Locke had signed a contract with Angulo and her team, agreeing to supply them with Memory Ointment at 15 Magic Stones per vial.
Since Memory Ointment had an exceptionally long shelf life—remaining effective even after five or six years—Angulo was willing to purchase as much as he could produce, with no upper limit.
He had already predicted that this potion would become a sensation in the Chimera Market.
Their deal was mutually beneficial.
Angulo and Essie would earn Madam Irina's praise, while Locke could help his Personal Pharmaceutical Room survive its most challenging initial phase—when it lacked reputation.
Angulo and Essie personally escorted Locke out of the shop. Angulo even shook his hand in gratitude. "Locke, thank you. It's been an honor working with you at the Healing Hand Clinic."
"If you develop any new potions in the future, feel free to come to me. Our Owl Cauldron Potion Shop is very interested in your work."
Locke gave a slight nod. "Understood. I need to visit the official store affiliated with the Magic Potion Auction—Lilith's House Potion Shop."
That shop was directly operated by the academy's higher-ups.
Locke intended to purchase potions that could further accelerate his Mana growth.
That was why he couldn't just go to any ordinary Magic Potion Shop—he had to visit one directly managed by the academy and the Magic Potion Auction.
Angulo and Essie didn't realize that Locke was planning to buy large quantities of Magical Resources to continue boosting his Mana.
So they simply bid him farewell.
In truth, both of them had fifth-grade aptitudes, with Angulo being slightly better than Essie.
Angulo's current Mana was close to 500, slightly higher than Locke's, while Essie's was just over 400, slightly lower than his.
But both of them had been First-Class Wizard Apprentices for ten years.
They had missed the opportunity to fully exploit the beginner's benefits—using abundant Magical Resources to rapidly increase their Mana by over 200 points, reaching the 400s.
Similarly, due to their lack of resources, their Mana growth through meditation was much slower than Locke's current pace.
For First-Class Wizard Apprentices of their standing, it was common to either purchase extra Energy Potions each month or invest in supplementary materials for their Meditation Method—rarely could they afford both.
They simply didn't have the means.
And they certainly couldn't afford to take Bleeding Dragon Potion and Tears of Stars Potion every month like Locke did.
Even though Angulo and Essie both worked two jobs, their Magic Stone income still couldn't support such extravagant spending.
Moreover, they had to allocate a portion of their earnings to monthly research expenses—unlike Locke, whose research could quickly translate into profit. Their investments often ended up as sunk costs.
To Second-Class and Third-Class Wizard Apprentices, the lives of First-Class Wizard Apprentices might seem comfortable, even enviable.
But whether life is good or not, only one truly knows for themselves.
Inside Lilith's House Potion Shop, Locke walked in and immediately approached a First Class Wizard Apprentice assistant manager, stating, "I'd like to purchase Eye Demon Potion and Fission Potion."
Behind the counter, the assistant manager looked at Locke in surprise.
Eye Demon Potion and Fission Potion were quite expensive.
The reason Locke didn't buy the Tartarus Cave Worm Spinal Fluid recommended by the dwarf scholar Ol was simply because it was far too costly.
1 gram cost 1,200 Magic Stones—equivalent to a month's salary for an ordinary First Class Wizard Apprentice who had passed the Breeder exam.
Even now, he couldn't afford it.
The assistant manager asked Locke, "Esteemed Breeder, how many vials of Eye Demon Potion and Fission Potion would you like?"
"One vial of Eye Demon Potion costs 300 Magic Stones, and one vial of Fission Potion costs 200 Magic Stones."
Locke thought for a moment. This was his first time purchasing Potions, and he wasn't yet sure about their effects or the severity of their side effects. It was best to be cautious and buy a smaller quantity.
"Three vials of each, please."
That would be 1,500 Magic Stones.
A significant expense.
The assistant manager hesitated before saying cautiously, "Esteemed Breeder, it's not about the money. First, 1,500 Magic Stones is a sizable transaction—enough to fund a decent-sized experiment."
"But more importantly, both Eye Demon Potion and Fission Potion have considerable side effects. If they were any stronger, they might even be classified as forbidden substances."
"The safe dosage for Eye Demon Potion is one vial every three months, while Fission Potion requires your body to have sufficient strength—otherwise, even a single vial could overwhelm you."
She hesitated before continuing, "If taken within safe limits, their effects are relatively mild, but almost no one follows the recommended dosage."
"Still, I advise purchasing a smaller amount and using them with extreme caution."
The assistant manager added, "To increase Mana, one must endure the slow grind of meditation."
"I've seen too many people ruin their potential by overdosing on these Potions. I strongly urge you to be careful, junior."
Locke nodded slightly. "I completely agree. I'm just conducting an experiment that requires a larger quantity of these Potions—they're not all for personal use."
The assistant manager sighed in relief. "That's good to hear."
Locke couldn't explain that he had the Deep Purple Gem, which could neutralize Potion toxicity, allowing him to test whether he could consume large amounts of these Potions.
The assistant manager said, "Both Potions are in short supply. You can pay first and leave me an address—I'll personally deliver them to you."
Without hesitation, Locke paid and wrote down his address.
Lilith's House Potion Shop was directly operated by the academy's higher-ups, serving as a prestigious establishment with many external Wizard clients.
There was no risk of fraud or substandard products—this was one of Lilith's Cottage's most valuable assets.
The head manager of this Potion Shop is even a Formal Wizard, though they merely lend their name to the establishment and never actually show up here.
The deputy manager glanced at the delivery address and paused slightly. "This Breeder... are you Lady Sophia's student?"
Locke looked at her in confusion. "What's the matter?"
The deputy manager shook her head lightly and smiled. "Oh, nothing much. It's just that Lady Sophia used to frequent our shop often during her apprenticeship, selling many products crafted in her personal workshop here."
"That's why I remember her so well. Later, when she became a Formal Wizard... well, she rarely shows up here anymore."
Julie, the deputy manager, still seemed concerned and continued advising Locke, "Junior, you must never overdose on the Eye Demon Potion. And before taking the Fission Potion, be sure to test it on a Magical Creature first."
"Far too many First Class Wizard Apprentices have perished from the side effects of these two potions. Of course, as a Potionology Assistant yourself, I trust you already know this."
Locke nodded slightly at her. "Understood. Thank you for the reminder, Senior Julie."
(End of Chapter)