.
Thanks to the rich mineral resources within the Andius Mountain Range, the wizard alloys produced in Blue Mountain City were high-quality metals sought after across the entire Central Continent.
Even the last time Leilin had constructed his wizard tower, he had sourced materials from here.
The Ockhardt family had leveraged their outstanding alchemical expertise and abundant resources to seize control of numerous auction houses, amassing a staggering fortune.
As for the founder of the Ockhardt family, his name alone probably rang few bells—but his other title struck fear into every heart: the Blue Mountain King!
Yes, the founder of the Ockhardt family was none other than the King of Blue Mountain himself, the great Morning Star Wizard.
It was precisely because of this Morning Star powerhouse's deterrent presence that even the most ruthless wizards dared not target the Ockhardt family here.
Otherwise, the place would have long since been razed by wanted criminals.
And now, the once-in-a-decade Grand Auction was about to commence.
Blue Mountain City, serving as the venue, was being flooded with ever-growing crowds, and the price of airship tickets for travel to the outer city had skyrocketed to terrifying levels.
Even so, wizards continued to stream in from all directions.
Among them were representatives of many major factions, as well as individuals who concealed their faces day and night, unwilling to show themselves in public.
No matter which faction they belonged to, once wizards entered the city, they maintained a measure of restraint—after all, ruining the Grand Auction would benefit no one.
What's more, the materials they desperately needed might end up in the hands of mortal enemies, normally unobtainable. Only during this occasion could they engage in discreet transactions.
As the auction approached, the crime rate in the surrounding regions surged several times over!
Countless wanted wizards had not only snuck into the city but were also openly plundering goods and committing thefts. As long as they weren't caught red-handed, the Ockhardt family, as the ruling authority, naturally would not pursue the matter too aggressively.
The entire Blue Mountain City was thrown into a state of considerable disorder, and a small contingent of wizards was secretly pulling strings from the shadows to advance their own hidden agendas.
Thus, despite having a Morning Star Wizard in residence, the family had recently been bogged down by one incident after another and was stretched remarkably thin.
"What a bustling scene!"
Leilin was sitting in a small shop along a commercial street, watching the hurrying crowds outside through the transparent floor-to-ceiling glass.
Before him sat several glasses of colorful fruit juice, along with some baked cookies and pastries.
He had arrived in Blue Mountain City three days ago, and the injuries from his fierce battle with Torin had mostly healed under the support of his numerous potions.
Because he had come early, he had managed to find an inn in the city proper, sparing him from the ordeal these other wizards now faced—scouring the entire city for a room and even getting into fights over one.
Leilin propped his chin on his hand and watched the bustling flow of people on the street.
Numerous commoners in grey, black, and white attire walked by, and mixed among them were large numbers of wizards, along with some concealed non-human species.
The Central Continent was home to far more than just humanity. Many other species coexisted here, and mixed-blood descendants were hardly uncommon.
Leilin had already spotted non-human traits on several passersby.
Accompanying the pedestrians were patrol squads from the city lord's mansion.
Knights clad in iron armor studded with barbs, led by Great Knights and Wizard Apprentices, swept through every corner of the city with remarkable frequency.
Though their strength was negligible in the eyes of certain wizards, the Ockhardt family crest emblazoned on their uniforms alone was enough to give even the most impulsive among them pause.
"It's him!"
At that moment, a voice as bright as a lark rang out nearby—close to Leilin, right at the shop's entrance.
The voice's owner struck Leilin as faintly familiar.
Leilin smiled and looked toward the doorway.
A young couple was pushing the door open and stepping inside. The wife spotted Leilin, and her face registered pure shock.
"Oh! It's been a long time, Newt! And Jessira!"
Leilin looked at Jessira, who was no longer a girl but now wore the makeup of a young married woman. "And congratulations on your wedding!"
He remembered this young couple from the Nunolifa family quite well—Jessira's rebellious streak, in particular, had left a very deep impression on him.
"L-Lord Leilin!" Newt cursed inwardly. He had merely heard that the fruit juice and pastries here were good and had brought his wife out for a stroll. He never expected to run into Leilin.
The mere thought of the other party being a Third-rank Wizard, combined with the merciless lesson he had received last time, sent a wave of weakness through Newt's legs.
As for Jessira, though she clung to Newt's arm and appeared to defer to him, Leilin still caught the deep-seated hatred buried at the bottom of her eyes—a detail that left him somewhat speechless.