Wizard: Starting With Synthesized Gems - Chapter 795

Chapter 792 Establishment of the Augustinian Forest Alliance School Fund!

Locke and Hussein greeted Association President Justin, who was, after all, a local strongman, and the two couldn’t refuse him.

Association President Justin tentatively asked the two, “Wizard Locke, Wizard Hussein, if you need anything, please feel free to ask. I just don’t know why you two returned to the Southeast Corner Region, and I wonder if I can help?”

Hussein said, “I returned because of the Blood Curse Court. Now I have basically taken control of the Blood Curse Court, and I will lead the Blood Curse Court to relocate.”

Association President Justin immediately smiled and said, “Relocating an entire academy is a huge project; the ship tickets alone will cost a fortune.”

Hussein said, “Most of the ordinary apprentices of the Blood Curse Court can be disbanded on the spot. Wizarding talents can be sold separately to interested white wizarding organizations, and the wizarding instructors will come with me to the Cloud Marsh Wetlands.”

“I have already contacted my colleagues at the Mithril Law Firm, and we will be responsible for restructuring and optimizing its assets. I am a professional in this area. Of course, I have also contacted relevant auditors.”

“I’ve already estimated it. The proceeds from selling the Blood Curse Court separately can cover the cost of relocating the wizarding academies, and I might even make a small profit.”

President Justin nodded repeatedly; Hussein’s plan was also beneficial to him.

During the Black and White Wizarding War, their White Wizarding Association suffered immense losses. In hindsight, it seemed that Black Wizarding organizations from the higher wizarding lands had been involved from the very beginning.

Their motives were never pure.

At this moment, the major White Wizarding academies in the Southeastern Region truly needed some promising young wizards to replenish their ranks.

Locke knew what President Justin was worried about, so he said directly, “I’m just returning to the Southeastern Region for a visit, and I have a collaboration with my alma mater on research into the power of Myster. This is just an avatar of mine; I’ll be leaving soon.”

“After all, Hussein and I are aiming for the Starfield Sea.”

Hussein’s gaze sharpened as he looked at Locke.

“Locke, you’re ahead of me now. The legacy of the progenitor wizards is a problem. If I had known this would happen, I would have chosen the Mithril Law Firm route.”

Locke nodded slightly.

President Justin finally relaxed. He had indeed been somewhat worried that the two would return to the Southeast Corner to develop their businesses.

The main concern was that if that happened, he would have to recalculate many things.

But now that he heard neither of them would return, he breathed a sigh of relief.

This would simplify the post-war situation considerably.

There would be no potential conflict of interest among the three parties; instead, they would be potential allies.

President Justin gazed at the ruins of the University of Verdandia and sighed.

“Dark wizards are a bunch of destroyers. They’re not very good at building, but they’re good at destroying. Hundreds of years of wealth, destroyed like this in one go by dark wizards…”

President Justin’s eyes were somewhat lost.

“I’ve exhausted myself, going through countless hardships to maintain the situation in the Southeast Corner, but this balance was easily disrupted by a small intervention from a higher-level wizarding land.”

“When I was younger, I went to a larger wizarding land, the Razer Lowlands, but I was quickly dismissed by the Root Crown Court for failing to meet the promotion-or-leave requirement, and they demanded the return of my stipend. After losing my job, I also lost my home and allowance. I barely managed to stay in the Razer Lowlands for a while, invested in a project, but lost everything, and had no choice but to return to the Southeast Corner.”

President Justin’s eyes were filled with confusion.

“Back then, I thought it was only temporary, and I would go back. But who knew that later, I never left the Southeast Corner Region again.”

“Later, I became one of the deans of the University of Verdandia and even rose to a leadership position in the local White Wizard Association.”

“I hope you two can achieve your goals. Big places aren’t easy to navigate.”

“You will be the pride of the Southeast Corner Region.”

Locke chatted with President Justin for a while longer before leaving and heading towards Lilith’s Hut.

Locke walked to the Lilith Hut camp. The official wizards there had quieted down. Locke had met most of them once before.

Some of his wizard mentors were people he met when he took the Breeder and Potions Master certification exams, while others he met while participating in wizarding dungeons or borrowing materials from the library.

Locke looked at Wizard Harun Vera, who nodded at him with satisfaction.

Wizard Harlan Vera said to Locke, “Locke, I knew it. You are one of the three brightest students I’ve ever taught. You will achieve great things, and I will always be proud of you.”

Locke bowed to Wizard Harlan Vera and said, “Teacher, thank you for your past guidance and help.”

Harlan Vera was deeply moved, because Locke was now a second-circle wizard, while he was only a crystallized wizard, yet Locke still bowed to him as he had always done.

This touched Harlan Vera deeply.

