Wizards: Starting with Synthetic Gems

Chapter 813 I came to help you~
Locke asked Wizard Bill about the documents related to the Rose Council's past zombie projects and failed projects. Wizard Bill paused for a moment, then looked at Locke, puzzled, and asked, "What do you want to see these for?"

"They are all just the works of losers. Anything derived from the works of losers is also part of the failure."

"Okay, wait a minute, I'll find some high-quality ones for you."

The wizard Bill quickly handed a stack of documents to Locke.

After thanking him, Locke turned and headed towards the reading area, while Bill called out behind him, "You can eat at the Witch's Kitchen on Rose Street behind the Rose Council; the food is especially good."

“Lana the Witch is a major shareholder over there, so the prices will be different when you eat there.”

……

Two weeks later, while searching through the Rose Council's zombie projects, Locke found a magical plant development project that caught his eye.

"A battle-level, first-ring magical plant?"

Locke chuckled and said, "Only a wizarding university of the size of the Rose Council could pass this kind of internal funding project application."

The combination of "one-ring magical plant" and "battle-level weapon" sounds rather ridiculous.

After all, a wizarding organization that needs to use a first-level magical plant as a battle-grade weapon certainly doesn't have enough funds to purchase and maintain it, and it's even questionable whether they can gather enough wizards to use and research it.

And a wizarding organization capable of operating it certainly wouldn't need a campaign-level weapon with a first-level magical plant.

This project was developed by a crystallization-stage breeder from the Rose Council. Of course, the funding he applied for for this project was not a first-level fund, but a special internal fund worth 10 magic stones.

It seems to be a "Most Beautiful Project Fund" established by the Rose Council, which can be distributed to ten people every year.

Unlike other wizarding academies, the Rose Council has many funds and grants not established for performance or research, but to maintain high aesthetic standards.

In other words, the Rose Council has many internal funds, and anyone who meets the pursuit of 'aesthetic' quality can apply.

Locke, after reviewing numerous documents, discovered that many fringe members or lone wolves within the Rose Council would attempt to apply for this type of internal funding.

It seems there will be less competition.

Of course, these were all scraps that the various academic institutions and teams within the Rose Council didn't even consider worth their attention.

Locke noticed that this first-ring crystallization wizard applied for the project, but soon stopped development because he ran out of money, and the development work was less than 10% complete.

Locke noticed the project because it was truly eye-opening and might actually be useful to him.

"The Flower of Dreams?"

This is a magical plant based on the Jaeger Rose, which aims to create a single plant that can allow many wizards to enter the same dream at the same time.

This magical plant flower, which allows multiple people to enter a dream simultaneously, can make the consciousness of many people appear in one dream, and that dream is set as an absolutely beautiful paradise. According to the description in the project application, it is probably a beautiful scene that cannot be found in the wizarding world.

Of course, Locke didn't believe a word of it.

After all, if I didn't write it this way, I definitely wouldn't get the university's funding for the most beautiful project.

Locke glanced at it, his eyes brightening slightly.

"I have basically mastered the core principles of the ritual magic left by the Ghost Lich in the Ghost Cult in the southeast corner of the region."

Understanding the principles and being able to apply them are two different things.

Just like knowing the principle of something, being able to solve a problem, and being able to apply it in practice are three different concepts.

Locke lacked a foundation in Phantomology, making it difficult for him to cast such high-level Phantom spells. Moreover, without the Styx Iron Pillar, the spells of the Phantom Church were no different from mathematical model toys.

But Locke gleaned a great deal of information about the River Styx through that spell model.

At that moment, upon seeing the Dream Flower, he instantly realized that he could use it and the properties of the River Styx to connect the two in the dimension of consciousness.

In this way, it is possible to make contact without physical contact by utilizing the special properties of the River Styx—that is, in the River Styx plane, the soul is always enveloped by consciousness—and by using the Dream Flower.

