Chapter 94: Rarely Foolish

"Until three months ago, Master Sedda fell ill due to poor health and spent all his time immersed in alchemical research, eventually bedridden and unresponsive to medicine, until—"

After hearing Gao De’s full account, Lady Misu fell silent for a moment, then whispered softly: "After our parting thirteen years ago, it was our final meeting in this life."

Gao De felt a flicker of surprise inside.

Though Lady Misu’s emotions carried sorrow, they were far calmer than he had expected.

How could any ordinary person remain so composed upon hearing of her husband’s death?

Was there some hidden truth? Or had her feelings for Master Sedda simply faded over such a long separation?

"Before he passed, Master Sedda instructed me to deliver this news to you personally, and to hand you this potion recipe myself."

Still uncertain of the situation, Gao De continued with his planned course.

He took another ancient parchment from his chest and handed it to Lady Misu.

"Ah?"

Lady Misu let out a soft exclamation as she took the ancient parchment.

"Spiritualizing Elixir (Tier-1 Potion)"

"Main ingredient: half an ounce of Spiritual Bone Powder (approx. 14g), one pair of Phantom Butterfly Wings"

"Auxiliary ingredients: one portion of Silverthread Grass, Mandrake Bark, dried Stinging Nettle, Sage?"

It was the incomplete recipe for the Spiritualizing Elixir from Master Sedda’s belongings.

"This... this is?" Lady Misu hesitated.

"Master Sedda devoted immense time and effort to this recipe. Before he fell ill, he was only missing final verification of one auxiliary ingredient," Gao De said.

"Success was within reach—unfortunately, it was..."

"Lady Misu, though the recipe is incomplete, it is nearly finished."

"You must understand how valuable this recipe is. That is why Master Sedda insisted I deliver it to you personally."

"He wouldn’t trust anyone else with it!"

"But he also warned me that someone in Bremen City may be secretly watching or surveilling you—told me to be cautious."

"Master Sedda said he was driven away from Bremen City precisely because of these people."

"So, Lady, forgive me," Gao De apologized, "I used a false identity at first—I needed time to confirm whether anyone was still watching. I’m truly sorry."

"I understand. It’s not your fault. No need to apologize," Lady Misu sighed, carefully tucking the recipe against her body.

"Even before he left, I foresaw this day might come," she sighed, tears finally glistening in her eyes.

"Besides this recipe, there must be another item he asked you to deliver to me personally, correct?"

Gao De’s heart skipped—a critical moment was coming.

"That item isn’t needed for me. Keep it for yourself," Lady Misu said before he could speak, leaving Gao De frozen in place.

"Lady, you mean—"

"That item is a scroll, isn’t it?"

After a pause, Gao De nodded.

With things this far revealed, even if only to see what game she was playing, he had no reason to pretend ignorance.

"It’s a letter of recommendation from the Seris Arcane Academy," Lady Misu said directly.

"With this scroll, one may enter the Seris Arcane Academy without conditions."

Gao De appropriately showed surprise.

"It was also the reason my husband was driven away," Lady Misu continued.

The person behind the scenes—he knew perfectly well: they were from the Harrel family, once close friends with his own.

"In generations past, the ancestors of my husband’s family, the Norman family, and the Harrel family were sworn brothers-in-arms, who together made great contributions to the Kingdom of Sein during an ancient ruin expedition."

"When rewarded, they both chose a letter of recommendation from the Seris Arcane Academy as a safeguard for their family’s legacy."

"But later, my husband’s family gradually declined, while the Harrel family flourished—eventually leaving Bremen City and establishing themselves in Shengxi City."

"By my husband’s generation, his family had dwindled to just him alone. The once-great house existed only in name; few remembered the Norman name anymore."

"It wasn’t a problem—we lived quietly, contentedly."

"But thirteen years ago, someone from the Harrel family came to our door, demanding to buy his recommendation letter."

"Indeed, outside him, only the Harrel family knew he possessed it."

"Yet my husband refused outright, insisting the letter had already been sold."

"I kept urging him: no need, no need—family together is worth more than any object. Why cling to a thing?"

"But he wouldn’t listen."

