Wizards: Starting with Synthetic Gems

Chapter 526 Applying for the True Knowledge Institute Project Fund

Wizard Daniel looked at Locke's left hand. "What's wrong? What are you looking at?"

Locke shook his head slightly. "It's nothing really."

It seems that Sophia the Witch has become a second-circle wizard in the Starfield Sea and has firmly established herself. However, I still have two more opportunities to contact her over long distances.

Unlike other wizarding lands, the Starfield Sea is extremely difficult to contact.

Therefore, Locke was considering whether he should contact the witch Sophia and ask her directly about the details of advancing to the second-circle wizard, but since he hadn't even reached the first-circle crystallization stage yet, there was no need to waste an opportunity to contact her for the time being.

As Locke relaxed in the hot spring, his muscles loosened, suddenly, the Gray Mist Stone Slab automatically appeared in front of him, displaying the image dialogue request from the witch Catherine.

Locke paused for a moment, thinking to himself, "This is troublesome. I'm still in the hot spring, and my mentor has already forcibly called me."

Locke quickly got up from the wizard's hot spring, used a small spell to clean his body, then changed into a clean set of undergarments, and then put on the Golden Crown Mountain's perk, the magic-breaking suit.

Locke then carefully pinned his badges to his chest: four honorary certification badges from the Southeast Corner Region, a researcher badge from Golden Crown Mountain, an external appointment badge from the Plutarch family of the Six Towers Land, and an external appointment badge from Lilith's Hut.

Daniel was practically dying of laughter, but before he could enjoy his happiness for long, his mentor, Fyodor, forcibly summoned his Brass Iron Book and established contact with it.

Wizard Daniel quickly left the hot spring, changed into a new set of clothes, and muttered to himself, "Why are both of these mentors looking for us at this hour? It's almost midnight, can't they let people rest for a bit? It's already so busy on our first day."

At this moment, the projection from the brass and iron book made Wizard Fyodor frown. "What did you say, Daniel?"

Wizard Daniel's face turned deathly pale.

He hadn't expected that the wizard Fyodor would overstep his authority over the brass book and conduct a direct video dialogue without his consent.

As a result, his complaints were overheard by Fyodor, the wizard of the Third Ring Throne.

That's a third-ring wizard.

The person who stands at the pinnacle of all weathermen!
He actually just spewed that out in front of them.

Wizard Daniel's face turned deathly pale. "No, mentor, I mean, it is my honor to hear your wisdom at this time."

Fyodor glanced at him, but didn't have time to argue with him about such a trivial matter. In his eyes, a first-stage wizard was no different from a brat.

If wizard apprentices are merely seeds, objects, then in the eyes of these high-ring wizards, a first-ring wizard is finally considered a person, and their feelings need to be taken into consideration; they can no longer be treated so casually.

Fyodor scoffed. "This is a one-time exception. If you really feel it's too much to ask, I won't force you."

“There are plenty of excellent wizards waiting outside the Institute of True Knowledge. I can find another researcher.”

Wizard Daniel quickly waved his hand. "No, no, no, Throne of Fyodor, that's not what I meant."

Wizard Fyodor said, "I need to discuss the True Knowledge Institute project funding with you. Get this small project done quickly..."

On the other side, Locke glanced sympathetically at Wizard Daniel. Fortunately, the witch Catherine did not have the habit of forcing herself to answer the phone. After Locke straightened his clothes and made sure his demeanor was in order, he walked to the rest area of ​​the hot spring and pressed the answer button.

Suddenly, the witch Catherine, who was located in the crater, appeared before him. Behind Catherine was a terrifying golden dragon, which was sleeping. At this moment, the dragon's eyelids twitched slightly, but quickly closed again and stopped moving.

Catherine the Witch glanced at Locke, slightly taken aback. "You're taking a bath?"

"That's really unfortunate, but I'm short on time, so this is the only time I can find."

Locke said, "This has no effect on me, mentor."

The witch Catherine said, "That's good. I called you to discuss your application plan for the True Knowledge Institute's grant project, as well as your arrangements with me."

"I have six groups in the True Knowledge Institute. You can join the sixth group first. The sixth group has a group leader and a deputy group leader. Go to the sixth group after six o'clock tomorrow morning. The group leader of the sixth group will arrange a position for you."

