"Really? Tell me, how can I obtain that?" Max was paying full attention to the system after telling it his reason. Therefore, just when the system spoke, he immediately asked.
[You should find that in the trading company established by a supreme mage as only they would have treasures or medicine at that level.] The system replied.
"A trading company of a supreme mage?" Max was stunned for a moment. He hadn't heard of such things until now. Where would he find it?
However, his eyes flashed when he remembered that Lilly, his sweetheart, had gone to Ice Sovereign Mountain, which was led by a supreme mage. Maybe he would find it there.
His expression became gentle when he remembered Lilly. It had been almost half a year since Lilly had gone away with the silver-haired woman to the Ice Sovereign Mountain. Although he had been with Belen and others after joining the Cloud academy, he still missed Lilly very much.
That's why when he joined the academy, he tried to gather information about the Ice Sovereign Mountain, but to no avail. Even Jasmine or the sun feather city's Elder hadn't heard about it, causing him to become disappointed.
However, he didn't know that the 'ordinary' people from the small kingdom, which included three or even four-star mages, didn't know about the organizations established by the supreme mages.
As for why his stepmother, Esther, knew about the existence of Ice sovereign mountain because of an encounter she had when she was young.
"System, do you know where I can find such an organization?" Asked Max. In his opinion, since a supreme mage created the system, it should have such knowledge.
Although what he thought was right, he seemed to have forgotten that it had been several thousands of years since that supreme mage created the system. From that time until now, the system had been in a state where it didn't have any knowledge of the current era.
[Host should know that the system doesn't have any information on the current structure of the powers across the continent.] The system patiently replied.
Then it continued, [However, all the supreme forces should be in the central part of the continent just like were before.]
After hearing the first half, Max was disappointed; however, after hearing the second half, his eyes flashed, and he became a little excited. Finally, he had a hint of where the Ice sovereign mountain could be. All he needed to do was go there and confirm it.
However, the system's following words shattered his fantasy.
[But it isn't easy if the host wants to go to the central area of the continent.] Before Max could even ask, the system continued, [One needs to be at least a five-star mage if they want to travel to the central area; if not, they would just die.]
"Die? Why?" Max was puzzled. At the same time, he hurriedly opened his inventory and took out some water to drink.
After he was done drinking, the system explained, [As far as I can see, the place host is currently living in is at the far west corner of the continent, and it should be near the vast ocean. The places near the vast ocean have a low density of Mana; therefore, there aren't many strong people or magical beasts.
However, as we go toward the center, the Mana density would increase, and so would the average power of the living being residing there. Let alone the central area, even in its vicinity, the three-star and four-star beings are as common as one-star beasts here. This makes it very dangerous for people who aren't five-star mages or above to reach the central area safely.]
"I understand!" Max nodded after hearing the system's explanation.
'It seems I need to raise my strength quickly.' He took a deep breath as his eyes flashed with determination. No matter what he wanted to do, be it avenging his mother, meeting Lilly, or finding the medicine to heal his father's Mana core, first, he needed to become strong enough.
After that, he slowly got up and sat down cross-legged. He then started to look inside his body to check the condition of his Mana core.
Phew!
After a moment, he breathed out in relief and muttered with a smile on his face, "Fortunately, my core has recovered to the peak level, and it seems that it is sturdier than before."
Immediately after that, he took out some Mana stones and started to cultivate to recover his Mana.
Creak~
After half an hour, Max entered the state of meditation, the door slowly opened, and a slender figure walked inside. She was Leticia.
"H-he has awoken," After she saw him cultivating, her eyes turned misty, and a pleasantly surprised expression appeared on her face.
Out of instinct, she wanted to run to him and throw herself in his embrace, but eventually, she suppressed the excitement in her heart. Without making any sound, she slowly retreated and went to Rima's room, where Belen and the little Elf were.
...
"Belen!" Leticia called out Belen after barging into the room; her face was flushed with excitement.
"Hm?" Belen and the little elf looked at her in puzzlement before their eyes lit up.
"Max has awoken, right?" Belen asked.
"Un." Leticia nodded.
Seeing this, Belen sighed in relief while the little elf stood and said excitedly, "Big sisters, let's go and meet that big brother."
Belen nodded and stood up to go. However, Leticia stopped them, "He is in meditation right now. He must be recovering his Mana. Let's wait until he is done."
"Okay. We'll do that." Belen nodded. The little elf's excitement also died down after hearing this.
"Big sisters, I'll go and inform my grandparents about this news, or they will be angry." After saying this, she ran out of the room.
Hu!
After a few hours, Max stopped cultivating and opened his eyes. After he recovered his Mana, his parched skin had also recovered to its former state, and he was full of energy.
"Ha! How refreshing!" He exclaimed. After the torture he felt in the last few days, this feeling was almost heavenly to him.
Creak~
Just when he wanted to stand up and stretch his body out, the door to his room opened, and two ladies entered.
Max smiled at them and opened his mouth to greet them. However,
Whoosh!
Before he could open his mouth, Leticia threw herself into his embrace and sobbed like a little girl. Although Belen didn't react like Leticia, Max could see that her emotions were also slightly unstable.
Max's heart felt warm seeing their concern, and he gently caressed Leticia's back, "It's okay. I'm completely fine now. Don't cry." At the same time, he pulled Belen into his embrace too.
After a while, Leticia calmed down and looked at him with her teary eyes, "Are you really okay?"
"Why would I lie to you?" Max smiled and wiped her tears away.
"Um." Leticia nodded and smiled a little after hearing this. Belen, on the other hand, was surprised. When he hugged her, she couldn't suppress her curiosity and checked his Mana core, and just as he said, it was healed completely.
After a while, the old elf couple, along with two little elves, arrived.
"They..." Max was surprised to see them. He didn't expect that they were still here.
Before he could react, all four of the elves bowed toward him, "Thank you for saving our lives, young sir."
Belen smiled lightly and explained after seeing his surprised expression, "They didn't leave because they wanted to thank you in person. However, since you were unconscious, they chose to come with us."
Max nodded and helped them up, "It's okay. You don't have to be so serious."
"Big brother, you are very strong. I heard from my grandfather that you killed that bad guy in a single punch." The little elf girl, whose name was Arya, said while excitedly waving her small fists around.
Everyone laughed at her cute antics. After that, they talked for a while. Max found out that this little elf family was from a forest near this area. Because Arya and her brother wanted to see the outside world, the old elf couple, who were their grandparents, took them out to journey around. However, they hadn't expected to be kidnapped when passing from that deserted area.
After a while, the old woman asked, "Has that young lady not awoken yet?"
