[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower":3,"chapter-the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-80":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Problematic Child of the Magic Tower",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1334976,1778,"Chapter 80","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-80",80,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>w\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 80: Poxxon (1)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sewer filled with a stench that makes you want to block your nose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several flashlight beams swayed back and forth, sporadically illuminating a massive new figure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Jan! It's escaping! It's heading your way!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't worry! I'll stop it!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man replied confidently as he set up his shield and lowered his body, ready to face the charging giant mutant rat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the moment he braced himself for the impact—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Urgh!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An overwhelming pain, as if all his bones were shattering, twisted his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But ultimately, he withstood the rat's charge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I-I’ve caught... it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Great job, Jan! Everyone, attack!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the mercenary leader's command, the monster collapsed lifeless onto the filthy sewer floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hah, hah... Is this another request completed?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This one was quite tough.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Breathing heavily, they managed to string words together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sewer's stench was awful, but worse was the water rising up to their calves, making even running a severe drain on their stamina.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After confirming the giant rat's death, the mercenary leader gave an order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Take a break, everyone. Drink potions and regroup. You'll need the strength to haul this heavy thing to the surface.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Phew... Roger that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jan was the first to uncork a potion bottle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he gulped it down, a fellow mercenary chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Look at you! Still drinking those Blue Tower potions. These days, White Tower potions are the rage.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hah, there must be a reason why the cheap ones are so cheap.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Didn’t you see all the comparison tests? The White Tower potions are proven to be even more effective.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If that's true, why are they so cheap?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because the Blue Tower has monopolized the market. If newcomers want to break in, they have to take some losses.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hah!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man downed a low-tier White Tower potion in one go and shrugged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Plus, this one tastes way better. Once they gain more market share, they’ll hike the price, so drink up while you can.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, White Tower potions were causing a sensation among mercenaries recently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The buzz was that anyone not drinking them was a fool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should he consider switching suppliers?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shop he frequented for years was run by a relative of a Blue Tower mage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, they only stocked Blue Tower potions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after this mission, he planned to explore other shops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, got any recommendations among the White Tower potions?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course. The potions are great, but the supplements—ugh!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, the excitedly chattering mercenary coughed up blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Startled, Jan rushed to support him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hey! What’s going on? Were you injured badly during the fight?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"N-no, I wasn’t... cough!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn it, Jan! Get him to the surface right now!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following the leader's urgent command, Jan carried him up to the surface, but his condition was already critical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hey! Dawson! Breathe! Open your eyes!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Urgh... gurgle...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Foaming at the mouth and rolling back his eyes, the mercenary died suddenly, beyond anyone's help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And similar incidents began to occur across the city of Mosque simultaneously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…What did you say?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar stared in disbelief at Lena White, the woman who had burst into the special operations office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She repeated her statement, confirming what he had just heard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mercenaries have died after consuming our potions. Articles are flooding in, and mercenaries and their families are threatening lawsuits.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sweat beaded on her forehead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed she had dashed up the stairs, too impatient to wait for the elevator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Please, take a seat. Fran, could you bring some tea?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"On it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lena, still catching her breath, began speaking urgently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oscar, something about this feels off.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you mean?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don’t think our potion manufacturing department produced defective products.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why do you think that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There are too many strange things. For starters, you know as well as I do that our potion production process is flawless.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their production system was so thorough that defects were virtually impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stability checks were conducted three times before a potion was finalized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if something defective were made, it would have been caught during these inspections.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And here’s the kicker: these incidents are only happening in Mosque. Across the entire continent, only Mosque has reported six cases so far.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…That’s certainly suspicious.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"One more thing. The media seems to have been waiting for this—they’re churning out aggressive headlines like clockwork.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lena handed him a freshly printed newspaper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[The Potion of Death! White Tower potions linked to mercenary deaths.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Killer Potion: Deadly toxin found in White Tower products.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Trust Shattered! Potions meant to save lives bring death instead. A deep dive into the Mosque tragedy.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every headline was sensational and hostile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If, as Lena suggested, the media had been waiting for this moment, it hinted at possible manipulation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let’s start by having these articles taken down.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Impossible. We already tried.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…The press refused a request from the Tower?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magic Towers wielded significant influence, recognized by the empire as official military entities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For them to ignore such a request…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It could only mean the opposing force was equally influential or the media had been heavily incentivized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lena cautiously spoke again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Could the Blue Tower be behind this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar pondered for a moment before shaking his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don’t think so.