night gathering
That evening, Locke left the tenth underground floor of the Group 2 Research Institute.
Now that the framework was established, all he had to do was pour resources, talent, and money into it. Sooner or later, he would complete the first step of the Finite-Element Cultivation Method's "Sword Mound," and even the second.
The rest was only a matter of time. Once those first two steps were finished, he could immediately begin his atavistic evolution experiment.
But Locke could not say exactly when the work would be done.
That depended on how many resources he continued to invest, and sometimes luck played a part too. Regardless, with the framework he had designed, he expected results within three to six months. Then he could proceed to the final, third step.
Locke was about to head to the Witch's Kitchen to celebrate with Mason Witch and the others that evening when he glanced back and saw Douglas standing hesitantly on the tenth underground floor, reluctant to leave.
Locke turned to Douglas. "Working that hard? You did a good job writing that last paper for me. Write me another review on the development of purely magic-plant-based Second-Ring Wizard Shoes. Start thinking about a draft. I'll give you the outline and experimental data tomorrow."
Douglas felt like crying, but no tears would come.
It was not that he loved working so much. After joining Locke, he had finally enjoyed a peaceful month. But after that month of quiet, Brandy Wizard had actually begun visiting the Dune Plane from time to time, trying to track him down.
Now Douglas did not even dare leave the institute's tenth underground floor. Wizard Sith had allocated that floor to Locke as his territory within Group 2.
Hiding here would at least make Brandy Wizard think twice.