Wizard: Starting With Synthesized Gems

Chapter 665: Receiving the Istoria Archaeology Award and Published in First Circle History

Inside Wizard Zalan Bailey's private office, he was in the middle of negotiating with an agent wizard from the Joseph Golem Shop Alliance over an order for a large quantity of production-type brass golems, when Wizard Tucker suddenly burst in.Wizard Zalan Bailey furrowed his brow in displeasure. He was in the middle of a conversation with a Second Circle agent wizard from the Joseph Shop Alliance, and Tucker's unceremonious entry had interrupted them both. He had clearly told the wizards of Group 2 not to enter his office during this particular time.

Wizard Zalan said, "Tucker, what is it?"

Wizard Tucker raised the document in his hand and glanced guiltily at the Joseph Golem Shop Alliance's agent wizard standing beside him, then quickly said to Wizard Zalan Bailey, "Lord Zalan, Locke Augustine has received... the Star Domain Sea's Istoria Archaeology Award."

"And he's also published an article in the Star Domain Sea's top First Circle archaeology journal."

Wizard Zalan Bailey's pupils shrank sharply. "What did you say?"

A flash of surprise crossed the eyes of the Joseph Shop Alliance's agent wizard. "The Istoria Archaeology Award? If I recall correctly, at the First Circle level, that is the most prestigious archaeology award in the Star Domain Sea."

"That award hasn't been given to an archaeological wizard from outside the Star Domain Sea in many years. If your friend has managed to receive it, then he must have made a breakthrough discovery in archaeology. Otherwise, knowing the people of the Star Domain Sea as I do, they would absolutely never give that award to any outsider."

"Worthy of Golden Crown Mountain. Winning this year's award is something Golden Crown Mountain can certainly publicize a little."

An awkward expression crept across Wizard Zalan Bailey's face.

He glanced at the agent wizard and said, "Mr. Jacob Zion, I'm afraid I may not be in a suitable state for any business negotiations today."

"I think it would be better if we arranged to meet another time."

Wizard Jacob Zion gave him a puzzled look but did not press the matter, for the Joseph Shop Alliance was a sizable organization and could afford to lose this particular deal.

Wizard Jacob Zion gave a nod. "Of course, Mr. Bailey may arrange negotiations whenever he likes. Though I am quite busy myself, and my time is limited, so I'm not sure how long the wait would be before we could schedule something."

He turned and left the office.

Zalan Bailey's expression was sour.

Wizard Tucker looked at Zalan Bailey with puzzlement. "Senior Brother, why did you suddenly stop negotiating with that wizard?"

Zalan Bailey tapped his fingers on the desk and said, "For no other reason. My mind is unsettled. Right now I am flustered, and that man is a cunning and seasoned wizard. If I had continued negotiating with him, I would have been at a disadvantage at every turn. That would have left me with only two choices, either concede ground or fall out with him entirely."

"Neither option is of any benefit to me. Therefore, the best choice was not to negotiate with him today. Don't let his displeasure fool you. The deal I'm discussing with him is worth several million magic stones, and he simply wants to use words to make me feel a sense of guilt."

"But that is a small tactic."

Wizard Zalan Bailey said coldly, "The order is in my hands, so the urgency is on his side. I am in poor spirits today and not in a state for serious business. Therefore, I can refuse without hesitation."

At his level, it would take more than a trick like that to create any real emotional disturbance in a wizard of his standing.

Even so, the instant he had heard that Locke Augustine had received the Istoria Archaeology Award, a storm had erupted inside him.

He had originally believed Augustine to be no rival at all, and had let his guard down accordingly.

Now, the wariness he felt toward Locke had reached its absolute peak.

"No wonder Augustine made no move during the three months I was back in Group 2, apparently away from Golden Crown Mountain for a long time. He was off on a project." Wizard Zalan Bailey's eyes darkened. "He's received an award from the Star Domain Sea and been published in the Star Domain Sea's top First Circle journal."

"Team Leader Cis will undoubtedly take him far more seriously now, and he'll be competing with me for Group 2's resources. Damn it. I thought this person was no enemy of mine. But now it seems he is indeed my rival."

Wizard Zalan Bailey murmured, "I should pay him a visit one of these days."

Wizard Tucker said, "Senior Brother, don't worry too much. No matter how great an achievement he makes in archaeology, it doesn't really matter. Group 2 is a breeding research group, after all."

Wizard Zalan Bailey gave a nod. "Keep an eye on him for me. It seems I dropped my guard too early. By the way, Tucker, do me one more favor and submit this Tier 1 project funding application for me."

"Has Locke's side submitted a Tier 1 project funding application?"

