Chapter 208: The Crystal Leaf (1)
A wizard's attributes would be lowered each time they failed to advance to the next level. Wizards at higher ranks or stages usually had a lower physical status than the ones who just broke the limit.
With the help of the Demos' Water, Angele increased his Mentality to 40, but the potion was no longer effective right after. His body had already developed a resistance to its effect. Otherwise, Angele would try to increase his Mentality a bit more. Higher mentality increased the success rate of advancing to next stages.
The potion was extremely effective at the beginning. However, in later stages, only the side effects which remained were still affecting his body.
Wisp arrived with the sample when Angele was still checking his body condition.
There was a small glass box over his palm. Inside it was a piece of white leaf surrounded by a light white glow.
"That's the crystal leaf. We put a lot of effort into collecting those leaves for you. Several wizards were hurt and some apprentices died. It was a hard mission." Wisp smiled.
"I understand. So, what do you want from me? Just say it. To be honest, I didn't expect you guys to actually find the leaves for me. I respect your organization's power." Angele stared at Wisp right in his eyes. "I've always wanted to know who exactly I was dealing with…"
"I can't tell you the details." Wisp dodged the question. "Well, I just want you to know that we spent a lot of resources to find you this thing."
Angele sipped some black tea from the cup, his eyes blinking.
He asked Isabel about the crystal leaf after placing the order. Isabel told him that even the Jones Family could only collect about three pieces of high-quality crystal leaf each year.
The leaf was highly valuable and was the main ingredient of the best neutralizer in the black market. The basic effect of the leaf was to increase the success rate of the concoction of certain potions. Only a small amount was required for each test, and it was the dream material to all Potion Masters.
In Jones Family's material storage room, there were two pieces of top quality crystal leaf that had been acquired about a hundred years ago.
Wisp brought the physical sample to Angele's house and it was one of the leaves his organization acquired. The rest would be delivered when the trade is settled.
Angele had a blank expression on his face, but he was surprised by the power of Wisp's organization.
The Jones Family was powerful, but it seemed like Wisp's organization was even more powerful.
A third of the hidden resource points in the whole Six Ring area belonged to the Jones Family. Their family members were spying most of the important resources points and military bases. Some of them had connections with the dark wizards' organizations. Flan Jones wore a black robe during the war against the underground race. She wanted a position in the Six Ring area after the war ended, so she changed to a light wizard.
Members that had pure bloodlines were rare in most wizard families, and untalented kids would be sent other areas. They could not handle the amount of energy radiation in Nola and the only way to keep them alive was to send them to normal families.
There were about one hundred family members in Jones's territory, about 50 of them were wizards with pure bloodlines and the rest were all apprentices. The family recruited apprentices from outside Nola to do daily works for them. No one complained as they were treated much better in Nola than at their own family territories.
Only a small number of wizards reached the Liquid and the Crystal stage.
The school built by the Six Ring High Tower had a huge number of apprentices, but only several of them would become formal wizards each year.
Although the number didn't sound bad, they needed to complete dangerous lab experiments and join countless exploration missions for rare materials. Also, wizards fought with each other all the time, and a war might break out anytime since the underground races were invading the land again.
Most of the newly-advanced wizards would die in fights or experiments within 50 years after graduation. Many wizards had disappeared after joining the resource collection team.
White or dark, joining a strong organization was a wise decision to all wizards.
Major organizations would be willing to take in talented wizards.
Wisp's organization did everything they could to acquire crystal leaves for Angele and the organization's background was stronger than Jones Family. The only issue was Wisp never told Angele about the details.
"I hope you can consider our offer." Wisp sipped some tea from the cup. "The Potion Masters in our organization tested your potions and the result is surprising."
He stopped for a second, glanced around and realized that no one else was in the living room.
With a flicker of his finger, a red spot of light appeared in the air and turned into a translucent bell-shaped barrier that sealed the two inside.
