Wizard: Starting With Synthesized Gems - Chapter 746

Chapter 743 Clash of Thrones, Thousand-Year Best Friends!

Locke breathed a sigh of relief; he had still helped Esther escape capture.

Although he still didn’t understand the full scope of Catherine the Witch’s scheme—was Esther a traitor or a spy?

On the surface, Esther was a traitor.

Of course, from her perspective, she might just be changing jobs, but Catherine the Witch had secretly helped her leave the Golden Crown Mountain region.

There was too much hidden information in this.

At this moment, on the small void flying vehicle stood two old acquaintances of Locke’s: one was Lana, the witch of the Rose Council, and the other was Nina, the witch of the Rose Council.

The two wore two different types of rose-themed clothing. One was a hazy gray-blue wizard’s robe with cup-shaped blue roses and the style of the Ocean Song Rose, except that on its left shoulder was a real Ocean Song Rose.

The witch wearing this robe was Nina.

The other robe was apricot-yellow, shaped like a lord’s crown, and possessed an unusually fragrant golden celebration rose. It was also a wizard’s robe themed around this rose, and on its right shoulder was a real, magical rose plant—the Golden Celebration.

Locke was taken aback; the witch wearing this robe was Lana.

It was Nina who had reminded him at the debate to buy a Worldstone before the competition.

This was actually a hint that the high-ringed wizards of the Rose Council behind Solas the Lightfoot and Melochy the Magic Step would hire dark wizards to assassinate him after the competition.

Besides having a good impression of him, the main reason Lana would do this was because Lana had praised him many times before.

He just hadn’t expected to encounter these two familiar witches during Esther’s defection.

Lana glanced at Esther with a complex expression, then looked at the pursuing Sith wizards and other second-ringed wizards.

“Siss, stop.”

“Estelle’s contract with your Golden Crown Mountain has expired, and she informed our Rose Witches in advance. His Majesty the Throne has agreed to her joining our Rose Council.”

“In that case, there’s no need to damage the harmony between our two families.”

“Afterwards, we will explain to Golden Crown Mountain separately and offer compensation for Esther’s unfinished contracts with Golden Crown Mountain.”

Wizard Siss looked coldly at Witch Lana, then at Witch Esther, and then back at Witch Lana.

“The Rose Council, if you truly don’t want to damage your good relationship with Golden Crown Mountain, you shouldn’t resort to such underhanded tactics.”

“Poaching from Golden Crown Mountain is a serious provocation.”

The Sith Wizard stated firmly, “This isn’t a dispute over a small project like Desert Rose. Poaching a Sun Ring Wizard from Golden Crown Mountain is tantamount to declaring war. You can decide when to start, but when it ends is not necessarily as you wish.”

The Sith Wizard asked, “Do you really want to provoke this conflict?”

Locke’s eyes flickered; this was what he found most strange.

A Sun Ring Wizard switching allegiances—not just an ordinary Second Ring Wizard—was a significant loss for Golden Crown Mountain, and would trigger a series of repercussions.

Therefore, under normal circumstances, it was hard to believe this was merely a charade.

Lana the Witch stood in front of the small flying vehicle, arms crossed, and smiled. “War? Sith, you’re exaggerating. If we were truly that important to the Academy, Esther would have a long-term contract, not just a temporary worker.”

“As a temporary worker, we can’t be so concerned about her leaving. Our Rose Council is willing to offer her a long-term contract.”

“Furthermore, there’s a series of resources for second-ring wizarding realms, even priority access to third-ring wizarding realms. We can also promise to provide her with resources so she can lead a team and apply for a Sun Ring Project fund.”

Lana the Witch smiled. “We offer good benefits, so it’s normal for people to come to us. Sith, don’t make a fuss, okay? This is just a business transaction.”

“We just finished the Five Great Wars. Your Golden Crown Mountain fought well.”

A hint of apprehension flashed in Lana the Witch’s eyes.

“But don’t keep talking about war.”

In this Five Great Wars, Golden Crown Mountain achieved the highest score, meaning they will become very powerful in the next decade.

But precisely because of this, Esther had a compelling reason to recruit them.

The project the Red Dragon Queen of Golden Crown Mountain was applying for under the Ten-Person Plan was almost identical to the project the Rose Witch was applying for—they were already in conflict.

Both were scrambling to apply first.

Whoever got there first would get everything.

Academic competition was a matter of life and death, hence Esther’s inescapable fate.

