Wizard: Starting With Synthesized Gems - Chapter 561

Chapter 558 Brainstorming and the True Role of Researchers at the Advanced Institute of True Knowledge

In the breeder’s public laboratory, Locke discussed his current progress with Mason Witch and others.

Mason Witch and others are worthy of being researchers who have been at the Institute of True Knowledge for more than two years. With the topics and research ideas given to them by Locke, as well as the preliminary experimental data, they only took one week to complete the analysis of the mechanism pathway of the pineapple-type magic plant.

If it weren’t for the fact that the three of them applied for the magic mirror slower than Locke, the completion speed might have been even faster.

In this way, out of the 23 pineapple-like magic plants, plus the one Locke himself recently completed, they have directly completed four, leaving only 19 pineapple-like magic plant mechanism pathways.

Locke was very satisfied with the progress.

In this way, they completed a large part of the work in just one week.

At this rate, roughly half of the work can be completed in a month.

I was a little worried at first that I would be too busy to collect the key data on the mechanism of action pathways of 23 pineapple-type magic plants by myself. Fortunately, Team Leader Celt assigned three of my colleagues to help.

Each of these three people has more experience in using the magic mirror than himself. With the support of their own key ideas, they can complete the task faster than himself.

Witch Freya smiled at Locke sheepishly and said, “By the way, Locke, I’m sorry, I made a mistake in my previous experiment and used the structural comparison machine once more.”

“I’m sorry about that.”

Locke nodded, glanced at the bill they had compiled for him, and directly took out seven magic crystal cards and handed them to the three people. “It’s okay. It’s inevitable that there will be problems with the experiment and it will need to be repeated several times.”

“I’m not that stingy. Besides, using the structure comparison machine once only costs one thousand magic stones. I saw on the bill you gave me that it cost a total of sixty-eight thousand magic stones. Consider the extra two thousand magic stones as a reward for my three friends.”

Witch Freya took the seven magic crystal cards, a flash of surprise in her eyes, and deliberately joked, “Thank you very much, young boss?”

“Locke, I didn’t expect you to be so generous.”

Locke knew that the researchers in the Institute of True Knowledge were usually quite stingy due to lack of funds.

But Locke understood that no matter how stingy he was in normal times, he must not be stingy when it comes to his team’s reimbursements.

I do not have the authority of a superior over subordinates over these three wizards. We are just colleagues. If I am always stingy, it will only reduce the centripetal force within the group.

Although small favors are not of much use, they can also serve as a lubricant for the atmosphere within the group.

If I am very stingy, this group will not go far.

Locke handed the three wizards the preliminary experimental data for three pineapple-like magical plants. “Here, this is the preliminary experimental data I helped you generate this week. The three of you can pick one of them. It should be enough to pass the second-class funding project application.”

“These three pineapple-type magical plants are all first-ring magical plants, and they are relatively powerful among the first-ring magical plants, close to the first-ring crystallized magical pressure. They also affect a relatively large group of magical creatures. Therefore, studying the key mechanism of action of these magical plants should be able to pass the second-class fund of the Zhenzhi Academy.”

Barrett, Freya and Mason the witch took the information from Locke in surprise and began to read it.

The three of them originally thought that Locke had promised to help them write a project application that could pass the second-class project fund, but that was a long time in the future. Who knew that Locke would directly fulfill his promise at that time.

Mason Witch said: “Ah, thank you so much, Locke.”

Witch Freya also covered her mouth and said, “Locke, you are almost becoming our mentor. You gave us funding, and now you are giving us projects.”

Wizard Barrett said to Locke: “Thank you, Locke.”

Locke nodded and said, “I should be the one thanking you. You gave up your own research to work on my project together.”

“So, I will definitely help you complete your second-class fund project. Our team can work together to complete this pineapple magic plant.”

At this moment, all three of them nodded involuntarily.

Locke’s actions confirmed his absolute leadership power within the group.

Wizard Barrett said, “Even with this information, if I still can’t pass the application for the second-class fund project, I can’t blame anyone else. I can only blame myself for not being able to write an article.”

Mason Witch smiled and said, “Locke, you are such a good person.”

Freya said, “We will work harder. At first I was a little worried about the future of our group, but now I don’t have to worry at all. We will definitely get better.”

“If the four of us work together, we can definitely achieve something great in Group 6, or even within this Zhenzhi Academy.”

Locke nodded and said, “There’s one more thing. Three of you, I want you to brainstorm, because I want to make something more outstanding, so I would like to ask for your brainstorming.”

“See if there are any ideas.”

Locke immediately expressed his desire to obtain special funding and a key sub-project.

These three people have successfully become members of my team, so naturally I have to express my ideas and goals.

Witch Freya said, “Locke, do you want to get special funding and a sub-project? Since this is your goal, it is also the goal of our team.”

Wizard Barrett smiled bitterly and said, “I never dared to think so before, but if this is Locke’s goal, it makes much more sense.”

