Wizard: Starting With Synthesized Gems

The next day, Locke went to the Dune Plane, into the interior of Group 2's research facility, and sought out Witch Mason and the others to ask about the current progress of the ancient Glandular Root Pouch analysis.

The four of them found a quiet and unoccupied private room and held a meeting together.

Witch Mason handed Locke the materials they had compiled so far, including the specific three-dimensional structure of the ancient Glandular Root Pouch obtained using the large metal telescope, its magical properties, and the mechanism by which several key natural magical structural components within it functioned.

The ancient Glandular Root Pouch achieved its temporary energy storage in plants through two means, one being a special glandular organelle, and the other being a special metabolic pathway.

Fully analyzing it would require a series of complex experiments, ranging from structural analysis to compositional analysis, then functional verification, simulation of energy release kinetics, cross-species comparison, and more.

This work was tedious and multifaceted, and was also considerably difficult. Without teamwork, relying on Locke alone, or even if he hired a few additional students plus the two students already assigned to him, it was unlikely to be completed in under three to five years.

After all, the biggest challenge with this kind of high-difficulty non-decisive work was that it consumed enormous amounts of time, effort, manpower, and money.

That was precisely the meaning of teamwork.

In the ancient past, magical research was a solitary pursuit, and in those times, a single person's intellect may have been sufficient to handle all research needs.

But in the present day, with its emphasis on heavy funding and large equipment investment, magical research required large numbers of people.

Relying on a single person was too slow. A wizard needed a large number of other wizards assisting with the research to achieve high efficiency.

Having a large number of students and collaborators under one's direction was itself a kind of talent, a talent for completing research rapidly.

And if the talent of a single individual was somewhat intangible, the talent of a research group was comparatively easy to define.

That came down to the sufficiency of funding and the number of outstanding people available.

Locke looked over the work and gave a nod. "About one sixth of the total workload has been completed so far."

Witch Freya explained, "The three of us, with you as team leader overseeing the big picture, are actually more than sufficient."

"The main issue is that the relevant equipment, including the three major magical mirrors and the large metal telescope, has all been monopolized by Zalan Bailey's team. They have been getting increasingly outrageous lately, and the laboratory administrator has been more and more openly siding with them."

"I can say with confidence that without them getting in the way, our analysis progress could double again."

Locke smiled. "Competing for lab equipment and waiting in line for equipment access are actually very normal occurrences. Looking at the experimental progress of quite a few researchers in Group 2, it has already come to a complete standstill."

On this visit to Group 2, he had found that many researchers' attitudes toward Zalan Bailey had completely shifted. Gone was the admiration from before, replaced by grumbling complaints and whispered conversations in the office, quietly speaking ill of him.

That was also normal.

Regardless of whatever prior goodwill had existed, now that Zalan Bailey was squeezing out other research resources and equipment access rights for his own personal interests, and even forcing many people to set aside their own projects and go labor for him, resentment was bound to surface over time.

Especially since Zalan Bailey had become arrogant and dismissive, caring nothing for the opinions of a group of First Circle wizards and obviously having no intention of placating them.

Witch Freya thought of quite a few researchers in Group 2 and burst into laughter. "Some of them used to love boasting about their great senior brother whenever they ate with us. Now they are so furious they can barely contain themselves, hoping Zalan Bailey will fall from grace the very next day."

Wizard Barrett did not say much normally, but at that moment he suddenly spoke. "Locke. There is a problem. The four types of natural magical structural components in the ancient Glandular Root Pouch are essentially all common magical substances. It was simply unexpected that the four types would form an interlinked system. But that is not the crux of this energy-locking structure."

"The crux of this energy-locking structure should lie in the special structure of the root itself. However, I have noticed that in our previous observations, whether at the microscopic or macroscopic level, inconsistencies keep appearing."

Wizard Barrett said, "I believe this root energy-locking structure is not as straightforward as we previously thought. I suspect that the current three major magical mirrors and the full metal telescope are insufficient to fully analyze its three-dimensional structure."

"I would like to apply to you, team leader, to use the Queen's Chessboard on it."

Locke took the materials and fell into thought. "Every observation has produced different results?"

