Wizards: Starting with Synthetic Gems

Chapter 616 Antoine, Our Value is Determined by Ourselves!

A second-circle witcher in a grey wizard's robe approached the first-circle crystallization stage witcher who had been monitoring the White Elephant Team contestant and asked, "Did that number one suspect just now reveal any sensitive information to Locke Augustine of the Golden Crown Mountain True Knowledge Institute?"

The low-ranking witcher in charge of surveillance shook his head indifferently. "He didn't say anything. So I didn't interfere."

The Witcher lower-ranking officer removed a jade-green earring bead from his earlobe. It was a special Witcher Listening Bead earring, worn only by Witchers responsible for eavesdropping.

This is one of the standard magical artifacts used by witchers, and its manufacturing process and sale are all monitored by the White Wizarding Guild.

Although not as strictly regulated as advancement potions, it's still not something every wizard can obtain.

A Witcher rank-and-file said, "But for some reason, the number one suspect suddenly stopped hiding anything and became somewhat out of control."

The second-ring witcher sneered, "There's probably no special reason. He just couldn't hide it anymore. His results were already quite unusual, so there was no need to hide them. But actually, we noticed his abnormality from the beginning. We just wanted to observe who he was in contact with and his social network, which is why we let him move around freely."

"I will personally monitor this number one suspect. You immediately investigate the background information of all the people on the list who have previously contacted him, extract their credit records from the five major banks, and confirm whether their credit is normal. Also, extract their colonial credit records from the Eye of Truth to see if they are still at 1000 points!"

Without hesitation, the low-ranking Witcher turned around and immediately went to conduct an investigation.

In the white wizarding community, it's simple to make a preliminary assessment of whether you have any problems: check your bank statements and your colonial credit. If there are no major issues, then the wizard is unlikely to have any serious problems.

However, if it is discovered that the wizard is covered in loan records and his colonial credit has completely collapsed, then this wizard is very likely to have a close relationship with the dark wizards!
The second-ring witcher chanted a spell, using illusion magic to conceal his presence as much as possible.

But actually, it's not that important.

Because the dark wizard no longer wanted to hide.

The second-ring Witcher's left eye, adorned with a demonic eye, was fixed intently on the contestant from the White Elephant Team.

Meanwhile, Locke was checking Arthas's sales rankings and found that his wizard shoes were currently in sixth place.

More magic weavers are sending themselves messages.

A magic weaver sent me a message asking if my actions would offend many magic weavers and cause many wizards in textile workshops to boycott me…

Locke completely ignored the message.

For a magic weaver, it is indeed a great offense to offend so many colleagues, especially since the magic weaver's field is very small.

However, there is a problem.

I... am not a magic weaver.

Then what is there to be afraid of?

If I want to buy any magical clothing, there will definitely be a magic weaver willing to sell it to me; no one would turn down money.

Wizards are very rational beings. They may verbally resist because of interests, but when it comes to actually giving up their own interests, that's a different story.

Furthermore, I'm planning to launch a new wizard shoe brand, so I don't need to worry about offending anyone, since I'll have plenty of others to offend in the future anyway.

Locke saw the schedule for the final day of the competition tomorrow. His first match was against Antoine, and his fourth match was against Julian.

Locke frowned.

Judging from the current standings, only I and Antoine have not lost a single match. I just didn't expect that the first match tomorrow would be the decisive one.

Meanwhile, if Julian the Witch wants to beat herself, she needs to not lose a single game tomorrow and win a game against herself.

If both sides have the same score, the side that wins the fight on that day will be ranked first.

Currently, only ten contestants remain.

Among them was a wizard from that strange white elephant group from earlier.

So, assuming I win all my matches against the other opponents, then my first battle with Antoine tomorrow will determine who the champion is!
I never imagined that the first match tomorrow morning would be so important, determining who the ultimate winner of this seven-day sports competition would be, and who would be the biggest winner in the first-level competition.

At this moment, Locke heard the collapse of the Cloud Arena. He saw one of the Cloud Arena turn into fragments and fall down, leaving only the last two arenas!
Arena 1 and Arena 2.

Locke felt a surge of excitement, but also hesitated. Did he really have the ability to defeat Antoine, who could wield more than twenty magical artifacts at the same time?

Regardless, tonight was his last chance to strengthen himself. Locke made up his mind and turned to leave.

At the same time, Locke saw Shelley walking towards him and was suddenly stunned, because he had met this wizard at the beginning of the sports festival.

At the time, both of them were observing their opponents.

The other party had told him that he was a strength and conditioning engineer at Yushu Garden.

Locke never expected that on the last day of the sports festival, the opponent would still be there, and even break into the top ten of the competition.

Shelley was clearly surprised to bump into Locke. “Hello, congratulations, Augustine. You’ve achieved such great results at the sports festival in your first year at Golden Crown Mountain. Unlike me…”

"I also experienced significant growth during this competition, which is why I've gotten to where I am today."

