The line moved quickly, and within a few minutes, it was Leilin's turn.
Leilin produced the ring he had just received. The guard examined it and stepped aside with a respectful gesture.
The second layer was noticeably larger than the outermost ring, and the shops were arranged in an orderly fashion, without the chaotic congestion of the streets outside.
*Clack! Clack!* His leather boots struck the marble floor with a hard, ringing sound.
Under Shien's guidance, Leilin made his way to the heart of the second layer.
The so-called Public Center stood at the very core of this level — a colossal structure that, from the outside, looked like a giant palm pressed face-down against the ground.
Each finger served as a wide entrance.
Wizards filed through them in long queues, scurrying back and forth like ants.
"The Public Center is the administrative hub of Polar Night City. All sorts of routine business are handled here — renting apartments, applying for shop permits, posting missions, and so on," Shien explained as he led Leilin toward the index finger's corridor.
"This is Corridor Two. It handles wizards looking to rent apartments. There are also a few real estate agents, though their prices are steep and the properties aren't exactly top-notch…"
"Sir, looking for a place? Come to Old Hock's Cottage! Full amenities, plus snake-girl and fox-girl attendants!"
"No, come to me! Lowest rent in the city, and I'll throw in ten mortal servants for free!"
The moment Leilin stepped inside, a swarm of wide-eyed agents descended on him, looking as though they might tear him apart and devour him whole.
"This is my client! Make way! Make way!"
Shien shouldered through the eager crowd, pulling Leilin along and squeezing into an adjacent corridor.
Inside was a spiral staircase. By the time they reached the second floor, Leilin felt the noise fall away into sudden quiet.
Passing through a doorway marked Hall 762, Leilin found himself in an enormous domed chamber.
Above the hall hung a massive crystal chandelier, its multicolored light cascading down in shimmering beams that cast strange, dancing shadows across the floor.
Along the sides of the domed hall were numerous service windows, with waiting chairs set up beside them. A few wizards sat there, their heads drooping, on the verge of sleep.
On the right-hand wall, a dark screen flickered with lines of red text that refreshed continuously.
"332 Western Hoare Avenue — Small unit — Price: 6,700 Magic Stones!"
"893 Firebird Avenue — Medium apartment — Price: 85,000 Magic Stones!"
"These are secondhand property listings. Since they're a bit cheaper than new builds, a lot of people wait here hoping to snag a bargain," Shien said, noticing the look of interest on Leilin's face.
Leilin couldn't help but feel a twinge of déjà vu — it reminded him of real estate auctions from his previous life.
"For rental services, you can go to windows one through fifteen. Shall I queue for you?"
"Sure." Leilin nodded.
He had plenty of wealth on hand, but until he had a thorough understanding of Polar Night City, he wasn't about to blow a fortune on property here.
Honestly, seeing the sky-high prices and then recalling how every apprentice back at the Academy would squeeze a single Magic Stone as though it were two, Leilin felt a mix of amusement and exasperation.
The hall had many windows. After Shien went to take a number, Leilin picked a seat at random and picked up a magazine from the small table beside it.
"The Blessed Rose and White Bone Blood have clashed. Current engagements are concentrated around Margaret City. Casualties unknown…"
"Reports indicate that the culprits behind the recent tsunami in the eastern seas have been identified by the Wizards — an ancient dragon whale. The Nine-Ring White Tower is currently deliberating emergency countermeasures…"
"Buying purification gems in bulk. Name your price…"
The magazine was full of news, though much of it seemed outdated. Most of the pages, however, were taken up by advertisements and sponsor blurbs.
"Sir, you're up!"
Shien's voice called him over. Leilin set down the magazine and walked to Window 13 where Shien was waiting.
"Hello! How may I help you?"
Behind the counter sat a very pretty young woman, dressed in something resembling lace attire, with a professional smile on her face. She couldn't have been more than eighteen or nineteen.
Leilin's gaze drifted past her to the back, catching a glimpse of a white puff bobbing behind the curve of her pert rear.
"A rabbit-kin from the beastkin?" Leilin smiled to himself. He hadn't expected the Center to actually use bunny girls as hostesses.
"I'd like to rent a property. Full amenities preferred, ideally with a built-in laboratory, and the defensive magical array should be at least standard grade…"
Leilin laid out his requirements.
"One moment, please…" The rabbit girl flipped rapidly through a stack of parchment in front of her, occasionally closing her eyes and pressing her fingers to a crystal ball set in a metal base, as though communicating with someone.
