Chapter 147: Chapter 147

On the second floor of the Treatment Center, a first-class wizard apprentice with the most seniority and who served as the unofficial floor manager hosted this celebration for Anglon.

"Please, Senior Anglon, give us a speech and share some of your insights on potion studies..."

"Everyone applaud..."

This person was undoubtedly quite cunning. He knew that if it were merely a celebration, most first-class wizard apprentices probably wouldn't be interested but if Anglon shared some insights on potion studies, even if there might only be a tiny bit of useful content, everyone would genuinely perk up.

Sure enough, under his encouragement, many originally indifferent first-class wizard apprentices actually began applauding.

The tall, sturdy Anglon walked to the center of the crowd with a smile, beginning a speech and enjoying the admiring gazes. At the end of his eloquent presentation, he also announced that he would be stationed at the Healing Hand Treatment Center this year.

Anglon's gaze swept across everyone present. "To respond to the increasingly intense wizard war, at my wizard mentor Halen Vera's suggestion, I've decided to establish an Anglon Workshop here. I've already applied to the academy and will receive approval shortly."

Anglon smiled faintly. "The Anglon Workshop will handle special treatments on the second floor, specifically targeting particularly troublesome evil curses that Blood Curse Court's wizard seeds cast on white wizards."

"This will greatly reduce everyone's workload." Dıscover more novels at noᴠelfire.net

Anglon continued, "Everyone, if you encounter patients you can't solve in the future, and I happen to be at the Treatment Center, feel free to consult me. It's all completely free."

"Just for this year's [Starlight Apprentice] voting, if you don't mind, please vote for me."

Sparse applause echoed through the second floor. People reacted differently to this announcement, some were expressionless and indifferent.

Others showed disdain, while some genuinely admired Anglon and appeared excited.

Regardless of Anglon's character, his achievements in potion studies were indeed among the best of the younger generation.

Having him stationed at the Treatment Center would undoubtedly reduce many people's pressure.

Andrew, Axi, and Locke stood at the edge of the crowd.

Andrew scoffed disdainfully. "Sounds nice, but it's just because the Treatment Center established three Outstanding Therapist positions and one Exceptional Therapist position this year to encourage us potion master assistants."

"Outstanding Therapist positions come with three bottles of Tears of True Sight potion. Tears of True Sight is one of the most complex apprentice-level potions, capable of temporarily increasing mental power significantly."

"If we want to conduct experiments with high mana requirements or brew potions, we need this potion's assistance. So it's commonly used but very expensive for potion master assistants."

"The Exceptional Therapist, if selected, can even receive a bottle of First Circle potion-level [Hive Mind Potion] that greatly increases mental power."

"He definitely heard about this from his wizard mentor, so he's hurriedly establishing a workshop here. But even so, he's unwilling to be permanently stationed at the Healing Hand Treatment Center like us, instead opening a special clinic here."

Locke looked at him puzzledly. "How do you know this? I didn't know."

Andrew answered, "Oh, this news won't be announced for another week. I learned about it through my wizard mentor's network."

Locke nodded slightly. His wizard mentor Witch Sophia had few connections at Lilith's Cottage, so learning such news later was quite normal.

Andrew continued, "The Exceptional Therapist selection mainly depends on the curse levels of patients we treat, followed by the number of patients we treat."

Locke nodded slightly. The wizard war was becoming increasingly intense, so the number of white wizards from various academies coming to the Treatment Center was surging but the Treatment Center couldn't afford to pay potion master assistants much more, so they used this method to motivate everyone.

After all, four positions, no matter how precious the rewards, cost less than comprehensively raising all potion master assistants' salaries.

Especially since the Treatment Center basically used money from treating first-class wizard apprentices to subsidize second and third-class wizard apprentice patients, who otherwise couldn't afford any treatment.

If the academy had large numbers of low-level wizard apprentice deaths, it would cause a talent shortage for the next decade.

