906: Conversation with Throne Russell
Locke and Wizard Bruce, along with others, left the Golden Holy Grail arena and entered a small room nearby to sign a contract.
However, the subsequent procedures required a trip to the White Wizard Association in Dragonfall Land, where they could register a collaborative Shop Alliance using a quota from the Wind Seeker Holy Land.
As for the contract between the Aladdin Shop Alliance and Wizard Leon Newman, it was signed privately between Wizard Bruce and Wizard Leon Newman as agreed.
After all, Wizard Bruce had already informed him that the subsequent cooperation matters could be managed directly by him and his Moon Ring Witch secretary.
Locke looked at the contract and found that the person he would be dealing with directly was not Wizard Bruce himself, but his Moon Ring Witch secretary, Edith Campbell.
Wizard Bruce explained, "I am the Vice Dean of the Wind Seeker Holy Land, and Witch Edith is a Senior Wizard Instructor there. I have already signed the contract on behalf of the Wind Seeker Holy Land; this Shop Alliance is jointly established by you and the Wind Seeker Holy Land."
"According to wizard law, a Second Ring Wizard can only register one Shop Alliance."
"But wizard universities have independent quotas and qualifications that can be used to register Shop Alliances."
"Is there any problem?"
Locke took the copy of the contract from him and looked it over carefully again, confirming there were no issues, especially the disclaimer section, which waived all costs he would have to bear if the flying man gourd incurred a loss.
Besides potential damage to his reputation and business credit, he would suffer no additional losses, yet he could potentially gain thirty percent of the profits from the operation of the flying man gourd.
This was a good deal.
Because Wind Seeker Holy Land clearly had extensive experience in aircraft development, and this Shop Alliance was essentially a pledge of allegiance between Dragonfall Land and the Hui Ming Borderland, the Wind Seeker Holy Land wouldn't mess around.
In that case, he could trust the Wind Seeker Holy Land's professional management of the Shop Alliance.
Wizard Bruce said to Locke and Wizard Leon Newman, "I need about a hundred Great Mingli Dragon Sparrows and breeding seeds for the flying man gourd. My style of doing things is to produce first and then wait for orders; I can advance the costs myself."
"I will negotiate supply issues with some wizard shops in Dragonfall Land. Don't worry, we have an excellent full-product operation chain for flight products."
"Any excellent product, once it enters our operation chain, can continuously generate value."
Wizard Leon Newman hurriedly said, "Alright. But I need a little time. Once I return, I will immediately begin producing the breeding seeds for the flying man gourd. Please rest assured, Lord Bruce."
Locke frowned. "A round trip between Dragonfall Land and the Three Ze Lands takes nearly two months. If Aladdin's sales channels are in Dragonfall Land, then just sending the breeding seeds from my hands to yours will incur massive operational costs."
The operational costs could be overlooked.
This was because wizard airships wouldn't inspect magic items like astral rings and demiplanes in such detail, but the main issue was the time cost.
Wizard Bruce nodded seriously and said, "That is indeed the case."
"But there's no way around it. Business is just that difficult."
"If there are difficulties, we just have to overcome them. However, you can rest assured that since we dare to do this business, it's because we're confident."
Witch Edith smiled and said, "According to wizard law, the Shop Alliance we are collaborating on with you can currently only sell in certain areas of Dragonfall Land. To sell products throughout the entire Wizard Land, it must be a Third Ring Wizard's Shop Alliance."
Locke nodded.
That was also the biggest moat Solas Lightfoot and Meileqi Magic Step had against his Augustus Shop Alliance.
Since he wasn't a Sun Ring Wizard or a Third Ring Wizard, his Shop Alliance could currently only sell within two major districts.
Even if wizards could enter other districts to buy things themselves or order goods to be picked up from other districts, it still affected sales to some extent.
And the Shop Alliance he was collaborating on with the Wind Seeker Holy Land, due to his wizard rank, could only sell in shops within the Dragon Tooth District, one of the seven major districts of Dragonfall Land.
Of course, Wizard Bruce the Sun Ring Wizard and the Wind Seeker Holy Land clearly still had some sales channels. In the future, if these two complementary products sold well, they might attract some wizard universities or Key Laboratory teams to purchase the corresponding aircraft from shops within the Dragon Tooth District of Dragonfall Land.
