Chapter 81

"Definitely it's me!"

But we must not add or omit content. The content is the phrase inside quotes. So we can output: "Definitely it's me!" (including quotes). We'll do that.

Lin Ke brushed aside distractions and replied firmly.

Right now is absolutely not the time for modesty, but the time to show confidence and mettle.

Because he represents not only himself, but also the Paro Witch who recommended him.

"Talk is cheap; proof is in the doing."

Selin Witch pointed to the fresh plants and herbs divided into two halves, then swayed her astonishingly curved waist and hips toward the front hall, saying, "Half is yours—get to work!"

Lin Ke practiced eye-to-nose, nose-to-heart, keeping his spirit focused, lowering his gaze slightly, avoiding impropriety, and was not tempted by the alluring beauty.

Selin Witch's mouth curled into a faint smile.

She likes employees who can suppress instincts and control their own desires.

"Start working!"

After Selin Witch left the backyard, Lin Ke clapped his hands and surveyed his future work environment.

The backyard of over 80 square meters was divided into three parts:

One part was a storage room for newly purchased, untreated plants and herbs;

One part was the pretreatment workshop A for plants and herbs;

One part was the finishing workshop B for pretreated plants and herbs.

As for the minerals or metals needed to concoct many potions, which are more polluting, there is a separate storage and processing area, not in the shop.

Lin Ke took initiative, walked around, and found the staff changing room on the east side of the stairwell between the backyard and front hall.

The changing room was divided by gender; Lin Ke entered the men's changing room and found a brand-new uniform.

After putting on the uniform, Lin Ke returned to the backyard, found the inventory list for plants and herbs, and carefully checked the types, quantities, and weights.

After verifying everything correctly, Lin Ke didn't rush to start formal work, but patiently familiarized himself with the facilities and equipment in the workshop.

Once he was familiar with the facilities and equipment, there were no problems in their use.

Lin Ke then sorted the plants and herbs to be processed according to the very conspicuous 'Today's Raw Material Pretreatment Procedure Details' posted in the workshop.

He ordered them based on difficulty, time required, whether they needed to sit, etc.

Lin Ke didn't worry about competitors, focused his mind, and began the pretreatment work on the plants and herbs meticulously.

Not long after, Selin Witch returned, accompanied by two others.

Lin Ke heard footsteps, glanced up, and saw the two people chatting respectfully with Selin Witch were actually acquaintances.

One was Mina Hafuchkek, whom he hadn't seen in a long time; the other was Antoine Hilton, chairman of the Newblood Mutual Aid Society, whose photo he had only seen on the forum.

"Linke Grand, come over here."

Selin Witch stood in the courtyard, waving and calling out.

"All right, Selin Witch, I'm coming right away."

Lin Ke quickly put the processed herbs in place as required, wiped his hands clean with a cloth, and then left the workshop.

Antoine Hilton and Mina Hafuchkek only then noticed Lin Ke's presence, their expressions changing.

The former was puzzled, the latter slightly unnatural.

"Do you know each other?"

Selin Witch, at least a third-rank witch, couldn't possibly have poor observation; she immediately noticed the subtle changes in the two.

"We know each other."

Antoine Hilton spoke before Mina Hafuchkek could.

"Not familiar."

At the same time, Lin Ke neither avoided nor concealed anything.

Upon hearing that, Selin Witch knew there was a conflict among the three.

She had only come down from the front lines less than two weeks ago, and after refusing the academy's arrangement to teach, she opened this potion shop.

She was quite unfamiliar with what had happened at the academy over the past few years, especially this year.

What Selin Witch found amusing was that Linke Grand had been specially recommended to her by the Paro Witch.

While Antoine Hilton and Mina Hafuchkek had come forward on their own through the networking channels of the Newblood Mutual Aid Society founded by the Paro Witch.

All three were connected to the Paro Witch, yet they clearly did not get along.

No one knows what fun the Paro Witch is having, playing some new kind of game.

"Whether you know each other or not,"

Selin Witch suddenly developed a mischievous streak, decided to intervene and add some fun, saying, "In my shop, you must follow my rules."

Saying this, Selin Witch looked at Antoine Hilton and said, "Mina Hafuchkek can stay and compete with Linke Grand for the plant and herb pretreatment position. As for the part-time sales job…"

Pausing, she thought she should still look after the Newblood Mutual Aid Society's members, after all she was also a founding elder; "You can go find a few more candidates, come over and let me pick. As always, those who fit stay, those who don't leave."

Antoine Hilton hurriedly replied, "Everything will follow your orders, respected Selin Witch."

"Alright, you may go back now."

Selin Witch didn't like such fawning pleasantries, waved her hand, and her tone was somewhat impatient.

It was precisely because she disliked the academy's somewhat rigid administration that she did not want to return to teach there.

Antoine Hilton's face stiffened, but he dared not lose composure before Selin Witch; he quickly covered up and left the potion shop.

Selin Witch then turned to Lin Ke and asked, "What do you think?"

In response to such a question, Lin Ke's answer was naturally, "I will follow your arrangements."

"Hmm, then it's settled."

Selin Witch dropped a line, went back to the front hall, leaving Lin Ke and Mina Hafuchkek behind.

Lin Ke didn't feel anything special, calmly greeted, then went back to the operating room and continued working.

This made Mina Havrcheck secretly let out a sigh of relief.

Hopefully no other misunderstanding arises.

The invisible pressure Linke Grand exerted on her was somewhat greater than before.

After adjusting her mood, Mina Havrcheck hurriedly got busy as well.

Following the hint given by Sorceress Serlin during their previous conversation, Mina Havrcheck changed into the staff uniform in the women's changing room.

After changing clothes, Mina Havrcheck looked around, and for a moment she didn't even know where to start working.

This is her first part-time job, um… she's not sure if she can pull it off.

Lacking experience, clumsy in her methods, flustered and at a loss—she has all the typical problems of a workplace newcomer.

Watching Linke Grand's practiced movements and smooth workflow, Mina Havrcheck couldn't help but feel a deep sense of frustration and unwillingness.

Part-time jobs related to potion-making are extremely rare.

Even if they exist, they usually hire third- or fourth-year wizard apprentices.

How sought-after this position of plant and herb pretreatment assistant at Sorceress Serlin's potion shop is goes without saying.

Mina Havrcheck actually fought her way out from among over a dozen second-year members of the Newblood Mutual Aid Society, which is how she snagged the three-day trial opportunity.

Who would have thought she'd encounter such a first-year monster here!

This made Mina Havrcheck wonder whether her previous efforts were really worth it.

Ah, what a karmic entanglement!

She shouldn't have been bewitched and tricked him that time.

Isn't this just karma coming back?

Thanks to the reward from book friend Konggang Wanqingfeng, thank you!

(End of chapter)