Master Level Hemostatic Potion, Making Things Difficult

In the blink of an eye.

Three days passed.

Ian's life in the Potions Department did not go smoothly.

After the first day, the difficulties Ian faced gradually increased.

First, the quality of the materials was clearly much worse, requiring him to be far more careful when processing them.

Second came the inspections.

The inspection of Ian's materials was also extremely strict.

Even the slightest issue would earn them an unqualified label.

Fortunately, Ian's proficiency with Minor Hemostatic Potions had already reached the Expert Level, so no problems arose.

Clearly, all of this was related to Hal.

While Mamen was also being somewhat targeted, it was nowhere near this exaggerated.

Even Roger, who was in the same department, had already begun helping prepare Minor Hemostatic Potions, working toward becoming a Junior Potion Master.

In the blink of an eye.

Ten days later.

In the laboratory, as Ian finished processing today's materials, a notification appeared.

"Minor Hemostatic Potion has broken through to Master Level. Talent increased by 5."

"Talent: 180→185."

Ian's eyes immediately lit up.

It had actually increased by five points—on the same level as an Outstanding-grade Wizard.

During this time, because of the department, he had barely had any time to practice wizardry.

The three Outstanding-grade wizardry spells Layton had given him before had yet to be touched!

Yet even if he went to the Training Ground to practice, he could never improve as quickly as he did through potions.

"So this is why I have to become a Junior Potion Master!"

Ian sighed.

Simply processing materials was already this fast. If he could prepare potions himself, he did not even dare imagine how quickly he could improve.

Moreover, he would not need to spend his own Magic Stones.

The Magic Stones he saved could be used elsewhere, allowing his strength to rise even faster.

"However, Hal is finding me more and more unpleasant to look at. In a few days, he'll probably have me process new materials."

Ian's gaze flickered.

Over the past week or so, he had heard that quite a few more battles had erupted in the area where Horton and the Blackstone School were handing over control.

This made Hal, who had originally planned to bring his grandson into the Potions Department, even more anxious—and even harsher toward Ian.

Sure enough.

Just as he was preparing to leave, he saw a servant come over to say that Hal wanted to see him.

Before long, he saw Hal again.

Hal was seated behind his desk, with the materials Ian had just sorted laid out before him.

Picking up a piece of Three-leaf Blood-stopping Grass, Hal looked at Ian with a smile. "Ian, Ian, you truly are skilled at processing materials."

Naturally, Ian did not think Hal was praising him.

Sure enough, Hal continued, "But merely processing these won't do. Half a month has already passed. You should be more or less done processing the materials for the other two potions by now, right? Starting tomorrow, process new materials."

"Alright."

Ian nodded.

Over half a month, he had naturally gotten started on the other two potions as well, and had nearly used up the potion materials.

But he was still far from becoming proficient.

Clearly, Hal wanted him to ruin some materials and then compensate for them.

"Don't be upset, either. Having you process materials is also a form of tempering. Young people have plenty of opportunities ahead of them."

Hal smiled.

"Thank you, Wizard Hal."

Ian smiled as well, as if nothing had happened.

The atmosphere was harmonious.

Very soon.

Ian left.

"He really does have some talent."

Watching Ian's departing back, Halman's gaze drifted to the materials.

They had all been handled very well.

Even he could hardly find any fault with them. No wonder the servants in charge of inspections had said there was no way to punish him.

But there was always a way.

If Ian handled the Minor Hemostatic Potion materials well, then he would not be allowed to handle the Minor Stamina Potion materials.

And once he had finished handling the materials for the Minor Stamina Potion and Antidote Potion, there would naturally be other work for him to do.

In short, he had to make things difficult for Ian.

"My poor grandson is still on the front lines!"

Halman's face darkened.

He was already very old, among the oldest in the department, and had once had a son.

But unfortunately, his son had died in an accident a few years ago, leaving behind only a grandson.

Now that he was in his twilight years, he had long since given up any pursuit of becoming an Official Wizard. All he wanted was for his grandson to grow up safely.

If he had gotten in, then under Halman's care, his grandson would definitely have grown rapidly. Yet because of Ian, he had failed to make the cut.

"Why didn't that bastard Ross kill him?!"

He gritted his teeth.

Back then, because he had been a suspect, he too had been investigated. But precisely because of that, he hated Ian even more.

Why couldn't he have just died like that?!

"Old bastard!"

After leaving the laboratory, Ian's gaze gradually turned icy.

Halman's lesson was still etched vividly in his mind.

And now Halman was acting the same way.

"But even if he's old, he's still a Second-class Apprentice Witch. I'll have to leave him for later."

Ian pressed his lips together.

Silently, he wrote the name down in his little notebook.

The next day.

When Ian arrived, the materials laid out on the table were no longer for Minor Hemostatic Potions, but for Minor Stamina Potions.

"Blood Orchid, Tranquil Grass..."

Ian looked at the materials and began sorting them expressionlessly. It was clear his proficiency was not very high.

Although he had bought twenty sets of materials before, they had only been enough for him to get started, nowhere near the point of proficiency.

But Ian was not worried.

"Improvement comes faster when you've just started."

After handling one batch of materials, Ian saw that his proficiency had risen by a full two points, and his eyes flickered.

The lower the proficiency, the faster it improved.

Soon, the people in the department left one after another. Their tasks were nowhere near as numerous as Ian's.

"Tut, tut!"

Elsewhere, Roger checked the time. It was noon, the normal time to leave.

"Still working on them?"

He glanced at Ian, who was bent over the materials. He had probably only finished half of them.

"You followed the wrong person."

Roger shook his head.

If it were him, he would not be so foolish. At the very least, he would have gone to Doug. At the very least, he would not have been targeted like this!

"I'm already fairly proficient with Minor Hemostatic Potions, and I'm starting to get familiar with Stamina Potions too. Within three months, I should be able to brew them proficiently. In half a year to a year, I might have a chance to advance to Junior Potion Master."

Roger calculated his progress.

By then, Ian would probably still be handling materials.

"By then, no one should be saying I'm inferior to Ian anymore."

Roger felt his whole body grow much lighter.

As he passed Ian, his body unconsciously straightened, and he strode away with his head held high.

At four in the afternoon, Ian finally finished processing all the materials.

The damaged materials amounted to more than five portions. By Ian's estimate, based on the department's prices, it should come to one Magic Stone.

It did not seem like much, but stretched over a month, it would be terrifying.

However, that kind of situation was impossible.

He glanced at his proficiency.

[Skill: Minor Stamina Potion (Proficiency 2/200)]

"About a week to become proficient at brewing it. In a month, I should be able to reach perfection."

Ian's eyes flickered.

He decided to rein in how much he showed off outside, and use this chance to raise this craft to perfection.

After all, once he left this place, he might not have such a good opportunity to improve again.

"Once I reach perfection, I can gradually raise my proficiency. Then Hal should have me handle Minor Antidote Potions."

"I should advance to Junior Potion Master within three months."

Ian drew a deep breath, glanced at the empty laboratory, and slowly walked out.