After Locke and Ruby left the drying room, Ruby explained to him: "Breeder Augustine, with second-level exchange privileges, can exchange for mid-to-high grade Magic Plant seeds. Third-level exchange privileges allow access to medium-quality Magic Plant seeds."
"Each room here preserves specific varieties of Magic Plants."
Ruby continued, "There are 666 rooms in total. Breeder Augustine, do you have any preferences? This way, I can better pinpoint the Magic Plants you need and save you from wasting time on the lengthy seed-searching process."
With reverent eyes, Ruby looked at Locke and whispered, "I know which rooms contain the best specimens. I'll prioritize recommending those to you."
"Thank you for your earlier guidance."
"You were the first breeder to point out my problem. I truly envy the students under your tutelage."
"Your observational skills are remarkable—you immediately identified my issue and kindly offered advice."
Locke glanced at Ruby. If the Germplasm Repository contained 666 rooms for storing Magic Plant seeds, only employees like Ruby would know the exact contents of each room.
Though all were mid-to-high grade Magic Plant seeds, some were rare varieties, others common, and some even had significant defects.
The differences between them were substantial.
Some seeds were preserved in the Germplasm Repository simply because they exhibited rare but not necessarily combat-beneficial benign mutations—such as changes in sepal color, for example.
Locke asked casually, "Who is your teacher?"
Ruby hesitated. "Huh? Is there something you need, senior? My teacher is Master Harun Vera."
"However, the senior who actually instructs me is Master Harun Vera's student, First-Class Wizard Apprentice Zeni Baldwin."
Locke gave a slight nod. That explained it.
Given this, working in the Germplasm Repository was clearly a highly desirable position. For this Wood Elf Second-Class Wizard Apprentice to secure such a job, connections were undoubtedly necessary.
If she was Harun Vera's student, it made sense.
Locke didn't dwell on the matter further. "Ruby, from now on, if I come to the Germplasm Repository to exchange Magic Plant seeds, I'll choose you as my designated trader."
He paused briefly. "During this process, if you have any questions, you may ask me. But it's best if they're valuable ones."
Delight flashed across Ruby's face. "Thank you, senior."
Locke nodded slightly. This was a reasonable exchange.
Clearly, having a stable trader in the Germplasm Repository would grant him significant advantages.
It would help him avoid many pitfalls.
There were numerous potential benefits here.
Locke said indifferently, "I'd like to prioritize using my second-level exchange privileges to acquire a Magic Plant that can increase my movement speed or enhance my mobility."
His offensive arsenal consisted of Blast Peas, the Rot Soil Konjac King, and Clivias, along with three Omen Mandrake Vines. For defense, he had Perseus' Eye Lichen, but he still lacked a Magic Plant to enhance his mobility.
Relying solely on his Nightwalker Feather Coat and Agility Armlet was far too limiting.
In the covert assassination operation against the Blood Curse Court, mobility would be a crucial capability.
Ruby pondered for a moment and said, "Understood, Master Breeder Augustine. I know what you need now. Let me take you to Room 36."
The two walked along the hollow iron platform, five hundred meters underground. After about twenty minutes, they arrived at an Alchemy Cabin marked with the number 36.
Ruby used the low-authority Magic Key hanging around her neck, along with the academy-stamped second-class authority exchange token Locke held, to unlock the Magic Door together.
As the protective school's magical lock on the door slowly turned, one Rune after another aligned, and the Magic Door swung open.
Ruby led Locke into Room 36, then bowed to him and raised her right hand in a gesture of invitation. "Master Breeder Augustine, though I am merely a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice and may not fully grasp your standards, I do know which Magic Plant seeds in the Germplasm Repository are highly sought after."
"Look at the functional Magic Plants in this room—they seem to be the favorites of many Breeder masters."
Ruby's cheeks flushed slightly. "Some even send gifts in advance."
Locke gave a slight nod. Where there was responsibility, there was inevitably corresponding power.
Ruby's role naturally came with minor privileges, and in certain situations, such privileges might suddenly catch the attention of higher-ups, earning her some benefits.
Of course, accepting such benefits carried risks. Locke remembered that the academy imposed severe penalties on those who exploited their positions for personal gain.
If the academy pursued the matter, one could be fined to death.
Locke surveyed the Magic Plants on the shelves in the room, and his eyes brightened slightly. As Ruby had said, this room contained many high-quality Magic Plant seeds—all mid-to-high grade, with quite a few being rare specimens.
For instance, right in front of him, displayed on a shelf inside a glass vial, were Marching Mushroom spores. Beside it was a specimen file, complete with an adult Marching Mushroom sample, confirming the spores' origin.
Locke recalled that Marching Mushrooms were a mobile-type Magic Plant already extinct in the wild. When paired with the plant-based Spell [A Thousand Miles in a Day], two of these mushrooms could form a pair of fungal shoes underfoot, enabling swift movement and rapid travel.
It was an excellent Spell for both pursuing enemies and fleeing.
Locke's eyes gleamed with interest—he was tempted to exchange for the Marching Mushrooms. But as his gaze swept further, he spotted an even better Magic Plant on the shelf behind it: a flying-type Magic Plant—the Honeycloud Orchid!
The seeds of the Honeycloud Orchid resembled dandelion seeds, stored in a transparent glass jar alongside a specimen of the mature Magic Plant.
Its overall hue resembled that of blue-and-white porcelain, breathtakingly beautiful with a serene elegance.
Locke recalled that this was an exceptionally rare flying Magic Plant at the apprentice stage. Its flight ability could essentially be considered a near-limitless jumping capability, regarded as an extremely powerful trait across various magical disciplines.
This flying Magic Plant was exceedingly rare.
"Ruby, thank you," Locke said. "The Magic Plant seeds you recommended from Room 36 are truly impressive."
These Magic Plant seeds were so rare that even the Germplasm Repository likely didn't store many of them.
Thus, Locke was well aware that not every Breeder who came to exchange for Magic Plant seeds would be granted access to this room, let alone see such high-quality rare specimens.
Most would likely be directed to other rooms housing relatively common Magic Plant seeds.
Ruby gazed at him with reverence. "It's I who should thank you. To receive guidance from an Excellent Apprentice like you is truly an honor."
Locke gave a slight nod. So that was it—it seemed the Excellent Apprentice Badge did carry some weight.
At the very least, the first glance at the badge on one's chest would signal their excellence.
Locke remembered that while the Honeycloud Orchid wasn't the best flying Magic Plant at the apprentice level, flying Magic Plants were already quite exceptional. Using the plant-based Spell model [Levitating Flower Orb], its highest recorded flight could reach altitudes of 6,000 to 7,000 meters.
The downside was its extremely slow speed. In truth, this Magic Plant was better suited for research—such as studying atmospheric composition or temperature variations at different altitudes.
It leaned more toward scientific applications rather than combat.
But considering it was a flying Magic Plant—the best among all mobile Magic Plants—Locke figured it was still his best choice.
However, a glance around the room revealed another flying Magic Plant, far more suited to his needs than the Honeycloud Orchid!
(End of Chapter)