Chapter 139: Potion Experiment
Natalia left her father’s study. On the way back, she was still trying to think of a reason to make Duane stay for a few more days.
’Invite him to tour the Silent Shore?’
’It’s a good idea, but a Count’s daughter spending too much time with another man would invite gossip.’
’Invite him to discuss Magic or Magic Potion Study?’
’Too bad he’s a Warrior.’
"Eleanor, what reason do you think would be appropriate?" she asked her personal guard.
Eleanor thought for a moment before saying, "Frankly, any reason will do. If Baron Duane hopes to receive the Count’s help, your sudden request for him to stay should lead him to guess that the Count might be willing to see him."
"That may be true, but we can’t just have him stay in an inn for a few days, can we? If word of that got out, it would reflect poorly on both the Kennedy Family and Duane."
"Yes, you have a point."
Duane was not the Count’s subordinate. In fact, both he and Kais were vassals of the King. They were both Lords, and theoretically, there was no difference in their standing.
If the Kennedy Clan made a Baron wait in an inn for a few days before meeting him, people would say they were arrogant. In contrast, Duane would appear rather subservient.
The two families had no feud between them, so there was no need to create such a situation.
Eleanor considered this. "Perhaps we could invite him to Elwin’s birthday banquet?"
"Huh?"
Natalia frowned. "Wouldn’t that be inappropriate?"
"Elwin’s invitation says you may bring friends or family. If you treat Baron Duane as your friend, then it wouldn’t be inappropriate at all."
Eleanor hesitated. "However, if you’re really going, it would be best to inform the other party."
Natalia’s delicate brows knitted together. A gentle breeze in the woods stirred her long, silver hair, revealing a face with a slightly cool expression.
She was somewhat reluctant.
After all, this person—Elwin—had invited her many times, and she had found excuses to politely decline on most occasions.
Her father, Kais, also approved of this approach.
In Grant Province, the Kennedy Clan held the top position, with the Calvin Clan a close second.
Both families were direct vassals of the King and were in competition with each other.
A few years ago, the Calvin Clan had wanted to marry their third daughter to Lloyd, but Count Kais had politely refused.
Now, Elwin’s enthusiasm probably stemmed from a similar intention.
’Perhaps an exchange between peers would be more interesting?’
Natalia thought about it and decided it was feasible. After all, the two families had to maintain a harmonious facade, and refusing him repeatedly wasn’t appropriate.
Besides, Duane was all alone on Black Forest Island. It would be good for him to interact with people his own age now that he was in the Silent Shore.
"In that case, help me write a reply later. Say that I’ll attend Elwin’s banquet, and also mention that I’ll be bringing Baron Duane with me."
She tapped her lips with her finger, deliberating for a moment. "Remember to make my relationship with Duane clear. We don’t want any misunderstandings."
"I understand, Miss." Eleanor bowed slightly.
Meanwhile, after leaving Sea Cliff Castle, Duane went to the Magic Potion Shop in the city and began a massive shopping spree.
Over the course of a few hours, he purchased varying quantities of Bull Potions, Iron Wall Blood, Soul-Burning Fighting Qi Potions, Hemostatic Potions, Bear Heart Burning Blood Secret Medicine, and other Magic Potions.
All in all, he spent a grand total of 1,262 Gold Coins!
Before leaving the island, Duane had over 2,800 Gold Coins. It seemed like a fortune, but it didn’t last long when he actually started spending.
Just 143 potions had cost him nearly half his wealth.
Back in his inn room, Duane looked at the bottles and jars spread out before him, his heart aching at the expense.
He reached out and picked up a black glass bottle.
This was a Bear Heart Burning Blood Potion, suitable for an Earth Tier Warrior. After using it, one could unleash an additional fifty percent of their combat power for a short time. A single bottle cost 200 Gold Coins!
He had bought two bottles—one for himself and one for Kaelon, just in case.
"Let’s start with the ’High-Level Bull Strength Potion’."
Duane had spent this money primarily to conduct an experiment.
He wanted to see what relationship attribute points had with the level of Magic Potions.
It was embarrassing to admit, but despite having transmigrated for nearly a year, it was only today that he finally had enough money to perform such an experiment.
Downing a bottle of the potion, Duane immediately felt his body surge with power.