This did indeed suggest that the ancient Glandular Root Pouch might possess an extremely complex structure, one that current equipment could not analyze in terms of precision or methodology.

And the Queen's Chessboard was genuinely the best solution.

Locke said, "Barrett, thank you. If you had not been observing so carefully, our progress would likely have slowed considerably as a result."

Only then did Witch Mason and Witch Freya notice the issue. They picked up the materials and compared them again, and indeed found subtle differences in the analyzed structures.

Differences that could not even be explained away by variation in observation angle.

This truly was likely to mean that the ancient Glandular Root Pouch had a special structure that current equipment could not analyze.

Witch Freya said, "Barrett is truly thorough and meticulous as always. Neither Mason nor I noticed either of those two points. Team leader, I am truly sorry. We almost caused you trouble."

Locke shook his head. "It's fine. We are a team. Whoever among us makes a new discovery is a good thing for all of us."

"The preliminary principle by which the Glandular Root Pouch temporarily stores and locks energy has now taken shape. The internal structure of the Glandular Root Pouch is divided mainly into two categories. The first is a vacuole-like structure that stores four types of natural magical structural components."

"It is not yet clear which of the four natural magical structural components is primarily used to temporarily lock the energy. Nor is it yet clear how, in an instant, this natural magical structural component is converted into another, and how the stored magical energy is released in the course of that conversion."

"The second major category is the secretory gland portion. The secretory glands can release the four types of natural magical structural components, the most important of which is a natural magical structural component called the Agavone Body."

"At present, it is strongly suspected that magical energy is stored in the form of dragon breath spirit alcohol. A similar situation has been observed in the Second Circle magical plant agave."

"However, the Agavone Body, as a natural magical structural component, carries mild toxicity, and so it does exert some stress on the magical plant. The Agavone Body is rarely seen in other magical plants, appearing only in agave and a few of its close relatives, as well as in magical plants that wizards have cultivated through agave grafting. Hence it was named after the agave..."

Locke looked at the three of them and said, "So, the most important thing for us right now is to confirm whether the ancient Glandular Root Pouch primarily stores energy in the form of Agavone Bodies. And if so, what mechanism does the Agavone Body go through to release that energy."

"Mason, you are responsible for confirming whether the ancient Glandular Root Pouch primarily uses Agavone Bodies. Freya, to save time, assume for now that the primary mechanism is the storage and conversion of Agavone Bodies, and determine the conversion relationship between this natural magical structural component and the other three."

Locke looked toward Barrett and said, "As for using the Queen's Chessboard, money is not an issue. Even if the budget falls short, or if Group 2's own Queen's Chessboard is constantly being occupied, I can also pay to have you all go outside to use one. But the problem is..."

"I am about to enter the competition, my soul is in constant decline, and my magic pressure is continuously rising. I am genuinely not suited to enter the Queen's Chessboard right now."

Locke tapped the table with his fingers as he spoke.

Wizard Barrett gritted his teeth. "Then I'll go. Team leader."

Witch Freya asked with some concern, "Barrett, can you handle it? Team Leader Locke's magical ability is far above ours. Even he considers the Queen's Chessboard dangerous. If you go in..."

Entering the Queen's Chessboard carried the risk of spirituality damage or contamination.

Spirituality was the foundation of a wizard. Once contaminated, the consequences could be severe.

Witch Mason and Locke both looked at Witch Freya with a curious glance, since her concern for Barrett was obviously more than ordinary.

Neither of them, however, said anything about it.

Barrett nodded and said, "As long as I am careful, it should not be a problem. Team leader, I'll handle this part."

Barrett looked at Locke and said seriously, "We also want to finish our group's first Tier 1 funding project as quickly as possible. Let Zalan Bailey see what we are made of."

Witch Mason said, "Barrett..."

Barrett said, "The things Zalan Bailey has been doing these past few days have genuinely angered me. Even the most patient person has their limits, let alone me."

Locke gave a nod and said encouragingly, "Don't worry. This is only the first Tier 1 project for our group. After the Silent Chalice Competition, once I've recovered, I will make sure each of you completes a Tier 1 funding project as well. After all, you three still have more than two years before your postings end."