Locke nodded. "Congratulations on making it into the top ten. Wizards who make it into the top ten are definitely not weak. I see that our battle tomorrow is the sixth match, and I am honored to have the opportunity to exchange magic with Wizard Shelley."

Shelley smiled with satisfaction. "Locke, you're too kind. I originally thought that a genius like you would be more difficult to communicate with. I didn't expect you to be so easy to talk to; it was just my stereotype."

“For me, you are my fifth opponent,” Shelley said. “Then see you tomorrow. Locke, I hope you win the championship, because I like your character more than Ain Towan.”

Locke smiled and didn't pursue the conversation any further.

The two exchanged a few words and then parted ways.

Meanwhile, the second-ring witcher, who was staring at the white elephant group, repeatedly scanned and recorded the wizard's spiritual and magical characteristics with his left eye, the Demon Eye, confirming his identity and discovering that the wizard had many bad deeds on his hands.

Based on this, it's highly likely that this wizard is from the Twin Demon Realm.

The second-ring witcher frowned. "In other words, the wizards from the Twin Demon Realms infiltrated a first-ring level spell-fighting tournament. This is different from what we previously expected, that they infiltrated a second-ring level spell-fighting tournament."

"So, this was just a harassing attack."

If it's a competition where someone infiltrates to the second ring level, then it's different. The damage a second ring level wizard who has penetrated deep into the white wizarding society can cause is incomparable; it's a destructive act with real significance.

Of course, even for the Twin Demon Realms, it would be very difficult to get a second-ring level dark wizard to infiltrate.

The prophet academy on Mount Jinmian has been trying to pinpoint the location of all the lurking targets, but there are also mediums in the Twin Demon Realms making prophetic pronouncements to counteract the conflict.

Meanwhile, Mount Golden Crown has locked down the surrounding space. Generally speaking, no dark wizard can use any special method to suddenly teleport a large number of wizard legions here.

However, this experienced witcher knew that the Twin Demon Realms were different from ordinary dark wizards.

They are...more powerful, more capable of execution, and more unpredictable.

As the greatest enemy of Golden Crown Mountain, the Twin Demon Realms have been the subject of countless wars between Golden Crown Mountain and the Twin Demon Realms.

The second-ring witcher's eyes were unwavering. "All dark wizards should be killed. Tomorrow is the last day of the sports festival. If the dark wizards don't want it to end like this, they will definitely take action. It's not like their goal is simply to send someone over to participate in the competition."

"If that's the case, it doesn't matter. Anyway, their people have absolutely no chance of encountering the champion of the magic combat tournament!" ...

Locke returned to his dormitory and entered his makeshift laboratory. Just as he was about to continue his research on his porcelain moon, he suddenly heard someone knocking on the door.

Locke opened the door and was stunned, for the person who entered was none other than the witch Catherine.

Locke quickly made way for the door and immediately offered a seat to Catherine the Witch.

"Teacher, what brings you to my dormitory?"

Catherine the Witch glanced at Locke's dormitory with a hint of curiosity. "Nice taste in decor."

“I came here to fulfill my duty as a mentor, because at this very moment, the Senate has also sent a wizard to tutor Antoine.”

Locke was not surprised by this result.

This competition is not just a game, but a power struggle within the three major forces of Golden Crown Mountain, and not just a simple battle between wizards at the first level for resources.

The forces they each represent are all trying to ensure that the championship belongs to their side to the greatest extent possible on this final night.

The witch Catherine said to Locke, "I don't have any instructions for you. For now, the last thing you might improve tonight is your Peach Bow Thorn Arrow."

"Your Peach Arch Thorn Arrow magic has a very solid foundation now. You can move on to the next step. While the previous part was known to wizards outside Golden Crown Mountain, this part is different."

The witch Catherine said, "You need to completely fuse the magical energy of the Peach Arch and the Thorn Arrow parts!"

……

In the Senate, Wizard Fisher approached Antoine and said, "Grandson, your first battle tomorrow will be against Locke Augustine. On paper, you still hold an absolute advantage. However... he did defeat the White Dragon Princess, possesses immortal dragon scales, and has a deep and close relationship with the witch Catherine."

"Therefore, in order to prevent any accidents, the Senate will give you special pre-competition training."

Antoine did not refuse, but said, "Grandpa, I was originally going to ask you to give me pre-match training as well."

"Although I am strong enough to guarantee an absolute victory against those wizards, your teachings are correct. Even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit."

"There is also the saying that one should be humble, which means to face others with the worst attitude and to face oneself with the best attitude."

Antoine sneered. "That is the greatest humility. Pride is my protective shield, arrogance is the illusion I cast on others."

"After all, for families like ours, reputation... isn't very useful."

Wizard Fischer nodded in satisfaction. "Grandson, this is what I admire about you."