Witch Edith smiled and said, "Our Wind Seeker Holy Land has a complete wizard delivery service. I can teach you the incantation to summon them. If you want to send seeds over, just use the incantation to call them and establish contact. Wind Seeker Holy Land has a corresponding partnership with a certain wizard organization."
"Only, you have to... be a bit careful."
Edith bit her lip lightly. "They don't have very good tempers. The incantation is...'Swiftly bring true knowledge and offer it to my hand.'"
Locke fell silent.
Wizard Leon Newman, on the other hand, carefully memorized it. He stammered, "Is it'Swiftly bring true knowledge and offer it to me'?"
Witch Edith placed her index finger on her lips.
"Mr. Newman, whatever you do, do not chant this incantation casually in your daily life."
The Newman wizard from Ancient Vine Village immediately shut his mouth and nodded obediently.
"I understand, Lady Edith."
Locke remembered; this incantation was simply the incantation of the Ladybug Marauders.
Good grief, so the Wind Seeker Holy Land's professional wizard delivery organization was them.
Those guys had tried to steal his key experimental data back in the Six Towers Land. Later, he had given them a sound thrashing, and to escape, they had given him some magic stones and also wanted to reach a cooperation agreement with him.
Locke hesitated. Since this involved his products, he still had to ask clearly.
"How long have you been cooperating with this wizard organization? They're the Ladybug Marauders, aren't they?"
Witch Edith chuckled.
"It seems Mr. Augustine has heard of their reputation."
Newman looked at Locke and then at Witch Edith in confusion.
He didn't know what the two were talking about, but he was afraid of appearing too ignorant and bringing shame to the Ancient Vine Village Wizard Land. So, he could only force himself to pretend he also knew about the Ladybug Marauders, keeping a smile on his face without asking what the Ladybug Marauders actually were.
Witch Edith nodded to Locke and said, "Please rest assured. The Ladybug Marauders are themselves a Shop Alliance that we sponsor—at least, we sponsor the legitimate part of it. They don't only do that kind of work; they have legitimate business on their side. If it were all gray-area work, it would be difficult to support so many wizards within their ranks."
"However, only wizard organizations with special cooperation agreements with the Ladybug Marauders can use them. If an ordinary wizard organization uses them, they'll likely end up losing both their people and their money."
Locke nodded slightly.
He hadn't expected the Wind Seeker Holy Land to have such deep foundations that they could even command the Ladybug Marauders.
At this point, Wizard Newman was completely lost.
But he still forced himself to pretend he understood, even though he really wanted to ask what the Ladybug Marauders were.
Wizard Bruce was about to invite the two to a meal at the Witch's Kitchen. This was his business habit; since they had become partners, even if it was just for business cooperation, both parties should build some rapport.
And having a meal was the simplest way to establish an emotional connection.
It wasn't about how much a meal was worth, but rather that these genius Breeders' time was valuable, and a meal could close the distance between them.
Wizard Bruce glanced at Locke and Newman, wondering what schemes he was cooking up in his mind.
In fact, he had some private business proposals in mind that he wanted to bring up suddenly while everyone was at the dinner table and feeling polite.
Just then, a knock suddenly sounded at the door.
Wizard Bruce immediately frowned in dissatisfaction; he hated it most when someone suddenly came in and disturbed him while he was talking business.
But when he opened the door a crack and saw that the other party was actually Throne Russell, he was so startled that he quickly put on a smile to hide the dissatisfaction he had shown just a moment ago.
Wizard Russell...
The Marquis of Champions, Grand Justice, and Protector of the Law of the Hui Ming Borderland. He was also the foremost person in the current world who had combined Holy Magic and Gold Magic to a certain extent.
His Golden Holy Magic had made him a Throne Wizard.
Wizard Russell glanced over him. "Everyone is here."
Wizard Bruce quickly squeezed out a smile. The business plans in his mind instantly vanished into thin air; those would have to wait until he saw the subsequent operational results of the Great Mingli Dragon Sparrow and the flying man gourd before deciding whether to implement them and which ones to use.
Wizard Bruce and the Moon Ring Witch Edith behind him immediately bowed in greeting.
