Chapter 79: Chapter 79

Locke quickly finished reading the meditation technique loan contract. The fifty thousand magic stones had to be paid off within fifty years, with a total interest rate of fifty percent.

Otherwise, the academy would forcibly confiscate part of his assets for mortgage auction to forcibly recover the money.

Of course, this should only be a theoretical right that the academy could possess. The existence of first-class wizard apprentices themselves had value, so the academy wouldn't easily fall out with their own first-class wizard apprentices.

Even if that first-class wizard apprentice couldn't repay the money, the academy probably wouldn't do this. It would just mean the academy would have more say over that first-class wizard apprentice.

Equivalent to having an additional handle in the academy's hands.

However, this was only compared to ordinary first-class wizard apprentices.

For example, for "geniuses" like Locke who could earn large amounts of magic stones through numerous new magical plant varieties, paying off this money wasn't too difficult.

Locke thought for a moment and decided to sign it.

If it really only required fifty thousand magic stones to purchase advanced meditation techniques, then at most he would just wait a few years, accumulate enough magic stones through synthetic plants, and then make the exchange.

Although this wasn't necessary.

After all, staying at one mana value for a long time and only being able to advance at turtle speed was very psychologically torturous.

But this wasn't just that simple. The essence of this contract was to provide him with an opportunity to obtain advanced meditation techniques.

And this opportunity required first-class wizard apprentices to personally deliver their own weaknesses into the hands of academy higher-ups.

This was the key point.

Otherwise, according to convention, academy higher-ups wouldn't so readily teach him such crucially important things as advanced meditation techniques.

Locke looked at Witch Sophia, "Teacher, I'll sign."

If there were other ways to obtain advanced meditation techniques, Witch Sophia would surely have told him.

Moreover, he wouldn't have heard nothing about it at all.

Presumably, advanced meditation techniques in the southeastern quadrant were strictly prohibited knowledge from spreading.

Just like the nuclear non-proliferation treaty on Blue Star in his previous life.

Witch Sophia smiled helplessly, "In this medium-magic environment of the southeastern quadrant, there are still many institutional problems."

"Even the White Wizard Association has many remaining historical problems of exploiting wizard apprentices. I also recommend you sign and find ways to slowly pay it off later."

Locke asked, "Teacher, if I have enough magic stones later, can I repay early?"

Early repayment could at least save on those interest charges.

The total interest on this loan contract alone was a full twenty-five thousand magic stones.

Witch Sophia thought for a moment, "You can repay your student loan early because you're already a first-class wizard apprentice, so you have this privilege."

"Even those second-class wizard apprentices have to repay loans and interest on schedule according to regulations. The academy's money is the second hardest debt to owe. The hardest debt to owe is money loaned from the White Wizard Association."

Witch Sophia said, "So ordinary first-class wizard apprentices don't have the privilege to repay early."

"If we're really short of magic stones to purchase large amounts of resources at once, we would also borrow some from friends or family first."

Locke nodded and wrote his name on the contract. "I understand, teacher."

The world of first-class wizard apprentices seemed completely different from the world of second-class wizard apprentices. Only after becoming a first-class wizard apprentice could Locke see more clearly the environment of Lilith's Cottage.

However, Witch Sophia should have already experienced all of this.

As long as he could become a formal wizard, none of this would be a problem.

Witch Sophia said, "By the way, your previous application to establish a medium-sized botanical garden was rejected by academy higher-ups."

Locke raised his eyebrows with a surprised expression. "So fast? Teacher, I thought the academy would at least wait another month to reply."

Witch Sophia said, "Well, approving applications takes a very long time, but rejections only take a few days. Because approving applications requires going through many procedures."

"Medium-sized botanical garden reviews even need to be reported to the White Wizard Association for cross-examination by senior breeders from three or more wizard organizations to ensure your medium-sized botanical garden has no hidden dangers of causing problems like species invasion."

"Medium-sized botanical gardens can already cause serious environmental damage to an area due to experimental accidents."

"But for rejections, there are too many barriers and too many reasons to immediately reject."

Witch Sophia sneered, "But as far as I know, I know why the academy immediately rejected your medium-sized botanical garden application."

"There are two reasons."

"One relatively unimportant reason is that you just became a first-class wizard apprentice and haven't even obtained a breeder certificate yet, so the academy believes you temporarily don't need to establish a medium-sized botanical garden."

Locke nodded. He was just trying it out anyway.

If he were really allowed to establish a medium-sized botanical garden of one hundred to three hundred acres, then he could gradually plant more magical plants on a large scale in the future.

Although first-class wizard apprentices did have the qualification to apply for medium-sized botanical gardens.

But he also knew his qualifications were insufficient, so from the beginning he only wanted to apply again in a few days for a request to establish a small-to-medium botanical garden of fifty to under one hundred acres.