"Even if you are humble and respect others, as long as you are a genius in my Senate, you will still be viewed with hostility by those wizards. The truly powerful beast is not its claws, but its seemingly harmless appearance."

"Your arrogance will make people look down on you, and even if it's just a little bit, it will cause them to suffer a great loss at the most crucial moment. After suffering the loss, they won't even realize it before they think they're just unlucky."

“Showing excellence is something only people who need resources do,” Wizard Fisher laughed. “For you, anything you can get with your abilities, you absolutely can get.”

"Then there's no need to try to gain a good reputation."

"Alright, let's get back to the main topic." Wizard Fisher said with his hands behind his back, "So far, you've basically defeated all the contestants. Those you haven't defeated are just minor characters. Locke Augustine is your final opponent, and the others don't have much of a chance to turn the tables."

"Locke Augustine is skilled in botanical magic and adept at using sea gold sand and peach bow thorn arrows."

Wizard Fisher said, "I will now teach you a method that can effectively block the magic of his two magical plants."

Antoine asked doubtfully, "Grandpa, even if you could devise a method specifically for him, could I learn it in one night?"

Wizard Fisher said, "I merely saw this possibility in your spell pool and selected it to combine in order to suppress Locke Augustine. Your greatest advantage lies in your ability to use multiple sets of magical artifacts simultaneously."

"There are more tactical options."

"When you fight him, abandon the choice of the Ten Commandments."

"Because his flight speed far exceeds yours, it's pointless for you to fight him with conventional magic... that's not the best option. You should use the Wind and Thunder Wheels, and replace the Five Fire Magic Mirror with the Multifaceted Magic Mirror..."

“His fighting style is steady and methodical, but it also relies on rhythm. I want you to disrupt his rhythm and make him lose control.”

As a third-ring wizard, Fisher immediately saw through Locke's spellcasting style and found its weakness. "Therefore, you need a Voidwalking Necklace."

"The basic magic weapon set is..."

During Fisher's battle plan, a complete plan targeting Locke's previous fighting style was finalized.

Antoine asked again, "Grandpa, what if he has a new trump card during the battle?"

Wizard Fisher remained calm and composed. "Just adapt to the situation. However, his fighting style won't change. My method will still be sufficient to deal with him."

"You are both a power master and a combat-oriented alchemist—a matter manipulator. Your advantage is enormous."

"Tomorrow, the four contestants for the Silent Grail Plane Conquest Tournament will be selected. They are the top first-ring wizards from the four academies of the seven top forces in my Yunze Wetlands. Those are your opponents. Grandson, you are the future pride of our Senate. You deserve everything."

Wizard Fisher said, "You are a secret weapon cultivated by our Senate. Any individual wizard who can defeat you would be disrespectful to our Senate."

"You also possess the magical legacy of your teacher, Lord Jamie Wood, the master of object manipulation. No one knows this yet."

"Let the outside world only see you, use all sorts of magical artifacts, and think that you got to where you are today because of these external things. Believe me, other people's contempt for you will not do you any harm."

"A wizard should never let outsiders judge their worth; our worth is determined by ourselves. That is what makes a true strongman!"

Wizard Fisher said, “Whatever happens tomorrow, you don’t need to worry about it. All you have to do is win the championship. Represent the new generation of our Senate, and the moment you win the championship, our Senate’s proposals for attracting investment within the Wizarding Council will also be approved.”

"A commercial street with infrastructure alone costing over a billion magic stones will be built, and its enormous scale will influence the history of the Jinmian Mountain region for at least the next three hundred years."

Antoine nodded and said, "Developing bloodline studies and breeding studies would easily lead to clashes with other top powers and medium-to-large-scale wizarding academies in Yunze Wetlands. But not many wizarding academies in Yunze Wetlands have entered the path of power masters."

"Grandpa, I know."

"This is the better path for Golden Crown Mountain. It's just that those bloodline wizards and breeders refuse to admit it, or are unaware of it. I won't let Golden Crown Mountain encounter a situation like that of Kungudin Academy in the Wizarding Land of Nine Plains."

As the dominant wizarding academy within the Jinmian Mountain region, one of the ten major regions of Yunze Wetland, Jinmian Mountain's development direction extends far beyond simply influencing its own academy.

Because so many magical facilities need to be built in place, such an investment, if successful, will change the development direction of wizards in the entire Golden Crown Mountain region for the next three hundred years.

Even, this could be intentional.

The two generations of wizards from the Fisher family in the Senate exchanged a smile, seeing an evil grin in each other's eyes.

That was a plan specifically designed for the Demon Pivot.

Once Mount Golden Crown increases its investment in the power science industry, the related breeding science support will be reduced, which will put enormous pressure on Mount Golden Crown's traditional enemy, the Demon Pivot City, forcing the Demon Pivot City to make corresponding changes.

This is a radical and decisive approach.

(End of this chapter)