Chapter 116: Extraction Spell
Garrot’s merchant caravan was very powerful overall.
If Black Forest Island didn’t have Duane, or if Duane hadn’t managed to consolidate the island’s factions in time, Garrot’s forces, if they had allied with Bard or Daniels, could have posed a fatal threat to him.
Fortunately, Black Forest Island was now united, with no one causing trouble.
At the Lingang Village guesthouse.
Having received the intelligence, Garrot and his people completely abandoned the idea of a show of force.
The top-tier combatants on both sides were roughly equal.
Even though Garrot believed he was stronger than Kaelon, and Blake believed he was stronger than that what’s-his-name Raymond, the disparity in the number of basic warriors and elite soldiers was too great.
If they tried to intimidate Duane with force, they might end up humiliating themselves.
Left with no other choice, he could only opt to do business by the book.
「That evening, at the Lord’s Villa.」
Garrot attended the banquet with his core subordinates, along with Lady Selena and Knight Brisson.
Unlike when Bard and Daniels’s men had attended a banquet, Garrot presented a salt cellar upon his arrival.
This gesture symbolized an incorruptible friendship, and once accepted, it meant neither party would plot against the other.
Of course, this was just a formality. When it was time to backstab, the nobility would still backstab.
They just usually wouldn’t do it so openly.
On his side, Duane had also gathered all his elite soldiers. Besides Kaelon and the others, Hardy, Kubatu, Iron Hammer, and even Jack and John were pulled in to make up the numbers.
"Baron, I didn’t get a chance to introduce you at noon. This is Lady Selena, wife of Baron Torre Courtney. She is a mysterious and powerful Level 4 Mage, you know!"
Selena wore a sky-blue dress, her long golden hair coiled upon her shoulders.
Although she wore little jewelry, she exuded an air of nobility and elegance—the complete opposite of the impression Kalina gave.
"Welcome, Lady Courtney!"
Duane bowed formally. "It is truly my honor to have such a beautiful and powerful Mage attending the banquet tonight!"
Selena maintained a friendly smile, but her expression stiffened almost imperceptibly when she heard "Lady Courtney."
She recovered almost instantly. "Thank you for the warm reception. The honor is all mine!"
Duane took the opportunity to introduce his own subordinates.
After the lively welcome, everyone took their seats in the main hall.
As this was a banquet to entertain nobility—and foreign nobility at that—Ralph, not wanting to disgrace his master, had arranged everything himself.
Everything was done according to proper etiquette.
Only three people sat at the head table: Baron Duane, Broken Reef Knight Garrot, and Lady Selena.
The others were seated at long tables below, arranged not by title, as most had none, but by strength, stretching all the way to the doors.
At first, everything was very formal. But after a few cups of wine, the conversation picked up, especially when Garrot heard that Kaelon and Raymond had come from the Kingdom Legion.
Eventually, Garrot raised his wine cup and, after getting Duane’s permission, went over to the long tables to boast and banter.
This prompted Ralph to mutter under his breath that, according to etiquette, one should not move about freely, as it showed contempt for the Baron’s authority.
Duane, however, didn’t much care. He could see that they were all worldly men.
The only one maintaining an elegant demeanor was, perhaps, Lady Selena.
She was currently cutting her mutton with a silver knife and fork, her movements gentle yet clean and efficient.
Perhaps noticing the Baron’s gaze, Selena smiled faintly and raised her wine cup.
"Thank you for your hospitality, Baron. This is the most delicious food I have eaten in a month!"
She pointed to the two stir-fried dishes before her. "I will certainly remember their taste."
"I’m glad you’re enjoying it, my lady!" Duane raised his cup and lightly clinked it against hers.
"You may call me Selena," she said, taking a small sip.
She said it so naturally that Duane didn’t read any other meaning into it.
"Alright, Lady Selena!"
Duane took a sip of wine. "I’ve heard that Mages are divided into two types, Elemental and Arcane. I wonder which one you belong to?"