Esther’s eyes flickered as she turned to the Sith Wizard, explaining, “Sith, I don’t want to be your enemy. But if you continue to be so aggressive and stubborn, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

“Let me leave,”

the Sith Wizard coldly snorted.

“You don’t want to be my enemy? Then why did you help Zaran Bailey become a second-circle wizard, accelerating his path to becoming one? You could even say he might never have become a second-circle wizard in his entire life.”

“You accelerated his path, making him complacent and believing he became a second-circle wizard through his own efforts, completely ignoring the numerous external assistances he received…”

Locke, who had been eavesdropping with his dragon ears and fighting alongside the Death Dragon against the second-circle wizards of Golden Crown Mountain, immediately understood.

So that’s how it was.

He had long sensed a huge conspiracy vortex hidden around Zaran Bailey, and therefore deliberately kept his distance to avoid being drawn in.

Now it seemed his decision was very wise.

It turned out that Zaran Bailey’s becoming a second-circle wizard was deliberately supported by the witch Esther.

Of course, this didn’t mean he didn’t become a second-circle wizard on his own merits.

After all, becoming a second-circle wizard largely depends on one’s own efforts, but it seems that the witch Esther was behind it all, helping him grow faster and even cross a threshold that would normally take hundreds of years to overcome.

This is probably what they call “pulling up seedlings to help them grow.”

The Sith wizard stared intently at Esther, speaking, “You made Zaran Bailey, an ordinary researcher, a second-circle wizard ahead of schedule. Frankly, you ruined him, lowered his potential, and made him arrogant and conceited. You destroyed his sanity with success, and then you manipulated him with deception.”

“After we arrested him, he confessed everything. You frequently mentioned Locke in his presence, subtly instilling hostility towards him. Locke Augustine and Zaran Bailey, both invaluable assets of Golden Crown Mountain, yet you turned them into enemies.”

“You deceived Zaran Bailey, luring him into a swindler’s trap. That swindler roamed the Eastern Frontier, claiming to help wizards establish purification factories in the colonies, but he had no real technology.” “He’s

just a swindler,” the Sith wizard said coldly. “

Zaran Bailey didn’t realize that his so-called friend was merely a big swindler who relied on empty talk and boasting.”

“He was swindled out of all his money, but he didn’t dare tell me, so he had to borrow from loan sharks. He fell into a series of scams, losing all his wealth, and now the Dune Plane is severely polluted.”

The Sith Wizard’s eyes were cold, his teeth clenched.

“Estelle, I have no grudge against you, why would you ruin all my efforts over the past twenty years in the Dune Plane? Although desert roses are one of the main raw materials for the Love Ring artifact proposed by the Rose Witch, it’s just a small market with no technological barriers.”

“Why did you go to such lengths?”

Esther hesitated.

The Sith Wizard continued, “We’ve been friends for many years, and we even won a war in the Demon Realm together not long ago. If you have anything to say, you can come back to Mount Golden Crown with us and talk it out. Witch Esther, you are a witch of Mount Golden Crown…”

Locke, who was eavesdropping nearby, was shocked.

Good heavens, so the reason why the wizard Zalan Bailey was so hostile and jealous of him was because a third party was plotting against him in the dark.

Indeed, if no third party had been secretly stirring things up, even if the witch Zhalan Bailey harbored jealousy towards him, she might not have been so hostile.

If he hadn’t happened to participate in this operation, he probably wouldn’t have discovered these things for a long time.

It turned out that so much undercurrent was already swirling around him so soon after he entered Golden Crown Mountain.

But why?

Why did the Rose Witch go through all this trouble to target Group 2?

And what was Esther’s true stance?

If she was truly a traitor, then her turning Zhalan Bailey against him was probably just to cause trouble, not to deliberately target him.

He was merely a tool she was using.

If she was an undercover agent sent by the teacher, then how much did the witch Catherine know about these things?

Locke was momentarily confused.

Upon hearing this, the witch Lana, dressed in the golden celebration rose wizard’s robes, immediately looked at the wizard Sith and said, “So you know nothing. Sith, you’re wrong about one thing.”

“Estée has always been a member of our Rose Council.”

A golden celebration rose bloomed on Lana’s shoulder, and instantly, beams of enchanted light flew out, affecting everyone’s vision, and at the same time, everyone saw the scene under this enchanted spell.

In the vision, the image of Esther, in her youth, appeared.

At this time, Esther was an ordinary little girl, born on the streets of a free city-state within the Rose Council. She was the daughter of a local art gallery owner.

In the vision, Esther studied, took the entrance exam for the Rose Council’s primary school, passed it, and quickly gained the attention of the second-class wizard apprentice headmaster.

