Chapter 171: Firecrest's Breakthrough
Henk held the paper as if he were carrying a mountain, feeling immense pressure.
He took a deep breath and said with a strained voice, "Lord Rhett, I... I'll do my best! But I can't guarantee success yet. This isn't an ordinary alchemical potion; it requires extremely advanced alchemical skills. Only those alchemists who can consistently achieve an 80-90% success rate with their potions can ensure steady production. As for me, even if I succeed, the failure rate will likely be alarmingly high."
Rhett smiled slightly and waved his hand, saying, "It's alright. Regardless of the outcome, just being able to produce it would be a huge success! Black Raven's Grief is such a closely guarded secret that it's rarely available, even on the black market. If you can create it, it will not only strengthen our territory's overall power but also be a profitable venture if sold on the black market!"
Moreover, Rhett believed that by mid-year, when the alchemy master visited and guided Henk, creating Black Raven's Grief would no longer be a problem!
Henk slowly nodded, his eyes growing fervent as he gazed at the formula for Black Raven's Grief. Although he knew it would be difficult, he also saw it as a rare opportunity for growth!
"Lord Rhett, I will keep this formula strictly confidential. I will also ensure that all alchemy experiments are conducted under tight security!" Henk hesitated before adding, "But..."
"But what? Speak freely!" Rhett encouraged.
"This alchemy lab, while spacious and sufficient for many people to work in, lacks privacy." Henk looked around and suggested, "So I propose setting up a separate room as a secure space for me to work on Black Raven's Grief."
Rhett nodded in agreement, "I understand. However, it's no longer practical to set up a new alchemy lab here. In a short while, I plan to relocate the territory to the area near the Dark Marked Eagle Branch. Once we're there, we'll adjust various setups and create a large alchemy research base that will meet all your needs!"
"Relocating the territory and building a large alchemy research base? That sounds fantastic!" Henk's eyes lit up. "But we'll also need to procure some materials that our territory currently lacks to create Black Raven's Grief."
"Prepare a list and give it to Relay. Also, I plan to have Unika, that young girl, learn the basics of alchemy with you. What do you think?" Rhett asked.
"That apprentice mage? I've met her once, and she seems quite sensible. If she's interested in alchemy, I don't mind teaching her the basics," Henk replied thoughtfully.
With that, Rhett left the alchemy lab.
Winter's cold winds swept through Hawk Town, shaking the bare branches of the trees along the gray stone road, creating eerie sounds that mingled with the enthusiastic shouts of the knights training, forming a strange symphony.
As Rhett walked through the gates, he saw Relay instructing Unika in close combat—teaching her magic. Unika listened intently, her small face focused.
After a while, Relay stopped teaching and waited patiently.
Unika pondered for a moment before closing her eyes and began channeling her apprentice-level magic, trying to control the surrounding water elements to compress and form a water ball.
However, the blue shimmer in the air quickly dissipated into a mist of water.
Unika looked down in frustration, "I failed, Mr. Relay!"
Relay smiled encouragingly, "Don't worry. It's normal for first attempts to fail. The problem you encountered is common among beginners—your control over mental energy is still too rough. For us mages, mental energy can be likened to a unique organ that needs to be trained. Meditation strengthens its power but doesn't necessarily improve control. So, Unika, you need to focus on stabilizing your mental energy. Practicing magic more often is the most effective way to achieve that. Water Ball is a basic spell, and mastering it isn't difficult!"
"Thank you, Mr. Relay!" Unika's face, red from the cold, brightened as she realized her mistake. "I will practice hard!"
"Good morning, Relay, Unika!" Rhett strolled over with a smile.
"Good morning, Father!" Relay turned to greet him.
"Good morning, Lord Rhett!" Unika waved her small hand cheerfully.
"Unika, I'm planning to assign you to the alchemy lab. Spending two to three hours a day learning the basics of alchemical potions should be enough," Rhett said with a smile as he approached. "If you work hard and become an alchemist, your status will improve!"
Rhett's words were more of an order than a suggestion, but Unika didn't mind. In fact, she looked forward to it, her eyes filled with excitement as she said, "Alchemy sounds so interesting..."
"It may not always be interesting, but it is definitely fascinating," Relay added, reflecting on his own feelings about alchemy. Although it wasn't his passion, he couldn't deny its profound intricacies.
"I'm willing, Lord Rhett!" Unika's clear voice echoed her enthusiasm.
"Haha, you'll be glad you made this choice one day. We'll start tomorrow," Rhett said with a smile, already thinking about the alchemy master who would visit the territory in six months.
The reason he wanted all the mages under his command to dabble in alchemy was also related to that alchemy master—there would be benefits to gain in the future.
After all, even though there was only one alchemy handbook, theoretically, an unlimited number of people could learn from it.
And the more people who studied it, the greater the collective benefit.
Perhaps this was the charm of knowledge.
"What are you willing to do, Unika?" Makov stretched lazily as he walked over from outside the training ground, his steps relaxed and leisurely.
Since returning from the Gorge Frontline, Makov had taken a rare break from his usual meditation to enjoy a good night's sleep. Today, he felt like he had returned to his carefree life, and he couldn't have been in a better mood!
"Mr. Makov, Lord Rhett is letting me study alchemy!" Unika exclaimed.
Rhett turned to his old friend and said with a smile, "Yes, and if you're interested in learning alchemy too, I can have Henk teach you."
"No, thanks! I'm not interested!" Makov quickly waved his hands in protest. "I'm used to taking it easy, and alchemists are always under high pressure—obsessed with their craft. That's not for me! After half a year of tension at the Gorge Frontline, I'm ready to relax!"
Rhett shrugged, as if expecting Makov's response. "Alright, as you wish..."
