Chapter 197: Basic Painting Perfection
The next morning, Baron Jick hastily departed.
Simone followed the fleet from behind in the ocean liner piloted by Heck.
On this trip, Duane not only sent Simone as his representative but also had Evans and Jack accompany him.
Both men had performed commendably in the recent tournament, and sending them out was a perfect opportunity for them to broaden their horizons and gain experience.
Duane put Julian and Ralph in charge of settling the six hundred laborers brought by Baron Jick.
He then briefed Kaelon and Gaius on his plan to explore the Secret Realm deep within Thorn Valley.
Of course, they wouldn’t be leaving right away.
After all, Kaelon and Gaius still had various defense and training duties to arrange.
Duane also took advantage of their preparation time to improve his own strength.
「A few nights later.」
The light from the Magic Energy Lamp illuminated his study.
Julian, Ralph, and Liss arrived together to report on the progress of settling the laborers.
General inquiries revealed that these people were among the poorest of the Silent Shore, with some even on the verge of selling themselves into slavery.
They had answered Count Kais’s summons to work on Black Forest Island simply to ensure they had enough food to eat.
Many in the group were twenty-four or twenty-five years old but hadn’t started a family.
In this world, commoners typically had children by seventeen or eighteen. Marrying at twenty was a privilege reserved for the nobility.
As things stood, these single men in their mid-twenties were fated to die alone, barring any unforeseen circumstances.
Of course, they wanted to start families, but their circumstances made it impossible.
After all, another mouth to feed required more grain, which they simply couldn’t provide.
And now, the "unexpected" had arrived in their lives.
Duane paid special attention to these single laborers.
He offered them opportunities to earn extra income. As long as they were diligent, there was money to be earned, food to be eaten, and land to be farmed on the island.
If, through their hard work, they won the favor of one of the island’s women and started a family, Duane, as the Lord, would not only give them a modest gift of one hundred pounds of grain but also grant them a plot of land to build a house and the privilege of reduced taxes.
Once Julian and the other two understood this, they couldn’t help but marvel.
’The Lord has truly thought of every single step to increase the territory’s population.’
Afterward, while giving the trio high-level guidance on matters of the territory, Duane was also at his desk, sketching a complex palace design.
Over an hour later, Julian, Ralph, and Liss departed.
He, too, finally finished his last stroke.
[You have successfully created an exquisite and complex drawing. Basic Painting has reached the Perfection Level.]
[Attribute Points +0.5]
[Perfection Level Basic Painting has triggered an Enlightenment, granting you the ’Solidification Spell’ Model, a Magic Ink recipe, the method for creating Spell Scrolls, and +3 attribute points.]
"Basic Painting is finally at the Perfection Level!"
A joyful smile spread across Duane’s face.
Though it was called painting, by the end, he was using the techniques entirely for drawing blueprints.
In the past few days, he had not only drawn the exterior and interior of the palace he envisioned but had also drafted plans for the brick and tile kilns needed for Chinese-style architecture.
After all, palaces and houses built only from wood, without proper bricks and tiles, would always feel like they were missing something.
And to produce bricks and tiles, he would need to build kilns in the territory.
Fortunately, the territory already had people and a site for firing pottery.
Duane only needed to make slight improvements to what was already there to be able to fire strong, durable bricks and tiles.
This, in turn, would create new job opportunities for the people of the territory.
If he could popularize Black Forest Island’s unique Chinese-style architecture in the future, it could even spur economic growth.
If he could find kaolin clay and produce porcelain, then Duane would have two major trade goods in this Otherworld: tea and porcelain.
Duane turned his attention to the abilities he had gained from the Enlightenment.
A moment later, he had fully processed the new information.
To put it simply, reaching the Perfection Level in Basic Painting had given Duane the ability to create Spell Scrolls.
Magic Ink was used to draw the Spell Models, and the recipe for Basic Magic Ink was:
Pine wood soot + animal glue + Basic Magic Energy Essences of various attributes.
Solidification Magic was a type of Sealing Technique, used to prevent the Magic Power within the Scroll from dissipating.
The method for creating a Spell Scroll involved using Magic Ink to draw a Spell Model onto a specific type of "paper," infusing it with Magic Power, and finally casting the Solidification Magic.
This "paper" was usually made from the hide of a Demon Beast, though for a gentle Level 1 Magic like the Clear Wind Technique, even simple parchment could be used for the scroll.
