675: Life-Friendly Brands and the Green Magic Project
A day later, Locke had just emerged from the large metal telescope. It was a steel structure as large as a house on the fifteenth floor of the Research Institute base, requiring a massive influx of energy at every moment to support its operation.
Essentially, it was a large Second Ring Magic item.
With enough magical energy, even a Sun Ring Wizard could not withstand the radiation from this device with their physical body.
Locke used this equipment, paying 10,000 magic stones as a usage fee, to conduct a preliminary analysis of the internal structural characteristics and specific mechanisms of the ancient flower roots.
Witch Mason and the other two worked on this part together, saving him a significant amount of time.
When Locke stepped out, Witch Scarlett contacted him through the water gourd system, reporting that [Solas Lightfoot 30K] and [Meileqi Magic Step] had united all wizard shoe brands to launch a joint strangulation operation against their augustus wizard shoes.
Locke's eyes were filled with confusion. "Joint strangulation?"
"They're coming after me?"
Witch Scarlett initiated a video call. "That's certainly impossible. Even a capital giant like Alsace wouldn't dare to directly violate the laws of the White Wizard Association. After all, directly violating the White Wizard Association's laws would make one like a Black Wizard, opposing the collective will of all Wizard Academies—the orders of the Supreme Truth Council."
"Suppressing Black Wizards has never required following the law. This is a commercial action, so no one can say much."
"Now these two have posted a mission—a wizard shoe trade-in. Every pair of our augustus wizard shoes can be directly exchanged for a newer, better version of Solas Lightfoot (30k) or any product line under Meileqi Magic Step."
"In other words, by using old shoes from the Augustus brand series, one can exchange them for a slightly better pair of Magic Weaver wizard shoes. Meanwhile, the original augustus wizard shoes must be destroyed."
Locke's expression became strange as he immediately realized what these two top-tier wizard shoe shops were doing.
On the surface, it seemed the opposition might even bring him some new customers looking for speculation.
But these speculative new customers would never truly belong to any Shop Alliance or wizard brand.
Conversely, as a newly established wizard shoe brand, increasing seed users was the key to his brand's survival.
Winning the One-Ring Wizard shoe bid for the Demonic Realm War was a landmark turning point; next, his brand would become famous, and monthly orders should naturally increase.
The entire brand would enter a virtuous cycle and a rapid growth phase. Solas Lightfoot and Meileqi Magic Step were using their status as leading capital giants to preemptively break this virtuous cycle of reputation and sales, using the 'trade-in' trick to interrupt his process of accumulating seed users.
They wanted to reduce the Augustus wizard shoe brand to a mere transitional product under their major brands and introduce a large number of speculative customers to his brand, which would likely make his wizard shoe brand notorious.
Especially those'scalper' customers.
The real goal of those wizard shoe giants wasn't to eliminate the Augustus brand directly, because after his brand won the Demonic Realm War bid, that goal was impossible to achieve in the short term.
Therefore, their goal was to prevent his Augustus brand from growing healthily, to instill a fear of being suppressed by giants, and to intimidate potential wizard investors who might want to cooperate with him.
At the same time, if he wasn't mistaken, this was a combo move; the next step would likely be the two major wizard shoe brands joining forces to acquire his fledgling brand.
Locke asked directly, "Scarlett, what is their offer?"
In the video call, Witch Scarlett paused for a moment before saying, "Locke, you really are quick. I hadn't even said it yet, and you already guessed. Someone from Solas Lightfoot did indeed come to our side."
"They even wanted Alsace to stop acting as the contract manufacturer for the Augustus brand, but no one here paid them any mind."
"Alsace's scale far exceeds theirs. The most powerful wizard forces in the Yunze Wetland are the seven top academies, followed by medium-to-large wizard organizations, such as Magic Hub City and Kunguding Building Materials Academy, which you've encountered before..."
"And also Little Breath Mountain over at Quinn Joel University..."
"Or the Wutao Dynasty over at the Rose Council..."
"And the Ten Shop Alliances of the Yunze Wetland are recognized as rare, special non-academy wizard organizations that can compete with the heritage and power of a strong Wizard Academy in a Wizard Land."
"Alsace is a transcendent behemoth, so it's not something two wizard shoe Shop Alliances can buy off. As for their offer, Solas Lightfoot offered 10 million."
"And said that if you are willing, they can pay immediately without delay."
