Wizards begin with Occlumency.

Chapter 70 Different Districts, the World's Variety

The North District is a high-end residential area.

There are no high-rise apartments; they are all detached villas.

Even the entertainment venues are located in huge villas with different but luxurious decoration styles.

Those who own property in the North District are basically full-fledged wizards of level two or above, or wizard apprentices from prominent families.

If a family's influence is even slightly lacking, it's something that needs to be carefully considered.

After all, their background wasn't strong enough, and their strength was even less, so they had no power to fight back at all if a conflict arose.

It could even bring disaster to the family behind it.

Only when there is a real need will people grit their teeth and reluctantly squeeze into this social circle.

The few wizards who reside permanently in the various administrative offices of Rivosos City generally live in the North District unless they have built their own houses in the surrounding areas.

Link rode the subway train, passing by in a hurry, without getting off and lingering in the northern part of the city.

Class distinctions are evident in every aspect of life.

Money is one aspect, power is another, but strength is the most important aspect.

Without money, power, or strength, one can only pass by the door without daring to enter, just like now.

After transferring to the East District, Link got off the rail transit train.

This is the most bustling area in the entire city of Rivosos, with both residential and commercial districts.

Large shopping malls, independent stores, and small shops—you name it, they have it.

It has everything you need for eating, drinking, playing, and having fun.

Instead of wandering around the residential areas of the East District, Link spent a long time exploring the commercial and entertainment areas.

Unfortunately, even the smallest restaurants require a minimum purchase of half a standard level one magic stone to enter.

This is probably the "middle class" area of ​​Rivosos.

Most of the residents here are formal wizards studying at advanced academies, or wizard apprentices from small or medium-sized families, as well as merchants who come from other regions to do business.

Life here is very comfortable, and the cost of living is not low. Although it is not as good as the North District, it is far beyond the economic affordability of ordinary people like Link.

Link couldn't afford it, so he could only look around casually.

After all, he was only there to conduct an on-site inspection, to familiarize himself with the terrain by referring to the map of Rivosos that he had memorized.

It's definitely not because of poverty that you don't go into the store, right?

With the sun high in the sky and nearing noon, Link turned into the southern part of the city.

Compared to the East District, the South District is significantly lower in terms of housing quality, consumption level, and entertainment venues.

This area is home to all the factories, workshops, and studios in the city of Rivosos.

Those low-level wizard apprentices (most of whom are from the Stormsea new blood) who have to be exploited in factories, workshops and studios and struggle to survive live in pigeonhole-like apartment buildings.

The work is tiring, the pay is meager, there is little free time, and little opportunity to enjoy life.

Therefore, the most common businesses in the southern part of the city are restaurants, followed by general stores selling inexpensive goods, and the fewest are bookstores, laboratories, and other establishments related to knowledge, culture, and witchcraft.

The population mobility here is very low, or more accurately, the population outflow is very low.

Every year, a batch of Stormsea newcomers who failed to become official wizards within four years, along with a very small number of local wizard apprentices for various reasons, are sent to various factories, workshops, and studios in the South District.

In their lifetime, only a very few lucky individuals will be able to leave the South District alive, and within ten years of dropping out of the academy, they will be promoted to full-fledged wizards.

Even if these people leave, they will still be at the bottom of society, which is better than living a hopeless life in the southern district.

In the southern part of the city, all aspects of life, including clothing, food, housing, and transportation, are mainly affordable or even inexpensive.

The main currency in circulation is standard level one magic stones, but gold and silver coins can be used in many places.

Link was a little tired and hungry from walking around, so he randomly picked a small restaurant that looked pretty clean and went inside.

Using the smart brain installed in the lower left corner of each dining table, Link ordered a steak set meal, which cost 30 silver coins!

When Link went out, he carried some gold and silver coins with him.

A gift from jasmine.

This steak set meal wasn't exactly tasteless, but it was certainly not very palatable.

The quality of the ingredients was so poor that they were not even as good as the synthetic foods made in the smart kitchen of the college cafeteria.

Following his principle of not wasting food, Link forced himself to swallow the food to stave off hunger.

Link gleaned a lot of information from this small meal.

The rest are not worth mentioning, but there is one point that must be emphasized.

Those were the lowest-level wizard apprentices, truly exploited in every way, as long as they didn't die.

There is absolutely no concept of quality of life.

The South District is adjacent to the East District, and faces the North District across the small Central District, yet they exist in different worlds.

If the North District is likened to heaven, the East District to the human world, and the South District to the depths of hell.

Link left the South District with a slightly heavy heart and headed towards the West District.

This time, he didn't take the rail transit train, but walked there.

The West District is special.

Even in a humble city like the South District, the buildings, streets, and various public facilities all conform to urban planning, and are straight and flat.

The West District appears glamorous on the outside, but inside it's a chaotic mess.

The section adjacent to the northern part of the city has an "aircraft" airport, a "rail transit train" station, and a "passenger car" station.

It perfectly separates the western district from the northern district.

Next to the college, there is an "aircraft" airport, a "rail transit train" station, and a "passenger car" station.

Block the view from the academy.

The section to the west consists of six freight car stations and one passenger car station, all lined up in a row.

These three sections connect to form a "匚" shape, enclosing the interior of the western district.

Inside the West District, public facilities are in a semi-abandoned state, and buildings and streets, like the people who live and frequently visit the West District, have grown wildly and without any order.

If we were to use a metaphor, no words better describe the role of the West End within the city of Rivosos than "garbage can" and "sewer."

Link walked leisurely into the western district.

With eyes fixed straight ahead, a calm and composed demeanor, and a pace that was neither too fast nor too slow, he didn't seem like a newcomer to the West District for the first time.

Despite the malicious gazes he encountered along the way, Link didn't react much.

He remained vigilant and walked steadily.

Several street thugs who were genuinely harboring evil intentions were tempted but hesitant when they saw Link covered in runic items and even two magical artifacts.

People who lack a keen eye won't survive long in the West District.

The street thugs couldn't immediately determine whether Link was a fat sheep or a man-eating wolf.

Don't end up getting slaughtered instead of getting any meat.

Seriously, those fishermen are awful!

They've even deterred street thugs from directly picking pockets!

They followed him for several blocks, and once Link's destination was confirmed, the street thugs finally left.

This person is going to the black market; we can't make any moves against him.

Nine times out of ten, he's a hardcore angler!

This concludes the first volume, "First Impressions".

The later parts were a bit rushed, but not too much progress was made. There was only one small plot, about four to six chapters long, which may be moved to later.

As the later-added chapter summary suggests, the snail extends its tentacles to perceive this unfamiliar world. Link Grand, being new to the place, is indeed overly cautious in many ways.

In the second volume, "Outside the Ivory Tower," the snail, stimulated by the storm, bravely steps out of its comfortable shell to actively face the wind and rain, embrace the storm, and accept the trials.

Thank you to all the readers who have been following the book, thank you for your encouragement, and thank you for the constructive criticism in the comments section.

Life's journey is long, take care of yourselves. Wishing you all happiness and good health!

(End of this chapter)