Chapter 790: Establishing the Augustine Forest Alliance Internal Fund!

Locke and Hussein exchanged a few words with Chairman Justin, since the man was after all the local authority and neither of them could afford to be discourteous.

Chairman Justin probed them both carefully. "Wizard Locke, Wizard Hussein, if either of you needs anything, please feel free to mention it. I am also curious about the purpose of your return to the southeastern quadrant. I wonder whether there is anything I can help with."

Hussein said, "I returned because of my connection to the Blood Curse Court. I have now largely established control over the Blood Curse Court and will be leading it in a relocation."

Chairman Justin immediately smiled warmly. "Relocating an entire academy is quite a substantial undertaking. The ship tickets alone would be a considerable expense."

Hussein said, "The majority of the Blood Curse Court's ordinary apprentices can be disbanded on the spot. Promising wizard candidates can be sold separately to interested white wizard organizations. The wizard mentors will come with me to the Cloud Marsh Wetlands."

"I have already contacted colleagues at the Mithril Law Firm. We will be responsible for restructuring and optimizing its assets, which is my area of expertise. I have also contacted the relevant auditors."

"Based on my estimates, the proceeds from selling off the Blood Curse Court piece by piece can cover the cost of relocating the wizard academy, and I may even come out slightly ahead."

Chairman Justin nodded repeatedly at this. Hussein's plan was also to his benefit.

During the war between white and black wizards, the White Wizard Association had lost far too much property. Looking back, this conflict had from the very start involved the participation of black wizard organizations from higher-ranking wizard territories.

Its purpose had never been straightforward.

At this moment, the various white wizard academies of the southeastern quadrant did need some promising wizard candidates to replenish fresh blood.

Locke, knowing what Chairman Justin was worried about, said directly, "I have come back to the southeastern quadrant merely to take a look, and I have a cooperation arrangement with my alma mater relating to Myst’s Power research. This is only one of my avatars, and I will be leaving here shortly."

"After all, Hussein and I are both aiming for the Star Domain Sea."

Hussein's gaze sharpened slightly as he looked at Locke.

"Locke, right now you are further ahead than me. The ancestor wizard's inheritance is a complication. Had I known things would turn out this way, I might have chosen to go down the Mithril Law Firm's path instead."

Locke gave a slight nod.

Chairman Justin finally relaxed. He had indeed been somewhat concerned that the two of them might return to the southeastern quadrant to develop their careers.

The main worry was that once that happened, he would have to recalculate a great many things.

But hearing that neither of them would be returning to develop their base here, he let out a breath of relief.

The post-war situation would be far simpler this way.

There would be no potential conflicts of interest between the three sides, but rather a potential alliance of interests.

Chairman Justin gazed at the ruins of Virdantia University and let out a sigh.

"Black wizards are nothing but a force of destruction. They are not skilled at building things, but they know how to destroy. Centuries of accumulated wealth, ruined in one fell swoop by the black wizards..."

Chairman Justin's eyes held a look of bewilderment.

"I have exhausted my heart and mind, endured a thousand hardships, devoted everything to maintaining the balance of the southeastern quadrant, yet with just a small intervention from a higher-ranking wizard territory, that balance was broken with such ease."

"When I was young, I also went to a larger wizard territory, the Raze Lowlands. But very quickly I was unable to meet the up-or-out requirements and was dismissed by the Root Crown Royal Court, which also demanded the repayment of the subsidies they had given me. After losing my position I also lost my housing and allowances. I held on in the Raze Lowlands for a while, submitted a project, only to lose everything I had invested, and I had no choice but to return to the southeastern quadrant."

Chairman Justin's gaze was distant and unfocused.

"At the time I also believed it was only temporary, that I would fight my way back. But as it turned out, I never left the southeastern quadrant again."

"Later on I took up a position as one of Virdantia University's deans, and eventually rose to a leadership position in the local White Wizard Association."

"I hope both of you are able to achieve what you are aiming for. The big arenas are not easy to navigate."

"You will be the pride of the southeastern quadrant."

