Maka read Charlie's manuscript and started experiments overnight. Martin opened the green light for him all the way, even secretly using a third-level natural spell 'Growth', risking being scolded by Master Ron, just to make this happen.
Martin's craziness was rejected by Maka, after all, he had a gardener's background and knew that a truly valuable method should be simple and low-cost. If a 'Growth scroll' was used to exchange for turning the Weeping Grass into a Grimace Flower, that method would be useless, because the value of a Growth scroll is ten times the value of a grown Grimace Flower.
...
Five days passed quickly, and Charlie had already adapted to his new life. He was like a dried-up sponge, greedily absorbing knowledge about plant cultivation. To improve the entire cultivation system, he had to establish it on the basis of fully understanding them. At this time, Charlie was working hard in this direction, using the chip's rapid learning, analysis, and modeling capabilities to try to master the knowledge accumulated by Ron's Botanical Garden.
It must be said that in the face of more temptations, Martin did not discount his authority. He could almost see all the information in the botanical garden, including some insights and experiences published by the Violet Chapter Herbalists. If Brian knew about Charlie's current situation, he would also applaud Charlie's recent wise performance.
In this way, in the calm and ordinary botanical garden, the future expert in plant science, who will combine the theoretical knowledge of the two worlds, is diligently accumulating primary capital.
At the same time, Maka's experiment was also coming to an end. When a batch of brand new Grimace Flowers bloomed before Martin and Maka's eyes, the two were shocked, breathing heavily, with their eyes reddened. Faced with a discovery that could go down in history, they were defenseless, especially since this discovery could be named after the two of them. Now they were only one step away from this achievement.
After a brief celebration, Martin calmed his excited emotions and put on a serious face.
Martin made a decision: "Let's prepare well tonight, and tomorrow I'll go with you to see the Grand Magus."
Maka's face showed an excited expression. After years of struggle, his opportunity had finally come.
"Okay, what do we need to prepare?"
Martin walked in front of the mirror, straightened his collar, and looked elegant. He was quite satisfied with the well-dressed man in the mirror.
Martin said seriously, "Regarding this discovery, I am the first discoverer, and you are the experimental assistant. We were inspired by the 'Abandoned Elven Scriptures' in the Erwin Woods, and after three months of in-depth research, we tested countless sets of experimental environments and finally unveiled the secret of the Weeping Grass that had been hidden for a thousand years.
This discovery will pry open the entire empire's herbal industry, change the empire's strategic reserve pattern, trigger a shockwave in the potion market, and even touch the interests of the royal family.
Faced with a matter that may lead the entire situation, we are willing to hand over the right of discovery to Master Ron to handle, hoping that our botanical garden will develop better and better, and that the Grand Magus will be remembered in history..."
Martin spoke out the script in his heart.
Maka hurriedly asked, "Director, what is this?"
Martin smiled and said, "Retreat to advance, you don't understand! Do you think that just by the two of us exposing this discovery, we will get any benefits?
Let me tell you, we won't get anything! Not only that, but we will also be despised by some people in the royal family because we have ruined their business.
That's how the world is. When you don't have the capital, even if you hold a good card, you can't play it out. You can only hand it over to the upper class to operate. We can only pick up a few leftovers, while their leftovers are wealth and glory to us!"
Maka stumbled and uttered a few words, "This is unfair!"
Martin smiled and said, "Yes! That's why we have to work hard to climb up, until one day we don't need to rely on others, and we have the capital to operate on our own."
Maka swallowed hard and asked, "Then... Director, you haven't told me what I need to prepare? I... it's my first time meeting the Grand Magus, and I'm a little... a little nervous!"
"Memorize all the terminology mentioned in this information for me. When the Grand Magus asks about it, you should be able to answer. Especially the method of making organic fertilizer mentioned in it, I feel it will be a key tool. If it can be widely applied to the entire botanical garden, there may be even more exciting discoveries."
"Okay."
...
That night, Martin submitted the rewritten information to Yelande, the assistant of Master Ron. He understood the big people, the big people usually don't like sudden attacks, they need time to digest new things, especially when faced with such an amazing discovery. One night should be just right, as it is the time for his regular report tomorrow.
As night fell, Martin looked up at the distant Magus Tower and saw the spherical hall in the middle keep its lights burning unlike usual. He was incredibly proud, even if you are such a lofty Grand Magus, you will be shaken by this information, won't you!
The lights in the Magus Tower burned until late at night, and Martin lay in his bedroom, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. He looked up at the distant lights and his heart was surging. It was really hard to suppress his imagination about tomorrow's situation, and it was also hard to restrain himself from dreaming of a better future.
What choice the Grand Magus would make, the answer would be revealed tomorrow. Martin used his greatest willpower to force himself to bed and compel himself to sleep. Tomorrow, he must face the Grand Magus in the best state.