“Then add me in.”

Mason Witch said to Locke, “But it’s very difficult to get special funding and sub-projects. Okay, let’s think about how to optimize our projects to make them even better.”

The three of them fell into deep thought.

They wanted to come up with an idea immediately, but there was no point in rushing in such matters.

Locke felt that his management skills were getting better and better.

He said to everyone, “Let’s stick with the original plan first. If you have any good ideas, we can bring them up and have a small meeting.”

“Let’s brainstorm together. Maybe we can come up with something good.”

Brainstorming is a management concept from Locke’s previous life. It is a decision-making method that stimulates group creativity through free association and non-critical discussion.

In essence, it is to generate a large number of ideas first, and then find breakthroughs from these ideas.

Locke’s proposal was approved by everyone.

Locke took advantage of the situation and said, “Then, let’s have a small meeting every Monday to discuss among ourselves?”

Mason Witch said, “Okay. That’s exactly what I meant.”

Witch Freya also said, “Otherwise, if we each fight alone, we won’t be able to play to our team’s strengths. We are a team.”

“Yesterday, some wizards from Group 6 asked me about the progress of our small group’s experiments.”

Thus, Locke quietly confirmed that he actually had the power to lead the team in holding a group meeting every Monday.

Because it is a relationship between peers, it is difficult to force the request, so this kind of request is made in the most tactful way, and try not to let them feel that it is a request, but rather turn it into a suggestion.

And pretend that everything comes from everyone’s discussion and is what everyone has thought about, rather than one’s own personal opinion.

So Locke asked the three wizards to write down some of their ideas, and then everyone gathered together for discussion.

The three wizards also thought this approach was novel, so they began to do as Locke asked.

An hour later, Locke read through the wizards’ ideas and found a way that might be useful to him.

This was proposed by Mason Witch, that is, perhaps their team can optimize the method of exploring the relationship between the six current mainstream groups of magical plants and magical creatures.

That is, find ways to optimize the exploration method.

If they can do this, it will definitely further improve the overall evaluation of their group.

Locke immediately looked at Witch Mason and pondered the possibility.

This is equivalent to changing the overall experimental process framework of the six groups.

The overall experimental process framework of the current six groups was designed by the leaders of the six groups in successive generations. At present, it should have been designed by Leader Celtic.

It is not easy, and even a bit far-fetched, to design an experimental process framework for a second-ring wizard and optimize it on this basis.

Locke fell into deep thought.

Mason Witch looked at the note in Locke’s hand and quickly waved her hand, saying, “Locke, I just wrote it casually. You said that we can write down all our ideas on the note without any criticism. We can write whatever we think of.”

“That’s why I wrote it on the note. But it seems a bit far-fetched no matter how you think about it. Don’t take my random thoughts seriously.”

Locke nodded and said, “This is exactly the meaning of my brainstorming method.”

“The point of this discussion method is to have everyone in the meeting write down all their thoughts. I’m just trying to find useful inspiration from your ideas.”

“Okay, I have something else to do this afternoon, so I’ll leave first.”

Witch Mason breathed a sigh of relief, fearing that her wild thoughts would affect Locke and make him get stuck in a dead end.

Now that Locke says he is not affected, that’s great.

At this time, Witch Mason said to the others, “Then I have to go to Witch Ekaterina’s place too. I haven’t completed the contract for the special plane yet.”

At this time, Locke looked at Mason Witch in surprise.

Witch Freya and Wizard Barrett looked at Witch Mason with envy.

Locke asked, “I remember Mason, you went to Mentor Catherine to sign the special plane contract a long time ago, right? Why did it take so long? It only took me a short time to sign the Emerald Dream Plane.”

Freya took the initiative to explain to Mason. “Well, Mason is very lucky. Her mentor gave her the option of signing a contract with the Ancient Sky Fantasy Realm. Mason has dragon blood in her body, and the Ancient Sky Fantasy Realm gave her a special test, but it will take a long time to complete.”

“That’s why Mason has to go to the throne so often.”

Barrett said, “We also signed a contract with the Emerald Dream Plane, and we completed the contract after going there once.”

“Mason is really lucky. Because he has dragon blood in his body, he can sign the ancient sky fantasy world.”

Witch Freya said, “I heard that the ancient Sky Fantasy World was very fond of wizards with dragon blood.”

Witch Mason said, “The Emerald Dream isn’t bad either. I’m also lucky, my grandfather happens to be a frost dragon.”

“The Ancient Sky Fantasy Realm has given me a lot of tests, trying to verify my limits and prove my worth. By the way, Locke, didn’t you sign a contract with the Ancient Sky Fantasy Realm?”

Freya and Barrett looked at Locke in surprise.

Barrett asked, “Team Leader, do you also have dragon blood?”

Witch Mason said, “Yes. My teacher told me that the dragon blood in Team Leader Locke is even stronger than mine. But I thought that Team Leader Locke would also sign the Ancient Sky Fantasy Realm.”