"But that's not the point. You're a researcher at the Advanced Institute of Truth, so you don't need to have too much interaction with the regular Institutes of Truth. Let's talk about the scope of your Truth Institute grant proposal first."

The witch Ekaterina said, "I currently have six groups working on one of my projects. However, the project is too large, so it has been split into six groups. The sixth group is specifically responsible for [high-throughput observation of the natural magical structural components of magical plants closely related to animal reproductive capacity]."

"This is relatively simple, so you'd better get involved in the research from this angle."

Locke nodded and said, "Yes, mentor."

Meanwhile, Locke wondered what exactly Catherine the Witch, as the Throne Wizard, was researching.

However, since they have been divided into six groups, the low-level wizards in each group are actually only doing a small part of Catherine the Witch's entire research. The research of countless low-level wizards combined is what is truly useful to Catherine the Witch.

Therefore, unless Catherine the Witch reveals what she is doing, it is very difficult for the witches who are working on these small details and directions of the entire project to guess the specifics.

The witch Catherine said, "You can consult some materials yourself, or find some materials within Group Six, to see which magical plant and magical creature's reproductive mechanism pathways you want to analyze."

"As long as it's in this direction, that's fine. As for the specific details, that's up to you to decide. This is what was agreed upon in the contract we signed at the beginning."

The witch Catherine said, "However, there is one more thing: you still have three classes to attend."

Locke asked in surprise, "Class? Tutor, do I still have to attend classes?"

The witch Catherine said, “Yes, it’s a perk of our Golden Crown Mountain. For the first lesson, you need to complete seventy-two hours of instruction. This will let you know the specific framework, rules, and style of teaching wizard apprentices at Golden Crown Mountain, as well as some methods.”

"Only after you have taken these courses can you perform teaching duties."

"The second course is the course on all things in Yunze Wetland. This will take some time, which is why I asked you to be admitted to the hospital six months earlier."

"If you don't take the course on all things in Yunze Wetland, you won't be able to keep up with many common sense things."

“The third course, and the most important one,” Ekaterina the witch said, her eyes becoming serious. “It is a course on correcting bad habits. This course is specifically prepared for the new wizards from outside Mount Golden Crown. No matter how excellent you are, you have already picked up too many short-sighted ideas in the wizarding lands outside.”

"Therefore, in order for you to fully meet the high standards required by our Golden Crown Mountain Academy, you will need to relearn how to explore magic."

Catherine the Witch sent a message: "This is the class schedule, which also includes the class locations. Don't miss too many classes. Although these three classes don't seem very useful."

The witch Catherine herself seemed somewhat unsure. "Perhaps it really won't be of any use to you, but rules and regulations are rules and regulations. If you don't attend class, you'll lose points. You can earn 300 points for completing each class."

"This is the fastest way for you newcomers to earn points before you get specific projects."

"You'll have a relatively easy time for the next six months. Just work on the True Knowledge Institute Foundation project while completing these three courses."

Locke bowed to him. "Yes, mentor."

The witch Catherine looked Locke up and down. "You're almost at the crystallization stage?" Locke bowed again. "Yes, mentor, my magic power has now reached 8700."

The witch Catherine nodded. "Have you decided which special plane in the endless void you want to form a contract with after becoming a first-ring crystallization stage wizard?"

The witch Catherine said, "If you haven't thought it through, or don't know what to choose, come find me after you reach the first stage of crystallization."

“I have a special dimension that is very suitable for you.”

"Okay, I'm busy now. Oh, right, the habit correction course is about to start."

Locke looked at the witch Catherine with a puzzled expression and said, "Mentor, it's the middle of the night."

A moment of silence fell as the wizard Daniel, not far away, exclaimed in astonishment, "It's the middle of the night!"

Catherine the witch looked at him with a puzzled expression. "Yes. It's precisely because it's the middle of the night that I can go to class."

"The full-fledged wizards and second-ring wizards in Yunze Wetland are very busy. They have to work on their own projects during the day and only have time to teach in the evening. This is true for the teachers and even more so for the students."

"Therefore, our classes are usually in the evening."

Locke swallowed hard.

The golden dragon behind the video dialogue seemed to twitch at the corner of its eye.

