Locke pondered.
Originally, Magic Plants had nothing to do with Curses. However, due to a wizard apprentice from the Blood Curse Court integrating various Curses into Magic Plant Curses, it resulted in Locke having a method to obtain malignantly degraded Magic Plants afflicted by Curses. Using the Grafting Breeding Method, he could induce specific resistance in Emerald Iris Lichen.
This way, it might even be possible to create a super variant of Emerald Iris Lichen capable of adapting to most Curses, possessing extraordinary Curse resistance.
Locke recalled the custom Magic Plant competition hosted by Lilith's Cottage's combat division.
"The opponent was clearly too clever by half," Locke mused. "She thought shifting the target of the Curse to Magic Plants was a brilliant move, but she never considered why so many Formal Wizard-level curse specialists hadn't done the same."
"Because they weren't that foolish."
"Once you attach a specific Curse to a particular Magic Plant, Breeders can use various breeding techniques to cultivate Magic Plants with relative Curse resistance."
"Originally, Magic Plants and Curses belonged to two separate systems, incapable of mutual conversion. Breeders couldn't use breeding methods to create Magic Plants capable of wielding various Curses. But because of Seffrin Sagamore's Magic Plant Curse, she opened a Pandora's Box."
It suddenly dawned on Locke. "Her Magic Plant Curse was so idiotic that it bridged the Magic Plant system with the Curse system. While this would undoubtedly cause immense trouble—perhaps insurmountable—for Potionology Masters..."
"It also gives Breeders an opportunity to study and crack those Curses."
Locke thought to himself, "Because I'm both a Breeder and a Potionology Master, and I coincidentally joined the treatment center thanks to Teacher Sophia, I was also the one who resolved the first Magic Plant Curse. As a result, all related patients are prioritized to come to me."
"So, I have early access to these resources, putting me a step ahead of other Breeders."
"If I leverage this properly, not only can I publish multiple high-quality papers, but I might even win the custom Magic Plant competition hosted by Lilith's Cottage and secure bulk procurement orders from the combat division."
Locke had already reaped considerable benefits from centralized procurement contracts.
Two such contracts had transformed him from a pauper into a minor tycoon.
No wonder so many Breeders coveted Academy Centralized Procurement contracts.
Locke gazed at the mutated Emerald Iris Lichen before him, confidence flashing in his eyes. Initially, he had been somewhat apprehensive about the Breeder exam.
After all, he couldn't cheat using the Synthetic Magic Cube during the test.
But now, relying on his own abilities and ideas, he had designed a prototype variant of Emerald Iris Lichen, deepening his confidence in his skills.
"However, the two Magic Plant Curses I currently have aren't enough," Locke muttered. "I need Seflin to provide me with more."
"If I can trick her into giving me more Magic Plant Curses, perhaps I can mutate the Emerald Iris Lichen to develop a broad-spectrum resistance to Curse Magic. Only then can my vision of a super-defensive Magic Plant be realized."
"Moreover, the mutation ability possessed by Emerald Iris Lichen can be fully utilized to develop many more variant species."
Locke thought to himself: "By then, it will be possible to achieve multiple uses from a single Magic Plant."
"However, since lichen-type Magic Plants can be easily replicated using the Cutting Breeding Method, I must visit the Chimera Market to purchase corresponding products from the Enchantment School to prohibit the replication of Emerald Iris Lichen through cutting cultivation."
Emerald Lichen was already a patented Magic Plant, which was why he could easily purchase its seeds and finished products. But for the new variety, Emerald Iris Lichen, since he hadn't disclosed its cultivation method yet, he needed to find an enchanter to impose certain natural cultivation restrictions.
After giving instructions to the Minotaur Noble Slaves to ensure they understood him correctly and installing a True Sight Orb in the plantation, Locke left the area.
He then boarded the Engel Swift-Spin Snail and quickly headed to the Pharmaceutical Room in another city.
Since the Personal Pharmaceutical Room was managed by students he supervised for Teacher Sophia and his assistant Tilly, Locke had transferred the True Sight Orb from the Pharmaceutical Room to a second medium-sized plantation.
At the Pharmaceutical Room, Pierre and Raun were also present. Pierre had already become a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice, while Raun remained a third-class wizard apprentice, sitting dejectedly to the side as he watched enviously while Pierre conversed with Tilly and Leo Siss.
When Tilly and the others saw Locke enter the Pharmaceutical Room, they immediately stood up from their seats and bowed to him.
"Hello, Boss (Senior)."
Locke nodded slightly at Tilly and asked, "Have you finished compiling the experimental data for the Memory Ointment?"
Clutching the documents in her hands, Tilly nodded eagerly like a pecking chick. "Yes, yes, yes. Boss, I've finished it. I've also compiled the experimental data from Pierre and the animal test data from Leo Siss and the other two, and during this time, I even conducted a test on mortals."
"The mortals were recruited from the port city using Gold coins."
In port cities, there was a large population of mortals who didn't work regularly, instead seeking opportunities to serve as test subjects for wizards. This allowed them to effortlessly obtain vast wealth in the mortal world without labor.
Of course, this effortless gain was relative, as they took on significant risks, and mortal currency held no purchasing power for wizards—it was merely scrap metal.
Tilly respectfully handed the documents to Locke, who quickly skimmed through them. Finding no issues, he nodded approvingly. "Good, you've done well."
"As expected of someone who worked in Angron's Pharmaceutical Room. Your report is very detailed—I can't find any faults."
Tilly beamed with pride. "Thank you for the praise, Senior."
Locke put away the report, which meant he could now use this experimental data to apply for a license from the academy to sell Memory Ointment at the Chimera Market.
After waiting three months, his Pharmaceutical Room finally had its first personally developed potion ready for public sale.
Locke turned to Tilly and instructed, "Has the assembly line for mass-producing Advanced Growth Serum Gel been installed and tested yet?"
Tilly nodded confidently and replied, "Yes, boss. I've already led the team to complete the installation and testing. You can activate the production line anytime."
"This will save you a lot of unnecessary expenses that your Plantation would have otherwise incurred."
(End of Chapter)