Starleaf

The library had somehow gradually fallen silent.

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

A gentle voice suddenly interrupted Ian.

Ian abruptly looked up. The library was already empty, and every witchcraft lamp on the walls had gone out.

A chill ran down his spine, and he hurriedly rose to his feet.

A blurry figure stood beside the bookshelf ahead.

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

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

"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!"

When Ian found that he could not pry the doors open, his heart leapt into his throat.

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

The voice grew even gentler as it whispered into his ear.

Ian immediately became dazed, his mouth opening as he was about to agree.

Suddenly, a cool sensation came from the panel.

Ian shuddered and snapped awake.

"I just remembered that there's an urgent matter at home. Please let me leave, Senior."

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

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

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

"Ah... you still don't know what a great opportunity you'll be missing."

The voice became hoarse again as the doors slowly opened.

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

It was already night outside, and the road on both sides was brightly lit.

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

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

He was certain that if the panel had not saved him just now, he definitely would not have been able to withstand the other party's witchcraft.

He was somewhat surprised that the other party had simply let him go after failing to lure him in. Even if he had agreed to stay, he likely would not have been killed outright, but his fate certainly would not have been good.

"At the very least, they're a Formal Wizard. To actually dare do something so vile 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 the other party dared act like this, there might even be an accomplice within the enforcement team.

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

Every year, who knew how many Low-Level and intermediate apprentices vanished silently in all sorts of bizarre ways.

Shadowmoon Tower belonged to the White Wizard faction and leaned toward the good camp.

"This is supposed to be good? Good my ass!"

He would not be going there to read anymore.

Until he broke through to become 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 manner of strange temperaments. Who knew what kind of lunatic wizard he might run into!

He remained beneath the screen in the plaza until dawn.

Ian rushed back to the "bus" station and climbed into the carriage after paying fifty magic stone fragments.

His encounter at the library had thrown all his plans into disarray, leaving him no choice but to return to the remote wilderness once more.

He got off at Nightfall Town and went to the potion shop he had visited before.

Two beautiful Elvish words were carved on its signboard: "Starleaf."

Beside them was a clear green leaf emblem.

"Hello, customer. What do you need?"

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

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

Before entering the shop, he had discreetly asked around nearby.

This potion shop had a good reputation, with very few negative rumors circulating about it.

"If there's anything you need, you can tell me. I can make decisions on ordinary matters as well."

Ian paused. He had thought this 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 witchcraft mark was unique and contained the spiritual imprint of a wizard or an Advanced Apprentice.

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

Only a Formal Wizard's mark could transmit messages across hundreds of miles.

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

The woman in red looked at the youthful Ian before her, and her eyes shifted.

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

Ian nodded. "I'm a Potion Master who has only just started out. At present, I can only brew one kind of potion."

"What potion?" the woman in red continued.

Being able to brew only one potion did not meet the hiring requirements, but that also depended on what kind it was.

"An Awakening Potion, but I don't have any finished products on me."

The woman in red's eyes lit up. Although Awakening Potion was merely a low-grade potion, it sold exceptionally well.

"My name is Malena, and I'm 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's suitable, we can begin a partnership."

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

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

These rooms were probably accommodations 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 found that all sorts of equipment were available. It was far better than his crude little 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 he did not gain proficiency points every time.

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

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

"Mr. Ian, this is our contract. If you agree to it, you may sign your name and finalize it."

Ian accepted the parchment and carefully read through it clause by clause.

After reading its contents, he was quite satisfied.

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

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

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

The shop would purchase any additional finished products at four magic stones each.

This was quite 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 that. At first, he planned to display only around a forty percent success rate.

This arrangement would not excessively cut into the time he needed to practice witchcraft and meditate.

By his calculations, handing over an additional four or five potions per day would be appropriate, earning him sixteen to twenty magic stones.

He could also obtain the potions needed for his own cultivation from here for free.

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

Ordinary physique-enhancing potions would be much easier to obtain.

He estimated that he only needed to stay for a little over a month before he could exchange for a physique-type potion formula.

Unfortunately, judging by the descriptions of their effects, they basically provided only temporary boosts rather than permanently enhancing one's physique.

"I have no objections to the terms. I'm 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; the recruitment was for other branches.

Bringing in an additional Potion Master today, and one who looked so young at that, was an unexpected surprise.