Locke had a strange expression. "1,000 magic crystal cards? That's quite stingy. I earned 1,000 magic crystal cards just from this Demonic Realm War. But now they're only willing to offer this much."
Locke sighed. "It seems they still look down on us."
As a trader for Alsace, Witch Scarlett seemed happy to see a direct war with the two wizard shoe giants of the Yunze Wetland; the corners of her eyes crinkled with a smile. "Who says they don't?"
"These wizard shoe giants are always high and mighty, believing that by relying on the amplification effect of scale and numbers, they can remain forever invincible."
Witch Scarlett said, "Moreover, I looked at the stock market and found that the stock prices of both companies haven't fluctuated at all."
"It seems the public still has full confidence in these two wizard shoe companies."
"So, Locke, do you choose to accept?"
Locke decisively refused. "No, are you kidding me? Witch Scarlett, you know how hard it was for me to find such a business opportunity. If I give it up and look for another, it would take so much effort. Besides, I don't have the time anymore."
"No matter what I do, I need money now. And a lot of it. If those two Shop Alliances gave it to me directly, I might be willing to stop."
Witch Scarlett looked into Locke's eyes and saw they were bloodshot, as if he hadn't slept for a long time.
She exclaimed, "soul decline period? Congratulations... but this is too fast."
Even Witch Scarlett couldn't help but feel a flash of envy and jealousy, but she quickly snapped out of it.
Locke was a researcher at Golden Crown Mountain, while she was just a local wizard of the Yunze Wetland, a gold-medal trader for Alsace.
Although the status of a gold-medal trader was enough to make many Yunze Wetland wizards envious, there was a fundamental gap between her and a wizard like Locke who entered Golden Crown Mountain through the Cloud Marsh Cup.
Thinking of this, Witch Scarlett directly accepted the fact that Locke had entered the soul decline period faster than she had.
To a large extent, a person's status isn't just an identity for others; it's also a form of self-perception.
Therefore, Witch Scarlett could not accept a common wild wizard advancing faster than her, but she could accept that a researcher from the Advanced True Knowledge Institute at Golden Crown Mountain progressed much faster than she did.
This was also the reason Locke had pursued entering the Star Domain Sea in the first place.
Locke said to Witch Scarlett, "Help me ask if the heads of the two Shop Alliances are willing to provide me with entry slots for a medium-scale world—the kind that hasn't been stepped on by any wizard."
"If so, I'm willing to give up further development of wizard shoes immediately."
Witch Scarlett glanced at Locke with a complex expression. "I'll try."
A short while later, Witch Scarlett said to Locke during the video call, "The head of the crisis pre-processing department I contacted at Solas Lightfoot refused immediately."
"The person in charge at Meileqi Magic Step asked me... if you and I were crazy, and if we should go see a wizard from the Mind School."
"He can pay for it."
A flash of annoyance crossed Witch Scarlett's eyes. "These people are truly too arrogant."
Locke said, "It seems the talks have broken down. Actually, a deal was possible; they just don't think I'm worth that price."
"In that case, Witch Scarlett, please continue the operations for me. When I have time, I'll release a fifth wizard shoe brand."
"Continue the pursuit while we have the momentum. It's just that I haven't had much inspiration lately, and I have many things to do."
Locke pondered, "I have clearly refused the acquisition, but I don't think the two of them will give up yet. Their trade-in strategy can indeed interrupt our healthy development from the start. The most dangerous part is that it will suppress our brand into being perceived as a second-hand market brand only fit for trading in for their shoes."
"Once this perception is fixed, it will be troublesome. It will conflict with our identity as the dark horse brand of the Demonic Realm War. Witch Scarlett, haven't the experts from the Hand of the Jungle been contacted yet?"
Witch Scarlett shook her head and said, "I'm working on it. By the way, I did manage to apply for special care from Alsace for you. According to the unspoken rules of the Yunze Wetland, a One-Ring Wizard can only sell their products in one wizard district."
"Only a Second Ring Wizard can sell in multiple wizard districts within the Yunze Wetland. Alsace has given you special treatment, granting you a status equivalent to a Second Ring Breeder. Therefore, you can choose a second district among the ten districts of Golden Crown Mountain for simultaneous sales."
"I expect that your monthly income from wizard shoes will multiply several times over. Your earnings will increase significantly."
Locke nodded and said, "That's great. I choose the Boniface District."
