Free Web NovelChapter 311: Chapter 299: Mysterious Liquid
"A Second Ring Spell?"
After quickly scanning the contents of the commission notice, Roland’s gaze locked onto the rewards section.
’Domain of Honesty, huh...’
He stroked his chin as memories of the spell gradually surfaced.
Galvis had indeed mentioned this spell back when he was bragging about his travels across the continent.
Although it was classified as a Second Ring Spell, it wasn’t particularly difficult to learn, nor was it especially powerful.
It simply created a Domain or Barrier after being cast, forcing anyone within it to speak the truth.
It sounded nice, but it lacked any real coercive power.
It could guarantee that people within its range would speak truthfully, but if they chose to remain silent, the spell was completely useless.
Perhaps its only commendable feature was its area of effect.
Because it was so impractical, the spell was unpopular among Casters—practically obscure.
It was said that before the Era of the End, only one type of Extraordinary Professional would use this spell, bound by their moral code or dogma.
’A Paladin... I didn’t expect a Transcendent who draws Power from faith to appear in the Golden Grain Kingdom. Wait...’
Roland’s eyes narrowed slightly as his gaze fell upon the client’s name.
’Gloria...’
Recalling the golden-haired girl’s face and the information about her, he couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.
’Could this Princess be a Paladin? Or maybe...’
Considering he had never sensed the unique aura of a Transcendent on her before, Roland came up with another theory.
’Did she obtain this Second Ring Spell through her status as the Saintess of the Fiery Sun Church?’
"Roland!"
Just as he was lost in thought, Dalko’s voice called out from the side.
Turning his head, he saw his companion holding a tray piled high with food and asking quizzically,
"What are you looking at? The only thing I’m waiting on is dessert. Should we start eating, or..."
"Let’s eat."
Gazing at the tender, stewed meat on the plate and smelling the rich aroma wafting through the air, Roland’s taste buds were instantly awakened.
Setting aside the matter of the commission for now, he followed Dalko to a table by the window and sat down.
His knife and fork clinked lightly against the porcelain plate.
The moment the meat entered his mouth, Roland began to savor it carefully.
’Venison... from slaughter to table in under fifteen minutes. No wonder it’s managed to retain such a fresh flavor...’
’I happen to have a free day tomorrow. I should bring Teresa here to try it...’
While chatting and laughing with Dalko, he divided his attention, catching snippets of conversation from the Adventurers and Mercenaries around them.
Gathering intelligence at the Adventurer Guild had long since become a deep-rooted habit of his.
Just as Roland was chewing a piece of venison, the boisterous conversation from a few Adventurers at a neighboring table drifted over.
"Her Highness Princess Gloria’s commission? Give me a break, Hank. You? Keep dreaming."
Scarface sneered, chugging a large mouthful of ale.
"Putting aside how damn hard the mission is, even if you got lucky and finished it, the reward is a Spell Scroll for ’Domain of Honesty’. You’re a lummox who can’t even sense Magic Elements. What are you gonna do with that thing? Wipe your ass with it?"
The burly man named Hank muttered a retort, but his voice trailed off.
Another voice chimed in, tinged with a hint of mystery.
"Hey, your information is outdated. I just went to check this morning. I heard Her Imperial Highness the Princess is getting desperate and changed the reward again! It’s not written explicitly, but the person at the counter let it slip that if someone can complete it, she’s willing to offer a treasure comparable in value to a Second Ring Spell."
"Tsk, how many times has she changed the reward now?"
Scarface shook his head.
"But speaking of which, have you guys noticed? There have been a lot of strange things happening in Golden Ears City lately. That new High Tower His Majesty Morne built... it keeps glowing with weird lights at night. I have a cousin who works in the palace who got drunk and let it slip that there might be a few real Wizards living in there."
"For real? Then why doesn’t Her Highness Princess Gloria go ask those Wizards for help instead of posting a commission at the Guild..."
The conversation gradually shifted to various speculations about the King’s new tower.
Roland’s knife and fork paused for a moment.
"What’s wrong?"
Seeing his dear friend suddenly stop moving, Dalko looked up in confusion.
"It’s nothing."
Roland shook his head gently and turned his attention back to the anecdotes Dalko was enthusiastically recounting about the Knight Academy.
Perhaps because they hadn’t seen each other in a long time, the young nobleman was especially talkative. Roland just listened quietly without interrupting.
After a hearty meal, Dalko affectionately slung an arm over Roland’s shoulder as they walked out of the Adventurer Guild together.
"Just you wait, Roland! Next year, I’ll be going to the River Domain as a representative for a study tour. You’d better treat me well when I’m there!"
