Wizards: Starting with Synthetic Gems

Chapter 818 The First Pair of Pure Magic Plant Second-Ring Wizard Shoes That Can Be Mass-Produced!

After giving Carter his business card, Locke sent the product information for the Bloodwave Pineapple Wizard Shoes to Scarlett Witch for review and listed it in the product introduction section of the Augustus Wizard Shoes Shop Alliance on the Water Hyacinth System as his first officially pre-ordered second-ring wizard shoes.

Scarlett the Witch immediately sent a message to Locke asking her questions.

"Lord Locke, the production cost of a second-ring magic plant should be several million magic stones, right?"

"Your new second-ring pure magic plant wizard shoes are priced at one million magic stones?"

Locke knew perfectly well why she had asked him that question.

Solas's barefoot and Melochy's second-ring wizard shoes start at five million magic stones, meaning five million magic stones per pair, while second- or even third-tier wizard shoe brands like Blue Belt start at two to three million.

The price of a most ordinary second-level magic weapon is around one million magic stones.

This price, in Yunze Wetland, is roughly equivalent to the price of a million-dollar magic weapon series.

However, the million-series magical artifacts of Yunze Wetland are inherently luxury items, and first-ring wizards generally do not buy second-ring magical artifacts for two reasons: first, they are too expensive, and second, they are unusable, or even suffer backlash if they are used.

It's like a child wielding a large knife, which will only hurt himself.

Generally speaking, the average price of a crystallized level normal magic weapon is 100,000 magic stones, while a normal second-ring level magic weapon is around one million.

The pricing of the second-tier items in the Wizard Shoes Shop Alliance in Yunze Wetland is absolutely excessive, especially for Solas Barefoot and Melochy Magic Step.

The reason Locke couldn't mass-produce pure magical plant wizard shoes before was that even if he sold them for three million a pair like Blue Ribbon did, or even five million a pair like those two companies, it would only barely cover the costs.

the reason is simple.

The magic plant is a single, individual plant; it is a living organism.

A pair of wizard shoes corresponds to two second-ring magical plants. This wouldn't have been a problem at the first-ring stage, but at the second-ring stage, due to the imaginary root, the difficulty and cost of obtaining them increase dramatically.

Although Locke had temporarily solved the problem by grafting the imaginary roots of other magical plants onto the Wizard Shoes magical plant using breeding techniques, this could not be sold as a commodity.

First, customers may not have the ability to maintain and use it. Even the imaginary root is only temporarily grafted onto it and is not stable.

Secondly, the second-ring wizard shoes made that way, without the amplification of magic like Evolution Moon - Great Magic, are far from reaching the level of the second-ring wizard shoes from Cloud Marsh Wetlands. The temporary imaginary root is too weak to provide enough energy for the wizard shoes' magical plants.

It was only thanks to Locke's expertise in botany that it could be used like a normal second-level magical artifact.

Moreover, even with that method, the cost of cultivating a pair of pure magic plant wizard shoes (considering the need for a large number of imaginary roots) would be an exaggerated four million magic stones.

After all, the reason why the Shadow Fern and the Golden Peach Tree have so many imaginary roots is because they are special second-ring magical plants with a starting value of five million, not ordinary second-ring magical plants.

The cost of cultivating a single two-ring magic plant, including its imaginary roots, is approximately two million.

But this is only Locke's ideal calculation method, because if mass production were to take place, the cost could soar even higher.

This cost is based on its own magical system and extremely high level of magic.

So it's no wonder that Scarlett the Witch questioned her when she priced a pair of second-ring wizard shoes at the same price as a most ordinary magical artifact, which was one million magic stones.

Scarlett the Witch sent herself another message.

"Lord Locke, perhaps we should price our wizard shoes at five million magic stones. This would put them on par with Solas's Barefoot and Melochy's Magic Steps. After all, we are only two second-ring magic plants, and cannot be equated with a pair of wizard shoes made by those magic weavers."

These are two magical plants, not a pair of magical artifacts.

Locke knew what she was talking about.

Under normal circumstances, that would indeed be the case, but the problem is that I found a temporary solution to the problem of imaginary roots and created a shared imaginary root, which changes the situation.

The biggest cost issue in producing wizard shoes was originally the imaginary root, but now, due to the sharing of the imaginary root, these second-ring pure magical plant wizard shoes are essentially just large-sized first-ring magical plants!
Therefore, their own production costs are very low.

Locke hired a magical carriage and left the Rose Council, preparing to return to Mount Golden Crown. On the carriage, Locke sent a message to Scarlett the Witch.

"Don't worry. I've solved the cost problem of imaginary roots, and now I should have reduced the production cost of a pair of wizard shoes."

"The estimated production cost of a pair of wizard shoes, plus the marketing expenses, should be only around 500,000 magic stones."

