Chapter 142 : Chapter 142

Chapter 142 - Love Call

Countless excuses came to mind.

I don’t know what you’re talking about. An elder?

The elders should be suffering from overwork due to the destruction of the Blue Volcano.

How could they be here?

An elder? Until recently, I was worse off than a rolling stone. I don't even know such people.

Ah, I have to poop. And so on.

But all of them were just ways to evade the situation, not fundamental solutions.

“I can’t fool you, Older Brother.”

Smiling faintly, I manipulated the structure of the castle once again.

The First Son, regardless of the elder or anything else, was captivated by the interior that changed as if he were swapping masks.

“Is this also the power of Magitech?”

“It wouldn't be fair to say it's not involved, but the power of this place, which was once an altar, is greater. But didn't you ask about the elder?”

“Seeing something interesting is a hundred times more valuable than dealing with old men and women filled with nothing but vipers.”

“It hurts to hear that, old woman.”

From the room whose ceiling had been revealed by the internal manipulation, Elder Shina bowed her head.

“It’s been a while, First Son Hiler-nim.”

“Better than Graham, but why you of all people? I feel my head getting dizzy already.”

The First Son frowned as soon as he saw Shina’s face.

It was only natural for her ability to be bothersome to those in power.

Shina's sorcery was such that one wouldn't even feel strange if they suddenly wanted to put a knife to their own throat and die.

The owner of such a fearsome ability bowed her head even lower than before.

“How dare someone like me control the emotions of a kinsman? I am here for official business, so please pay no mind to someone like me.”

The First Son snorted and dismounted his Bone Wyvern.

The Chief Secretary followed him as he landed in the room with the open ceiling.

He stood in front of Shina, who still had her head bowed.

“I see. They say the business my youngest brother holds will be the new pillar of the family. You must be putting all your effort into it, so you must have been quite surprised by my appearance.”

“Everyone is celebrating your return grandly, First Son-nim.”

“Uninteresting and unexciting things.”

He muttered coldly and turned to look at the youngest who had followed him.

“You were planning to use a trick, whether it be a treaty or negotiation, to seat me here when things didn't go well.”

“That's right. I was planning to use a trick.”

The Youngest Son admitted calmly.

It was his preference to throw away the mask and reveal his ugliness in such situations.

Playing it cool like Shina, as if nothing had happened, would only further provoke the First Son’s anger.

Thus, the First Son expert stepped forward.

“Aren't you curious? What exactly is the business I hold? To the point where even the family elders would not hesitate to lay a hand on you, Older Brother.”

“……”

It would be a lie to say he wasn't curious.

In fact, it was clear that he had come into the Dark Moon Grand Castle so obediently because he was most curious about that.

He couldn't show it as the older brother and probably tried to change the subject subtly.

But right now, the situation was such that it wouldn't be strange if the First Son drew his sword.

What I had to do now was to look at such a situation from a slightly different perspective.

“I will tell you right here. From the overview of the Dark Elixir business to its prospects. The product is also in this castle, so I will show it to you right away.”

That was not all.

“The elders have recently established and are reviewing a family institution called the Potion Development Department, and they are the ones who know its internal affairs precisely. The same goes for the Blue Volcano case.”

“The Fifth Son-nim’s words are correct.”

“So, if you want to know about the Dark Elixir business in more detail than anyone else, this room with me, the product, and an elder is the best-case scenario.”

“……”

The First Son didn't answer, but he didn't draw his sword.

He had stopped the man whom both the Fourth Son and the Daughters called a walking time bomb.

A born conqueror who had frequently overthrown nations in the past to increase his private soldiers.

The Chief Secretary didn't add any comments from behind, but he felt he knew the result.

‘He prevented anything from being touched in this place by emphasizing the necessity of the elder, the information, and the uniqueness of the location. What a brilliant use of words.’

Meanwhile, the Chief Secretary was not the only one who was amazed.

‘…He even saved me by mentioning the Potion Development Department. To tame a hostile opponent like this. What level of rhetoric is this…?’

Shina, whose combat ability was the weakest among the elders, had been planning to escape.

In the midst of that, the Youngest Son had stopped the First Son from drawing his sword with just a few words.

The youngest of the family did not stop.

“Older Brother, you recognized me and sheathed your sword outside that castle wall. Now, please consider sheathing your sword after seeing the potential of my business.”

Sshhhk—

“…Little brother.”

The hand that was on the hilt of the sword went down.

“You have a very strange talent for making your opponent walk into a trap even when they know it's a trap.”

“It is your courage and strength, Older Brother, to walk into a trap even when you know it's a trap, that is the more remarkable talent.”

“That’s enough flattery. After seeing something as stifling as an elder, I want to get some fresh air with that business of yours.”

“Of course.”

Drrrrrk—

The outer wall opened.

The first box that Jubel had brought was in the Butler's hands.

“Here it is, Youngest Son-nim.”

Was it because the Head Maid was gone?

His voice was particularly dispirited.

On the other hand, the guests who saw the demon had varied reactions.

Shina showed no great interest, and the man who was once a hunter frowned.

On the other hand, the First Son, who liked interesting things, couldn't take his eyes off him.

“Good work. You may go now.”

“Okay.”

The Butler didn't even glance at the guests and returned to where he had come from.

The First Son asked.

“Is that demon the original owner of Eclipse?”

“He was something similar to the owner.”

Though I later found out he was no different from a wild beast lured into a trap by a feast.

But I digress.

The Youngest Son stroked the thirty bottles of Dark Elixir that filled the box.

“This is Dark Elixir. It is a first-stage processed product and an early product with a lot of potential for development.”

“I was curious from the beginning. What are its effects to be named Elixir?”

