Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 47 "Test"

Andre nodded slightly, with a secret smile on his lips:
"My friend and I are looking for some special materials to write a new 'guide'. You know, academic research always requires a variety of materials."

The dwarf turned his gaze to Ron, sizing up and down the unfamiliar face, like a merchant assessing the value of goods.
"A new friend? He doesn't look like the type who would be interested in a 'guide'. He looks more like the type of scholar who would lock himself in his room and study."

"Don't be fooled by appearances, my old friend." Andre calmly slid a magic stone fragment in front of the dwarf.
"His insights in certain areas may surprise you."

The dwarf reached out to cover the fragment, his stubby fingers deftly making it disappear into his sleeve, the corners of his mouth slightly raised:

"I'm rarely surprised these days, Your Highness. But if you put it that way, I'm looking forward to it."

He stood up and motioned for the two to follow him. "Come on, let's talk in the back. The quieter environment is more suitable for discussing academic issues."

The three of them walked through the noisy main hall of the tavern, avoiding the customers who were immersed in alcohol or chatting, and came to a narrow corridor.

There were some old oil lamps hanging on both sides of the corridor, emitting dim light and casting strange shadows on the walls.

At the end were several closed wooden doors that all looked identical.

Otto took out a strangely shaped key from his waist, carefully inspected several doors, and finally chose one and inserted the key into the keyhole.

The moment the key was inserted, the runes hidden on the door lit up slightly, and then quickly dimmed.

The dwarf turned the key skillfully, and with a crisp "click", the door lock opened.

Inside the door was a small round room with various maps and dried herbs hanging on the walls. The air was filled with a strange fragrance, as if it was a mixture of dozens of herbs.

There was a round table and a few chairs in the middle of the room, and on the table was a magic crystal lamp that emitted a soft light.

"Please take a seat, my two guests." The dwarf locked the door and skillfully climbed onto a specially made high chair, looking down at the guests from above.

"Now, what kind of 'material' are you looking for? We can ditch those cumbersome code words here."

Ron glanced at Andre, who nodded slightly to indicate that he could speak directly.

He took a deep breath and took out the special parchment from his arms: "We need these."

Ron was careful to reveal only a few of the relatively insensitive names of the materials, including "Moonbat Heart Ash" and "Crystallized Moss."

Otto took the parchment, his thick eyebrows gradually raised, and his blue eyes flashed with surprise and curiosity:

"Oh? This isn't just any list of materials."

His fingers gently stroked the shimmering words on the parchment, and he raised his head, his eyes moving back and forth between the two of them:
"This 'crystallized moss' in particular has been in very short supply lately. The price has increased several times, and it's almost impossible to find any moss on the market."

"Why?" Ron asked subconsciously, then realized that this might have touched on some sensitive topics.

The gray dwarf looked at him deeply, and his lips were pressed into a straight line under his beard.
"This is our trade secret, so it's inconvenient to tell you, the guests."

He paused, as if weighing something:
"But it is true that the market for various rare materials has been fluctuating much more than usual recently, especially those related to wizards."

Otto waved his hand again and said, "Okay, let's get back to business. I can help you find these materials, but it won't be fast, and they'll be expensive, so you have to be prepared."

"How many magic stone fragments are needed?" Ron asked directly, deciding not to beat around the bush.

"Need a list?" Otto counted on his stubby fingers:
"Even if you only need one of each item, you'll need at least 170 or 180 magic stone fragments, and some of them may require a full magic stone transaction."

He half-closed his eyes and looked at Ron, as if trying to judge the financial resources of the young man in front of him:
"No one is usually willing to sell you just one or two pieces of material." Ron frowned slightly. The price was far beyond his budget.

Did Mrs. Allen overestimate his financial capabilities, or underestimate the current market value of these materials?
He thought for a moment and said, "We can buy them in batches. Let's start with the ones that are easiest to find."

Andrei interjected at the right moment, his tone relaxed yet alert:

"If we can get a sample, we might need to verify the quality. In places like this, it's wise to shop around."

"Oh?" Otto looked at Ron with a hint of curiosity, his blue eyes flashing with inquiry.
"Do you know how to identify these materials? At your age, you don't look like you have enough experience."

Ron nodded calmly but confidently, "I have some experience in potions."

“Interesting, interesting”

The dwarf rubbed his thick beard, making a rustling sound, and the corners of his mouth under the beard slightly raised:
"Usually, when Potions apprentices come to the black market, they will bring a reputable appraiser with them and wrap themselves up tightly, for fear of being recognized."

He looked at Ron scrutinizingly. "But it would be much easier if you could identify the materials yourself. However..."

Otto suddenly stopped, a sly look flashing in his eyes. "Boasting is not a good habit, young man."

He took out a small, exquisite wooden box from under the table. Intricate runes were carved into the box, and each line glowed faintly.

"You're in luck today. I happen to have some in stock. Want to take a look? Let's test the depth of your 'knowledge'."

Ron's heart moved, and he nodded and said, "I'm happy to do that."

He could sense that this was some kind of test from the other party, but he was confident in his abilities.

Otto opened the wooden box, revealing several crystal bottles and small bags neatly arranged inside.

The light from the room shone on the bottles, refracting a strange glow and adding a touch of mystery to them.

"Look at this." He took out a small bottle of gray-brown powder and shook it gently:

"This should be the 'Moonbat Heart Gray' on your list. It's a new arrival, and it's of excellent quality."

Ron took the bottle and examined it carefully using his [Medicinal Herb Identification] ability.

He shook the bottle gently, letting the powder inside reveal its true color in the light.

A true Moonbat's Heart Gray should appear silvery gray and have a faint blue fluorescence under light.

Most importantly, it should have a unique energy fluctuation that can almost cause a slight tremor to those with keen perception.

But the bottle of gray-brown powder in front of him, although of similar texture, clearly lacked the necessary magical fluctuations.

The color is also too turbid, more like an ordinary mineral powder, or a low-quality product that has been refined multiple times.

During this process, his skill experience points also steadily increased:
[Successful in identifying a counterfeit! Herbal Medicine Identification Experience +1]

"I'm afraid this isn't the real thing."

(End of this chapter)