Yuli Burns said to Locke, "Dear Locke, my friend, if your new work passes the Academy Centralized Procurement, I'll have my shop assistants notify you."
"Alright." Locke glanced at the several Second-Class Wizard Apprentices standing cautiously nearby.
These Second-Class Wizard Apprentices seemed utterly terrified of Yuli Burns. Even while Yuli was conversing with him, they kept stealing glances at her.
They were probably afraid of performing poorly and getting fired by Yuli. After all, Yuli was the manager of Lijin Secret Language, and the shop never lacked Second-Class Wizard Apprentices eager to be hired.
For Second-Class Wizard Apprentices, working at Lijin Secret Language was one of the better-paying jobs they could find.
Lijin Secret Language provided them with a monthly stipend of Magic Stones. Moreover, working there allowed them access to a vast array of Magic Plants, knowledge of the latest Magic Plants from Lilith's Cottage, and interactions with many high-level wizard apprentices.
Deep within Lijin Secret Language, there were even some Magic Plants of Formal Wizard grade.
Thus, despite Yuli Burns' harsh demands, daily reprimands, and the constant fear she instilled in them, none dared to resign voluntarily and abandon such a rare opportunity.
Locke casually remarked, "You've got some new faces in the shop recently, Yuli."
Yuli chuckled hoarsely. "Yes, hired three new ones."
"A few employees broke a pot of Black Mandala while moving Magic Plants, so I fired them. They also owe Lijin Secret Language a hefty sum."
Yuli didn't seem bothered; if anything, she sounded slightly gleeful. "Lijin Secret Language's money isn't easy to owe. I heard they've signed some harsh external loan agreements to repay the debt."
"After all, Madam Irina has numerous businesses in the Chimera Market," Yuli added with a smile. "Some shops are always short on 'people,' like the Blood Collection Station, Potion Experiment Shop, and Combat Training Shop Madam Irina runs in the Chimera Market."
"In this world, owing that much money is a terrifying thing."
"But even the poorest Second-Class Wizard Apprentice has their uses—they have value in themselves. Paying debts is only right, though we usually don't push things that far."
"The White Wizard Association has some restrictions on this," Yuli cackled dryly. "But if someone keeps defaulting, whatever happens afterward is justifiable."
"Come to think of it, us First-Class Wizard Apprentices are the same—it's just that our skills are worth more than our bodies," Yuli mused, sighing as she recalled her own financial struggles.
Yuli turned to Locke. "How about we grab lunch at the Witch's Kitchen in the Chimera Market, Locke?"
"There are some details about the Academy Centralized Procurement I'd like to clarify with you."
Locke pondered for a moment before agreeing, leaving only a group of trembling Second-Class Wizard Apprentices inside the Lijin Secret Language shop.
Watching Yuli follow Locke out, they all collectively sighed in relief, grateful that Locke had temporarily taken Yuli Burns away.
A female Second-Class Wizard Apprentice leaned against the counter, patting her chest as she gasped, "Shopkeeper Yuli finally left the shop for once. Her temperament is just too eccentric. I was almost at my limit."
"Sometimes I feel like I'm nothing more than her punching bag in this shop."
A male Second-Class Wizard Apprentice chimed in, "Actually, there's a whole crowd of Second-Class Wizard Apprentices outside waiting for us to leave. Only when we're gone will vacancies open up for them. But who would've thought Shopkeeper Yuli could speak so politely to someone? That young man—who is he?"
A silent Second-Class Wizard Apprentice named Isaac spoke uncertainly, "That person... might be from the same cohort as me. But I can't be sure."
His face paled with shock.
"My aptitude was Level 5, and it still took me two years to become a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice. After countless hardships, I finally passed Lijin Secret Language's assessment and became a clerk here."
"My fellow Wizard Seedlings from the same Wizard Mentor group were all amazed by my speed, envious that I got into Lijin Secret Language. But that person is already a First-Class Wizard Apprentice—on equal footing with Shopkeeper Burns now."
His expression twisted in disbelief. "If he really is from my cohort, then he became a First-Class Wizard Apprentice in just two years. That's... unbelievable. Far too fast."
Information didn't circulate swiftly among wizards.
After all, Lilith's Cottage spanned vast territories, and apprentices under different Wizard Mentors might even reside in separate cities.
Back then, Locke's aptitude had seemed utterly ordinary—far from being one of the Wizard Seedlings that drew everyone's attention. Thus, news of his rapid rise to First-Class Wizard Apprentice remained unknown to many of his peers.
Most of them were still struggling desperately to advance to Second-Class Wizard Apprentice, drowning in their own hardships. Naturally, they had little time to spare for gossip about others.
Isaac swallowed hard. "Maybe... when I attend my senior's lecture next time, I can ask about it. The First-Class Wizard Apprentices should know who's newly promoted, right?"
An older clerk from Lijin Secret Language interjected, "Don't bother asking your senior—unless you want another scolding."
"That wizard is named Locke Augustine, a genius Breeder. When he first came to our shop, he was indeed just a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice. But within a year, he advanced to First-Class."
"So yes, he must indeed be from your cohort, Isaac."
Isaac and the two new clerks were momentarily stunned by this revelation.
Isaac muttered, "But... that's just unfair. Doesn't anyone else feel this way? We've worked so hard for years, yet some people effortlessly achieve what takes us blood and sweat."
"It took me two years just to move from Dwarf Street to Inverted Alley..."
The old clerk sighed and comforted him, "Though we started at the same time, some people are destined to soar high from the beginning. People like us can only climb up slowly. You shouldn't compare yourself to those truly heaven-favored talents, and you've already been quite fortunate. It took me four years to become a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice, and another three years of rigorous testing before I finally became a clerk in this shop."
"Compared to me, you're already outstanding, Isaac."
"People are different. To those Second-Class Wizard Apprentices outside Lijin Secret Language, those who can enter and work here for a full year are no less than heaven-favored talents themselves."