In the breeder public laboratory, Locke exchanged information with Witch Mason and the others about his current progress.

Witch Mason and the others were indeed researchers who had been at the Origin Academy for over two years. With the projects and research directions Locke gave them, plus the preliminary experimental data, they each only needed one week to complete the analysis of one bromeliad magical plant's mechanism pathway.

If not for the fact that the three applied for magic mirrors slightly slower than Locke, this completion speed might have been even faster.

This way, of the 23 bromeliad magical plants, plus the one Locke himself had recently completed, they had directly completed four, leaving only 19 bromeliad magical plants' mechanism pathways.

Locke was very satisfied with this progress.

This way, they had completed a very large portion of the work in just one week.

At this rate, they could roughly complete half the workload in one month.

Originally, he was somewhat worried that collecting the key data for the mechanism pathways of 23 bromeliad magical plants by himself would be too much to handle. Fortunately, Wizard Kelt assigned him three colleagues to help.

Each of these three had more experience using magic mirrors than he did for now. With his key insights added, they each completed faster than him.

Witch Freya smiled embarrassedly at Locke, "Oh right, Locke, sorry. I made a mistake in my experiment earlier and used the Structure Comparison Machine one extra time."

"I apologize for this."

Locke nodded, glanced at the bill they had organized for him, and directly took out seven magic crystal cards to hand to the three. "It's fine. When problems occur in experiments and you need to repeat experiments multiple times, that's inevitable."

"I'm not that petty. Moreover, using the Structure Comparison Machine once only costs 1,000 magic stones. I see on the bill you gave me that this time it cost a total of 68,000 magic stones. The extra 2,000 magic stones are my reward for you three, my friends."

Witch Freya took the seven magic crystal cards, a flash of joy in her eyes, deliberately joking, "Then thank you, little boss?"

"Locke, I didn't expect you to be so generous."

Researchers in the Origin Academy, because of lack of funding, were usually quite stingy. Locke knew this.

But Locke understood that no matter how stingy he was normally, he absolutely couldn't be stingy with his team's reimbursements.

He had no superior-subordinate authority over these three wizards. Everyone was just colleagues. Being consistently stingy would only reduce the team's cohesion.

Small favors might not have much use, but they could also serve as a lubricant for the team's atmosphere.

If he were extremely stingy, this team wouldn't go far.

Locke handed three sets of bromeliad magical plant preliminary experimental data to the three wizards. "Here, this is the preliminary experimental data I made for you this week. You three choose one from among them yourselves. You should be able to pass Tier 2 funding project applications."

"These three bromeliad magical plants are all First Circle magical plants, and among First Circle magical plants, they're quite powerful, close to First Circle crystallization magic pressure bromeliad magical plants. Moreover, the magical creature populations they affect are quite large, so researching these magical plants' key mechanism pathways should be able to pass the Origin Academy's Tier 2 funding."

Barrett, Freya and Witch Mason received the materials from Locke with surprise, then began reading them.

The three had originally thought that what Locke said before about helping them also write a project application that could pass Tier 2 project funding would be something far in the future. Who knew Locke would directly fulfill that promise now.

Witch Mason said, "Ah, thank you so much, Locke."

Witch Freya also covered her mouth and said, "Locke, you're really becoming our little mentor. Giving us funding and now giving us projects too."

Wizard Barrett said to Locke, "Locke, thank you."

Locke nodded and said, "I should be thanking you. You gave up your own research to work on my project together."

"So, I definitely need to help you complete your Tier 2 funding projects. Our team within the group can work on these bromeliad magical plants together."

At this time, the three all involuntarily nodded.

Locke's actions established absolute leadership authority within this team.

Wizard Barrett said, "With these materials, if I still can't pass the Tier 2 funding project application, I can't blame anyone else, only myself for not knowing how to write articles."

Witch Mason smiled, "Locke, you're really a good person."

Freya said, "We'll intensify our work. At first I was somewhat worried about our team within the group's future, but now I don't need to worry at all. We'll definitely get better."

"The four of us working together can definitely make achievements in Group 6, no, even in this Origin Academy."

Locke nodded and said, "There's one more thing. You three, I want you to brainstorm together, because I want to create something more outstanding, so I'd like to ask you three to brainstorm."

"See if there are any ideas."

Locke immediately explained his desire to obtain special-grade funding and sub-projects under key priority topics.

These three had successfully become his team members. Naturally he needed to state his thoughts and purposes.

Witch Freya said, "Locke, you want to obtain special-grade funding and sub-projects? Since this is your goal, then this is also our team's goal."

Wizard Barrett smiled bitterly, "I never dared think this way before, but thinking about it, if this is Locke's goal, then it's much more reasonable."

"Then count me in."

Witch Mason said to Locke, "But the difficulty of obtaining special-grade funding and sub-projects is very high. Well, let's think together about how we should optimize the project in our hands to make it further excellent."

