[Magic Ritual: 3]
[Current Magic: Healing Magic x4, Illusion Magic x0, Wish Magic x2, Divination Magic x11, Forgetful Wind Magic x11]
Without hiccups, the complicated, transparent magic circle only he can see once again appeared before vanishing into a speck of lights that surged in his mind. Juan immediately felt the flow of information entering his mind. The information contained the answer that he currently needs.
"According to the information I got, I can find someone who called himself Eel near the port of Tipisan at the bar called Eel Tavern and buy his service to forge an identity and related documents that can be used everywhere—nationally." Juan didn't know where that place was as it was just the Atsivaneub City neighboring port municipality. He had already been there before, after all.
Tipisan is a 3rd-class municipality in the province of Agarac, Senippilihp. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 44,822 people. The Port of Tipisan is the major seaport or base port in the region of Agarac.
Although he wasn't familiar with the whole place. Can't he just ask the locals around him some questions? In any case, people like to help others when in need of directions. But if he were to ask for money from a stranger, that would be seen as some sort of plague. People would surely avoid him if he were to do that.
Then captured by some fast hands with a high-spec mobile camera. Unbeknownst to me, I might suddenly see myself on TV because of some news report. That's the reason why one should ask a reasonable question instead of playing pranks or delusions on a stranger.
Since he already has the location, there's no need to walk on anymore since what he lacks now is money. He has plenty, so he got his phone and turned on the mobile data before accessing an app to call a taxi in his city. A while later, he found one that could take him to Tipisan. Without another thought, he pressed the call button.
The call went through after some seconds of talk. Juan ended the call as he started slowing down his steps. The taxi will be coming soon, and no matter how much distance he can cover from here by walking, It will just be a waste of energy. Thinking of that, Juan didn't find it hard to find an answer. He stopped, looked around him, and then started playing with his phone.
A few minutes later.
The taxi came to pick him up amidst the dust that rose from its tracks. The driver blew a horn of victory for Juan to notice. Seeing this, Juan stopped playing with his phone and immediately took his luggage into the taxi car. Since his luggage bag could fit in, the driver didn't mind it with the passenger seat since Juan was the only passenger he had.
"Tipisan right, sir?" said the uncle driver in his uniform, who faintly smiled as he started a conversation with Juan, the passenger. After turning the car around in the direction of the city, Juan replied, "Yes."
The uncle driver threw some glances at Juan before following the conversation in a light and casual manner. "Travelling somewhere. Vacation, sir?" Juan was amused; this uncle driver seems quite a talker in his line of work. Is he bored? Or just want someone to talk to while driving?
That's dangerous, though, having to do two things at the same time, even on the road. However, the uncle's driver seems professional, so it's not bad to trust his driving experience. "Yes." After a few minutes of talking, they had already arrived at their destination. "Here we are."
Juan paid the fare before coming out. "Do call me again if you need a lift and I'm not busy, sir." Nodding his head, Juan waved with his hand as he replied before closing the door outside. "I will." Soon, the taxi left, and Juan stood in front of the Eel Tavern with an old and tattered plaque hung diagonally above the entrance.
"Won't it be dangerous if it falls?" Juan mumbled at the side of the road, looking around him. The location he was in was where the pubs, bars, and love motels were located for business. It's a little quiet on the road; it must be because it only liven up at night. "Juan pushed the door open, and he could see a few people dead drunk sleeping everywhere.
There's even someone who was naked, holding a bottle of beer to warm his cold privates. And here is the smell in the air that made him feel sick and disgusted. After walking around, he saw a bartender who was cleaning up the whole place. He'll be wiping the table, collecting the bottles, and arranging the chairs, and he won't forget to wake the customers up.
The bartender naturally noticed him entering. After all, in such a quiet place, any other noise would immediately be an attraction. Not to mention at this time of the day. Just the fact that someone came here this time means he's not here for any kinds of drinks but for more shady business. "We're closed for the day, sir. Do come back at night as that is our official business hours."
Juan neared the bartender as he looked around calmly. He whispered, "I'm not in for a drink. I'm looking for Eel; I've got business for him." The bartender glanced at Juan's face and then at his attire, seeing his luggage bag on his shoulder. He nodded and gestured for him to follow him. "Follow me, sir."
Juan nodded, and then he couldn't help but look at the sides of every ceiling corner. There are many CCTV cameras around, after all, in this kind of place where it's easy for a fight to become a brawl. There is indeed a need for that evidence. A while later, they passed by the bartender's table before they entered a path with curtains.
