Wizards: Starting with Synthetic Gems

Chapter 520 External Researcher and Reencounter with an Old Friend
A month later.

On the wizard ship, Locke increased his magic pressure from 8100 to 8500. Due to the compression method, the inflow of natural force planes, and the three-eyed tiger cat in the first crystallization stage increasing his own upper limit, Locke's progress speed was very unusual in the eyes of other wizards in the liquefaction stage.

Even for a wizarding genius, it would take several years to jump from 8100 to 8500, but Locke skipped that step entirely.

This is the advantage of having compression methods and shortcuts.

At that time, the wizard airship had arrived above the Cloud Marsh Wetland. Locke looked down at the shimmering surface of Cloud Lake below the airship. Cloud Lake was like a mirror created by nature, reflecting all the light back to the sky.

It was filled with a sense of wonder.

The vast Cloud Lake covers the total area of ​​more than a dozen wizarding lands and is shared by the Three Swamps and the Dragonfall Lands. This results in the Three Swamps being long and narrow, essentially the shoreline of Cloud Lake.

The airship would dock in a city near Mount Golden Crown, so at this moment Locke was sitting in a seat on the airship's public library, having put down his book, chatting with Professor Harun Vera through the gray fog slabs.

This month's issue of Southeast magazine published an article about a problem that had plagued Lilith's Cottage for over 500 years, which has now finally been resolved, and the existence of the Mister's Power has been proven.

Harlan Vera raised a glass of wizarding wine to Locke in gratitude, saying, "Locke, on behalf of all the wizards at Lilith Hut, I thank you. Your article proved that Lilith Hut's past claims were at least partially true."

"The Mist Force is indeed a special force formed by the superposition and combination of three permanent defensive force fields."

Because the airship forbids drinking wizard's wine, Locke can only substitute tea with a cup of duck head tea.

Locke took a sip of the duck head tea, and the fragrance lingered on his teeth. A series of special water elemental tides continuously impacted his tongue and teeth, awakening the life force and creating a unique tactile sensation.

That's tea for ordinary people; it doesn't produce that kind of tactile sensation.

Immediately afterwards, with each breath, the fresh air in his lungs lingered, the residual toxins from the medicine in his body vanished into thin air, and his perception and compatibility with the water and wood elements increased out of nowhere.

Locke said to Harlan Vera, "I am also a wizard from Lilith Hut. It is only right that I do something for my alma mater."

Harun Vera smiled and said, "Your article has indeed greatly enhanced the status and reputation of our Lilith House in the Southeast Region. If this article had been published elsewhere, its effect would not have been as good as it is now published in Southeast."

"Southeast is a monthly magazine, published every month. It is subscribed to by many wizards in our wizarding lands, and your article is featured on the front page of this issue. Therefore, many first-ring wizards in the southeast corner region know about the power of Mister and that Lilith's Hut possesses this power. This is a great improvement to the quality of our students."

“As you know, the quality of students is the key to a wizarding organization’s future survival and prosperity,” Harlan Vera said. “The most deceptive thing about it is that the quality of students will not affect our present, but only our future.”

"Secondly, the matter of the Mister's Power has increased our standing within the White Wizard Association. As an academy with a particularly ancient heritage, we are bound to have some unique privileges. Protecting civilization and supporting diversity have always been major political correctness principles within the White Wizard Headquarters."

Locke nodded.

Harlan Vera glanced at the duck head tea in Locke's hand and asked curiously, "Locke, that looks like a wizard's green tea. It looks very unique. I can tell it's an exceptionally good tea just by sensing the change in your magical pressure."

Locke paused for a moment, then said, "Oh, Professor Harlan, this is a specialty of Yunze Wetland that the airship gave me. Jinmian Mountain, which I'm going to this time, seems to be the best high-efficiency agricultural area in Yunze Wetland."

“There is an independent wizarding organization in Jinmian Mountain called Luxu Bridge. Luxu Bridge’s specialty is wizard tea. This is one of their famous teas, called Duck Head Tea.”

"It is indeed excellent. I have never seen a wizard's tea that can completely eliminate the toxicity of the potion in my body, restore my life essence, and make me feel more comfortable than ever before. It seems to have restored something else about me, and at the same time slightly improved my perception of wood and water elements."

The perception of other elemental particles is one thing, but the fact that duck head tea can enhance one's perception of wood elemental particles is rather frightening.

My compatibility with wood element composite particles is more than twice that of ordinary wood element children.

After all, as a guardian of nature, I have an unconditional fondness for nature.

But duck head tea can actually temporarily improve its compatibility.

It truly lives up to its reputation as the famous Wizard Tea of ​​Luxu Bridge.

Harun Vera was taken aback when he heard the name Luxu Bridge. "Luxu Bridge... I also remember that. It is indeed one of the famous tea-producing areas. I just didn't know that Luxu Bridge and Jinmian Mountain had such a deep connection."

“Golden Crown Mountain is also a very famous wizarding organization within the breeder community. Lilith's Cottage has many excellent magical plant seeds, which were purchased from Golden Crown Mountain.”