The three fell into contemplation.

They wanted to immediately come up with an idea, but being anxious about this kind of thing was useless.

Locke felt his management abilities were getting better and better.

He said to everyone, "Let's proceed according to the original plan first. If anyone has good ideas, we can bring them up for a small meeting."

"We can brainstorm together. Perhaps we can discuss something good."

Brainstorming was a management concept from Locke's previous life, a decision-making method that stimulated group creativity through free association and non-critical discussion.

Essentially, it was about first generating a large number of ideas, then finding breakthrough methods from among these ideas.

Locke's proposal gained everyone's approval.

And Locke took advantage of the momentum to say, "Then, shall we hold a small meeting together every Monday, a discussion meeting among us?"

Witch Mason said, "Sure. I was just thinking the same thing."

Witch Freya also said, "Otherwise, if we each fight alone, we won't be able to leverage our team advantages. We are a team after all."

"Yesterday some wizards in Group 6 were asking me about our small group's experimental progress."

Thus, this way, Locke quietly confirmed the authority to essentially lead a team meeting every Monday.

Because it was a relationship between equals, he couldn't make forceful demands. So this kind of request was most tactfully proposed, and he tried to prevent them from feeling this was a demand, instead converting it into a suggestion.

And disguising everything as coming from everyone's discussion, as what everyone thought of together, not his personal viewpoint.

So Locke had the three wizards write down some of their ideas, then everyone took them and discussed them together.

The three wizards also found this approach novel and began doing as Locke requested.

An hour later, Locke finished reading these wizards' ideas and found among them one path that might be very useful to him.

This was proposed by Witch Mason, namely that perhaps their team could optimize Group 6's current mainstream method of exploring relationships between magical plants and magical creatures.

In other words, finding ways to optimize the exploration method.

If they could achieve this, it would definitely further improve their team's overall evaluation.

Locke immediately looked at Witch Mason and fell into deep thought about the possibilities.

This would be equivalent to modifying Group 6's overall experimental process framework.

And Group 6's current overall experimental process framework was designed by successive Group 6 major team leaders. Currently speaking, it should have been designed by Wizard Kelt.

Wanting to optimize the experimental process framework designed by a Second Circle wizard on this foundation wouldn't be easy, even somewhat fantastical.

Locke fell into contemplation. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Witch Mason looked at the note in Locke's hand and quickly waved her hands, "Locke, I just wrote randomly. You said we could freely write all our thoughts on the notes without any criticism, writing whatever we thought of."

"So I wrote it on the note. But no matter how I think about it, it seems somewhat fantastical. Don't take my wild thoughts seriously."

Locke nodded and said, "This is precisely the meaning of my brainstorming method."

"Having people in a meeting write down all the thoughts they've had is precisely the meaning of this discussion method. I'm just trying to find useful inspiration for myself from your ideas."

"All right, I have things to do this afternoon. I'll leave first."

Witch Mason breathed a sigh of relief, afraid that because of her wild thoughts, she had affected Locke and made him fixate on something.

Now that Locke said he wasn't influenced, that was great.

At this time, Witch Mason said to several people, "Then I also need to go to Witch Yekaterina's side. I still haven't completed signing the special plane contract."

At this time, Locke looked at Witch Mason with surprise.

Witch Freya and Wizard Barrett looked at Witch Mason with envy.

Locke asked, "I remember Mason, you went to Mentor Yekaterina's side to sign the special plane contract a long time ago, right? Why does it take so long? When I signed the Emerald Dream plane contract, it only took a very short time."

Witch Freya proactively explained for Witch Mason. "It's like this. Mason has very good luck. The mentor gave her the choice to sign a contract with the Ancient Sky Phantom. Mason has dragon bloodline in her body, so the Ancient Sky Phantom gave her a special test, but this test requires a very long time to complete."

"So Mason has to frequently go to the Throne's side."

Barrett said, "We also signed the Emerald Dream plane contract, and after going once, we completed the contract."

"Mason still has better luck, because she has dragon bloodline in her body, so she can sign the Ancient Sky Phantom."

Witch Freya said, "I heard the Ancient Sky Phantom is very partial to wizards with dragon bloodline."

Witch Mason said, "The Emerald Dream plane is also good. I just have good luck. My grandfather happens to be a frost dragon."

"The Ancient Sky Phantom gave me a whole bunch of tests, wanting to verify my upper limit and prove my value. Oh right, Locke, didn't you sign a contract with the Ancient Sky Phantom?"

Freya and Barrett looked at Locke with surprise.

Barrett said, "Team leader also has dragon bloodline?"

Witch Mason said, "Yes. The teacher told me that the dragon bloodline on Team Leader Locke's body is even more concentrated than mine. I just thought Team Leader Locke would also sign the Ancient Sky Phantom."

