When the midday sun filtered through the prismatic glass of the academy corridor's domed ceiling, casting rainbow-colored spots of light on the floor, Allen stepped into Public Dining Hall No. 1.
This was the dining area for all low-level apprentices. The spacious area was decorated with slowly rotating brass astrolabes and faintly glowing plants. The air was thick with the mixed aromas of various foods.
Allen had no strong preference for food; to him, eating was merely a necessary procedure to replenish his bodily functions. However, he had to admit that the recently introduced "Flametail Lizard Tendon and White Mushroom Potage" was exceptionally delicious. Not only did it taste good, but it also provided excellent support for the high-intensity Spiritual Power consumption required in the afternoon. The only downside was its less-than-beautiful price.
After decisively paying the bill, Allen carried his tray and swept his gaze across the entire dining hall.
The DSeek interface overlaid a stream of data on his retinas, rapidly tagging every identifiable apprentice within his field of vision. His purpose for coming here was clear: to find the two members of his Learning Mutual Aid Group who worked part-time in the Alchemy Workshop Zone. This was not a matter of leaving things to chance. Rather, DSeek had calculated this as a high-probability encounter point based on their class schedules and daily habits.
Soon, the system highlighted two green boxes at a two-person table in the corner of the dining hall.
[Target Located: Marcus Bell, Thomas Lee.]
Marcus, who had a burly build, was ravenously devouring a large plate of meat cutlets. The caloric content of his meal was at least twice that of Allen's. Thomas, sitting opposite him, was smaller and thinner. Wearing a pair of black-rimmed glasses, he was carefully scooping soup with his spoon. The hems of their Apprentice Robes were stained with grayish-black dust, likely residue from processing materials.
Allen walked over to their table. The slight clink of his tray being set down made both of them look up simultaneously.
"Mr. Allen!" Marcus mumbled his greeting with a mouth full of food, his face showing a mix of respect and surprise.
Thomas quickly stood up, looking a bit nervous. "Mr. Allen, what brings you here?"
In the Learning Mutual Aid Group, Allen held absolute authority. He had won everyone's conviction through his irrefutable knowledge and the immediate, tangible results he delivered.
"Sit down. There's no need to be so formal during a meal." Allen took an empty seat at the table and cut into his fish fillet. "I heard you two have part-time jobs in the Alchemy Workshop Zone."
"Yes, sir," Marcus answered eagerly, swallowing his food. "We work in the logistics workshop of Hansen Potion Shop, helping to process basic herbs and minerals. The pay isn't high, but it helps subsidize our cultivation needs."
Allen nodded. This matched the information DSeek had collected. He didn't beat around the bush and cut straight to the chase. "I'm heading to Alchemy Workshop No. 17 in the H District tomorrow, and I'd like to gather some information beforehand. Are you familiar with it?"
At the mention of "No. 17 in the H District," both Marcus and Thomas's expressions shifted.
Thomas pushed up his glasses and lowered his voice. "Senior, that's not a place people like us can go. That's Master Draven's workshop."
"Draven?" Allen repeated the name, while DSeek's database began recording synchronously.
"Draven Craig, an Advanced Apprentice. Rumor has it he's only one step away from becoming an Official Wizard." Thomas's voice carried a tone of awe. "He's an Advanced Apprentice who has studied in the 'Universal Transmutation Department' of the Alchemy School for five years. Out of the entire H District, his workshop has one of the highest rents. Those of us doing odd jobs only dare to look at it from afar."
Marcus added, "I heard from the veterans in our workshop that Senior Draven mostly does business with freshmen. He sells special potions he brews himself. The effects are much better than the standard goods in the academy store, but of course, the prices are... extremely high."
Allen's fork paused in mid-air. He had caught onto a key piece of information. "Special potions? What exactly do you mean?"
"For example... 'Focus Potions,'" Thomas recalled. "They say that for an hour after drinking one, your Meditation efficiency increases by three hundred percent. There's also one called 'Spark of Inspiration,' which provides a slight chance of a breakthrough when you hit a bottleneck while constructing a Rune. These aren't your run-of-the-mill items like basic Spiritual Power recovery potions."
"Who are his main clients?" Allen pressed.
"Freshmen like us, and some upperclassman apprentices." Marcus scratched his head. "Those who come from wealthy backgrounds but lack top-tier talent love buying his products the most. A single bottle of 'Focus Potion' costs fifteen Magic Stones—enough to cover our wages for a month of odd jobs. However, I've heard his business hasn't been doing so well lately."
In Allen's mind, the metaphor of the "bakery" and "wheat" that the scrawny freshman had relayed earlier suddenly became clear. Draven sold potions, and study notes were likely a part of his business as well; what brought him profit was the "wheat." His clients were freshmen who desperately wanted to grow stronger but lacked the proper methods. Those very same freshmen were currently being gathered by Allen's Learning Mutual Aid Group. Therefore, the Learning Mutual Aid Group was the "bakery" he had spoken of.
Draven's invitation was likely an attempt to take control of the "bakery" so he could sell his own products through it.
[DSeek Analysis Module Initiated...]
[Target: Draven Craig.]
[Business Model: Consumable retail. Products: Homemade buff potions, study notes, etc.]
[Target Demographics: Freshmen, low-level and advanced apprentices with high purchasing power facing cultivation bottlenecks.]
[Deduction: The target has identified the 'Learning Mutual Aid Group' as a highly concentrated channel for potential clients. The purpose of this invitation is interest integration, with the intent of absorbing Allen Wesren's knowledge service system into the downstream of his product sales chain.]
"I understand." Allen wiped his mouth with a napkin and said to the two, "This information is very useful. You are exempt from paying this month's Learning Mutual Aid Group fees."
Marcus and Thomas froze simultaneously before a burst of pleasant surprise lit up their eyes. Fifteen Magic Stones was a massive sum of money for them.
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you so much!"
Allen simply gave a calm nod, picked up his tray, and got up to leave. He had no interest in maintaining cheap gratitude; a fair exchange of value was the most solid foundation for any relationship.
After leaving the dining hall, Allen did not return to his dormitory. Instead, he headed toward the academy's Central Library.
The Central Library was one of the most magnificent structures in the Seven Towers Alliance. No matter what angle one viewed it from, it was absolutely awe-inspiring.
With a clear goal in mind, Allen stood before the retrieval terminal at the entrance and extended his Spiritual Power into it to operate the interface.
[Keyword Input: Alchemy School, Universal Transmutation Department, Magic Potion Science]
[Searching...]
Allen identified three comprehensive books: "Introduction to the Alchemy School: From Matter to Mystery", "Foundations of Universal Transmutation: Equivalent Exchange and Energy Conservation", and "Introduction to the Essence of the Soul and the Morphological Alienation of Magic Power".
After confirming his targets, he navigated through the bookshelves, quickly located the three books, and paid the fee of eight Magic Stones.
He walked over to the nearby reading area, sat down, and began to read carefully, while DSeek synchronized the information entry and processing.
The book "Introduction to the Alchemy School: From Matter to Mystery" contained detailed descriptions of the Alchemy School.
It was a faction that believed in the creed: "Wisdom creates miracles, and external objects can lead to the divine." They didn't rely solely on their innate talents. Instead, they achieved leaps in power by studying the laws of all things and utilizing tools and resources. Wizards of the Alchemy School were renowned for their high efficiency in resource utilization and their expertise in legion-scale warfare.
However, all of this was built upon one foundation: massive financial investment. The cost of a single fully-equipped Alchemy Workshop alone was enough to bankrupt a Mortal Kingdom.
This explained why Draven was so eager to monetize the freshmen.
His research was burning through Magic Stones every single second.