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why not? The Blue Tower clearly stands to gain the most from this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This move is too sloppy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Blue Tower Master had truly intended to bury the White Tower, they would have done so much more thoroughly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scheme would have unfolded so naturally that even those on the receiving end wouldn’t suspect external manipulation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If it’s the Blue Tower Master I know, that’s exactly what they would’ve done.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet this incident was clumsy, sloppy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It reeked of an amateur’s handiwork.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘They may have a bit of size, but they’re not experienced in this sort of thing.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This suggested that the perpetrators were likely a new noble faction or a fledgling business.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But why would such entities bother to tarnish the White Tower’s reputation?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>w\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Furrowing his brows, Oscar asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Has our side officially released a statement about this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ve prepared a rebuttal article, but we thought it best for you to make the final call.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You did well. For now, stay silent. The White Tower won’t release an official position.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? Are you serious? Don’t we need to clear up the misunderstanding as quickly as possible?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even if we release a rebuttal or an official statement, it won’t clear up the misunderstanding.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rushing into a clumsy and premature response would only add fuel to the fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rising from his seat, Oscar spoke firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll go to Mosque myself to find clues.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned to Fran.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? Me too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran, who had been hiding in the corner after serving tea, widened his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course, you’re coming. You’re involved, after all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...How am I involved? Just because we once made a potion together?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. Your family’s Sirius Trading Company distributes our potions across the continent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the Sirius Trading Company had no reason to stab the White Tower in the back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, if someone wanted to sabotage the White Tower, leveraging Sirius Trading’s distribution network would be the most effective way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’ll be easier to get cooperation from the Sirius Trading’s Mosque branch if you’re with me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, if it’s for that… fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar turned to Lena.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s the status of the potions distributed in Mosque?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ve recalled them all and stored them in the Sirius Trading’s warehouse.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good work. Until we arrive, make sure no one touches them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mosque was a neighboring territory to Sirin, just a five-hour drive away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, Oscar and Fran hailed a taxi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their previous driver had taken them as far as Sirin, then returned to Vince, rendering the luxury vehicle a beautiful but useless toy until they found a new driver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...So this is Mosque. It’s my first time here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran muttered in awe as he stepped out of the car.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the cities weren’t far apart, Mosque’s atmosphere was noticeably different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike Sirin’s pristine white aesthetic, Mosque had an abundance of drab gray skyscrapers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s a completely different vibe from Baran, where everything is flashy buildings and neon lights.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar, observing the gray forest of buildings, remarked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I hear this city has a lot of emerging businesses. That also means there’s plenty of friction. It’s even home base to mercenaries because of that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wherever there’s profit, there’s conflict—and mercenaries thrive in such environments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“On top of that, the surrounding forests and rivers bring in monsters, so there’s no shortage of work for them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he weren’t a mage, Oscar thought, he might have chosen this city as a base until he grew stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, where are we headed now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sirius Trading Company. We need to examine the potions in question first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They headed straight to the Mosque branch of the Sirius Trading Company.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they entered, staff who had been waiting for their arrival approached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you the representatives from the White Tower?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. I’m Oscar Crucian, head of the White Tower’s Potion Division.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sheer presence of such a high-profile figure left the staff stiff with tension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran stepped in to ease the atmosphere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Relax, everyone. We’re not here to eat you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“T-Thank you, young master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A middle-aged man swallowed nervously before introducing himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m Paul Wagner, head of Sirius Trading’s Mosque branch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pleased to meet you, Paul. May we examine the recalled White Tower potions?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Paul quickly led them to the storage area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wow… Are all these potions only sold in Mosque?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran gawked at a storage room packed to the brim with potions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The towering stacks nearly reached the ceiling, numbering tens of thousands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, about 70,000 units. Recently, some of the White Tower’s potions have even surpassed the Blue Tower’s in sales volume.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’d heard the Potion Division was profitable, but seeing it with my own eyes is something else.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still overwhelmed by the sight, Fran rolled up his sleeves and turned to Oscar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whew, looks like this will take more than a day or two to sort through. Let’s get started.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Start what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Checking the potions for poison with scanning magic, of course. We’ll have to go through them one by one from the top.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar let out a dry laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When are you planning to finish at that pace?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He prepared a large-scale scan spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran, startled, stopped him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you insane?! Scanning this many potions at once could overload your brain!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll be fine. I’ve scanned larger quantities before.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Fran muttered “...Monster,” under his breath, Oscar cast his spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Scan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A wave of magic swept through the storage room like a laser.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar’s gaze turned cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Interesting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s interesting? Did you find poisoned potions?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran, impatient, asked eagerly, but Oscar slowly shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the nearly 70,000 potions, not a single one contained any trace of poison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>w\u003C\u002Fp>",1843,"2026-06-05T20:00:10.789Z",1,"novelbin.me","e409df2b9b4a62ea770b247a8b02723cd38944f5ab1ec193bb278bb5fff481b3","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-81","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-79",375,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-cover.jpg"]