The effect of this Magic Potion, suitable for Advanced Warriors, was to enhance one’s explosive strength.
Soon, the potion’s effects began to fade, and Duane’s attribute points increased by 0.1.
’The side effects are quite noticeable.’
Duane wanted to drink a second bottle, but the feeling of weakness after the potion wore off made him abandon the idea.
Instead, he drank a High-Level Stamina Recovery Potion.
Soon, his attribute points increased by another 0.1, but the side effects from the Bull Potion had not been completely eliminated.
’It seems that even if the effects of Magic Potions appear to be complementary, they still can’t be taken consecutively.’
Duane stopped, planning to continue once he had fully recovered.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK~
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.
Duane found it strange. He was staying in a high-class room; logically, the attendants here shouldn’t disturb him without a reason.
"Who is it?" he asked, walking to the door.
A woman’s voice came from outside. "It’s Eleanor. I need to see you, Baron."
Duane immediately recalled the short-haired female warrior he had met during the day. According to Natalia’s introduction, she came from a Knight Clan and was a retainer of the Kennedy Family.
’Her sudden arrival must be for a reason.’
Duane opened the door while mulling this over.
Eleanor stood outside and gave a Knight’s salute. "My apologies for disturbing your rest."
"It’s no problem."
Duane asked warmly, "May I ask why you’ve come, Miss Eleanor?"
"It’s like this: my lady would like to invite you to attend Elwin’s birthday banquet."
As Eleanor spoke, she handed him a letter. "This is a letter for you from my lady."
Duane took it and opened it. The handwriting inside was elegant and graceful, inviting him to Elwin’s manor in the name of fostering exchange between peers.
Duane thought as he read.
From his interactions with her during the day, Natalia didn’t seem like the type of person who acted on a whim.
If she had intended to invite him, she would have done so when he was leaving Sea Cliff Castle, not waited until after he had left and arrived at the inn to send someone specifically to inform him.
’Something must have happened in the interim.’
Duane immediately thought of Kais. ’Could it be related to the Count?’
Seeing Duane lost in thought, Eleanor added:
"My lady mentioned that the Count will be returning to Sea Cliff Castle in the next two days. If you’re not in a hurry to leave, Baron, you could rest in the Silent Shore for a couple of days and use this banquet as a diversion."
"That’s an excellent suggestion."
Duane put the letter away and said with a smile, "It’s just that this is all rather sudden, and I haven’t prepared a gift. Besides, I don’t know this Elwin very well."
"You’ll be attending the banquet as my lady’s friend, so Sea Cliff Castle will naturally prepare the gift. As for Elwin... my apologies, I didn’t explain clearly."
Eleanor looked apologetic. "Elwin Calvin, that’s his full name. I believe you should know of him."
A look of understanding dawned on Duane’s face.
He had a significant connection to the Calvin Clan.
The Fire Source Beast Bone Soup was their specialty product.
And Elwin, it seemed, was the son of Viscount Ugo Calvin.
Now, after several of Duane’s improvements, the recipe for the Fire Source Beast Bone Soup no longer required Fire Source Beast Bones.
If he were to go into business with it in the future, the two families would likely have a conflict of interest.
After all, compared to the improved recipe, the original Fire Source Beast Bone Soup had limited competitiveness.
However, the Calvin Clan was not weak.
Although it was nominally a Viscount’s Territory, making them an ordinary Lord like a Baron, the Calvin Clan’s actual influence, built up through years of accumulation and management, was no less than that of a High Lord.
’In Grant Province, the Kennedy and Calvin families are supposed to be rivals. Now Natalia is attending Elwin’s birthday banquet... could it be that the two families intend to grow closer?’
"Forgive my presumption for asking."
Duane asked pensively, "I was wondering about Miss Natalia and Elwin... well, if they’re rather close, it seems inappropriate for me to tag along."
He didn’t want to cause any unnecessary misunderstandings.
Eleanor understood the meaning behind his unfinished sentence and smiled faintly.
"You’re overthinking it. My lady is not familiar with him. She is only attending because he invited her."
"Alright, then."
Duane smiled. "Please reply to Natalia for me. I accept her invitation."
Eleanor bowed slightly. "In that case, we will arrange for a carriage to pick you up tomorrow afternoon."