Chapter 7: Chapter 7: Acquiring Two New Potion Formulas
In Mapleleaf Town, the town council's headquarters stood in stark contrast to the ancient surroundings. The buildings were carefully planned with red bricks and white walls, a legacy of the late Baron Peter, who had secured a 30,000-gold loan from the royal family to establish this town.
He had not foreseen that his death during the Northern Bulgarian Butcher's campaign would lead to Mapleleaf Town declaring independence.
Now, Town Mayor Shokart glared at the two bodies being carried into the council chamber on stretchers.
One was his son's.
The other belonged to the bandit leader, who had once been a Lawful Knight's squire.
Donnett, the captain of the town militia, shook his head in regret. "Mayor, by the time we arrived, the entire bandit stronghold had been reduced to ashes. This is the result. My condolences. May the Storm God grant you peace…"
Shokart shot him a venomous glare, cutting him off. "Peace? My only son is dead, and I'm almost fifty. You dare ask me to find peace?"
"Do you think praying to the Storm God will bring my son back?"
Realizing his blasphemous outburst, Shokart quickly composed himself, coughing to regain composure in the presence of the council and the town's priest. "I didn't mean to disrespect the Storm God. I just need answers. Who killed my son? What kind of weapon did they use? Were all the bandits killed?"
Donnett hesitated before responding, "The situation is strange, Mayor. Your son... and the bandits... their wounds appear to have been inflicted by some sort of animal claws and bites. Judging by the size of the marks, the creatures must have been enormous. But… can wolves really annihilate an entire bandit stronghold?"
Shokart's face twisted in disbelief. "You're telling me my only son was killed not by people, but by some oversized animals? And now, I don't even have anyone to avenge him against?"
The town's priest stepped forward, scrutinizing the wounds. "It's plausible that wolves could kill ordinary men. But a Lawful Knight's squire? That's highly unlikely."
"Then who could have done this?" Donnett challenged, frustration evident in his tone.
The priest had no answer.
Shokart, his mind racing, began to speculate. "What if it wasn't wolves, but people using claw-like weapons? Who would want to kill the bandits and my son?"
"Someone who hates both the bandits and me... could it be that little Peter Baron?"
Both the priest and Donnett rolled their eyes at the suggestion.
Shokart quickly dismissed his own theory. "No, that doesn't make sense. That brat doesn't have the strength to pull this off."
"No matter who it is, anyone even remotely connected to my son's death will pay the price. Innocent or not, I'll have my revenge on that baron. Mark my words!"
Donnett and the priest exchanged uneasy glances but wisely chose to remain silent.
Though Shokart spoke with fervor, the council was not entirely under his control. The town's trade guilds had united under him solely to resist the baron and his knights. If his vendetta became a personal crusade, it was uncertain whether the guilds would continue to back him.
Inwardly, both men agreed: if Shokart couldn't see the writing on the wall, it might be time for a new mayor.
Donnett's eyes returned to the mangled bodies. The deep claw marks and the sheer terror frozen on their faces made his shoulders tense.
What kind of nightmare had these two seen before they died?
---
Meanwhile, in the top-floor study of the Peter Barony castle, Su Nan felt a surge of satisfaction. His mental power had increased to 8.8 after consuming a new potion, an impressive feat considering he lacked formal wizard training.
"AI, analyze the reason for my accelerated mental power growth. Has the potion's effectiveness increased?"
[Preliminary analysis indicates an unforeseen synergy: werewolves gain minor power increases through killing, and this shared power is transmitted to you via the wolf pack effect. This may be tied to the use of full moon moonlight in the potion's creation, creating a unique connection.]
[The effect is subtle and diminishes over time, suggesting limited overall impact.]
Su Nan pondered this revelation. Through the wolf pack connection, he had gained 0.1 mental power overnight—a modest yet meaningful advancement.
"AI, how is the progress on developing an upgraded mental power enhancement potion?"
[Mental Power Enhancement Potion (+1) project progress: 97%. Significant progress was made due to key data found in the books recovered from the bandit stronghold.]
The bandits' hoard had yielded unexpected treasures: over 300 gold coins and a trove of ancient texts. Among these were several volumes written in an archaic script.
Su Nan had tasked the AI with deciphering these texts, leading to breakthroughs in his magical research.
"Have you identified any other useful information related to wizards?"
[Analysis of the 73 recovered books has produced two complete potion formulas and identified seven trap formulas. Additionally, hidden within the texts was what appears to be a wizard's journal, providing insights into wizard hierarchies.]
[Wizards appear to be divided into tiers: Third-Class Apprentice, Second-Class Apprentice, First-Class Apprentice, and Full Wizard. The transition from First-Class Apprentice to Full Wizard requires a rare and intricate potion ritual.]
Su Nan raised an eyebrow. "Does having mental power over 10 make me a Third-Class Apprentice or a Full Wizard?"
[Insufficient data for accurate conclusions. It's possible that a mental power of 10 is merely the baseline for Third-Class Apprentices.]
Su Nan shrugged, acknowledging the gaps in his knowledge. Even so, dismantling the bandit stronghold had yielded invaluable progress.
"Tell me about the two potion formulas."
[Formula 1: Sleep Bug Potion. This potion releases a swarm of insect-like vapors that induce medium sleep for five minutes when inhaled. Ingredients: 10g of kudzu root, 5g of lavender, 3g of willow leaves, one silver coin, and one cricket.]
[Formula 2: Sacrificial Hand Potion. This potion grants telekinesis to the left hand, growing stronger with the user's injuries. Ingredients: 1) Belladonna, 2) Foxglove, 3) Elderwood Powder, 4) Mistletoe, 5) Malachite, 6) Lapis Lazuli, 7) Hematite, 8) Labradorite, and 10 gold coins.]
Su Nan grimaced. "Why does Sacrificial Hand require so many gold coins?"
[The number of coins correlates with the intended function, not the potion's strength.]
Both potions had clear value: the Sleep Bug Potion for its utility in combat, and the Sacrificial Hand Potion for personal enhancement.
"Prepare a list of materials for these potions," Su Nan instructed.
Before heading to Mapleleaf Town's market, he would finalize additional potion research, including upgrades to existing werewolf potions.
"AI, what about the wizard's jo
urnal? Does it reveal whether wizards still exist in this world, or if they've vanished entirely?"
Weekly Power Status
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