Everyone who saw this potion for the first time would think so.

Because they were curious, they became interested, and their gaze would lead them to listen to the explanation. That was the charm of a product name.

Then, if they liked it, they would buy it, and there was no way they wouldn't like its efficacy.

“Wisdom’s Elixir in the west is known as a panacea. Just hearing about it, it sounds like it could even revive the dead.”

“This must be a lower version of that, seeing as it's mass-produced like this.”

“The purpose itself is different. If Wisdom is in the realm of healing, ours is a bit more daring.”

I took out one of the thirty bottles, opened the lid, and drank it straight.

The change was felt immediately.

[You have consumed a 1st stage processed Dark Elixir.]

[A rejection reaction is appearing.]

[-Acute hypothermia]

[Absorption into the body is complete.]

“The core of Dark Elixir is Yin energy. It's a cold energy different from the Yin energy that comes from Spirit Sorcery or demon rituals.”

My skin began to turn pale rapidly.

Since the user was of the vampire bloodline, it wasn't a big change, but if an ordinary person drank it, a clear difference would be revealed.

“It's about controlling the pure cold energy accumulated in the body with the overheating that inevitably occurs when using magic power.”

“Shouldn't it be the other way around to explain the effect?”

“It can be seen the other way around. But if you think about the cause and effect, it's about controlling the overheating with the cold energy.”

I moved my magic power.

I emitted it so fiercely that magic power crystals formed in the air.

I created the magic power dust essential for Exploding Bone and moved it like a swarm of fireflies.

It was literally a waste, as it would continuously consume magic power unless it was detonated.

Since everyone knew that, it was perfect for a demonstration.

Especially in front of the genius of Bone Sorcery, the First Son.

“Speed is life for Exploding Bone. The speed at which the dust is applied to the bone is very important, because the dust is unstable.”

“To be fast enough to be used in actual combat, you can't help but pay less attention to maintaining the dust.”

“Even paying attention is a waste of mental energy. But that's not the case while the effects of Dark Elixir last.”

The First Son stroked his chin as if he understood.

“It allows you to do things you normally couldn't. It allows you to perform feats you only imagined.”

“That's right. It allows you to witness your next stage.”

Nodding, I discharged the effects of the Dark Elixir.

A faint steam rises from my skin.

“Thus, the promotional slogan that Jubel Maxman and I selected is this: We put your dream in this bottle.”

“Quite grandiose.”

His reaction was indifferent, but his wallet moved faster than anyone else's.

“Can I reserve about 300 boxes right now? I can pay for it now.”

“It's a family business. It's impossible for me to choose customers at my own discretion. It will be on the market soon, so don't worry.”

“Chief Secretary.”

The First Son's head immediately turned to the side.

“Yes. I will try to secure as many as possible.”

“My other siblings will be watching for its release with fire in their eyes.”

“The same goes for us elders.”

Shina felt her hand, which had been holding a pen all day, tremble.

“The defense system can only be organized once the effect and position of Dark Elixir are established. But there’s something I’d like to ask.”

She looked at the First Son and spoke.

“How did you know I was here?”

“I smelled it.”

His hand pointed at none other than the Youngest Son.

“During the battle, my attention was elsewhere, so I couldn't sense it, but when I came here, the Soul Powder in your possession, little brother, got on my nerves.”

I took out the Soul Powder that Shina had given me from my bosom.

At the same time, I felt like I knew what kind of training he had done in the Ash Mountains.

“It's a countermeasure against our sisters. A keen sense for detecting spirits.”

“Not as much as you, little brother, but my other siblings' talents are also worth seeing. I'm quite curious to see how much they've grown.”

But what was more eye-catching right now was not any kinsman, but this wooden box.

Now that I knew what was inside, I couldn't even imagine its inherent value.

Power was relative, but it was certain that it would send you at least one step further than your current state upon consumption.

If the total amount of power was similar, then the one who had the most of this would ultimately win.

The youngest of the family, who held the key to such victory in his grasp.

He had entered the war later than anyone else, but he had taken the lead the fastest.

Not by showcasing some powerful sorcery, but with potion technology that everyone had looked down on.

The youngest had found his own way to survive, and that path was bound to be a smooth one.

Even though Dark Elixir had yet to be released on the market, I could imagine the power he would hold.

Was it really the right thing to do to leave the birth of such a powerful person alone?

“My other siblings must have visited this place as well.”

“They did.”

The master of the house admitted obediently.

But what he was curious about was probably not whether they had visited or not.

“There were forceful visits, and there were times when they came and went as guests, like you today, Older Brother.”

“It must have been tough.”

“I think it's natural. If you're a kinsman with the blood of Millesdusk.”

“It's natural, but there's no need to make it unnecessarily difficult.”

The First Son spoke bluntly, without bending or distorting like his sword.

“How about joining hands with me?”

“Are you suggesting an alliance?”

“Yes. The two of us will join hands, get rid of the riffraff, and then compete for the throne.”

This time, even the Youngest Son didn't answer right away.

It was because other thoughts had briefly entered his mind.

It felt like just yesterday that he was despised by everyone, but now all his siblings were courting him.

The way things were flowing like this was a sight he had never seen in any of the countless previous plays.

In that case, couldn't he also pioneer a route that he couldn't in the countless previous plays?

The path of taming this problem child Hiler, uniting the great family that was divided into east, west, south, and north, and heading for the imperial palace.

The imperial palace was the final act of this game and, as the mastermind, was not an opponent to be taken lightly.

Of course, for now, it was a theoretical problem. A tabletop discussion.

What needed to be dealt with now was the First Son's proposal of a temporary alliance and the answer to it.

And I knew the correct answer to give.

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