Wizards: Starting with Synthetic Gems

Chapter 675 Life-Friendly Brands and the Green Magic Project

A day later, Locke stepped out of the large metal telescope, a steel building the size of a house on the fifteenth floor of the research institute base. It required a huge amount of energy to be pumped back to it every moment, otherwise it would not be able to support the operation of the telescope.

Essentially, this is a large-scale second-ring magic artifact.

With enough magical energy, even a Sun Ring Wizard would not be able to withstand the radiation from this device with their bare body.

Locke used this device, spending 1 magic stones as a usage fee, to conduct a preliminary analysis of the internal structural characteristics and specific mechanisms of action of the ancient flower root.

This part was done by Mason and two other witches, which saved me a lot of time.

When Locke emerged from within, Scarlett the Witch contacted him through the Water Hyacinth System, indicating that [Solas Barefoot 30K] and [Melochi Magic Step], along with all wizard shoe brands, had launched a joint operation to destroy their Augustus Wizard Shoes.

Locke looked confused. "A joint strangulation?"

"Are they going to attack me?"

Scarlett the Witch called via video. "That's definitely impossible. Even a financial giant like Arthas wouldn't dare to directly defy the laws of the White Wizarding Association. After all, directly defying the laws of the White Wizarding Association would be like being a Black Wizard, going against the collective will of all wizarding academies—the orders of the Supreme Council of Truth."

“Suppressing dark wizards never requires any discussion of the law. It’s a business operation, so nobody can say much about it.”

"Now these two companies have launched a program—the Wizard Shoes Trade-in Program. Every pair of our Augustus Wizard Shoes can be directly traded for a better version of the Solas Barefoot (30k) and every product line under the Melochy Magic Step brand."

"In other words, by purchasing old shoes from the Augustus brand series, you can exchange them for a better pair of Wizard Shoes from the Magic Weaver. The original Augustus Wizard Shoes must be destroyed."

Locke's eyes lit up with a strange look; he immediately realized what those two top-tier wizard shoe shops were up to.

Although on the surface it may seem that the other party is very likely to bring in some new speculative customers.

But these speculative new customers are almost never genuine customers of any shop alliance or wizard brand.

On the contrary, since this is a newly established wizard shoe brand, increasing the number of seed users is the key to the survival of this brand.

Winning the Wizard Shoes bid, a crucial and symbolic step in the War of the Underworld, will undoubtedly boost the brand's reputation and lead to an increase in monthly orders.

The entire brand will enter a virtuous cycle and a phase of rapid growth. Solas Barefoot and Melochy Magic Steps are leveraging their status as leading capital giants to break this virtuous cycle of reputation and sales ahead of time, using the "trade-in" tactic to interrupt their process of accumulating seed users.

By reducing the Augustus Wizard Shoes brand to a transitional product under their several major wizard shoe brands, they are introducing a large number of speculative customers to their wizard shoe brand, who could potentially make their brand infamous.

Especially those scalper customers.

The real goal of those wizard shoe giants was not to directly eliminate the Augustus Wizard Shoes brand, because after their own brand won the War of the Underworld bid, this goal could not be achieved in the short term.

Therefore, their goal is to prevent their Augustus Wizarding brand from growing in a healthy way, to instill fear of being suppressed by a giant, and to intimidate potential wizarding investors who might want to cooperate with them.

At the same time, if I'm not mistaken, this is a series of moves. I'm afraid that next, the two major wizard shoe brands will join forces to acquire my fledgling wizard shoe brand.

Locke asked directly, "Scarlett, how much did they offer?"

During the video call, Scarlett the Witch paused for a moment, then said, "Locke, you're quick on the uptake. I hadn't even said anything, and you'd already guessed. Someone from Soras's Lightfoot side has indeed come to our side."

"They even wanted Arthas to stop being the manufacturer for the Augustus Wizard Shoes brand, but nobody on our side paid any attention to him."

"Arthas's scale far surpasses theirs. The most powerful wizarding forces in Cloudswamp Wetlands are the seven top academies, followed by medium-to-large-scale wizarding organizations, such as the Nexus City and Kungudin Building Materials Academy that you encountered before..."