’A single Level 3 Magic Spell Scroll of Flame Burst Technique sells for 60 Gold Coins, while a Level 4 Magic Spell Scroll of Blazing Core Burst goes for a staggering 900 Gold Coins!’
Duane analyzed the costs and realized that as long as his success rate was high enough, creating and selling Spell Scrolls could be an extremely profitable venture.
’With my Skill Level, the success rate is bound to be high. That means the profits will be even greater.’
’The downside, however, is the same as with Enchanted Weapons: I’m the only one who can do it. Therefore, making money from Spell Scrolls will have to be a low-volume, high-quality enterprise.’
Duane didn’t have time to mass-produce Low-Level Spell Scrolls to dominate the market.
His best course of action was to increase his own power and create High Level Spell Scrolls.
’Basic Magic Ink can be used to inscribe magic up to Level 3, and the required pine wood soot and animal glue are easy to obtain.’
There were pine trees on Black Forest Island, and Fish Glue could be used for the animal glue.
’To make a Flame Technique Spell Scroll, for example, I’d need Basic Fire Energy Essence.’
Basic Fire Energy Essence was also a component in Enchanted Blazing Fire, which meant it was a rare material.
’I wonder if creating a Level 1 Flame Skill Scroll and a Level 1 Clear Wind Skill Scroll are considered one skill or if they’re counted separately.’
If they were counted separately, Duane could gain a massive amount of attribute points from learning magic and creating Spell Scrolls.
’I’ll experiment when I get back from Thorn Valley!’
Duane reined in his thoughts and looked at his attribute panel.
[Strength]: 41.5
[Spirit]: 6.8
[Attribute Points]: 3.5
Over the last two days, he had reached the Entry Level in the Level 1 Magic spells Clear Wind Technique and Flame Technique, gaining 0.2 attribute points and raising his Strength to 41.5.
He invested all his remaining attribute points into his Strength Attribute.
In an instant, his skin, bones, and internal organs were further nourished and strengthened.
’I’ve reached the limit of the Earth Tier!’
Duane was in excellent physical condition. The Fighting Qi in the Qi Sea in his abdomen had become incredibly dense.
It was just one step away from vaporizing and condensing into liquid form.
The liquefaction of Fighting Qi was the hallmark of a Celestial Tier Warrior.
This was why the Fighting Qi inside a Celestial Tier Warrior was so abundant.
’As long as I raise my Spirit and my body reaches the Perfection Level for an Earth Tier Warrior, I’ll be able to break through.’
His Spirit Attribute Value was 6.8, but with no data for reference, Duane didn’t know what value he needed to reach to meet the requirements for a breakthrough.
Duane was ambitious. ’I’ll train hard on this trip to Thorn Valley. If I can increase the Skill Level of a few more skills, that should be enough for me to break through!’
Barring any surprises, he would most likely return as a Celestial Tier Warrior.
「The next morning.」
Kaelon and Gaius, clad in armor, arrived early at Forest Castle.
The two men were in different states of mind.
Kaelon knew of Duane’s strength, so he wasn’t worried about their safety on the journey.
Gaius, however, was different. He had experienced the despair a Secret Realm could induce.
Even though he was now a Human Tier Warrior, the very thought of it filled him with lingering fear.
If not for his obedience and loyalty to the Baron, he would never have accepted this "guide" assignment.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
Duane walked out. He had a Big Ring Saber and a Shield strapped to his back and held a Storm Greatsword in his hand. The Armor he wore gave him an incredibly steadfast appearance.
Beside him stood Owington, holding a spear in one hand and a staff in the other.
The spear had an oaken shaft and an iron tip;
the staff, on the other hand, was forged entirely from iron.
"Here, hold these for me."
Duane handed the Long Spear and the iron staff to Kaelon and Gaius.
Gaius took the iron staff automatically, asking in confusion,
"My Lord, why are you bringing so many weapons?"
"I’m going to improve my Staff Skill through actual combat," Duane explained casually. "That way, the Guards who like to use staves as a weapon will also have room to improve."
His Staff Skill Level was still at the Skilled Level, and it was nearly impossible to raise it without real combat.
The same went for his Spear Skill.
Gaius’s face lit up with understanding and admiration. "For the Guards to have a master like you is the greatest fortune of their lives!"
Taking the rations and a waterskin prepared by Mara, the three men left the castle.
They passed through Forest Village and Hutou Village, entering Thorn Valley in the light of the rising sun.