"Jinmian Mountain is best at cultivating agricultural-type magical plants."

Harlan Vera laughed and said, "After you've seen the world, don't forget to go back to our sect's gathering and tell your seniors about all those things outside."

"Among the formal wizards I have taught, apart from a few like Bazel, you are one of the most successful."

"The Yunze Cup champion and the Advanced True Knowledge Academy are things that ordinary formal wizards in the Southeast Corner Region wouldn't even dare to dream of. In a sense, you have already reached the pinnacle among those ordinary formal wizards who remain in the Southeast Corner Region."

Locke remembered that Wizard Bazel was a second-circle wizard who rarely attended their sect gatherings, but every now and then he would send a gift to Teacher Harlan Vera through someone.

The wizarding world is a society formed by master-apprentice relationships, which is why these relationships are highly valued.

Locke said, "Of course."

"Teacher Harlen."

Harlan Vera said, "By the way, in addition to that, Dean Earl Thompson also wants to establish a partnership with you and invites you to join the Myster Origins Research Institute at Lilith Hut as an external researcher."

"Actually, you don't need to do anything. I just want to quote your article about the power of Myster."

“We will give you 10,000 magic stones every month, which is one magic crystal card. That’s twelve magic crystal cards a year. In return, you need to answer a few questions for us using the Gray Mist Stone Tablet. It won’t take you much time.”

Harlan Vera said with a slight headache, "Locke, I'm not here as a persuader. I'm just a senior wizard mentor at Lilith Hut, so I can only try to make this suggestion. You can refuse."

"I know that entering the Advanced Knowledge Academy does not mean that everything will be fine; on the contrary, it is the beginning of an even more difficult learning process."

"So, if you feel uncomfortable, you can refuse."

Locke nodded slightly, clearly indicating that his article on the power of Myster had changed the Dean of Lilith's Hut's original views on the Forest Sanctuary and the power of Myster.

The other party probably wants me to help Lilith's Hut regain the Forest Sanctuary and the power of Myster.

However, this matter does not pose any conflict of interest to me; in fact, it may even be beneficial.

the reason is simple.

Lilith House is my origin, and that's something I can never change. Anyone looking at my resume can immediately see the fact that I studied at Lilith House for four years.

Improving the prestige of Lilith's Cottage would be beneficial to oneself.

Therefore, Locke did not reject it immediately, but instead considered its feasibility.

Since he was no longer a student of Lilith's Hut, he needed to establish boundaries with Lilith's Hut, making her understand what she could cooperate with him on and what she couldn't ask him to do.

This is also what I, as a formal wizard—an adult in the wizarding world—should do.

After thinking for a moment, Locke said, "Teacher Harlan, I know what Dean Earl is thinking. But studying in the Forest Sanctuary requires a huge financial investment. I spent more than a million magic stones just to build my own Forest Sanctuary."

“This amount of money is not something that ordinary, formally qualified wizards can come up with. Secondly, there is still a requirement for talent, and this path is not suitable for all wizards.”

“But helping my alma mater regain the power of Myster would also benefit me, though I have two conditions.” Harun Vera said, “Locke, please speak.”

Harlan Vera exclaimed, “You’ve really grown up. Talking to you is like talking to a mature, formal wizard. The atmosphere just gets serious. I can feel the independent will in your words, which is good. A first-circle wizard’s magic would be very fragile without this independent will.”

"Although I am also a believer in technocracy, I believe that only wizards with independent will can go further on the path of pursuing truth."

Locke nodded and said, "Teacher Harlan, my requirements for the academy are as follows: First, if the academy wants me to help them regain the power of Myster and the Forest Sanctuary, they need to be prepared to invest a lot of money, at least one million magic stones, and that may not even be enough."

"I'm only talking about training one wizard apprentice. If there are more people, the cost will be much higher, so you'd better be prepared."

"Secondly, I feel that 10,000 magic stones a month is too little."

"Even though it doesn't take up too much of my time, I'm still not satisfied with this monthly salary."

Locke said, "One thing at a time, Professor Harlan, you should be able to understand me."

Harlan Vera smiled and nodded. "Even if you didn't say anything, I'm not satisfied with the price Dean Earl offered."

“That would make my students’ time seem cheap. I also won’t let you sign a contract with that monthly salary, as that would affect the future cooperation between my other students and Lilith House. On this issue, my interests are completely aligned with yours, which is to get the college to give you a higher monthly salary.”

"Thirty thousand magic stones, for a month, how about it?"

Locke thought for a moment. Although the Advanced Knowledge Institute only gave him 20,000 a month, the two jobs were different.

The Advanced Knowledge Academy provides a platform for oneself, combining work and learning.

So giving myself 20,000 magic stones a month is already considered a generous offer.

If I were to participate in the Lilith Hut research institute as an external contractor, it would be purely a job, and the power of Myster is still a very important thing.

If Lilith House wasn't his alma mater, and the Forest Sanctuary and Mister's Power weren't originally part of Lilith House, and he wanted to elevate his alma mater's status and further enhance his resume, he wouldn't even consider this collaboration.

