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The main reason that comes to my mind, is for an ace-in-the-hand for negotiation for political and/or safety purposes. A wizard might make and keep such a book (and probably keep it someplace safe/hidden/magically protected) because they have lived long enough to realize that rainy days come along when one might avoid very undesirable events by being able to say, "Wait. I realize you can do X, but if you do Y instead, I could give you a very rare intact B̶o̶o̶k̶ ̶O̶f̶ ̶I̶m̶p̶r̶o̶v̶e̶ ̶M̶a̶n̶l̶i̶n̶e̶s̶s̶ ̶+̶3̶ Tome of Understanding. Sadly, if you do X, you'll never find it, or my apprentice might have to give it to t̶h̶e̶ ̶f̶e̶l̶l̶o̶w̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶c̶r̶y̶s̶t̶a̶l̶ ̶b̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶I̶ ̶s̶a̶w̶ ̶y̶e̶s̶t̶e̶r̶d̶a̶y̶ ̶m̶a̶k̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶e̶y̶e̶s̶ ̶a̶t̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶r̶ ̶d̶a̶u̶g̶h̶t̶e̶r̶ your rival, Viscount Drax." Or some such. This can be a lifesaver and/or result in advantages that would be worth that much investment and patience.

The main reason that comes to my mind, is for an ace-in-the-hand for negotiation for political and/or safety purposes. A wizard might make and keep such a book (and probably keep it someplace safe/hidden/magically protected) because they have lived long enough to realize that rainy days come along when one might avoid very undesirable events by being able to say, "Wait. I realize you can do X, but if you do Y instead, I could give you a very rare intact Tome of Understanding. Sadly, if you do X, you'll never find it, or my apprentice might have to give it to your rival, Viscount Drax." Or some such. This can be a lifesaver and/or result in advantages that would be worth that much investment and patience.

The main reason that comes to my mind, is for an ace-in-the-hand for negotiation for political and/or safety purposes. A wizard might make and keep such a book (and probably keep it someplace safe/hidden/magically protected) because they have lived long enough to realize that rainy days come along when one might avoid very undesirable events by being able to say, "Wait. I realize you can do X, but if you do Y instead, I could give you a very rare intact Book Of Improve Manliness +3. Sadly, if you do X, you'll never find it, or my apprentice might have to give it to the fellow in the crystal ball I saw yesterday making eyes at your daughter." Or some such. This can be a lifesaver and/or result in advantages that would be worth that much investment and patience.

The main reason that comes to my mind, is for an ace-in-the-hand for negotiation for political and/or safety purposes. A wizard might make and keep such a book (and probably keep it someplace safe/hidden/magically protected) because they have lived long enough to realize that rainy days come along when one might avoid very undesirable events by being able to say, "Wait. I realize you can do X, but if you do Y instead, I could give you a very rare intact B̶o̶o̶k̶ ̶O̶f̶ ̶I̶m̶p̶r̶o̶v̶e̶ ̶M̶a̶n̶l̶i̶n̶e̶s̶s̶ ̶+̶3̶ Tome of Understanding. Sadly, if you do X, you'll never find it, or my apprentice might have to give it to t̶h̶e̶ ̶f̶e̶l̶l̶o̶w̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶c̶r̶y̶s̶t̶a̶l̶ ̶b̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶I̶ ̶s̶a̶w̶ ̶y̶e̶s̶t̶e̶r̶d̶a̶y̶ ̶m̶a̶k̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶e̶y̶e̶s̶ ̶a̶t̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶r̶ ̶d̶a̶u̶g̶h̶t̶e̶r̶ your rival, Viscount Drax." Or some such. This can be a lifesaver and/or result in advantages that would be worth that much investment and patience.

The main reason that comes to my mind, is for an ace-in-the-hand for negotiation for political and/or safety purposes. A wizard might make and keep such a book (and probably keep it someplace safe/hidden/magically protected) because they have lived long enough to realize that rainy days come a long when one might avoid very undesirable events by being able to say, "Wait. I realize you can do X, but if you do Y instead, I could give you a very rare intact Book Of Improve Manliness +3. Sadly, if you do X, you'll never find it, or my apprentice might have to give it to your arch enemy." Or Some such. This can be a lifesaver and/or result in advantages that would be worth that much investment and patience.

The main reason that comes to my mind, is for an ace-in-the-hand for negotiation for political and/or safety purposes. A wizard might make and keep such a book (and probably keep it someplace safe/hidden/magically protected) because they have lived long enough to realize that rainy days come along when one might avoid very undesirable events by being able to say, "Wait. I realize you can do X, but if you do Y instead, I could give you a very rare intact Book Of Improve Manliness +3. Sadly, if you do X, you'll never find it, or my apprentice might have to give it to the fellow in the crystal ball I saw yesterday making eyes at your daughter." Or some such. This can be a lifesaver and/or result in advantages that would be worth that much investment and patience.