"The Chamber should have a dozen or so."

A dozen or so!

Carl's expression remained unchanged, but his heartbeat suddenly accelerated.

Indeed!

It was only right to collaborate with major forces. How could he collect so many Great Divine Graces on his own?

Joining the Scythe Brotherhood or the Poseidon Society was out of the question.

These two powers were very stable and did not lack Great Knights, which would make negotiating the price tricky.

The Dragon King Chamber of Commerce was just right!

"The Great Divine Grace is not just a collectible but also essential for exchanging with Duke Ferdinand for a supreme Dharma Seal," Emma began, "They can't just be given to outsiders."

"The Great Divine Grace can be exchanged for a supreme Dharma Seal?" Clearly, Lula was hearing this for the first time, her face showing surprise. "I thought..."

"You thought what?" Emma scoffed. "Otherwise, why do you think the Great Divine Grace is so rare and sought after by all major forces as soon as it appears?"

"And the Legendary Creatures..."

"Many Great Knights have died hunting them."

"Yes," Carl nodded, "Whether it's the supreme Dharma Seal, the Great Divine Grace, or Legendary Creatures, all are extremely rare. Of course, I don't take them for free."

"Miss Lula, have you ever wondered why I advanced from Knight to Great Knight so quickly?"

Hmm?

Lula raised an eyebrow, her face showing a peculiar expression.

"I have a certain potion," Carl said.

"Berserk Potion!"

* * *

「Night.」

The grand hall of the Dragon King Chamber of Commerce was bathed in soft moonlight and the glow of candles, making it seem dreamlike and ethereal.

On the tall arched windows, delicate carvings appeared intermittently under the moon's embrace.

The armored warriors standing on either side emitted a chilling aura of menace, guarding the organization's honor and secrets.

"TAP..."

"TAP!"

The sound of footsteps grew from far to near.

Two Knights dressed in soft armor entered the hall, kneeling on one knee before Lula and Emma.

"Ma Qi!"

"Audis!"

"Greetings, Madam, Miss Lula."

Ma Qi was burly, his muscular frame evident. His face was stern and deep, his thick beard like thorns in a dense forest, and his eyes held a dangerous wildness.

His weapon was a huge battle axe that he held tightly, even while kneeling.

Audis, conversely, had a handsome face and bright eyes. He was a blond with blue eyes, possessing a unique intelligence and acuity.

His soft armor was finely crafted, adorned with gems and pearls. His weapon was a sharp longsword, elegant yet deadly.

These were two distinctly different Knights, differing in stature as well as demeanor. What they had in common was that both were Peak Knights.

"Mr. Carl."

Lula nodded towards the two Knights, then turned her head to him. "Ma Qi and Audis are both well-established Peak Knights, with the potential to charge into the Great Knight realm. What do you think?"

Carl sat on a chair on the left side of the hall. Unilluminated by candlelight, he was like a shadow hidden in the darkness.

Carl?

The Pharmacist?

The two Peak Knights instinctively looked up.

Although the incident with the demonic Devitt had occurred not long ago, news of it had already spread throughout Freedom Port.

Pharmacist Carl!

The mysterious and powerful Great Knight!

In a short time, his name had become well-known within the Dragon King Chamber of Commerce. It even prompted various major forces to initiate investigations, and actions targeted at the Chamber were temporarily set aside.

Carl asked, "Is it them?"

"Yes," Lula nodded. "They are trustworthy."

Now that the secret of Dragon King Zimorman's death had been leaked, people in the Chamber were choosing sides.

The two Peak Knights before them were indeed die-hard loyalists from Lula's faction.

"Hmm."

Carl nodded. He waved his large hand, and two potions appeared on the desk in front of him.

"Knights advancing to Great Knights need the essence of the Life Seed to extend to every corner of the body."

"Other areas are fine, but some delicate blood vessels and inert internal organs are difficult to nourish with the Life Seed."

"So this process is very slow and... difficult."

His voice became stern as he said, "The Berserk Potion I've crafted significantly increases life essence, opening up normally constricted blood vessels."

"If you can seize this opportunity, you can successfully advance to Great Knight."

"HISS..."

"AH!"

The two Peak Knights were startled by his words. Then, their faces turned fervent, and they gazed intently at the Berserk Potion.

"Remember!"

Carl said earnestly, "While this potion can increase your chances of a breakthrough, it will also drain your potential. If its effects wear off before you achieve a breakthrough, you must retract your life essence immediately. Failure to do so will, at minimum, damage your internal organs and could even threaten your life."

"Ma Qi, Audis," Lula began, "Currently, only Pharmacist Carl has taken the Berserk Potion, so... you must consider your choices carefully."

It wasn't that she didn't trust Carl. She simply had to make things clear out of responsibility to her subordinates.

The two Peak Knights looked at each other and nodded simultaneously.

"I'm willing!"

"Willing!"

They had lingered at the peak of Knighthood for too long. Even if the hope was slim, they were willing to try.

Especially with Carl as a successful example before them.

"Good!"

Lula stood up, her face grave. "I've arranged two quiet rooms in the back," she announced. "They contain what you'll need for your breakthrough. Each of you take a potion."

"I wish you success!"

"Rest assured," Emma said.

"Even if the breakthrough fails and you are severely injured, the Chamber will make proper arrangements for your futures."

"If you succeed..."

"As a Great Knight, the compensation provided by the Chamber will far exceed your expectations!"

Their concerns addressed and substantial rewards promised, coupled with their inherent loyalty, they hesitated no longer. Each picked up a potion and headed towards the prepared quiet rooms.

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