Harlan Vela's Influence

At the banquet, there were even First-Ring Wizards who were still in the Southeastern Corner Region but taught at other wizard academies, and they showed considerable interest in several of Locke's projects.

A First-Ring Wizard currently serving as a Lecturer Mage at Four Seasons Garden—a witch named Christine whose entire body had turned green—approached Locke and signaled for the First-Class Wizard Apprentices gathered around him to step aside for the moment.

Christine nodded at Locke. "Junior, Four Seasons Garden has recently entered a Wizard War with the White Bone Order, an organization of Black Wizards. I'm very interested in several of the projects you have."

"However, what interests me most is the Crystal Palmfire Lotus. I want to purchase two thousand Crystal Palmfire Lotuses from you first. If possible, we can sign the contract now."

"Let's first sign an off-campus order worth ten thousand Magic Stones. If they work well, I'll represent Four Seasons Garden in placing further orders with you."

Unlike the other First-Ring Wizards, Christine had actually come in person.

Locke had noticed earlier that Christine was different from the other First-Ring Wizards. Most of them treated her rather coldly.

It was probably because, although Christine was a First-Ring Wizard within Harlan Vela's network, she had likely been an obscure student in the past.

Among First-Ring Wizards, her mana was probably on the lower end.

Thus, unlike the relatively stern attitudes the other First-Ring Wizards showed Locke, Christine treated him much more as an equal.

She was also the only First-Ring Wizard who had proactively proposed purchasing Magic Plants from Locke.

The other First-Ring Wizards were either far away from the Southeastern Corner Region in person or still watching and waiting.

Locke said to Christine, "Sure, Senior Christine. Let's sign the order. But restarting the Magic Field for