Locke exchanged a few more words with Chairman Justin, then took his leave and headed in the direction of Lilith’s Cottage.

Locke walked to where Lilith’s Cottage's people had gathered. The formal wizards of Lilith’s Cottage had quieted down by now, and the majority of the wizards here Locke had encountered at some point before.

Some of the wizard mentors he had met during his breeder and alchemist certification exams, others while participating in wizard secret realms, or when borrowing materials from the library.

Locke looked toward Wizard Halen Vera. Halen Vera gave him a nod of warm satisfaction.

Wizard Halen Vera said to Locke, "Locke, I always knew you were among the top three smartest students I have ever taught. You would make something of yourself. I will take pride in you going forward."

Locke bowed to Wizard Halen Vera and said, "Teacher, thank you for the guidance and help you gave me in the past."

Halen Vera's expression became visibly moved, for at this moment Locke was already a Second Circle wizard while he was only a crystallization wizard, yet Locke still bowed to him just as he always had.

This moved Halen Vera deeply.

He had not been without students who had become Second Circle wizards before, but those students, after becoming Second Circle wizards, had ultimately grown different from what they once were.

Only Locke, even after becoming a Second Circle wizard, still observed student-to-teacher etiquette with him.

This came as a surprise not only to Halen Vera but to many of the other wizards present.

Halen Vera swallowed, and said carefully, "Locke, you are already a Second Circle wizard. It is you who has traveled further on the path of pursuing truth."

"And so there is no need for you to bow to me. The student has surpassed the teacher at last."

"That is the greatest satisfaction a teacher can feel."

Locke looked at Halen Vera and said, "In my eyes you will always be my teacher."

"That has not changed, and never will."

Halen Vera's face broke into an expression of warmth and happiness.

"You are also the finest student I have ever taught. That has not changed either."

"Locke, take a look at this. This is my newest student, a Child of Elements. She is quite gifted in breeding studies, possessing perhaps half the talent in breeding that you once had."

"Her name is Isis."

Halen Vera indicated a first-class wizard apprentice witch standing beside him. The young witch had a magic pressure of approximately three hundred. At this moment she was looking at this senior fellow her teacher so often spoke of with a mixture of curiosity and awe.

As a gifted breeder herself, she had enrolled at Lilith’s Cottage inspired by the legend of Locke Augustine's name. She had set Locke Augustine as her target and always aspired to surpass him.

But at this moment, facing this senior fellow who had already become a great Second Circle wizard, that competitive spirit was instantly extinguished.

Witch Isis was somewhat flustered and lowered her head to Locke. "You... hello, senior fellow. No, Wizard Augustine."

Witch Isis had initially intended to address Locke as senior fellow, but the thought of calling a great Second Circle wizard her senior fellow seemed like an affront and a foolish thing to do, so she corrected herself immediately.

But Locke only gave her a gentle nod. "It is fine. I am indeed your senior fellow."

"You can call me senior fellow from now on."

Witch Isis gave an anxious nod, and at the same time felt a warmth rise in her heart.

Such a powerful and wise wizard, and he was her senior fellow.

How wonderful.

She truly was fortunate.

Wizard Halen Vera smiled and said, "Locke, she is an interesting little junior sister of yours. She enrolled about a year and a half before you went to the Land of Six Towers. After you went to the Land of Six Towers, she became a second-class wizard apprentice, which was when I noticed her and she came under my guidance."

"She has been progressing at a fairly quick pace."

Locke was somewhat taken aback after hearing this. "Five years, three hundred magic pressure. Hmm, the talent is acceptable."

Had someone else said this about such a prodigy, calling her talent merely acceptable, many would have pushed back.

But when Locke said it, no one found it wrong, and in fact it seemed entirely natural.

Because at this moment, Locke was the greatest prodigy here.

Halen Vera said to Locke, "I intend to have her enter the Myst’s Power Research Institute."

Locke gave a slight nod.

The implication was that he wanted this witch named Isis to use the Forest Sanctuary to become a formal wizard.

Locke said, "That sounds good. I happen to have two projects I would like to cooperate with the academy on."