Locke pondered, "By using the Flower of Dreams to govern the stream of consciousness of the River Styx, what happens in dreams will happen in reality."

"This is indeed feasible. At least it is feasible in the Styx plane."

"In this way, the real-world significance of this dream flower is enhanced."

Locke looked at the document.

"This wizard is probably unable to complete this project because he is still a first-ring wizard with only low-ring thinking. It's too difficult to create the Dream Flower using a first-ring magical plant. Even if he manages to make it in the end, it probably won't reach the level described in the application."

"At most, it can only temporarily connect the dreams of a few wizards; there are limited things it can do."

"No wonder we couldn't attract any more horizontal investment funds that were optimistic about the project."

Locke began to ponder.

But I am different. I stand in a higher position and have a more far-reaching vision. I know about the existence of the Imaginary Sea and the Imaginary Root. By strengthening the Jaeger Rose with the Imaginary Root, I can easily overcome the problem that this wizard found difficult to overcome: Jaeger's instantaneous magical energy is insufficient to support such a large dream.

Moreover, since I am familiar with the River Styx, this dream flower will be easier to realize within the River Styx.

"Let's create a dream flower and see if it can achieve the effect I envision."

Locke flipped through the names in the documents.

"Carter Dunn".

Locke put away the documents, went up the stairs to Wizard Bill in the library, returned the documents to him, and asked Wizard Bill, "Wizard Bill, who is Carter Dunn, and do you know where I can find him?"

Wizard Bill thought for a moment.

"Oh, him? I remember him. Since those documents were records of failed projects, which weren't very valuable, the projects I gave you were all recent."

"If these things are all from fifty years ago, then they really have no meaning."

Locke said in a low voice, "Thank you, Mr. Bill."

“You are truly a learned generalist wizard.” Wizard Bill chuckled. He felt quite pleased to be praised like this by a researcher from Golden Crown Mountain as a generalist wizard of the Rose Council.

Wizard Bill said, “Carter Dunn is a crystallization wizard. I remember he was in a group of a star-ring wizard, but he probably wasn’t highly regarded. After all, there are crystallization wizards everywhere in our Rose Council, and there are people lining up outside waiting to enter our Rose Council.”

“I remember him. He was a bit dull and didn’t know how to behave. He wasn’t very sociable and was a marginal figure in that research group. Not many people paid attention to him or remembered him.”

"If you want to find him, go to the office of the Star Ring Wizard, Olivia Bell. I think it's in the White Rose Garden."

Locke turned and left so fast that even the wizard Bill was stunned and didn't have time to stop him.

"Wait... do you have the authority to move around freely within the Rose Council?"

Wizard Bill thought about it for a moment and felt that it wasn't a big problem. After all, the Rose Council was open to the public, and even if other wizards entered, as long as they didn't go into key laboratories or other important locations, it shouldn't be a problem.

The Rose Council itself is a huge garden, rated as a 5A-level scenic spot, so many wizards from outside the area come to the Rose Council to admire the flowers.

At this moment, Locke went to the location indicated by the wizard Bill.

He quickly entered a garden of white roses. Locke glanced at the garden. Because this was the territory of the breeders, most of the wizards of the Rose Council did not know about his entanglement with the magic weaver, but they did not know him very well.

Locke wandered through the garden and, after some time, finally found Olivia Bell's office, which was an open-air garden gazebo with even garden basket chairs.

It seems more suitable as a campsite than an office.

Locke paused for a moment, noticing that a meeting was in progress, so he didn't go over.

Olivia Bell, as a Star Ring Wizard, was having her First Ring Wizards discuss a group of rose-type magical plants they were currently developing. At that moment, these First Ring Wizards were engaged in a heated discussion, their faces beaming as they shared the related technical challenges.

As for Carter Dunn, whom Locke was looking for, his situation was indeed not good. He had gradually become a marginal figure in the team, and no one paid attention to him when he spoke.