"And there's also Xiaoxishan near Quinjol University..."

"Or perhaps the Wutao Dynasty on the Rose Council's side..."

"The alliance of the ten shops in Yunze Wetland is a rare and special non-wizard academy organization that can rival the foundation and power of a powerful wizard academy in a wizarding land."

“Arthas is a transcendent behemoth, and therefore cannot be bought by the alliance of two wizard shoe shops. As for their offer, Solas Barefoot offered 1000 million.”

"They said that if you wanted, they could pay immediately without delay."

Locke's expression was strange. "1000 magic crystal cards? That's stingy enough. I earned 1000 magic crystal cards from this Demon Realm War alone. But this is the only price they're willing to offer now."

Locke sighed. "Looks like they still look down on us."

Scarlett the Witch, as a trader in Arthas, seemed pleased to see a direct confrontation with the two major wizarding shoe giants of Cloudswamp, her eyes crinkling with amusement. "Who can argue with that?"

"These wizard shoe giants are always high and mighty, believing that they can remain invincible forever by virtue of their scale and number of people."

Scarlett the Witch said, "Moreover, I checked the stock market and found that the stock prices of both companies have not fluctuated at all."

"It seems that the public still has a lot of confidence in these two wizard shoe brands."

"So, Locke, do you intend to accept?"

Locke promptly refused. "No, what are you talking about? Scarlett the Witch, you know how hard it was for me to find this business opportunity. If I give it up, it will take a lot of effort to find another one. Besides, I don't have the time."

"No matter what I do, I need money right now. And a lot of money. If those two shops were to form an alliance and give me the money directly, I might be willing to stop."

Scarlett the Witch looked into Locke's eyes and saw that they were bloodshot, as if he hadn't slept for a long time.

She exclaimed, "The soul decay period? Congratulations... but this is too fast!"

Even Scarlett the Witch couldn't help but feel a pang of envy and jealousy at that moment, but she quickly recovered.

Locke is a researcher at Golden Crown Mountain, while she is merely a native wizard of Cloudweed Wetlands, a top trader in Arthas.

Although the status of a top trader is enough to make many wizards in Yunze Wetlands envious, there is a fundamental difference between them and wizards like Locke who entered Golden Crown Mountain through the Yunze Cup.

With this in mind, Scarlett the Witch accepted the fact that Locke had entered the soul decay phase faster than she had.

A person's identity is not only an identity in the eyes of others, but also a form of self-awareness for oneself.

Therefore, Scarlett the Witch could not accept an ordinary wild wizard who was progressing faster than her, but she could accept a researcher from the High Institute of Truth at Mount Golden Crown, who was progressing much faster than her.

This is also why Locke initially pursued entry into the Starfield Sea.

Locke said to Scarlett the Witch, "Help me ask if the leaders of the two shop alliances are willing to provide me with an entry slot into a medium-sized world. I want a world that has never been set foot in by any wizards."

"Then I'm willing to give up developing the wizard shoes altogether."

Scarlett the Witch glanced at Locke, her expression complicated. "I'll give it a try."

A short while later, Scarlett the Witch said to Locke in the video conversation, "The minister of the Crisis Pre-Management Department that Solas's Blindfoot contacted me about directly refused."

"The person in charge of contacting me at Melochy Magic Step asked me... and you, if we've gone mad, and if we want to see a wizard from the Mind School."

“He can pay.”

Scarlett the Witch's eyes flashed with annoyance. "These people are so arrogant."

Locke said, "It seems the talks have fallen through. Actually, there was a deal, but they just didn't think I was worth that price."

"Then Scarlett the Witch, please keep it running for me. I'll launch a fifth wizard shoe brand when I have time."

"Let's press our advantage. It's just that I haven't had much inspiration lately, and I've been quite busy."

Locke pondered, “I have clearly rejected the acquisition, but I think the two companies are still not giving up. Their trade-in strategy can indeed disrupt our healthy development from the very beginning. The most dangerous thing is that it will suppress our brand to the point that it can only be traded in on their Wizard Shoes second-hand market.”

