I Am A Wizard Who Can Travel Between Earth And The Other World-Chapter 58 - 60 The Mage’s Ascendance

"Your reputation precedes you," he said slowly, his tone holding a hint of admiration. "You truly are as formidable a mage as the rumors claim."

Jay chuckled nervously and puffed out his chest. "Ah, you flatter us! Hahaha!"

Gin gave Jay an incredulous look.

Why is he taking credit for that?

Marcus continued, "Unfortunately, most of the other participants are not here at the moment. I had hoped you could meet them."

"That's fine," Gin replied calmly. "Meeting one person tells me all I need to know. You're quite... remarkable."

Marcus's eyes widened slightly in shock, his pupils trembling for a moment. "Wait... did you—?"

Gin smiled faintly and nodded. "Yes. I took a look. You initiated it first, but I hope I didn't offend."

Marcus shook his head slowly. "Not at all. If anything… I'm impressed. I didn't expect someone to read me so thoroughly."

The spark of greed flickered in Marcus's gaze. He knew the capabilities of the guild's information-blocking magic better than anyone.

Yet this man had not only deflected its probing tendrils but had also reversed the flow to uncover his own magical attributes.

"Did you also discern my attributes?"

"Yes," Gin replied. "Four of them, if I'm not mistaken."

Marcus's awe deepened. Even mages sent by the Five Great Houses had never fully uncovered the full breadth of his magical nature.

"You are remarkable," Marcus said, leaning forward slightly. "Have you considered joining the Tree Guild? I can promise you an elite position with unparalleled benefits."

Gin shook his head almost instinctively.

"I appreciate the offer, but I'm not looking to align myself with any organization."

It was true that Gin had reached a point where he could negotiate favorable contracts with powerful entities.

Yet the thought of belonging to a guild or faction left him cold. For now, he preferred to take on missions independently through brokers like Jay, gaining experience without unnecessary restrictions.

Jay let out a quiet sigh of relief. If GIn joined the guild, Jay would be cast aside like a worn-out tool. After all, his survival in the underworld had recently hinged on his association with Gin's rising reputation.

Marcus chuckled softly. "Very well. The door is always open should you change your mind. I hope you'll keep in touch."

"I will," Gin said with a polite nod.

"Now," Marcus continued, his expression brightening, "let's discuss the upcoming ruin expedition in more detail. I trust you'll find this information useful."

Gin's interest sharpened.

His eyes gleamed as he leaned forward slightly, ready to listen.

"Do you have any prior experience with ruin exploration?"

"None."

"Have you heard anything about it?"

"Not really. You can assume I know absolutely nothing."

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Gin saw no reason to hide his ignorance.

He understood that transparency would allow him to learn more and better prepare for the challenges ahead.

Marcus nodded thoughtfully.

The guild's research on Gin had painted a similar picture: exceptional magical prowess but limited experience in ruin-related matters.

Gin's past was also a mystery, shrouded by a lack of interactions with established networks. Marcus suspected that Gin might have lived outside the city's influence—perhaps in one of the isolated regions where knowledge of the hidden world was scarce.

"No need to worry about most details," Marcus assured him.

"I'll be overseeing the expedition and providing instructions as the situation demands."

"So I just follow orders," Gin said. "Sounds simple enough."

"There is, however, one crucial matter. A mage from the Five Great Houses will be joining us."

That piqued Gin's curiosity. "A representative from the Five Great Houses?"

"Yes. It's a requirement. Every sanctioned expedition must include one of their mages. It's tradition and law."

Gin nodded.

He speculated that this mage would likely act as both a participant and a monitor to ensure the House's interests were safeguarded.

The reputation of the Five Great Houses loomed large, their influence palpable even to someone like Gin who had little prior knowledge of them.

"Be cautious," Marcus suddenly warned.

"Cautious? Of what?" Gin asked, genuinely surprised.

"Do not create any situations that could lead to misunderstandings," Marcus explained.

"What kind of situations?"

"For example, don't touch any artifacts without permission. Avoid disturbing any murals, pillars, or inscriptions inside the ruins. Such actions are strictly forbidden."

Gin raised an eyebrow. "What if we're in a battle and I accidentally damage a mural with a spell?"

"That would still be a serious issue," Marcus said gravely. "This is why I'll be guiding the operation closely.

Preventing such incidents is part of my responsibility."

Gin pondered the implications. The Five Great Houses clearly held the ruins in high regard. Their involvement hinted that these sites might be more numerous—and more important—than he had originally assumed.

"Do the Houses claim all the artifacts found in these ruins?" Gin asked.

"No," Marcus replied with a chuckle. "That would discourage others from joining expeditions. The House mage is entitled to select a few priority items, but the rest is divided based on agreements made after the excavation."

Marcus went on to explain that certain ruins, particularly those with extensive inscriptions or murals, were often placed under the Houses' long-term control.

At the mention of ancient texts, Gin's interest intensified.

He had learned much from magical inscriptions in the past and hoped to uncover new knowledge during this expedition.

As the conversation continued,

Gin's analytical mind worked relentlessly. In the background, his magical domain expanded further, completing its analysis of the building's information-blocking enchantments.

With a slight smirk, he inverted the magical patterns, seizing control of the entire network in an instant.

A flood of information surged into his awareness—details about the guild's members, their magical attributes, and even the enchanted artifacts hidden within the building.

A low hum reverberated throughout the structure.

Marcus's eyes widened in alarm.

He hastily touched his ring, realizing that his attempts to gather information on Gin had been severed.

The building's security systems had detected the breach.

Moments later, the vibrations ceased, and the enchantments reset themselves.

Marcus, regaining his composure, studied Gin with renewed respect.

"That was… interesting," Gin said as he stood.

Marcus had a feeling the words carried deeper meaning than they appeared. He remained seated in quiet contemplation long after Gin and Jay had left.