All three of them perked up at once, visibly drawn in by the prospect, a spark of eagerness flickering in their eyes.

Locke had already helped them apply for a Tier 2 funding project previously, and they were still gradually working through it.

So they had absolutely no doubt in his words.

As long as Locke could help them apply for a Tier 1 funding project, whatever they did for Locke was worth it.

In other words, as long as Locke had the ability to secure Tier 1 funding for them, this group within a group would have boundless vitality.

Locke looked at the three of them, full of drive.

As the de facto leader of this group, he could mobilize a large share of the group's resources, but at the same time bore an enormous responsibility.

His decisions would affect the results of four researchers over the coming year, and would also affect every student connected to them.

His responsibility was therefore great, and his decisions carried significant weight.

Locke said, "In that case, let me give you one hundred magic crystal cards to start with. Go ahead and use equipment from outside. As long as it helps accelerate completion, that is all that matters. I am hoping for results within one month."

"Complete all the project items within one month."

All three of them stiffened slightly.

Witch Mason looked at Locke with puzzlement. "Locke, why such urgency? The energy-locking structure of this special plant is already fairly complex. Even if the analysis is conducted directly, there is still the possibility that insufficient tool precision or observational errors on our part could lead to an incomplete depth of analysis."

Locke explained, "It is mainly connected to my plans for the wizard shoes. I want to develop a fifth wizard shoe model, and I have my eye on the potential of this energy-locking structure."

"So I want to complete the analysis of this energy-locking structure as soon as possible."

"Do not worry about running out of time. Because there is no upper limit on the funds the three of you may spend. My only hope is that the three of you..." Locke smiled. "Can complete the analysis work for me."

"This concerns the future direction of our group. If my plan succeeds, our group will have no shortage of Tier 1 funding."

The moment the three of them heard the words Tier 1 funding, their expressions became very serious all at once, and they nodded one after another, indicating they would work hard.

Locke watched the three of them make their commitments, thinking to himself, 'Given the personalities of these three, they should not pocket too much of the funds I give them.'

'Although my relationship with them is quite close, I do not want to test human nature. Right now, the four of us are in the same boat. I have promised them that as long as I rise, I will see to it that they obtain a Tier 1 funding project as well.'

'With that, they should at least give it their full and sincere effort.'

'There is nothing for it. When working with people, one must always consider whether they will give their full effort. The same person doing work in your hands can be in two completely different states depending on whether they are truly committed to the collective good.'

Locke thought, 'These three are First Circle crystallization-stage wizards, not fools. So if I were to think only of myself, I would only end up alienating them, and the moment they started playing small games with me, I would be the one who suffered the most.'

'Only by considering their interests and helping them achieve their own goals can this team be truly united.'

'Even among close brothers, accounts must be clearly settled. Otherwise, no matter how strong the bond, a falling out is inevitable in the end.'

Witch Mason spoke up. "Everyone has seen by now just how extraordinarily strong Team Leader Locke's intuition is. We naturally believe that with the team leader's ability, he will certainly be able to find the research materials and direction that will allow us to apply for a Tier 1 funding project."

Witch Freya and Wizard Barrett both nodded in agreement.

Witch Freya said to Locke, "Team leader, there is actually one issue. Zalan Bailey's research team is putting increasing pressure on Group 2's resources."

"Team Leader Cis has been showing more and more favoritism toward him. Are you really not going to do anything about it?"

"You were the one Team Leader Cis personally brought in. How about going to speak with him? He should at least feel some responsibility toward you."

Locke said, "Leave him for now."

"For the time being, let's just step back."

The thought of Zalan Bailey gave Locke a headache. There was likely a very serious problem on Zalan Bailey's end.

And that problem had a great many people tangled up behind it.

Locke looked out through the window at the sky. The sky that had once been wide and open was now filled everywhere with gray gas.

Large quantities of ring-element pollutant gases produced by the many processing plants had accumulated in the sky. At first they had blocked out the sun and caused the temperature to drop, but now the temperature was slowly climbing again.

If his guess was correct, Zalan Bailey had probably never hired anyone to carry out environmental protection treatment, or had hired someone who simply never carried it out.

