Chapter 159: Exchange "
The one called Martin was a short old man. Being called upon now, he stood up somewhat awkwardly.
"S-Sir, you know I was short on staff to begin with... And recently, the equipment..."
"I don't care about your reasons! Martin, isn't this the third time this year?" Tigert's face was grim.
"F-Forgive me, sir!" Martin's face flushed red.
"As it happens, you've been complaining about being short on staff. Lei Lin will be assigned to you first. I'm also giving you three additional synthesis machines. If you still can't complete the quota next month, your entire allocation for this year will be cut!"
"Yes, sir!" Martin wiped the cold sweat from his forehead repeatedly.
Lei Lin, whose name had also been called, stood up as well.
Next, Tigert called upon several other Wizards, inquired about their progress, and made corresponding arrangements.
After the banquet, Lei Lin deliberately slowed his pace to walk alongside Martin.
"Having you come to my place this time is really a bit..." An embarrassed expression appeared on Martin's face.
"It's nothing!"
In any organization, newcomers always had to endure some sort of hazing or hardship. Lei Lin had long been prepared for this.
"Alright, let's not talk about that for now. I'll take you to see your laboratory and room first, along with some necessary information for newcomers..."
This fellow named Martin, though his abilities seemed unimpressive, was very enthusiastic in guiding Lei Lin through the rest of the registration procedures.
"Here, take these. They're the keys to your room, and your organizational identity badge!"
Old Martin led Lei Lin out of a house constructed from black stone. He then handed over an antique-looking bronze key and a card resembling an identification card.
The bronze key had a very archaic design, with a row of tiny numbers and letters engraved upon it.
As for the identity badge, it was made from a semi-transparent metallic material, with Lei Lin's name and other information engraved upon it.
"With this badge, you can visit the organization's resource depot each month to claim a share of rare materials, as well as certain advanced academic knowledge."
Martin explained patiently.
"This badge is very important — if you lose it, it'll be a huge headache. Make sure you keep it safe..."
Seeing Lei Lin nod in acknowledgment, Martin then took him on a tour of his future laboratory and room.
"Your laboratory is located in the common area — the number is DKh328. The equipment inside is quite decent, more than sufficient for a formal
As for these contribution points, Lei Lin had heard Martin mention them before. They were a unique system the
These contribution points could not only raise one's standing within the organization, but were also a necessary currency for exchanging resources and knowledge.
In Lei Lin's eyes, they were essentially the general equivalent of currency within the Four Seasons Garden.
"Speaking of contribution points — Lei Lin, you just joined, so you're probably not well-off right now. How about it? Want to take on a couple of apprentices? This kind of mission pays a very generous amount of contribution points..."
Martin suggested enthusiastically.
"As for that, I have no plans to take on students for the time being!"
Lei Lin smiled and declined Martin's offer.
"However, regarding the protections the Academy offers to Wizard families, I'd like to ask about the specifics."
Lei Lin then briefly told Martin about the trouble he'd gotten into with the Lilitel family.
So long as his own safety and interests were secured, Lei Lin was naturally willing to extend some protection to the Pharell family — the family backing the original Lei Lin, after all.
After all, he was still nominally their eldest son and heir.
And having simply accepted another person's body like this, if it was within his power, Lei Lin would like to compensate them in some way.
"Oh, that — you don't need to worry about that at all!"
Martin heard him out and shook his head dismissively.
"Our Four Seasons Garden is far more powerful than Black Bone Forest Academy. With just a word, the Farrell family in the Keli Archipelago will absolutely receive special treatment! Moreover, according to the Wizard's Pact we've signed, the Lilithel family cannot make a move on your mortal family behind you until your death has been confirmed…"
"There's actually such a regulation?"
Lei Lin found this rather curious. In any world, using a criminal's family as leverage was a standard countermeasure, let alone in the Wizard world where legal consciousness was practically nonexistent.
"Could it be… because of mutual deterrence?" Lei Lin guessed.
"That's right, Lei Lin — you really are clever, grasping it immediately!"
A look of admiration appeared on Martin's face. "The retaliation of a full Wizard with nothing to lose is absolutely terrifying. Especially since not everyone in the Lilithel family is a Wizard — they have apprentices and even ordinary mortals among them…"
Lei Lin understood. This was mutual deterrence.