"So he was forced to flee to Hogen City. Our family was torn apart—and we never saw each other again." The tears in her eyes finally spilled over.

"Lady, please accept my condolences," Gao De sighed inwardly.

After weeping silently for a long while, Lady Misu wiped her tears with a handkerchief. "Forgive me—I lost composure." Gao De shook his head, signaling it was nothing.

"My husband intended to use this recommendation letter to send Sel to the Seris Arcane Academy," Lady Misu explained, regaining her calm.

"Though the letter guarantees admission, entering the Seris Arcane Academy is never truly easy."

"The Harrel family now resides in Shengxi City with immense power. Perhaps they’ve already believed Sedda won’t return, and have abandoned surveillance of our household."

"But if I step onto the streets of Shengxi City—even before I arrive, while still on the road—they’ll learn of it," Lady Misu said, chillingly calm.

"In Bremen City, my husband was driven to such despair. How could I, a widow with a child, possibly stand against the Harrel family, entrenched as local overlords in Shengxi?"

"Besides, I no longer care for grand ambitions. Having family together is enough."

"Even if one enters the Seris Arcane Academy, it doesn’t guarantee success. Achievement ultimately lies in the person—the environment merely assists."

"An ordinary person bears no guilt—but if he carries a priceless jade, he invites blame or disaster."

"My life and Sel’s are fine as they are. I don’t want this useless recommendation letter to disrupt it."

"Since you are my husband’s disciple, I give you this letter."

"You’re not like me—the Harrel family doesn’t know you. You can use this letter to enter the Seris Arcane Academy without hindrance."

The turn of events exceeded Gao De’s expectations.

Yet somehow, it made perfect sense.

"If the Norman family has declined so far, why keep this letter so long without ever using it?" This had always puzzled Gao De.

Hearing this, Lady Misu sighed. "This letter was left by my husband’s ancestors as a last resort—a means to restore the family’s fortunes in times of decline."

"But when decline finally came, a new problem arose."

"As the family dwindled, so did its potential heirs—there might not even be anyone left capable of using the letter."

"For example, my husband—he had no talent for magic. Even with this letter, he’d barely become a Tier-1 mage."

"Frankly, it would be a waste. There’s only one such letter, and a Tier-1 mage cannot revive a fallen house."

"That’s why this letter remained untouched until now."

Gao De nodded slightly. Though he didn’t fully agree, he now understood.

It was like playing cards: holding only one bomb, you’d want to use it to win big.

If played well, you might win big. But if played poorly, everyone else discards their cards—and your bomb becomes useless in your hand.

"There’s another problem," Lady Misu sighed again.

"As the family declined, even reaching the Seris Arcane Academy became a challenge," she said helplessly.

"From Bremen City to Shengxi City spans over a thousand kilometers—treacherous, arduous. You can imagine."

Well, that’s the same problem I faced earlier.

"So I urged him: just sell the letter to the Harrel family."

"A lump sum of gold is more practical than a letter you can’t bring yourself to use."

"But he wouldn’t listen to me."

Long after Gao De had left, a quiet sigh echoed through the silent house.

Gao De claimed to be his husband’s disciple—but where did he learn the craft of repair? Surely not from Sedda?

Sedda was skilled only in potion-making; he knew nothing of repairing alchemical items.

Repair craftsmanship requires both inherited knowledge and years of practice.

Everything contradicted Gao De’s story.

Yet he produced letters from his husband, the potion recipe, and detailed knowledge of Sedda’s life in Hogen City.

She didn’t know the full truth or details—but she had no desire to investigate.

She knew only one thing: her husband was certainly dead.

She understood only this: whatever he concealed, that was the target.

Gao De gave her the letters, gave her the recipe—but withheld the one item her husband valued most: the recommendation scroll.

Her "voluntary" gift of the scroll to Gao De wasn’t just because of his story—it was because she knew: whether she gave it or not, the scroll would never remain in her hands.

If so, why not pretend to believe his tale? Why not "voluntarily" give it to him?

At least she’d earn goodwill.

Lady Misu rose slowly and walked into the kitchen.

Sel would return soon—she needed to prepare dinner.

Extremely shrewd.

Rarely foolish.

(End of Chapter)