As expected, at 9 o'clock in the morning, Yelande appeared in the botanical garden and announced that the Grand Magus wanted to see him. At this time, Martin and Maka were dressed in their best clothes, with all kinds of information and experimental samples prepared, waiting for Yelande's call, and the three of them went to the Magus Tower together.
Maka seemed a little timid, bowing and following the two of them, not daring to lift his head at all.
It's no wonder he's timid, even Martin felt his legs were shaking. He had never been to the Magus Tower before, and he felt it was a mysterious and profound place. Seeing those strange automatons maintaining cleanliness around the Magus Tower, and all kinds of mysterious alchemical equipment, the world of the Magi was different from the world of mortals, magical and magnificent, making one dream.
Martin made great efforts to calm his excited emotions and said, "Mr. Yelande, is the Master satisfied with our work? Can you tell us a little bit? To be honest, I'm feeling quite anxious now."
Yelande smiled mysteriously and said, "Don't rush, you'll know when you get there."
Soon, the three of them entered the bottom platform of the Magus Tower, stood on the central circular platform, and Yelande chanted a spell. The circular platform slowly floated up, sending the three of them to the magical hall on the middle level, which was the workplace of Master Ron.
Master Ron was sitting at his desk, facing the three people in the center of the room.
Yelande bowed and said, "Teacher, the Director and Maka have been brought here."
Martin and Maka bowed in the same way, their nerves reaching a peak. How would the Grand Magus start speaking? First praise their contributions to the botanical garden? Or praise their selfless spirit? Or both?
However, Ron remained silent, making Martin's heart pounding.
After a while, Ron sighed, "As for this discovery, it's best that you keep it confidential. It was just last night that I told my mentor, Magus Lendolph, about this matter, and I only then learned that it is a major business secret of the Empire.
In fact, the royal family has long known that the Weeping Grass and the Grimace Flower are the same plant, and they also have mastered the cultivation method. The only difference is that your method is much lower in cost and simpler, and this is its greatest value."
Hearing this, Martin was very disappointed. This meant that it had lost its greatest significance. If it was just an improved cultivation method, the reward might be much less.
He should have foreseen this. Since the Grimace Flower is produced in the Lansang Mountains, the people there should be able to see its complete metamorphosis process, and proving this fact has blinded his eyes with surprise. No wonder the Grimace Flower is so rare, but the price is not particularly expensive.
Ron said, "I've looked through this information, and I can summarize it in one word: 'Originality'! Many of the concepts in it are very novel and reasonable.
The discovery of the Grimace Flower is secondary. The real value lies in the knowledge system that this information reveals, I feel it is a new perspective, a new knowledge structure. If we can extend it further, it might trigger an academic discussion.
I have a few questions I want to ask you."
Here it comes! The test is coming!!
Martin's heart suddenly started beating violently. The test meant rewards, just like a game of advancing levels, the more levels you passed, the more rewards you got. Hopefully, their preparation was enough. Martin and Maka exchanged a secret glance.
Ron casually drew a symbol in the air, and the magical elements stopped in the air, the symbol clearly visible. He asked, "This symbol is one I found in the illustrations of this information. I don't understand its meaning. Which of you can explain it to me?"
Hearing this question, Martin and Maka were immediately dumbfounded. They had prepared a lot, carefully combing through word by word, but they didn't prepare the illustrations. Maka had no impression of this symbol at all, and Martin had a vague impression, because he was the one who copied the illustrations when rewriting the information. When copying, he had a slight doubt, but felt it was a very small detail, so he didn't bother to ask. He thought Ron wouldn't ask such a detailed question.
Now, Martin was filled with regret. If they had been more prepared, they wouldn't have encountered such a predicament.
Maka had already been so scared that he didn't dare to lift his head, just shrinking.
Martin's eyes quickly turned, and he immediately came up with an explanation: "This symbol is just something I doodled, without any special meaning."
Ron smiled and asked further, "Then do you know what this symbol is?"
Martin felt something unusual, and he explained hesitantly, "I saw it by chance and thought it was interesting, so I just drew it on, I didn't expect it to confuse the Master. I really shouldn't have done that!"
Ron drew another symbol and asked, "Then what about this symbol? This is another symbol from the illustrations. Is this also something you doodled?"
Martin gave an embarrassed smile: "Yes."
Ron drew another symbol and said, "Three illustrations, three symbols. Perhaps you don't understand their meanings, but I can tell you, they are the key syllable symbols of three first-level spells: 'Arcane Missile', 'Mana Shield', and 'Firebolt'. They actually come from different language systems. Arcane magic spells use Stonehearth language, while fire magic spells originate from Hudelos language, both are very ancient languages. It's normal for you not to understand..."
Martin wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "Master is right, it's my fault to be so presumptuous, scribbling things I don't understand, making the Master laugh."
Ron smiled and said, "No, I don't think this is your original creation."
Ron's casual sentence was like a thunderbolt, exploding in the hearts of the two men.