After being identified as a child of the wood element, she rose rapidly through the ranks to the capital of a mortal kingdom under the Rose Council’s jurisdiction, where she began studying at a Rose Council-run intermediate academy. Within six months, she became a third-class wizard apprentice.

Originally, her destiny should have been to immediately pass the exams and enter the advanced academy at the Rose Council headquarters, or the Rose Council’s affiliated wizarding university.

Whichever path she chose, she would likely become a full-fledged wizard of the Rose Council in the future.

But fate took a turn. A witch with the appearance of a little girl, dressed in a Baroque-style dress adorned with various rose and magical plant patterns, appeared before her.

She had twin ponytails and an arrogant gaze that disdained everyone in the world.

The witch beside her, seeing this, flickered her eyes and bowed to the illusionary Rose Witch.

The illusionary Rose Witch, however, looked at Esther with indifference.

“Esther, is that right? A rather interesting little girl.”

“I am the Third Ring Throne Witch of the Rose Council.”

“I am now giving you an opportunity for rapid advancement. I have seen your test results. Your magical accuracy is very high, but your synesthetic understanding of magic is insufficient. In other words, you are talented, but your type of talent is not the best in our Rose Council.”

The Rose Witch’s lips curled into a malicious smile, her mocking gaze undisguised.

“Esther, if you stay within the Rose Council’s academy system, wherever you go, you’ll always be second. A second place… more than enough, but never quite first. Are you willing?”

In the illusion, the witch Esther immediately pleaded with the Rose Witch for guidance on her future path.

The Rose Witch pointed towards Mount Golden Crown and said, “This world is larger than you think. The Rose Council region isn’t the whole world, Esther.”

“If this place isn’t right for you, then go where it is. A tree dies if transplanted, but a person thrives.”

“Esther, I’ll give you a long-term, permanent mission. If you accept, you can now become my teacher. If you refuse, you can pretend I never came. I won’t tell you who I am, because that would only increase your future regret and make you unable to let go for the rest of your life.”

The Rose Witch stood with her hands behind her back and said, “I don’t want to be so cruel. But I can’t help it; I’ve always been so kind.”

In the illusion, Esther undoubtedly chose to become the Rose Witch’s teacher.

And the Rose Witch extended her request for a long-term mission to Esther.

“From today onwards, you are my last disciple.”

“Esther, a private master-disciple relationship is one thing, but a master-student relationship recognized by the White Wizarding Association is another.”

“When you become a more powerful wizard, you will understand—to call someone ‘teacher’; to call someone ‘teacher’ and receive their acknowledgment that you are their student; and to call someone ‘teacher’ and receive their acknowledgment that you are their disciple.” “Those are

three concepts. Although, the title is always ‘teacher.’ This is all due to one of the three pillars of this era—the mentorship system—which has confused the true definition of master and disciple in classical times.”

The Rose Witch said, “You are currently a third-class wizard apprentice, which is just right. You leave this intermediate academy under the Rose Council, go and take the entrance exam for the intermediate academy at Golden Crown Mountain, and after you pass the Golden Crown Mountain intermediate academy, go and take the entrance exam for the Golden Crown Mountain advanced academy. I want you to become an apprentice under a student of the Golden Crown Mountain Catherine Witch.”

“That way, you will have washed away the traces of the Rose Council from your body. But that’s still not enough. You must become a student of the Catherine Witch and then work under her.”

“As I’ve arranged, during your second-class wizard apprenticeship, you’ll be with her students. During your first-class wizard apprenticeship, you can become an ordinary student under her. Then, I hope that during your formal wizarding career, she will personally address you as her student.”

The Rose Witch smiled. “And my disciple, when you become a second-circle wizard, that will be the time for you to return to your master’s school.”

“This private master-disciple relationship is different from the mentorship system, so it won’t cause conflict, and therefore no one will dare to gossip. In the future, it will be proof that you are a member of our Rose Council.”

In the illusion, Esther’s eyes immediately sparkled as she bowed to the Rose Witch. “Thank you, teacher.”

“I’m willing to go to Golden Crown Mountain.”

Locke, who had been watching the show from the sidelines, was dumbfounded.

Good heavens, Senior Esther, are you an undercover agent for Golden Crown Mountain or the Rose Council?

Which side are you on?

In other words, the Rose Council, utilizing the mechanism that allowed third-class wizard apprentices—second-class wizard apprentices—to continuously advance through examinations by changing teachers and lower-level schools, had completely rewritten Esther’s educational experience and confirmed her private affiliation through a private master-apprentice relationship.

