Chapter 59 - 58: Paying a Visit

Chapter 59: Chapter 58: Paying a Visit

The disappearances in Hogan City were finally resolved.

The culprit was a Mage Apprentice who had fled to Hogan City after being wanted for mastering forbidden Magic.

Even after fleeing to Hogan City, he hadn’t known to keep a low profile. He had continuously abducted local civilians just to further his research on forbidden Magic.

According to Pierre’s information, a Lord Mage from the city had personally intervened and captured the culprit red-handed while he was committing a crime.

News of the killer’s capture spread quickly, aided by deliberate propaganda. The restless and anxious atmosphere in Hogan City was finally brought under control.

This allowed Gaode to heave a long sigh of relief.

With the bizarre incidents resolved, he could finally return to farming in peace.

Farming and steady development was the absolute truth!

After thirty days of the Green Leaf Moon’s vibrant vitality, flowers bloomed as brilliantly as roaring flames. The Green Leaf Moon had passed in the blink of an eye.

It was the second day of the Flame Flower Moon.

Inside the workshop of Seda’s Medicinal Garden, the table was cluttered with various miscellaneous items. Row upon row of waste liquid from failed attempts at brewing the Basic Endurance Potion took up more than half the surface.

Gaode had his head down, meticulously documenting the process and the cause of his latest failure on paper.

As a top student who had received a modern education, his comprehensive abilities in logical and analytical thinking naturally surpassed those of most people in this world. Moreover, he had always maintained the good habit of summarizing his experiences.

"Summarizing experiences" sounded simple, but in reality, let alone in this world, even in his past life, very few people could actually do it. Countless people, whether in their studies or their careers, would repeat the exact same mistakes the next time they encountered the same problem.

Commonly known as never learning one’s lesson.

In short, Gaode thoroughly recorded and analyzed the process and cause of every single failed Magic Potion-brewing attempt. And before attempting to brew the Magic Potion again, he would mentally review everything.

This ensured that even without a famous teacher’s guidance, relying solely on a single Magic Potion formula to feel his way forward through trial and error, he maintained steady progress and always stayed on the right path.

Coupled with the talent for Magic Potions he had inherited from his predecessor, his continuous attempts brought him closer and closer to successfully brewing his first Basic Endurance Potion.

"This time, I’ll push through and succeed in one fell swoop!"

Gaode flipped through his previous notes one more time. Once he was certain that he had memorized all the common points of failure, he decided to make his final attempt of the day.

Focusing his attention, he placed the three main ingredients required for the Basic Endurance Potion into separate wooden bowls.

First was the Demonization step.

The High Mountain Iron Wood Root was used for its "drought and cold resistance" properties, while the Fiery Sun Fruit was used for its "fiery" nature.

He placed the Demonized Fiery Sun Fruit pit into a mortar, added an appropriate amount of mountain spring water, and ground it clockwise. During the grinding process, he added a suitable amount of Wild Wolf Gland Fluid to Neutralize its fiery property. However, he had to ensure that the fiery potency of the Potion didn’t drop too low; his previous failures had all occurred at this exact step.

The mixture gradually took on a pale golden hue.

This time, the entire process was completed in one smooth, uninterrupted flow.

As the final supplementary ingredient was added to the liquid, a flash of Magic Spirit Light flickered before quickly dimming.

"I did it!"

As the Magic Spirit Light flashed and faded, Gaode’s taut Spirit instantly relaxed, and a satisfied smile graced his face.

He had finally succeeded.

His first successful brew of the Basic Endurance Potion.

Although the Spiritual Light wasn’t bright enough, that was merely an issue of proficiency. He had made the breakthrough from zero to one; all that remained was simple, tedious practice to improve his proficiency.

"Zero Tier Magic Potions aren’t that difficult after all!" Gaode couldn’t help but sigh in realization.

He had arrived in this world on the 2nd day of the Awakening Moon, in the year 9655 of the Nolan Calendar. Today was the 2nd day of the Flame Flower Moon, 9655. Exactly three full months—ninety days—had passed.

In just three short months, the number of Magic spells Gaode had mastered had grown from the initial two to his current twelve. He figured Mage Seda’s capabilities were likely nothing more than this.

In the field of Magic Potions, he had also mastered the two best-selling Magic Potions of Seda’s Medicinal Garden.