"Once this perception becomes fixed, it will cause trouble. It will conflict with our Dark Horse brand in the Demon Wars. Scarlett the Witch, haven't you contacted the experts from the Hand of the Jungle yet?"

Scarlett the Witch shook her head and said, "I'm working on it. By the way, I did manage to get special treatment for you from Arthas. According to the unspoken rules of Cloudswamp Wetlands, a first-ring wizard can only sell their products within one wizarding region."

"Only second-circle wizards can sell their wares in multiple wizarding regions within the Cloud Marsh Wetlands. Arthas has given you special treatment, granting you a status equivalent to a second-circle breeder. Therefore, you can choose a second region out of the ten regions of Golden Crown Mountain for simultaneous sales."

"I predict that your monthly income from wizard shoes will increase many times over. Your income will increase significantly."

Locke nodded and said, "That's great. I choose the Boniface region."

The reason I chose this region is because I have a few friends there: Diana the Witch and Hussein the Contract Master.

All ten regions are pretty much the same to me, because the Pure Magic Plant Wizard Shoes market is a blue ocean market, and the Cloud Marsh Wetlands have many breeders and botanical wizards.

Therefore, I simply chose a region that I knew a little about and had some acquaintances in.

Scarlett the Witch nodded, considered it briefly, and confirmed that there were no problems. "Okay."

Locke said, "I'll take the initiative to contact the people from the Hand of the Jungle."

Scarlett the Witch asked in surprise, "You know the Hand of the Jungle?"

She looked quite surprised. "Those people are very difficult to get along with."

Locke said, "They're alright. As long as you know how to get along with them, they're actually quite lovely." Locke thought of the Salvadoran expert and the witch Grace from the Southern Boundary, Green Steel City.

The latter cannot be contacted, but the former can be contacted by the Gray Mist Slab.

Scarlett the Witch raised an eyebrow, giving him a puzzled look. "Cute? Um... well, that's probably a metaphor."

The two talked for a while longer, finalized the future development plan for the Augustus Wizard Shoes, and then ended the video call.

Locke randomly found an empty room in the research base of Group 2, went inside, chanted a spell to summon a gray mist stone tablet, and then found the contact information of the Salvadoran expert on the gray mist stone tablet.

He sent the video call request directly. Because it had been cracked, he could use this function without having to purchase a gold membership that cost 10,000 magic stones per month.

The call request was answered quickly.

The old man from El Salvador was not carrying a lotus leaf on his head, but a large winter melon. The entire melon was as white as jade and about the same size as the old man's head. The green vines of the white jade melon were wrapped around his chin like a crown.

The Salvadoran expert said with surprise, "Good afternoon, Wizard Locke. We haven't been in touch for a long time. I didn't expect you to contact me so suddenly."

"Hmm? Aren't you in the Land of Six Towers? The magical tides there seem a bit off."

Locke saw a tropical rainforest behind the Salvadoran expert, and with the backdrop seemingly night, he guessed that it was the land of eternal night—Sunshadow Peninsula.

"El Salvadoran expert, are you in Sun Shadow Peninsula? I'm no longer in the Land of Six Towers, I'm in Yunze Wetland."

Salvador looked surprised. "Cloud Marsh Wetlands? What are you doing going to such a high-level wizarding territory?"

"Yes, I'm on the Sun Shadow Peninsula. The Sun Shadow Peninsula has the Shinchiin Temple of the Jungle Hand, and I'm currently working for the Shinchiin Temple here. Are you going to the Cloud Marsh Wetlands for tourism? Or for business?"

"You can tell from the tropical rainforest behind me that most of the area around Sun Shadow Peninsula is woodland like this. The magical plants here are also special because there is very little sunlight. As a result, all the magical plants here have been forced to evolve special magical plant organs to use geothermal energy as an energy source."

