Starleaf

The Library had gradually fallen silent at some point.

"It seems you enjoy reading. Why not stay the night?"

A gentle voice suddenly interrupted Ian.

Ian abruptly looked up. The Library was already empty, and all the sorcery lamps on the walls had gone out.

A chill ran down his spine, and he hurriedly stood up.

A blurry figure stood beside the bookshelf ahead.

"Sorry, Senior. I'll leave right away." Ian turned and ran toward the entrance.

He could clearly feel the gaze behind him, like a slick venomous snake clinging tightly to his back.

"How did everyone around me disappear without a sound? I didn't notice anything at all."

Just as he was about to run out, the doors silently shut.

"Senior, I'm timid. Please don't joke around!"

Ian's heart leapt into his throat when he failed to pry the doors open.

"Little fellow, I have a fine job here. Would you like to hear about it?"

The voice became even gentler as it softly whispered in his ear.

Ian's mind immediately grew hazy, and he opened his mouth, about to agree.

Suddenly, a cool sensation came from the Status Panel.

Ian jolted and regained his senses.

"I just remembered there is something urgent at home. Please let me leave, Senior."

"Are you sure?" The voice abruptly turned icy.

At that moment, Ian did not dare hesitate in the slightest.

"This junior is certain he wishes to leave. Please let me pass, Senior!"

"Sigh... You have no idea what a great opportunity you are about to miss."

The voice turned hoarse again, and the doors slowly opened.

Ian hurriedly darted outside. He did not dare look back and fled the place in a sorry state.

It was already night outside, with bright lights lining both sides of the road.

He ran back to the crowded mission area, wiped away his cold sweat, and let out a long breath.

"Damn it, what kind of cursed luck is this? That was way too creepy!!"

He was certain that if the Status Panel had not saved him, he would never have withstood that person's sorcery.

He was also somewhat surprised that the other party had simply let him go after the lure failed. Presumably, even if he had agreed to stay, he would not have been killed immediately, but his fate certainly would not have been good.

"At the very least, they're a Formal Wizard. To dare do something so despicable inside the High Tower."

Ian's heart was filled with anger, yet there was nothing he could do.

He did not even dare report it. Since that person dared to act like this, there might even be an accomplice within the Enforcement Squad.

After this incident, he gained a direct understanding of the dangers of the Wizarding World.

Every year, who knew how many low- and mid-level apprentices vanished silently through all kinds of bizarre means.

Shadowmoon Tower belonged to the White Wizard faction, which supposedly leaned toward goodness.

"This is goodness? My ass!"

He would not be going to read books anymore.

Until he became a Formal Wizard, he would never return to the Library. Unless absolutely necessary, he would also visit the High Tower as little as possible.

Formal Wizards had all sorts of strange temperaments. Who knew what kind of lunatic wizard he might run into!

He stayed beneath the plaza screen until dawn.

Ian rushed back to the "bus" stop. After paying 50 magic stone fragments, he squeezed into the carriage.

His experience at the Library had disrupted all his plans, leaving him no choice but to return to the remote wilderness.

He got off at Nightfall Town and arrived at the Magic Potion Shop from before.

Two elegant Elven words were carved on the signboard: "Starleaf."

Beside them was a clear green leaf symbol.

"Hello, customer. What do you need?"

A tall woman in red came over to greet him. The green-dressed girl from last time was nowhere to be seen.

"I have a matter to discuss. Is the person in charge here?"

Before entering the shop, he had asked around a little.

This Magic Potion Shop had a good reputation, and there were rarely any negative rumors about it.

"Customer, you can tell me as well. I can make decisions regarding ordinary matters."

Ian froze. He had thought the woman was an ordinary clerk, but she was actually a manager.

"I saw a Green Leaf Mark on the High Tower's mission board. It seemed to be the same as the one on your signboard."

Every sorcery mark was unique, containing the spiritual imprint of a wizard or an Advanced Apprentice.

Advanced Apprentices had a very short sensing range, less than several miles.

Only the marks of Formal Wizards could transmit messages across a hundred miles.

"You saw correctly. That is Wizard Alivia's unique mark."

The woman in red watched the youthful Ian before her, her eyes shifting slightly.

"Could it be that you wish to apply as a Potion Master?"

Ian nodded. "I'm a newly initiated Potion Master. At present, I can only brew one type of potion."

"What potion?" the woman in red asked.

Being able to brew only one potion did not meet the recruitment requirements, but it also depended on the type.

"Awakening Potion. I just don't have any finished products on me."

The woman in red's eyes lit up. Although Awakening Potion was only a low-level potion, it sold the best.

"My name is Malena, and I am the manager here. May I ask how to address you, sir?"

"Hello, Manager Malena. My name is Ian."

"Mr. Ian, could you brew an Awakening Potion on the spot? If it is suitable, we can work together."

Ian followed Malena to the back courtyard. The moment he entered, he smelled a strong medicinal fragrance.

The courtyard was spacious, with four or five separate large rooms. Several were already occupied.

These rooms were probably lodging prepared for Potion Masters.

"I'll have someone prepare four sets of ingredients. Go to the room on the far right; it happens to be vacant."

After entering the room, Ian saw that the equipment was fully stocked, far better than his crude doghouse.

Once everything was ready, Ian deliberately held back while brewing, only succeeding on his third attempt.

[Awakening Potion Proficiency +1]

[Awakening Potion: Proficient (3/200)]

Once the skill had reached the Proficient stage, he still received feedback after failures, though proficiency did not increase every time.

"Please assess it, Manager." Ian handed over the potion.

Malena was also a Potion Master herself. After examining it, she nodded repeatedly in approval.

"Mr. Ian, this is our contract. If you approve, you may sign it and make it official."

Ian took the parchment and carefully read through each clause.

After reading its contents, he was quite satisfied.

Not only did the Magic Potion Shop provide lodging, but an Advanced Apprentice was stationed there as well, offering considerable security.

Ian's obligation was that for every four portions of raw materials the shop provided, he needed to hand over one finished potion.

If his success rate was substandard, he could only make up the difference out of his own pocket.

The shop would buy back any extra finished products for four magic stones each.

This was very different from the sales commission described in the mission, but it pleased Ian even more.

If Ian went all out with his brewing, he could produce thirty or forty finished potions a day after setting aside time for cultivation.

Unfortunately, he did not dare do so. At the beginning, he planned to display only around a forty percent success rate.

This arrangement would not overly squeeze the time he needed to practice sorcery and meditate.

By his calculations, handing over four or five additional potions per day was appropriate, and would also bring in sixteen to twenty magic stones.

He could also obtain the potions he needed for cultivation here free of charge.

As for other potion formulas Ian valued most, such as Spirit-Awakening Potion and Concentration Potion, he would need to brew a certain quantity before he could exchange for them.

Ordinary Constitution Potion formulas would be much easier to obtain.

He estimated that after staying for just over a month, he could exchange for a Constitution Potion formula.

Unfortunately, judging from the descriptions of their effects, they were essentially temporary enhancements rather than permanent improvements to one's constitution.

"I have no objections to the terms. I am very satisfied." Ian signed his name on it.

"Welcome aboard. We'll be colleagues from now on, so just call me Malena."

Malena looked delighted. The shop had not actually been recruiting Potion Masters; it was the other branches that were hiring.

Recruiting an additional Potion Master today, especially one who appeared so young, was an unexpected delight.