Angele stayed calm. This barrier was for the assurance of privacy in their conversation from any possible eavesdroppers. He knew what Wisp was trying to say. He had been selling potions to the organization for a while, and most of the materials he needed could only be traded with high-quality potions. With the help of Zero, although Angele never mastered the proper technique of potion concoction, he could still produce potions with much a higher quality than average Potion Masters.
Wisp's expression turned serious as the red barrier surrounded them. "You're the most gifted Potion Master in the history of Nola."
"Huh?" Angele was surprised. "That's what they told you?"
"Not only that, they think if you can put more time into potion concoction, your success rate and skills can be improved further. You're possibly the only Potion Master in west coast that has the ability to concoct high-level potions. The only thing you need is knowledge." Wisp stared at Angele with a complicated expression. "I was sent to you for the first trade we made. I already knew you were talented the first time I saw the potion you handed over to me."
He put his hand on the glass box.
"You see this crystal leaf here? My organization has a great offer for you."
Angele hesitated for a second and said slowly, "You mean, you want me to join your organization?"
"That's our plan. However, it seems like you don't want the public to know about your potion concoction skills. Master Isabel of the Jones Family probably knows a bit about it, but you didn't tell her everything, right? So…" He stopped for a second.
"We know you're passionate about potion concocting, but we're not forcing you to make the decision. You can take your time and do research on the situation of the Potion Masters in Nola. If you decide to join us, we can support you with rare materials like this crystal leaf. You'll be the core of the potions department and you can discuss the art of potion concoction with the high-rank Potion Masters in my organization." Wisp emphasized on the word 'high-rank Potion Master'.
Angele knew that Wisp was trying to tell him that there were several strong Potion Masters in his organization.
The scale of Wisp's organization exceeded Angele's expectations, but he still had no idea about the organization's background.
"I'll need some time," he responded with a calm tone.
"For sure." Wisp nodded. "Take your time to talk to other Potion Masters in Nola and you'll know their situation, but only a few of them is backed up by an organization that can provide them with rare materials like the crystal leaf."
"I understand but…I don't even know the name of your organization."
"I can't tell you yet, but if you decide to join us, I can tell you right away." Wisp stood up. "Alright, I need to go, and again, take your time." He took out a small black paper ball from his pouch and threw it toward Angele.
The paper ball unfolded itself and turned into a black leather paper. Rows of white words covered the entire paper and its special ink was glowing.
Angele grabbed the paper and started reading.
'Root of Moni, 10 servings.'
'Black Sparrow Tail Flower, two.'
'Crystal of Spandy Water, three.'
There were more than one hundred material names listed on the leather paper.
Angele tapped at about ten different names and the white glow surrounding those words vanished into the darkness.
He then handed the paper back to Wisp.
"That's all I want." Angele slightly nodded.
"When do you need them?" Wisp wondered.
"Deliver it the day after tomorrow. It'll be better if you can bring everything to me in one go," Angele responded.
"No problem at all." Wisp nodded. "I'll be leaving now."
"Sure. Also, don't forget the defensive magic circles." Angele pursed his lips into a smile.
"I won't, don't worry." Wisp slightly swung his hand. A white cap appeared from nowhere and he put it on his head.
"Nancy, my guest is leaving." Angele clapped.
"Coming." Nancy opened the door for Wisp from outside and bowed slightly. She was wearing a sleeveless tight black leather coat and tight white pants, giving off the impression that she was showing off her balanced body. Nancy knew that Angele's sight would fall upon her chest from time to time. She was hoping that one day, Angele would become infatuated with her.
Ancient Godly Monarch
I'm Really a Superstar
I Alone Level-Up
Hidden Assassin
My Sister the Heroine, and I the Villainess
Picked up by the Protagonist of a Tormented! MC Novel
Commanding Wind and Cloud
Godly Stay-Home Dad
Overlord (LN)
The Charm of Soul Pets
The Sacred Ruins