Free Web NovelChapter 47: Chapter 47: Delicious Fish Soup
Duane had been grinding nonstop for the past four days.
For the first two days, he focused primarily on Spirit Swordsmanship. He spent the entire third day practicing Archery, and today, he had been focused on Basic Cooking.
Finally, in the dead of night, he had raised his Basic Cooking from Mastery Level to Perfection.
This was the first Skill he had brought to Perfection.
He had thought he would only receive a few extra attribute points, but unexpectedly, the breakthrough came with a surprise.
’Delicious Fish Soup recipe!’
Duane digested the new information that had appeared in his mind.
Delicious Fish Soup was a fish soup made with fish fillets, honey, and the juice of Vigorous Grass.
It could, to a certain extent, restore a person’s stamina and alleviate fatigue. Even someone completely exhausted could run a little longer after drinking it.
Duane looked at his attribute panel. An additional line had appeared under the Cooking section:
[Cooking]: Fire Source Beast Bone Soup (Skilled 297/300), Delicious Fish Soup (Initial 5/100)
’So, "Delicious Fish Soup" is an Extraordinary food!’
A fire ignited in Duane’s heart.
As previously mentioned, any recipe or formula beneficial to an Extraordinary was a rare, even strategic, resource—something that money could hardly buy.
But now, by bringing his Basic Cooking to Perfection, Duane had experienced an "Enlightenment" and obtained an Extraordinary Recipe.
This undoubtedly increased his competitiveness—his competitiveness among the Nobility!
He couldn’t help but look at the other items under [Basic]. ’If I grind all of these to Perfection, will they also yield Extraordinary recipes like Basic Cooking did?’
’If that were true, he alone could control several, or even dozens, of strategic resources!’
’This would undoubtedly provide a rich foundation for him to grow bigger and stronger!’
Duane’s heart pounded in his chest from the momentary excitement.
"Vigorous Grass..."
He couldn’t help but murmur the ingredient’s name.
According to the information in his mind, it was a green herbaceous plant. Its roots were thick, its stem short, and its long leaves grew in clusters.
Its distinctive features were leaves that clasped the stem at the base, serrated edges, a length of half a meter, and more than ten distinct veins visible on its dark green surface.
’Is this a Magic Plant? Or just an ordinary medicinal herb?’
Duane had never seen Vigorous Grass in real life and didn’t know if it grew on the island.
’Looks like I’ll have to ask Ronald when I have the time and see if he knows about it.’
Ronald was the castle doctor; he should be familiar with many medicinal ingredients.
Duane looked at the personal Attribute section on his panel.
Over the past few days, reaching Mastery in Spirit Swordsmanship and Skilled in Basic Archery had earned him a total of 0.5 attribute points.
His Strength Attribute had already risen to 7.4.
Now, with Basic Cooking reaching Perfection, plus the 1 attribute point from the Enlightenment, he still had 1.5 attribute points to spend.
’Add points!’
Duane allocated the attribute points. In that instant, a powerful feeling welled up inside him, and even his heartbeat seemed to grow clearer.
The Fighting Qi Seed in his heart pulsed with vigorous life, as if something was about to break out of its shell.
’A Strength of 8.9... I should be close to the level of a Middle Level Warrior!’
Although he hadn’t broken through yet, Duane was very confident about the duel in three days.
His current level and condition were already very, very strong among the ranks of Basic-level Warriors.
"Jasmine, go prepare my bath. Remember to add plenty of scented oils; I need to wash this smell off me."
After spending so much time cooking in the kitchen, he reeked of cooking fumes.
"Yes, my Lord. Please wait a moment."
Duane walked out of the kitchen and looked up at the moon. The full moon was just like his current mood: beautiful and full of hope.
"My Lord, are you finished?"
Kaelon walked over. He had actually been standing outside the kitchen for a while.
"Ah, it’s Ah Long. What is it? Do you need something?"
Kaelon rubbed his nose and smiled awkwardly. ’The Lord actually gave me a nickname.’ It seemed he was in a good mood.
"I do have something I need to report to you."
"Oh?"
Duane was puzzled. "What is it? Is something going on nearby?"
The two walked into the courtyard as they spoke.
"No, it’s about John."
Kaelon hesitated for a moment, then relayed the message John had asked him to deliver.
Duane nodded slightly after listening.
’John still hadn’t broken through. From a resource perspective, it was indeed a bit of a waste.’
’Duane had also considered the problem of when to cut him off.’
Although he had brought about three hundred pounds of Fire Source Beast Bone Powder with him, at a consumption rate of eight pounds a day, the stock wouldn’t last long.
