Even if one managed to harvest a century-old Stellar Windroot, it would be fated to stay in the cabinet as not many potions required it as an ingredient.Naturally, just keeping it around was bothersome too.After some thought, Frank asked, "How long would it take you to find out if you started searching now?"His question left Abel musing in uncertainty. "I would say around a month, but I also have no assurance that we would definitely get it either, Master Lawrence.""A month?"Frank shook his head—Mark would not last a month, given his condition.Still, Abel cleared his throat as he thought of something. "I have another idea, although it might hurt your pride, sir… if you're willing to hear me out?"Like I've mentioned earlier, I sold the Stellar Windroot we had to Kornac's Keep recently, so you can go to them instead."Frank was hesitant—he had never heard that name before. "Kornac's Keep?"Abel nodded. "They are a seclusive sect in Norsedam, but despite their anonymity, t
Fleur's death meant Frank had no other choice.While he had hoped to find the antidote from Fleur before, that hope had now gone up in smoke.And since he burned down Baba Yaga's clinic before, he could not pin his hopes on anyone else.He tried asking Yora Yimmel too, but she had nothing either, as the Rigor Pneuma was delivered straight to Fleur Lang from Baba Yaga through Borc Zomer.And Borc had long since killed himself, ingesting a poison tablet hidden in his molar after Jade Zahn tortured him horrifically.With all the other options out, Frank could only go to Kornac's Keep as Abel had suggested to save Mark's life.-After a few days of rest and preparation, Frank drove to Norsedam.Kornac's Keep was not particularly famous on the east coast, let alone Draconia, but they certainly held a strong reputation locally.In fact, on the day of the trials and Frank arrived at the gates, he was surprised by the crowds he was seeing.They were on the edge of Norsedam, at the ve
That was when the youth in plain robes snorted and moved to stand in front of the young woman, blocking Ira's ogling as he snapped coolly, "I am Kairo Wal, an apprentice of Cloudnine Sect's Hall of Flowers. This is my junior Horey Lindt, and if you ogle her for another second longer, I will gouge your eyes out of their sockets!"Ira's face fell right then, and he clicked his tongue before fleeing, blending in with the crowd.Even if his family business had some power locally, they could not afford to mess with Cloudnine Sect, one of the South Sea Four.In fact, Kairo could take his eyes as he threatened, and Ira would not be able to do anything in return."Shit, even Cloudnine Sect's apprentices are here?""When did Kornac's Keep become so popular?""Tut, tut. I guess this is their moment… But guess what? We'll be rich too!"Kairo did not appear particularly interested in those comments, but at the next instant, he singled out a look of sympathy amid the other worshipful and fea
"Also, the participant who takes first place may name a wish—Kornac's Keep will grant it, as long as it's within our power to grant it."As Mole Cricks—the black-robed elder—finished, he turned to look at another white-haired elder who walked casually out of the keep and sat on an armchair placed beneath the signboard.He nodded, and Mole continued, "Then, let's not drag our feet. The first trial starts now!"At this announcement, over a dozen apprentices carried a giant cauldron filled with a herbal soup with a weird scent, placing it in the middle of the crowd.Mole then explained, "Everyone will have a chance to taste this soup. You will then list down the ingredients used and its purpose on the piece of paper given to you."As soon as he finished, the crowd was pushing their way toward the giant cauldron eagerly, dipping into it with the spatulas prepared for them and sipping the soup.Yosil Darman—the white-haired elder who was seated on the armchair—stroked his beard and sm
"One hundred points!"The crowd cheered again—the Cloudnine Sect apprentices were really something else, both scoring full points.It was clear that the first and second places were decided for the year!"Hmph…"Ira, however, snorted in disdain. "What's so surprising? One of them was just lucky getting it right, and then sneaked the answer to the other. Why wouldn't they obtain a perfect score at that point?""Oh, right, right, right…""Exactly, man…"The other participants around Ira smiled and agreed, not daring to argue with him.In reality, however, everyone had been watching, and they knew that the pair from Cloudnine Sect never said a word to each other from the start.They were clearly depending on their own skill, so Ira's suggestion that they were cheating was certainly untrue. If anything, Ira was just being a sore loser and trying to instigate the crowd.Though everyone knew that, they would not accuse Ira, as they were wary of the rich kid's influence."Alright
In reality, what Frank was doing was clown behavior to Kairo and the other Draconian traditional medicine apprentices.. After all, he did not even know the basic idea of when a soup's effects were best and was instead trying to show off.It was embarrassing, and Kairo was quietly shaking his head—he had certainly misjudged Frank by thinking earlier that he was skilled.Mole Cricks—the black-robed elder—did not hold out much hope for Frank either.Anyone skilled enough would know not to wait until the soup was cold, let alone wait until last because it would affect identification.In fact, those who came to try the soup just before Frank were just here to take part for the sake of doing so, and they could barely identify a couple of the herbs used.That was why Mole was not even interested in what Frank could do and actually only wanted it to be over with.Still, the crowd was soon left staring in surprise as Frank did not taste the soup.Instead, he merely leaned into the caul
Mole's reaction made it clear that Frank's answer was different, and Ira would only prove his own stupidity if he kept mocking him now.However, after Mole stared at Frank's paper for two minutes with various expressions alternating over his face, disappointment ultimately showed on his face as he announced, "Frank Lawrence… zero points.""Pftt… What?!"Ira's expression was at first solemn, but he promptly started laughing at Mole's announcement.Kairo was staring at Frank in disbelief too.If Frank's answer was really worth no points, why would Mole stare at it for so long and look so clearly disappointed?"Hahaha… And you were acting all mysterious with your silence, but it turns out that you only got a fat zero! You're a real comedian!"Ira's diss drew a chorus of laughter, and even those who failed to get anything right were sneering at Frank, throwing him derisive thumbs ups. "You have balls, brother! Showing off while everyone watched and then getting zero points. Amazin
Frank kept his eyes fixed on Mole as he said, "What I wrote is clear—Augustraff. That's a herb I identified from the scent."Mole held his gaze in turn. "I'm not senile enough to fail to read. My question is this—do you know what happens when Augustraff is mixed with the other herbs in this list?""Augustraff…"Nearby, Kairo did a double take before lowering his gaze and muttering to himself, "If it was really put in the soup, it would turn everything into poison! The herbs would counteract each other, and body waste would build up within the body over the next three days before whoever consumes it dies… oh!"Kairo understood right then—Frank did not make a mistake, aside from including an extra item: Augustraff.And that would in turn throw off Frank's review of the soup by a country mile.Kairo sighed and shook his head at the thought. "There's no Augustraff in the soup—my tongue wasn't playing tricks on me."If there was, that would mean that this trial is no trial, but a mas