Wizard Tucker said, "No. He's probably poured too much energy into archaeology. A person's attention is limited, and wherever you spend more of it, you spend less elsewhere."

"He's just received a major award, so how could he possibly have the energy to invest in the breeding field? Senior Brother, rest easy. Everyone in Group 2 is behind you."

...

In the underground thirtieth-level office of Group 2's research institute, Wizard Cis received congratulations from an old friend, which was how he learned that Locke had received the Istoria Archaeology Award.

Wizard Cis blinked, and a faint smile appeared on his face. "So that's why Locke was away from Group 2 for three months. He went to conduct archaeological work in the Abyssal Ruins."

"My instincts about him were right after all. I thought he would need some time to settle into life in Group 2, yet in just three months he has managed to receive a prestigious award of considerable standing in the Star Domain Sea."

"Wait. An award of this caliber, if it were in the breeding field, or in bloodline studies or force-energy studies, would be fairly routine for Golden Crown Mountain. But this is in the archaeology field. This is the first time Golden Crown Mountain has received an award of this caliber in archaeology."

"I imagine Golden Crown Mountain's senior leadership will want to give him a commendation."

Wizard Cis thought it over, then sent Locke a message of congratulations through the water hyacinth network.

He then immediately received a message from the head of the Academic Affairs Department. 'Are you aware, Team Leader Cis, that one of your researchers, Locke Augustine, has received the Star Domain Sea archaeology award, the Istoria Archaeology Award?'

Wizard Cis sent back a reply. 'I wasn't aware of that. This should fall under Throne Lord's jurisdiction.'

The head of Academic Affairs replied, 'I see. I wasn't sure at first what kind of award it was either, only that it was a fairly prestigious Star Domain Sea award. I had to look into it before I could confirm its level of prestige.'

'Golden Crown Mountain has already contacted a newspaper to report on this. And I hear that this wizard is at a critical juncture in his attempt to break through to the Second Circle, so Golden Crown Mountain is rewarding him additionally with two Golden Cloud Peaches. The original reward was meant to be Water Jade Peaches, but the grade has been upgraded by two full levels across the board.'

Wizard Cis paused and said in disbelief, "Golden Cloud Peaches? Those are useful even to Second Circle wizards. To give something that precious directly to a First Circle wizard, when has Golden Crown Mountain ever been so generous? I never saw Golden Crown Mountain this generous when I was at the First Circle stage."

"It seems Golden Crown Mountain's senior leadership is very taken with this Wizard Augustine. Wait, that's right. Wizard Augustine is essentially already a member of their Academic Committee."

The Golden Cloud Peach was one of Golden Crown Mountain's most closely guarded secrets, one of the Twelve Peaches.

After consuming one, a wizard could enter a special state of harmony with all things in nature, elevating their soul's fundamental quality and entering a unique state in which the myriad things of heaven and earth aided in the wizard's contemplation.

If a wizard could consume a Golden Cloud Peach before breaking through from First Circle to Second Circle, it could greatly increase the probability of successfully constructing a Grand Magic.

It could also elevate the quality of the Grand Magic produced, a benefit that was especially valuable for botanical wizards and wizards of life magic.

Of course, for necromancers, this particular peach was pure poison.

On the seventh floor of the Origin Academy, Witch Yekaterina was speaking with Director Gaia of the Academic Committee.

Director Gaia said, "Witch Yekaterina, your student Locke Augustine has less than three months before he enters the Silent Chalice Competition."

"You should give him some pre-competition intensive training."

"This matter concerns Golden Crown Mountain's enrollment quotas for the mortal territories of the unclaimed lands over the next ten years, after all."

The eastern quadrant contained fifty-three wizard lands, but there were over a hundred treacherous territories in between, and these treacherous territories formed the vast distances separating the fifty-three wizard lands from one another, leaving them connected only by the Second Sky and the cloud-lake waterways.

But these treacherous territories were not entirely devoid of life.

Some regions had small mortal communities living within them. These mortals, surviving in desperate conditions, bore testament to the extraordinary resilience of life, somehow continuing to exist due to special circumstances or particular environments.

These were the unclaimed lands.

In the unclaimed lands, anyone could go to recruit, and over time the various wizard organizations would inevitably come into conflict with one another. Since conflict meant loss of resources, the four top wizard academies of the Cloud Marsh Wetlands had adopted the practice of using the Silent Chalice Competition rankings to determine how enrollment quotas for certain unclaimed lands were distributed.

Director Gaia said, "Storm Tower, Quinn Jol, and Bonifacius, from what I've heard, all three of them have put forward outstanding young First Circle wizards who have been groomed over many years. Each of them is expected to reach the point of being capable of constructing a Grand Magic and becoming a Second Circle wizard before the competition even begins."

