514: Negotiation Results with the True Knowledge Institute
After thinking it over, Reonis said, "Half... it's not impossible."
A look of distress flashed through Reonis's eyes. "But you need to help me concoct the Crucible Potion, also known as the Cinder King's Secret Brew. I need at least two portions. Professor Augustine, do you have the confidence to do it?"
"I need two portions of the Cinder King's Secret Brew."
Locke thought for a moment. If it were a year ago, he probably would have had to refuse this deal, or at least consider it very carefully before deciding whether to take it.
But after training in the Feathered Serpent Ancient Pavilion for a year, things were different now. With his current level of Potionology, combined with the two treasures, Primal Fire and the Pure Stream Filter Stone, concocting the Cinder King's Secret Brew—the Crucible Potion—would only take a little effort.
Locke said, "I can, but not today. I need to recover my condition. Let's say the day after tomorrow."
His condition had not fully recovered recently. Ever since his battle with that Nidhogg in the Wizard Secret Realm, his mental state had been sluggish, and concocting the Crucible Potion required high concentration.
After thinking for a moment, Locke decided to delay it to prevent his condition from worsening before he had even recovered.
After all, regarding this part, just as Witch Yekaterina had said, he could currently only recover through natural sleep.
Ultimately, it was because the battle with that First Ring Crystallization Stage wizard using Ritual Magic had been far too intense.
He should try to avoid battles of that scale in the future; after all, each one was a massive drain on his energy.
Wizard Reonis was a bit nervous when he heard Locke ask him to wait a day, but after a second thought, he said, "Alright, then we'll meet tomorrow at the Feathered Serpent Ancient Pavilion."
"Before I came, I tattooed the Protection School's Dimensional Exile spell on myself..."
Locke nodded slightly, unconcerned. For some reason, every Black Wizard always felt like he might harm them.
But it was actually unnecessary.
Just like his depletion in the previous battle, any combat inevitably leads to consumption.
It wasn't as if winning solved everything. Even though he had won before, he had been sluggish for over a week, spending almost every day just sleeping.
Even so, his condition had not returned to its peak.
Therefore, trying to obtain desired items through robbery was quite inefficient. Since there was a method for peaceful trade, there was no need to resort to violence.
It would only be appropriate to consider using force when a trade was no longer possible.
Locke asked, "Do you want me to arrange a place for you to stay?"
Reonis thought for a moment. "Alright, it's hard to find lodging here in the White Dragon Tower. If you can arrange it for me, that would be wonderful."
"Professor Augustine, you are very famous in our Archaeologist circles now."
Locke looked puzzled. "Warwick shouldn't be talking about it everywhere, right?"
"Wait..."
What was he thinking?
How much expectation could he have for an Archaeology Wizard who specialized in selling information to keep their mouth shut?
Reonis said, "Warwick often tells other Archaeology Wizards that you have the Primal Fire, Professor Augustine, and that your Potionology level is very profound."
"So, over the past year, many Archaeology Wizards have heard your name."
Locke smiled bitterly.
Forget it. Since he didn't hang around the Black Wizard Land anyway, this would lead to some Archaeology Wizards taking the initiative to find him and ask for help refining potions. He could take the opportunity to collect Archaeology resources.
This was actually quite beneficial for him.
Let's leave it at that for now.
As for "a tall tree catching the wind"?
To be honest, for someone like him who wanted to explore the Path of Truth, that was a false premise.
Every step toward a better Wizard Land and a better teaching position involved eliminating countless wizard rivals.
Take his desire to enter the Hall of Advanced True Knowledge, for example. The number of admission slots each year is a fixed number, regulated by the White Wizard Association headquarters.
If you enter this year, someone else cannot.
In this process, people are already being offended.
If you don't want to offend anyone, you can only be mediocre and go with the flow.
To move upward, you need to make your name known to others. Hiding one's light under a bushel only leads to missed opportunities.
Of course, attracting too much attention isn't necessarily a good thing either.
Locke nodded, stood up, and wrote an address for Reonis. "Mr. Reonis, this is a vacant residence where you can stay for now. There are some servants there you can order around as you wish, but in our White Wizard Association, even servants cannot be killed at will."
"Once the Ethics and Morality Review Committee targets you, it will be a big problem."
He himself had recently been targeted by the Ethics and Morality Review Committee because of Wizard Nidhogg's death. Fortunately, he had the true sight crystal that recorded the entire process, plus the influence of the Plutarch Family in the Six Towers Land branch of the White Wizard Association, so he wouldn't face any punishment.
On the contrary, the Basil Family felt guilty and thus made a series of concessions to the Plutarch Family, even transferring several industries to them.
Wizard Reonis laughed, "Alright, I won't cause you any trouble. I'm here as a guest, so of course, I can't cause trouble for you."
The two spoke for a bit and agreed on certain conditions. Then Reonis noticed that Locke seemed to have something to do, so he took the initiative to leave the quiet room on the second floor.
Only Locke remained in the quiet room.
Locke summoned the grey mist slate and saw it vibrating continuously; Director Morrison was taking the initiative to contact him.
Locke accepted Director Morrison's video call request. The next moment, Director Morrison's image appeared; he seemed to be in an ecological garden.
The ecological garden was filled with potato magic plants floating in mid-air. They were being cultivated neither through soil nor water, but through aeroponics.
The potatoes were suspended in the air. Without touching soil or water, some white clouds floating in the air could actively spray rain mixed with nutrient solution to nourish them.
This was an extremely sophisticated cultivation method that Locke had only seen in books before. It helped avoid plant diseases as much as possible.
Because there was no need for contact with too many things.
Especially for magic plants like potatoes, which are susceptible to demonic fungal diseases.
However, cultivating this way was fine for ordinary potatoes, but magic plant potatoes of the First Ring or higher required a large amount of nutrients. Therefore, the requirements for breeding equipment were very high, and thus no laboratory in the Six Towers Land could do this.
As soon as Director Morrison's image appeared, Locke heard him instructing several One-Ring Wizard assistants on the techniques of contactless cultivation for potato magic plants.
After finishing his instructions, Director Morrison turned to look at Locke and said, "Little Locke, I've been a bit busy lately, as you can see."
"However, in the midst of my busy schedule, acting on behalf of the Yunze Cup Tournament Committee, I've negotiated with two Halls of Advanced True Knowledge for you."
Director Morrison said, "By the way, did you meet with Witch Yekaterina?"
"This time, she suddenly made many concessions during my negotiations. It's really strange. She recently wanted to join that Yunze Wetland Ten-Person Project."
"Her demand for resources, talent, and projects should be very high, but I didn't expect her to be so easy to talk to this time."
Director Morrison said, "By contrast, it's a pity that Bonifacius University, where I strongly recommended you go, has truly disappointed me."
"And let me down."
"They wouldn't even budge on project autonomy." A flash of resentment appeared in Director Morrison's eyes. "The new Dean of the Hall of Advanced True Knowledge at Boniface, a Third Ring Wizard named Valentinian, is a wizard from the textile sub-discipline of the Alchemy School."
"He neither understands nor respects Breeding Science and Botany." Director Morrison was clearly hit hard and sighed. "If it were last year's Dean, who came from a Breeding Science background, I would have been very confident in negotiating a very good contract for you."
"Unfortunately, this year's Dean of the True Knowledge Institute at Boniface Academy is a newcomer, and being from the Alchemy School, he knows nothing about our Botany."