"Special effects... Medicinal cuisine?"

Incorporating special ingredients into food to enhance effects, Rod immediately thought of the medicinal cuisine from his past life.

But this world also has similar food.

For example, loach powder, although its effects are not very obvious.

Perhaps Herbalist Luna would know a bit more about the specifics of cooking and preparation.

In fact, food inherently has nourishing properties.

Some strengthen the body, some replenish blood, some clear heat and detoxify, and some can reduce fire.

Rod's [Food Gatherer] contains detailed information.

By creating recipes based on food properties and combining them with herbs of similar characteristics, Rod could concoct medicinal cuisine with targeted effects.

Rod suddenly had an idea.

Searching for herbs should naturally be left to Luna to handle.

Rod immediately asked Lawrence to bring paper and pen to write down his needs.

For strengthening the body, replenishing blood, detoxifying, and so on, each herbal requirement was written clearly.

After finishing, he handed the list to Avril,

"Send this to Luna and have her prepare the herbs and formulas according to the list for me."

"Mm, okay."

Avril nodded, took the paper, stood up, and headed back to the manor.

This matter couldn't be rushed.

Rod stayed in the field, directing everyone to harvest wheat and transport it.

Rod assigned three hundred people for harvest, excluding half of the women who were tying up the sheaves. They could harvest about five hundred acres a day.

Behind these three hundred people, there were another hundred responsible for transportation, and fifty at the grain market handling reception and drying.

The entire territory was bustling with activity.

Rod and Lawrence were responsible for coordinating unexpected incidents.

A woman was working too slowly and beaten by a man, a farmer accidentally cut his leg with a sickle, dealing with those caught stealing grain, and other miscellaneous issues.

Returning to the manor that evening, Rod was already exhausted.

But Rod hadn't rested yet.

Because Luna had delivered the herbs and formulas he needed, and Avril was there ready to explain.

Rod could only have the servants light the oil lamps and open the materials Luna provided for a careful study.

No one else could help Rod with medicinal cuisine; he had to rely on personal practice.

During the day, he had no time, so he spent more energy at night, delving deep into it.

The next night, Rod crafted the first plate of medicinal cuisine.

Honey, dried apple, rye, boiled together with licorice root, echinacea, and cloves, successfully creating a warming lung and soothing throat honey tea, which increased the unlocking progress of the [Peculiar Gourmet].

Medicinal cuisine could not be made casually.

With system authentication, the effects were naturally evident.

This greatly boosted Rod's confidence, and in the subsequent half month, he spent more time each evening researching medicinal cuisine.

...

...

At dusk, the atmosphere in Eagle Castle was oppressive.

Count Hawk threw Chris's reply onto the table, and the parchment made a dull thud.

"This is the fourth reply!"

Count Hawk furrowed his brows, his voice laced with anger,

"He's been at Black Pine Ridge for over a month, accomplishing nothing. I think he's just brushing me off!"

Chief Knight Balrog stood by and said, "According to that man's original character, he shouldn't be this dilatory, should he?"

Balrog paused and tentatively suggested,

"Lord Earl, do you think he might have betrayed you?"

Count Hawk narrowed his eyes, his gaze dark, and exhaled slowly.

"Betrayal? His wife, two sons, and a daughter are all at Eagle Ridge. Would he dare?"

Chris's age makes having more children somewhat difficult.

Especially having another son.

Balrog nodded in agreement, then carefully said, "Could it be that Chris was captured by that Baron Rod?"

"That idea is not as persuasive as saying he betrayed me."

Count Hawk sneered, his tone scornful,

"A newly appointed baron, what strength could he have?"

"How could he possibly defeat a knight like Chris and his sixty soldiers?"

"Among them are my twenty elite veterans!"

Count Hawk's brows furrowed tighter, feeling as if his head was tangled in a mess of threads.

"Unless Chris arrogantly charged straight into Shuangye Town, but even then, he should be able to escape back, right?"

He stopped walking, eyes flickering, muttering to himself, "Something's not right here."

Balrog again cautiously said,

"What if Rod really does have the strength to capture him?"

Count Hawk shook his head, his tone resolute: "Impossible."

"Even if he truly captured Chris, there's no need to repeatedly delay with replies."