Dean Earl Thompson's eyes immediately lit up. "Cooperation? Of course."

"You are one of our Lilith’s Cottage's outstanding graduates. Lilith’s Cottage will naturally work with you with full commitment."

Locke, Dean Earl Thompson, and Wizard Halen Vera began walking as they talked. The other wizards wisely kept their distance.

Locke snapped his fingers, and in an instant his mountain-like magic pressure compressed the air, forming walls. Magic pressure walls appeared and surrounded them, effectively forming a soundproofing barrier.

Locke looked at Dean Earl Thompson and asked, "Dean Thompson, what are your plans after this war?"

Dean Earl Thompson said, "The war has dealt harm to every wizard university. Our Lilith’s Cottage alone lost seven formal wizards."

"The death of these seven formal wizards will affect our Lilith’s Cottage's disciplinary construction. Especially the one formal wizard we had in the summoning school's beast-taming magic sub-direction. With his death, our Lilith’s Cottage's entire beast-taming magic sub-direction can be said to be completely finished."

"There were already so few research resources and research equipment in that direction, and now even the sole formal wizard is dead. The problem is that many of the third-class, second-class, and first-class wizard apprentices studying in that direction have now lost their mentor."

Dean Earl Thompson let out a sigh.

"With their mentor gone, these people have almost no hope of continuing to advance. The third-class wizard apprentices are not so complicated, changing disciplines does not carry too great a sunk cost."

"But for those second-class and first-class wizard apprentices, the sunk cost is too great."

"I am planning to recruit an ordinary formal wizard from outside, in the beast-taming magic sub-direction. If I can manage it, that person can inherit the laboratory and the research group personnel of the fallen wizard."

"If not, then nothing can be done. I will have to let those students withdraw or arrange for other academies to take them..."

"In any case, the question of what to do with this batch of students must be carefully considered. The deaths of the other six formal wizards will also have a certain impact on our disciplinary construction."

Dean Earl Thompson said, "That said, our Lilith’s Cottage's losses in the war can already be considered relatively small."

"The Four Seasons Garden and the various Virdantia University academies suffered far greater losses. After this war, I estimate they will have a number of disciplines that will be cancelled outright."

"Because there are no corresponding wizard mentors left."

Dean Earl Thompson said, "Oh, right. Virdantia University's formal wizard mentors in the breeding studies direction have been wiped out, having been specifically targeted by the black wizard alliance in the earlier conflict."

"Virdantia University will likely abandon the breeding studies academy entirely."

Locke's eyes immediately brightened.

Because he knew what Dean Thompson was hinting at.

If the other party was going to be selling talent and laboratory equipment in a package, then this was the perfect time to move.

Especially given that he was short of people right now.

Dean Thompson said, "You have already gone out and established your own path. I expect you are also lacking in equipment, resources, and people. If you would like them, we can pass them along to you when the time comes."

Locke shook his head slightly. "I am only an ordinary researcher at Golden Crown Mountain."

"I cannot absorb the full resources of Virdantia University's breeding studies laboratory. Nor do I need resources on that scale. Thank you for the kind thought, Dean. I will simply select the equipment and the people I want from among what is available."

Dean Thompson gave a nod.

"Very well. Then when they put things up for sale, let us handle it together."

Locke felt a certain poignancy.

He had not expected Virdantia University to suffer such a catastrophe, being driven to the point of abandoning an entire disciplinary programme.

Halen Vera said, "However, the Four Seasons Garden and Virdantia University will not collapse entirely. They will certainly make a comeback."

"Both academies have academic lineages from higher-ranking wizard territories behind them."

"The Four Seasons Garden's founding wizard, the Four Seasons Witch, currently serves as chief wizard mentor at the Root Crown Royal Court and is a Third Circle Throne wizard."

"Virdantia University's founding wizard is dead, but they have an academic overseer who carries considerable prestige in the Four Bright Waters. Several academic lineages of high-circle wizards from higher-ranking wizard territories run through the entire university. Those high-circle wizards may not pay this area enough attention, but they will still care to some degree about the continuation of their lineage across various wizard territories."