At the mention of Magic, Selena seemed to grow more interested; after all, it was the source of her greatest pride.
"I am both."
She explained with a smile, "In fact, you can think of Arcane as a rather special ’Element’."
"Just as I thought!"
Seeing that she was willing to talk, Duane set down his wine cup, deciding to have a proper conversation.
There was a faint "teacher-like" quality in Selena’s tone, and through their conversation, Duane learned that she had actually been a teacher at the Starfall Islands Magic Academy.
Duane learned a great deal about Magic from her, as well as a Mage’s expertise in Magic Potions and Enchantment.
And besides her impressive magical abilities, Selena was also an Alchemist.
"In Alchemy, the most important and most basic ability is ’Extraction.’ It’s how Mages obtain Extraordinary materials from various Demon Beasts and Magic Plants."
As she spoke, the five fingers of her right hand twitched, and soon a ball of red energy swirled around her fingertips, spreading out to finally envelop the wine cup before her.
"Like this."
She explained, "If this wine cup were a Fire Attribute Demon Core, I could extract what I want from it, for example, Basic Fire Energy Essence."
"Oh?"
Duane’s eyes lit up, but he was also puzzled. "Basic Fire Energy Essence... isn’t that used for Enchantment?"
"Indeed, some Enchantments require it, but that is certainly not its only use."
Selena dispersed the Magic. "The knowledge of Magic is as vast as the ocean. If you ever have the chance to truly delve into it, you will feel your own insignificance."
"Hmm..."
Duane nodded in agreement.
"I was wondering, could I purchase the Spell Model for ’Basic Extraction’ from you?"
Selena was taken aback. "Are you a Mage?"
’I thought the Baron was a Warrior?’
Duane shook his head with a smile. "Not at the moment. But as you know, I am the Lord here. Perhaps one day a Mage will appear in my Territory, and I’ll have something to guide them with."
Selena nodded slightly. "You truly are a Lord who thinks of his people!"
An apologetic look appeared on her face. "But I am very sorry. I learned my knowledge from the Star Sea Magic Academy. Unless you are a student there, I cannot impart it to you. Please forgive me!"
Selena came from a common background and had only distinguished herself through her talent for Magic, eventually becoming a Magic Class teacher at the Star Sea Academy.
Her access to this knowledge was surely bound by restrictions on its dissemination.
"I see. That is a real shame!" Duane was a little disappointed.
He had already obtained the "Blazing Fire" Enchantment Formula from Daniels. Now he was just missing three things.
First, the Enchantment Spell Model. The other two were materials: Basic Fire Energy Essence and Magic Crystal Powder.
In their conversation just now, Selena had mentioned that one could obtain Fire Energy Essence by using Extraction on a Fire Attribute Demon Core.
That’s why Duane’s first thought was to get his hands on the Spell Model for Extraction so he could learn it in the future.
"Haha, the Baron wants to learn the ’Blazing Fire’ Enchantment, doesn’t he?"
Garrot had finished his drinking and returned to the head table.
Duane was a little surprised, but then he recalled that Daniels had mentioned obtaining an Enchantment Spell Model as part of this trade. Garrot must know he had the "Blazing Fire" Enchantment Formula.
"Indeed."
He stated firmly, "Daniels said he wanted to purchase an Enchantment Spell Model from you. Though he is dead, I have the same need."
"Yes, we brought it!"
Garrot gave a clear answer.
"The Basic Fire Energy Essence and Magic Crystal Powder needed for Blazing Fire are both obtained through the Extraction Spell, a spell which Lady Selena has already mastered."
He said with a smile, "Although she cannot sell you the Extraction Spell Model, you can certainly ask her to extract these two materials for you. Of course, you will need to pay for her services."
Selena smiled. "It’s no trouble. I can help you for free, twice."
Duane immediately stood up. "Then I am truly grateful!"
He quickly turned around. "Ralph, go and fetch the Fiery Flame Fire Serpent Demon Core and the Magic Crystal Stone!"