Free Web NovelChapter 307: Chapter 295: Dragon Race Bloodline
The martial arts competition ended smoothly.
After arranging a time and place to meet with Dalko the following night, Roland reported to Reggie, then quietly left the scholarly tour group with Galvis and Teresa, heading toward the Alchemy Guild.
"Oh, damn it!"
As the strong smell of medicinal herbs mixed with the stench of corroding metal washed over them, the Minstrel immediately pinched his nose.
"Roland, you should have told me beforehand..."
He gazed at the dusty, stone-built structure before them, his eyes filled with undisguised disgust.
"...that we were coming to the den of these lunatics!"
While dealing with the Guard’s questioning at the Guild’s entrance, Roland asked with a hint of confusion,
"Lunatics?"
"Exactly!"
Upon entering the hall, Galvis looked at the dazzling array of shops all around. As if afraid of being contaminated by something, he quickly pulled a silk handkerchief from his coat to cover his mouth and nose.
"The way these people act is no different from those cold-blooded Wizards! To refine some Potion they dreamed up, they’d abandon anything and everything!"
’They really are a bunch of lunatics...’
Roland nodded in agreement, recalling the Potential Potion developed by the Alchemist named Danny.
While it was true that the Potential Potion could awaken the Bloodline Power within an ordinary person, just as Danny had claimed, its side effects...
If Roland hadn’t already become an Extraordinary Knight with a Constitution far beyond that of an ordinary person, and without the help of his own Harmony of All Things Trait, the crude refining process and material handling alone would have been enough to put him in danger of bloodline mutation.
Shaking his head, he said no more. He just beckoned for his two companions to follow and then, relying on his memory, walked toward a remote corner of the Guild.
Just like last time, Danny’s shop was still deserted.
KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK.
Roland tapped lightly on the counter, waking the old Alchemist who was busy, head buried amidst a pile of unfamiliar equipment.
Meeting the man’s bloodshot eyes, he raised an eyebrow slightly and got straight to the point.
"Do you still recognize me, Mr. Danny?"
"Of course, of course, esteemed guest."
With nimble movements, Danny retrieved a bulging burlap sack from under the counter. The crisp sound of glass bottles clinking against each other came from within.
"Time was limited. The materials I procured were only enough for refining... hmm..."
He said, untying the drawstring to count carefully.
"A total of forty-eight bottles of Potential Potion. Would you like to check them?"
"No need."
Roland took the sack, tested its weight, and casually handed it to Teresa behind him. He then extended his hand again.
"Mr. Danny, refining these Potions... that didn’t use up all my gold, did it?"
"Of course not, of course not!"
Danny slapped his forehead as if he had just remembered, and carefully retrieved a coin purse from deep within the layers of his robes.
Gazing at the glimmer of the coins inside, the old Alchemist’s eyes couldn’t help but reveal a trace of reluctance.
’Who on earth is this gentleman? To be able to casually...’
Thinking of the amount of gold in the sack, the reluctance in his eyes gradually turned into a burning desire.
’If I also had such abundant funds, that formula my master entrusted to me before he died... maybe I could finally...’
"Mr. Danny?"
Seeing the man lost in a daze, Roland reminded him softly.
"Oh... my apologies, guest."
As if waking from a dream, Danny handed the coin purse back to Roland.
"After deducting the cost of materials, I took a small portion as my fee for the refining... I trust you don’t mind?"
"That’s only right."
Roland put the coin purse back into the pouch at his waist, nodded slightly, and then signaled for his two companions to prepare to leave.
"Guest, please wait a moment..."
Watching Roland’s retreating back, Danny seemed to have finally made up his mind. He gritted his teeth and spoke up.
"Is there something else?"
Roland turned back, his gaze calm.
Danny opened his mouth, but the courage he had just mustered seemed to evaporate in an instant. In the end, he only stammered,
"I... I haven’t asked for your name yet. It’s... rather impolite of me."
"Roland."
"Roland... is it? Well then, Mr. Roland."
Danny stepped out from behind the counter and came to stand before Roland.
"You... you must be a nobleman, right? Does your family... have need of an Alchemist? What I mean is..."
His voice grew quieter as he spoke, his gaze gradually falling.
"I could join your family. I don’t need any special treatment, just some... funds that would be insignificant to you, to support my research."
As his words fell, the surroundings fell silent.
Galvis glanced at the white-haired old Alchemist, then frowned and leaned in to whisper in Roland’s ear.
