Evening, Hargeon Port.
Sails dotted the sparkling surface of the sea as returning ships sounded their long whistles.
The air was a mixture of the salty sea breeze, the aroma of grilled fish, and the faint, elusive scent of magical spices drifting from afar.
By a relatively quiet pier in the harbor, a figure stood silently.
The young man was tall and slender, about seventeen years old, his medium-length, choppy hair stirring gently in the sea breeze.
He had fair skin, yet it wasn't sickly, but rather glowed with a healthy luster.
His expression was calm and composed, the corners of his mouth holding a faint, knowing smile, as if he had seen through the ways of the world.
His entire being exuded an air of confident restraint and extraordinary distinction.
This person was, naturally, Ace.
'If I remember correctly,' Ace thought to himself, his gaze sweeping over the bustling crowd at the port, 'tomorrow is the day the story truly begins.'
His current attire was different from the casual and comfortable clothes he used to wear at the guild.
He had taken a liking to well-tailored, exquisitely crafted, magnificent black evening suits, paired with a noble cloak of the same color.
The suit clung to his slender yet powerful frame, and the cloak fluttered gently in the evening breeze, adding a touch of mystery and elegance to his presence.
Anyone who passed by, regardless of age or gender, would find their gaze unconsciously drawn to him, lingering for a moment before sighing in unison in their hearts.
Ace seemed oblivious to the stares of others.
He began to walk, leaving the pier.
His figure moved like a fish in water, weaving effortlessly through the noisy crowd, heading with a clear purpose toward a relatively secluded alley deep within the port market.
At the end of the alley, Ace found the shop from the original story—one with a small storefront, an old sign, and a faint, subtle ripple of magic emanating from within.
Pushing open the slightly heavy wooden door, the wind chime above it tinkled crisply.
The shop was dimly lit, the air filled with a strange mixture of faint dust, old parchment, and magical herbs.
The shelves were crammed with all sorts of bizarre magical materials, tattered scrolls, rusted magical tools, and a few locked glass cabinets.
An old shopkeeper looked up from behind a counter piled high with miscellaneous goods. Upon seeing the visitor, a professional smile appeared on his face.
"Welcome, young mage. What can I get for you?"
Ace's gaze fell directly on a plain, dog-shaped, bronze-colored key inside one of the glass cabinets—the Canis Minor celestial spirit key.
"How much for that key?" Ace pointed at it, his voice calm.
"Oh, Canis Minor." The old shopkeeper followed his finger, opening the cabinet to take out the key while expertly quoting a price.
"This key's celestial spirit is rather weak, but its strength lies in its loyalty, and the magic consumption to summon it is low. A fixed price, twenty thousand Jewels."
Twenty thousand Jewels was indeed a small sum for Ace, who was now become a famous S-Class Mage and had completed numerous high-paying quests, he even acquired a fair amount of "spoils" from "cleaning up" dark guilds on the side.
He was just about to take the money from a pocket inside his cloak when—
"Wait!" The old shopkeeper suddenly leaned closer, carefully studying Ace's face, especially his calm eyes and his attire, which couldn't hide its magnificence even in the dim light.
He seemed to remember something, and his expression changed slightly, immediately replaced by a smile ten times more enthusiastic, even tinged with a hint of trepidation.
"Oh my! A-Are you... the S-Class Mage from Fairy Tail, Ace the Summoner?!" The old shopkeeper's voice trembled slightly.
Ace raised an eyebrow slightly, neither confirming nor denying it.
"It really is you! Look at my old, failing eyes!" The old shopkeeper rubbed his hands together in excitement.
"I've long heard of your great name! 'Digital Summoner' Ace! The bane of those damned dark guilds! We small business owners and the common folk, we can't thank you enough!"
Without another word, he thrust the Canis Minor key into Ace's hand, waving his other hand dismissively.
"Take this key! Don't even mention money! It's this humble shop's honor to be of service to a righteous and powerful mage like you! Just... just consider it a small token of my appreciation!"
Ace looked at the cool key in his hand, then at the old shopkeeper whose face was flushed with excitement, feeling a bit helpless.
It seemed the reputation of his "Digital Summoner" title and his recent crackdown on dark guilds had an even more "significant" effect than he had anticipated.
In the dark world, his name could probably make certain people tremble in fear, terrified that this "omen of disaster" would show up at their door one day.
But in the eyes of commoners and ordinary merchants, he might have become some kind of "symbol of justice," a powerful guardian willing to clean up the filth.
After all, the Magic Council of this world... was sometimes like a .... well-fed cat.
As long as the "mice"—the dark guilds—scurrying around and stealing food didn't cause too much trouble, it would often turn a blind eye.
A powerful and righteous mage like Ace was naturally welcomed and appreciated by the common people.
"In that case, thank you."
Ace didn't refuse further.
He accepted the key frankly, nodded at the shopkeeper, and turned to leave the shop.
He didn't want to take advantage of the situation, but the other party's enthusiasm and respect were sincere, and forcing payment would seem pretentious.
Perhaps he could look after this little shop more in the future.
Walking out of the alley, the sun had almost completely sunk below the horizon, leaving only a streak of dark red afterglow in the sky.
The port began to light up with scattered lights.
...
The next day, early morning.
Ace strolled around the port, casually playing with the Canis Minor celestial spirit key in his hand.
The key reflected a warm luster in the morning light.
His gaze swept aimlessly over the gradually awakening port, his thoughts drifting.
Just then, the sound of youthful, energetic footsteps approached.
"Excuse me, have you seen..." a clear, pleasant, and slightly anxious female voice called out.
Ace subconsciously turned his head.
A young girl suddenly appeared.
She had beautiful golden hair that shone like flowing gold in the morning sun, an exquisite and lovely face, fair skin, bright and expressive large eyes, a pert nose, and cherry-blossom lips, all combining into a sweet face that could attract the gaze of any man.
However, what was perhaps most eye-catching about this girl was not just her golden hair and face, but her impressive figure.
She wore a simple white shirt and a short skirt, but the astonishing curve of her chest straining against her shirt, created an extremely powerful visual impact.
Youthful vitality and sexy charm achieved a kind of perfect balance in her.
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