Chapter 3012: Chapter 3013: Grass No. 1

While Lucia was talking at length, Angel would throw in a few timely facial reactions, giving her plenty of face.

A few minutes later.

After Lucia’s mood had been thoroughly satisfied, she finally got to the point: "Witch’s Soup ’Little Grass No. 1’ is a restoration potion. It can rapidly restore the energy in your body without needing to meditate."

After introducing the effect of the potion, Lucia deliberately glanced at Angel.

She knew very well that this effect wasn’t all that outstanding, and it was also hard to see where the "originality" lay. So she was waiting—waiting for Angel to question Little Grass No. 1.

As long as Angel raised a doubt, she would immediately put on a "profound and unfathomable" expression, then give Angel a "half-smile," pulling back some of the dignity she’d lost earlier.

However, Lucia waited and waited, but instead of Angel’s doubt, what she heard was Angel speaking in a surprised tone: "Accelerated restoration of internal energy? So in other words, it doesn’t restrict the type of energy?"

Lucia froze for two seconds before dumbly replying: "Uh... yes."

H-he, how did he see through that?

Indeed, the true effect of this potion lay in "not restricting the type of energy." In other words, Wizards could use it to restore Magic Power, Demons could use it to restore Power of Abyss, creatures of the Mirror World could use it to restore Aggregation Energy...

It was precisely because it did not restrict the energy type that it appeared so rare and precious.

However, when Lucia introduced this Witch’s Soup, she had deliberately mentioned that "a Wizard’s meditation" could accelerate energy restoration, actually to mislead Angel, to make him think this soup could only be used to accelerate Magic Power restoration.

It was just that, what Lucia absolutely hadn’t expected, was that Angel saw through it.

On the other side, the main reason Angel could see through it was because Lucia’s emotions had slipped. But even without reading her emotions, Angel could still notice something.

Because Lucia had built up way too much beforehand, and all her buildup was to prove one thing: my original work is amazing!

Since Lucia was so confident, how could she present a Witch’s Soup whose effect seemed so average?

With that doubt as a premise, then carefully picking at the wording in Lucia’s speech, one could find that Lucia said "restore energy" rather than "restore Magic Power." Although in the Wizards’ Realm, "energy" and "Magic Power" can be considered equivalent, the only flaw in the whole sentence was the word "energy."

Reverse-engineer it from there, and the answer pops out.

Angel could even say that, from Lucia’s description of the soup’s effect, he could also guess the principle by which this effect was achieved:

"Different types of energy are very hard to unify. You’re using just one soup to accelerate restoration, and it doesn’t restrict types. There’s a high chance there’s only one possibility: this soup looks like a restoration-type, but it is in fact a special potential-extraction potion."

Each kind of energy has a different way of being restored. Take Wizard Apprentices for example—they rely on their Magical Core to accumulate Magic Power, and when they need to use it, they release Magic Power from the core.

If the Magical Core is exhausted, then they can only slowly restore Magic Power through meditation... so, is there a way to continue releasing Magic Power from the body even after the core is depleted?

Yes.

Two methods: restoration or extraction.

Restoration means forcibly recovering it, and there are special corresponding potions that can do this.

But Lucia’s Witch’s Soup benefits all kinds of energy, so it’s definitely not this type. That leaves only the second method of "restoration": extracting potential.

To put it plainly, any Transcendent—no matter which Energy System they belong to—actually has residual energy in their body. This energy hides deep within the cells, maintaining your physiological functions. This energy is microscopic in nature, and you could also call it an individual’s potential.

When you extract this potential, it’s equivalent to forcibly squeezing out the residual energy in the cells.

The energy extracted from a single cell isn’t much. But when you add it all up, it becomes quite considerable, enough to use in an emergency.

After Angel finished explaining his guess, he continued: "However, extracting potential is not a long-term solution. Doing it occasionally won’t hurt the foundation, but if you take it frequently, you may truly lose your potential."

With that said, Angel looked at the dazed Lucia: "Of course, this is only my guess. It’s possible I’m wrong."

Lucia stayed blank for a long while, then hung her head in dejection for a few seconds before helplessly saying: "You’re not wrong. This really isn’t a pure restoration soup; it’s a soup that consumes potential."

She paused, then raised her head, looking at Angel with a mix of suspicion and amazement: "How did you see through it? Are you really just an ordinary Reformist School Pharmacist?"

Angel nodded very frankly: "I haven’t been involved with Reformist School Potionology for very long. I’m very much a beginner."