That’s strange.

Did her teacher, the witch Catherine, know about these things?

If she did, why did she ask her to help Esther?

If she didn’t…

Esther looked at the witch Lana and the Sith wizard, simultaneously glancing at the terrifying Death Dragon in the distance, the wizards on Golden Crown Mountain responsible for blocking the Death Dragon, and the swarm of dragons that blotted out the sky.

Esther the Witch said, “There’s no need for all this trouble, putting us all in such a predicament. This place is, after all, a formidable barrier. The Death Dragon is a terrifying enemy that even ordinary second-ring wizards cannot defeat on their own, and it poses a threat to us sun-ring wizards as well.”

“Let’s get straight to the point. I have always been a member of the Rose Council, before, now, and in the future. Therefore, there is no question of betrayal or not.”

“Moreover, I know more than you, Sith, and even you, Lana. You underestimate the closeness between me and the Rose Witch. I am her last disciple, and she will not waste any more energy carefully nurturing a student until she becomes a fourth-ring wizard.”

Esther the Witch sighed. “The Rose Witch and the Red Dragon Witch’s research has long been in conflict. Peach trees are also magical plants of the Rosaceae family, and their research often clashed in many areas. Over time, they became enemies.”

“Two hundred years ago, the Rose Witch discovered that the Red Dragon Witch’s ‘Ten-Person Plan’ project, which could obtain resources from the fourth ring, used a research topic that conflicted with her own. At that time, she was already on the verge of success and had no choice but to act, so she couldn’t make large-scale adjustments and could only use me as a pawn.”

Everyone present fell silent.

No one had expected the academic rivalry within the Three Rings to be so brutal.

A single project had dragged on for two hundred years, with even the Rose Witch meticulously planning for two centuries, cultivating a Sun Ring Wizard to act as a spy and uncover secrets within the opposing project team!

This was too much!

The Witch Esther said, “Both Throne Lords are men of great talent and ambition, outstanding figures of their time. Tragically, their ideas often clash. Even without enmity, this is more terrifying than if they were. Sith, I can tell you that the new energy-locking structures your Group 2 has developed are very useful to the Red Dragon Throne Lord.”

“Similarly, they are also very useful to Teacher Rose.”

Locke, who had been casually observing from the side while eavesdropping with his dragon ears perked up, was now deep in thought.

‘If the Rose Council truly trusted her so much, why did they test me so many times just now?’

‘And what exactly is Teacher Rose’s ten-person project?’ From Group 2 to Group 6, and Group 3 led by Esther, their research content wasn’t exactly unrelated, but it was completely unconnected. “

As a project spanning over two hundred years, the two thrones probably didn’t want to attract more covetous and competitive individuals, so they concealed their true project. Perhaps only a few people at their level, and those in special circumstances like the witch Esther, would know anything about it.”

At this moment, a third-circle magical pressure suddenly descended from the sky, even startling the third-circle wizard of Mount Golden Crown who had been secretly observing and ready to act.

“Your Majesty?”

Esther was also startled, seemingly terrified.

“Lady Catherine, have you finally realized that I truly betrayed you?”

Locke was utterly bewildered.

No, what’s going on? I’m completely confused!

Senior, did you betray me or not?!

Locke realized then that his level was still quite low.

Currently, I seem to be just getting started at the card table, acting as a pawn for others, while those who can actually play the game must be at least at the third ring.

However, at this table, the Sun Ring Wizards, as the trump cards, seem to have their own personalities.

In fact, the players might even consider the interests of the Sun Ring Wizards.

At this moment, a Dragon-View Peach King suddenly descended from the sky, intending to suppress Esther and all the Rose Council wizards around her.

The peach instantly transformed into a mountain!

A Peach Mountain!

In an instant, everyone felt as if the peach had descended from the sky, like a world itself.

Everyone’s magical pressure became powerless at this moment.

It was as if everything was inevitable.

Locke even felt his own magical pressure was so fragile, as if it had no effect whatsoever.

The magical peach transformed into a mountain, suppressing the world!

The next moment, a shower of cherry blossoms suddenly swept through the sky, and two throne-level magical pressures clashed.

The Rose Witch’s childlike voice appeared.

“Katya, this is the first time I’ve ever seen you so furious. Hahaha…”

“We’ve been best friends for a thousand years… For a thousand years, I don’t know how many times we’ve secretly wished the other would immediately go out and die of bad luck, right?”

(End of Chapter)