章節 55: Brewing Potion!
With the inheritance organized, Leonard finally turned to his meditation. The intense mental work over the past two days seemed to have sharpened his focus. As he slipped into the meditative state, he noticed something unusual: his efficiency had increased significantly.
Half a day later, Leonard opened his eyes with a small but satisfied smile. Another 'earth ring' had condensed within his mental framework, and his 'mental power' had increased by 0.1—a small step, but an important one.
---
That evening, Leonard made his way to the port to meet 'Big Gold Tooth', who handed over the 'fake silver ore' as promised.
The crate was heavy; over ten kilograms of false silver. But Leonard ignored the bag of silver coins that Big Gold Tooth had offered alongside it.
"No need for the coins," Leonard said curtly, giving the man a cold look. The last time he'd mentioned silver coins, it had been purely to keep Big Gold Tooth nervous and compliant. "This is enough."
Big Gold Tooth nodded quickly, wiping sweat from his forehead as Leonard disappeared into the shadows.
---
Back in his alchemy laboratory, Leonard's excitement grew. He set the crate of false silver down and began preparing to brew one of the most valuable potions in his repertoire: the 'Meditation Accelerated Mutation Potion' an "experience bonus potion" that could drastically speed up his meditation.
"This will save me weeks, maybe even months," Leonard muttered to himself as he began organizing the ingredients.
---
The laboratory was quiet except for the faint clinking of glass and the rhythmic grind of the mortar. For three hours, Leonard worked with precision, his movements almost mechanical as he prepared the delicate mixture.
Finally, he reached the last and most critical step. Holding his breath, Leonard carefully dripped a thin stream of 'pure silver liquid' into the milky white solvent. The moment the silver touched the surface, it spread and dissolved, blending seamlessly into the solution.
A minute passed, and the solvent began to glow faintly. A shimmering 'silver light' spread across its surface, like a flowing robe of liquid metal. Leonard's eyes narrowed, watching intently.
The glow lingered for 'ten seconds' before fading.
Leonard let out a quiet breath, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Ten seconds… acceptable."
The duration of the silver glow, known as the 'Silver Flash' was a measure of the potion's quality. Anything over eight seconds was passable. Twenty seconds would have been ideal, but for a first attempt, Leonard was proud of his results.
He set the potion aside and began cleaning the laboratory, his movements methodical as he tidied up the tools and wiped down the workstation. Once everything was in order, he leaned back and allowed himself a brief moment of rest.
---
Hours later, after replenishing his strength, Leonard retrieved the potion from the shelf. He uncorked the vial and took a cautious sniff.
The smell hit him immediately; sharp, pungent, and oddly reminiscent of 'burnt rubber'. Leonard's nose wrinkled in distaste.
"Why does it smell so bad?" he muttered, holding the potion up to the light. Despite the unpleasant odor, the potion's shimmering consistency reassured him. He had carefully measured every ingredient, every step. There was no reason to doubt its effectiveness.
After a moment's hesitation, Leonard's expression hardened with resolve. "I know exactly what's in this. Even if something went wrong, it won't kill me."
With that thought, he tilted the vial back and downed the potion in a single gulp.
The taste was as awful as the smell, but Leonard didn't have time to dwell on it. Almost immediately, a strange sensation washed over him. His body felt light, almost weightless, as if he were floating above the ground. His thoughts spiraled outward, expanding in countless directions like ripples on water.
---
When Leonard finally opened his eyes, he was stunned.
"It worked," he whispered, amazement lighting up his face.
Just the day before, he had condensed an earth ring during meditation, a process that usually required a "buffer period" before another could be formed. Yet now, after using the potion, that buffer had been bypassed entirely. Another earth ring had formed during his meditation, pushing his mental power even further.
"This potion…" Leonard murmured, staring at the empty vial. "It's more effective than I thought."
The possibilities swirled in his mind. With this potion, his growth as a wizard could accelerate dramatically. Every day of meditation would yield results far beyond what was previously possible.
Leonard's lips curled into a determined smile. "This is only the beginning."
With the knowledge he'd gained and the tools he now had, Leonard felt ready to tackle the next stage of his journey. There was still much to learn, but for the first time in a long while, he felt like he had the momentum to take on whatever lay ahead.
"When you arrive at the Wizard Continent this time, remember to contact your great-grandfather's great-grandfather," the elegant man in the carriage said, his voice calm but commanding. He smoothed the cuff of his luxurious coat as he spoke. "He left for the Wizard Continent long before you were even born. Over the years, we've received occasional letters. It's said that he has become a legendary wizard."
The man paused, his sharp gaze locking onto the boy seated across from him. "Listen to your great-grandfather when the time comes. Learn from him. And Hans, strive to make your name stand out among wizards as well."