He had had students who became second-circle wizards before, but those students were ultimately different after becoming second-circle wizards.

Only Locke, even after becoming a second-circle wizard, still treated him with the respect a student would show to a teacher.

This surprised Harlan Vera and many other wizards present.

Harlan Vera swallowed hard and said cautiously, “Locke, you’re already a second-circle wizard. Now you’ve gone further on the path of exploring truth.”

“Therefore, you don’t need to bow to me. The student has finally surpassed the teacher.”

“That’s the greatest satisfaction for a teacher.”

Locke looked at Harlan Vera and said, “In my eyes, you will always be my teacher.”

“That has never changed.”

Harlan Vera’s face showed satisfaction and joy.

“You are also the best student I’ve ever taught, that has never changed either.”

“Locke, look, this is my latest student, the Child of the Elements. She’s very skilled in breeding, possessing half of your talent in that field.”

“Her name is Isis.”

Harlan Vera pointed to a first-class wizard apprentice witch beside him. The witch had about three hundred magic points, and at this moment, she was also looking at the senior brother her teacher often mentioned with curiosity and awe.

As a breeding genius, she entered school hearing the legendary name of Locke Augustine, took Locke Augustine as her role model, and always wanted to surpass him.

But at this moment, facing her senior brother who had already become a second-circle archmage, her competitive spirit was instantly extinguished.

The witch Isis was somewhat flustered. She bowed her head to Locke and said, “You…hello, senior brother, no…Archmage Augustine.”

Isis had originally wanted to call Locke “senior brother,” but the thought that calling a second-circle archmage “senior brother” was utterly offensive and foolish made her immediately change her address.

Locke simply nodded gently at her. “It’s alright, I am your senior brother.”

“You can call me senior brother from now on.”

Isis nodded nervously, feeling a warmth in her heart.

Such a powerful and wise wizard was actually her senior brother.

How wonderful.

She was so lucky.

The wizard Harun Vera chuckled, “Locke, isn’t your little junior sister interesting? She enrolled a little over a year before you went to the Six Towers, became a second-class wizard apprentice after you left, caught my attention, and that’s how she became my disciple.”

“Her progress has been quite rapid,”

Locke said, momentarily stunned. “Five years, three hundred magic pressure, hmm, her talent is quite good.”

If someone else said such a genius’s talent was merely “good,” someone would surely disagree.

But at this moment, no one found Locke’s statement wrong; on the contrary, it seemed perfectly natural.

Because at this moment, Locke was the greatest genius here.

Harun Vera said to Locke, “I plan to have her enter the Myster Power Research Institute.”

Locke nodded slightly.

This meant that he wanted this witch named Isis to become a formal wizard using the [Forest Sanctuary].

Locke said, “Great! I happen to have two projects I’d like to collaborate on with the academy.”

Dean Earl’s eyes immediately lit up. “Collaboration? Of course!”

“You’re an outstanding wizard from our Lilith Hut. Lilith Hut will certainly do its utmost to cooperate with you.”

Locke, Dean Earl, and wizard Harlen Vera spoke as they walked away, while the other wizards wisely kept their distance.

Locke snapped his fingers, and instantly his mountain-like magical pressure compressed the air, forming walls—walls of magical pressure that effectively created a soundproof barrier.

Locke looked at Dean Earl Thompson and asked, “Dean Thompson, what are your plans after this war?”

Dean Earl Thompson replied, “War harms all wizarding universities. Our Lilith Hut alone lost seven full-fledged wizards.”

“The deaths of these seven full-fledged wizards will impact the development of our disciplines at Lilith Hut. Especially our only full-fledged wizard specializing in Beast Taming Magic within the Summoning School; with his death, our Beast Taming Magic discipline at Lilith Hut is practically crippled.”

“We already had limited research resources and equipment, and now even our only full-fledged wizard is dead. The problem is that many third-class and second-class wizarding apprentices in this field, as well as two first-class apprentices, have lost their mentors,”

Dean Earl Thompson sighed.

“These people have lost their mentors and have almost no hope of advancing further. Third-class wizard apprentices are relatively easy to manage; switching majors isn’t a big cost issue.”

“But for second-class and first-class wizard apprentices, the sunk costs are too high.”

“I plan to recruit a regular full-fledged wizard specializing in beast taming magic. If successful, he can inherit the deceased wizard’s laboratory and research group.”

“If not, there’s nothing I can do. Those students will either have to drop out or be entrusted to other colleges for training…”

“In short, I need to carefully consider the fate of these students. The deaths of the other six full-fledged wizards will also have some impact on our academic development.”

Dean Earl Thompson said, “However, the losses at Lilith Hut in the war are relatively small.”

“The losses at Four Seasons Garden and Verdandia University are much greater; after this war, I estimate that many of their subjects will be directly canceled.”

