Wizard: Starting With Synthesized Gems-Chapter 278: The Augustus Series of Magical Plants

Claudia Forbes nodded to Locke and said, "Alright, you've already received the Sacrifice Potion."
"I hope you'll abide by the contract. If you violate it, you'll be hunted by the association. The association's high-level contracts are generally protected by powerful curse magic."
Old Witch Forbes raised her eyebrows and said, "That's guaranteed by a Cursed Aztec Corn Gold Coin kept at the association headquarters."
"That cursed coin will instantly flip and release a curse the moment someone violates a certain agreement, making it naturally the best type of magical item for guaranteeing contracts." Old Witch Forbes said in a low voice, "However, the Corn Gold Coin is a Second Circle item, so ordinary contracts don't reach this level."
Locke glanced at the contract he had signed earlier. In the blank space of that association's high-level confidentiality contract was a strange coin pattern. At the center of the coin was a corn graphic in the sky, and in the coin's engraving, the corn was bleeding toward the earth.
Locke seriously considered the connection between curse magic and magical contracts, finding that the two were indeed very related. Curse magic could be used to achieve magical effects that protected contract maintenance.
He sighed and said, "I didn't expect curse magic could not only be used against enemies but also have such unique uses."
Old Witch Forbes laughed, "Yes."
"In the southeastern quadrant, there are no specialized Contract Masters, but in many places, there are Contract Masters who specifically study the curse magic sub-direction of the Necromancy School."
"The magical contracts these Contract Masters establish are very effective, but they can only be encountered in some wizard communities with relatively high magical levels. This requires a higher degree of social division of labor. Otherwise, ordinary individual wizards wouldn't possibly study a wizard profession that serves only certain special fields and special purposes."
Claudia Forbes said, "We potion masters can remove magical contracts established by ordinary curse magic ourselves."
"But magical contracts protected by the Second Circle item, the Aztec Coin, are something we potion masters are powerless against."
"Alright, student, you may go. I'm busy. I still need to concoct a batch of potions for the academy's higher-ups recently."
After Locke bowed to Old Witch Forbes, he left.
He headed to the potion auction. Today was the day when Lilith's Cottage held its large-scale potion auction that occurred once every six months.
Although Lilith's Cottage might hold several small auctions each month, this kind of large-scale auction was basically only held at two fixed time points in a year. The minimum requirement to enter the venue was to be a first-class wizard apprentice.
At that time, many formal wizards from the southeastern quadrant would come to participate. Essentially, this was a regional activity Lilith's Cottage held for the entire southeastern quadrant.
It was also a manifestation of Lilith's Cottage's status in the southeastern quadrant.
His main purpose for attending was to use his 200,000 magic stones to purchase sufficient magical resources.
Currently, the magical resources commonly seen in Chimera Trading Market were already mediocre for him. Basically, consuming them was useless. He might as well consume more Beholder Lord Potion instead but at this giant auction event, there would definitely be magical resources that could help his current self.
Moreover, this was Lilith's Cottage's grand event. As a student of Lilith's Cottage, he should at least experience it.
In front of the potion auction venue, the auction's traders stood at the entrance, welcoming all guests.
A trader familiar with Locke smiled at him and said, "Potion Master Augustine, welcome to Lilith's Cottage's potion auction. This is still your first time attending our academy's own large-scale auction."
"You can go to any seat inside the auction except the private boxes. The private boxes can only be rented by First Circle wizards..."
From among the crowd of wizards entering the auction entrance, Witch Christine suddenly walked out.
Christine came over and greeted Locke, "Locke, are you here to attend this auction?"
Locke was slightly surprised, so he turned and bowed to the green witch. "Senior, you're here too."
Witch Christine smiled slightly, "Of course. I'm here representing Four Seasons Garden to bid on precious potions."
"Lilith's Cottage is more skilled in potion studies than Four Seasons Garden. Four Seasons Garden has somewhat more advantage in plant magic. At the auction, some very rare potions that are very useful even for First Circle wizards may appear."
Christine said to Locke, "Locke, why don't you come with me? Our Four Seasons Garden has rented a fixed auction private box. In the private box, we have priority bidding rights. At the same price, our private box wins. Moreover, inside the private box, there's also the special privilege to view the next three auction items in advance."
Locke naturally had no objection. "Sure, Senior."
"Thank you very much."
Witch Christine had, over the past year, signed another contract with him after their first contract, a contract to purchase Perseus Eye Lichen for ten thousand magic stones.
After all, Four Seasons Garden's target enemies, the Bone Court, although not very skilled in curse magic, were most skilled in bone magic from the Necromancy School. Bone magic included some negative energy weakening curse minor magics, so Perseus Eye could still be very useful against the Bone Court.
Seeing that Locke knew the green witch, the trader said nothing more and only made a welcoming gesture.
When Witch Christine and Locke walked into the potion auction together, Witch Christine said to Locke, "Junior, I've recently been persuading the senior advisors of Four Seasons Garden to agree to my procurement of your magical plant creation, Jade Iris Lichen."
"If successful, it will probably be a relatively large order."
Locke thanked Christine, "Thank you, Senior. Over the past year, Senior has opened up many sales channels for me, giving me some small fame among quite a few wizard organizations in the southeastern quadrant."
Witch Christine said to Locke, "We're from the same teacher's school and have the same wizard mentor. Naturally, I'm more willing to help you."
"This counts as mutual help. In the past at Teacher Halen Vera's, I also often helped fellow students like this."
"Besides, the quality of your work is indeed good." Christine smiled, "I'm very satisfied with all your creations. Perhaps in the future, you could create a brand for all your works."
"That way, it will be more convenient when selling them later."
Witch Christine said, "How about calling it Augustus Magical Plants? I borrowed ancient Epirote language to transliterate your surname. It means ancient, wise, and glorious."
"It's actually just your surname."
"If you have no objections, I'll help you promote it. Your creations can already function as a series. This way, it will be easier for me to persuade those senior advisors at Four Seasons Garden."
The green witch looked at Locke. "Of course, this mainly depends on your personal opinion."
"Oh right, the development work for the Perseus Eye Lichen Shield's supporting spell that you authorized us to develop has been completed after nine months of our efforts."
Christine said, "I almost forgot. I need to pass this developed spell to you."
She took out a spellbook from her astral ring and handed it to Locke. "This is the 0.9 Circle Lichen Shield. Its prototype is the 0.5 Circle Moss Shield."
"You already knew Moss Shield before, so learning this one should be very quick for you."
"Because we were responsible for developing this entire spell and paid for all the resources on our end, according to the contract we signed before, Locke, you only have usage rights and learning rights. You can't teach it to others privately."
Witch Christine smiled at Locke. "Of course, that's just a formality. Actually, as long as you don't spread this spell on a large scale in areas near our Four Seasons Garden and affect our project team's ability to recoup costs by selling this spell, that's fine."
"Whether you spread it elsewhere or not, we don't care. Our project team doesn't want to easily come into conflict with the original creator of Perseus Eye Lichen either."
Locke nodded, "Don't worry, Senior."