Chapter 13 Ivan's Ambition

Here's the translated text:

In front of the Bat's Eye Medical Hall, the two waited at the entrance, standing left and right, awaiting Old Orio's arrival.

"I've already figured out a plan. It won't be long before I can start learning how to make potions like you. Don't get too complacent." The two, bored out of their minds, accidentally locked eyes. Justine couldn't help but speak up.

"Oh," Ivan responded casually.

Unhappy with his answer, Justine waved her fist at him, her body inadvertently trembling.

*She hated this sort of attitude the most. Treating the other person as her rival, only to be disregarded—it was infuriating.*

Before long, Old Orio arrived.

Justine continued doing odd jobs, while Ivan headed into the apothecary lab to work on potions.

At the square table, Ivan took two ounces of dried glorybower tree bark, used tweezers to hold it over the beast lard lamp, and roasted it evenly until its surface carbonized. He then placed it in a stone mortar and crushed it into powder using a pestle.

Leaning in for a sniff, he caught a special, briny fragrance; the scent was unmistakably correct.

He then took eight dry chunks of purple-spotted sea clam mucus and one ounce of dry beeswax, mixed them together into powder form, and blended them thoroughly.

Placing the glorybower bark powder into a glass dish, he heated it over a flame until the color turned bright red and the briny fragrance was fully released. Gradually, he added the previously mixed powders, occasionally dripping in a few drops of scorpion tail gum oil while stirring continuously. Eventually, the powder turned a coppery red.

"Done."

Ivan muttered under his breath.

When the powder cooled, he skillfully measured ten equal portions using a small balance scale and filled them into ten small vials.

These were ten portions of intermediate-quality glorybower hemostatic powder. A single portion could sell for 30 silver coins, making the total 3 gold coins. The materials cost approximately 40 silver coins, meaning the profit margin was around six to seven times—such was the remarkable profit potential of the trade.

Since he succeeded in making it on the first try, he'd earn two-tenths of the profit—roughly 50 silver coins—still a considerable income.

If he failed, however, half the cost of the ingredients would be deducted from him. When he first started producing glorybower powder, he had lost quite a few silver coins from mistakes.

This was the only intermediate recipe Old Orio had taught him, and it was the simplest to produce among the intermediate-level recipes. The demand for glorybower powder was average, requiring production just three to four times weekly. Most of the time, Ivan worked on lower-grade potions or handled other odd tasks.

"Let's try again."

Ivan gathered identical materials and began a second attempt. This time, he didn't drip the scorpion tail gum oil properly, resulting in uneven coloration. By Old Orio's standards, defective hemostatic powder had to be discarded.

He succeeded on his third attempt.

The fourth attempt was also successful on the first try.

[Apothecary Skill Experience Point +1]

[Apothecary Skill: lv2 (1/200)]

As he set the glorybower hemostatic powder aside to cool, at that very moment, an intangible force in his mind seemed to touch upon a profound insight, leaving him in a state of clarity.

*For a mere ten seconds or so, he felt as though he was revisiting all the knowledge he had previously learned about ingredients, patching up gaps, conducting holistic thinking, and efficiently reproducing all the potions he'd made—while correcting nuanced errors in the process.*

*"Truly extraordinary!"* Ivan came back to his senses, realizing he had made a leap forward in his apothecary skills, equivalent to saving years of effort. He silently praised the moment.

For the fifth attempt at making glorybower powder, his movements were even more fluid, deliberate, and confident. Unsurprisingly, the process was again successful, which confirmed that what had happened earlier wasn't just his imagination.

In addition to the Small Light of Wisdom, he also received an enhanced Light of Wisdom that lasted four minutes.

Including the once-earned level-one Light of Wisdom, he planned to use all of them to analyze the Whirlpool Potion. However, he didn't act hastily; he wanted to acquire another level-one Light of Wisdom, specifically for upgrading his Linguistics Skill.

Moreover, he needed to save more gold coins to purchase ingredients.

