Chapter 437: The Surprised Great Wizard Sura
Six Towers Land, White Dragon Tower, the 10km floor. Inside the research group meeting room of Locke and his team, Montgomery and the others had long suspected they could pass the qualifiers of the main tournament, but at this moment, they were still excited and let out a cheer.
All their hard work had finally paid off.
Besides the four Formal Wizards being very happy, even the students in this research group could feel the joy of passing the qualifiers.
At the same time, Locke received fifty magic crystal cards sent from the Tournament Committee Office. Over the past month, with various expenses, Locke had already spent thirty magic crystal cards, leaving only seventy remaining—and that was based on conducting experiments very frugally.
The fifty magic crystal cards sent by the Tournament Committee Office, which amounted to five hundred thousand magic stones, were undoubtedly a huge help.
Furthermore, by passing the first round of qualifiers, he could demand additional investment from the Plutarch Family.
Locke said to the students, "Our research group has passed the qualifiers. I think those who thought we were just amassing wealth will finally realize their own stupidity and ignorance."
"I will request the Plutarch Family to upgrade your living quarters, moving you from the low-level apprentice dormitories at 5km to the high-level apprentice dormitories at 15km."
The forty-five students present were stunned for a moment before collectively erupting into cheers.
The higher the altitude in the White Dragon Tower, the higher the gradient of the magic tide. Living at a certain height in the White Dragon Tower represented not only status but also the resources one enjoyed.
Since joining Locke's research group, many had been forced to move down from the 10km student dormitories to the cramped and narrow low-level dormitory central area, and the quality of their meals had repeatedly declined. Fortunately, all of that would change today.
Locke would improve the quality of their housing and food.
Locke said, "This way, the people of the Plutarch Family should have no reason to object."
"In addition, we can increase the cultivation subsidies the Plutarch Family provides to our research group's students... For example, the monthly distribution of Moon Dew Ointment for Second-Class Wizard Apprentices will increase from one tube to five; the monthly distribution of Arcane Empowerment Potion for First-Class Wizard Apprentices will increase from one bottle to three."
Moon Dew Ointment was the Six Towers Land's equivalent of the Southeast Corner Region's White Wizard Society's Contemplation Ointment—a simple potion to increase an apprentice's mana speed.
As for the Arcane Empowerment Potion, its effects in the Six Towers Land were similar to the Blood-Crying Nightshade Potion and Tears of the Stars Potion from Liliths Cottage in the Southeast Corner Region.
These were all benefits provided to apprentices by the Six Towers Land, but not only was the quality inferior to the potions from the Southeast Corner Region, even the quantity was lacking.
Liliths Cottage distributed five tubes of Contemplation Ointment a month, and the Blood-Crying Nightshade Potion and Tears of the Stars Potion combined also totaled three bottles a month.
In contrast, everything here was just one bottle each.
It wasn't actually that little was being issued; as far as Locke knew, it was just that these potions were being embezzled by certain individuals. The academy would issue five bottles, but the apprentices would only receive one, with the remaining four going into someone's pockets.
Since his research group had already passed the qualifiers and achieved something, Locke believed it was only natural to concentrate resources on his own team. Consequently, the resources for his students could no longer be skimmed off by others.
Barbara the Witch and the others nodded repeatedly. All three were victims of corruption in the Six Towers Land, so hearing Locke plan to seek justice for the students resonated deeply with them, leading them to respect Locke even more.
After a moment of daze, the students cheered again, their voices filled with gratitude toward Locke.
Montgomery smiled at the students and said, "Now that your benefits have improved, you'd better work harder. Although we're all very happy today, we have to work even harder once we enter the finals. So, no day off today; continue with the experiments."
"We must strive to produce the finished product as soon as possible."
The students were full of energy and none of them refused.
Montgomery said to Locke, "In the past week or so, we've also created five Chain Magic Vine subspecies, but I know the quantity is still not enough."
"Combined with the other First Ring level magic plant subspecies you created this week, we currently have seven Chain Magic Vine subspecies: five at the apprentice level and two First Ring level subspecies that you personally crafted."
Montgomery said, "I think we should speed up even more. I've been trying to optimize our approach lately to see how we can accelerate the cultivation of the subspecies."
"I want to cultivate subspecies by grafting the fast-growing magic plant, 'Fast-Growing Vine'. Also, Boss Locke, could you apply to the Plutarch Family for permission to use the Element Pool? With the Element Pool, a unique and powerful tool of the Six Towers Land, we can definitely accelerate the catalysis of magic plants and increase our cultivation speed."
Locke nodded, "Alright, I'll give it a try."
Tacitus said, "I plan to optimize our speed by adjusting and rationally delegating the students' tasks."
Barbara the Witch spread her hands. "Well... I'm still thinking about how to optimize. I'm not as quick-witted as you two; I haven't thought of a way to optimize yet."
Everyone was amused by Barbara the Witch's words.
The atmosphere within the research group was improving day by day, conflicts began to disappear, and they were instead becoming friends.
Even Tacitus and Barbara the Witch, who used to get along the least, had become close.
Just as Alicia had said, sometimes doing nothing is actually the right choice. Trusting in the team's ability to self-correct might also be a good option.
Of course, this only applied to the two novices in management.
For management novices, interference might only lead to more chaos; it's often better not to mess around, and conflicts will eventually resolve themselves.
...
Six Towers Land, Magician World, Law Saint Hall City.
The Magician World has two suns. At this moment, Great Wizard Sura turned the people of the entire Law Saint Hall City into puppets and then spoke with Alicia.
He learned with surprise from Alicia that the team Locke led had actually passed the Yunze Cup qualifiers.
A look of surprise immediately appeared on Great Wizard Sura's face. Even someone as calculating as he was felt a bit bewildered at this moment. "Passed?"
Great Wizard Sura knew his own people's capabilities well. He originally had no expectations for Locke participating in the Yunze Cup; he was merely painting a bright future to win people over. "He actually managed to pass the qualifiers, and even ranked sixth!"
"Did he use only wizards from the Six Towers Land?"
Alicia asked in confusion, "Grandfather, why do you seem to have no confidence in the wizards of our Six Towers Land? He used commoner wizards from the Six Towers Land."
Great Wizard Sura was silent for a while, then said "Good" three times in a row.
Great Wizard Sura whispered, "I was originally thinking about how to quickly raise your prestige, hoping to guide you in secret and teach you how to balance various interests and win over confidants. If you spent about ten years, you could eventually establish some prestige."
"But I didn't expect that right now, an even simpler method would be laid out before you. Alicia, your choice to support this wizard was excellent. I was right; you truly are suited to be the head of the family."
Alicia hesitated. "Grandfather, Locke and I are just friends. And it wasn't I who chose him; he saved me. Initially, it was to thank him, but later I found that he and I have a lot to talk about in Potionology and can progress together."
Great Wizard Sura waved his hand. "None of that matters. Those are minor details. Since he won, I must provide him with additional investment and strive to get him a good result in the finals. Even just being among the top would be good. If he could get third place... that would be extremely helpful for boosting your prestige."
Great Wizard Sura said, "I really underestimated him before. To be able to win the qualifiers using the commoner wizards of my Six Towers Land shows his incredible ability."
"That group of commoner wizards is leaderless. Although there are indeed some talents among them, they have always been used to acting alone and find it difficult to work together, so their achievements have been extremely limited."
Great Wizard Sura said, "It seems my evaluation of your friend must be raised yet another notch. He can no longer be someone who can be sacrificed at will."