"Because the magical plants of the Sunshadow Peninsula here use geothermal energy extensively, their chloroplast organs have degenerated, and they now generally possess [vortex] organs, which are used to convert geothermal energy into life energy. The magical creatures have also changed accordingly."

"Changes in the magical plants will lead to collective changes among the more advanced consumers within the ecosystem. Therefore, plants are so important in ecology."

The Salvadorian wizard said, "By the way, I've been thinking about my previous promise lately. Just wait a little longer, and maybe I'll have a chance to get you into the True Knowledge Institute of the Hand of the Jungle on the Sunshadow Peninsula!"

Locke's expression was strange. "Wait, Master Salvador, thank you for your kindness. But I probably don't need it."

"I am currently at the Advanced True Knowledge Institute on Jinmian Mountain in Yunze Wetland."

"To be a researcher."

The Salvadoran wizard looked puzzled; his pupils suddenly contracted, as if he found it unbelievable. "You? Golden Crown Mountain? Cloud Marsh Wetlands?"

“The Land of Three Swamps is a region that even the Hand of the Jungle finds difficult to enter.”

Within the Eastern Boundary, the Jungle Hands' stronghold appears to be the Sun Shadow Peninsula, where they wield considerable power.

Locke nodded and said, "Yes, I've come to you this time because I need an expert's help with something."

He briefly explained his pure magical plant wizard shoes concept to the Salvadoran expert, and then stated that the wizard shoe store alliance giants in Yunze Wetland were working together to suppress him.

Sure enough, after hearing this, old man Salvador was immediately enraged. "What! These despicable magical creature executioners, those who force people to work in the mountains, how dare they do this!"

"These people should apologize to wizards all over the world!"

"How terrible these people are! The world has gone bad, and people's hearts have rotted away."

The gourd worn on the head by the Salvadoran sorcerer sensed its owner's emotions and gradually changed from white jade to a deep red.

Locke never expected that his headdress could actually reflect the changes in its owner's emotions.

The Salvadoran wizard declared righteously, "What a perfect concept for pure magical plant wizard shoes! It perfectly aligns with our Hand of the Jungle's advocacy of energy conservation, environmental protection, and long-term development."

“You wait, Locke. Don’t worry, I won’t let those horrible life executioners bully you. I’ll contact my friends in the Hand of the Jungle and help you get your wizard shoes brand redefined as a life-friendly brand.”

Locke's pupils constricted.

This is what he wants.

Even if the Hand of the Jungle's influence in the Cloud Marsh Wetlands is small, it is still quite significant for an individual wizard.

In order to meet the annual green environmental protection targets, the various wizarding academies in Yunze Wetland need to directly purchase some green and environmentally friendly products. They don't really think about doing anything environmentally friendly in order to offset the targets.

After all, the Land of Three Swamps is currently a place where the Hand of the Jungle cannot intervene.

However, as long as their wizard shoe brand is recognized as a green and environmentally friendly brand, they will receive a large number of orders even if they are just trying to meet environmental standards, and they can maintain their brand reputation even under the impact of the other party's "exchange" strategy.

The Salvadoran expert said, "That's not all. I'm also going to contact my friends and get the Jungle Hand to include those Solas Barefoot and Melochy Magic Steps in this year's list of the worst shops, and make their infamy appear in the Jungle Hand newspaper!"

Locke looked completely bewildered. "What's that?"

The Salvadoran expert said, "In the last ten years, our Jungle Hand has established a ranking list that enumerates the least environmentally friendly shops. As you know, we receive a lot of investment every year, more than we can use, so we started a newspaper. For environmental protection, we distribute these newspapers free of charge to the wizards."

"The newspaper will have some very useful sections, as well as sections that promote our Hand of the Jungle philosophy, including a section for the least progressive shops. You wait, I'll contact someone right away and get them on that section."

The Salvadoran expert gesticulated wildly. "Why are these demons born in the wizarding world instead of in hell and the abyss? They are truly wicked."

"I want all the wizards in the Eastern Frontier to see their infamy."

Locke blinked. The Salvador Wizard was just an ordinary first-ring wizard, but because he was a famous expert in jungle ecological restoration, he had special powers within the Hand of the Jungle.

