Alphonse regained his composure when he noticed someone approaching them.
A female staff member, dressed in a neat long skirt and a short cloak bearing the emblem of the Magic Tower, approached their group. A highly practiced, professional smile adorned her face.
"Good afternoon, Sirs," the staff member greeted in a measured, polite tone, bowing her head slightly. "Is there anything catching your eye? I would be more than happy to guide you through this gallery if you wish."
Alphonse adjusted his monocle with an elegant motion. He returned the greeting politely. "Good afternoon. We are merely browsing for now."
Despite being slightly confused by their standard cloaks, which bore no markings of any local noble houses, the staff member quickly decided not to judge a book by its cover. Alphonse's natural authority and imposing posture were enough to convince her that this man was no ordinary commoner.
"It would be an honor to accompany you," she said, seamlessly slipping into the role of a guide. She walked gracefully toward the nearest display case. "Let us begin with an innovation utilized by nearly everyone."
The guide pointed toward a crystal lamp the size of a fist, which radiated a golden-white light without any wick or spark of fire inside it.
"This is a Magic Lamp," she explained proudly. "Engraved at the base of this crystal is an illumination spell. To operate it, you simply need to insert a single low-tier Mana Stone into the slot beneath it."
"One stone is sufficient to illuminate your room every single night for three consecutive months. It is highly affordable, priced at merely three silver coins," she continued.
The guide then shifted to the next showcase, which displayed a thick metal chest plated in copper.
"And this is the Freezebox. This metal chest is equipped with an internal cooling spell that continuously emits freezing air to preserve raw food or potion ingredients. Because it requires a larger power output, a single Mana Stone will only last for one month before its energy is depleted. It costs one gold coin."
Alphonse listened to the explanation intently. Behind his calm exterior, his brain was mapping out the energy system that powered this real world.
Mana Stone. The stone was not merely a valuable currency or a rare material. In this world of Orion, the Mana Stone was a universal "battery." It was the raw fuel that powered the entirety of the magical technology sustaining civilization.
The guide then directed them to an area displaying weapons and magical attributes.
She showed off rows of carved wooden staffs, their tips adorned with various types of crystals.
"For magic users, our wands and staffs are designed to streamline the casting process and stabilize Mana control while under the pressure of combat. The quality of the wood and the conductivity of our tower's crystals have been guaranteed for hundreds of years."
Alphonse stared at the price tags beneath the row of staffs. The cheapest figures started at ten gold coins, and they could easily reach dozens of gold coins for staffs with purer crystals.
Maintaining his aristocratic mask, Alphonse offered a slightly stiff smile—a perfect camouflage to hide the pathetic reality that his remaining silver coins were absolutely worthless on this floor. He nodded slowly.
"The reputation of the Magic Tower truly never disappoints. Phenomenal craftsmanship," he praised.
The guide smiled in deep satisfaction upon hearing the compliment.
She also briefly pointed out the silk robes in the corner of the room, explaining that the robes were reinforced with weight-reduction and physical-protection spells, making them as light as a feather yet as sturdy as leather armor—highly ideal for maintaining a Mage's mobility on the battlefield.
"However, Sir," the guide said, dropping her voice slightly for dramatic effect. "All of those were merely warm-ups. Allow me to present to you the true masterpiece of the Magic Tower."
She led Alphonse's group to a thick glass showcase standing isolated in the center of the room. Resting upon a red velvet cushion was a simple leather pouch, no larger than a standard messenger bag.
"This is the Magic Bag," the guide explained, her eyes gleaming with absolute pride. "This bag is a collaboration between our Enchanters and spatial magic experts. It is crafted from the leather pouch of a rare Marsupouch monster, and then engraved with spatial expansion magic."
She pointed at the small bag. "Do not be deceived by its size, Sir. The interior of this bag houses a spatial volume of two square meters. This item is incredibly popular among nobles, wealthy merchants, and of course... elite adventurers."