So now the Treatment Center was actually pressuring these potion master assistants' profit shares.

Andrew said, "As for that Starlight Apprentice title, it's an old traditional award given every five years."

"That title doesn't reward much, basically everyone votes to select someone among first-class wizard apprentices we consider outstanding. It's essentially a popularity contest, and most first-class wizard apprentices won't bother voting."

"It's just a title to strengthen emotional connections among academy wizards."

Axi whispered mockingly, "That Anglon really doesn't want to miss any reward. Unfortunately, truly valuable titles like Chief Apprentice depend on comprehensive evaluations and published article counts."

"His scheming won't help at all."

Only now did Locke understand that the first-class wizard apprentice world had so many complexities.

When he first advanced to first-class wizard apprentice, he had no idea this level operated this way.

Blank-slate first-class wizard apprentices like them sat at one table; those with achievements running various botanical gardens and alchemical workshops sat at another; academy students like Anglon competing for various titles sat at yet another table.

However, as his botanical garden and pharmacy developed, his status among first-class wizard apprentices was rapidly rising.

Recently, some basic societies and local wizard family gatherings had been subtly trying to invite him through various means but he was too busy and found such activities meaningless, preferring to focus on his own work, so he ignored them all.

At that moment, Andrew and Axi were still privately mocking Anglon's shamelessness, but Locke coughed lightly, interrupting them.

When they turned around, they were shocked to discover Anglon walking toward them.

Both felt very embarrassed and somewhat afraid, since Anglon was indeed more skilled and powerful than them, with higher status.

They had only been chattering privately and didn't want Anglon to overhear but contrary to their expectations, Anglon essentially ignored them both, only nodding politely out of courtesy before locking his gaze on Locke.

Anglon wore a false smile and said to Locke, "Are you Potion Master Augustine Augustine?"

Locke nodded puzzledly. "Yes, Senior Anglon. What's wrong? Do you need my help with something?"

Anglon's smile broadened. "No, no, it's just that I often hear my mentor Halen Vera mention you. Students the teacher mentions frequently are rare."

"Junior Locke, if you encounter any difficult problems at the Treatment Center in the future, feel free to consult me or my assistant at my workshop."

Anglon laughed seemingly heartily. "Well, this senior will leave first. I didn't expect to meet you here today, what good luck."

Locke greeted him while frowning slightly at Anglon's departing figure.

He glanced at his Omen Mandrake Vines, which hadn't turned red, but Anglon's attitude just now felt strange.

While nothing could be faulted on the surface, something felt off. The other party seemed very nervous seeing him, maintaining high vigilance but what could the other party be nervous about?

He and Anglon should have no dealings, right?

Andrew and Axi sighed in relief seeing him leave.

Axi quickly asked Locke, "Locke, have you had dealings with him?"

Andrew also looked at Locke.

Locke spread his hands and shook his head. "No, not at all."

"So I don't know what that was about."

Andrew frowned slightly, thinking. "He had a wary emotion toward you, so he deliberately acted verbally like you were completely his junior, making it seem like you definitely need to consult him, or even his assistant."

Andrew said, "Locke, you'd better avoid contact with him. That Anglon guy is too competitive and jealous. His mentor's side has an atmosphere that worships geniuses and judges everything by results."

Locke thanked him. "Yes, I understand. I shouldn't encounter him much going forward, he can't possibly come to the Treatment Center often."

"I have a pile of my own matters to handle next."

Though Locke couldn't pinpoint the specific source of Anglon's strange attitude, he indeed didn't want too much contact with him.

Anyway, he and Anglon had few intersections.

His most important upcoming matters were passing the breeder examination hosted by Lady Morgana and finding ways to shorten the time needed to reach 600 mental power.

"Hive Mind Potion..." Locke thought: 'So there are still abundant resources that can rapidly advance mana, I just don't have the money to afford them right now.'

'And obtaining the Exceptional Therapist title requires amazing achievements in curse-treatment potion studies.'