Locke looked at the witch before him with confusion, while also looking at the badge she wore on her chest, confirming that she was indeed a staff member within the Arthas Shop Alliance system.

The witch saw Locke's confused expression, misunderstood, and said, "I'm Witch Scarlett. I graduated from the Analyst Academy of Quinn Jol University in Cloud Marsh Wetland, and I'm different from other wizards at Arthas. I've served as a lecturer mage at Quinn Jol's Evocation School's spatial magic direction academy."

"So, I'm both a trade analyst and have done extensive logistics work, possessing abundant experience. I've personally operated more than 10 hit products. I'm a silver-badge trader of the Arthas Group."

Locke said, "You misunderstand. I'm not questioning your professionalism. Rather, I come from an outside wizard land and don't understand Cloud Marsh Wetland's specific situation very well."

"So I can only understand some of what you're saying."

Witch Scarlett was stunned for a moment, then her pretty face reddened slightly. "Sorry, I thought you were like those Second Circle wizards who doubt my abilities. The group is very picky about you collaborators, but you collaborators are also very picky about us traders."

"So-called traders just help you genius breeders sell products better. Arthas has multiple rankings, and possesses vertically and horizontally structured ranking hierarchies. Products whose annual sales are in the bottom 30% won't have their contracts renewed by the shop alliance."

"You know, that renewal that happens once every two years..."

"For products with poor sales, the shop alliance will remove them from shelves and no longer cooperate with them. But before that, various sales promotions won't be aggressive."

Locke nodded slightly.

Witch Scarlett crossed her arms and said, "So, traders and you breeders mutually cooperate and achieve success together. I'm a professional market analyst who graduated in the Divination School's group prediction magic direction, possessing abundant experience predicting markets, so I can help you sell products."

"Of course, the prerequisite is that your product quality is sufficiently solid and is well-received."

"Divination School market analysts can only accurately help your product find its positioning in the market, but cannot work miracles with poor materials."

Locke looked at Witch Scarlett and said, "Sounds good. But can market behavior also be predicted using divination spells?"

"Divination spells require huge side effects, and the direction is very vague."

Witch Scarlett looked at Locke with surprise, "You've been exposed to divination magic? Most breeders don't have your kind of awareness."

"You're right. Each divination will have huge side effects. This is the major drawback of using divination magic, but we also have corresponding ways to use 'side effects' as a form of repayment for using divination magic's cost."

"Or, we cautiously use divination magic carefully, limiting the divination scope, never directly divining, using this method to reduce the cost we need to pay."

"In short, even talking about these things for several months wouldn't finish the explanation. But we indeed have professional methods to make divinations as much as possible while reducing the cost."

Witch Scarlett said, "Even so, the market is still a chaotic system to us. A Third Circle wizard from Quinn Jol once published an article in 'Misty Rain Cloud Marsh' that wrote the commercial market is a chaotic system. Even if a Third Circle wizard divines recklessly, it's absolutely impossible to truly lock down the future."

"Within a chaotic system, everything is possible. We analysts are like the blind men touching an elephant, but relying on our divination abilities and professional operational capabilities, we can more easily grasp market trends than ordinary wizards."

Locke took out a Wish Lingzhi from his star ring.

Witch Scarlett raised her right hand and pointed at the Wish Lingzhi in his hand. Immediately, the Wish Lingzhi flashed with magical radiance.

Then, the Wish Lingzhi projected a magical screen.

In this screen, there were numerous Arthas shops. Locke checked and found that Golden Crown Mountain alone had 307 shops under the Arthas Plantation Shop Alliance, not to mention the Three Marsh Lands.

Locke swiped the page with his finger and discovered densely packed wizard shops.

Moreover, he also saw many rankings.

The rankings were divided into several levels, First Circle, Second Circle, Third Circle and Fourth Circle, but he could only see information in the First Circle level rankings.

The First Circle level rankings also had total sales rankings, as well as various major category bestseller rankings, various sales rankings.

Locke looked at the top ten on the First Circle sales rankings. Basically, they were all individual-class magical plants.

But thinking carefully, it made sense.