"He should take the opportunity to make demands, asking me to pay gold coins to ransom him back!"

"Not playing hide and seek with me!"

Count Hawk and Balrog exchanged glances, both looking puzzled.

Indeed, none of this makes any sense.

Could it be that the Baron also suffered heavy losses and is gathering strength before making demands?

Their suspicions grew larger, like snowballs rolling down a hill.

"Perhaps..." Balrog hesitated for a moment,

"Chris really encountered trouble and couldn't find the opportunity to strike?"

The Hawk Count slapped the table suddenly,

"No, we can't just blindly guess like this!"

He turned around, his gaze sharp: "Send someone to investigate."

"Find a few smart ones to infiltrate the nearest caravan."

"Sneak into Black Pine Ridge and see what's really happening there!"

Balrog nodded and then asked, "How should we reply on our side?"

The Hawk Count waved his hand, his tone softening: "Write the usual, don't rush him."

"Let Chris take his time."

"If there's a problem, the spies in the caravan will find out."

"If there's no problem, Chris is marching orderly, and urging him is useless; it'll only disrupt his rhythm."

Balrog cupped his hands and replied: "Understood, I'll carry out your orders immediately."

He turned and quickly left, his footsteps echoing in the stone corridor.

The Hawk Count stood alone by the table, staring at the reply letter.

He squinted his eyes, his lips twitching slightly, yet his heart grew more uneasy.

"Chris, what on earth are you up to?"

...

...

"Achoo—"

A busy Luo De sneezed thrice vigorously.

"It's getting colder in autumn; you should wear more clothes."

Avril thoughtfully placed a coat on Luo De's shoulders, which he waved off.

"It's nothing, just the medicine powder choking me."

Luo De actually wanted to say someone was cursing him.

But saying that wouldn't align with the customs of this world.

"Come, Avril, help me get the thyme, sage, marjoram, and nutmeg."

"Okay."

Avril quickly selected the herbs from the medicine table and handed them to Luo De.

Luo De took them, crushed them, then threw them into the pot of stewing wild beef, covered the pot, and let it simmer on low heat.

"Baron Rod, why have you recently become fascinated with cooking?"

Avril, standing beside, asked curiously.

"Too many things to handle, cooking is a way to relax."

Luo De replied casually, then handed the two cups of milk tea beside him to Avril,

"For sleep aid, one for you, one for Milly."

This was the ninth medicinal dish Luo De made, with milk, honey, chamomile, lavender, and valerian root.

It soothes the nerves and aids sleep, reduces stress, system certified.

"Thank you~"

Avril happily accepted the milk tea with both hands.

This was the life she loved, every day tasting different delicacies without worrying about Luo De's safety.

"I'll take one to Milly first, then come back to accompany you."

"Go rest, I can manage on my own."

Luo De only needed to sit aside watching the pot and the fire; the servants took care of the stoking.

"It's alright, I'm not tired."

Avril got up to deliver the milk tea to Milly and soon returned to sit with Luo De under the kitchen shed.

The autumn night was refreshing, with Avril resting her chin on her hands, quietly watching Luo De focused intently.

And Luo De kept staring at the pot, waiting for system notifications.

[Ten different dishes with special effects made, unlocking entry: Unusual Gourmet]

After a long wait, Luo De sighed with relief.

Finally done.

[Unusual Gourmet (Green): You not only understand the properties of ingredients but also the characteristics of herbs, and can combine them to create astonishingly effective dishes]

A wealth of herbal knowledge flooded into Luo De's mind, more comprehensive and detailed than what Luna had taught him, and even more vast.

This is far more valuable than cooking!

In this era, treating illnesses relied entirely on herbs.

The effects were purely down to luck; surviving was considered fortunate.

But Luo De was different. He had the concepts of modern medicine in his mind.

Anti-inflammatory drugs, anesthetics, etc., targeted treatments for some diseases would undoubtedly enhance the medical level of the entire territory significantly.

A weary smile appeared on Luo De's face as he reviewed the next entry:

[Next entry: Create forty potions with different effects based on various herb properties to unlock entry: Magic Potion Beginner]

Magic Potion?

Extraordinary?

Luo De was stunned!

This is truly valuable!

So much thought is finally paying off, and there's plenty to do next!

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