Free Web NovelChapter 71: Chapter 71: Fire-attribute Demon Beast Meat
Duane was unaware of the incident that had occurred at the Holy Hand Association that night.
After Kaelon and Benur left, he was still pondering Daniels’s motives.
The Sauce Meat Fruit’s effects were remarkable; it could be considered a strategic resource.
Even if Daniels wanted to prove his worth and show Duane his special abilities, he wouldn’t have gone so far as to do it in a way that would significantly strengthen a rival.
After much thought, Duane concluded there was only one possibility:
The amount of Spiritual Power gained from a Sauce Meat Fruit was limited. In Daniels’s eyes, even giving away two would, at most, only add one or two Basic-level Warriors to Duane’s ranks—not a significant impact.
Giving them away both covered part of the fee and avoided creating too much trouble for himself. It was a perfect solution.
The only thing Daniels probably hadn’t anticipated was that Kaelon was a Human Tier Warrior who had been stuck at the peak of his Tier for a very long time.
Someone on the verge of a breakthrough like him would advance immediately after consuming a Sauce Meat Fruit.
If Daniels had known this would be the result, he probably wouldn’t have offered the fruit.
’The men from the Holy Hand Association said Daniels can make more Sauce Meat Fruits. I have to find a chance to get a few more.’
Raymond was an Advanced Peak Warrior, also on the verge of a breakthrough.
If he got his hands on a Sauce Meat Fruit, he might be able to break through in one go as well.
That would make Duane’s high-end combat strength incredibly solid.
Besides, it wasn’t just Raymond; Duane could also consume a Sauce Meat Fruit.
Even if he didn’t break through immediately, it would at least increase his attribute points, just like drinking Fire Source Beast Bone Soup.
And using the attribute points he gained was just as good.
’The Holy Hand Association has already submitted their tribute. The Broken Wave Gang’s must be coming soon.’
The next morning, Ralph finished taking a detailed inventory of the Demon Beast Meat.
"This batch of Demon Beast Meat from the Holy Hand Association totals a thousand pounds. Most of it is air-dried, while the smaller remaining portion was preserved by smoking and salting."
Although the texture of the meat wasn’t great, it was still Demon Beast Meat.
The Extraordinary Energy it contained was something not found in the meat of ordinary farm animals.
"Is there any Fire-attribute Demon Beast Meat?" Duane asked.
Ralph had already confirmed this with Kaelon, Raymond, and Monbodt.
"Yes."
He led Duane to two large jars. "They say there are Demon Beasts like Flaming Scorpions and Blazing Giant Snakes over in the Hot Spring Mountain Range. This is snake and scorpion meat."
Duane stepped forward and opened a jar. The meat inside was salt-cured and looked a little better than the dried jerky.
He saw a whole scorpion, its body slightly larger than a soft-shelled turtle.
"How many pounds of this is there?"
"One hundred and sixty-three pounds in total."
Ralph reported, "Most of it is mountain wolf and wild boar meat. Those are the most common creatures in Thorn Valley and the Hot Spring Mountain Range."
Duane wasn’t particularly interested in that meat; his focus was on the Fire-attribute Demon Beast Meat.
After all, his supply of Fire Source Beast Bone Powder was about to run out, and he needed to find a substitute.
"Set aside the Fire-attribute Demon Beast Meat for me; I have a use for it. You can use the rest for daily Cooking, but make sure to detoxify it first."
Duane then asked, "Any news on the mountain spring water and chrysanthemums I had you look for?"
Ralph nodded. "Black Forest Island has two varieties: Summer Chrysanthemums and Autumn Chrysanthemums. It’s currently May, which is right when the Summer Chrysanthemums are in full bloom. For the Autumn Chrysanthemums, we’d have to wait until October or November."
"Then have our people start gathering the Summer Chrysanthemums. Dry them, store them—the more, the better!"
"Yes, I understand."
Although Ralph didn’t know what the Baron was planning, he figured that between the Fire-attribute Demon Beast Meat and these new requests, he was likely conducting some kind of research.
As the veteran butler, he was wise enough not to pry into certain matters.
After giving his instructions, Duane headed toward Ronald’s herb garden.
Though called an herb garden, it was in reality the nearly two-acre plot of land allocated to the castle’s physician.
The plot had excellent sun exposure and soil, and Ronald had divided it into several zones for cultivating medicinal herbs.
By coming here to help, Duane could not only grind the Skill Level for his Basic Planting, but also learn a great deal about Herbalism from Ronald, increasing his Basic Herbs Skill Level. It was killing two birds with one stone.
「Broken Wave Gang.」
After more than half a month of recuperation, Bard’s injuries had significantly healed. He could now get out of bed and move about freely.
That afternoon, he was enjoying the sun when a piece of news completely ruined his mood.
The Baron had sent an invitation to the Holy Hand Association, and they, in turn, had delivered a large tribute of supplies to the Baron’s manor.
His brow furrowed as an intense sense of crisis washed over him.
Bard could have understood if Daniels had simply taken the initiative to deliver his tribute.
But for the prestige-obsessed Baron to personally issue an invitation to a commoner and even host a banquet? What was he playing at?
It was easy for him to arrive at one conclusion—the Baron was trying to win them over.
And yet the Broken Wave Gang, one of the foremost local powers on Black Forest Island, hadn’t heard a single thing.
This meant that in the Baron’s eyes, he was already less important than the Holy Hand Association.
While the three factions maintained a fragile peace, an alliance between any two would spell immense danger for the third.
And now, the Broken Wave Gang was that "third party."
Bard’s heart pounded with anxiety. ’At last night’s banquet, did Duane reach some kind of deal or agreement with the Holy Hand Association?’
’To put it more bluntly, were they going to move against him?’
The situation had changed. Bard could no longer count on waiting for the merchant ships from the Starfall Islands to arrive and bring him aid.
For one, the merchant ships generally didn’t arrive until around September.
For another, the Broken Wave Gang’s power on Black Forest Island in recent years meant these merchant ships no longer traveled with many warriors, especially not Tier Level ones.
Bard’s chances of staging a comeback with the help of the merchants’ guards were not guaranteed.
What’s more, with the Baron and the Holy Hand Association showing signs of an alliance, he’d likely be slaughtered long before any ships arrived.
He couldn’t help but recall what he’d said to Monbodt the other day.
’Perhaps submitting to the Baron isn’t such a bad option after all?’
"Gaius, go and make preparations at once. We must deliver our tribute to the Baron before nightfall!"
Bard’s brow creased as he added thoughtfully, "I will go myself this time."
Gaius was stunned. "My lord, your injuries haven’t fully healed! It’s too dangerous for you to go!"
Bard shook his head. His personal presence was necessary to show their sincerity. It would also give the Baron face.
"The Baron values his noble dignity. I doubt he’d harm a guest who comes to him in good faith, would he?"
Gaius hesitated. "How about I lead the delegation, then?"
As the Vice Leader of the Broken Wave Gang, his status was comparable to Kalina’s.
"I appreciate you offering to go in my place, knowing the risks."
Bard acknowledged Gaius’s point.
The two had arrived on Black Forest Island around the same time and had worked together for many years. The fact they had coexisted peacefully for so long was a testament to their mutual trust.
However, Bard still refused the offer.
"My going in person isn’t just to show the Baron that the Broken Wave Gang takes him seriously. More importantly, there is something I wish to reveal to him."
He looked at Gaius and said, "Across all of Black Forest Island, I doubt more than five people know about this."
Gaius’s interest was piqued. "Is it about Daniels? Or something in Thorn Valley?"
Bard gave a mysterious smile and didn’t answer, saying only, "You’ll find out when the time is right."