Tactical-class magical plants basically weren't things individuals needed to use, but things wizard organizations needed to use.

So the scale of purchases, by nature, couldn't compare to individual-class magical plants.

Although the development difficulty of tactical-class magical plants was definitely higher than the development difficulty of individual-class magical plants.

Witch Scarlett pointed at the interface and said, "I've opened our Arthas personal account for you. From now on, every sale of magical plants you cooperate with Arthas on can be queried through the water hyacinth system."

"Sales, reviews, and information on the rankings."

"Don't pay too much attention to the magical plant categories on the total sales ranking, because the total sales ranking changes every moment. Today wizards might like using this type of magical plant, tomorrow wizards will like other magical plants."

Locke understood and nodded slightly, "Okay, I know."

Witch Scarlett said, "I came over this time also wanting to ask you, when can you give me your Hydra seeds? After I get the seeds, I still need to find breeders to cultivate them, and I need to consider many things."

"Currently it's the end of July, and on September 1st, Arthas will hold a special event. That's a grand festival. I believe if we can make a move during that period, we can definitely take the lead."

"I've looked at your Hydra magical plant. Being able to stack permanent defensive fields is a highlight. I've already formulated related predetermined target customers, which are the major wizard academies. My subordinate junior traders will primarily promote to the major wizard academies on that day. So I want to obtain a batch of Hydra magical plants as soon as possible."

"So I want to discuss with you, what do you think? We'll see how the first batch of sales goes, then decide on subsequent plans."

"I hope we can both make money."

Locke nodded and said, "No problem, I'll provide you with Hydra seeds as soon as possible."

Locke observed this ranking.

Sure enough, he saw the ranking's total sales constantly changing product names. First place had actually become a breeder's specialized orchid nutrient soil, with the breeder's name and their academy following the product name.

Locke glanced over and discovered this person came from a medium-scale wizard organization in Cloud Marsh Wetland called [Seven-Colored Nursery].

He quickly realized this ranking wasn't a true ranking, but an advertising space called a ranking. The highest on the ranking wouldn't be the best thing, but what everyone most needed.

Moreover, the product names on the ranking changed frequently, indicating the ranking was likely an advertising space for everyone, so presumably it could also be purchased with money.

However, just treating this ranking as dynamic information, this ranking was still quite useful. One could see the various breeders of the Three Marsh Lands and their academies, as well as the magical plant varieties they launched.

Very useful for expanding one's knowledge.

Locke inquired of Witch Scarlett and received her confirmation.

Witch Scarlett said, "The logic of the Arthas Shop Alliance differs from your Origin Academy. The shop alliances of the Three Marsh Lands are the most realistic!"

"We only do practical things."

"These rankings can indeed be purchased with money. If a product stays on there too long, it will also be artificially lowered, because we need to constantly update products." Witch Scarlett said, "Arthas is a group that values constant innovation and is full of competition."

"Of course, for us and you, the most important thing is still making money. If there are large amounts of funds, Breeder Augustine should also find it easier to do scientific research, right?"

Locke raised an eyebrow.

Indeed, once one does scientific research, it's like going deep into the sea. There's no upper limit to how much money can be invested.

If he had large amounts of money, that would undoubtedly allow him to rapidly increase his output.

The three major factors limiting his scientific research progress were: first, his own ability ceiling; second, lack of people; third, funding.

Among these, as long as one of them was improved, scientific research could progress rapidly.

Locke asked curiously, "Then, Witch Scarlett, relying on your professional analyst abilities, how many units do you think my Hydra can sell in the September 1st event, and how much profit can be obtained?"

Witch Scarlett said, "I don't know. I don't want to deceive you. When I first started as a trader managing operational work, I often tried to tell a wizard the results. But reality... always gave me a harsh slap, making me understand that only by trying can one know the results."

"Before that, whatever I say is useless."

"Those are just frivolous promises that will only make you think I'm a fraud. In fact, people often say diviners are frauds."

"Because no one knows what will actually happen in tomorrow's market. I once operated a magical plant I was very optimistic about, but its sales weren't as good as I thought. In the end, the money for the promotional event and cultivation costs were actually higher than the profit."