Angel spoke very straightforwardly, and his eyes were crystal clear. Deep down, Lucia felt he wasn’t lying... But even so, Angel understood her soup way too well, to the point of guessing even this kind of deep-level effect?

"Do you happen to know Witch Sharon? I’ve only ever sold Little Grass No. 1 to her."

Angel shook his head: "I met Witch Sharon once at noon, but that was the only time. Your partner Buru was also there at the time."

Lucia: "I get it! Just now you only said you haven’t been involved with Reformist School Potionology for long, but you never said your involvement with the Gypsy School’s potions was short. Are you, like me, someone who studies Witch’s Soup? And you’ve done very in-depth research?"

"Your current name is Jon; after you transform, is it Joanna?"

Lucia showed an expression of "I’ve caught your little weakness."

"My involvement with Gypsy School potions is even shallower than with the Reformist School." Angel paused, then said, "Anyway, you’ve asked a lot of questions, so I want to ask you one. You’ve heard of Red Sword Dox, right?"

Lucia was stunned for a moment, then subconsciously nodded: "I’ve heard of him, why?"

Angel: "Nothing much. He’s a companion of mine. He should be coming to the Starry District later; I’m just giving you a heads-up in advance."

He paused, then continued: "Oh right, Dox often says he’s a genius Wizard, that he became an Official Wizard at a very young age. What do you think?"

Although Lucia didn’t really understand what Angel was getting at, she still curled her lip and said: "Genius? Him? Please. Ten years ago, when I’d just turned nineteen, I already became an Official Wizard. I’m much better than he is."

Angel nodded.

He understood now. Lucia was twenty-nine years old, so his earlier guess was correct. He had already felt that Lucia wasn’t very old, a young Wizard. Now this was basically confirmed. That also explained why Lucia’s behavior was always a bit out of line—this was the behavior of someone inexperienced with the world...

Also, from how obsessed Lucia was with Witch’s Soup, she probably spent most of her time holed up in the lab... Thinking of it that way, Angel could completely understand Lucia’s earlier behavior.

Lucia now belatedly looked back at Angel: "You weren’t trying to get me to spill just now, were you?"

Angel shook his head: "No. Back to your Little Grass No. 1—I think it’s very good. Even though I can guess some of its principles, that’s not much of a skill. Many Alchemists could guess it. But guessing is one thing; being able to refine it is another."

Angel very stiffly changed the topic, and Lucia noticed, but since Angel was praising her, she was happy to accept it.

"This formula is unquestionably original, and its effect really is useful. As long as you don’t use it continuously, there’s no danger of losing your potential. In an emergency, this soup is more than worthy of being called a trump card."

"Even at Ashiliya Academy, this is a potion worth taking seriously—good enough to be put in the exhibition hall."

Lucia had still been mulling over why Angel suddenly brought up Dox, but once she heard this round of praise from him, she instantly forgot all about it. Forcing down the upward curve of her lips, she said in a deliberately casual tone, "It’s actually nothing much. Little Grass No. 1 is just a so-so soup."

"In my opinion, this is anything but ordinary." Angel wasn’t being polite; he genuinely felt that Lucia’s potion was quite good.

In fact, the Flower-series was already impressive, and this No. 1 potion of the Grass-series was even better.

Lucia was definitely an Alchemist with Potential.

"I finished brewing Little Grass No. 1 a year ago. Personally, I find it pretty mediocre." At this moment, Lucia had completely forgotten how long she’d been laying the groundwork just to introduce this "ordinary" Little Grass No. 1.

Lucia: "When I said I was in a good mood today, I wasn’t joking. See that boiler over there? What’s brewing inside is my Little Grass No. 2 soup—that’s my trump card for this year. Of course, only for this year. The No. 3 and No. 4 I make next year and the year after will definitely be even more stunning."

Even though Little Grass No. 3 and No. 4 didn’t even have a rough draft yet, Lucia felt that bragging a bit now shouldn’t be a problem.

Angel had already noticed that boiler spewing prismatic vapors earlier. Now that Lucia took the initiative to bring it up, he followed up naturally, "Little Grass No. 2 soup—what effect does it have?"

Lucia tilted her chin proudly. "Originally, I planned to unveil this potion at the trade fair, but since you have such good taste, telling you in advance won’t hurt."

"Lucia’s Little Grass No. 2 potion can increase your Mental Power Value."

When she said this, Lucia gave Angel a sidelong glance. "Weren’t you so good at guessing just now? Why don’t you guess how much Mental Power Value it can increase?"

