Wizard: Starting With Synthesized Gems-Chapter 150: Colleagues' Shock

Since they couldn't temporarily solve the complex magical plant curse problem affecting that patient, Locke and the other two could only set him aside for now and treat other first-class wizard apprentices who had been cursed.
In the evening, Locke was preparing to leave the Treatment Center when he encountered Senior Zack halfway.
Locke waved at Zack. "Senior Zack, what do you need me for?"
Seeing Locke, Zack's smile broadened. "I'm in such a hurry to find you because there's urgent business. I want to discuss the second procurement contract for Crystal Palm Fire Lotus with you."
"Let's go to the Witch Kitchen. We can discuss the details there. The Witch Kitchen recently added a new dessert called [Joyful Mille-feuille], made by collecting seven different types of joyful emotions from ordinary people. It costs 10 magic stones each, today I'll make an exception and treat you."
Zack looked toward Andrew and Axi, giving them a polite but distant nod in greeting.
Andrew and Axi watched this scene with some surprise. Andrew asked Locke in a low voice, "Locke, procurement? Your work got into academy procurement? And it's the second academy procurement?"
Axi also looked at Locke, with a feeling that they had all been working together as laborers initially, but he had secretly gotten rich.
After all, in the beginning, Locke had to ask them both about many potion studies questions every day.
Neither of them had expected that Locke was truly a genius in the breeding field, to them, he was somewhat dazzling.
Locke nodded slightly and explained to them in a low voice, "Yes, it's one of my works in the breeding field that seems to have gained the academy's attention."
"I'll go ahead then. See you tomorrow."
Andrew and Axi belatedly said goodbye to Locke. After Locke and Zack left, Axi smiled bitterly at Andrew. "No wonder Senior Anglon came over to talk with Locke, turns out he really is a genius on the breeder side."
"Then why is he at the Healing Hand Treatment Center being a nobody? Wouldn't it be better to properly work as a breeder?"
Andrew also showed a bitter smile, then said, "Why think so much about it? At least we're friends with a breeding genius."
"We're still a team within the Healing Hand Treatment Center, knowing that much is enough."
"This only benefits us."
Axi laughed, "That's true too."
"I really couldn't tell that Locke, who's so easy-going in the office, is actually such an accomplished breeder. I thought he was just an ordinary breeder's assistant, he hasn't even gotten his breeder certificate yet."
...
Inside the Witch Kitchen, Zack once again used his gourmet badge to order a pile of dishes made by seasoning masters, especially ordering a portion of Joyful Mille-feuille worth 10 magic stones.
Seeing a small, exquisite seven-colored mille-feuille placed in the center of a very large white porcelain plate and brought before him, Locke knew Zack had come to ask him for something.
Locke looked at Zack. "Senior, is there something you need my help with?"
Senior Zack was stunned for a moment, then laughed, "Worthy of being Locke, you're very perceptive. That's exactly right."
"The academy...
cough cough,
and I, want you to maintain the Crystal Palm Fire Lotus production line."
Locke frowned slightly. "Well, with academy orders, I'll naturally maintain it and could even continue expanding."
"After all, the academy recently allocated me another medium-small scale botanical garden."
"I can open up another hundred acres of magical fields. But without orders, I certainly can't maintain it."
Zack's expression became somewhat awkward. "But that's exactly the problem. The academy's plan is to purchase another 2,000 Crystal Palm Fire Lotus plants as resource reserves and reserves for developing new spell platforms."
"But going forward, they still need you to maintain at least a hundred acres of Crystal Palm Fire Lotus production capacity, so that when the academy needs to make purchases, you can supply quickly."
Locke frowned with displeasure. "Senior Zack, you should know this is impossible."
"I refuse. You know, Senior Zack, this violates the principle of fair trade, and I do have a wizard mentor."
"I'm afraid if my wizard mentor heard about this, she would laugh at me."
Zack coughed awkwardly, he also thought it was absurd. This was just an unreasonable demand from those academy higher-ups who were used to administrative work.
Yet such an absurd request had to be tentatively proposed by him.
But as the person in charge, he could only bite the bullet and try once more. "The academy higher-ups certainly don't mean to force you. If you're unwilling, the academy has no way to compel you."
"Don't worry, this is just a small suggestion. Even if you refuse, it won't affect future orders between the academy and you, or subsequent cooperation."
Zack smiled and tried to lighten the mood, attempting to soothe Locke's displeasure. "It's just maintaining production lines. You could still sell those Crystal Palm Fire Lotus plants to shops in Chimera Trading Market."
"Like my junior sister, Manager Yuri's place."
Locke shook his head. "Then I only need to maintain 20 acres of magical fields producing Crystal Palm Fire Lotus."
"That's sufficient for the monthly purchase volume Chimera Trading Market needs. I'll say it again, if you want me to retain production capacity, you need to continuously give me orders."
"There's no such thing as not wanting to spend money while still wanting me to maintain production lines." Locke explained, "Maintaining production lines means I have to invest resources into those hundred acres of magical fields every month."
"Maintaining the magical fields."
"Weather control equipment costs 1,000 magic stones monthly rent, 500 for the base rental and 500 for energy usage. If I only maintain 20 acres of magical fields, the usage costs for weather control equipment alone could reduce consumption by 400 magic stones."
"Secondly, magical plants are crops. When they mature, they need harvesting, or quality suffers. After harvesting, they need storage, which costs money."
"All these costs would be borne by me, there's no such arrangement." Locke continued, "Setting that aside, there's also my personal time consumption. I need to spend at least two to three hours daily on those hundred acres of magical fields."
"When problems arise occasionally, I need to spend entire days carefully directing those slaves to maintain my botanical garden."
Locke sipped some Angolan Fragrant Tea, then said, "So from any perspective, without academy orders, I can only shut down some magical fields."
"If you want me to maintain production capacity, you need to give me orders."
"Moreover, I still need to develop a fourth magical plant variety."
Hearing that Locke was still developing new magical plants, Zack's eyes immediately brightened. He knew that magical plants produced by breeding geniuses like Locke were invariably excellent, so his eyes lit up. Then he could only try to comfort Locke and calm him down.
"Right, right, it's Senior who doesn't understand the situation."
"Don't worry, this absolutely won't be forced." Zack smiled, "Rest assured, Senior will resolve these small troubles for you."
"This is part of my job as the person in charge of magical plant procurement. My work is to serve excellent breeding geniuses like you."
Zack smiled and said, "This is a 10,000 magic stone contract. I've already brought 10,000 magic stones and can deliver them now."
"Junior, calm down, calm down. It's all those administrative leaders above who don't understand... completely unprofessional, laymen directing experts..."