Wizard: I devour the stars with swarms of insects.

"Senior Brother Holman, why are you so pessimistic? Aptitude is just the starting point. It's not the most important factor for wizards."

"Continuous learning, relentless research, perseverance, unwavering determination, a strong learning ability, and rich imagination and creativity—these are what wizards value!"

Wayne said calmly.

These are words that I, in a past life, once saw in a book, and now I am relaying them to Holman.

Holman stared blankly at Wayne upon hearing this.

Then, he nodded vigorously, his eyes a little red.

"Yes, you're right, Junior Brother Wayne, thank you for your encouragement!"

Early birds catch the worm, and diligence can make up for lack of talent.

Throughout Chinese history, there have been numerous examples of withered trees blossoming again and people rising to prominence in their later years.

No matter when, as long as you give up easily and persevere in the long run, there will always be a chance to turn defeat into victory.

Next, Holman rubbed his face with his hands, seemingly trying to wash away the alcohol residue.

When I looked up, I had already tried my best to cheer myself up again.

"For my father, for Lilith, for the Victoria family, I cannot give up like this. I will continue on the path of a wizard, no matter what obstacles I face! In the future... perhaps there will be times when I need my junior brother's help."

"It's alright, it's within my power and my duty, Senior Brother Holman," Wayne said with a smile.

......

Now that the plague outbreak in the Victoria Territory has been successfully contained, it is time for Wayne to leave.

Because there were still some things to take care of, Holman would return to Black Forest City later, while Wayne took his men and left first to return to the academy.

When they left, Holman, Earl Victoria, the butler Alfred, and many other family members came out to see them off.

After all, the successful resolution of this matter was entirely due to the assistance of Wayne, the wizard apprentice.

As they were parting, Holman presented them with an exquisitely crafted wooden box.

When Wayne opened it, he saw that it contained a large, complete, crystal-clear energy storage crystal.

Furthermore, its texture and color appear to be of very high quality, making it quite valuable.

It's important to know that a single energy storage crystal can often be exchanged for hundreds or even thousands of magic stones.

Such a complete and pure energy storage crystal can be exchanged for at least two thousand magic stones.

It can truly be called a "generous gift"!

"Take it, Junior Brother Wayne. It's our Victoria family's way of thanking you for helping us so much. You deserve it."

Holman said with a smile, blinking his eyes.

Wayne's expression shifted, and without any hesitation, he took it and handed it to Knight Isabel behind him for safekeeping.

The wizarding world operates on the principle of equivalent exchange. It is natural and normal for someone to offer help and then receive gratitude or reward in return.

Sometimes being too polite can make you seem out of place, especially since... for a count-level fief lord, although this thing is indeed expensive.

But it's not to the point where it's unbearable.

So, after accepting the gifts...

Wayne and his party left Greyhawk Keep by carriage and headed along the wide road to a coastal port of the nearby Tudian Empire.

There, board the wizard's ship and return to the city of the Black Forest.

The group behind waved goodbye to Wayne and the others, watching the carriage they were riding in gradually disappear into the distance until it vanished on the horizon.

......

Five days later, the wizard ship arrived at the port of Black Forest City, and Wayne and his party were able to return to the wizarding academy.

Back at the academy, the matter was successfully concluded, and he needed to return to Instructor Morse to report the good news of the successful completion of the "mission".

Upon arriving at the Natural Symbiosis Wizard Tower, Wayne instructed Isabel and her group to bring all the spoils of their journey into his room.

Before they left, Wayne, as usual, took out some precious body-tempering potions from his wizard robes.

Furthermore, before each person left, Wayne gave them a magical potion that could enhance their physique and combat power: the Dawn Potion.

This magical potion is quite expensive, but after consumption, it can greatly enhance reaction speed, dynamic vision, and explosive movement ability.

And it has no side effects.

Even for wizards, it's a useful potion, not exactly cheap.

Wayne has always believed in the idea that a generous reward will surely attract brave men.

If you want your subordinates to work hard and diligently for you, you have to give them enough rewards. After all, no one wants to do something that only requires effort but doesn't bring any benefits.

Moreover, this was a generous reward that I had promised them when I first arrived in the Victorian territory.

After all, there was a certain degree of danger in them following him to that plague-ridden castle.

as predicted.

Now that they had obtained such a potion, the knights and guards all showed excited looks.

He quickly expressed his gratitude to Wayne, his eyes filled with even greater loyalty and admiration.

He clenched his right fist and placed it on his chest, respectfully giving Wayne a knightly salute, his voice filled with excitement.

"I swear to serve Lord Wayne to the death!"

"I would give my all, without hesitation!"

Faced with their respect and demonstrated loyalty, Wayne simply nodded and did not say anything more.

Watching them leave with joyful expressions, each one of them looked as if they had found a treasure.

Next, just as Isabel was about to turn and leave, Wayne called her back.

"What is it, sir?" Isabel stopped and asked, puzzled, when she heard her name called.

Since she was not in combat mode, she had already removed her helmet and armor and placed them beside her.

Her long, golden-red hair, seemingly forged from the afterglow of a setting sun, was braided into a thick plait, hanging down from the front of her right shoulder, the ends almost touching her waist.

The legs beneath the skirt were long and straight.

In the afterglow of the setting sun, the armor gleamed with a faint golden light. Behind him stood the ancient, mottled stone walls of the wizard's tower, bathed in the heavy, orange-red hues of the setting sun.

Bright, sparkling eyes.

"You did a great job on this trip; you did very well the whole way," Wayne said with a slight smile.

During Victoria's investigation into the plague, Isabel fought bravely and was always the first to rush forward to protect her.

He commanded, arranged, and deployed his subordinate knights and guards, who remained loyal and loyal by his side at all times, and he did an excellent job.

"I remember you saying that your family's estate has some nice local specialties and dishes?"

Wayne said with a soft laugh.

"So...when, and can I have a taste?"