"Your... business?"
Roy frowned upon hearing this.
Inside the Wizard Tower, many apprentices had their own alchemical products, which they sold to earn some extra money while studying and researching.
He never expected that merely trying to earn a little hard-earned cash could bother someone else.
"You've just become a mid-level apprentice, so you might not fully understand the rules in this Wizard Tower.
But that's okay, let Trides explain it to you!"
Seeing Roy remain silent, Botning smiled ominously, with a hint of threat in his tone.
With that, he turned and left.
Trides stayed behind and said, "Roy, haven't you heard? The Wizard Tower has its rules.
There is a hierarchy, a clear distinction of ranks, and that is the most important rule.
Any benefits must first go to the seniors; if they don't want it, then it comes to us, and what we don't want gets passed down to the lower-level apprentices. Do you understand?
This isn't just aimed at you; it's how things have always been in the tower.
Think it over carefully, and don't let your incense interfere with Senior Botning's business.
Otherwise, you might as well consider contributing your formula and letting the seniors handle it."
"Trides!" Roy turned and glared at him.
He finally understood.
Botning didn't know him personally and wouldn't be idly watching the market; there was no way he would come looking for trouble without reason.
It turned out there was a little schemer behind the scenes!
Trides was startled and muttered, "Why are you staring at me? Just take care of yourself!"
He quickly followed after Botning.
...
"Botning is actually causing you trouble?"
Not long after, Roy returned to the dormitory area and asked Renien and the others about the situation.
"That's going to be tricky. I heard he also sells calming and sleep-inducing potions, so what you're making might conflict with his products."
"Exactly, his main goal is likely to continue selling his own goods."
"But he's been an apprentice for many years...
Even if he hasn't mastered Wizardry, he might have Enchanted Items or other means."
"If it comes down to a confrontation, we definitely can't win!"
The group expressed sympathy and shared a common animosity towards Botning, but they felt powerless to help.
After their inquiries, they vaguely understood that Botning was a senior mid-level apprentice.
Overall, he wasn't a particularly powerful figure, but he had accumulated some experience due to being promoted a year or two earlier.
This accumulation included, but was not limited to, progress in training, personal strength, wealth, and connections...
Niya comforted him, saying, "When the great wizards stepped out of the Star Sea, they realized the vastness of the universe and the multitude of races. They once swore an oath to engrave 'the order of the Wizard Tower is sacred and inviolable' into the World's Will.
This is a sacred law, far more serious than any secular morality or national law.
Botning wouldn't dare do anything to you inside the tower; he's just trying to intimidate you, so don't worry too much."
Roy nodded slightly.
As long as he stayed within the tower, Botning indeed had no way to deal with him.
But he couldn't hide in the tower forever.
The Wizard Tower wouldn't allow ordinary apprentices to live so comfortably.
Moreover, those who flattered or feared Botning might also act as his accomplices, opposing him at every turn.
This could be even more troublesome than Botning himself! "Just trying to earn a little money, and it's already this complicated...
But alchemical Wizardry emphasizes practice and improvement; it's time to invest the Magic Stones in myself, or else saving money will just fill someone else's pockets."
Roy originally aimed to earn money to improve himself, and now that desire grew even stronger.
"But how exactly can I achieve this goal?
With my current level of mental power, financial resources, and material means, my options are very limited.
I need to choose a good formula within my capabilities."
Roy began searching for various materials and discussing with Renien and others, eventually discovering a relatively feasible option—Blood Persimmon Potion.
This potion belonged to the Physique Enhancement Potion category, which was somewhat niche, had a low upper limit, and was not easy to concoct.
However, it had one significant advantage that outweighed all its drawbacks: the raw materials were cheap!
Blood Persimmon Fruit, a magical fruit that looked somewhat like a ripe tomato, could enhance physical strength and improve power, but excessive consumption could lead to a depletion of energy, so it had some side effects.
It could be purchased for less than 10 Magic Stones each, which Roy could easily afford with his current finances.
More importantly, it fell within the category of apprentice-level alchemy.
Being Proficient could directly and significantly increase the success rate of concoction, allowing him to experiment with confidence.
After determining his direction, Roy began to explore and experiment on his own, during which he faced failures and wasted a few fruits.
If he had chosen another formula, he might have exhausted all his previous savings and come to a halt.
However, he could continue trying, turning his failures into valuable experience.
A few days later, things changed.
"I finally mastered it!"
Roy's face lit up with joy as he felt he had fully grasped the formula.
He then decisively began the formal concoction.
As expected, with the help of his Proficient black iron-level talent, he was able to handle the formula with ease right after mastering it.
Before long, he announced that he had successfully completed it.
Roy raised the beaker, looking at the clear liquid that resembled diluted light red blood, faintly smelling the iron-like scent emanating from it.
It had a rusty smell.
Roy tilted his head back and unhesitatingly gulped it down in one go, leaving not a single drop behind.
The taste of the Blood Persimmon Potion was sweet and sour, with a hint of minty coolness and spiciness, rushing down his throat as if igniting a fire within him.
Moments later, it felt like he had consumed strong liquor, and every cell in his body began to heat up.
Roy's cheeks gradually flushed, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, and the heat spread outward from within, as if his skin was about to burst.
"It's starting to take effect!"
He clenched his fists tightly, feeling his muscles swell and power accumulating.
"It really works! My potential has been unlocked!"
But soon after, a wave of hunger hit him.
A sense of darkness enveloped him, and his vision began to blur.
"Cells are consuming energy..."
He quickly took out the sugar cubes he had prepared in advance and stuffed them into his mouth.
Like a magic spell, that inexplicable hunger quickly subsided.
His head cleared, and his vision sharpened.
Roy straightened up, feeling an unprecedented strength coursing through him, trembling with excitement.
This was a feeling of rebirth, making him want to let out a loud roar.
"Let's test it out!"
Not long after, Roy went to the training ground in the tower, found a heavy iron bar, and lifted it with a shaky but determined effort.
"Indeed, there's already a not
iceable improvement."
This body had hardly been exercised before, relying solely on natural growth and development.
But now, it seemed to have been activated by the potion, gaining strength far beyond its previous level.
(End of Chapter)