On the second floor of the Healing Hand Clinic, the most senior and de facto manager among the First-Class Wizard Apprentices presided over the celebration for Angron.
"Let us invite Senior Angron to give a speech and share some of his insights into Potionology..."
"Everyone, applause..."
This individual was undoubtedly shrewd. He knew that a mere celebration would hardly pique the interest of most First-Class Wizard Apprentices. But if Angron shared even a sliver of practical knowledge about Potionology, they would genuinely perk up.
Sure enough, under his prompting, many of the initially indifferent First-Class Wizard Apprentices began applauding in earnest.
The towering and burly Angron stepped forward with a smile, positioning himself at the center of the crowd. He launched into his speech, basking in the admiring gazes of his peers. Toward the end of his lengthy address, he announced that he would be joining the Healing Hand Clinic this year.
Angron's gaze swept across the crowd. "In response to the escalating intensity of the wizard wars, upon the advice of my Wizard Mentor, Harun Vera, I have decided to establish the Angron Workshop here. The academy has already been notified, and approval is imminent."
With a faint smile, he continued, "The Angron Workshop will specialize in advanced treatments on the second floor, particularly targeting the particularly vicious Curses inflicted by the Blood Curse Court's Wizard Seeds upon White Wizards."
"This will significantly reduce everyone's workload."
"The Angron Workshop will be staffed daily by one First-Class Wizard Apprentice—my junior—and five Second-Class Wizard Apprentices. And should truly challenging cases arise, I will personally intervene at the clinic."
Angron added, "In the future, if any of you encounter patients you cannot treat and I happen to be at the clinic, feel free to seek my guidance—completely free of charge."
"Though, if it's not too much trouble, I'd appreciate your vote for this year's [Starlight Apprentice]."
Scattered applause echoed through the second floor. Reactions varied—some remained expressionless, indifferent to the matter; others wore looks of disdain; while a few, genuinely admiring Angron, appeared visibly excited.
Regardless of Angron's character, his expertise in Potionology was undeniably among the best of the younger generation. His presence at the clinic would undoubtedly alleviate pressure for many.
Angulo, Essie, and Locke stood at the very edge of the crowd.
Angulo snorted disdainfully. "Sounds noble, but it's all because of the clinic's new incentives this year—three Outstanding Healer slots and one Distinguished Healer slot, meant to encourage us Potionology Assistants."
"The Outstanding Healer slot comes with three Tears of Visions Potions. The Tears of Visions Potion is one of the most complex concoctions at the apprentice stage, capable of temporarily boosting mental power significantly."
"If we need to conduct a Mana-intensive experiment or brew a difficult potion, this is the kind of aid we'd rely on. It's both commonly needed and prohibitively expensive for Potionology Assistants."
"Outstanding Healer—those selected can even receive a first-tier magic potion like the [Swarm Consciousness Potion], which significantly boosts mental power."
"He must have heard about this from his wizard mentor, which is why he rushed to set up a practice here. But even so, he refuses to stay permanently at the Healing Hand Clinic like the rest of us, opting instead to open a special outpatient service here."
Locke looked at him in confusion. "How do you know this? I had no idea."
Angulo replied, "Oh, this news won't be announced for another week. I learned it through my wizard mentor's connections."
Locke nodded slightly. His own mentor, the White Wizard Sophia, had little influence within Lilith's Cottage, so it was natural for her to receive such news later than others.
Angulo continued, "The selection for Outstanding Healer is primarily based on the severity of the curses we treat, followed by the number of patients we heal."
Locke nodded again. With the escalating wizard wars, the number of White Wizards from various wizard academies seeking treatment at the clinic had surged.
But the clinic couldn't afford to pay its Potionology Assistants much, so they resorted to this method to motivate everyone.
After all, offering four prized rewards was far cheaper than raising wages for all the assistants.
Especially since the clinic was essentially subsidizing Second-Class and Third-Class Wizard Apprentices with the fees paid by First-Class Wizard Apprentices—otherwise, the lower-tier apprentices couldn't afford treatment at all.
If too many low-level wizard apprentices died, the academies would face a talent shortage in the next decade.