"There are quite a few properties that match. However, renting in Polar Night City requires proof of status. May I see your— oh! My lord! I'm so sorry!"
The girl's somewhat languid expression transformed completely the moment Leilin produced the silver ring.
She rose and bowed, her shapely figure and toned legs on full display, her little rabbit tail flicking behind her in a way that made one want to reach out and grab it. "So you're an Official
"Never mind. Show me what good properties you have."
Leilin slipped his right hand back into his sleeve.
"For distinguished Official Wizards, our city highly recommends apartments on the third layer and above. There happen to be thirteen vacant units that meet your criteria…"
As she spoke, the rabbit girl tapped the blue crystal ball.
The multicolored neon chandelier light focused into a beam before Leilin, and colored lines assembled themselves into a three-dimensional image.
It was essentially a map of Polar Night City, with thirteen small glowing dots marked on it.
"All the apartment details are displayed here, along with visual geographical layouts," the rabbit girl said with a bow.
Leilin took a brief look. All thirteen apartments were located on the second layer or above — spacious properties, all medium-sized villas or larger, complete with gardens and recreational facilities.
Polar Night City had been built into the mountainside, and the higher one went, the less space was available. Every inch was worth its weight in gold. To occupy such a large area at this altitude spoke volumes about the luxury and privilege afforded to wizards.
Leilin reached out and tapped on one of the villas that interested him.
*Ding!* A white flash, and the model zoomed in, presenting a fully three-dimensional villa before his eyes.
"Medium villa — Location: Polar Night City, Third Layer, 56 Giant Whale Boulevard. Includes laboratory, defensive magical array, Negative Energy reactor pool…"
Beside the three-dimensional model, a white information box displayed the villa's full specifications.
"This technology — even though it's based on wizardry, it's remarkably similar to what I had in my previous world…"
Leilin felt a sudden pang of nostalgia.
The underlying systems were entirely different — one rooted in science, the other in the arcane — but it still brought a wistful sense of familiarity.
"This one. What's the rent?"
Leilin pointed at the villa model and addressed the rabbit girl.
"Sir, the rent for this villa is one thousand Magic Stones per month…" The rabbit girl glanced at Leilin, hesitating for a moment before finally speaking up. "If you join any of the forces behind Polar Night City, you can receive a villa free of charge, and moreover…"
"That's enough. Which family are you from?"
Leilin understood immediately. These hostesses all came from the major powers that backed Polar Night City, and naturally they bore the additional duty of recruiting talent — with no small reward for success, he was sure.
"The Mendonken Family! I'm from the Mendonken Family!" The rabbit girl pulled back her collar to reveal a brand on her shoulder — the imprint of a palm.
The hand was peculiar: it had six fingers, one more than normal.
The brand was surrounded by scorched, warped skin, clearly the result of being seared on with a hot iron. Against the girl's fair, tender skin, it had a strangely morbid beauty.
"I'll keep that in mind. If the need arises, the Mendonken Family will be first on my list."
Leilin's expression didn't change. He was entirely unmoved by the sight before him, though from behind came the unmistakable sound of Shien swallowing hard.
"Here are the Magic Stones. Rent it for one year." Leilin tossed a small pouch of Magic Stones onto the counter.
Having been turned down, the rabbit girl's face dimmed slightly, but she quickly pasted on a smile again.
Even though she hadn't managed to recruit an Official Wizard for her family, closing this deal would still earn her a decent commission.
The rabbit girl then took the ring from Leilin's hand, placed it into a device behind the counter, and processed it. After inscribing a strange symbol onto it, she handed it back respectfully.
"The access code for the villa's defensive magical array has been inscribed onto your ring. With this ring, you can enter and exit the villa at will, and modify the defensive array…"
She then handed Leilin a large set of keys and a document.
"These are the keys to each room in the villa, along with some essential instructions. We wish you a pleasant stay!"
Leilin took both items and walked out of the hall with Shien.
"Over ten thousand Magic Stones spent in one go…"
Shien, walking out beside him, still wore a look of disbelief.
He had heard stories of wizards throwing around money like it was nothing, but experiencing it firsthand was an entirely different matter.
"With such a generous client, my commission is sure to be hefty — maybe even a fat tip on top…"
Shien's imagination began to run wild.
"Take me to the villa. These are yours."
Leilin smiled and tossed a few gleaming Magic Stones in his hand.
"Of course! Your wish is my command!"
Shien's eyes lit up, and he darted ahead. "Right this way! There's no corner of Polar Night City that I, Shien, don't know about…"