Chapter 74

Returning to the castle, Gervas delegated the beer banquet arrangements but still could not rest.

Evening was drawing near; he had to rush to the Viscount Beckert's domain at top speed.

……

"Congratulations, my lord. Though those adventurers were lucky, they didn't know what they had—these five vials are all Stamina Recovery Potions."

"They restore consumed Stamina in mere moments—each is worth at least two gold coins, yet you bought them for thirty silver coins each!"

Viscount Beckert's Castle.

The caravan manager, summoned, hurried to the study and carefully examined the several test tubes of potion the Viscount handed him.

The experienced caravan manager immediately recognized them as Stamina Recovery Potions.

Upon hearing his lord had purchased them for only one-seventh the price, he showered him with a stream of flattery.

"Ha! Benar, these five Stamina Recovery Potions are yours—take them to Iron Wolf City when the caravan departs in two days and exchange them for gold coins!"

Beckert was ecstatic—within minutes, he'd made eight gold coins; only a wise noble like him could pull this off.

"Yes, my lord!"

The manager withdrew; Beckert, still elated, began flipping through the wizard's notebook he'd bought for five silver coins from the adventurers.

He'd originally hoped to profit from the wizard's notebook too.

But it turned out to be nothing but an ordinary diary, recording daily life—no lab notes at all.

So, those five silver coins weren't just unprofitable—they barely covered the cost.

Fortunately, the five Stamina Recovery Potions had earned him enough; Beckert didn't mind the loss.

Bored, he flipped to the last page—just as he was about to set the notebook down, he froze.

He swiftly flipped back to the final page.

"Today I'm in excellent spirits—I, Mika, have finally completed the Life Potion! I succeeded in making four vials at once!"

"The Life Potion is emerald green; though it shows no magical or elemental fluctuations, I opened one and drank it—I felt a surging force of life!"

"Even a mortally wounded man could be saved in an instant!"

"No—I must venture deeper into the Death Mountains for materials. If I succeed in making a second batch, I'll return to the Kingdom and proudly announce to all: I, Mika, have become a High Wizard—I can craft High-Level Potions!"

"Emerald green, no magical or elemental fluctuations… but after ingestion… so those three vials were probably… Life Potions?" Beckert's face darkened and brightened in turns.

Those vials showed no magical fluctuations at all—he'd assumed they were either fake or had spoiled from age.

The adventurers had offered to sell him the remaining potions for two gold coins as a bundle.

He'd flatly refused.

Now, Beckert wanted to slap himself hard.

Life Potions!

One vial is worth a hundred gold coins—equivalent to fifty Stamina Recovery Potions.

"Someone!"

Viscount Beckert burst out of his study.

"My lord, what's wrong?" The steward and knights, hearing the commotion, rushed over anxiously.

"Where are those adventurers?"

"My lord, I saw the adventurers leave the castle and head north along the road!" The knights, confused, immediately reported.

"Hurry! Prepare horses for me—chase them! Catch them at top speed!"

Minutes later, Beckert personally led several knights galloping north along the road.

……

Meanwhile, Gervas reached the northern border of Viscount Beckert's domain.

"Master, two miles ahead on the road, we've spotted a caravan of thirty to forty people—but we can't confirm if the adventurers are among them!"

"Elsewhere, there's no sign of anyone within ten miles in any direction!"

"Follow them!"

Gervas immediately led his men in pursuit.

It was already dusk; intelligence confirmed no one else was around—so the adventurers must be in that caravan.

Traveling with a caravan is standard practice for all travelers and adventurers—safety lies in numbers.

Since Viscount Beckert would soon arrive, Gervas had little time to intercept them.

Fortunately, the Firehorses were powerful—within ten minutes, they caught up to the caravan.

The caravan noticed the mounted knights galloping from behind.

They quickly moved to the roadside.

No matter their status, any knightly party was far too dangerous for ordinary folk to provoke.

And indeed, moments later, a troop of knights riding tall warhorses drew near.

The caravan manager and some travelers recognized the Firehorses—worth seventy to eighty gold coins each—and lowered their heads further, terrified of trouble.

But what unsettled everyone was that the knightly troop halted and began scanning them.

"Among you, who are the adventurers?"

Lein froze. Though he felt they'd done nothing wrong, an inexplicable suffocation gripped him.

The others in the caravan immediately turned to stare at the six of them.

Their identity as adventurers was common knowledge within the caravan.

"Noble lord, w-we six are the adventurers!" With no choice, Lein and the five others hurried forward and knelt.

"You six—come here!" Gervas exhaled inwardly and led the six adventurers aside.

"I heard you discovered a wizard's ruin and acquired several wizard potions?"

"Yes, my noble lord, we know our mistake. We did not mean to do it. We did not know that ruin had an owner..."

"Do not be nervous. I do not intend to pursue this matter. First, bring out the potions!"

Soon, the six of them obediently brought out the remaining eight potions.

Five of the red and purple potions were clearly spoiled due to the long passage of time and were very turbid.

The three emerald-green potions were crystal clear, yet if one probed with perception, there was no magical energy response whatsoever.

Gervas knew these were the potions he had been seeking.

Just as the group was about to inform him that five of the potions had already been sold, Gervas said, "I want all eight of these potions. How much do they cost?"

"Uh... my noble lord, if you want them, they are yours. These potions must be damaged!" How would Li En and the others dare to accept money?

Hearing this, Gervas simply asked no more, directly took out 【the gold coins】, and declared, "These eight potions are mine!"

"This... this..."

While Li En and the others stood stunned, the noble lord had already swung himself onto his horse and departed with the potions.

Could the gold coins be fake?

But there was no need for that!

Even if they were not paid, the group would not dare to say anything.

Instinctively, they bit the gold coins. "They are real!"

"Truly a benevolent noble!"

Li En and the others looked at one another in silence.

"What should we do now?"

"What else can we do? We must surely divide the gold coins. There are exactly six of us; one gold coin each!"