Dean of the Chaos City Magic Academy, Vosbites, is a legendary Rank-7 fire-element mage, famously known as the hot-headed damage machine.
Before becoming a legendary mage, he served in the Northern Wall Defense Force of the Human Empire, leading the fire mage phalanx. During the annual winter campaigns against the southern-orc invasions, he incinerated countless orc corpses.
After amassing countless battlefield achievements and reaching the legendary rank, Vosbites turned down a high-ranking position in the Imperial Magic Department and instead returned to his alma mater, the Chaos City Magic Academy, taking over as dean from his predecessor.
From then on, Vosbites upheld the academy's doctrine of racial neutrality, never again appearing on the battlefield.
Though his personality remained as explosive as his magic, he never wavered when it came to matters involving the academy's stance on interspecies issues.
So when Commander Webster read Jasper's report, his first reaction was disbelief.
However, Jasper was a talented officer whom Webster had personally promoted. The analysis in the letter was well-structured and grounded in logic, making it difficult to dismiss outright.
Since this concerned the Chaos City Magic Academy's political neutrality, Webster had to treat the matter seriously.
At present, the Empire's northern autumn deployment was proceeding smoothly. Webster's role was more symbolic—like a stabilizing anchor.
Just two days prior, one of the Empire's Three Great Generals and the Archbishop of the Temple of the War God had both arrived in the north, making Webster's continued presence less necessary.
This gave him a convenient reason to head south.
The Radiant Mercenary Group played more of a supporting role in the autumn campaign. Even if he left, his subordinates could keep things running smoothly without his micromanagement.
Under normal circumstances, he would have returned directly to the capital to report to Emperor André III.
But this matter—Ron and the academy's involvement—was clearly more urgent.
Thus, Webster sat down, took pen and parchment, and carefully wrote a detailed report, entrusting it to a messenger to deliver directly to the Emperor.
The next day, Webster departed from the northern frontier and arrived in Chaos City by mid-October.
At Ron's Wonderful Flower Shop, business continued as usual.
Ron handed over 25 Nether Orchids and 125 Crimson-Gold Chrysanthemums to the Radiant Mercenary Group, and 50 Nether Orchids and 50 Crimson-Gold Chrysanthemums to the Chaos City Magic Academy, fulfilling week three of both contracts.
Since both parties had prepaid, Ron's Wealth Points did not increase this time.
But—his Main Quest had finally been completed.
[Main Quest] – Sell 500 Crimson-Gold Chrysanthemums
[Quest Complete. Reward added to inventory.]
System Notification:
[New quest triggered: Upgrade Quest unlocked.]
[Upgrade Quest] – Successfully Cultivate One Scalevine
Requirements: Grow one Scalevine within your cultivation space.
[Reward: Natural Meditation Technique, Volume II + System Level +1]
Ron's eyes lit up when he saw the reward.
The second volume of the Natural Meditation Technique—with that in hand, he'd have no worries progressing to Rank-3 or Rank-4 Mage in the future.
It had already been over half a month since Ron reached Rank-One Mage.
With the Nether Orchid's scent, Nether Orchid Fruit, and the Natural Meditation Technique, his magic cultivation had progressed at lightning speed.
Based on his rough calculations, he estimated that within the month, he'd be ready to attempt Rank-Two Mage advancement.
So the timing of this quest reward couldn't have been better.
As for the +1 System Level? Meh. He ignored it.
More interface skins? Ron had long since stopped caring.
He stepped into the Dimensional Realm, opened his inventory, and absorbed the "Scalevine Cultivation Guide" directly.
A green light shot into his forehead as all the knowledge about Scalevine flooded into his mind.
[Scalevine]
[Evergreen vining plant]
[Prefers humus-rich, well-draining sandy soil]
[Leaves resemble scales, with rounded edges and a distinct white outline.]
[Soft to the touch but completely impervious to blades, fire, and water]
[Requires one drop of blood daily; after half a month, it will recognize its blood donor as its master.]
[When the master is in danger, the vine will automatically unfurl its leaves to shield them.]
[If provided with mana or battle aura, its defense will scale accordingly, up to withstanding even legendary-level attacks.]
Ron nodded to himself. "So it's a defensive plant… Perfect for both mages and warriors. Even regular folks could use this."
He opened the Shop, gritted his teeth, and spent 1,000 Wealth Points to buy 1 square meter of cultivation space.
The new square appeared in the third row of his 2×5 grid, a single 1m² tile sitting awkwardly alone, which irked Ron's mild OCD to no end.
Still, there was no way he'd spend more just to make it look neat.
Until he confirmed the commercial value of Scalevine, 1m² would have to suffice.
Once he secured a large-scale contract with a major power, he could expand then.
He was already a pro at handling the automated cultivation system.
Even if orders poured in, it would just mean one or two all-nighters.
Unlike the previous two plants, the Scalevine had "parent vines" and "child vines."
The seed-grown vine would become the parent, and the tendrils growing off the main stalk would be the child vines.
Child vines could survive on their own after being severed, but they couldn't reproduce.
So, when it came time to sell, Ron would obviously only sell the "castrated" child vines, just like the stripped-down Crimson-Gold Chrysanthemums.
He retrieved the Scalevine Seed from his inventory (rewarded for completing the main quest) and planted it in the newly unlocked cultivation space according to the instructions he'd absorbed.
With Ron's practiced hands, the environment adjusted immediately to the ideal conditions for Scalevine growth.
Under the accelerated time field, the seed sprouted and took root rapidly.
Thirty minutes later, a fully matured Scalevine stood proudly before him.
It was over three to five meters long, its winding tendrils coiling around one another.
From the main vine, shorter offshoots—the child vines—grew in various lengths.
Its leaf blades, resembling fish scales, were tightly curled and ready to snap open at the slightest threat.
[Upgrade Quest] – Successfully Cultivate One Scalevine
[Quest Complete. Reward added to inventory.]
[The Scalevine may now be transplanted into the shop. Proceed with transplant?]
Ron glanced at the shop window—Nora was still downstairs.
No way was he putting this plant out in the open just yet.
He simply cut several child vines and stored them in his inventory.
Then he selected one, pricked his finger, and let a drop of blood fall onto the vine—time to test its effectiveness.