"Of course."
The two of them strolled and chatted for a long time in the fading twilight, and it wasn’t until night had fully fallen that Dalko reluctantly said his goodbyes.
Watching the young nobleman’s back disappear at the end of the street, Roland unconsciously stroked his smooth chin. The words he’d overheard in the Guild replayed in his mind.
’All I have to do is analyze the source of that mysterious liquid...’
The requirements on the commission notice didn’t seem too complicated, which tempted him.
The somewhat impractical Second Ring Spell had initially made him hesitate about whether it was worth taking this commission in the limited time he had before leaving the Golden Valley Kingdom.
But if the reward really could be exchanged for something of equivalent value...
Although he still didn’t know what the mysterious liquid was, analyzing something like this wasn’t difficult for him, thanks to the Traits and various Extra Benefits he’d gained from his [Chef] Profession.
This reward was practically free for the taking.
At this thought, Roland quickened his pace.
Back at his residence, he changed into a set of clothes he’d never worn outside, covered his mouth and nose with a thick scarf, and then extended his Spiritual Power outward like tentacles, carefully probing his surroundings.
After confirming he hadn’t attracted any attention, he melted silently into the night and stealthily made his way back toward the Adventurer Guild.
The Adventurer Guild was much quieter at night than during the day, with only a few scattered figures lingering in front of the bulletin board.
Roland pulled his hat down low and walked straight to the counter. He pointed a finger precisely at Gloria’s commission notice and spoke in a slightly raspy, disguised voice.
"I’ll take this commission."
The clerk behind the counter seemed accustomed to all sorts of strange Mercenaries and Adventurers. Without asking any questions, he expertly retrieved a small, wax-sealed Crystal Bottle.
Inside the bottle was a small amount of a thick, ethereal purple liquid that seemed to hold shimmering starlight in its depths.
"This is the sample. The client requires an analysis of its origin. Once you’re done, return with this token to submit your report."
The clerk handed over the bottle and a Copper Task Badge.
After taking the items, Roland didn’t return to his residence. Instead, he found an extremely secluded, abandoned building.
It was far from any crowds, minimizing the risk even if something unexpected were to happen.
Under the moonlight, he broke the wax seal on the bottle’s mouth.
A bizarre scent, a mix of sulfur and a sweet, rotting fragrance, immediately wafted out.
Roland’s brow furrowed. He didn’t taste it directly as he would with an ordinary, unknown ingredient.
Instead, he took out a heat-resistant Secret Silver Plate from his pouch.
It was a standard tool for refining Potions.
Placing a drop of the ethereal purple liquid onto the plate, Roland took a deep breath and focused his mind.
His high Spiritual Power Attribute, combined with the Fire Element Affinity Trait from [Heart of the Furnace], gave him masterful control over [Flaming Arrow].
In just an instant, a faint Flame formed at his fingertip, slowly enveloping the Secret Silver Plate in a simple form of "cooking."
Heating it.
Compared to the Potions Danny refined—which, though harmful, were at least certified by the guild and not immediately fatal—this liquid of unknown origin radiated a primitive, undisguised malice in its scent alone.
Any cooking method would inevitably alter the fundamental nature of the material, but to Roland, no reward, however generous, was worth an unknown risk.
With a mere thought, [Harmony of All Things] activated.
In his Perception, the sharp, foul Energy Threads within the liquid gradually smoothed out and became inert, as if they were being ironed flat.
Only after he felt the liquid’s Energy Field stabilize and no longer emit a dangerous aura did Roland extinguish the Flame at his fingertip. He then waited a few more moments for the liquid to cool completely.
Then, he finally dipped a finger into the "harmonized" liquid, whose color now seemed slightly paler, and brought it to his lips.
[Gustatory Synesthesia], activated.
In that instant, a flood of information rushed in, weaving a disturbing picture in his consciousness.
A base of highly concentrated magical organic solvent, mixed with the strange sensation of decaying Star Moss Spores and Nether River Water sediment.
But at its core was some unidentifiable, tar-like substance brimming with negative Energy.
This was by no means a natural brew or an alchemical product. It felt more like the brutish secretion of some powerful being, having undergone only crude refinement.
Its magical composition was chaotic and foul, a cold stillness churning with restless, corrosive properties. It was completely different from any Elemental Magic Power he knew, as if it originated from a dark inverse of reality where Order was completely overturned.
Although its toxicity had been removed, he could still perceive its latent properties of spiritual corrosion and energy contamination. Moreover, there was a faint yet incredibly profound sense of being pulled.
As if it were connected to some distant, hungry, dark consciousness...