Increase Mental Power Value? The moment Angel heard Lucia’s words, the first thing that came to mind was the "Windsor Double-Helix Witch’s Soup," whose effect was also to increase Mental Power Value, by about 2.5 points of Mental Power Value.

If Lucia had improved on the "Windsor Double-Helix Witch’s Soup," she would have categorized it under the "Flower-series." Since she had assigned it to the "Grass-series," that meant this soup’s formula was fundamentally different from the "Windsor Double-Helix Witch’s Soup."

Moreover, Angel didn’t believe Lucia had the ability to improve the "Windsor Double-Helix Witch’s Soup."

Because the "Windsor Double-Helix Witch’s Soup" was a Witch’s Soup whose structure approached perfection, the only way to improve it would be to make it a perfectly structured soup—and even Alchemists at the mysterious tier might not be able to achieve a perfect structure.

So Lucia definitely hadn’t used the "Windsor Double-Helix Witch’s Soup" as reference.

And in the double-helix structure, all the occupied values could be evenly divided by 5.

Since its structure differed from the double-helix, the resulting number would, in all likelihood, not be divisible by 5.

Soups that increase Mental Power Value are very hard to refine. Judging from the level of Witch’s Soups Lucia had brewed before, even if she could make a soup that increased Mental Power Value, the amount wouldn’t be very high.

Most likely under 2, perhaps even under 1.5.

That value was lower than the Frost Night Potion, yet Lucia looked so pleased with herself and even planned to bring it to the trade fair—probably intending to... sell in volume?

Still, even if she wanted to sell it in volume, it probably wouldn’t be below 1, so the increase in Mental Power Value was very likely between 1.1 and 1.4.

Angel thought for a moment, then casually picked a number in that range and said, "1.2?"

The instant his voice fell, Lucia’s expression shifted from smug, to stiff, to full of suspicion—not only towards Angel, but also towards herself.

Had she unintentionally given something away?

Why did he guess right again?!

That’s right—the increase from her Lucia Grass-series No. 2 potion was exactly 1.2!

"You’re sure you just guessed?" Lucia eyed Angel suspiciously. "You’re a Prophet Wizard, aren’t you?"

Angel now realized he’d guessed correctly...

Even he found it a bit unbelievable. "I really did just guess, and I’m not a Prophet Wizard."

Lucia still didn’t believe him. She scrutinized Angel carefully. "You’re not Jon... tell me, are you from Ashiliya Academy?"

Angel had mentioned Ashiliya Academy earlier, so it was only natural that Lucia thought of that so-called "Alchemy Academy," a Holy Land for Alchemists.

Angel considered it, then finally nodded.

—He did, in fact, hold an honorary position at Ashiliya Academy.

Lucia’s eyes were still full of doubt. "You’re a student?"

Angel shook his head. "Not exactly a student, but I did study potions under a Magic Potion Master for a while, though I wasn’t formally accepted as the Master’s student."

His wording was very clever. He denied being a student, didn’t mention his identity at Ashiliya Academy, and instead brought up that a bigwig of the Research and Development Institute, Magic Potion Midora, had taught him Potionology.

This naturally made Lucia think of a particular position: Teaching Assistant!

A teaching assistant isn’t a student, and only teaching assistants can come into contact with the giants of the Research and Development Institute!

Lucia showed a look of sudden realization. "So you’re... hmph, no wonder you know so much."

After all, compared to someone like her who’d grown up "wild," anyone guided by members of the Research and Development Institute would obviously be far stronger.

The way Lucia looked at Angel now carried a faint sourness.

This was a proper Academy Faction...

Angel had no idea what Lucia had imagined, but she clearly hadn’t guessed his real identity—otherwise her expression wouldn’t look like this.

He coughed lightly. "Let’s get back to talking about the soup..."

Lucia waved her hand. "Forget it. Since you’re a teaching assistant from Ashiliya Academy, there’s no need for me to show off in front of you."

Teaching assistant? So that’s what you think I am? Angel’s expression didn’t change, but he was silently mulling it over.

Lucia took out a new card from her earring. "Special treatment for special talent. You don’t need to buy Witch’s Soup anymore—this Glittering Diamond Card is yours."

Angel: "...Actually, I really was planning to buy some Witch’s Soup."

Lucia let out a surprised "Oh?" and looked over at Angel.

Angel: "I want to purchase some of Lucia’s Witch’s Soup."

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