Passing through the curtain, they stepped onto the long path, where there are many rooms for customers to use. "Sir, may I know what business you want to do with Sir Eel?" the bartender asked calmly as he stopped at the door of the last room. Juan didn't answer; instead, he looked at the bartender calmly. The bartender was a tall man but he wasn't thin, seems like there's some power between the balance of his steps.
The bartender has been in this kind of business for a long time, so he won't be intimidated just because of a newbie's look. However, business is business. He had to know what business the other had with their boss for safety's sake. After a while, Juan calmly answered, seeing that they were going nowhere, "Traveling."
The bartender nodded and then knocked on the room door. "Sir Eel, you've got business for traveling." A second later, there's a sound inside. With a groan, a man's lazy voice came out. "Let him come in." The bartender then opened the door and gestured for Juan to enter. Juan looked at the bartender for a bit before entering the room.
The first step, and he was already assaulted by the disgusting scent of various alcohols, cigarettes, and even sweat. The room was spacious, and there's the couch where a half-naked man was groping two naked women on each side of his shoulder. There is a big bed at the side, and it was in an unclean state. Clearly, a big battle had just been won a few hours ago.
The man looked at Juan amidst the lone white light above the ceiling. Observing him with his playful smile, he doesn't seem to care about the women beside him being fully exposed to a stranger. "What business do you want?" Juan looked around him and replied, "For traveling, are you sure this is a good place to start a conversation?"
Eel's eyes lit up as he stood up, leaving the still-sleeping, naked woman on the couch. Walking past him, the man then opened another door, which led to a secret room. "Come in." Juan followed inside before the door was closed. They arrived inside a wide room with a desk and two chairs to do business.
Eel sat down sloppily on the chair and leant backwards as he looked at Juan waiting. Juan sat in the other chair and then said, "I need a new identity and other related documents when traveling nationwide. Can you do it?" Hearing this, Eel's eyes lit up; he had a big business indeed. Faintly smiling, he replied with confidence, "Of course, that isn't a problem. But...I wonder if you can afford it. It's not cheap to be used nationwide, you know?"
Juan raised an eyebrow, then he threw up the bag on the desk as Eel opened it with caution. When he saw the bundles of money inside, his eyes immediately glowed with unprecedented focus. "This is...hmm...about 5 million?" Juan didn't reply; instead, he asked, "Is that enough?" Eel suddenly laughed, "More than enough, when do you want to have it?"
Taking the bag to the side, Eel looked at Juan more friendly; however, there was a hint of caution in his eyes. After all, he didn't know how this guy found him without him knowing it beforehand. There's a chance that he was a police officer or an undercover agent, but he might have accidentally heard it somewhere. Anyway, the power of money will always come into play.
"I need it as fast as you can. Money isn't a problem," Juan replied. Then, as though he had remembered something, He took out another bundle of money from his pants as he placed it on the table. "Don't tell anything about me." Eels eyes lit up once again, and he hurriedly took the money and started counting. "That won't be a problem!"
"So since sir wanted a new identity, what do you like for a name?"
Juan thought for a while, since he would be having a new identity. Then he would need a new face and a new name. The new face can be done using illusion magic, so he would need to do the ritual for that in the afternoon. As for the new name, he thought it out and found a good one that he felt fitted him. "Juan Bond, make it Juan Bond."
Eel raised an eyebrow as he looked at Juan amused, saying, "Juan Bond, that's...um...a unique one, huh." Eli then wrote it down on a notebook and then said "Sir, um, Juan then. Come back in the afternoon for the photoshoot."
"When can you finish it?" Juan asked. He needed the precise time to make do with his fully booked schedule after all. Eel immediately said, "The paper work and photoshoot will be done today, so it will be estimated to be completed tomorrow. Since our sir Juan paid me extra, I naturally had to work harder than usual."
Juan nodded, then stood up and prepared to leave. "Right, I will have another face coming here in the afternoon, still with the name Juan Bond."
"No problem. I'll tell my bartender for that." Eel said at the back, counting money, then before Juan could leave, he suddenly remembered something as he shouted. "Right, where did you know about my business?" Juan stopped, and then he calmly said, "It's a coincidence."
Coincidence. Eel didn't pursue Juan anymore. Juan leaves the Eel Tavern. He found a store nearby to buy some cola before walking around searching for a shop that sells model houses.
Eel Tavern.
"Did you find out who he is?" Eel, still in the secret room, called someone on his phone and was immediately answered. "I got his information. Juan S. Right, a fresh university graduate, works as a CCTV operator in the Acceptor Gas Station Atsivaneub City branch. Nothing strange in particular."
Eel's eyes flash. "Well, that's surprising. Alright, I had already sent the money. Finish the documents fast for our customer, who paid more than double the amount needed."
"No problem." The other man on the phone ended the call.