Meanwhile, Scarlett the Witch, in her manor in the colony world, saw the message Locke had sent her and was momentarily stunned.

"Solving the problem of imaginary roots?"

"This……"

"If that's the case, then the biggest obstacle preventing breeding science from entering the field of wizard shoes can be said to have disappeared."

Scarlett the Witch could feel the weight of those words.

"If that's the case, the balance of power will be reversed. The cost of producing second-ring magical plants will be lower than the cost of producing second-ring magical artifacts. Even if we can't catch up in terms of quality for a while, we can turn the tables on you in terms of cost."

Scarlett the Witch swallowed hard. At the same time, she opened the application page for platinum traders, thought for a moment, and filled out the application directly.

Platinum traders in Alsace can only apply once every three years, and if their application fails, they cannot apply again for three years.

But Scarlett the Witch thought about it and realized that if Locke really solved the cost problem of the second-ring imaginary root, it would mean that Locke had completely unlocked the second-ring pure magic plant wizard shoes.

Even if this method of integration has many limitations, the Augustus Wizard Shoes brand will definitely be able to establish itself, but it will probably just become a third-rate wizard shoe store alliance.

If that's the case, then she could easily qualify as a Platinum Trader in Alsace based on this achievement.

A fiery glint flashed in Scarlett the Witch's eyes.

"If I can get the Platinum Trader certification, I will have access to the Platinum Package resources, and I will be confident that I can reach the first-level crystallization limit of 9999 within three years."

“I am confident that I will enter a period of spiritual decline within the next ten years.”

"Within fifty years, it is not impossible to accumulate resources and break through to become a second-circle wizard."

A flame of ambition ignited in Scarlett the Witch's eyes.

"It was by becoming a trader for Locke Augustin that I was able to get this opportunity. Sometimes, you really do need a bit of luck. Who would have thought that I could become a senior researcher trader at Golden Crown Mountain and actually go all the way up from a silver trader to a gold trader, and now I even have the opportunity to become a platinum trader."

Essentially, Locke was her project.

After all, Scarlett the Witch is Quinnjoll's group prophetic wizard, and her job is marketing.

"Let's take a gamble."

Scarlett the Witch sighed.

According to Artesus's unspoken rules, first-time applicants for the Platinum Trader position at Artesus receive a newbie bonus, increasing their chances of approval compared to any other application.

If she makes the wrong bet this time, and the Augustus Wizard Shoe Shop Alliance doesn't at least become a third-rate wizard shoe shop alliance, then she will lose her first application opportunity.

But Scarlett the Witch thought it was worth a gamble.

Scarlett the Witch sent Locke a message: "Understood, Lord Locke. Everything will be based on your pricing. I can immediately contact Arthas's plantation in the colonies to arrange production for you. Because it involves production at a plantation in the second ring, there will be many procedures involved, but I will arrange everything for you."

"I will find you an enchanter. Please rest assured."

Scarlett the Witch thought for a moment, then opened the internal group chat within the Water Hyacinth system of Arthas's top traders and contacted another top trader.

This is her good friend, a seasoned top trader who knows many more people, so Scarlett the Witch thought asking her for help would make things more secure.

Inside the manor, Scarlett the Witch dismissed the local natives who were responsible for serving her and sat up straight.

"But this involves negotiations at the Second Ring Road level, so things will definitely be more complicated."

“Cultivating second-ring magical plants requires the intervention of second-ring breeders.”

“It will be very troublesome to deal with, although the hiring price of a second-ring breeder in the colony world is slightly cheaper.”

Scarlett the Witch was looking up information.

"By the way, a first-ring wizard of the High Elf race in the High Elf world, under Arthas's tutelage, can cultivate a standard second-ring magical plant according to regulations and procedures."

"At least there shouldn't be any problem with growing second-ring magical plants from seeds to adults. Let's use the production line from the high elf world."

Scarlett the witch sent the application information to her superior, but contrary to her expectations of immediate approval, Arthas's superior sent an inquiry.

'Scarlett, the trader, the High Elf Great World is our core base in Arthas.'

"The application process for those plantations is extremely complex and a very serious matter. If you activate those plantations to produce magical plants for your partners but fail to recoup your costs, it could negatively impact your rating and benefits here."

Scarlett the Witch confirmed earnestly, "Of course, Manager. I believe the Augustus Wizard Shoe Shop Alliance has excellent investment potential. I'm willing to stake my future on it."

In the vast world of high elves.

This is a vast world, and that's why Arthas is so wealthy and powerful.

Heath Harrington, a sun-ring wizard, frowned upon seeing Scarlett the Witch's reply; he himself appeared to be an elven king from an elven kingdom.

Beside him, another Elf Queen, Ella Grant, who was essentially a Sun Ring Wizard, asked with a smile, "What happened?"