However, if you're doing something legitimate or simply pursuing a teaching position, these rights are practically useless.

But it is precisely in business competition, or similar matters, that this right will prove its worth.

To his own surprise, the Salvadoran wizard had the ability to get the two shops allied in the newspapers of the entire Eastern Boundary and to denounce them in the newspapers.

The Salvadoran wizard said, "I will also contact friends to conduct an environmental investigation into the alliance of these two shops."

"There's definitely something wrong with them!"

"Furthermore, Locke, your idea of ​​pure magical plant wizard shoes aligns very well with the Jungle Hand's long-standing green magic plan. This green magic plan wasn't something the Jungle Hand came up with on its own; it was a joint initiative with the White Wizard Association headquarters."

For some reason, after the White Wizard Headquarters was mentioned, old man Salvador's expression became much more serious, and he wasn't as obsessed anymore. "In other words, this is a plan jointly launched by the Hand of the Jungle and 'Heaven'."

"For many years, the Hand of the Jungle has been trying to strengthen its Green Magic Project in the Three Swamps. But it has only ever been able to scratch the surface."

The Salvadoran wizard pondered, "But your business plan makes me think that the Hand of the Jungle might be able to take advantage of the situation and partially realize this plan in the Cloud Marsh Wetlands."

"The so-called Green Magic Plan has a set of strict indicators, mainly aimed at reducing environmental pollution, reducing the consumption of non-renewable resources, achieving a series of future goals including reducing emissions of heavy element particles and wastewater, and producing products with minimal environmental impact."

"On this point, we in the Jungle Hand feel that this goal is too mild. So much so that it has been met with insincere compliance from various places for many years, and even allowed many so-called 'objective' contaminations to exist within this plan."

The Salvadoran wizard said, "In short, I can find someone to define your brand as a life-friendly brand, invest in your brand through the Green Magic Project, and apply for brand protection and anti-competition protection from the local White Wizard Association."

"Then, we can fine the two stores that formed the trade-in program and force them to give you a portion of their market share."

"Anyway, I still need to discuss this with someone. Locke, you wait, the local experts from the Jungle Hand should contact you in a few days."

Locke knew that things wouldn't be as easy as El Salvador made them out to be. After all, those capitalists wouldn't just give up a specific market for a so-called green magic plan.

But as long as the Hand of the Jungle is attracted, he can use it to his advantage, letting the Hand of the Jungle shield him from the pressure exerted by the combined forces of various capital groups. Meanwhile, he can use this time to become a second-circle wizard, strengthen his position and brand, and force the alliance of wizard shoe stores to accept reality.

Time is on your side.

As long as you can survive the first wave of coordinated attacks and withstand the immense pressure, the cost of each subsequent targeting will only increase.

Capital is profit-driven. As time goes on, those wizards who bet on the traditional wizard shoe industry will end up betting on their own side.

Perhaps their own Augustus Wizard Shoes could actually turn the tide and make them a new wizard shoe brand giant in Yunze Wetland!
Of course, this also requires him to become a second-circle wizard as soon as possible; otherwise, if a large number of investors who are currently observing join forces to crush him, it will be troublesome.

At the same time, to truly capture the Wizard Shoes market, it's not enough to win in the first stage; you also need to win in the second and even third stages.

The two top wizard shoe brands are currently locked in a stalemate with him at the first level and hold an absolute advantage. The second level is obviously out of the question, and the high-end level of the third level is naturally beyond his reach at present.

Therefore, Locke predicted that the alliance between the two shops was unlikely to be a desperate attempt to deal with a life-or-death crisis, but rather an attitude of suppressing the younger generation and preventing accidents.

As long as I can increase the cost for them to suppress me, the two sides can reach a balance of power. For a long time, before I try to break through their barrier at the second-ring wizard shoes, we should be able to keep to ourselves.

Bringing in the jungle only increases the cost for them to suppress you.

It seems that this strategy is currently correct, and I may even be able to ride the wave of the Green Magic Project.

(End of this chapter)