The next day.
In Sophia's office.
"A Sixfold Curse Barrier? I didn't expect the Blood Curse Court to deploy such a troublesome spell formation. If not for your warning, though it wouldn't have significantly impacted my plans, it would have wasted some of my time."
Sophia pondered for a moment.
Locke had reported his investigation of the Curse Formula Research Institute to Sophia during this period.
After all, in four days, they would be taking action.
During this time, Locke had also been deliberately arranging production plans for his Plantation and Personal Pharmaceutical Room while he was away on the mission.
For the Personal Pharmaceutical Room, his assistant Tilly could temporarily manage things.
This month's production of Memory Ointment would have to be halved, as the final production processes couldn't be completed without him.
As for the Plantation, being away for half a month wasn't a big issue. Apart from the newly developed hundred-acre Emerald Iris Lichen Magic Field, the other Magic Fields had already matured and could steadily produce the Magic Plants originally supplied to the Lijin Secret Language.
For the Emerald Iris Lichen Magic Field, Locke had reassigned over a hundred Minotaur slaves to the production plan. The actual output work would begin only after his return.
Until then, they would focus on soil cultivation and consolidating the existing Emerald Iris Lichen population.
These were precious, one-of-a-kind specimens—nowhere else but in his laboratory and Plantation could they be found.
As for the Bear Spirit Emerald Bile Potion, Angulo and Essie would manage with the existing stock of over a hundred Emerald Iris Lichen plants, taking the lead on the project. Externally, it would be announced that Locke was currently engaged in new rounds of Magic Plant and Potion research.
This wasn't entirely an excuse, as he was indeed considering the commercial release of Invisible Mandrake Vine and the mass production of Great Green Owl Banana.
If he could mass-produce Great Green Owl Banana, it would mark his first breakthrough in the mass production of a rare Magic Plant.
He could publish numerous high-value A-grade papers and earn even more Magic Stones from the First Class Wizard Apprentices.
Of course, success wasn't guaranteed.
He had previously attempted mass-producing Rot Soil Konjac King but had to abandon the idea due to the inability to secure enough corpses of First Class Wizard Apprentices.
The rarity of certain Magic Plants stemmed from insurmountable obstacles preventing their mass production like common Magic Plants.
As for the Invisible Mandrake Vine—or even the Omen Mandrake Vine—there was no longer any need to keep them hidden.
Given his current achievements, releasing them would only enhance his reputation and honors without raising suspicion.
These could be considered his past technical reserves, now ready for deployment.
This would serve as an upgrade and renewal of his Magic Vine product line.
After all, it had been over a year since he released his first Magic Plant product.
In the office, the witch Sophia praised Locke, saying, "I never expected that the Archaeological Spell you studied would provide such convenience for our operation."
"I did indeed send all the spies at my disposal to that Curse Formula Research Institute."
"But we could never get inside, so I don't know much about its interior—only its location and the surrounding environment."
Sophia hesitated for a moment before continuing, "After the academy gave me the final conditions for departure, I began laying the groundwork half a year in advance. Over those six months, I gradually transported the supplies we needed for the operation in scattered batches deep into the territory of the Blood Curse Court and established a safe route to escort us in."
"However, I truly didn't anticipate the obstacle of the Sixfold Curse Barrier."
"Locke, you've done exceptionally well."
Locke immediately seized the opportunity to ask, "Teacher, are you confident in dealing with the Sixfold Curse Barrier?"
Sophia nodded. "Of course. A Wizard's war is a war of information. As long as I know a little more than they do, I can dismantle their methods in advance."
"This time, you've really made a great contribution. If Rasheed Tarir's original survival rate was around 10%, now it's probably less than 3%."
"Inside the Sixfold Curse Barrier, white magic cannot be used—or rather, all white magic is weakened. That is indeed troublesome, but as long as we destroy the core of the barrier's formation before entering, it won't be a problem."
Sophia smiled. "Locke, the core of the Sixfold Curse Barrier's formation is outside the barrier itself."
Locke blinked, wearing an expression of confusion. "Teacher, I haven't studied much of the protective school's spells."
"Is there some trick to it?"
Sophia shook her head. "No trick at all. It's purely because the design of that barrier is foolish."
"The Blood Curse Court's magic is mediocre outside the field of Curse Magic. Locke, don't assume every magical system is meticulously refined. This world is just one big, haphazard mess."
"You've received nearly the best education in Potionology and Breeding Studies at Lilith's Cottage. That perspective might lead you to overestimate others' magical abilities. For example, the Sixfold Curse Barrier—where the formation core is placed outside the barrier, forcing them to hide it somewhere—is a perfect example."
"It's simply because the Formal Wizard who designed that Curse Barrier was too focused on the effects and didn't think to place the formation core inside the barrier."
"Once the framework was fully designed, they couldn't easily alter the original spell structure…"
Locke raised an eyebrow, his expression turning amused.
Sophia continued, "You can start preparing more of the potions you'll need later and store them in your Astral Ring. In four days, meet at this location."
"The entire operation must be carried out quietly, so make sure your movements aren't detected."
Locke nodded. "Teacher, I understand."
The Witch Sophia nodded and said, "Yes. Additionally, you can have that Speed Painter continue mapping out the interior of the Curse Formula Research Institute. I do need it."
"And you've done exceptionally well in maintaining confidentiality in this matter."
Locke replied, "Understood, teacher. I'll have the Magic Painting Map completed before the operation."
Witch Sophia retrieved fifteen hundred Magic Stones from her Astral Ring.
Locke looked at her in confusion. "Teacher, what is this?"
Witch Sophia explained, "The payment for hiring those Speed Painters should come from me. The remaining amount will be your compensation."
"You're working for me—it wouldn't be right for you to spend your own money. Locke, you've already spent over four thousand Magic Stones recently to cultivate that hundred-acre Magical Field."
"An ordinary First Class Wizard Apprentice would have likely invested their entire fortune by now."
Witch Sophia continued, "Besides, you've underestimated the appetite of those Wizards from the Atlas Pigment Workshop who call themselves artists."
"Once you hire them, the expenses will undoubtedly be substantial. Take it. Moreover, you'll need to retain their services for a month, and I genuinely require detailed interior maps. So it's best to keep them occupied with work."
Locke accepted the Magic Stones but gave Witch Sophia a puzzled look. Why did she say "them"? He had only hired one Speed Painter.
Still, with his teacher covering the costs, he had no reason to refuse.
This could be considered operational funds provided by Witch Sophia, from which he could also obtain additional resources for his Magic Plants, Magic Potions, and the creation of Magic Paintings.
Currently, his savings only amounted to six thousand Magic Stones.
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