"And so the Four Seasons Garden and Virdantia University will not collapse. Sooner or later they will make their comeback."

Locke said, "Then is there currently no high-circle wizard associated with Virdantia University's breeding studies direction?"

Halen Vera said, "That is correct. There was originally a high-circle wizard from the Rose Council's side affiliated with that direction. But recently that sun ring wizard changed positions and left the Eastern Border Region, going to the Southern Border Region."

"It seems they went to the Southern Wizard Capital." ℯℯ𝑙.

"Travel between wizard territories by passing through the Three Wetlands as a transit point takes only about four months round trip. But crossing between different border regions is a much greater distance."

"And so their academic lineage there was effectively severed. After they left, their students were without a leader, which is why the black wizard alliance dared to move against Virdantia University's breeding studies wizards. Of course, there were also other factors involved, and it very likely entailed more complex issues, since we do not know exactly why the black wizard alliance specifically targeted Virdantia University's breeding studies."

Locke asked, "Teacher Halen, how exactly did the black wizard alliance target them?"

Wizard Halen Vera, now treating Locke's words with the greatest of respect as a Second Circle wizard, thought carefully for a moment and then said, "They captured many of Virdantia University's formal wizard breeders."

"For a period we were worried the black wizard alliance would turn their sights on us."

"The black wizards led those breeders into the Forbidden Forest, and those breeders were never seen again."

Locke reflected, 'Capturing breeders? Right. The black wizard side had no breeders. They needed breeders to identify the Dragon Saliva Sky Line. In essence, the black wizard alliance forcibly seized breeders and formed an expedition team, and since the Forbidden Forest is extraordinarily dangerous, those breeders most likely all died within it.'

'Very likely at the Forbidden Forest King's hands.'

'So the reason Virdantia University's breeding studies disappeared was that it was drawn into the academic lineage conflict between the Red Dragon Witch and the Rose Witch.'

At this moment Locke felt more acutely than ever just how the academic ideological clash between the Rose Throne and the Red Dragon Throne could, through a butterfly effect, determine the fate of an entire top wizard university's academy within a wizard territory.

The war between the two Throne wizards almost certainly did not confine itself to the Cloud Marsh Wetlands or the Three Wetlands alone.

And so the academic clash between his teacher and the Rose Witch would affect multiple wizard territories?

Locke thought of the Heavenly River region. Thinking about it carefully, the Three Kings Tournament in that wizard territory had itself been affected by the academic conflict between the two Throne wizards.

And if even the current consequences of the academic ideological clash were already this severe, what would the Throne War that made his senior brothers and sisters pale at the very mention of it be like?

That seemed to be connected to the Ladder.

Locke had searched the Second Circle free library after hearing the term Ladder mentioned, and found absolutely nothing.

Which meant it was something only Third Circle wizards could research.

The Ladder Test at the Feathered Serpent Pavilion, even that name, was likely connected to this so-called Ladder.

Locke currently did not yet have enough contribution points to exchange for the Spiritual Resonance's Hundred Interpretations, and so had no way to go and sit the Second Circle alchemist, that is, expert-level alchemist, certification exam.

Locke said to Halen Vera and Dean Thompson, "Teacher, and Dean, I have an idea. I would like to contribute a fund, subsidizing first-class wizard apprentices in learning the Forest Sanctuary and becoming formal wizards."

"You both know that a wizard wishing to build a Forest Sanctuary requires substantial funding. The Forest Sanctuary itself alone costs a million magic stones. Never mind the associated potions needed, such as the Swarm Consciousness Potion."

Both of them nodded as they listened.

Locke continued walking along the edge of the southeastern quadrant's forest. "And so for every first-class wizard apprentice from Lilith’s Cottage with eight hundred magic pressure who passes my assessment or meets my standards, I am offering a choice. Accept my five hundred thousand magic stones in sponsorship, with the condition of accepting my Forest Alliance Curse."

Locke gave a brief explanation of his Forest Alliance Curse.

Dean Earl Thompson was extremely interested.