With his hand on top of the table, clasping into a fist, nobody knows what he was thinking. "Just a normal procedure at work, sir Juan. I hope you don't mind."
...
Juan walked as he asked around before finally finding a shop that sells small toy houses. And it's not made of plastic or whatever but was handcrafted by the maker himself. Although it was a pity for such a masterpiece to be used as an offering, However, that pity only appeared and disappeared for a moment before he bought them all.
Then Juan goes around to rent an apartment where the wooden toy houses were to be stored temporarily. When everything was done, it was already noon. Looking at the whole lot of mini houses in front of him. Juan started storing them inside the [Ideal Sling Bag] immediately.
Then he took his leave to find a restaurant to have some lunch. Just as he had finished ordering the dish he wanted. A man suddenly came near him, wearing normal long pants and a polo shirt, as well as a pair of leather shoes. "Excuse me, do you have any companions at this table? If not, can I sit here too?"
Juan looked around and saw the restaurant was very busy, with almost no seat vacant. Juan nodded as he smiled faintly and said, "Go ahead, friend." The man's eyes lit up and he hurriedly sat down before calling the waiter to have his order. After the waiter left, the man found that it was a little awkward, so he introduced himself to Juan.
"Aherm, friend, how about we get to know each other? Who knew we might be somewhere again? By the way, I'm Acbay." Acbay stood up and pushed out his hand for a handshake. Juan stood up and received the handshake as he replied, "Juan. Well, nice meeting you, Acbay." Then they sat down and started talking about some local news and other things.
A while later, the food was served, and they started eating silently. After all, they had just met. After having his fill, Juan stood to pay the bills. When he was about to leave, he passed by Acbay, who was still eating, as he said, "Well then, Acbay. We meet again someday." Acbay nodded with a friendly smile before bidding him goodbye.
Juan didn't return to the apartment because he had no need to rest for now. He took a cab toward the mountain near the highway. After paying for the fare, he walked out of the cab and started walking around the mountain highway. There he found a path towards the mountain, so Juan trekked it without much thought.
Just a few steps after entering, he found a small mound near the slope. Juan looked around him, be it below or above. Aside from the vehicles passing by on the highway, there are no other people near him. As for using his magic, that would just be a waste of time. "Alright." Within much thought, he took out a small toy house and placed it on top of the mound as he clasped his hand and said.
"Oh Duwende of the mounds, the spirit and guardians of mountains and hills, please grant me magic that can trick anything and anyone."
[Magic Ritual: 3]
[Current Magic: Healing Magic x4, Illusion Magic x0, Wish Magic x2, Divination Magic x11, Forgetful Wind Magic x11]
Looking at the text box, he really wanted to accumulate more magic rituals. He was currently in need of [illusion] magic after all. Using it to disguise himself and create a new identity. After doing that, he immediately left. He hired a taxi and returned to the Eel Tavern.
[Ritual Successful. Created Illusion Magic x3]
While he was on the taxi, Juan saw that the driver was busy on the road, so he immediately cast the [illusion] magic to disguise himself as an ordinary Southeast Asian man that is more handsome than himself. When everything was done, he naturally wouldn't forget to erase his tracks.
[Magic Ritual: 0]
[Current Magic: Healing Magic x4, Illusion Magic x2, Wish Magic x2, Divination Magic x11, Forgetful Wind Magic x10]
He cast [Forgetful Wind] magic for those who had noticed him using magic, be it by their senses or many technological detection devices. Juan was very cautious in this endeavor. Even after the taxi driver, who had left after he paid the fare, was confused since he forgot he had actually had a passenger just now.
However, Juan didn't dilly-dally; he looked around and saw that everything was okay. When he entered the Eel Tavern, the sleepy bartender saw a new face. "We're close at this time of the day, sir. Do come back tonight." Although the bartender felt the clothes and figure was familiar, he didn't try to remember it because he was so sleepy.
However, Juan didn't stop as he arrived before the bartender as he said, "Juan Bond." The bartender's sleepy face immediately vanished as he looked at Juan with surprise unconcealed in his eyes. "I didn't expect this, sir. Are you a professional?" The bartender casually said, but he was already moving towards the curtains.
Juan followed, but he didn't answer. The bartender led him to another room where there were two people.
standing and talking in front of the many photography props. Eel looked over and saw him, and he couldn't help but also show some surprise in his eyes. "Man, I didn't know you have such talent. It seems this new identity won't be a waste with your talent."
Juan didn't reply; instead, he said with his usual voice, "Let's get started?" Eel's eyes lit up, and he immediately motioned for the photographer to start the pictorials. "Alright, it's your time to shine." Juan nodded and slowly stood with a faint smile on his face as he faced the camera.
"Yep, say cheese!"