’However, considering John was one of his earliest followers, cutting him off so suddenly didn’t seem right.’
’The root of the problem was mainly with Duane himself.’
’He should have set a rule before letting people drink it, such as how many free portions each person would receive.’
’That way, even if some people had no reaction after drinking the Fire Source Beast Bone Soup, there would be a valid reason to stop their supply.’
"Where is John?" Duane asked.
It wasn’t Jack and John standing in front of his rest building today.
"He’s practicing by the pond outside the courtyard. I can see he’s under a lot of pressure."
In truth, anyone in John’s position would feel pressured, unless they were completely heartless.
"Bring him to the study to wait for me. I’ll talk to him after I’ve had my bath."
Kaelon nodded. "Alright!"
He turned and walked out of the courtyard to relay Duane’s instructions to John.
Duane went to the bathroom first, enjoyed a comfortable bath to wash away the smell of cooking fumes, and changed into clean clothes before entering the study.
John had already been waiting in the study for half an hour, his heart filled with anxiety and turmoil, constantly wondering how he should talk to the Lord. ƒгeewebnovёl.com
When he heard footsteps, he flinched and turned to see Duane walking in, dressed in his sleepwear.
"My Lord!" fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
He dropped to one knee. "I have disappointed you!"
"You haven’t disappointed me, John."
Duane helped him up, then walked over to sit behind his desk.
"No one ever said that drinking Fire Source Beast Bone Soup guaranteed a breakthrough."
"But I’ve wasted so many of your resources," John’s voice was full of guilt and remorse.
"Resources can be earned again. Talent is what’s crucial."
Duane said solemnly, "In you, I see the qualities a powerful Warrior should have."
"Me?"
John’s eyes widened as he pointed to himself. "I... do I?"
"Even when the outcome seemed to be failure, you didn’t give up. You continued to train tirelessly, pouring out your sweat with perseverance. Isn’t that precisely the quality a powerful Warrior needs?"
John’s gaze flickered, his eyes turning red. Only now did he realize he wasn’t so worthless in the Lord’s eyes.
Duane continued encouragingly, "I know your concerns. It’s true that, as a Lord, I can’t keep pouring all my resources into you indefinitely. But it’s also unrealistic to expect a few bowls of soup to bring about a concrete change."
Michele and Willie breaking through after just a few bowls was an exception. The Fire Source Beast Bone Soup might have been effective.
But it’s more likely that their strength was already at the tipping point of a breakthrough.
Duane said thoughtfully, "How about this: you continue drinking it for another seven days. If it still doesn’t work, you can then apply to me to withdraw."
"No, my Lord!"
John dropped to one knee, saying through tears, "I have already drunk nearly twenty-four bowls of Fire Source Beast Bone Soup these past few days. That is far too much. I cannot waste your grace any further!"
Twenty-four bowls of Fire Source Beast Bone Soup was the equivalent of three gold and six silver coins.
Such a high expense in just one short month was something an ordinary person wouldn’t even dare to imagine!
Duane didn’t respond immediately.
’John’s loyalty was now confirmed. A person like him could be entrusted with important responsibilities, even if he remained an ordinary person.’
’For example, if a patrol team were to be formed in the future to manage the common people, he would be more than capable.’
’If I just cut him off without saying anything, John himself would surely be subjected to many rumors. People might even say I’ve lost faith in him, which would be detrimental to his future duties.’
"How about this."
Duane thought for a moment and made a decision. "Let’s make it an even thirty bowls. From now on, the limit for everyone will be thirty bowls of Fire Source Beast Bone Soup."
"If you still haven’t broken through after the thirtieth bowl, then you can publicly request to me that you no longer require this resource."
’For Duane himself, he stopped gaining attribute points after drinking the Fire Source Beast Bone Soup five times, but this wasn’t the case for others.’
’Drinking it long-term would have some effect, however small.’
’After all, Jack, Michele, and Willie were exceptions. Most people would need to drink more to see any results.’
’Thirty bowls should be about right.’
"But, my Lord..." John summoned his courage, still wanting to refuse this gift.
But Duane raised his hand, stopping him from saying more. "This is an order, John. You just need to carry it out!"
John swallowed hard, able only to lower his head and accept the gift.
"Yes, my Lord!"
"Alright, don’t overthink it. Go back and rest."
Duane waved his hand, ending the conversation. "Continue to train hard tomorrow."
"Yes!"
John took a deep breath, stood up, and left the room.
He had already made a silent vow in his heart to work even harder, to be worthy of the Lord’s earnest efforts.
