Wizards: Starting with Synthetic Gems

Chapter 262 Meeting with Harlan Vera

Locke said to Carrie Ackerman, "Did the academy's higher-ups replace my wizard mentor with Harlen Vera?"

Carrie Ackerman nodded and looked down at Locke, saying, "Yes, senior. You're really smart; you figured out why Professor Harlan invited you in an instant."

Carrie Ackerman felt a little guilty, but still gave Locke a bright smile. "Senior, from now on we will both be Professor Harun Vera's students."

Please take good care of me in the future.

"If there's anything I can help you with in the future, please don't hesitate to ask. I will do my best to help you."

Carrie Ackerman glanced at Locke guiltily, and only after confirming that Locke did not show any obvious dissatisfaction towards her did she breathe a sigh of relief.

She was shocked when she first learned about it.

But Carrie Ackerman, a magic partner who always followed others around to freeload resources and connections, quickly adjusted her mindset and realized that Locke was her senior, and no matter what Locke's attitude towards her was, she had to greet him warmly.

Now, she can't afford to offend Locke in the slightest.

Harlan Vera's network of connections wasn't based on who joined first, but on who was a genius, a super genius.

A celebrity like Locke would instantly become a star once he entered Harlan Vera's network of connections.

Carrie Ackerman knew that if she offended Locke, and if Locke showed even the slightest sign of displeasure towards her within his network of connections, she would be in for a world of trouble.

Within Harlan Vera's network of relationships, those people will become indifferent to her, no longer enthusiastic, and refuse to communicate with her.

As someone who studies magic, this is absolutely terrifying.

Meanwhile, Carrie Ackerman, looking at the indifferent Locke, secretly looked up to observe him, and a sense of admiration and awe arose in her heart.

The first-class wizard apprentice in front of me, who had only been promoted for about a year, possessed talent comparable to, or even slightly surpassing, that of his senior, Angron.

Moreover, he was still so young, and he was her senior from university.

This naturally led Carrie Ackerman to develop the same kind of admiration for Angron.

Locke coldly replied, "Wait a moment. I just came from the plantation, and my clothes are dusty. I need to change."

After all, it was a formal invitation from a wizard, which was an exceptionally high level of hospitality.

I should change into clean clothes to avoid being impolite.

Carrie Ackerman hesitated for a moment, then took out a vine-whispering box from under her wizard robes and handed it to Locke. "Senior Locke, this is a gift for you, as a welcome present to us as you join our family."

Locke turned around, his brows furrowing slightly.

Carrie Ackerman immediately opened the Vine Box, revealing a high-level enchanted item lying inside—an ice dagger covered in Ogan tree runes. It was a high-level enchanted item grafting knife.

Carrie Ackerman gave Locke a bright, ingratiating smile and said, “Senior, this is a grafting knife worth 500 magic stones. I think such a treasure deserves a genius breeder like you, so I took the initiative to buy this grafting knife and wanted to give it to you.”

Locke frowned, glanced at it, and refused, "No need. I can buy the grafting rune knife myself." Carrie opened her mouth, but faced with Locke's ruthless refusal, she didn't dare to insist any further and could only nod in agreement, saying, "Yes, I'm sorry, senior, I took the liberty of making the decision."

Carrie sighed inwardly, feeling a pang of regret for having offended Locke with her words.

Now, with her limited abilities, it's wishful thinking to think she can gain Locke's forgiveness and repair their relationship with such a small favor.

Carrie waited alone outside the house, thinking to herself, 'Oh no, it seems Senior Locke has a really bad impression of me. He even refused my gift. I guess I have to think of another way to please him.'

Carrie thought to herself, 'If I offend Senior Locke, I might not be able to get along in Professor Harlan Vera's network of connections.'

'This won't do. We must find a way to truly help Senior Locke as soon as possible; perhaps then we can still try to win his forgiveness.'

Locke returned to his residence, changed his clothes, and then came out to follow Carrie Ackerman. They boarded two carriages and headed to the Chimera Market.

Witch's Kitchen, Room 3.

Carrie pushed open the door to the private room and invited Locke inside. As soon as Locke entered, he saw Advisor Francis and Wizard Harun Vera.

Harlan Vera wore black-rimmed glasses, had a crew cut, and looked like a middle-aged man. He wore an ordinary gray wizard's robe, and a magic ring on his right thumb. On his left wrist was a decorative mechanical watch with seven dials. It was very complicated and seemed to be calculating something, but Locke glanced at it and was sure it wasn't telling time.

Carrie Ackerman bowed to the two people in the private room, "Professor Harlan, this is Senior Locke."

Harlan Vera's eyes lit up slightly. At this moment, he and Senior Advisor Francis both focused their attention on Locke, completely ignoring Carrie Ackerman.

Harlan Vera looked Locke up and down and greeted him, "Locke, this should be our first time meeting."

"I am Harun Vera, a first-circle wizard, senior breeder, formal potion master and alchemist from Lilith Hut. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"I had heard about you from different people before I met you. But seeing you today, I found that you are very young and quite different from what I imagined."

Harlan Vera laughed and said, "I'm very happy that the academy has reassigned you to be my student."

"I just don't know what you think. If you're unwilling..."

Locke immediately shook his head; this was originally Sophia's recommendation. "No, Professor Harlan, I'd be happy to."

Harlan Vera's smile widened. "That's good. Geniuses always have the right to choose. I hope our relationship is a two-way choice."

"I've spent several days developing a series of teaching and training plans for you to help your magic power surpass... hmm?"

Harlan Vera adjusted the position of his non-prescription glasses. "Locke, your mana seems to be close to 800."

"My intuition must be right, right?"

"It seems that all the teaching plans I've made will have to be scrapped and started over. But that's good, very good, great."

Senior Advisor Francis put down his fork in surprise, looked at Locke, then at Harlan Vera, and finally at Locke, asking in astonishment, "Locke, is your magic power approaching 800 now?"

(End of this chapter)