Selling Potions, Looking Down On

Leaving the laboratory.

Ian did not go home. Instead, he went to find Victor.

"Ian?"

This was the first time Victor had seen Ian since entering the department. Delighted, he welcomed him inside.

In front of the sofa, Victor asked, "Is something the matter?"

"It's like this, Instructor. Do you have any channels? I want to sell the potions I made earlier."

Ian was still more accustomed to this form of address.

At first, he had wanted to sell the potions to Logan, but he simply could not wait any longer. He was desperately short on Magic Stone Shards now.

He had also considered selling them to the department.

But the collection office said they only took back potions from laboratories and Junior Potion Masters.

Normally, the Wizards in the department could ask the laboratories to help collect them, but Hal obviously would never do him that favor!

"Selling potions? I almost forgot you were in Hal's laboratory."

Victor slapped his forehead.

He had been so busy lately that he had nearly forgotten about Ian.

"Just give them to me. I'll help you collect them. The department's collection price is nine Magic Stone Shards each. If you sell them at the market, you might only get eight Magic Stone Shards." Victor said.

"I'll speak to Minister Vivian later and see if I can get you a bit of a subsidy. After all, I was the one who brought you in—but there's no guarantee it'll work."

"Thank you, Instructor."

Ian was suddenly touched.

Ever since entering the School, Victor had taken great care of him.

Ian was about to leave and retrieve the potions.

Before he went out, Victor called out to him.

"Ian."

Ian turned back to look at Victor, puzzled.

Is there something else?

Victor took a deep breath and looked at Ian.

"Ian, Vivian knows all about what's been happening to you.

She told me that you first have to climb out of the mire on your own and prove that you're worth investing in. Of course, if you truly can't hold on, she can pull you out in three months at most!"

Ian's gaze sharpened.

He had actually had his doubts as well.

He had been in the department for some time now, yet Vivian had never once asked about him.

Now it seemed she was probably fully aware of his circumstances.

He recalled his brief meeting with Vivian before.

This Minister appeared to be a pure value investor.

Was this a test?

"As long as you prove your worth and prove that your talent is real, the rewards will definitely satisfy you. That was how it was for me back then."

Victor added.

"I understand, Instructor."

Ian nodded.

After speaking with Victor, many things became clear in an instant.

Minister Vivian was indeed completely different from Victor.

Only by displaying enough value could he receive enough protection.

"I need to become a Junior Potion Master as soon as possible."

Ian drew a deep breath.

After leaving the laboratory, Ian went home and brought over all the potions.

There were ten bottles in total.

Victor tapped the spatial storage item worth several hundred, then took out nine Magic Stones and handed them to Ian.

Ian was green with envy.

Using these Magic Stones, he bought more magical potion ingredients.

It seemed rather unnecessary.

After all, processing materials could raise proficiency.

But this period of potion-making made Ian realize a problem.

Although processing materials could raise proficiency, that experience remained in his mind as if it had been frozen.

Practice, however, could quickly melt that ice and let Ian absorb it rapidly.

This was also what Ian found so miraculous about the panel!

It possessed mechanisms that seemed like those of a game, yet they fit reality so smoothly that nothing felt out of place.

After all, processing materials being able to raise proficiency looked like a game no matter how he saw it.

This also left him genuinely poor!

In truth, with his Perfect-grade Hemostatic Potion, he could already earn Magic Stones.

But he simply did not have enough time.

By the time he finished work each day, it was already late afternoon, and he could not neglect meditation either.

After practicing a new potion for a while, he was utterly exhausted.

"So I still need to advance to Junior Potion Master!"

Ian sighed again.

Only by becoming a Junior Potion Master would he have enough time.

And many other things besides.

Time flew by.

There was no news of the subsidy Victor had mentioned, so it was clear that it had not gone through.

In the blink of an eye.

Half a month had passed.

His proficiency with the Minor Stamina Potion had reached Expert level, and processing materials was no longer a problem for him.

At the same time, it was the last day of the month—the day the department paid out wages.

Inside the Potions Department.

Doug would distribute the funds to the various internal divisions, and their supervisors would then hand them out.

So Ian's pay was distributed by Hal.

"Your wages for this month are five Magic Stones. However, you damaged materials and must compensate four Magic Stones. In addition, you damaged equipment and must compensate one Magic Stone. Your final balance is zero."

Hal looked up at Ian. His tone was flat, yet brooked no doubt.

Ian immediately frowned.

Because each batch contained many materials, and he had usually only damaged one type.

Under his deliberate control, it could not possibly have exceeded three.

As for damaging equipment, that was even more absurd.

"I'd like to check the records," Ian said.

Hal's cloudy eyes widened at once. "Records? The laboratory processes thousands of materials every day. Are we supposed to keep separate files just for you? I say four Magic Stones, then it's four Magic Stones. What, do you think I'm deliberately making things difficult for you?"

"I understand."

Suppressing his anger, Ian nodded.

"It's good that you understand. Don't hold up everyone else's time."

Hal waved him off casually.

Ian turned and left.

After walking out the door, he faintly heard Hal's smug laughter.

Night!

Looking at his nearly depleted reserve of Magic Stones.

"Fortunately, tomorrow is the start of a new month. The Silver Moon Lake Family's funding should arrive too."

Ian took a deep breath.

This was currently his only source of income.

At dusk the next day.

Ian headed to Maple Leaf Avenue.

He knocked on the door.

Chris opened the door, looking utterly exhausted.

"Ian, you're here!"

"Senior, what happened to you?" It was the first time Ian had seen her so weary.

"It's nothing. Come in."

Chris did not intend to tell him today, so Ian did not ask.

Before long, Ian received this month's Magic Stones.

The maid Lily saw him out.

At that moment, Ian asked directly:

"What exactly happened?"

Lily hesitated for a moment, then bit her lip and said:

"Hal from your Potions Department came to our family. He hoped they would cancel our support for you. Some people in the family agreed, saying you aren't even a Junior Potion Master, but Miss refused, so they started arguing."

"But it's not that serious. If you advance to Junior Potion Master, the family probably won't say anything either."

Ian was immediately taken aback.

He had never imagined that Hal would investigate him to such an extent, even contacting the Silver Moon Lake Family.

"Alright, I understand. Thank Senior for me."

Ian silently tucked this kindness away in his heart.

As long as he had the chance in the future, he would absolutely repay it.