Domenico maintained his smile. "As an apology from our Reeves family, we are prepared to gift Breeder Augustine a complete set of medium-quality seed screening equipment, as well as a standard layered column element separation equipment."
Locke raised an eyebrow, showing a hint of interest.
Medium-quality seed screening equipment wasn't particularly expensive—a full set would cost around two hundred Magic Stones. It was something both Breeder Assistants and Breeders could use to screen high-quality seeds or isolate specific seeds from a mixture.
This was one of the most popular products churned out by the various alchemy workshops in Lilith's Cottage.
However, the layered column element separation equipment was extremely costly. It was used by both Potion Master Assistants and Breeders, with a full set starting at no less than fifteen hundred Magic Stones.
Potion Master Assistants might need this equipment when brewing highly complex potions to extract elemental components from certain substances.
Breeders, too, might occasionally require it to extract specific elemental components from plants for use in cultivating Magic Plants.
The items Domenico was offering were indeed things Locke would find useful.
Locke hadn't expected the Reeves family to be willing to spend so many Magic Stones just to apologize—nearly two thousand in total.
Yet, his expression remained stern. Back when he was at his weakest, the Reeves family had tried to force him into signing an unfair contract. After he refused, they resorted to underhanded tactics to prevent other wizard families from investing in him.
At the time, he hadn't needed their support, but by conventional logic, most overseas wizard apprentices would have.
This was a grudge that struck at the very foundation of his path.
Though he didn't care much about the insignificant Reeves family, he was now a First-Class Wizard Apprentice, a student of Sophia the Witch, and a genius Breeder whose reputation was spreading. Earning his forgiveness wouldn't be so simple.
The Reeves family had long been in decline, with no Formal Wizards left. Their remaining two First-Class Wizard Apprentices were both past their prime, with no hope of advancing further, and certainly wouldn't dare to openly oppose him.
Even if they did, he wasn't afraid—they were all White Wizards with little combat expertise, likely less experienced in battle than he was.
Seeing that Locke's expression still hadn't softened, Domenico's heart sank. He realized the matter wasn't so easily resolved.
Internally, he sighed. In truth, he should have come to apologize when Locke was still a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice.
But back then, he had clung to his pride, thinking a mere Second-Class Wizard Apprentice couldn't possibly amount to much. So, he had simply stood by and watched as his granddaughter acted recklessly.
Now that things had escalated to this point, he knew two sets of equipment alone wouldn't settle the matter.
Domenico's tone grew even more conciliatory. "In addition, our Reeves family will permanently lend you one of our small to medium-sized Botanical Gardens, free of charge."
Locke was taken aback. He was genuinely interested now, as he hadn't expected the Reeves family to go to such lengths to earn his forgiveness.
They were actually offering to gift him a small to medium-sized botanical garden for free.
Initially, Locke had assumed applying for a botanical garden would be relatively straightforward. But after a month of delays, he realized just how troublesome it was to secure even a small to medium-sized botanical garden within Lilith's Cottage.
That was why he was surprised that Domenico, the old man, was willing to hand over a slot for one to him.
If that was the case, then this matter could indeed be put to rest.
After all, everything could be measured in terms of value.
And a small to medium-sized botanical garden was exactly what he urgently needed right now.
He couldn't keep relying on Sophia's botanical garden indefinitely. The witch had her own plants to cultivate, and as a Formal Wizard, using just a medium-sized botanical garden was already quite a stretch for her.
Most Senior Breeders at the Formal Wizard level would have a large botanical garden at their disposal.
Locke's tone carried a hint of implication. "Mr. Domenico, you're truly generous."
Domenico sensed the shift in Locke's tone and inwardly sighed in relief.
"A small to medium-sized botanical garden is indeed hard to come by. Just the approval process alone takes ages, and it's easy to get held up over minor technicalities."
Domenico sighed. "It's just a shame. Ever since the death of our family's Breeder, a First Class Wizard Apprentice, we haven't produced another Breeder. The other Breeder Assistants in our family gradually passed away as well, so all the botanical gardens we once applied for have been left abandoned."
"Our descendants lack the talent, and the family can no longer sustain itself. We had no choice but to lease out the two small to medium-sized botanical gardens and four small botanical gardens we owned to other First Class Wizard Apprentice Breeders, collecting modest rents in return."
"The small to medium-sized botanical garden we're gifting you happens to have had its lease expire recently, so we decided to offer it to you outright."
Domenico couldn't help but lament. "Good things should go to those who deserve them."
"A Breeder as outstanding as you, Augustine, deserves to have your own small to medium-sized botanical garden in advance. I only hope this can help clear up the misunderstanding between us and allow us to maintain a good relationship moving forward."
Locke gave a slight nod. "If that's the case, then the past can indeed be forgotten."
Domenico beamed. "Chrisel, apologize to Breeder Augustine once more…"
"Breeder Augustine, the documents will be delivered to you tomorrow."
Locke nodded again. "If there's nothing else, then we're done here. I have work to attend to."
…
After leaving Locke's cluster of cabins, Chrisel couldn't help but ask her grandfather Domenico on the way back, "Grandfather, you and he are both First Class Wizard Apprentices. Was it really necessary to give up so much just to mend ties with him?"
Domenico shot her a cold glare. "Chrisel, I spoiled you too much before. You went and did something unnecessary, offending someone for no reason and costing the family so many resources."
"You... you're truly a fool. Even though we're both First Class Wizard Apprentices, do you think someone like me—who barely scraped by with fourth-tier talent over time—can compare to him? He became a First Class Wizard Apprentice in just two years and has already developed two new varieties of Magic Plants!"
Domenico suppressed his anger, speaking in a low voice, "Your stupidity nearly offended an enemy our family cannot afford to provoke."
"Our family has already declined. We have no Formal Wizard left, and most of our past connections and favors have been exhausted. Meanwhile, Locke is not only a genius himself but also the beloved disciple of the Witch Sophia. Compared to him, our family is the truly vulnerable one..."
"Even among First Class Wizard Apprentices, our family is already among the weakest."
Chrisel said remorsefully, "Who would have thought that a seemingly ordinary, somewhat lucky bumpkin from an overseas mortal world would grow to this extent in just two years?"
She reflected slightly. "Perhaps I really shouldn't underestimate anyone. In the end, my recklessness harmed our family. I'm sorry, Grandfather."
Domenico snorted coldly. "Fortunately, you weren't foolish enough to actually harm Mr. Augustine. If that had happened, you wouldn't have gotten off as easily as today. Consider yourself lucky—no, it's only because you lacked the capability to do so in the first place."
"Starting today, you're to stay home as much as possible."
(End of Chapter)