And Team Leader Cis was someone who prioritized immediate benefit.

Zalan Bailey's current plan was advantageous to his Group 2 and offered a solution to an urgent problem.

So it was obvious that Cis had sided with Zalan Bailey because of that.

By his way of thinking, he likely assumed Zalan Bailey was simply being somewhat too eager for quick results at the start, but given the currently decent-looking progress, was probably turning a blind eye.

He may have assumed Zalan Bailey had some kind of backup plan and did not need to be worried about.

Locke himself did not know what Zalan Bailey was trying to do, but he could tell the matter ran very deep, and he had no desire to get involved.

It had nothing to do with him, after all.

Witch Freya seemed somewhat unwilling to let it go. "Team Leader Locke, are we really just going to keep stepping back? If so, we will end up spending several times more money than we should."

"If you were to go and speak with Team Leader Cis and get us access to some of the key equipment, we could probably save around a million magic stones. I am thinking of your money."

Witch Freya said, "We are all wizards. If it truly comes down to a matter of face, no matter how much they insult us, we can bear it."

Locke gave a nod. "I understand."

"It is just that Zalan Bailey's situation has some very serious problems, and my instincts are telling me not to get involved." Locke hesitated for a moment, then said, "I have a feeling the current situation is one where someone is waging a battle from afar, and Zalan Bailey is nothing more than a pawn."

All three of them flashed looks of shock and disbelief.

Using a Second Circle wizard as a pawn in a battle of wits?

Locke said, "Of course, this is only my speculation. For now, just treat them as plague gods, and act as if you cannot see them. Whatever you do, do not allow yourselves to become connected to them in any way, or we will end up dragging ourselves into it."

Locke said, "That is, if you trust my speculation."

Witch Freya blinked, seemed about to say something, hesitated, then finally said, "It's so complicated..."

Witch Mason asked, "Locke, is this something you foresaw using your extraordinary intuition?"

Locke shook his head. "No. This is a conclusion I arrived at through logical analysis and reasoning based on how the current situation has developed."

Witch Mason gave a nod, only half convinced. "Since this is your instruction, we are naturally willing to accept the disadvantage. Until you grant permission, we will pretend to defer to everyone in their group, minimize contact with them as much as possible, and absolutely avoid any conflict."

Locke nodded. "Good. Thank you, all three of you."

"Alright everyone, that is where we will end today's group meeting."

Locke looked up Witch Scarlett on the water hyacinth network, then left the room, quickly departed the Dune Plane, and headed for Dragon Blood Market on Golden Crown Mountain.

Back in the room, Witch Mason and the other two exchanged glances.

Witch Mason said quietly, "Why does Locke think Zalan Bailey is being made use of? Do you think there is any logic to that speculation?"

Witch Freya said, "I have no idea either. It sounds rather far-fetched. But since the team leader told us not to get entangled with them, let's just follow the team leader's lead."

Wizard Barrett said, "The team leader's ability is stronger than ours."

"Let's just do as he says. As for whether he is right, we will find out soon enough."

...

Out on the streets of Dragon Blood Market, Locke thought, "If the temporary energy storage and locking structure of the ancient Glandular Root Pouch ultimately uses the Agavone Body natural structural magical component as its primary storage medium, then it would explain why the ancient flower, or rather the prototype plant of the ancient flower, is not more widespread."

"The Agavone Body, at certain concentrations, is only mildly toxic. But once the concentration rises, it becomes acutely toxic."

"In other words, a plant that evolved this energy-locking structure has placed itself in a dangerous situation by its very nature."

"That is why this special energy-locking root structure of the ancient flower's prototype plant never became a widely prevalent energy-locking structure across plant communities."

Locke thought, "The energy density of the Agavone Body, however, is extremely high, making it an excellent natural magical structural component for temporary energy storage. Of course, there is also another drawback, which is that the Agavone Body is a moderately explosive natural magical structural component."

"Hopefully, the special three-dimensional structure that can only be analyzed using the Queen's Chessboard will be able to resolve the moderate explosiveness of the Agavone Body. Otherwise, this structure would not be suitable for developing a dedicated wizard shoe model."