Before his death was confirmed, if the Lilithel family so much as touched the Farrell family, they would inevitably face Lei Lin's frenzied counterattack.
And with the strength of a full Wizard, slaughtering those ordinary mortals and apprentices would be as effortless as eating a meal or drinking water.
Even with the Lilithel family's vast resources, they absolutely could not withstand that kind of attrition.
Therefore, the Farrell family was completely safe.
"Besides, you've joined us!" A smile appeared on Martin's face — one carrying pride mixed with a touch of arrogance.
"The strength of Four Seasons Garden is something that a mere Black Bone Forest Academy can't even begin to compare with. Once word gets out that you've joined us, they might even retract that bountied warrant!"
"I'm really not too concerned about that!"
Lei Lin thought of Bosain, whom he had killed. That Wizard noble had apparently been the sole grandson of the Lilithel family's Metal Elder.
Moreover, the Level One Wizard they had specifically sent to hunt him down had also died at Lei Lin's hands.
This kind of enmity, he feared, was no longer something that could be resolved easily.
"I've heard that the competition for the position of patriarch in the Lilithel family has also entered a critical stage, and that Elder is famously part of the hardline faction — he'd be even less able to tolerate my existence. Otherwise, his reputation and image would be completely ruined…"
As these thoughts ran through Lei Lin's mind, a glimmer of anticipation actually surfaced in his eyes.
His strength was currently in a period of rapid growth, and after his bloodline underwent its second leap, his power would see an explosive surge as well. When that time came, it wouldn't be a question of whether they would let him go — it would be a question of whether he would let them go.
……
Four months later.
Lei Lin wore a loose white robe with green botanical patterns embroidered on the cuffs and collar.
This was the standard-issue attire for official Wizards of the Four Seasons Garden.
At this moment, he was making his way through the mountain passages at the Four Seasons Garden headquarters.
After passing through a corridor whose floor was crawling with tiny walking moss creatures, he arrived before an ancient, sprawling plaza.
The plaza seemed to be built right in the heart of the mountain — a vast space with a thick rock ceiling overhead, upon which countless Everlasting Luminance enchantments had been inscribed, bathing the entire area in bright, unwavering light.
This was the Four Seasons Garden's resource exchange point.
Here, whether Wizard or apprentice, anyone could exchange contribution points for whatever knowledge or resources they desired.
Moreover, as an official Wizard who completed his assigned tasks each month, Lei Lin could also receive a fixed supply allocation here.
For the many Wizards who wished to join the Four Seasons Garden, apart from the appeal of gaining a powerful backer, this was by far the greatest draw.
Lei Lin approached the counter dedicated to exchanges for official Wizards.
The staff member behind it turned out to be an official Wizard as well — a woman with long, sea-blue hair cascading smoothly over her shoulders, and faint gill-like markings on either side of her mouth.
"Hello, how may I help you?" the female Wizard spoke, using the South Coast's common tongue. Her voice was soft and pleasant to the ear.
"This feeling…" Lei Lin inwardly tensed, "it's remarkably similar to the mermaid song I heard when I was brewing the
"It seems this woman carries a trace of mermaid bloodline…"
The list was extensive. It contained not only rare resources that were exceedingly scarce even in Sleepless City, but also materials from numerous advanced Wizardry disciplines — all the latest research findings.
Lei Lin even spotted several vials of Spiritual Power potions specifically formulated for official Wizards, though the contribution points required were so astronomical that he could only look on in awe.
"Figless Vica Fruit, Dwarf Frost Rune, Elemental Energy Crystal!"
Lei Lin's heart quickened. He followed the entry for the Elemental Energy Crystal downward, and after scanning through a long string of energy particle crystals from various schools, he finally found the name he was looking for — Dark Energy Particle Crystal.
"Dark Energy Particle Crystal: Can effectively accelerate a Wizard's spiritual elementalization progress. Carries significant side effects—use with caution! Stock: 5,850 grams. Price per gram: 1 contribution point. Restriction: Ordinary organization members may purchase no more than 50 grams per month!"
"This kind of price?"
Lei Lin furrowed his brows.
By this calculation, he could buy at most fifty grams of elemental energy crystals, and it would eat up the majority of his contribution points.
Last time he had used 300 grams of crystals and only pushed his spiritual elementalization progress to 35%. Now adding another 50 grams would at most get the progress to 40%—nowhere near enough!