Aside from his Mage cultivation realm being inferior to Mage Seda’s, Gaode had caught up to him in every other aspect.

At this thought, a profound sense of satisfaction filled his entire being. Mage Seda, who had seemed so lofty and unattainable three months ago, didn’t appear quite as out of reach anymore.

"Stay grounded. Don’t get arrogant," Gaode reminded himself.

After all, he knew very well that Mage Seda, whom he viewed as a major "boss," was ultimately just a Mage Apprentice.

Yes, an apprentice.

He couldn’t even be considered a true Mage yet. And the current Gaode was even further from it.

He hadn’t even stepped over the threshold of the Mage World!

While Gaode reminded himself to stay calm and grounded, the summer breeze was slightly restless, blowing in through the window.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.

The workshop door was rapped on urgently. With his permission, Amy pushed the door open and hurried inside, her expression tense.

"Gaode, someone is outside asking for you."

Gaode’s expression shifted slightly. "Who is it? How many people?"

"I don’t know who they are. There are five or six of them waiting outside the Medicinal Garden right now."

"I understand. I’ll go take a look."

Gaode frowned, genuinely unable to guess who would come looking for him.

Were they looking for him? Highly unlikely. His acquaintances in Hogan City, counting generously, consisted solely of Pierre.

Looking for Mage Seda? Even more impossible.

Based on the letters Mage Seda had left behind, Gaode was certain that the man had spent the last ten years in Hogan City in secluded cultivation, wholeheartedly dedicating himself to researching the Spirit Communication Potion. He had zero social life.

When he first arrived in Hogan City, he was fleeing from disaster. He had been desperate to hide his identity, so he certainly wouldn’t have exposed his location to any past acquaintances.

If they weren’t looking for him, and they weren’t looking for Mage Seda, who else could be visiting?

Pondering this, Gaode walked down the corridor and stepped into the Medicinal Garden’s courtyard.

Outside the main gate, five or six figures were already gathered.

Gaode opened the door.

At the forefront stood a middle-aged man dressed in luxurious attire. Behind him stood five others. Four of them were clad in coarse linen garments, and at first glance, it was obvious they were thugs or enforcers. However, Gaode recognized the last person.

It was the clerk from Phil’s Magic Pharmacy.

Upon seeing Gaode emerge, the clerk immediately stepped forward and made the introduction. "This is our manager, Mr. Oliver."

"I hope you don’t mind the sudden visit, sir," Oliver said, offering Gaode a faint smile.

Unsure of the group’s intentions, Gaode forced a polite smile and replied neither haughtily nor humbly. "You’re too polite, Mr. Oliver. It is an honor for the Medicinal Garden to receive your visit.

"It’s just that Mage Seda has been away on business recently and hasn’t returned yet. If you have any matters to discuss, it might be best to come back another day after he returns."

Oliver clapped his hands. "It seems that with Mage Seda absent, you are temporarily in charge of the Medicinal Garden.

"Since I’m already here, I won’t make a wasted trip. I came to visit today for one specific matter. I would appreciate it if you could pass the message along once Mage Seda returns."

"What is it?"

Oliver stated calmly, "Glimmer, Rose, and our Phil’s Magic Pharmacy have shared the Hogan City Magic Potion Market for many years. We three have competed both openly and in secret countless times over the years, each wanting to monopolize the market.

"However, our strength and foundations are all quite similar. Combined with mutual checks and balances, we’ve never been able to determine a clear winner."

Gaode was very familiar with this concept. A triangle was the most stable shape.

Oliver narrowed his eyes. "But recently, due to the changes outside Hogan City, the Magic Potion Market has become increasingly prosperous.

"This is an opportunity, and our store intends to seize it to grow stronger. And isn’t the first step to growth expansion?

"Our pharmacy has cooperated with your Seda’s Medicinal Garden for nearly a decade. I highly recognize Mage Seda’s abilities. Our pharmacy is interested in acquiring your Medicinal Garden and hiring Mage Seda as our Alchemist. As for the price, it’s highly negotiable.

"We may not have much else, but we have plenty of money."

Gaode remained silent.

He could tell that although Oliver was called a manager, he was ultimately just an "Advanced employee." There was a real "big boss" standing behind him.