She looked at Locke with confusion. "Why not sign the Ancient Sky Phantom? For us wizards with special bloodlines, signing the Ancient Sky Phantom should allow us to obtain more power, right?!"

Locke nodded slightly. "I just prefer plant studies more."

"For me, I want more to create a perfect ecology. The Emerald Dream, as the underworld of plants, attracts me more."

Witch Mason was stunned. She smiled, "So that's how it is."

"I'm different. Since the Ancient Sky Phantom will treat me better, I'll choose to sign a contract with the Ancient Sky Phantom."

The four talked a bit more. Locke then took the suggestion Witch Mason gave him, thinking about how to optimize the underlying experimental process framework, and returned to his dormitory.

In the study, Locke pondered. "For the moment, I indeed can't think of any optimization methods. Actually, there's a second path, which is to sell enough money through the Hydra and use large amounts of money to support my scientific research."

"This way to exceed Witch Yekaterina's expectations."

"This way, perhaps I can obtain the sub-project in her hands."

"Let's take it one step at a time."

Locke opened the gray stone tablet. On the other side of the gray stone tablet was Albert's video conversation image.

Albert looked at Locke, "Locke, I've already planted three Scorched Earth Holly according to your requirements and completed the initial Forest Sanctuary."

"Although it took some effort, I finally completed it."

"According to our plan, today is the day I inscribe, also the last time I attempt to advance to formal wizard. I don't know why, but this time I'm not nervous at all."

Albert said, "Oh right, this time I brought quite a few old friends. They also want to meet you..."

Locke's eyes moved slightly. Old friends?

He did indeed have some friends at Lilith's Cottage.

...

Golden Crown Mountain Origin Academy, seventh floor. Witch Yekaterina finished listening to Witch Mason's account of Locke.

Witch Mason respectfully bowed to Witch Yekaterina. "Throne, I became friends with Locke Augustine according to your requirements."

"Perfectly completed the task you gave me."

She hesitated to speak.

Witch Yekaterina raised an eyebrow. "What do you want to say?"

Witch Mason hesitated, then said, "But... but as a First Circle formal wizard, I have my own judgment. I want to tell you that even without your task requirements for me, I would still become friends with Locke."

"Because Locke is a very good person."

"He's a friend worth making."

Witch Mason said somewhat uneasily, "But I think my behavior will anger him. If he knows that I initially contacted him because of your order, that I became friends with him to inform you of his thoughts, I don't know if he'll be angry."

Witch Yekaterina said, "I need to understand his thoughts in order to formulate better cultivation plans for him. You need not feel ashamed."

"I'm his mentor. I won't harm him."

"I'll only help him."

Witch Mason breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good. Sorry, Throne. I was disrespectful to you."

Witch Yekaterina said to Witch Mason, "All right, you can go. Mason, don't forget the test is still continuing."

"You must perform well."

Witch Mason immediately bowed to Witch Yekaterina. "Yes, Throne."

Before leaving, Witch Mason greeted the golden dragon Fafnir.

The golden dragon Fafnir opened one dragon eye as a response.

After she left, Witch Yekaterina's lips curved upward. "Brainstorming method? Not a bad idea. It seems our Augustine has quite some management talent."

"What do you think, Fafnir?"

The golden dragon was noncommittal, "Perhaps I did underestimate him in this aspect. But he still hasn't truly adapted to our Cloud Marsh Wetland. You know what I'm referring to. I'm not optimistic about him obtaining special-grade funding."

"You also know that the true purpose of senior Origin Academy researchers isn't to help you do experiments, but to obtain special-grade funding for you. For every additional special-grade funding project your cooperating wizards obtain, your Ten-Person Plan project can receive one more portion of resources."

"This is the peaceful agreement for resource competition among you Throne wizards."

"And your risky strategy has already led to multiple cases of wasted slots recently. Griffin, Hoover, these two wizards from outside both wasted our senior Origin Academy slots."

"If not for this, I wouldn't have such big opinions about those wizards from outside." Fafnir said, "Perhaps, Yekaterina, you should also use more stable methods instead of constantly picking and choosing among a group of outside geniuses with shortcomings."

"What's wrong with Cloud Marsh Wetland's native wizards?"

Yekaterina said, "This involves a fundamental difference between your and my aesthetics. I believe true talent is most easily found in marginal places. You only see their many shortcomings but haven't noticed their great cultivability."

The golden dragon said, "This is gambling. And gamblers, no matter how good their luck, will sooner or later lose big. The last two senior researchers are examples."

"I never gamble."

"I only stand on the victor's side."

Yekaterina said, "So, you think I bet wrong on Locke?"

"That depends on the results." The golden dragon concealed itself. "It's still early."

"If it were me, I'd prefer those native wizard geniuses."