Only occasionally will a colleague give a perfunctory reply.

Carter Dunn appeared to be a bespectacled young man dressed simply, while his other colleagues wore a variety of elaborate wizard robes.

Of course, Carter Dunn's wizard robes were relatively simple, though they still had some simple rose patterns on them.

Carter Dunn mustered his courage, looked at the witch Olivia, and asked, "Lord Bell, I think we can use a set of magical frequencies and the magical resonance cultivation method to induce a variegated mutation in the Ngodo rose, which would make this rose look even more beautiful."

“I’m willing to give it a try, as long as you grant me certain resources and the right to use the equipment.”

To Carter Dunn's embarrassment, the Witch Olivia completely ignored him, as if she hadn't heard him at all, and spoke up to stop the chaotic discussion below.

Olivia the witch said, "In order to cooperate with the work of the flower language master, I hope that everyone can develop the Ngodo rose that can produce special fluorescence at night as soon as possible."

"That's it for today."

Olivia the witch turned and left.

At the same time, she glanced curiously in the direction Locke was, but didn't think much of it, since the White Rose Garden was also a tourist area.

What makes the Rose Council unique is that most of the academy is open to visitors from outside the wizarding world; or rather, how else could outside wizards appreciate the art if it weren't open to visitors?

She left quickly.

After the crowd had thinned out, Wizard Carter Dunn sat down and sighed. Two first-class wizard apprentices, who were cleaning up the remaining trash on the table, kept their heads down and did not dare to disturb their crystallization wizard mentor or ask any questions.

Carter Dunn rubbed his temples.

"If this continues, I'll definitely have to leave."

“I’ve been completely marginalized. Lady Olivia doesn’t even say a word to me. How could this be? Just five years ago, when I first joined the Rose Council as a contracted lecturer mage, I was eager to make my mark.”

"I've tried everything. Maybe I'm just not suited to stay in the Rose Council."

Carter said in a low voice, "If I get fired, I'll look really bad. If all else fails, I'll just leave early. I can just make up some excuse, like taking sick leave or something, which will make it easier for me to find a job."

"That way, if someone asks me, I can still be a little stubborn."

Carter was dejected.

"Should I try again? But Ms. Olivia might be telling the truth, my talent is really just average, and my ideas aren't good either. I'm not suitable to stay in the Rose Council, or even to continue doing research."

"This might be my limit."

A figure appeared in front of him, and Locke's voice came to his ears.

"How could that be? I think you're still very good, Carter Dunn."

"I need you."

Carter Dunn was stunned. He was so careless that he didn’t even notice a wizard standing in front of him.
The next moment, Carter Dunn quickly stood up and bowed to Locke, saying, "Greetings, unfamiliar second-ring wizard."

"I was unaware of your approach and did not bow to you in time. Please accept my apology."

Carter Dunn noticed the Golden Crown Mountain badge Locke was wearing.

Locke said, "Carter Dunn, I ask you, do you do research to explore the truth, for your own interest, or for fame and fortune, to gain the praise of the world?"

Carter Dunn paused for a moment, then said to Locke, “My lord. Of course I strive for the former. From the first day I entered the wizarding world, I have been working to explore more truths. My heart leaps with joy every time I gain knowledge that I did not know before.”

Locke nodded and said, "So, for you, success is not a necessity, but simply something you do."

Carter Dunn paused for a moment, then realized what he meant and immediately bowed to Locke, saying, "Thank you for your guidance, sir."

“You’re right. As long as I can explore the truth, no matter where I am or whether I succeed or not, my heart will be at peace. I don’t really need to care too much about the success in front of me. I’m already satisfied as long as I do my own thing well.”

Carter Dunn thanked Locke sincerely, and the dejection on his face disappeared.

"Sir, may I ask if you're here for tourism? You've come to see me because..."

Under the sunlight, Locke smiled and said, "It's to support you."

(End of this chapter)