Wizards: Starting with Synthetic Gems

Chapter 107 Psychological Imbalance During the Same Period

Yuri Burns said to Locke, "Dear Locke, my friend, if your new work passes the Academy's selection process, I will have my shop assistant notify you."

“Alright.” Locke glanced at the few second-class wizard apprentices standing cautiously to the side.

These second-class wizard apprentices seemed terrified of Yuri Burns, glancing at her frequently even when she was talking to them.

He was probably afraid of not performing well and being fired by Yuri, since Yuri was the manager of Lijin's Secret, and Lijin's Secret had no shortage of second-class wizard apprentices who wanted to be hired every month.

For second-class wizard apprentices, becoming an employee of Lijin's Whisper is one of the most cost-effective jobs they can find.

Lijin Secrets distributes a certain amount of magic stones to its employees every month. Working at Lijin Secrets also allows employees to come into contact with a large number of magical plants, learn about the latest magical plants at Lilith's Cottage, and interact with many high-level wizard apprentices.

Even deeper within the Secret Language of Lijin, there are some magical plants of formal wizard level.

Therefore, even though Yuri Burns had all sorts of harsh demands on them and scolded them every day, making them tremble with fear, they dared not resign and leave this rare job opportunity.

Locke casually remarked, "You've recently hired some new staff, Yuri."

Yuri chuckled a few times, her voice hoarse. "Yes, we hired three new people."

“Several employees damaged a black datura plant while moving the magical plants, so I fired them. They also owed Lijin Secret a huge sum of money.”

Yuri didn't seem to care much, and even said with a hint of schadenfreude, "It's not easy to owe money to Lijin Secrets. I heard they've already signed those harsh loan agreements from outsiders to pay off Lijin Secrets' debts."

“After all, Lady Irina has a whole host of businesses in the Chimera Market,” Yuri said with a smile. “Some of the shops are still quite short of staff, such as the Blood Collection Station, the Potion Testing Shop, and the Combat Training Shop that Lady Irina has opened in the Chimera Market.”

"Being in debt with so much money in this world is a terrifying thing."

“But even the poorest second-class wizard apprentices have their uses; they have value in themselves. Paying back debts is a matter of course, but under normal circumstances, we don’t go that far.”

“The White Wizard Association has some restrictions on this,” Yuri chuckled hoarsely. “But if someone keeps owing money and doesn’t pay it back, it’s all acceptable no matter what happens.”

“On another note, we first-class wizard apprentices are the same, except that the value of our skills exceeds the value of our bodies.” Yuri seemed to realize that she herself was in financial straits, so she sighed.

Yuri looked at Locke and said, "Would you like to go to the Witch's Kitchen in the Chimera Market for lunch, Locke?"

“I have some matters concerning the college’s centralized procurement, and I can take this opportunity to explain them to you.”

Locke thought for a moment and then agreed, leaving behind only a group of trembling second-class wizard apprentices inside the Lijin Secret Words shop.

They all breathed a sigh of relief when they saw Yuri leave with Locke, and were grateful that Locke had temporarily taken Yuri Burns away.

A female second-class wizard apprentice patted her chest, leaned against the counter, and panted, "Manager Yuri has finally left the shop for a while. Her personality is so strange. I really can't take it anymore."

"I feel like I'm just her punching bag in this shop," a male second-class wizard apprentice interjected. "Actually, there's a whole bunch of second-class wizard apprentices outside, waiting for us to leave. They can only come in once we leave and make room. But I didn't expect Manager Yuri to be so polite to someone. Who is that person? They look very young."

Isaacs, a second-class wizard apprentice who had remained silent until now, said uncertainly, "That person seems to be from my class. But I'm not sure."

A look of horror crossed his face.

"My aptitude is level 5, and it took me two years to become a second-class wizard apprentice. After many hardships, I finally passed the test of Lijin Secret Language and became a shop assistant here."

"The other wizarding students who shared the same wizarding mentor with me were all amazed by my speed and envious of my entry into the Lijin Secret Language. But that person was already a first-class wizarding apprentice, and could sit on equal footing with Shopkeeper Burns."

An incredulous look crossed his face. "If he really was my contemporary, then he became a first-class wizard apprentice in just two years. That's incredible, that's how fast he went."

Communication among wizards is not that efficient.

After all, Lilith's Hut covers a vast area, and depending on the different wizard mentors, it may even be located in different cities.

Locke's initial aptitude seemed quite ordinary, and he wasn't the wizarding prospect that everyone was focusing on. Therefore, many of his peers were unaware that Locke had quickly become a first-class wizarding apprentice.

These people, who were themselves in dire straits and focused on advancing to the second-level wizard apprentice level, naturally didn't have much free time to inquire about others.

Isaacs swallowed hard. "When I get back and take my substitute teacher's class, maybe I can ask. They're first-class wizard apprentices, they should know who the new first-class wizard apprentices are."

An experienced employee at Lijin Secret Shop said, "Don't bother asking your senior, or you'll get scolded again."

"That wizard's name is Locke Augustine, a breeding genius. When he first came to our shop, he was indeed only a second-class wizard apprentice, but he was promoted to a first-class wizard apprentice within a year."

"So, he should indeed be your contemporary, Isaacs."

Isaacs and the two new employees were momentarily stunned by the news.

Isaacs said, "But that's so unfair. Doesn't anyone think so? We've worked so hard for so many years, and some people can easily achieve what we have to work hard for."

"It took me two years to finally move from Dwarf Street to Upside Down."

The old shop assistant sighed and comforted him, saying, "Although we're from the same cohort, some people are destined to soar to the top. People like us can only work our way up slowly. You don't need to compete with those true prodigies, and you've already been very lucky. It took me four years to become a second-class wizard apprentice, and then I spent another three years taking the exams for this shop before I finally became a shop assistant here."

"You are already very good compared to me, Isaacs."

“People are different. In the eyes of those second-class wizard apprentices outside of Lijin Secret, those who can enter Lijin Secret and work for a full year are also the chosen ones.”

(End of this chapter)