Therefore, after thinking it over, Locke said, "Teacher Harlen, I can accept three magic crystal cards a month."

"But could you give me three magic crystal cards first?"

Locke coughed and said somewhat awkwardly, "To be honest, I only have five thousand magic stones left. I got this by selling some of my usual consumable magic potions."

"Cough cough..."

“I’m really short of money right now. I spent all my money building the Forest Sanctuary.”

Harlan Vera smiled understandingly. "It is indeed difficult for someone to go out alone, and there is no one to guarantee your safety."

“I understand you very well. As a young first-ring wizard, money will indeed be a big problem if you don’t stay in the Southeast Corner Region. Once you go to a new place, you’ll need money even more.”

"I will transfer the magic crystal card to you immediately through the local fairy family bank."

Harlan Vera said, "If you still don't have enough by then, you can borrow some from me first."

"Although I don't have a lot of savings, I can lend it to you first."

Locke was somewhat touched. "Thank you, teacher. But don't worry, I'm not that short of money. After I land, I can go to the Fairy Bank to collect the 60,000 magic stones from Lady Irina. I also have a partnership with the Plutak family in the Six Towers Land, so I can receive a sum of money there as well. It's just that I'm a little short of money lately."

"By the way, Professor Harlan, if I join the Mister Research Center as an external researcher, who are the students the academy needs me to jointly mentor?"

Harlan Vera chuckled and said, "Your suggestion was quite reasonable. The plan to regain the power of Myster has only just begun, and whether it will succeed is still unknown. Moreover, it requires special magical plants such as the Hydra plant, so our academy will probably only train one wizard apprentice first."

"Hmm...it's an old acquaintance of yours—Albert."

Locke was taken aback. "Albert? It's been so many years, and he still hasn't become a full-fledged wizard? Three years ago, when I first met him, his magic power was already 800, and when I left, it was 900..."

Harlan Vera's image within the gray fog slab sighed. "Albert tried to break through last year and the year before, and both times he failed."

"He spent all his money and connections to get the two bottles of advancement potions, and even Lady Morgana was somewhat... disappointed in him."

"But Albert was, after all, a candidate for wizard in Lilith's Hut, and the Academy had invested a lot of resources in him. As an asset of the Academy, the Academy did not want to give up on him just like that. Therefore, in the end, they gave him a chance to join the Myster Power Reappearance Project."

"As a condition, he also signed many contracts with the academy in advance, and if he can really become a formal wizard, he will stay in Lilith Hut for life."

Harlan Vera said, "Aside from the consideration of sunk costs, Albert is currently the first-class wizard apprentice in the academy's botany department who is closest to becoming a formal wizard. Although he has failed to break through three times and his lifespan is almost gone, fortunately, his talent is quite good, so the amount of lifespan burned off each time he failed to break through is not that much."

"Therefore, the academy judges that he should have one last chance to break through. If he fails again, then he will really have no chance."

"Therefore, this Mister Project is an opportunity for him, and also his last. Of course, there is one advantage to the three failed breakthroughs: he was really close to success, but for some reason, he failed every time before."

"You could say it was just bad luck."

Harlan Vera glanced at it and sighed, "Advancing to become a full-fledged wizard is this difficult. Sometimes, wizards who seem to have a sure chance of success will get stuck at this crucial juncture and never be able to move forward."

"He wasted his life and ended up with a regrettable and miserable end."

Harun Vera said, "The academy believes that if we change the breakthrough route, such as abandoning the use of permanent defensive force fields like the Life Force Field and Oak Magic Armor, and instead learning the Forest Sanctuary, we might be able to break through this time. To be honest, the academy doesn't know why he fails every time."

Locke nodded slightly. Sometimes, advancing to the rank of a formal wizard really does involve a bit of mystery.

Metaphysics means that there is no way to accurately predict the trajectory and conditions of every breakthrough.

There are too many related parameters.

So, we can only rely on a bit of luck.

Clearly, Lilith's Cottage believed that Albert was very close to becoming a formal wizard, but for some reason he always failed to break through. They couldn't bear to give up this readily available opportunity. Then, at this critical moment, they published an article about the power of Myster. So, Lilith's Cottage decided to optimize its assets and let Albert, a high-quality asset whose value was about to be destroyed, try to use the power of Myster to become a first-circle wizard.

Locke nodded. "Since they're acquaintances, things will be much easier."

“Professor Harlan, I agree to this. You can send the contract over. I'll contact Albert then.”

Harlan Vera nodded and said, "Yes, okay. It's just a small matter. You should focus on your own affairs. After all, it's just a minor matter for a wizard apprentice."

"But... Albert is a little different from before, so you'd better be prepared."

Locke remained silent for a moment.

Albert was originally a very optimistic person, but after experiencing these successive blows, his personality must have undergone a huge change.

Locke shut down the Gray Mist Slab. By then, the airship had arrived near Mount Golden Crown, which was extremely beautiful.

Jinmian Mountain is actually composed of four mountains, three small and one large.

(End of this chapter)