“Because there are no corresponding wizard mentors.”

Dean Earl Thompson said, “Oh, by the way, all the official wizard instructors for the Breeding Department at Verdandia University have died out because they were targeted by the previous Dark Wizarding Alliance.”

“Now, Verdandia University will probably completely abandon the Breeding Department.”

Locke’s eyes lit up.

He knew Dean Earl was reminding him of something.

If they were selling their personnel and laboratory equipment as a package deal, it was the best time to act.

Especially since he was currently short-staffed.

Dean Earl said, “You’ve already gone independent, so I imagine you’re lacking equipment, resources, and manpower. If you want, we can give them to you then.”

Locke shook his head slightly. “I’m just an ordinary researcher at Golden Crown Mountain.”

“I can’t handle the resources of the entire Breeding Laboratory at Verdandia University. Besides, I don’t need that much. Thank you for your kindness, Dean, but I only need a portion—the equipment and personnel I want.”

Dean Earl nodded.

“Then let’s take them all when they sell,”

Locke said with a sigh.

Unexpectedly, Verdandia University has suffered such a calamity,

even being forced to abandon the entire Breeder’s Discipline.

Harun Vera said, “However, the Four Seasons Garden and Verdandia University will not completely decline; they will definitely rise again.”

“Both of these colleges have academic lineages from higher-level wizarding lands behind them.”

“The founding wizard of the Four Seasons Garden, the Four Seasons Witch, is currently the chief wizarding instructor at the Rootcrown Royal Court and is a three-ringed throne wizard.”

“The founding wizard of Verdandia University is dead, but they have an academic supervisor who is very influential in the Siming Waters. Throughout Verdandia University, there are several high-ringed wizarding lineages from higher-level wizarding lands. Those high-ringed wizards may not pay enough attention to this area, but they will still care to some extent about the continued existence of their lineages in various wizarding lands.”

“Therefore, the Four Seasons Garden and the University of Verdandia will not decline; they will rise again sooner or later,”

Locke said. “So, are the high-ring wizards related to the breeding department at the University of Verdandia no longer there?”

Harun Vera replied, “Yes, that’s right. There used to be a high-ring wizard from the Rose Council there. But recently, that high-ring wizard switched sides and left the Eastern District for the Southern District.”

“It seems to be the Southern Ridge Magic City.”

“Between wizarding territories, if you travel through the Three Swamps as a transit point, a round trip takes about four months. But if you cross districts, it’s much longer.”

“Therefore, his academic lineage was severed. After he left, his students were leaderless, which is why the Dark Wizarding Alliance dared to target the breeding wizards at Vildandia University. Of course, there are other things involved, and there may be more complex issues involved, because we don’t know why the Dark Wizarding Alliance targeted the breeding program at Vildandia University.”

Locke asked, “Professor Harlan, how did the Dark Wizarding Alliance target them?”

Harlan Vera took Locke’s words very seriously at this moment. After all, he was a second-circle wizard, so he thought about it carefully and then said, “They captured many of Vildandia University’s official wizard breeders.”

“For a while, we were worried that the Dark Wizarding Alliance would target us.”

“The dark wizards took those breeders into the Forbidden Forest, and they haven’t been seen since.”

Locke pondered: ‘Captured breeders? Right, the dark wizards don’t have breeders; they need breeders to identify Dragon’s Saliva.’ Essentially, the Black Wizarding Alliance forcibly captured the breeders and formed an expedition. Because the Forbidden Forest was incredibly dangerous, those breeders likely perished there. “

It’s very likely the King of the Forbidden Forest was behind it.”

“The reason the breeding program at Vildantia University disappeared was because it was caught up in the academic conflict between the Red Dragon Witch and the Rose Witch.”

Locke now truly understood that the clash of academic ideas between the Rose Throne and the Red Dragon Throne could, through a butterfly effect, influence the fate of one of the top wizarding universities in an entire wizarding land.

The war between the two throne wizards probably wouldn’t be limited to the Cloud Marsh Wetlands or the Three Marshes.

So, the academic clash between his teacher and the Rose Witch could affect multiple wizarding lands?

Locke thought of the Tianjiang River region; upon reflection, wasn’t the Three Kings Tournament in that wizarding land influenced by the academic conflict between the two throne wizards?

If the consequences of current academic clashes are already so severe, what must the Throne War, which terrifies his fellow disciples, be like?

It seems to be related to the Ladder of Truth.

Locke pondered for a moment. After hearing the term Ladder of Truth, he searched the free books in the second ring but found nothing.

So this must be something only third-ring wizards can study.

Perhaps the Ladder of Truth test in the Feathered Serpent Pavilion, even its name, is related to this so-called Ladder of Truth.