She looked at Locke in confusion. “Why don’t you sign the Ancient Sky Fantasy World? Apparently, for wizards like us with special bloodlines, signing the Ancient Sky Fantasy World can gain more power, right?!”

Locke nodded slightly. “I just like botany more.”

“For me, I want to create a perfect ecosystem. The Emerald Dream, as the underworld of plants, is even more attractive to me.”

Mason Witch was stunned for a moment, then she smiled and said, “So that’s how it is.”

“I’m different. Since the Ancient Sky Fantasy World will treat me better, I will choose to sign a contract with the Ancient Sky Fantasy World.”

The four of them talked for a while, and Locke returned to his dormitory, thinking about how to optimize the underlying experimental process framework with the advice given to him by Mason Witch.

In his study, Locke pondered. “Right now, I really can’t think of any way to optimize this. Actually, there’s another way. That’s through Hydra, selling enough to earn enough money to fund my research.”

“To exceed Witch Catherine’s expectations.”

“In this way, perhaps we can get the sub-topic she has.”

“Let’s take one step forward and see what happens.”

Locke opened the gray mist slate, and on the other side of the gray mist slate was Albert’s video dialogue.

Albert looked at Locke and said, “Locke, I have planted three red holly trees as you requested and completed the preliminary forest sanctuary.”

“It took some effort, but I finally finished it.”

“According to our plan, today is the day I will engrave my mark, and it is also the day I will make my last attempt to become a formal wizard. I don’t know why, but I am not nervous this time.”

Albert said, “By the way, I brought a lot of old friends here this time, and they also want to meet you…”

Locke’s eyes moved slightly. Old friends?
He did have some friends in Lilith’s cabin.

…

On the seventh floor of the Jinguan Mountain Zhenzhi Academy, Witch Ekaterina listened to Witch Mason’s story to Locke.

Witch Mason bowed respectfully to Witch Ekaterina. “Your Majesty, I will become friends with Locke Augustine as you requested.”

“I have perfectly completed the task you assigned to me.”

She hesitated to speak.

Witch Ekaterina raised her brows. “What do you want to say?”

Mason Witch hesitated for a moment and said, “But…but as a first-ring official wizard, I have my own judgment. I want to tell you that even without your mission request, I would still be friends with Locke.”

“Because Locke is a very good man.”

“He’s a friend worth making.”

Mason Witch said a little uncomfortably, “But I think my actions will anger him. If he knew that I initially contacted him because of your order, and that I became friends with him in order to tell you his thoughts, I don’t know if he would be angry.”

Witch Ekaterina said, “I want to understand his thoughts so that I can develop a better training plan for him. You have nothing to be ashamed of.”

“I’m his mentor. I won’t hurt him.”

“It will only help him.”

Witch Mason breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s good. I’m sorry, Your Majesty, I was disrespectful to you.”

Witch Catherine said to Witch Mason, “Okay, you can go now. Mason, don’t forget that the test is still going on.”

“You have to behave well.”

Mason immediately bowed to Ekaterina. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

Before leaving, Witch Mason said hello to the golden dragon Fafnir.

The golden dragon Fafnir opened one of its eyes in response.

After she left, Witch Ekaterina raised her lip. “Brainstorming? Not a bad idea. It seems our Augustine has quite a talent for management.”

“How’s it going, Fafnir?”

Jin Long remained noncommittal. “Perhaps I underestimated him in this regard. But he still hasn’t truly adapted to our Yunze Wetland. You know what I mean. I’m not optimistic about him receiving the special funding.”

“You also know that the real purpose of the researchers at the Academy of Advanced True Knowledge is not to help you conduct experiments, but to obtain special funding projects for you. For every special funding project your collaborating wizards obtain, your Ten-Person Plan will receive an additional resource.”

“This is a peace agreement between you throne wizards regarding the fight for resources.”

“And your risky strategy has led to several recent cases of wasted places. Griffin and Hoover, two wizards from outside, have both wasted places in our Advanced Academy of True Knowledge.”

“If it weren’t for this, I wouldn’t be so critical of those wizards from outside.” Fafnir said, “Perhaps, Ekaterina, you should use a more cautious approach instead of constantly picking and choosing among a group of talented foreigners with shortcomings.”

“What’s wrong with the local wizards of Yunze Wetland?”

Ekaterina said, “This touches upon the fundamental difference between your and my aesthetics. I believe that true talent is most likely to emerge from marginalized areas. You only see their shortcomings, but fail to realize their potential for development.”

Jin Long said, “This is gambling. No matter how lucky a gambler is, he will eventually suffer a huge loss. The two senior researchers above are examples of this.”

“I never gamble.”

“I only stand on the side of the winner.”

Ekaterina said, “So, do you think I made a mistake betting on Locke?”

“We’ll have to wait until the results come out.” Jin Long disappeared. “It’s still early.”

“If it were me, I would prefer those local wizard geniuses.”

(End of this chapter)