Harrington Sun Ring Wizard said, "A crystallization wizard trader from the Cloud Marsh-Golden Crown Mountain region has applied to me for the use of the Elf Great World's plantation so that we can produce products for him."

Queen Ella Grant asked casually, "What will you produce?"

Harrington Sun Ring Wizard said in a frustrated tone, "Produce wizard shoes." Elf Queen Ella Grant looked completely bewildered.

"Shouldn't we contact the White Orc world to produce wizard shoes? We have production lines in that medium-to-large-scale world."

Harrington Sun Ring Wizard whispered, “That’s what caught my attention and made me contact her directly. She applied for me to produce pure magical plant wizard shoes for her partner’s shop alliance.”

The Elf Queen Ella Grant couldn't help but chuckle.

The High Elf Great World is Arthas's greatest treasure and the homeland of the fourth-circle wizard Arthas. Therefore, half of Arthas's high-ranking officials reside in the Cloud Marsh headquarters, while the other half live in the High Elf Great World, where they serve as kings, dukes, and gods.

The Elf Queen Ella Grant was slightly surprised.

"Pure magic plant wizard shoes? For the second ring?"

“In the past, there were instances of pure magical plant wizard shoes at the first stage appearing briefly, but they would disappear quickly. And every time they appeared, the magical weavers… especially the magical shoemakers, would react very strongly. So firstly, no one has ever persisted in making them, and secondly, even if someone did persist, they would get stuck at the second stage.”

"This is the first time in a hundred years that someone has tried to make second-circle pure magic plant wizard shoes."

"Unprecedented."

Queen Ella Grant pondered, "Our focus in Arthas has always been on magical plants. If that's the case, we can include this shop alliance in our list of priority considerations."

"Hmm? Wait a minute, this shop alliance has already sold three popular pure magic plant wizard shoes at the first stage. They also applied for a support fund and successfully met the corresponding targets. This is a shop alliance with great potential."

Harrington Sun Ring Wizard gave a disapproving look.

"Mrs. Grant, I have a different opinion. Over the centuries, how many worlds have we traveled to, and how many things have started off well but ended up fizzling out?"

"However, it is certainly worth including it in our key observation scope. I also hope that our Alsatian alliance of stores will become more and more prosperous."

"The larger Arthas' market share, the more Third Circle wizards it can support. Only if Arthas' market share expands again will it be possible for either you or me, Mrs. Grant, to become a Third Circle wizard."

Queen Grant smiled gracefully.

"Joining a particular academic lineage is also an option."

"Moreover, if we can invest in promising store alliances in advance, we can also obtain corresponding resources."

Harrington Sun Ring Wizard said, "But if an investment fails, there is a risk of loss."

"Joining the academic line means entering the faculty system. Mr. Arthas and his ilk have finally managed to forge a new path outside of the faculty. But then again, we all do hold some university faculty positions, whether honorary or substantive."

……

When the wizards of the Rose Council, including those with bare feet, learned that Locke had left the Rose Council, they all breathed a sigh of relief.

The head of the Holm Moon Ring, in a laboratory, smiled at everyone and said, "The troublesome guy is finally gone."

"It seems he only stayed here for a little over a month and probably didn't get anything."

"Everyone, Melochy's Demon Step has been getting way too arrogant lately."

Inside the laboratory, Holm said to the important second-circle wizards of the Solas lineage, "Let's close the door and discuss this amongst ourselves first. Then we can take it to the Solas Lightfoot Technique Seminar for further discussion."

“I think we should fund an advertisement. For example, an advertisement could be about a famous explorer of the colonized world who puts a pair of wizard shoes with the Melochy Magic Step icon under his buttocks as padding, and then puts on the second-ring wizard shoes made by our Thoras Barefoot.”

What do you think of this advertisement?

Inside the laboratory, many second-ring and first-ring wizards applauded.

"I think this is great; it fits perfectly with where the junk shoes Merage produces go."

“It is indeed very good. During this period, those wizards wearing Melochy wizard shoes have also attacked our Solas barefoot wizard shoes. I do have a lot of opinions about them.”

"Our real rivals are still within ourselves. Melochy Magic Step is a rising star, but it has already surpassed us in several areas. In the three major areas of Wizard Shoes in Cloudze Wetlands—Void Exploration, Sports Competitions, and the Five Great Wars—we can still control the market in Void Exploration, but in the Five Great Wars and the major sports competitions, our sales share is constantly declining."

"Indeed, only the Melochy Magic Steps truly possess the strength, foundation, and scale to eliminate us. In any case, we must not misjudge our real enemy."

Supervisor Holm Moon Ring nodded in agreement. Then, he sensed the vibration of the Ganoderma lucidum plant. He frowned slightly and then opened the Ganoderma lucidum plant to examine it.

As a result, he saw a large group of managers from Solas's Lightfoot Alliance of subordinate stores pleading with him for help, with the Blue Ribbon side reacting the most strongly.

