Wizard: Starting with Symbiosis with Algae

The visitor was Joe's junior from school, named Klein.

He was Joe's underling in the small wizarding fraternity, a young man who had undergone a Kramer Hound nasal transplant. (A Kramer Hound is equivalent to a second-level wizarding apprentice.)

His sense of smell was far more acute than that of ordinary people; he could distinguish more than a dozen different non-volatile solvents with his eyes closed in front of a whole row of reagent racks. As usual, he sensed both opportunity and danger.

"Yes, Klein. What do you think? Do you want to come with us? There are three of us now, and you'll get some compensation if you join us."

Klein waved his finger, then withdrew it, put his hands on his hips, and looked at Joe with some confusion: "Joe, from what I understand, that planet is quite dangerous. Are you really going?"

Klein was dressed in a presentable black suit, and Joe suspected that the guy's brain had been affected by the transplanted organ.

There is definitely a risk, but the main risk is the weather. As long as you are well prepared, there will be no problem.

The creature called Flying Rod was so powerful that even Lynn, a "first-level wizard apprentice" with only 0.1 magic power, couldn't kill it. He didn't think there was any possibility of a plane crash after making thorough preparations.

Ruby was his junior, and she had promised him 150 magic stones. How could he just stand by and watch her die?

"That's what Joe said."

"Yes."

Based on the purchasing power of the wizarding world, 150 magic stones would be enough for him to buy a truckload of low-level magic diluents, or to pay off the half-year's worth of experimental materials he owed at the Alchemy Institute's Materials Research Institute.

He was still a tenured assistant at the Materials Research Institute, which meant he was an apprentice to a formal wizard's apprentice. An apprentice to an apprentice was not a formal apprentice at the academy, and his benefits were only slightly better than those of a regular second-level wizard apprentice.

Normally this wouldn't be a big problem, but a few years ago, he looked down on biological transplantation and chose the alchemical path of material filling.

Maintaining muscles and producing magical energy requires a large amount of expensive supplements.

He couldn't very well tell his dear junior that he was in deep debt from muscle repair and that's why he had to go.

He also had something to say about meditation.

Meditation is a mental training method centered on feeling, understanding, experiencing, and thinking, and it is the orthodox way for wizards to enhance their magical power.

However, he was of mediocre talent, and when he truly focused on meditation, his efficiency was only enough to maintain a 3% increase in magic power per year.

To rise, you need external factors.

Joe needs a merit, an achievement, and oh, connections from other colleges to secure a position as a full-fledged assistant. Within ten years, he needs to become a third-level wizard apprentice, then peacefully pay off his debts. He'll go wherever the colleges need him.

He patted Klein on the shoulder.

"Klein, I'm fully prepared. Both of my teammates are wizarding apprentices. One is from the spiritual school, and the other is from the geological school. We won't have any weaknesses."

Joe is a cunning man.

He didn't tell anyone else that Ruby was being paid; the 150 magic stones were a matter between him and Ruby, and there was no need to share them with others.

He only spread the news of the discovery of a living otherworld within a small circle of apprentices. Wizards are an enterprising civilization. The academy has a clear reward system for those who explore the unknown. For example, there are points for discovering new species, subsidies for collecting samples, and if a complete geological report is produced, the reward can be equivalent to half a year's salary for Joe.

Strangely enough, within 10 hours of his promise, two wizard apprentice teammates came to him.

But, it's free?

Where can you find someone who can get full just by eating pancakes, even if they have ulterior motives? They actually agreed to Joe's request and supported him as their leader.

In other words, after returning from Dune Planet, in the worst-case scenario of loot distribution, the vote was still 3:2.

Gaining both fame and fortune is incredibly easy, isn't it?

Joe chuckled.

"A small airship that can hold eight people, and a spare small airship. There's no reason for it to fail. When we explore the planet and report the plant rewards, I'll get a share. Everyone who goes with us will get a share of the sample collection points."

"Are you really not going to reconsider?"

Klein's nose twitched slightly.

Joe smelled of excited sweat.

It is stimulating and lasts for a long time.

This is the aura of a gambler.

A major enemy of human survival.

He concluded that Joe had lost his temper, and those who were in a state of madness couldn't be persuaded otherwise.

Joe's initial excitement was dashed, and he continued to share some non-essential information with Klein.

There are at least three species on the planet Dune that can survive in large numbers in low-magic thunderstorm environments.

Fungal mats, worms, and cyanobacteria. There are also flying rods; although Ruby didn't describe them in detail in the communications, judging from her mentions of "predators" and "abnormal creatures," there are quite a few of them.

These creatures are not recorded in the Wizarding World's species catalog, meaning each one is collectible. Collectible value translates to magic stones, points, and merits.

Joe estimated that the value of these species samples might be higher than the 150 magic stones Ruby had promised.

Speaking of which

Joe seemed to have been persuaded by himself once again.

The future is a space for exploration and discovery.

On the planet Dune, a hidden gem lost in the vast depths of space.

It was waiting for him to pick its fruit.

Thinking of this, even Qiao, who was heavily in debt due to his cultivation, couldn't help but smile.

"When I get back, I'll treat you to drinks. That's a lot of money."

"Then I wish you success, senior."

Klein remained motionless.

Joe walked away, shaking his head helplessly.

"Geniuses are always lonely."

...

On the other side, on the planet Dune.

Lynn kicked his legs at the newly emerging hot spring in the old cave, flicked his sleeves, and jumped onto the surface of the hot spring, humming a cheerful tune.

"This feels so good. My energy is surging back."

In two days, he recovered somewhat. His muscles were itchy, and he was just a hair's breadth away from a full recovery.

Lynn leaned against the rock wall, observing the situation inside the cave. The canvas and the seeping soil had not been moved.

Because of the long distance, he and Ruby discussed the potato planting issue again.

The two decided to move the rocks away and plant potatoes inside the cave.

The area is flat and rainless, offering a very open view within the cave. Moreover, because the hot springs don't occur every day, it's the best potato growing area in the vicinity.

Lynn moved the metal basin from under the rocks at the new camp back to the corner of the testing station, and covered the soil in the basin with a new layer of wet sand mixed with leachate.

The soil stabilization plan for large blue-green algae is proceeding smoothly these days.

Prior to this, he had considered using compost and canvas as a base to cultivate potatoes.

Unfortunately, the rate of soil erosion cannot be changed into a sustainable pattern by his deliberate efforts.

A pool that is filled and drained at the same time will never be full.

Reality isn't a math problem; there aren't that many ideal scenarios.

If things were truly that ideal, Lynn and Ruby, the two wizard apprentices, should never lack food.