Sitting opposite him was a blond-haired boy, his skin pale and flawless, as though crafted from porcelain. His tailored clothing hinted at wealth and status, each thread carefully selected to reflect his noble upbringing. Hans nodded obediently, though his mind was elsewhere, imagining the grandeur of the Wizard Continent.
---
Outside the carriage, several others had stopped in front of the sprawling manor. A group of similarly dressed young nobles, all bearing the same haughty demeanor, stepped down from the carriages, their movements precise and elegant.
The group gathered near the steps of the manor, their eyes gleaming with excitement. "The Wizard Continent," one of them murmured, his voice full of longing.
Hans stood at the center, his posture confident, his gaze scanning his companions. "Tomorrow," he began, his tone authoritative, "we'll pay a visit to the local nobility here at Bangor Port."
One of the young men frowned. "A visit to the Viscount? This is Bangor Port; a backwater. Why should we, marquises, lower ourselves to call on someone of lesser rank?"
Hans shook his head, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "Rules are rules, even here. The Viscount may be insignificant compared to us, but protocol must be observed. We aren't just representing ourselves, we represent the Golden Wind family."
The others exchanged glances but fell silent, recognizing the truth in his words.
---
Later that evening, Hans rode through the dim streets of Bangor Port in a finely crafted carriage. Beside him sat the family's butler, an older man with a rigid posture and an air of quiet competence.
The carriage came to a halt in front of a rundown building. The butler stepped down first and opened the door for Hans, who wrinkled his nose at the decrepit surroundings.
"Is this where the wizard connected to our family resides?" Hans asked, his voice tinged with disbelief as he gazed at the dilapidated dungeon before him.
"Yes," the butler replied respectfully. "This wizard, Roger, has served as the family's contact here for some time. I've handled most of the communications with him personally."
Hans's expression twisted into a sneer. "A civilian wizard… how fortunate for him that our family even bothered to notice his existence."
He stepped out of the carriage, brushing dust from his coat as though it might sully his pristine appearance. The arrogance in his posture was palpable. In Hans's mind, this "pariah" wizard should be groveling for the opportunity to serve him.
"Let's make this quick," Hans muttered, striding toward the dungeon with the butler following closely behind.
---
Hans's thoughts drifted as they entered the dungeon. He had no real interest in Roger as a person. To Hans, Roger was just another tool, a "follower" to add to his retinue as he journeyed to the Wizard Continent.
The Golden Wind family had learned long ago that survival on the ships to the Wizard Continent was far from guaranteed. Accidents, sabotage, and competition between aspiring wizards were common. Even nobles weren't immune.
But having 'disposable allies' wizards like Roger who could be manipulated, was invaluable. They could absorb the brunt of danger, provide support, or serve as 'cannon fodder' in the deadly trials that awaited on the island selection process.
Hans's lips curled into a cold smile. His father had taught him well. "Speak to their pride. Feed them scraps of respect, and they'll worship you like a king." These ignorant, lucky commoners would never know they were being used until it was far too late.
---
The dungeon was dark and damp, the air heavy with the stench of decay. Hans's boots clicked against the stone floor as he and the butler descended the stairs.
As they approached the final chamber, the butler slowed, his sharp eyes scanning the open door ahead. A flicker of unease crossed his face.
"Something's not right," the butler said cautiously.
Hans frowned. "What do you mean?"
The butler didn't answer. Instead, he stepped ahead of Hans, pushing open the door fully. Inside, the sight that greeted them froze them both in place.
The 'stitched monster' the grotesque creation Roger had been so proud of, lay crumpled on the floor, its bloated body scorched and lifeless. Scattered bones littered the ground, the remnants of Roger's skeletal frame. The air still carried the faint scent of smoke and burnt flesh.
The butler's face darkened. "He's dead."
Hans stood in stunned silence, his mind racing. The "followers" his family had so carefully prepared for him, the wizard and his monster; were gone. Wiped out before he even had the chance to meet them.
The shock quickly turned to anger. Hans's fists clenched at his sides, and his face twisted in fury.
"How dare he?" Hans hissed through gritted teeth. "How dare this 'damned pariah' die without my permission?"
The butler remained silent, but his sharp eyes scanned the room, taking in the signs of a battle. Whoever had killed Roger wasn't just some common thug. There had been precision in the way the stitched monster and Roger were taken down.
Hans's gaze burned as he stared at the remains. He wasn't just angry at Roger's death; he was angry at the lost opportunity, the humiliation.
"Find out who did this," Hans growled, his voice low and dangerous. "I want to know who thought they could take what belongs to the Golden Wind family."
The butler bowed slightly. "Understood, young master."
Hans turned sharply and stalked out of the dungeon, his thoughts churning. The journey to the Wizard Continent was already fraught with uncertainty, and now, one of his key assets was gone. But Hans was not one to back down.
"If someone thinks they can get in my way, they'll regret it," Hans muttered to himself, his eyes flashing with cold determination. "This is only the beginning."
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