"They're simply holding off on constructing it in advance because they're striving to become the best version of themselves."

"Katya, in your view, how does our Locke Augustine stack up? Looking at the competitors from the other academies, they all seem to be wizards of the most orthodox credentials, which makes me a little concerned. Now that our Academic Committee has taken on this responsibility, we need to win the Silent Chalice Competition properly. Otherwise, the Council of Elders will take the opportunity to cause trouble for us."

Witch Yekaterina said, "Academy Director, I have complete confidence in Locke. And besides, the highly regarded student from Storm Tower is currently wandering all over our Golden Crown Mountain. I cannot figure out what he is actually doing."

"This year's competitor from Quinn Jol is, just like Locke, not a native wizard of the Cloud Marsh Wetlands but someone who came from outside."

"The sort of wizard you're describing may only apply to Bonifacius University's competitor. Though that witch's parents have their own complications. They both defected to the Twin Demon Realm at one point."

Director Gaia laughed. "Katya, as long as you have confidence, that's what matters."

"All these years. Ah, I can still picture you sitting in my class as my student as clearly as if it were yesterday."

Director Gaia said, "I've looked over the profile of Bonifacius University's competitor. She's a pitiable person in her own way. Her parents were manipulated by the Twin Demon Realm into violating their duties once. Fearing accountability from the White Wizard Association, they had no choice but to keep being coerced into further wrongdoing, stealing assets from Quinn Jol. When the matter came to light, it destroyed them completely."

"Ah, how much harm has the Twin Demon Realm done, how many families has it torn apart. In this Demon Realm War, we need to make the Twin Demon Realm lie low for at least thirty years!"

Witch Yekaterina let out a cold snort. "The truly despicable ones are those who have deliberately turned a blind eye and allowed the problem to fester."

Wizard Gaia coughed. "Let's not go there, let's not go there."

"This is a sensitive matter."

...

Locke stepped out of the Queen's Chessboard chamber and quickly received a message from Team Leader Cis. "Two Golden Cloud Peaches?"

Locke looked over the attached information. "I see. So these are special magical peaches that allow one to commune with all things in nature and enlist the myriad things of heaven and earth to help in contemplating a Grand Magic. Even for a Second Circle wizard, these are treasures."

"Even after a Second Circle wizard completes their Grand Magic, they still need to keep reforging it to bring it toward perfection."

"I didn't expect that simply receiving a fairly significant archaeology award and publishing an article in a top-tier Star Domain Sea journal would earn me two of these treasures."

Locke received a further message in which Team Leader Cis indicated that the academy wished him to accept a newspaper interview in order to publicize Golden Crown Mountain's academic capabilities, which would also be of use during future recruitment seasons.

Locke thought it over and decided that since he stood to receive two Golden Cloud Peaches, there was no harm in doing something this straightforward as a courtesy, and so he agreed.

Locke first summoned Witch Mason and the others, and together they spent an afternoon completing a Tier 1 project funding application, which he then had Witch Mason take to the Origin Academy to submit.

His Tier 1 project funding application was centered primarily on his use of the Queen's Chessboard to analyze the special root of the ancient flower, and his discovery of the glandular root pouch magical plant energy-locking structure.

This new type of energy-locking structure was virtually guaranteed to pass a Tier 1 project funding application.

One day later, Locke learned through Witch Mason that his Tier 1 project funding application had been approved, and that one hundred magic crystal cards had been transferred to him immediately.

In Group 2's shared office, Witch Mason and Witch Freya stood beside Locke's workstation, both of them in high spirits.

Witch Mason said, "Boss, you're incredible. You've been back less than a week and you've already secured a Tier 1 project funding approval."

Witch Freya laughed and said, "Of course. Mason, do you even know who our boss is? His efficiency is simply something else."

Witch Freya cast a sidelong glance at the several Group 2 researchers nearby who had pricked up their ears to eavesdrop.

Locke said, "You two, stop chattering. Take a leaf out of Barrett's book and do your work quietly. By the way, I'm probably still going to be very busy, so I need the three of you to help me use the Finite Element Cultivation Method to cultivate a batch of bromeliad magical plants using the plant factor information I'm providing."

"I want to first reproduce the glandular root pouch structure in a bromeliad magical plant."

"If we can successfully reproduce it, this bromeliad magical plant should develop a very powerful drought resistance capability. But that's not the main point." Locke lowered his voice, looked at the three of them, and snapped his fingers, casting a simple defensive school spell model to block the transmission of sound.

For him at this stage, simple defensive school spells like this required no particular effort to cast, since they were only apprentice-level magic.