Witch Sophia's eyes flashed with dissatisfaction as she crossed her hands, "But the more important reason is that the academy's opportunities to apply to the White Wizard Association for medium-scale botanical gardens every three years are limited."

"Just like how the White Wizard Association only recognizes Lilith's Cottage establishing one super-giant scale botanical garden."

"An experienced breeder already applied for a medium-scale botanical garden last year, and now you're applying again. But the academy also has a first-class wizard apprentice who obtained a Breeder Assistant certificate and is also preparing to apply for establishing his own medium-scale botanical garden recently."

Witch Sophia said, "That first-class wizard apprentice's father is a First Circle wizard in the academy's summoning school beast taming magic sub-direction."

"So that's why your application was immediately rejected." For more chapters visıt novel fire.net

"Locke, you should change your application to apply for establishing a small-to-medium botanical garden instead. Wait for these three years to pass, then apply for establishing a medium-sized botanical garden. That way the application approval chances will be higher."

Locke's eyes flashed with understanding. So that's how it was.

Now that he was a first-class wizard apprentice, he would naturally begin competing with the offspring of those First Circle wizards for limited resources.

During the second-class wizard apprentice stage, he couldn't feel this because the resources he used during that period were relatively unimportant and didn't require competing for resources with the offspring of First Circle wizards and such figures.

If he became a formal wizard one day, then he would directly compete for resources together with those formal wizards themselves.

Locke instead comforted Witch Sophia, "Teacher, I wouldn't have passed the application anyway, so it doesn't matter."

Witch Sophia looked at Locke, "Actually there are other methods. If you can obtain a breeder certificate and win some competition championships, then the last quota for establishing a medium-scale botanical garden at Lilith's Cottage within these three years would fall into your hands."

Witch Sophia lifted her chin arrogantly, "Even if some people's fathers are formal wizards, there's nothing they can do about it."

"In the wizard world, genius can resolve all disputes."

Locke asked, "Competition?"

Witch Sophia nodded, "Yes, I forgot to tell you. First-class wizard apprentices have some methods to quickly obtain resources. One of them is entering secret realms."

"The secret realm entry opportunity you chose before was the Forbidden Forest. This is very good."

"I would also recommend you choose this." Witch Sophia said, "Besides that, there's participating in competitions."

"Under the White Wizard Association's advocacy, the southeastern quadrant holds many types of joint competitions. These competitions have many purposes."

"First, to promote learning and research through competition, enhancing the overall level of white wizards in the southeastern quadrant. This is something those black wizards don't have and is one of our white wizards' advantages."

"Second, to enhance learning exchanges between major wizard organizations and strengthen connections between us."

"Third, to use competition format to increase talent mobility and find buried geniuses."

"Just like I told you before, some people never know where their talents lie their entire lives, thus missing many opportunities and mistaking themselves for mediocre people."

"The mortal world should also have some similar organizational forms, like some mortal worlds having lords hold running competitions and such."

Witch Sophia said, "For wizard apprentices themselves, competitions have large prize money, so they're also a way to obtain resources."

"Participating in competitions generally requires at least first-class wizard apprentice level. In very rare cases, there will be irregular events that invite second-class wizard apprentices."

Witch Sophia said, "You can understand this as competitions that only first-class wizard apprentices can participate in."

"For example, this..."

Witch Sophia pushed a document across the office desk to Locke.

Locke looked down and saw "White Wizard Association Breeder Competition" 257th edition.

From this competition format, it seemed that as long as you submitted two works plus the general design concepts and other materials for the works, you could participate in this type of competition.

The competition was divided into preliminaries and finals.

The top thirty all had large magic stone rewards, the top one hundred had some consolatory magic stone rewards of about 100 magic stones each.

The top ten had the best rewards.

Witch Sophia said, "As long as you're a first-class wizard apprentice with at least one Breeder Assistant certificate, you can participate in this competition."

"Senior breeders and First Circle wizards are prohibited from participating. This is a competition specially set up for first-class wizard apprentices."

"This competition is held every five years and has been held for almost thirteen hundred years. The gold content of the top thirty in this competition is very high."

"Although because you have to publish general design concepts, some people might mind this point and not participate in this competition, so you can't say the champion is the most powerful first-class wizard apprentice stage breeder in the southeastern quadrant."

"But there are still very many participating masters and geniuses. The authority is very high."

"Back then, I only participated once and only got seventh place, regrettably not making it into the top three."

Witch Sophia explained briefly, "My advancement speed was too fast. I quickly advanced to First Circle wizard and senior breeder, losing competition eligibility."

"Unlike them, some people have already participated over ten times."

"Registration time is in half a year. You can also register if you're interested."