Wizard Newman was so scared he froze for a moment. He had clearly heard of Wizard Russell's great name and knew he was a terrifying living Yama, the Grand Justice of the Hui Ming Borderland, who had sent countless wizards into the Hui Ming Borderland's famous Wizard Prison: the Steel Stamp Dungeon.
Locke also bowed to him.
Wizard Russell ignored everyone else, his gaze falling on Locke.
"Hmm? I didn't expect Locke Augustine to be such a polite person in private. Last time I saw you write to me directly, with no regard for rank or seniority, and no respect for your seniors, I thought you would be a bold and reckless person in reality."
"It seems seeing is believing."
Wizard Newman's eyes widened, and he looked at Locke in confusion.
What?
How could anyone write a letter to Wizard Russell?
Wizard Bruce and Witch Edith also stared wide-eyed for a moment, clearly finding Locke's behavior incredible.
Wizard Bruce looked back at Locke in confusion. Could it be that Locke didn't know the anecdote about Wizard Russell, the story of the three letters?
Once, after a wizard betrayed the White Wizard Association and secretly joined the Black Wizard Alliance, he wrote three letters to his good friend, Wizard Russell. After reading the three letters and seeing the various illegal information mentioned within, Wizard Russell determined the other party had broken the law and used the Holy Court to send his friend to prison.
This had resulted in no one daring to write to Wizard Russell for the past thirty years, fearing their letters would become evidence that could be presented in court.
Wizard Bruce swallowed hard. Truly, a newborn calf is not afraid of a tiger.
Young people these days were truly a bit terrifying.
Locke was taken aback for a moment, then said to Wizard Russell, "I am very grateful to the Throne Lord for the guidance you gave me regarding the atavistic golden foxtail grass, which allowed me to publish an article in the Myriad Phenomena Boundary."
Throne Russell nodded.
"You've finished signing the contract, right? Come with me."
Locke looked at Wizard Bruce.
Wizard Bruce immediately put on a humble smile and said softly, "Go ahead. I can handle the rest for you. With the Golden Dynasty involved in the middle, it really won't take much effort."
After saying goodbye to Wizard Bruce, Witch Edith, and the others, Locke immediately left the room.
Locke followed behind Wizard Russell.
Wizard Russell walked very slowly. He walked in front while Locke followed behind.
They passed through several corridors and came to a place resembling a scenic walkway. On this walkway, ancient stone pillars shaped like divine statues appeared on both sides.
Locke frowned as the phantom of a golden toad seemed to jump onto his head and pin him down.
But the moment the phantom pressed onto his body, it vanished.
Just as the phantom disappeared, a golden giant-horned deer appeared, using its pair of large horns to toss him up.
But in the next moment, the large horns passed through his eyes, and the phantom passed through his body, crashing into a stone pillar on the walkway before shattering and vanishing.
Locke frowned.
Although Throne Russell was walking slowly, because of these phantoms that could even deceive him with their realism, Locke was actually walking very slowly as well.
Locke saw a golden three-headed dog in front of him and frowned. Just as he was about to walk straight through it, Throne Russell suddenly stopped.
"This Second Ring creature, the golden three-headed dog, is real. It is a Sun Ring Level magical creature and the guardian of this place. If you bump into it, you might be eaten by it."
When the golden three-headed dog saw Locke walking towards it, it immediately opened its three bloody maws, which were filled with saliva that was constantly dripping down.
The saliva fell on the ground, instantly turning the floor into pieces of gold.
Its breath was like the aura of Gold Magic itself.
The golden three-headed dog suddenly became dejected.
"Lord Russell, we had a deal: food that is actively delivered to my mouth belongs to me. Why did you speak up to warn him?"
Throne Russell ignored the magical creature's question.
"This is the Corridor of the Past."
"Everything you see once appeared in the Hui Ming Borderland and became its symbol, only to vanish over time."
"This golden three-headed dog is a symbol of the imperial family."
"Of course, the official positions in the Hui Ming Borderland have now been decentralized; there are no longer any Wizard Great Lords, and naturally, no imperial family."
"Only, this three-headed dog is truly detestable. It spends all day mingling among these phantoms, pretending to be one, and has thus swallowed many wizards. You should still be careful. According to the contract we signed with it, what it said was true."
Locke nodded and bowed to him, "Thank you for the reminder, Throne Lord."