Witch Scarlett said, "I've also had magical plants I thought had little hope, but who knew they allowed me, the shop alliance, and that work's breeder to make a small profit."

"So, as a silver-badge trader, I don't dare easily say I can predict in advance how much money your magical plant can sell for."

Witch Scarlett said to Locke, "Moreover, your magical plant is a tactical-class magical plant. The operational difficulty itself is very high. Fortunately it's not a battle-class magical plant or even a strategic-class magical plant. Those would be even harder for me to sell."

Witch Scarlett said to Locke, "Battle-class magical plants and strategic-class magical plants have higher development difficulty, higher costs, but fewer users."

"Moreover, this is still a First Circle stage magical plant. This means wizard organizations with true strength absolutely don't need to purchase it, while wizard organizations without strength don't have the funds to purchase it."

"It's precisely in an awkward stage. If not for the Hydra being special, actually this First Circle level tactical-class magical plant would also be very difficult to sell."

Witch Scarlett said, "To be honest, according to my personality, if I were making the decision, I wouldn't risk doing this business deal with you. Because for me it's too risky."

"If something goes wrong, my promotion momentum will be halted." Witch Scarlett became serious, "But my boss, Arthas's senior manager, Wizard Tyrence, as a Second Circle wizard and my leader, definitely has a more far-sighted view. He has different opinions."

"Of course, the Hydra can stack permanent defensive fields, which is also its advantage. So, I think we can try."

Locke nodded slightly. "I'll try to give you a batch of Hydra magical plant seeds in a week."

According to his work progress, he should only need a week to finish the backcrossing, right?

Witch Scarlett said, "Then happy cooperation. You're my first breeder operating a tactical magical plant work. I hope we can have a cooperation experience that makes everyone happy."

Locke smiled and didn't respond.

After Witch Scarlett left, Locke could only work himself.

Three hours later, he began cultivating the second generation rapid growth Hydra magical plants. "Still not enough manpower. Without my two students, I have to do the work myself."

"Oh right, since I'm now a team leader, I should be able to borrow some students from Witch Mason and the others, and Wizard Newt's side should also be able to lend me some first-class wizard apprentices."

Locke thought about it. Currently speaking, he had no other choice. After all, the Arthas Alliance was pressing urgently. He could only shamelessly borrow other people's students to do his own side project.

As compensation, at worst he would help Witch Mason and the other three find topics that could pass the Tier 2 Origin Academy project funding. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

One night passed. The next day at six o'clock, Gregor and Williams arrived at the plantation on time. Locke had them collect the seeds of the second generation rapid growth Hydra, and after exchanging a few words with them and answering questions about their overnight study, he left the plantation and headed to Dragon Blood Market.

He was going to Dragon Blood Market to hire some wizard apprentices.

He didn't expect first-class wizard apprentices from the market to help him with projects. This was almost impossible, because before having students do projects, he still needed to teach them once.

But he truly had a pile of bromeliad magical plant mechanism pathways discovered in his Origin Academy funding projects that required hiring some first-class wizard apprentices specifically to help him write articles, then submit them to those Zone 2 journals.

At the same time, when Locke returned to his dormitory midway this morning, he discovered the thank-you letter from "Green Grass Cloud Marsh" for passing his two articles had already been delivered, along with a copy of this issue's journal magazine that published his two articles.

At the same time, there were also two magic boxes containing Water Jade Peaches that were sent over together.

Those were rewards from the academy.

For each Zone 1 journal article passed, the academy would reward him with one Water Jade Peach.

Locke opened the magic box to check. Immediately, the Water Jade Peaches' refreshing fragrance drifted out.

Locke placed the two Water Jade Peaches into his star ring, together with the one Wizard Kelt had given him before.

He hadn't immediately eaten any of the three Water Jade Peaches. This kind of good thing was better saved for when he reached the later stage, when magic power growth became slower and slower.

Recently, he had indeed noticed that his magic power growth speed had already begun to slow significantly.

Although compared to ordinary wizards, the growth speed was still considered fast.