The reason he chose this district was that he had a few friends there, Witch Diana and Hussein the Contractor.
The ten districts were all much the same to him because pure Magic Plant wizard shoes were a blue ocean market, and the Yunze Wetland had many Breeders and Botanical Wizards everywhere.
Therefore, he simply chose a district he knew a little about and where he had some acquaintances.
Witch Scarlett nodded, weighed it in her mind, and confirmed there were no issues. "Alright."
Locke spoke up, "Let me take the initiative to contact the people from the Hand of the Jungle."
Witch Scarlett said in surprise, "You know people from the Hand of the Jungle?"
She looked very surprised. "Those people are very difficult to get along with."
Locke said, "It's alright. As long as you master the way to interact with them, they're actually quite cute."
Locke thought of Expert Salvador and Witch Grace from the Southern Region · Green Steel City.
He couldn't contact the latter, but he could reach the former through the grey mist slate.
Witch Scarlett raised an eyebrow, showing an expression of incomprehension. "Cute? Er... well, that must be a metaphor."
The two exchanged a few more words, finalized the future development policy for augustus wizard shoes, and then hung up the video call.
Locke found a random empty room within the Group 2 research base and walked in. He chanted an incantation to summon a grey mist slate, then searched for Salvador's contact information on it.
He sent a video call request directly. Because it had been cracked, he could use this feature without needing to purchase a monthly Gold Membership for ten thousand magic stones.
The call request was connected quickly.
Old man Salvador wasn't wearing a lotus leaf on his head this time, but a large winter melon. The entire melon was like white jade and was about the same size as his head. The green vines of the white jade winter melon were wrapped around his chin like a ceremonial crown strap.
Expert Salvador said with surprise, "Good afternoon, Wizard Locke. We haven't been in touch for quite a while. I didn't expect you to contact me suddenly."
"Hmm? Aren't you in the Six Towers Land? Why does the magic tide on your end feel a bit off?"
Locke saw a tropical rainforest behind Expert Salvador. The background seemed to be nighttime, so he guessed that Salvador was in the Sun Shadow Peninsula—the land of eternal night.
"Expert Salvador, are you in the Sun Shadow Peninsula? I'm no longer in the Six Towers Land; I'm in the Yunze Wetland."
Salvador looked astonished. "Yunze Wetland? Why did you go to such a high-level Wizard Land?"
"Yes, I am in the Sun Shadow Peninsula. There is a Hall of True Knowledge belonging to the Hand of the Jungle here, and I am currently working for it. Are you visiting the Yunze Wetland for tourism? Or doing business?"
"You can tell from the rainforest behind me that most of the Sun Shadow Peninsula is this kind of woodland. The Magic Plants here are also very unique. Because there is very little sunlight, the Magic Plants here have all been forced to evolve special Magic Plant organs to use geothermal heat as an energy source."
"Because the Magic Plants of the Sun Shadow Peninsula system use geothermal heat extensively, their chloroplast organs have degenerated. Instead, they generally possess 'Vortex Body' organs to convert geothermal heat into life energy. Correspondingly, magic creatures have also undergone changes."
"Changes in Magic Plants drive collective changes in the higher-level consumers within the ecosystem. This is why plants are so important in ecology."
Wizard Salvador said, "By the way, I've been keeping my previous promise in mind. Just wait a bit longer; I might have an opportunity to get you into the Hand of the Jungle's Hall of True Knowledge here in the Sun Shadow Peninsula!"
Locke had a strange expression. "Wait, Master Salvador, thank you for your kind intentions. It's just that I probably don't need it anymore."
"I am currently in the Advanced True Knowledge Institute at Golden Crown Mountain in the Yunze Wetland."
"As a researcher."
Wizard Salvador's face turned strange, and his pupils suddenly constricted as if he found it unbelievable. "You? Golden Crown Mountain? Yunze Wetland?"
"The Three Ze Lands are regions that even the Hand of the Jungle finds difficult to enter."
In the Eastern Border Region, the Hand of the Jungle's headquarters seemed to be in the Sun Shadow Peninsula, where their influence was very strong.
Locke nodded and said, "Yes. I'm looking for you this time because I need an expert's help with something."
He briefly explained his concept of pure Magic Plant wizard shoes to Expert Salvador, and then mentioned that the giants of the wizard shoes Shop Alliance in the Yunze Wetland were currently joining forces to suppress him.