But they were sufficient.

After all, these were all Group 2 researchers. Surely none of them would dare to directly use magic to break through his sound-blocking barrier.

If they did, he would instantly sense that his magic had been breached.

Locke said, "This special root, which I have named the ancient flower root, is capable of converting sand into soil."

"Though it still requires a large supply of water."

"My intention is to have this special root appear again in a bromeliad-type magical plant."

Witch Mason and the others exchanged glances, all of them caught off guard.

Witch Mason said, "Converting sand into soil? If that's possible, then this entire Dune Plane could potentially be greened."

Locke said, "But the problem of needing water still isn't solved."

"Water... come to think of it, it really is quite precious. Even before I entered the Dune Plane, it hadn't occurred to me that even wizards would find it so difficult to produce a large supply of immediately usable water within a plane."

"Water is such a cheap thing in a living plane, yet in a living plane on the verge of destruction, it becomes so extraordinarily expensive."

Witch Freya pointed toward the conversion factories outside and said, "But someone has already solved the water shortage for us. Even the water extracted using Storm Tower's special equipment couldn't match the output of those conversion factories."

"Those conversion factories are producing enormous quantities of water every hour of every day. Since our Second Circle wizard has ambitions to reshape the entire plane, the production capacity of those factories is increasing by the day. A new conversion factory goes up every day, and a new natural gas well is being excavated every day."

"So, thanks to him, Group 2 currently doesn't just have enough water. We have an abundance of it. So much that it can be spent without a second thought."

Witch Freya smiled and said, "Besides, he's been targeting us so relentlessly. Might as well make use of his water. We can use it to grow our magical plants."

Witch Freya covered her mouth and laughed. "It's not as though he can tell Wizard Cis that the water runs out specifically whenever it's our turn. After all, he was the one who went around boasting that Group 2 now has more water than it could ever use."

Locke considered the feasibility of the plan. "If that's the case, then our ancient flower root bromeliad project has very strong prospects."

"Perhaps with the help of a large water supply, we really could convert vast stretches of desert into fertile land."

"That alone would be enough to secure a Tier 1 funding project. As for the special grant, we can discuss that when the time comes."

After a discussion among the four of them, they settled on their direction going forward.

Once the exchange was done, Locke contacted Witch Scarlett through the water hyacinth network and confirmed that Golden Crown Mountain was in the process of evaluating outfits for the Demon Realm War, particularly the submitted samples and designs for wizard shoes.

At the same time, through the water hyacinth network, Locke saw a message from a Group 6 researcher at Golden Crown Mountain, saying they were acting on someone's behalf to invite him to meet at Witch's Kitchen in Dragon Blood Market.

"Storm Tower?" Locke's expression was odd. "Going for a meeting should be fine."

After all, inside Golden Crown Mountain, the other party would not dare do anything.

Locke immediately left the Dune Plane and made his way there.

At the same time, Wizard Zalan Bailey happened to pass Locke in the corridor, just narrowly missing him.

He came to a stop beside the workstation and looked at Witch Mason and the others with a smile. "Is that so? It seems I've had poor luck today, and just barely missed the chance to meet with Wizard Augustine."

Witch Mason said, "Yes. Lord Zalan Bailey."

Wizard Zalan Bailey gave an understanding smile. "Perhaps he simply didn't wish to see me."

His gaze fell on the crystal sphere containing plant essence information that Witch Mason was holding, and he said dismissively, "In any case, I am now a Second Circle wizard and he is a First Circle wizard. So he has no reason to be concerned about me."

"I only wanted to meet him to welcome such a talented wizard to Group 2."

"Since he doesn't wish to see me, so be it."

Wizard Zalan Bailey turned and left.

Witch Mason sighed. "A Second Circle wizard... his magical pressure is so overwhelming."

Witch Freya stamped her foot and said, "He only came over to talk to us because he saw our Tier 1 project funding application get approved. As for saying we don't need to worry about him, if he weren't watching us, why would he be staring at us every single day?"

Wizard Barrett said quietly, "It doesn't matter how much he stares at us. Inside Golden Crown Mountain, even if he is a Second Circle wizard, what counts is still your own ability."

Witch Mason said, "By the way, I've heard that Wizard Zalan Bailey has recently invited an environmental wizard to come to our Dune Plane."

In the shared office, an ordinary First Circle crystallization-stage Group 2 researcher who had overheard Witch Mason's words immediately spoke up, "That's right. Senior Brother did indeed invite a botanist wizard friend over."

"Apparently he's from an environmental shop alliance, also a Second Circle wizard."

"So, even though the pollution in the Dune Plane is getting worse and worse, it has so far remained within Senior Brother's ability to manage."