Chapter 56: Chapter 56

Locke entered this relatively large and well-known shop within Chimera Trading Market.

He heard scolding voices from inside the shop.

He saw an elderly-looking witch being harshly berated by a beautiful witch who appeared to be only thirty years old.

Locke noticed the badge worn on the beautiful witch's chest, and his expression changed slightly, because that was a badge representing the status of a formal wizard.

In the wizard world, it was very difficult to tell a person's true age from their appearance, as there were too many methods to change one's appearance.

This was especially true for those beauty-loving witches.

The beautiful witch, who was the behind-the-scenes owner of Lijin Secret Language shop, said to the elderly witch, "Yuri Burns, I am very disappointed in you. As the manager of Lijin Secret Language, I am very dissatisfied with your sales performance over the past six months."

"If you cannot find a way to improve your shop's recent sales figures, then I should consider whether to hire a second first-class wizard apprentice to serve as my shop's manager."

Yuri Burns broke out in cold sweat on her forehead. This was direct dissatisfaction expressed by a formal wizard, which naturally put her under tremendous pressure.

Yuri Burns hastily said to Lady Irina, "Respected Lady Irina, I will quickly think of ways to improve the magical plant sales in our Lijin Secret Language shop."

"Lijin Secret Language was once the best magical plant shop in Chimera Trading Market, and it will be in the future as well."

Lady Irina's expression improved slightly, "Then I'll give you three more months. Yuri, there are plenty of first-class wizard apprentices willing to work for me."

"Moreover, the problem with your condition... is quite serious. Without my tolerance, you wouldn't even be able to find a decent job."

"Don't disappoint me again."

After Lady Irina finished speaking, she turned and walked toward the shop exit. Before leaving, she glanced at Locke and paused for a moment on the breeder's assistant badge worn on Locke's chest.

Then she said to Locke, "Young second-class wizard apprentice, I can sense that your life essence level does not exceed 18 years old."

"To become a breeder's assistant at this age is indeed quite good."

"Lijin Secret Language is prepared for promising individuals like you."

Locke bowed slightly to Lady Irina, "Respected Lady Irina, thank you for your praise. My small achievements are nothing compared to yours."

"You are the one standing ahead on the path of truth."

Lady Irina smiled with satisfaction, then quickly walked out of the Lijin Secret Language shop.

To her, Locke was merely a somewhat young second-class wizard apprentice who had obtained a breeder's assistant certification, not worth too much attention, so she only made a few casual remarks.

If Locke hadn't happened to enter this shop and potentially become a customer, Lady Irina probably wouldn't have noticed him at all.

On the other side, Yuri Burns stood anxiously behind the counter with her head down, pondering something. "This is terrible. There used to be fewer magical plant shops in Chimera Trading Market, so competition was naturally smaller."

"But now, numerous magical plant shops have opened in Chimera Trading Market, competition is fierce, and Lijin Secret Language naturally can't be like before."

"But if I tell Lady Irina this, she'll immediately fire me and might even be very displeased. Angering a formal wizard would be too dangerous."

"So I can't say that... Then what should I do?"

For employees, bosses were naturally troublesome beings.

And when your boss was a terrifying formal wizard, it became even more unbearable.

Yuri Burns sighed, "I finally became the manager of Lijin Secret Language. It would be such a pity if I got fired ."

"The aging curse on my body requires spending large amounts of resources every year just to barely suppress it. If I lose this job and lack resources to prevent the curse from spreading, that would be troublesome."

Locke walked up to Yuri Burns. "Hello, senior, long time no see. It's been about a year since we last met, hasn't it?"

"I didn't expect we would meet again at Lijin Secret Language."

Locke recognized at first glance that the manager of Lijin Secret Language was the first-class wizard apprentice Yuri Burns who had once served as a new student mentor for Lilith's Cottage, traveling to Corfu Continent on a wizard ship.

Back then, she had gotten into a dispute on the ship with the recruitment teacher from Virdantia University, first-class wizard apprentice Gregor Jackson.

Because of a wizard apprentice named Ruixin with Level 6 wizard aptitude, he had transferred from Virdantia University, where he was supposed to go, to Lilith's Cottage instead.

Yuri Burns raised her aged face and looked at Locke with confusion. "Strange second-class wizard apprentice, who are you? Have we met before?"

Locke was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "More than a year ago, I took a wizard ship to the Southeast Quadrant, and the new student mentor at that time was you, senior."

"I am Locke Augustine." Googlᴇ search noᴠelfire.net

Yuri Burns gradually recalled, and a scene emerged in her mind: in the dark area below deck, seven wizard prospects who had been pushed over by Virdantia University stood before her, confused and looking at her hopefully.

This scene formed a stark contrast with Locke, who now stood before her confidently, wearing three honor badges on his chest.

Yuri Burns said with some disbelief, "I remember you now. You're Locke Augustine, that wizard prospect with golden elemental particle affinity. But I remember you only had Level 3 aptitude."

"You're already a second-class wizard apprentice now, and even a breeder's assistant!"

Yuri Burns thought about how she had tried several times to obtain a breeder's certificate, but reality had cruelly struck her down, making her realize she had no talent in this area.

So she had finally given up and instead obtained a potion master's assistant certificate.

But now, that once unremarkable little wizard prospect from over a year ago had actually obtained the breeder's certificate she had once yearned for and was standing before her.

This created quite a psychological impact on Yuri Burns.

Locke explained, "Oh, according to my mentor Witch Sophia, it's because the initial testing didn't completely detect my special talents."

"My actual improvement speed is between Level 5 and Level 6 aptitude."

Yuri Burns herself only had Level 4 aptitude, so her expression changed slightly, then she looked at Locke with some envy. "Sometimes, I really envy you prodigies."

"Junior, are you here to buy magical plants? I remember you specialized in the Vine Hand series spell models, so I recommend you switch to a premium Tiflo Root Vine. Premium Tiflo Root Vines can improve the power of your Vine Hand series spells, which is very important."

"Senior has experience." Yuri considered herself to have sufficient knowledge to guide Locke, so she said, "I've suffered losses because of this before. Therefore, I suggest you purchase a premium Tiflo Root Vine."

"This is my well-intentioned advice. Whether you listen or not is up to you."

"Some second-class wizard apprentices I've guided have all changed their magical plants following my suggestions, which was better for them."

Locke nodded, "I understand, senior."

"But I came here today not to buy magical plants, but to find you to sell magical plants. With the tremendous help of my mentor Sophia, I completed the cultivation work on a completely new magical vine variety. This is the testing certification for this variety."

"Senior, please take a look."

"I want to commission Lijin Secret Language to sell these thirty Super Mandrake Vines for me." Locke's lips curved slightly. "I believe that you, senior, indeed need a business deal like mine at this time."

"I'm quite short on magic stones recently, so could you reduce the commission fee a bit?"