Alphonse stared at the leather bag. His eyes flashed. After losing their infinite Inventory system entirely, possessing a portable storage space was a critically vital necessity for his party right now.
"How much does it cost?" Alphonse asked flatly.
"One hundred Gold Coins, Sir."
A lethal blow. However, Alphonse did not allow his face to betray a single ounce of disappointment. Instead of backing down, his sheer curiosity regarding the mechanics of the Magic Bag in this world took over. He began bombarding the guide with technical questions.
"Fascinating," Alphonse said, crossing his arms. "Tell me, will the weight of this bag increase if I place ten large boulders inside it?"
Hearing the question, the staff member's smile faded slightly, replaced by an odd look. Knowledge regarding magic bags was incredibly common among nobles and mid-to-high-tier adventurers. Why is this authoritative man asking such rudimentary questions?
However, maintaining her professionalism, she answered politely.
"Of course not, Sir. The internal space within the Magic Bag is entirely separated from the outside world. Whether you put in a single feather or a block of solid steel, the weight of the leather bag will remain constant when you carry it."
Alphonse nodded in understanding. "I see. Second question: can I place living creatures inside it? A horse, for example, to ease a journey?"
This time, the worker had to force her smile to remain plastered on her face. This line of questioning was beginning to sound completely absurd to her.
"You could, Sir, but it is highly ill-advised," she answered carefully. "The dimensional space inside is completely airtight. Any living creature would suffocate and die within minutes."
"Worse yet," the worker continued, "if you insert a live monster and it thrashes around inside, the magical space could destabilize. The dimensional structure could collapse from within, triggering a chain explosion that would severely injure you."
Valuable tactical information. Alphonse filed it away in his mind.
"Final question," Alphonse continued, looking directly into the guide's eyes. "Does time stop within that dimensional space? Could I store fresh meat or a monster's carcass inside, and have it last forever without rotting?"
The professional smile on the guide's face finally collapsed entirely. Now, she was staring at Alphonse as if looking at a madman who had just descended from a mountain.
"Of course not, Sir!" the worker answered, her voice rising slightly, unable to hide her sheer bewilderment. "Time inside this bag flows exactly the same as it does outside. Meat will continue to rot."
The worker stared at Alphonse, trying to find any sign that this man was merely joking.
"Only the legendary Storage Rings—artifacts left behind from the Ancient Era—are rumored to possess spaces where time is frozen. Our current technology has not yet succeeded in replicating those items."
Hearing the words 'Ancient Era' and 'Storage Rings', a wild theory began to form in Alphonse's mind. In this world, the Inventory system that halts the decay of time is considered a lost miracle swallowed by history.
Seeing Alphonse fall silent for a moment after hearing the price tag of one hundred gold coins, the female worker's merchant instincts kicked in. She misconstrued Alphonse's silence as a moment of deep consideration from a high-class customer.
With a polite smile that grew even wider, she leaned in slightly.
"Judging by your reaction, Sir, it seems you do not yet own one of these masterpieces. Are you interested? I can offer you a special deal and an attractive discount if you purchase three bags at once for yourself and your two companions."
Beneath his black cloak, Alphonse's jaw clenched. He tried desperately to maintain his aristocratic posture, though the stiff smile on his face was on the verge of cracking.
Three Magic Bags. Three hundred gold coins.
Visualizing that figure while their current pouch didn't even hold a single gold coin made the Guild Master's pride scream in agony. Naturally, there was no way he could ever admit that they were currently poorer than the wheat merchants on the ground floor.
"A very tempting offer," Alphonse replied in a calm, incredibly convincing tone, deploying a bluff. "However, unfortunately, I already possess one."
The worker blinked, slightly confused. "Then... why did you inquire about the specific technical details, Sir?"
"I asked those details purely because I had heard a rumor," Alphonse lied smoothly, looking at the worker with eyes full of appreciation.