So now, the clinic was even squeezing the assistants' shares.
Angulo added, "As for that Starlight Apprentice title, it's an old-tradition award given every five years."
"The reward itself isn't much—it's mostly about voting to select the most outstanding among the First-Class Wizard Apprentices. It's practically a popularity contest, and most First-Class Apprentices wouldn't bother voting anyway."
"It's just a title meant to foster camaraderie among the academy's wizards."
Essie scoffed quietly. "That Angron really doesn't want to miss out on any reward, does he? Too bad the truly prestigious titles, like Head Apprentice, are based on comprehensive evaluations and published papers."
"All his scheming won't get him anywhere."
Only now did Locke realize how intricate the world of First-Class Wizard Apprentices truly was.
Having just advanced to this rank, he had no idea these were the rules of the game.
First-Class Apprentices like them, with no notable achievements, sat at one table; those with accomplishments—running botanical gardens or alchemy workshops—sat at another; and then there were those like Angron, vying for various titles, who occupied yet another.
But as his plantation and pharmaceutical room expanded, his standing among the First-Class Apprentices was rising rapidly.
Recently, some rather basic clubs and gatherings of local wizard families had indeed been trying, intentionally or not, to invite me through various means.
But I was too busy and found such events uninteresting—better to focus on my own work—so I ignored them all.
At the time, Angulo and Essie were privately mocking Angron's shamelessness, only for Locke to cough lightly, interrupting them.
When the two turned their heads, they were horrified to find Angron actually walking toward them.
Both were extremely awkward, even a little afraid—after all, Angron was indeed more skilled and formidable than them, and his status was higher.
They had only been gossiping in private and didn't want Angron to overhear.
But to their surprise, Angron practically ignored them both, merely nodding politely in acknowledgment before locking his gaze onto Locke.
With a disingenuous smile, Angron said to Locke, "Are you Locke Augustine, the Potionology Master?"
Locke nodded in confusion. "Yes, Senior Angron. Is there something you need my help with?"
Angron's smile widened. "No, no. It's just that my mentor, Harun Vera, has mentioned you frequently lately. There aren't many students he speaks of so often."
"Junior Locke, if you ever encounter any difficulties in the treatment center that you don't understand, you're welcome to come to my workshop for advice—either from me or my assistant."
Angron laughed with apparent cheer. "Well, I'll be off now. I didn't expect to run into you here today. What luck."
Locke bid him farewell, frowning slightly as he watched Angron walk away.
He glanced at his Omen Mandrake Vine—it hadn't turned red—but Angron's attitude just now had left him feeling uneasy.
Though nothing seemed outwardly wrong, something about it felt off. The other man had seemed strangely tense around him, as if highly wary.
He just didn't know what Angron was so nervous about.
They shouldn't have had any prior interactions, right?
Only after Angron left did Angulo and Essie let out a sigh of relief.
Essie quickly asked Locke, "Locke, have you had dealings with him before?"
Angulo also turned to look at Locke.
Locke spread his hands and shook his head. "No, not at all."
"So I have no idea what that was about."
Angulo frowned slightly, thinking. "He's wary of you, which is why he deliberately framed the conversation as if you were a complete junior—as if you'd inevitably need to seek his advice, or even his assistant's."
She added, "Locke, it's best if you keep your distance from him. Angron is too competitive and envious, and his Wizard Mentor's circle places too much emphasis on talent and results."
Locke thanked her. "Mm, I understand. I probably won't run into him much anyway—it's not like he'll be at the treatment center often."
"I've got plenty of my own work to focus on."
Though Locke couldn't pinpoint the exact reason for Angron's strange behavior, he truly had no desire to interact with him more than necessary.
After all, they had little to do with each other.
The most important tasks for him now were to pass the Breeder examination presided over by the Ancestral Matriarch and to find a way to shorten the time needed to reach 600 units of mental power.
"Swarm Consciousness Potion..." Locke pondered: 'So there are still plenty of resources that can rapidly advance Mana growth. I just can't afford them for now.'
'And to earn the title of Distinguished Healer, one needs remarkable achievements in Potionology related to Curse treatment.'
(End of Chapter)