"If it were to function as a bomb, the advantages of the Agavone Body would be a great deal less significant. The key point is that the ancient Glandular Root Pouch, as a special energy-locking structure, possesses a rare short-term energy storage structure among magical plants that can effectively enhance a magical plant's burst capability in an instant."

Locke frowned.

He had already assigned tasks to the three of them, and now of course he also had to make use of these two months himself. He intended to use the Big Black Diamond Swan Bromeliad, which simulated the ancient Glandular Root Pouch, and employ grafting and cultivation methods to graft it onto the Big Snow Crown Bromeliad.

He would cultivate a Big Snow Crown Bromeliad wizard shoe that possessed the ancient Glandular Root Pouch.

That way, his Big Snow Crown Bromeliad wizard shoes would have the Pixiu Angle Fractal Spiral Constraint Equation-bearing leaves, along with the Tyrant Mark, and on top of that, the Agavone Body root structure.

The magical plant traits they possessed would become extraordinarily powerful.

"The evolution of energy-locking structures in plants has, to an enormous degree, determined the evolutionary history of plants." Locke said, "From the emergence of fibrous vascular bundles that transport nutrients, an energy-locking structure, which drove the evolution of mosses into ferns."

"Vascular bundles gave plants a system of dead-cell tubes capable of transporting nutrients and supporting plants in growing taller and larger, competing for sunlight energy, and making forests possible."

"Then came the birth of seeds, a miracle in energy-locking structure. The embryo plus nutrient tissue plus seed coat structure allowed plants to break free of the heavy dependence on water that characterized the fern era, and to penetrate deep into arid inland regions."

"Expanding the variety and number of plant species."

"Then came yet another miracle in energy-locking structure, the emergence of flowers and fruit, which entered into co-evolution with animals, optimizing the energy-locking structure and pushing the natural ecosystem's interception and utilization of external energy to a peak."

"And all of that is only the primary energy-locking structure of plants below the apprentice-grade magical plant level. Afterward, a whole series of further evolution and transformation of energy-locking structures continued to take place."

"The study of energy-locking structures is something that can never be fully exhausted, from the First Circle to the Second Circle, and even beyond."

Locke thought, "The difference between Second Circle and First Circle magical plants lies in the virtual root."

"The virtual root itself is an energy-locking structure on par with flowers and fruit in terms of significance."

"However, the virtual root as a Second Circle energy-locking structure appears to be extraordinarily complex. I am a First Circle wizard, and the Second Circle knowledge domain is largely closed off to me, making this knowledge very difficult to obtain."

"Especially since, by all accounts, virtual roots are extremely dangerous. For researchers of insufficient rank, they are inherently threatening."

If virtual roots were not dangerous, wizard civilization would not have abandoned imaginary magic at the Second Circle stage and chosen Grand Magic instead.

In times past, imaginary magic and kingdom domain magic were both options for breaking through from the First Circle to the Second Circle.

In the end, both lost to Grand Magic, which was safer and more powerful.

What remained unknown was whether Grand Magic itself would one day be rendered obsolete as well.

Locke thought, "But botanical wizards and breeding wizards are different from other wizards. Other wizards can avoid contact with imaginary magic entirely, but I, as a breeder, will inevitably have to engage with imaginary magic in the end, because of magical plants."

"After all, virtual roots are the hallmark of Second Circle magical plants." Locke hesitated for a moment. He had recently been reading more extensively in botanical literature.

The First Circle hallmark of magical plants was wood element crystal clusters, with every plant cell formed as a pressure furnace.

But for Second Circle magical plants, the primary direction of evolution appeared to be virtual roots, though there were also some more marginal approaches.

In the past, Locke had suspected that the ancient flower's special root structure was a kind of marginal approach to evolving into a Second Circle magical plant, but after more specific analysis, he had dismissed that idea.

Apparently, beyond virtual root-type magical plants, in certain special locations, such as within the Forbidden Forest, due to highly specialized conditions, there existed some very rare Second Circle magical plants of the symbiotic sheath type.

Of course, even within the Forbidden Forest, the primary hallmark of Second Circle magical plants was generally still the virtual root.