...

West City.

Near Hobson Library, Ivan came that day to visit a certain scholar.

"Sir, whom are you looking for?"

He rang the iron doorbell outside the gate. Shortly after, a plump maid emerged from the villa.

Ivan replied, "I'm here to see Scholar Harayer. I wish to learn languages."

The maid, Ada, understood and ushered him through the small garden in the front yard into the villa's guest room, leading him to a woman who appeared to be in her thirties and was radiantly charming.

"Madam, this gentleman is here to study languages."

After the maid left, Ivan reintroduced his intentions: "Good day, Madam. I am Ivan Marichadon. I've come to visit Scholar Harayer in the hope of learning ancient Golgandar language and other tongues under his tutelage."

The woman before him was exquisitely dressed, her features graceful and elegant. Most striking was her bright red lips, shimmering like carnelian, adding a unique allure. She was clearly someone accustomed to refined living.

Mrs. Harayer gestured for him to sit, her lips parting slightly: "The one you're seeking should actually be me. I'm the only one teaching languages here. My husband, the Scholar Harayer, unfortunately passed away in an accident last year."

Her voice was warm and smooth as she spoke, though a fleeting trace of sadness crossed her face before disappearing.

Ivan noticed immediately; it seemed his inquiries had been mistaken. Quickly, he said, "My apologies! If you don't mind, I'd be honored to study under your guidance."

Mrs. Harayer nodded, "Of course. What language would you like to learn?"

Ivan had already decided: "I'll begin with the ancient Golgandar language. Once I've mastered that, I'll consider others."

"A wise choice. Let me state my terms clearly."

"Please do."

"Six gold coins, with a time limit of three months. I will arrange the coursework for you."

The terms were different from what he had heard earlier. Mrs. Harayer had set clear conditions: the time limit was no more than three months, meaning she would only teach for three months, holding lessons once every one or two days. Each session would last two hours, with scheduling controlled by Mrs. Harayer and announced at the end of the prior session.

Ivan agreed readily, even though the tuition nearly emptied his pockets. He received a comprehensive textbook—the Golgandar Dictionary—a notebook, pen, and ink, and began his first language lesson.

"Madam, until next time."

"Goodbye. Don't forget the next class is in two mornings."

Two hours later, Ivan bid farewell to the refined woman.

[Linguistics Skill Experience Point +1]

[Linguistics Skill: lv0 (3/10)]

At lower levels, growth was always easier. By the end of the lesson, he'd gained modest progress, far more enjoyable than when he studied on his own.

Starting that day, Ivan's routine gained another task: memorizing more Golgandar words.

Ten days later, Ivan asked Old Orio to buy ingredients such as Silver Fish Flowers and Mouse Bellflower Roots for him. Old Orio neither refused nor said much about it, nor did he offer any guidance.

At the Marichadon household, Peggy stared in surprise at her brother, who was moving various items into the house.

"Brother Ivan, what are these?"

"Exactly what you're thinking—I'm setting up an apothecary lab at home to make it easier to create potions."

Researching the properties of Whirlpool Potion ingredients was private work, unsuitable for Old Orio's apothecary lab. Hence, Ivan opted to borrow a set of equipment on credit and brought the purchased ingredients home.

"Don't worry. Your big brother knows what he's doing."

Noticing Peggy's hesitance to speak, Ivan gave her a reassuring smile and playfully ruffled her fluffy brown hair.

*The Whirlpool Potion was an intermediate recipe that required no small expenditure of funds. Yet Ivan felt confident he could achieve success.*

*If he succeeded in his research, he would gain access to a broader source of income. His own strength would soar, and the Marichadon family might even rise to a higher status.*

"Ah!"

Pulled from her thoughts, Peggy reacted, blushing as she angrily dodged his hand, puffing up in frustration at him.

"Haha, look at you—acting all shy now."

"I am not!"

The siblings bantered and played for a while. With Peggy's help, they found a room near the backyard to set up the apothecary lab.