Anglong Potion

After instructing a Dwarf attendant to clean his room, Locke left. Even after a year, he still had not escaped Magic Stone poverty.

There was no helping it. He had devoted most of his energy to increasing his Mana and completing two spells, with the rest going toward the three major public courses and Instructor Sophia's classes.

He simply had no energy to spare for anything else.

Besides, for a Third-Class Wizard Apprentice, whether selling special hybrid plants, hybrid plant seeds, or synthetic gemstones, it was all a suicidal act.

It would be far too easy for others to spot the problem.

That was why Locke was so eager to become a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice and study Magical Plant Breeding under Instructor Sophia.

After a year at Lilith's Cottage, Locke had gradually come to understand certain things. Third-Class Wizard Apprentices were only a little stronger than ordinary people. They could not do much, nor were they of much value to the Academy.

Second-Class Wizard Apprentices were different.

Second-Class Wizard Apprentices could already perform work for the Academy, such as maintaining and servicing its various magical resources. They could also assist their instructors as Potions assistants, Assistant Breeders, and so on.

As for First-Class Wizard Apprentices, some of them at Lilith's Cottage even had independent laboratories. They could stand on their own in many fields and create things with real returns. From the First-Class Wizard Apprentice level onward, they were internal members of Lilith's Cottage.

Second-Class Wizard Apprentices, meanwhile, were the solid foundation of Lilith's Cottage.

At noon, Locke hurried toward the cottage where his instructor was located.

Along the way, Locke noticed quite a few unfamiliar Wizard Apprentices on Dwarf Street.

After giving it some thought, he understood what they were there for. They were probably people selling all kinds of loan contracts to Wizard Seedlings desperate to become Second-Class Wizard Apprentices.

Over the past year, Locke had learned that if the Black Wizard World was a slave society mixed with a primitive society, then White Wizard society was a capitalist society.

In the city of Lilith's Cottage, Enforcement Squads patrolled the streets. Wizard Apprentices were forbidden from killing one another or using spells to harm ordinary humans, but... no trading activities were prohibited.

In other words, Wizard Apprentices could easily use their status and economic advantages to force ordinary people into willingly signing contracts and becoming experimental subjects.

Higher-ranking Wizard Apprentices could likewise use their informational and economic advantages to force Wizard Seedlings into signing unreasonable contracts.

At the entrance to the street, a tall Second-Class Wizard Apprentice blocked his path. The apprentice was lanky and thin. "Hello, junior. I noticed that you're looking for Magic Stones."

"I have a job here that I think suits you perfectly. You can earn two Magic Stones every day. The pay is excellent!"

Locke frowned. "What do I have to do?"

The Second-Class Wizard Apprentice smiled. "Nothing much. In fact, it'll even benefit you. This is a Mental Power Enhancement Potion formulated by my senior, First-Class Wizard Apprentice Anglong. It's called Anglong Potion. It has passed animal testing, and we're now looking for Wizard Apprentice volunteers."

"As long as you take this potion once a day as instructed for seven days, we'll pay you fourteen Magic Stones in total. And during that process, your Mental Power will definitely increase."

Locke asked, "By how many points?"

The Second-Class Wizard Apprentice thought Locke was interested and immediately became more enthusiastic. "This is a new type of Mental Power Enhancement Potion, so its exact strengthening effect isn't known yet. But it will definitely speed up your progress toward becoming a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice."

"Augustine, your aptitude is only Level Three. At your current pace, you may not become a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice and fulfill the Academy's requirements within five years. I think this is an opportunity..."

Locke nodded. "Oh, that sounds great, but I don't need it."

With that, Locke turned and left.

The Second-Class Wizard Apprentice had thought Locke was about to sign. He had even been ready to pull out the contract, yet Locke simply walked away.

A flash of anger crossed his eyes, but he only glanced at Locke. Damn freshman.

Forget it. There's no point arguing with him.

Senior Anglong gave me funding that allows ten Magic Stones per day for each test subject. As long as I find one test subject, I can pocket an extra eight Magic Stones every day.

That way, I'll have money to buy the resources I need lately.

He turned his gaze back to the street, his eyes darting around. A year has already passed. Some Wizard Seedlings with Level Six aptitude, along with a few at Level Five, have already become Second-Class Wizard Apprentices. Those people really were born as heaven's favored.

Some apprentices must be getting anxious by now.

Finding Wizard Seedlings willing to become test subjects won't be difficult.

Meanwhile, after leaving Dwarf Street, Locke's gaze turned cold. He knew that the Second-Class Wizard Apprentice had lied.

That apprentice thought Locke knew nothing about this subject.

But Locke had served as Instructor Sophia's assistant for a year, so he naturally knew that before a new potion could be administered to Wizard Apprentices, it had to undergo extensive animal testing to confirm its effects.

Then it had to go through human testing before Wizard Apprentices could be recruited for experiments.

The difference between ordinary humans and Wizard Apprentices was already very small.

Generally, if a potion passed human testing, then even if it had side effects, they would not be severe, and those side effects would already be fairly clear.

Therefore, Wizard Apprentices usually had to pay for such potions themselves.

It seemed that the First-Class Wizard Apprentice named Anglong wanted to save time by skipping human testing and moving directly from animal testing to testing on Wizard Apprentices. That was why he needed to pay Magic Stones to Wizard Apprentices willing to take it.

But the potion's side effects had to be severe. It was not even certain whether it truly enhanced Mental Power.

So there was no way Locke would sign that kind of contract.

It was a trap.

If any Wizard Apprentice signed such a contract, their life would probably be ruined.

Locke decided that when he returned that evening, he would make sure to warn Lorne and Pierre never to agree to contracts like that.

He quickened his pace. If his prediction was correct, his Mental Power had probably already reached the standard for a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice.

He needed to find Instructor Sophia as soon as possible to have his records updated and claim the Academy's reward.

Moreover, Lilith's Cottage offered completely different benefits, treatment, and requirements to Second-Class Wizard Apprentices than it did to Third-Class Wizard Apprentices.