Selma Weaver, a blue-belt supervisor and ordinary second-circle wizard, kept sending him messages.

"Lord Holm, something terrible has happened! Lord Holm, something terribly has happened!"

Holm, the wizard, sent her a message that sounded rather unwell: "As the Archmage of the Moon Ring, I am perfectly fine, nothing has happened to me!"

Selma Weaver soon realized that in her haste, her words had some problems and could easily be misinterpreted as provoking others.

"I'm sorry, Senior Holm."

Selma Weaver and Holm were both students of Hades Sun Ring Wizard, who served under the Third Ring Wizard of Solas.

Of course, as the Grand Wizard of the Moon, Holm was the head of the Lightfoot of Solas, second only to the Grand Wizard.

All they need to do is obey the board of directors of Solas Lightfoot and be supervised by the council, while also serving the shareholders' meeting, and taking care of the face of Solas Lightfoot's chief second-circle architect, namely the Sun Circle Wizard, and the very rare third-circle wizards.

Of course, most third-ring wizards only established a cooperative relationship with Thoras Lightfoot.

A small number of third-ring wizards are members of the Solas wizarding team.

Therefore, the normal structure of Solas Light Footwear as a store alliance actually only has a second ring level.

At the third-tier level, Solas Lightfoot is merely a cooperation platform.

Or it could just be a collaborative group.

In Yunze Wetland, only the top ten shop alliances possess a truly meaningful three-ring level shop alliance structure.

Now, all the third-ring wizards have gone to the Genesis Academic Conference. In other words, Holm's authority has greatly increased, and he and his mentor, the wizard Hades, have become the core members of the Solas Lightfoot academic lineage.

At the same time, he is also an important member of the academic lineage of the Rose Throne.

Currently, Holmu even feels quite pleased with himself, after all, when the cat's away, the mice will play.

At that moment, the witch Selma Weaver cried out to him for help: "Senior Holm, don't you know what's going on? The Augustus Wizard Shoe Shop Alliance has pre-sold second-circle wizard shoes in Arthas!"

Holm's eyelids twitched. "Second-ring wizard shoes are available for pre-order? How much?"

The Selma Weaver witch said, "One million magic stones."

Wizard Holm frowned. "One million magic stones? Two second-ring magic plants? Has he gone mad? He's essentially selling a second-ring magic plant for five hundred thousand magic stones?"

All the second-ring and first-ring wizards in the laboratory looked at Wizard Holm.

what happened?
What? A level 2 magic plant costs 500,000 magic stones?
Holm didn't look at them, but asked Selma Weaver, "Are you sure his wizard shoes are that cheap?"

Selma Weaver said, "That's why we're reacting so strongly right now. It's like throwing a plate. The cheapest pair of second-ring wizard shoes we have costs three million magic stones."

"A slightly more upscale, celebrity-endorsed model costs between five and six million magic stones."

A hint of disdain flashed in the eyes of the wizard Holm.

In his view, these were all rubbish; only poor wizards would buy second-rate wizard shoe brands like Blue Ribbon.

True explorers must purchase a pair of Thoras's barefoot wizard shoes before daring to venture into the void.

To go into the void wearing those blue-belt junk clothes is to be irresponsible with one's own life.

The wizard Holm frowned, opened Arthas's interface, and read the information on it.

"They really only sell one million magic stones."

He glanced at the description of the magical plant's characteristics, which made him breathe a slight sigh of relief, because the overall capabilities of the Great Bloodwave Wizard Shoes had not yet reached the average level of their ordinary second-ring wizard shoes, the Solas Barefoot.

It's not even up to the average level of wizard shoe brands like Blue Ribbon.

Currently, it's only close to the level of a third-rate wizard's shoes, roughly on par with Vikos, Ortham, and Thranduil, but the price is just too cheap.

It's so cheap it's unbelievable; so cheap that even a single second-ring magic plant would cost more than this.

Wizard Holm's face darkened. "What kind of scheme are they plotting? The price of a second-ring magical plant can't be this low. Are they losing money on this deal?"

He looked at everyone in the laboratory and said, "Everyone, Augustus Wizard Shoes has released a second-circle wizard shoe."

Inside the laboratory, the wizards, who had just been focused on Melochy, suddenly fell silent. The entire laboratory was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

A wizard swallowed hard.

"Senior, didn't we predict before that Augustus would only stay in the first-ring wizard shoe market? They've actually entered the second-ring wizard shoe market..."

Another wizard said, "Locke Augustine is a second-circle wizard. He is indeed qualified to sell second-circle wizard shoes."

The first wizard retorted, "But this isn't about whether he's qualified or not; it's about how he managed to do it!"

Holm's expression was uncertain, because he couldn't judge the veracity of the matter.

(End of this chapter)