Wizard: Start consuming attributes from the equipment slot.

Even though this skill's effect is already ridiculously powerful, it's only level 1... If only it could be upgraded again...

However, Victor wasn't entirely without clues about the subsequent upgrades to this entry.

After several days of friendly exchanges and a mix of coercion and enticement, Vivian finally relented considerably. Thus, Victor learned from her that the key truly could open a door to a certain place...

Therefore, the opportunity to upgrade this entry may very well lie inside that door.

As for the exact location... unfortunately, Vivian didn't know either.

......

While I was with Nina, we were busy with work and occasionally chatted.

By the afternoon, I had finally finished all the work at hand.

Victor sat at his desk, took out the runestone tablet that Manugs had given him, and began his daily trials and explorations as usual.

In recent days, he has never given up his exploration of ancient rune technology, but unfortunately, ancient rune technology is just too advanced for a low-level wizard apprentice.

Even with the effect of the "inspiration gateway," he gained many ideas.

However, runes are not something that can be used simply by learning them. As mentioned before, the strength of the magic and the ability to master them are more important, and Viktor is still far from that level.

However, after trying it once or twice, Victor noticed that although he couldn't actually activate the runes with his current abilities, this behavior was similar to weight training, which allowed him to greatly improve his magic power and mental strength.

The rapid improvement in my mental attributes over the past few days is largely thanks to this thing...

"Victor."

Just as Viktor was carefully examining the runestone tablet in his hand, Nina's voice came softly from behind him again.

Viktor stopped exploring the runestone and turned to look at Nina, only to see her give him a look behind him.

Looking over, Viktor noticed that a figure had appeared beside the production line, observing them – it was their mentor, Manuggus.

However, unlike their previous meetings, this time Manugs did not wear his usual oversized wizard robes, but simply wore an overcoat, which made him look less dignified as a formal wizard.

Of course, Manugges probably doesn't care.

Viktor couldn't pretend he hadn't seen it, so he obediently put down the runestone tablet and walked over with Nina to wait aside. Watching Manuggus check back and forth between the two production lines, he felt a strange sense of tension, like waiting for a teacher to check his homework...

Finally, after spending more than ten minutes, Manugges finished inspecting both production lines.

Then his gaze shifted to Victor, who was standing to one side:

"Did you do all the work today?"

Victor shook his head:

"Mentor, I only completed part of it; Nina finished the rest."

Manuggas then looked at Nina:

"Yeah?"

"Mentor, that's just Viktor's personality... He's a bit too modest compared to most people," Nina said with a smile. "He's made great progress, especially this past week. He's learned almost all the repair methods, so I've been gradually letting him get hands-on experience over the past couple of days."

"Today was the same. I only handled a few issues; he did the rest."

Manugges nodded:

"Nina, it seems you're also going to explore the astral plane, right?"

Nina was clearly surprised, because logically speaking, given Manuggus's status, he shouldn't be paying so much attention to her, yet he actually knew about her situation.

But regardless, she naturally dared not lie, and immediately nodded in reply:

"Yes, mentor."

"I've already made plans with a few friends to go on an exploration mission to the Astral Plane to prepare for my advancement to a full-fledged wizard."

Upon hearing this, Manugges continued to ask:

"Have you decided which astral plane you want to go to?"

"Well... we already have a target, astral plane numbered 1443, which is classified as medium danger according to the academy's markings," Nina replied. "I've only been involved in a small part of the specific plan; the rest is being planned by my friends."

"Is that so..." Manuggas nodded again, then suddenly said, "In that case, your work here is done."

"!!"

Nina's eyes widened suddenly.

She was somewhat incredulous, but also suddenly a little scared, mainly because it was all so sudden, and she didn't know what Manugges was thinking.

Fortunately, Manugges didn't seem to have any particular feelings for her, because he later added:

"I will destroy the contract we signed earlier in a moment, so you don't need to worry about it."

"Ah...yes!"

Nina finally realized what was happening and quickly bowed in response:

"Thank you so much for your help, mentor!"

But once she lowered her head, the woman's heart was filled with mixed feelings.

She had worked here for over ten years. Although she was prepared, she still felt a sense of emptiness when she suddenly received the news that she didn't need to come back tomorrow.

Unfortunately, after saying that, Manuggus's attention was no longer on her, but had shifted to Viktor:

"You, come with me."

After saying that, he turned and walked upstairs.

Viktor was taken aback when he saw Manugus heading upstairs, wondering why the other man had called him.

He subconsciously turned his head to look at Nina beside him, only to find that she was looking down, seemingly lost in thought.

He sighed helplessly to himself, then quickly strode after him.

Following the stairs, we went with Manuges to the second floor, a place we had never been before.

......

This was the first time in so many days that Victor had reached the second floor of the laboratory building.

The first thing you see is two alchemical golems standing in the middle... They are similar in size and shape to the alchemical golem that guards the entrance to the laboratory building, except that the weapon has been changed from a spear to a longsword, probably taking into account the situation here.

Then came several conspicuous alchemy machines.

However, unlike the two production lines on the lower level, the refining machines here are much larger and seem to be specifically designed to process certain special parts.

Then, inside, there was a large flowerbed, enclosed by a simple fence, with dense potions planted inside.

Viktor glanced at it and recognized one of the potions as "Petrifying Grass," which could be used to extract petrifying liquid and was a fairly common alchemical material.

However, this stuff isn't cheap. A single, well-preserved petrifying grass can be diluted and refined to produce about 150 grams of petrifying liquid, which costs between 100 and 200 magic stones, depending on its quality.

But now it's growing in patches... The key thing is that Viktor remembers that petrifying grass shouldn't grow densely, right?

So is this some kind of improved variety?