"I see. I had heard from Albert about the Forest Alliance Curse before. I have no objection to this."

Of course he would agree.

Why had Lilith’s Cottage declined? Because Lilith’s Cottage's academic lineage had been severed.

The new force in the southeastern quadrant, the Four Seasons Garden, had behind it the chief wizard mentor of the Root Crown Royal Court, a Third Circle Throne wizard.

Even if the Throne did not care about this area, merely dropping that name was enough to frighten a great many people away.

Those black wizards had broken through the Four Seasons Garden, yet had not dared to cause too much damage there, especially to the winter garden that the Third Circle Throne wizard had once cultivated.

Not a single bit of that was touched.

The energy a Throne wizard commanded was simply too vast. Even if the person themselves did not come after you, having their followers come after you would be more than enough to give anyone serious trouble.

Virdantia University also had multiple academic lineages behind it. Of course, that university had itself already experienced a decline once.

Because its founding wizard had gone to develop their career in a higher-ranking wizard territory and, after becoming a Fourth Circle wizard, had attempted to become a truth wizard and lead their discipline.

And had died in the attempt.

It was said to have been a laboratory accident during an extremely dangerous experiment.

This meant Virdantia University had already declined once, no longer possessing the absolute dominance over the southeastern quadrant it had enjoyed two hundred years ago.

After this war between white and black wizards, things were even more dire, with its failures laid bare for all to see once again.

As for Lilith’s Cottage, being the southeastern quadrant's oldest established force and the true owner of the Forbidden Forest secret realm, why was its reputation and influence now smaller than both the Four Seasons Garden and Virdantia University?

Because its founding wizard, Lady Myst, had long since disappeared. She was a figure from a very early period, someone it was difficult to distinguish as historical reality or legend.

And the various academic lineages it had possessed afterward had also gradually frayed with the passage of time.

The academic ties were gone.

And so Lilith’s Cottage had found itself in the situation of having no one supporting it from above, its foundational infrastructure falling steadily behind, its intake of students declining.

And now, Locke, as one of Lilith’s Cottage's outstanding graduates and a senior researcher at Golden Crown Mountain, was proactively proposing to cooperate with his alma mater, to establish a personal fund at his alma mater and create an academic bond.

How could Dean Earl Thompson possibly refuse?

Although Locke at present was only an ordinary Second Circle wizard, far from having reached the stage where building an academic lineage was appropriate, that at minimum required a sun ring wizard to be considered eligible.

After all, an academic lineage involved many dimensions, including hierarchical connections between wizard territories, faculty positions, and corresponding resources.

But Locke was so young.

He was not a sun ring wizard now. He was not a Third Circle wizard now. Who could say what he would be in the future?

Halen Vera said with feeling, "Lilith’s Cottage has turned a corner. You and Witch Sophia appeared seemingly out of nowhere."

"You are like figures who emerged from nowhere."

"I suspect this time the black wizard alliance did not move against our breeders, and perhaps Sophia and your connection played a role in that calculation."

Locke gave a slight nod.

Very likely.

And probably his own connection was the largest factor.

Not because of the weight of his name, but because the actions of the black wizards this time had the influence of the Rose Throne behind them, and the Rose Throne was clearly trying to act covertly without alerting his teacher.

Since Lilith’s Cottage had close ties to him, and in order to avoid alerting his teacher, they should have made every effort to avoid targeting Lilith’s Cottage.

Locke said, "The fact that you are both willing to agree to my idea is truly wonderful."

Dean Thompson smiled and said, "The Forest Alliance Curse will link the permanent defensive force fields of wizards who learn the Forest Sanctuary. I see no issue with that. There could not be any objection."

"In fact, I think it is quite a good idea."

"Locke, you are a great wizard now."

"Shall we call it the Augustine Forest Alliance Fund?"

Locke said, "Very well. I will have Hussein help me set up a fund committee and deposit one million magic stones into it as the initial fund. If more is needed in the future, I will provide additional capital."

"My only hope is that more and more formal wizards will come to use the Forest Sanctuary as their permanent defensive force field."