"Roland, this guy is a little strange. From what I know, these Guild-certified Alchemists are usually incredibly arrogant. Forget about asking to join someone’s service—even when illustrious nobles or even the royal family ask them to concoct potions, they often get rebuffed."
Roland raised his eyebrows slightly at this.
He was new here and hadn’t expected Alchemists to hold such a high status in the Golden Valley Kingdom.
Surprised, he mulled over Danny’s proposal, falling into contemplation.
’Although the Potential Potion this old Alchemist makes has significant side effects, the fact that he’s Guild-certified and has a shop here must mean his skills are exceptional in some way.’
’As far as I know, Potions are remarkably effective for increasing one’s strength, and can produce miraculous results in specific situations.’
’And with the Traits and bonuses I’ve gained from my Chef Profession...’
’Recruiting an Alchemist clearly has more pros than cons. In fact, you could say there are almost no downsides at all.’
’The only cost would be money, which is of little consequence to me.’
’However...’
After a moment of contemplation, Roland spoke slowly.
"Thank you for your offer, Mr. Danny, but I need some time to consider it before I can give you an answer."
Danny’s face had fallen with disappointment at Roland’s slightly hesitant tone, but his spirits lifted upon hearing the second half of the sentence, and he nodded eagerly.
"Of course, that’s no problem, Mr. Roland!"
Seeing the man’s jubilant expression, which seemed at odds with his age, Roland couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.
After a few more brief words, he turned and took his leave.
The moment they stepped out of the Alchemy Guild, Galvis asked impatiently,
"Roland, are you really planning to take that old guy back with us?"
"That’s the plan."
Roland nodded, taking the heavy burlap sack from Teresa’s hands.
"But before that, I’ll need to trouble you two to help investigate his background. We don’t want to get into any unnecessary trouble."
"You... you really know how to order people around."
Seeing that Roland hadn’t made a rash decision just because the man was an Alchemist, the Minstrel let out a sigh of relief, his tone lightening.
"But for a troublesome task like this..."
Before he could finish, Roland cut in:
"Galvis, when we get back to the River Domain, I’ll tell you all about my experiences in the Land of Mist. As for you, Teresa..."
He turned to the silent, silver-haired woman beside him and smiled slightly.
"After we get back, I’ll cook you whatever you want to eat."
"Then thank you very much, Mr. Roland."
Teresa gently tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, her cool face breaking into a smile tinged with happiness.
"Of course, safety is the top priority. The Golden Valley Kingdom has been a bit..."
After giving them some careful instructions, Roland watched the impatient Galvis drag Teresa away. He let out a soft sigh, then picked up the sack and returned to his lodging alone.
After closing the main door and completely shutting out the noise of the outside world, Roland didn’t hesitate for a moment. He deftly took a bottle of Potential Potion from the sack.
However, he didn’t drink it directly. Instead, just like the first time, he dabbed a small amount of the liquid on his fingertip and tasted it.
Once he confirmed it was fine, he downed the entire bottle of Potion.
Just as when he first took it, that mysterious and indescribable feeling emerged again shortly after the liquid went down his throat.
Watching the numbers for his [Bloodline Fusion Level] on the Professional Panel continuously tick upward, Roland nodded slightly. He then took out the next Potion from the sack and continued drinking.
As he consumed more and more Potions, the side effects that had been suppressed by his powerful Constitution gradually began to manifest.
Roland felt as if a Flame had ignited in his abdomen. The burning sensation spread, causing his blood to stir restlessly.
Yet, in an instant, before Roland could even fully register it, the burning sensation vanished completely. It transformed into a cool current that flowed through his entire body, seeping into his every limb and bone.
’[Harmony of All Things]... it really is a powerful Trait.’
’It seems my decision to stick with the Basic Professions was the right one.’
As his thoughts drifted, the once-bulging burlap sack gradually deflated, and the pile of empty glass bottles on the table grew higher and higher.
[Bloodline Fusion Level: 80%]
[Bloodline Fusion Level: 81%]
[Bloodline Fusion Level: ...]
As the number of Potions he consumed increased, their effect gradually weakened, and the rise in his [Bloodline Fusion Level] became slower and slower.
But fortunately, he had more than enough Potions.
After drinking nearly forty bottles of Potential Potion...
[Bloodline Fusion Level: 100%]
"It’s done."
He had just let out a soft sigh of relief and put down the empty bottle when a dazzling golden inscription suddenly appeared before his eyes.
[(Human Race + Dragon Race) Bloodline Fusion Level has reached 100%]
[Analysis in progress...]
[Trait Acquired: Dragon Race Bloodline]
[Race Unlocked: Dragon Race]