"I heard that the staff at the Wealden Magic Tower branch are highly skilled, incredibly knowledgeable, and exceptionally hospitable. I was merely testing the validity of that rumor. And I must admit, your service was highly satisfactory."
The alibi worked flawlessly. The female worker's face flushed, feeling deeply flattered that her competence was recognized by a guest she perceived as elite nobility.
"Ah, you praise me too much, Sir," the worker replied with a genuinely wide smile. "We are strictly trained to serve honorable guests every single day. Please do not hesitate to ask if you require anything else on this floor."
Realizing that lingering any longer would only increase the risk of his lie being exposed, Alphonse decided to retreat.
"I will keep that in mind. Unfortunately, I cannot stay long," Alphonse said, smoothly cutting the interaction short. "I have an important appointment on the 5th Floor and must ascend immediately."
Hearing the mention of the 5th Floor—the exclusive gathering place of Mages and nobles—the worker instantly bowed deeply.
"Oh, please forgive my insolence for taking up your valuable time, My Lord! Please, I hope your business goes smoothly."
As a final touch to perfect the illusion of his authority, Alphonse extended his left hand backward without turning his head, delivering a subtle finger gesture to Vrischil.
Vrischil, immediately understanding her Guild Master's intent, stared at Alphonse's back with an ice-cold expression. Deep down, the Elf was holding back a sharp grumble.
She reached into the leather pouch containing the pitiful remnants of their funds, pinched a single silver coin, and placed it into Alphonse's open palm.
Alphonse handed that single silver coin to the worker.
"Take this. A small token of appreciation for your hospitality and highly detailed explanations."
Receiving a direct tip from a tower guest simply for 'answering questions' was an incredibly rare occurrence. The worker accepted it happily and bowed once more.
As Alphonse and his party walked away toward the stairs, the worker stared at the silver coin in her hand. Her brow furrowed slightly.
A noble who has access to the 5th Floor and tests my knowledge on a hundred-gold-coin bag... only tips one silver coin?
"What an incredibly eccentric noble..." the worker muttered softly, shaking her head before returning to her post.
Once they were far enough from the shop worker's sight and approaching the spiral staircase, Arcus did not waste this golden opportunity.
The blonde archer leaned his body close to Alphonse's shoulder. The Sagittarius deployed his most dramatic and obnoxiously theatrical tone.
"The Guild Master of Pioneer..." Arcus whispered in a heavily exaggerated, deep voice, reciting their leader's past titles. "The richest king among the Ten Kings... the Akashic Sovereign... and the handsome sorcerer possessing the highest Mana capacity in the entire game..."
Arcus snorted softly, holding back an explosion of laughter. "...must now weave a web of lies in front of a shop clerk because he doesn't have the money to shop. May I laugh now, My King?"
That terrifyingly accurate, theatrical mockery pierced straight through their defenses.
Vrischil, who usually maintained an ice-cold expression, couldn't contain herself. A soft, crisp chuckle—an incredibly rare sound that almost never escaped the Elf's lips—slipped out naturally.
Hearing Vrischil's laughter and Arcus's mockery, Alphonse felt the tips of his ears burn. The sheer embarrassment mixed with his wounded pride caused his jaw to clench hard.
In a swift motion, Alphonse raised a hand to cover the lower half of his face, hiding the crimson flush spreading across his cheeks. He glared at Arcus through the gaps in his fingers with pure murderous intent.
"Shut your mouth, Arcus," Alphonse hissed quietly but lethally, which only caused Arcus's grin to widen.
Alphonse stole a quick glance at the rows of other display cases on the floor. The copper nameplates, every single one of them demanding prices in 'Gold Coins', seemed to mock him from behind the glass.
The sheer disgust at his own poverty, now exacerbated by the mockery from his own best friend, finally reached its absolute limit.
He did not want to linger a second longer in a place that continuously dismantled his pride as a ruler. Without looking back, Alphonse quickened his pace, leading the party up the stone steps toward the 4th Floor.