Ezreal said, "I've already accepted this commission. It's just a B-Class mission. When I'm looking for the Titan Boa, I'll look around to see if I can find the Alfred Family ruins."
"The parchment only said that the Alfred Family ruins are located deep within Asgard, but the exact location still needs to be found."
Ezreal held up a finger and wiggled it: "To be on the safe side, I asked Mira to post another B-Class commission at the Guild at noon, seeking escorts for a trip to the Asgard Mountains, with a reward of 100,000 cash."
"It's smart of you to know not to venture alone. But 100,000 is too low a reward; B-Class commissions usually start at 200,000."
"Recently, many Magic Beasts have been storing food for winter, encroaching on human living areas. There are many missions to subjugate Magic Beasts, and their rewards start at 300,000. Your 100,000 offers no attraction at all." Makarov nodded, pleased with the young man's caution and prudence, but not very optimistic about his offer.
"Of course I know that. So, in addition to the 100,000, the reward also includes a flying Magic Beast with B-Class Mage strength." Ezreal shrugged.
Makarov's eyes widened, his face full of shock: "A B-Class flying Magic Beast as a mission reward, that's truly generous! Flying Magic Beasts are hard to find, and those with B-Class Mage strength are even rarer. The market price starts at at least 1,500,000. Have you mastered Life Alchemy enough to create Magic Beasts of this level?"
"Of course... not yet." Ezreal deliberately drew out the last word, a mischievous smile on his face, making the old man Makarov's beard twitch.
Seeing Makarov about to jump up and punch him, Ezreal quickly waved his hand, his expression turning serious, "While I can't directly create flying Magic Beasts, I have a clever method."
Ezreal narrowed his eyes slightly and continued, "Powerful flying Magic Beasts are rare, but there are many in the Magic Beast Mountains. I'll just catch one, use Life Alchemy to extract its soul, rewrite its memories, and then put it back in. This isn't too difficult for me."
"Your magical talent is truly remarkable. If the Second Guild Master hadn't gone traveling, I'm sure you two would have a lot to talk about." Makarov said with emotion.
Extracting souls and rewriting memories sounded easy to say, but it was a skill that ordinary people would absolutely struggle to master in a lifetime.
Even those specializing in soul magic or memory magic might not be able to do it easily.
While the inherent characteristics of Life Alchemy itself greatly lowered the permission to manipulate life and souls, even the most powerful magic could not hide Ezreal's astonishing talent.
No matter how strong the magic, one must be able to learn it. After learning it, one must be proficient and then fully master it, all of which require step-by-step progress.
Since Ezreal arrived at the Guild, all the magic he practiced had no threshold for him; the door to truth in the magical world seemed to be completely open to this young man.
"Stop being annoying here, go practice magic quickly. Once someone takes the escort commission, hurry up and get to Asgard." Makarov threw the commission to Ezreal and waved him away, as if he didn't want to see him waste another moment here.
"Oh, but the commission was only posted at noon today, no one has taken it yet, it will probably take two days." Ezreal caught the commission and threw it into a dimensional portal, saying with a grin.
Makarov's face was stern, his tone serious, "You've been here for two months, this is your first mission, and with escorts. Success is the only option. If you mess it up, you'll be in for it."
Makarov glared, then paused, his tone softening as he continued, "Be careful, the Asgard Mountains are not a benevolent place. If you encounter danger, decisively abandon the commission; saving your life is paramount. I hope you can successfully complete your first commission, but I hope even more that you return safely."
"Why so sentimental all of a sudden?" Ezreal felt a little embarrassed. He looked at Makarov's stern yet concerned expression, and a warm current flowed through his heart.
Ezreal put away the playful smile on his face and said solemnly, "Don't worry, I will do my best to complete the mission and protect myself."
"Alright then, I'll go back and rest. You should also get some rest, old man." Ezreal threw the magic book and parchment on the table into the portal, stood up, and prepared to leave.
"One more thing." Makarov called out to Ezreal.
"Yes?" Ezreal paused his steps.
"Laxus invited you to lunch tomorrow at Hans Restaurant. He's made the reservation."
"Laxus, inviting me?" Ezreal pointed to himself, somewhat disbelieving... The next day, at noon.
Ezreal arrived at Hans Restaurant, located in the bustling city center, as invited.
The restaurant was an old and elegant building, looking like a converted church.
It was built entirely of grey-white stone and red-brown wood, giving it a sturdy yet warm feeling.
The interior of the restaurant was luxuriously decorated, with exquisite paintings and photographs adorning the walls, showcasing the city's history and culture.
There was a piano in the corner, and a pianist was playing soothing, relaxing music.
The waiters in the restaurant were all dressed in neat black tailcoats, which looked expensive from the fabric. Each person greeted every customer with a smile, their enthusiastic attitude making people feel friendly and comfortable.
The cuisine here mainly featured seafood, beef, and lamb, incorporating local specialty ingredients and cooking techniques, allowing people to taste the most authentic delicacies. From exquisite appetizers to hearty main courses and delicious desserts, every dish was meticulously prepared, making one's mouth water.
In a private room on the second floor of Hans Restaurant, Laxus and Ezreal sat opposite each other.
A pile of dishes was ordered on their table, all looking quite appetizing.
"The food here is a bit expensive, but it's really quite delicious." Ezreal slowly cut a small steak, making conversation with Laxus.
"It's alright." Laxus replied, then watched Ezreal pick up a wooden skewer and string the beef pieces one by one, reminding him, "You can just eat it."
"I like to eat it this way." Ezreal took a bite of his homemade beef skewer, his eyes narrowing in satisfaction.
"I saw your commission at the Guild." Laxus said expressionlessly.
"What, are you going to take it?" Ezreal didn't even lift his head, eating as he replied.
The food here was indeed much better than what was served at the Guild, Ezreal sighed, marveling that expensive things truly had their reasons.
"I've already taken an S-Class commission and will be leaving tomorrow. I called you here today because I wanted to talk to you about your thoughts on the current Guild." Laxus shook his head, his tone calm and serious.