Locke currently doesn’t have enough contribution points to exchange for the Spirit Hundred Solutions, so he can’t directly take the second-ring potion master exam, which is the expert-level potion master certificate.

Locke said to Harlen Vera and Dean Earl, “Teacher, and Dean, I have an idea. I want to establish a fund to subsidize first-class wizard apprentices to study the Forest Sanctuary and become formal wizards.”

“As you know, a wizard needs a lot of money to build a Forest Sanctuary. The cost of the Forest Sanctuary itself alone is millions of magic stones. Not to mention the related potions, such as the Swarm Consciousness potion.”

The two nodded as they listened.

Locke walked along the edge of the forest in the southeastern corner of the region, saying, “Therefore, I offer every first-class wizard apprentice who passes my test, or meets my standards, and who comes from Lilith Hut and possesses 800 magic pressure, a choice. Accept my sponsorship of 500,000 magic stones, on the condition that they accept my Forest Alliance Charm.”

Locke briefly explained his Forest Alliance Charm.

Headmaster Earl Thompson was extremely interested.

“I see. I’ve heard Albert mention the Forest Alliance Charm before. Sure.” Of

course, he agreed.

Why did Lilith Hut decline?

Because Lilith Hut’s lineage had been severed.

The emerging power in the southeastern corner, the Four Seasons Garden, had the chief wizard mentor of the Rootcrown Court and a third-ringed throne wizard behind it.

Although the throne wizard might not care about this place, just the show of force was enough to intimidate a large group of people.

The group of dark wizards broke into the Four Seasons Garden, but they didn’t even dare to damage it too much, especially the Winter Garden that the third-ringed throne wizard used to manage.

They didn’t dare to damage it at all.

The power of a throne wizard is immense; even if he doesn’t personally target you, the presence of his followers is enough to cause serious trouble.

The University of Verdandia also has multiple academic lineages, though the university itself has already declined.

Its founding wizard, after developing his career in the higher wizarding realm and becoming a fourth-circle wizard, aspired to become a Wizard of Truth and a leader in his field.

He died

, reportedly from an extremely dangerous experiment.

This already marked a decline for Verdandia University, diminishing its absolute dominance over the southeastern region two hundred years ago.

The recent war between the black and white wizards further damaged its reputation, exposing its true nature once more.

Lilith’s Cottage, as one of the oldest and most established powers in the southeastern region and the true owner of the Forbidden Forest, is now less powerful and influential than the Four Seasons Garden and the University of Verdandia.

This is because their founding wizard, Lady Mister, is long gone, a figure from a very early period, making it difficult to distinguish whether she existed in reality or is a mythical figure.

The several academic networks they later established gradually broke down over time.

The academic ties disappeared.

Thus, Lilith’s Hut was already in a state of decline, with no one in power, its infrastructure falling behind, and its student population dwindling.

Now, Locke, as an outstanding graduate of Lilith’s Hut and a senior researcher at Golden Crown Mountain, proactively proposed collaborating with his alma mater to establish a personal foundation and create academic connections.

How could Dean Earl Thompson refuse?

Although Locke was currently only an ordinary second-ring wizard, far from being qualified to build academic networks—at least a sun-ring wizard could be considered qualified—

an academic network involved many aspects, including upper and lower wizarding territories, faculty positions, and corresponding resources.

But Locke was so young.

He wasn’t a sun-ring wizard now, nor a third-ring wizard; who could guarantee he wouldn’t be in the future?

Harlan Vera exclaimed, “Lilith’s Cottage has had a stroke of luck. Suddenly, you and the witch Sophia have appeared, master and apprentice.”

“You two seem to have appeared out of nowhere.”

“I suspect the Dark Wizarding Alliance didn’t target our breeders this time, perhaps because of your relationship with Sophia.”

Locke nodded slightly.

Very likely.

And it was probably most related to him.

Not because of his own influence, but because the Dark Wizarding Alliance’s actions were influenced by the Rose Throne, which clearly wanted to operate secretly, without alerting his teacher.

And since Lilith’s Cottage was closely related to him, even to avoid alerting his teacher, they should try to avoid targeting Lilith’s Cottage.

Locke said, “It’s wonderful that you two agree with my idea.”

Dean Earl smiled, “The Forest Alliance Spell will connect the permanent defensive fields of you wizards who study the Forest Sanctuary. I see no problem with that. Naturally, there’s no way you’d have any objections.”

“In fact, I think it’s quite good.”

“Locke, you’re a Grand Wizard now.”

“Then let’s call it the Augustine Forest Alliance Fund?”

Locke said, “Alright. I’ll have Hussein help me set up a fund committee and store one million magic stones in it. If needed in the future, I’ll provide more funds.”

“I just hope that more and more formal wizards will use the Forest Sanctuary as a permanent defensive field.”

(End of Chapter)