A three-masted wooden ship loaded with mortal noble smugglers slowly sailed away from the port.

The environment inside the ship's cabin was not as clean and tidy as a wizard ship, nor did it provide free exquisite food and hot water.

Locke lived in one cabin with Albert and Incinerator Captain Andy Layton, while the two formal wizards, Witch Sophia and Witch Gabriel, stayed in the two best rooms on this ordinary vessel.

Besides them, there were many unsuspecting mortal nobles on the ship who didn't know what was happening, nor did they know there were so many wizard lords from Lilith's Cottage aboard. Of course, this didn't affect them continuing their smuggling business.

Locke smelled the air mixed with mold and unknown foul odors. He sat on the damp bed, frowning slightly.

Due to the need for undercover work, they were now forbidden from using spells but this place was really dirty.

After thinking for a moment, Locke directly took out a bottle of Iborg Pepper Water from his astral ring, then endured the spicy taste and drank it all in one gulp.

The next moment, although no environmental changes occurred in this mortal ship's cabin, the scene Locke saw became clean, and the smells he detected became much more comfortable.

Iborg pepper was a special magical plant containing natural magical components with hallucinogenic structures. Therefore, with just the simplest alchemical processing, it became Iborg Pepper Water.

After consumption, it could beautify everything one saw, heard, or touched.

Locke touched the linen sheets in his hand, which now felt comfortable, warm, and clean, and nodded slightly. "Although we're forbidden from using magic, using Iborg Pepper Water, this natural plant essence that only deceives oneself, should still be acceptable."

Iborg Pepper Water was purely natural. After consumption, it would be virtually undetectable to those curse masters who didn't study potions.

On the other side, Albert, a man in his thirties sitting on the narrow four-person room bed, saw this scene and his eyes lit up slightly. "Iborg Pepper Water? Locke, you brought such good stuff."

"Give me a bottle too, I can pay 1 magic stone for it."

This cheap stuff like Iborg Pepper Water could be bought for several bottles with 1 magic stone. Some third-class wizard apprentices who couldn't stand their current living conditions might develop a habit of continuously taking such simple potions.

So this thing didn't have a very good reputation.

After all, for wizards, even though magical resources were hard to obtain, worldly material resources could be fully maximized.

Basically, except for special situations like the current one, there was rarely a need to use such self-deceptive things.

Albert said, "I'm dying of discomfort. I've never been this miserable in my life."

"I was a king of a nation in the mortal world, then gave up the throne to my brother to come to the southeastern quadrant. Even in the southeastern quadrant, I've never suffered like this. It's truly terrible."

Albert looked at the linen sheets in his hands with extreme disgust, seeming about to vomit. "I even have mysophobia. I really want to use cleaning spells to clean this place thoroughly, then place a cornflower to purify the air here with its fresh fragrance."

"Then summon a dozen servants to clean this place from top to bottom."

Locke looked at Albert with surprise. He had previously thought Albert was very aloof since these two had barely spoken to him, considering there was a generational gap between them.

They were friends of his teacher, while he was Witch Sophia's student.

Although he and they were all first-class wizard apprentices.

However, Albert's mana had already reached 800 and he could break through to formal wizard at any time. This would be his last mission before breaking through to formal wizard.

Andy's mana was close to 800, around 780. It was estimated he needed about three more years of accumulation to completely overcome the final obstacle and then attempt to break through to formal wizard.

Both of them were actually wizard seeds of Lilith's Cottage, just in different directions. but Locke hadn't expected that when Witch Sophia and Witch Gabriel weren't present, Albert seemed very easygoing, completely different from the impression he had given before.

Locke directly took out a bottle of Iborg Pepper Water from his astral ring and tossed it to Albert. "Senior Albert, no need to pay. Such a small thing, I'll just give it to you."

Albert caught the Iborg Pepper Water, opened the cork, smelled it under his nose, then drank it down. "Refreshing."

"Locke, you're a straightforward person. You don't need to call me senior, just call me Albert. Let's interact as equals."

Seeing Locke's stunned expression, Albert smiled and said, "We'll each handle our own relationships. When Gabriel and Sophia are around, I'll be your elder, but privately, we can be friends."

Locke was somewhat surprised by Albert's easygoing nature, but he still didn't casually call a wizard from his teacher's generation by name.

Moreover, Albert's status at Lilith's Cottage was no lower than Anglon's. He had published dozens of A-level papers with remarkable achievements. His mana had reached 800, and his research in the field of potion studies already showed preliminary First Circle characteristics.

Even without considering his teacher's relationship, Albert's current position at Lilith's Cottage belonged to the highest tier among first-class wizard apprentices, those competing for wizard seed status, rising stars in potion studies, and chief apprentice positions.

There was still some gap between himself and them.

After all, he had only become a first-class wizard apprentice for six months, while they had been first-class wizard apprentices for over ten years.

Locke said to Albert, "Senior Albert, I understand."

Albert was stunned for a moment, then smiled without expressing any opinion.

Locke looked toward Captain Andy. "Senior Andy, do you need Iborg Pepper Water?"

Andy had been sitting on his bed with closed eyes in lotus position. Hearing Locke speak to him, he squeezed out a smile on his face, trying to express friendliness. "Thank you, but no need."

"As a combat wizard trained by the academy, if I can't even endure this little hardship, that would be too frivolous. Locke, although you're a rear support potion master and breeder, you should also try to overcome this with your willpower."

Andy glanced sideways at Albert and said in a low voice, "Albert, as Locke's senior, instead of setting a good example, you're taking Iborg Pepper Water with him."

"If Sophia knew, she would definitely have opinions about you."

"You and I are both pillars of this generation at Lilith's Cottage, and talents like Locke are very likely to become pillars of the next generation. We need to set a good example."

After speaking, Andy closed his eyes again.

Andy's actual appearance was that of a shrewd and capable young man. His left eye was also a magical prosthetic eye, seemingly also crafted by the dwarf Tane but after taking the Thousand Faces Potion, he had transformed himself into an ugly, fat middle-aged noble.

After Andy closed his eyes, Albert secretly made a gesture of raised eyebrows and shrugged shoulders to Locke, mouthing, "Typical case of seeking hardship where there is none."

"Don't learn from him."

Locke showed a faint smile. There would be about two more weeks to spend in the bottom cabin of this broken ship. Fortunately, he was smart enough to bring some Iborg Pepper Water in advance, otherwise it would really be unbearable.

All of this was for obtaining the Tartarus Catacomb Worm spinal fluid and helping Teacher Sophia.

Looking at Albert and Andy, obviously these two weren't participating in this mission just to help Teacher Sophia. They were also eyeing the Tartarus Catacomb Worm spinal fluid.

That kind of magical resource could not only quickly and safely increase their mana but also increase their success rate in breaking through to formal wizard. It was a rare resource among rare resources.

You should know that there were plenty of first-class wizard apprentices like Elagabalus's first wife who died from failed attempts to break through to formal wizard.

Thinking of this, Locke took out the Giant Tree Heart Potion he hadn't had time to consume before, drank it in one gulp, closed his eyes, and gradually felt the Giant Tree Heart Potion's transformation of his heart and his control over magical plants throughout his body steadily increasing.

Albert looked at Locke with surprise and said in a low voice, "Some unknown potion."

Andy also opened his eyes to look at Locke after he consumed the potion, then closed his eyes again and began using his willpower to combat the filthy environment he hadn't encountered in over ten years.