The next moment, Locke heard distinct footsteps outside the door. The person seemed panicked and eager to flee immediately.
But in the next instant, Locke's Omen Mandrake Vine used Green Cleansing Grasp to drag them inside effortlessly.
Green Cleansing Grasp was a 0.3-ring Spell, laughably weak, which meant it could be used freely without triggering detection from the Wall of Unbelievers.
Locke's Mana was already far below the priority detection range of the Wall of Unbelievers. Moreover, this place was filled with Dark wizard apprentices, so a bit of magical fluctuation wouldn't raise any eyebrows.
Locke's Omen Mandrake Vine could turn invisible and sense hostility. Thus, the moment it detected someone following the Black Wizard Niels, it immediately pinpointed their presence and location, using its stealth ability to trap them covertly.
The target was a First Class Wizard Apprentice with 200 Mana, while Locke currently had 505 Mana and had consumed the Giant Tree Heart Potion, enhancing all Magic Plants' power by 10% due to the Talmud Treant Energy radiation.
Under these circumstances, the target stood no chance. Locke effortlessly restrained them with three Omen Mandrake Vines and hauled them inside.
Niels stared in shock at the person Locke had dragged in. "Quintus? You? Why were you sneaking after me?"
Niels quickly pieced it together, glaring at Quintus, who was bound by Locke's magic vines. "You've been tailing me? Why? What do you know?"
Quintus struggled, attempting to chant an escape Spell, but Locke promptly scattered Wire Tendon Grass Seeds over him, sealing him completely with the 0.5-ring Wild Grass Entanglement.
This was to prevent the First Class Wizard Apprentice from fleeing and transmitting any information back.
The entire process—from the initial ambush to the plant magic restraint—was executed flawlessly, smooth as silk.
Albert and Andy were both astonished. Though the target was merely a newly promoted First Class Wizard Apprentice with 200 Mana, Locke was also a First Class Wizard Apprentice who had just advanced this year.
Yet the gap between them was staggering. The Black Wizard apprentice had been utterly powerless against Locke.
Albert gave Locke a thoughtful look. 'Perhaps Locke isn't just a potential pillar for the next generation of Lilith's Cottage—he is destined to become its cornerstone.'
'Does he possess talent on par with the Witch Sophia?'
Albert stepped forward, retrieving a vial of Truth Serum from his Astral Ring. "Niels, no need to interrogate him."
"Here, open your mouth and drink this. It's my enhanced personal recipe—a special Truth Serum. A single drop will make you spill everything, even those embarrassing adolescent fantasies you'd never dare confess."
"I doubt it's anything serious. This guy was probably tailing you for personal reasons and just happened to stumble upon us."
Albert pinched Quintus's chin. "Relax and don't resist. If I accidentally pour half a bottle more, this special Truth Serum will turn your brain into mush. You wouldn't want to spend the rest of your life as an idiot, would you?"
Hearing this, Quintus truly didn't dare resist. His eyes widened as he drank the one-sixth bottle of Truth Serum Albert fed him.
Quintus let out a burp, a pink bubble emerging from his mouth. Then his eyes grew vacant as he began recounting the truth behind his surveillance of Niels in exact detail.
It turned out he had long resented Niels for holding a high position in the Corinthian city-state, receiving far more Magical Resources than him, and always being one step ahead in everything.
He had always wondered how Niels obtained Magical Resources so easily, so he began secretly observing him. Sure enough, he discovered Niels had been leaking information to the Blood Curse Court and even investigating the Curse Formula Research Institute and special projects.
At that point, he could have reported it to the Blood Curse Court or privately gathered evidence for greater merit. He chose the latter, wanting to claim bigger rewards, so he hadn't told anyone yet.
Then he accidentally ran into two Formal Wizards, nearly scaring him to death. Before he could flee, Gabriel spotted him, and he was already caught in Locke's trap.
Sophia nodded in satisfaction. "So this guy hasn't told anyone about Niels's suspicious behavior yet. Luckily, he was selfish—otherwise, our plans would've been ruined by such an insignificant pawn."
Incinerator Andy scoffed. "These Black Wizards are all like this."
"Which is why I say none of them are reliable."
"Let's just kill this Black Wizard Quintus."
Andy glanced faintly at Niels, who shrank behind Sophia in fear, unable to meet his gaze. Though Andy was stern yet relatively amiable toward Albert and Locke, he barely restrained his murderous intent when facing Niels.
Morgana's voice whispered in Andy's ear. "Andy, don't kill him. I wouldn't care if you killed a Black Wizard without a Magic Pressure Structure, but this is a First Class Wizard Apprentice—his soul already has one."
"The moment he dies, his Magic Pressure will rapidly decay, and the Wall of Unbelievers will detect such an obvious anomaly. Absolutely not."
"The detection probability is 100%. Don't sabotage Sophia's mission."
Only then did Andy relent, extinguishing the flames in his hand.
Albert made the Dark wizard apprentice drink three bottles of Drowsy Bug Potion, which could knock out any wizard apprentice with less than 300 Mana into a deep coma lasting at least a month.
Albert tossed him to Niels. "Problem solved."
He looked at Locke and said, "What I specialize in are Potions that alter states. I'm skilled in both enhancement and debilitation directions. That's why I'm not good at curse removal, which is why I've never visited your Healing Hand Clinic."
The witch Gabriel turned to Locke and remarked, "You noticed that this little insect was only slightly slower than me."
"Moreover, you swiftly counterattacked—even Andy and Albert didn't notice. It seems the magic vines on your hand are quite special?"
Seeing that Gabriel, a witch from the Divination School, had pointed this out, Locke had no choice but to explain, "Well, it's because of the Omen Mandrake Vine on my hand, which has both invisibility and the ability to sense hostile intent."
"This sensing of malice isn't divination-type magic; it's closer to the magic of the psychic school... but this is a special ability inherent to the natural magical components of the Magic Plant."
Even Sophia gave Locke a surprised look. "Locke, you've never mentioned this to me before."
"If that's the case, why do you sell the Super Mandrake Vine to the public instead of this type of magic vine?"
Locke thought for a moment before admitting somewhat sheepishly, "I was planning to release upgrades gradually."
"Sell the Super Mandrake Vine first, then the Invisible Mandrake Vine, followed by the Omen Mandrake Vine. That way, I can make money three times."
"If I sold the most powerful version right from the start, I'd miss out on the profits from two potential version updates."
Sophia fell silent upon hearing this answer.
Gabriel also stole a glance at Sophia.
Even Madam Morgana, unusually, had no response.
Andy wore an expression of utter incomprehension, as if what Locke had said was beyond his grasp.
Albert, however, covered his mouth to stifle a laugh and patted Locke on the shoulder. "Well said. I think the same way. When I sell Potions, I deliberately add extra ingredient formulas to reduce their efficacy at first, then gradually improve them later, calling it a version update. That way, I can justifiably raise the selling price."
"Locke, we really should have met sooner."
"We could start a studio together!"
Madam Morgana seemed unable to bear it any longer and changed the subject. "You only have half a day to find the entrance. If you haven't located the research institute's entrance by then, Gabriel will have to risk using divination magic to pinpoint it."
"The Nibelungen Astrology System can assist you."
"Remember, you only have half a day. Find the research institute's entrance before dawn tomorrow!"
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