Locke smiled wryly and said, "Okay, mentor, I'll go right away."

The wizards of Yunze Wetlands... are really too diligent.

I should have realized it long ago; the Diana Witch group, the contestants from the Yunze Wetland competition, were workaholics.

I haven't slept for months, I've been doing experiments there.

After the video conversation ended, Locke wondered if he should prepare some energy potions for himself, given the tense working atmosphere at Yunze Wetland.

He exchanged a glance with the gloomy-faced wizard Daniel, who looked utterly desperate. "Matthew the wizard said we had one last bit of free time. He's wrong. Our free time won't even last until sunrise tomorrow morning."

"I'm planning to go for another walk outside tonight; Yunze Wetland is quite fun."

Locke nodded slightly. "It's alright. Anyway, even if there's nothing much going on, I'll find something to do. But I've just arrived at Yunze Wetland and haven't finalized my plans yet."

Daniel blinked, hesitated, but finally couldn't help but say, "Locke, in some ways, you fit in quite well with the atmosphere here."

Locke gave him a puzzled look.

……

At one o'clock in the morning, the silver moon shone brightly.

Locke and Wizard Daniel were both in a thought correction class, located on the first floor of the True Knowledge Castle.

Although they were supposed to attend classes, Locke and Daniel were no longer students, so even if they didn't come to class, no one would urge them.

The worst consequence is simply not having enough points, which could lead to being eliminated from the True Knowledge Academy.

It all depends on the individual's choice.

The habit correction course wasn't just attended by Locke and Daniel; there were five other wizards as well. Three of them appeared to be from small to medium-sized wizarding organizations outside the area. They had specifically saved up 10,000 magic stones to come and attend the course, essentially freeloading off Locke and Daniel's classes.

The other two wizards were ordinary wizards from outside the True Knowledge Institute.

Daniel whispered in Locke's ear, "The habit correction course at Golden Crown Mountain is so famous? Why would wizards pay to attend it?"

Locke shook his head slightly.

At that moment, on the lectern, a second-circle wizard who looked like an old man glanced at the seven formal wizards listening to the lecture. He took a sip of wizard tea, and his eyes had dark circles.

Locke had no idea what had happened; even a second-ring wizard could have dark circles under his eyes.

This is... terrifying.

The second-circle wizard said with satisfaction, "Everyone is here. No one is absent on the first day of class. There will be seven lectures in total, each lasting one hour."

"I hope that I will not miss any classes in the future."

This old second-ring wizard focused his attention mainly on Locke and Daniel, but to be honest, the entire course was actually prepared for the two advanced researchers from the Institute of True Knowledge, who were the institute's most important assets.

The remaining three outside wizards, needless to say, were simply paying to audit the classes.

There were also two ordinary wizards from the True Knowledge Institute, who were just there to teach them as a side job.

The second-circle wizard coughed and said, "I am Wizard Thomasson, a breeder and a weatherman."

Locke's eyes flickered slightly. From the second-circle wizard's profession, he immediately understood that this lesson was prepared entirely for him and Wizard Daniel.

Otherwise, this second-circle wizard wouldn't have needed to be both a weatherman and a breeder at the same time.

Wizard Thomasson said, "Those of you who have been able to enter our Golden Crown Mountain Academy must all be outstanding in your respective fields, and may even be called geniuses by others outside."

"So, I won't say much else. I'll just ask you one question: what exactly do meteorology and botany study?"

Wizard Thomasson looked at Daniel and said, "I ask you, is meteorology a theory of controlling the weather, making a region have favorable weather or violent storms, and controlling the climate?"

Wizard Thomasson looked at Locke and said, "I ask you, little Augustine. Is the science of breeders about creating powerful weapons, or some kind of powerful energy, or a high-quality potion ingredient?"

Wizard Daniel was dumbfounded. "Huh? Lord Thomasson, if meteorology isn't the theory of controlling the weather, then what is it?"

He glanced at the expert weatherman badge worn by Wizard Thomasson and was completely dumbfounded. "The meteorology of Yunze Wetland has been studied to this extent?"

Daniel's voice trembled slightly. "So...so what exactly does meteorology study these days?"

Wizard Thomasson gave him a disappointed look. "Little Daniel, you lack comprehension!"

(End of this chapter)