Lord: Starting with Biological Modification

The Royal Capital, Arcane Path.

Hailed as the heart of the kingdom, the very air of this street was thick with the scent of Golden Suns and Magic Power.

Beneath the ever-burning magic streetlights, the robes of Mages brushed against the silk of nobles, creating a soft rustle. The scabbards at Mercenaries’ waists knocked against merchants’ coin purses, creating a crisp rhythm.

Today was one of Lilia’s rare days off, and Velin had waited specifically for this day to accompany her on a stroll down the famous magical commercial street.

"Brother, look!" Lilia tugged on Velin’s sleeve, pointing to a shop window.

Inside the window, a miniature elemental creature, imprisoned within a Crystal Ball, was furiously ramming against the inner surface, sending out a ripple with every impact.

"If you like it, I’ll buy it," Velin said, his tone casual.

Lilia was surprised at first, but then she hesitated. "But... everything here is so expensive."

"Money is meant to be spent," Velin said lightly. "Besides, the Golden Suns aren’t gone. They’ve just changed form to stay with us."

’He certainly wasn’t short on money now.’

Sales of the "Final" Magic Potion had already exceeded ten thousand Golden Suns.

According to their prior agreement, the Klein Clan, having shouldered the greatest political risks and provided the sales channels, took forty percent. The remaining sixty percent went to the Origin Association.

Velin didn’t keep all this money for himself. After all, the Golden Sail Commerce Association had provided the manpower and resources for everything, from the initial screening of raw materials to their cultivation and planting.

Even after deducting these costs, a huge sum of nearly four thousand Golden Suns still ended up in Velin’s own pocket.

But Velin knew this money was well spent.

Without Count Leman’s prestige and influence within the Royal Capital’s top aristocratic circles, or Caroline’s highly efficient commercial machine, he would have been lost. On his own, he wouldn’t just have failed to make money; he probably wouldn’t have even survived the first wave of the Church’s assault.

’Leave professional matters to the professionals.’

’My job is to maintain a firm grip on the core technology and use shared interests as a bond to tie more and more allies to my side.’

"Brother?" Lilia’s voice pulled him from his thoughts. "What are you thinking about? You’re so lost in thought."

"Nothing," Velin said, pulling his thoughts back to the present.

He casually bought the elemental Crystal Ball for Lilia. Then, at her suggestion, he also picked out several valuable magical items as gifts for Count Leman, Caroline, and his subordinates in the Grey Marsh Territory.

The speed at which he was spending money made the jaws of the guards following them drop.

For their last stop, Velin took Lilia to the most central building on Arcane Path—the Tower of All Magic.

This was the most famous Magic Shop in the entire kingdom, operated directly by the Royal Capital Magic Academy.

The tower was tall and imposing, its surface etched with flowing silver Runes that emanated powerful fluctuations of Magic Power.

The first-floor hall was bustling with people, selling commonly available Magic Materials and enchanted equipment.

Velin walked directly toward an elevator inside.

A well-dressed elven attendant stepped forward and bowed gracefully. "Sir, the upper floors are for members only. You will need to present your qualification badge."

Velin said nothing, simply handing over a bank draft from the Mithril Vault.

After seeing the numbers and the seal on the draft, the attendant’s pupils contracted slightly, and his attitude changed instantly.

"Honored guest, you have clearance to enter the restricted area on the top floor. Please, follow me."

The elevator ascended smoothly, completely sealing off the clamor from the outside world.

The top floor had no extraneous decorations. The space was open and quiet, with only a few display platforms protected by force field shields.

A middle-aged Mage with a serious expression, dressed in silver-trimmed robes, stood in the center of the hall. He saw Velin and gave a slight nod in acknowledgment.

"Baron Klein," he said with a slight nod. "I am this year’s executive Mage, Kuiling. On behalf of the Royal Capital Mage Academy, I welcome you."

"I must remind you that every item on this floor has been certified by the Academy’s masters. They are powerful and extremely dangerous."

Velin’s gaze swept over the display platforms, reading the labels, and quickly locked onto a special section.

Master Kuiling spoke up at the right moment, his tone carrying a note of caution.

"The exhibits here are all ’byproducts’ from the Academy’s research, or dangerous materials that cannot be utilized through conventional means."

"For every single one, an alchemical formula to remove its curse and side effects has yet to be found. Many have tried feeding them to Magical Beasts with powerful life force, but without exception, they all failed, just wasting their Golden Suns."

Velin skimmed the labels.

[Ghoul’s Claw: Consuming raw grants ’Paralyzing Touch’ for thirty minutes. Side effect: permanent muscle atrophy. Price: One hundred Golden Suns.]

[Griffin’s Heartstone: Direct ingestion grants ’Eagle Eye Vision’ for one year. Side effect: irreversible chronic brain damage. Price: Two hundred eighty Golden Suns.]

Ignoring the negative effects, their prices were absurdly low.

Velin’s mind began to race. ’It’s highly likely that my creation—the bug queen, Sarah—will be immune to these side effects that target higher life forms!’

’An insect’s simple physiological system is a natural barrier against curses meant for more advanced beings.’

’The prerequisite for "brain damage" is having a brain that’s complex enough to be damaged!’

’And with the support of my system, there might be some unexpected results!’

With this in mind, he began searching for an exhibit that would be a better match for Sarah, and his eyes fell upon a standalone display platform.

Inside the force field shield, a pale purple, fragmented piece of brain tissue was steeping in a solution. Its surface was covered in deep grooves, and it radiated intense waves of Spiritual Power.

"What about this one?" Velin asked, pointing to it.

Kuiling’s eyebrows rose slightly, a strange look in his eyes.

"The [Fragmented Mastermind of a Heartstealer], the only spoil of war from hunting a Level 7 Heartstealer. According to historical records, consuming it directly offers an extremely small chance of a massive surge in Spiritual Power, or even the awakening of powerful psychic abilities."

He paused, then added with emphasis.

"Of course, there is a much higher probability that the consumer’s brain will liquefy, unable to withstand the vast and complex information remaining within it, and they will be reduced to an imbecile."

"And the price?"

The corner of Kuiling’s mouth curved into a smirk as he stated a price he was sure would scare the baron away.

"One thousand Golden Suns. That’s the reserve price set by the Academy to recoup research costs."

Lilia felt a wave of dizziness.

’A thousand Golden Suns for something that would most likely make your brain explode?’

"I’ll take it."

Velin’s voice wasn’t loud, but it stunned everyone present.

Lilia stared at him in disbelief.

Kuiling hadn’t expected this either. The Academy had long since given up on selling the item, waiting instead for some future genius Caster to solve the problem.

Velin didn’t give him time to think, pointing to several other displays.

"Also, the crystallized tear of the Petrifying Lizard, the Griffin’s Heartstone, and that vocal organ of the Deep Sea Naga. Pack them all up."

The look in Kuiling’s eyes changed.

’If buying one was madness, then buying a whole pile of high-risk scrap is completely beyond my comprehension.’

He looked at Velin, thought for a moment, and gave up on trying to dissuade him. ’After all, why not be happy to get rid of this troublesome inventory?’

"The total is one thousand, eight hundred and seventy-three Golden Suns."

Kuiling personally supervised his subordinates as they packed each of the "cursed objects" into special iron boxes engraved with insulating Runes.

Walking out of the Tower of All Magic, Velin was already looking forward to returning to his territory and preparing an experiment worthy of the Heartstealer’s mastermind.