As expected, after hearing this, old man Salvador immediately fell into a state of extreme rage. "What! Those detestable executioners of magic creatures, those people who force mountains to work—how dare they do such a thing!"
"These people should apologize to the wizards of the whole world!"
"How terrifying these people are. The world has gone bad, and people's hearts have rotted!"
The winter melon on Wizard Salvador's head sensed its owner's emotions, gradually changing from white jade to a deep red.
Locke hadn't expected that this headpiece could actually reflect the owner's emotional changes.
Wizard Salvador said righteously, "The concept of pure Magic Plant wizard shoes is so perfect! it perfectly fits the energy-saving, environmental protection, and long-term development concepts advocated by our Hand of the Jungle."
"Wait for me, Locke. Don't worry, I won't let those terrifying execution of life bully you. I will contact my friends in the Hand of the Jungle to help you define your wizard shoe brand as a Life-Friendly Brand."
Locke's pupils shrank slightly.
This was exactly what he wanted.
No matter how small the Hand of the Jungle's influence was in the Yunze Wetland, it was still very large for an individual wizard.
To meet their annual green environmental protection quotas, the various Wizard Academies in the Yunze Wetland needed to directly purchase some green products. They wouldn't actually think seriously about doing environmental work themselves to offset the quotas.
After all, the Three Ze Lands were currently places where the Hand of the Jungle could not intervene.
But as long as his wizard shoe brand was recognized as a green environmental protection brand, he would receive a large number of orders just to satisfy those quotas. Moreover, it would stabilize his brand's reputation under the impact of the competitors' 'trade-in' strategy.
Expert Salvador added, "Not only that. I will also contact my friends to have the Hand of the Jungle list things like Solas Lightfoot and Meileqi Magic Step as this year's most backward Shop Alliances, and let their infamy appear in the 'Jungle Hand Newspaper'!"
Locke looked bewildered. "What is that?"
Expert Salvador explained, "Within the last ten years, our Hand of the Jungle has established a ranking list that enumerates the least environmentally friendly Shop Alliances. As you know, we receive a lot of investment every year—so much that we can't use it all—so we started a newspaper. For the sake of environmental public welfare, these newspapers cost nothing and are distributed for free to those wizards."
"The newspaper has some very useful sections and parts that promote the Hand of the Jungle's philosophy, including a section for the Least Progressive Shop Alliances. You wait; I'll contact people immediately to get them on that section."
Expert Salvador gestured wildly. "Why aren't these demons born in Hell or the Abyss? Why must they be in the Wizard World? It's truly too evil."
"I want the wizards of the entire Eastern Border Region to see their infamy."
Locke blinked. Wizard Salvador was only an ordinary One-Ring Wizard, but because he was a famous expert in jungle ecological restoration, he held special authority within the Hand of the Jungle.
Admittedly, if he were doing serious business or simply seeking a teaching position, this authority wouldn't be worth much.
However, specifically in this kind of commercial competition or similar matters, this authority would show its power.
He hadn't expected Wizard Salvador to actually have the ability to put these two Shop Alliances in the newspapers of the entire Eastern Border Region and denounce them.
Wizard Salvador said, "I will also contact friends to conduct an environmental investigation into these two Shop Alliances."
"They definitely have problems!"
"Additionally, Locke, this concept of pure Magic Plant wizard shoes you proposed fits the Green Magic Project that the Hand of the Jungle has always been pursuing. This Green Magic Project wasn't created by the Hand of the Jungle alone; it was launched jointly with the White Wizard Association headquarters."
For some reason, after mentioning the White Wizard headquarters, old man Salvador's expression became much more serious and less fanatical. "In other words, this is a project launched by the Hand of the Jungle together with 'Heaven'."
"For many years, the Hand of the Jungle has wanted to strengthen the Green Magic Project in the Three Ze Lands, but we've only ever been able to scratch the surface."
Wizard Salvador mused, "But your business plan makes me feel that the Hand of the Jungle might be able to take this opportunity to partially realize the project in the Yunze Wetland."
"The so-called Green Magic Project is a set of strict indicators. Its main goals are to reduce environmental pollution, decrease the consumption of non-renewable resources, achieve a series of future targets including the reduction of heavy element particle emissions in gases and wastewater, and produce products with the minimal environmental impact."
"On this point, we in the