After leaving the training ground, Rhett headed toward the East Hawk Lumberyard.
There, he found Coudine chatting and drinking tea with his workers, all looking relaxed and comfortable.
Upon hearing Rhett's approaching footsteps and the sound of wood blocks being kicked, Coudine and the other workers instinctively turned to see who it was.
Instantly, their bodies stiffened, and their relaxed expressions turned tense.
Coudine, looking excited, respectful, and a bit nervous, quickly stood up and approached Rhett, followed by his workers.
Coudine was the first to bow deeply, saying, "Honorable Lord Rhett, we haven't seen you for half a year, and my fellow workers and I have missed you greatly!"
"Yes, we're delighted to see you return, Lord Rhett!"
"We're sure the battle at the front went smoothly—no doubt you crushed those orc scum!"
"Of course, with Lord Rhett leading, victory was certain!"
The workers had heard rumors of their lord's return to the battlefield against the orcs, but details about the Gorge Frontline were scarce. Now, they eagerly awaited confirmation, offering their praise and admiration.
Rhett smiled warmly as he glanced around, noting that the number of workers at the East Hawk Lumberyard had nearly tripled since he last checked, growing from fewer than twenty to over fifty.
"It seems you're all quite relaxed," Rhett remarked casually.
Coudine's face tightened, and he replied nervously, "Lord Rhett, the influx of new residents into the territory has slowed significantly over the past two months. The construction of wooden houses in Hawk Town, Firemine Village, and Bramble Village is nearly complete, with enough vacant homes to accommodate future residents..."
"Haha, don't worry," Rhett reassured him with a smile. "I'm pleased to see hardworking and responsible workers like you enjoying some well-deserved rest after completing difficult tasks. It's much better than doing a poor job. My people need to have lives outside of work."
Coudine and the other workers were deeply moved by Rhett's words.
Their gazes grew solemn as they bowed deeply, touched by their lord's concern for them, simple laborers. Rhett's words felt like a warm current in the cold winter, warming their hearts.
"Thank you, Lord Rhett!"
"Thank you, Lord Rhett!"
Rhett nodded and patted Coudine on the shoulder. "Perhaps in a month, things won't be as relaxed as they are now. There are new, challenging tasks ahead, so I came by to give you all a heads-up."
"Rest assured, no matter how tough the tasks, we'll do our utmost for you, Lord Rhett!" Coudine replied firmly, pounding his chest in a pledge of commitment.
After saying goodbye to the East Hawk Lumberyard, Rhett continued eastward.
Further east lay the Little Bramble Forest, where Rhett could sense Firecrest playing nearby.
Firecrest had grown up and could no longer be confined to its nest as it had been in its hatchling days. It was too large to fit inside, anyway.
During its downtime, it enjoyed lounging on the red carpet in the fifth-floor hall or under Rhett's bed, and other times it would go out to play.
Chirp~ Chirp~
About fifty meters from the western edge of the Little Bramble Forest, Rhett saw Firecrest darting through the black thorns and branches like a red flash. The air around it crackled with fiery energy, and Rhett could feel the heat from a distance, as if a small furnace was moving through the forest.
Rhett's smile slowly faded, replaced by a look of concern.
Something seemed off about Firecrest today...
He frowned, realizing that the simulation indicated the breakthrough should happen tomorrow. But today, Rhett could sense that Firecrest's fire element was becoming unstable—a common sign of an imminent breakthrough!
"By all accounts, this shouldn't be happening until tomorrow," Rhett murmured, rubbing his chin. "Could it be... I praised it too much last night? Did that excitement speed up the process by a day?"
Regardless of the cause, Rhett saw the day's deviation as understandable.
Firecrest, sensing Rhett's approach, quickly shot out of the bramble forest, spitting a scorching fireball that splattered sparks as it hit the nearby ground, exploding with a loud bang and scattering a cloud of dust.
The fireball was Firecrest's way of venting the chaotic fire energy inside it. Its eyes, filled with pain, locked onto Rhett.
Seeing this, Rhett's expression shifted, and he clenched his fists. "Hang in there, Firecrest! Feel the power within your bloodline and control it!"
Chirp!
Firecrest let out a weak cry, collapsing to the ground as its wings beat heavily against the earth.
Worried, Rhett activated a simulation to check if Firecrest's early breakthrough would lead to any problems.
When the simulation ended and the ripples faded, Rhett breathed a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, there were no major issues. Despite the intense and grueling process, Firecrest successfully completed its breakthrough.
And Rhett didn't waste the rest of the simulated time—he refined a few more bottles of Aurora Potion and another Blood Source Pearl.
Although it was only a drop in the ocean for reaching the peak of the fifth-level Archmage stage, every little bit helped.
After fifty-plus simulations, Rhett noticed only slight improvements in his mental power. The daunting amount of Fate Points required to reach the peak weighed on his mind. And breaking through to the sixth level seemed even further away.
He could only take it one step at a time.
Setting those thoughts aside, Rhett turned his attention back to Firecrest, feeling reassured.
Firecrest's breakthrough had been abrupt, lasting half an hour.
The fire energy surged around it, growing increasingly violent. At its peak, the nearby dry grass even caught fire.
Then the intensity subsided, dropping sharply like a roller coaster.
Rhett watched as Firecrest's body visibly expanded, its skin tearing and healing repeatedly. Fresh blood coated its fiery feathers, giving it an eerie, beautiful appearance.
Finally, as the fire energy settled, Rhett could sense that Firecrest's condition had stabilized. But having just crossed the threshold into a second-tier magical beast, it was still weak.
Rhett pulled out some Three-leaf Spark petals from his pocket and scattered them gently in the air, letting them float down.