Episode 127
“Phew, that took longer than expected.”
After destroying the hunting dogs’ camp and leaving no trace, it took more time than anticipated for Zeke to make his way to Atlas.
Once inside the Four Seasons Castle, Zeke headed straight for Summerlock, where the administrative department was located.
As Zeke, looking rather disheveled, entered, the other knights began to whisper among themselves.
“Isn’t that Zeke Draker?”
“He took on an A-rank mission alone. Did he fail?”
Failing the first mission after the induction ceremony meant having to return the knight’s insignia.
Ignoring the murmurs, Zeke made his way to the administrative office and handed an envelope to the officer in charge.
The officer, surprised, asked Zeke, “What is this, Sir Zeke Draker?”
“It’s the mission completion report. I’ve attached a letter from Golin Yobern inside. There’s also a verification document from the Guild Alliance regarding the letter. Please check it.”
The officer’s jaw dropped as he examined the report and the attached documents. The work and the report were exceptionally neat for a knight on his first mission.
Upon verifying Golin’s letter and the Guild Alliance’s confirmation, the officer was even more astonished.
“Did you really go to the Barbarian territory and meet Golin Yobern all by yourself?”
“Yes. He’s doing quite well,” Zeke replied nonchalantly, leaving the officer speechless. Zeke had indeed completed the A-rank mission alone.
“Is everything confirmed?” Zeke asked, snapping the officer back to reality, who nodded in acknowledgment.
“Yes, yes. Sir Zeke Draker, your mission completion is confirmed.”
Taking the mission completion certificate, Zeke left the Four Seasons Castle, leaving behind the bewildered administrative staff.
His next stop was the hideout where Kay was staying. Kay was startled by Zeke’s unannounced visit.
“Boss? Is the mission already over?”
“Yes. But Kay, I have a favor to ask.”
Zeke introduced Richmond to Kay and requested a lab and a new identity for him. Richmond, quick on the uptake, rubbed his hands together in front of Kay.
“Hehe. Please take good care of me, ma’am.”
Kay was surprised to learn that Richmond was a demi-lich.
“An undead? He doesn’t look like one at all.”
“Think of him as a variant. Is it okay for Richmond to stay in Atlas?”
Kay scrutinized Richmond from head to toe before nodding.
“He doesn’t give off an undead vibe, so it should be fine.”
Richmond, who appeared to be a Naga, was given a new identity as a member of the Naga race.
Zeke also tasked Kay with finding the Lubern bloodline.
“How long do you think it will take?”
“Hmm, it might take more than a fortnight.”
“Got it. Let me know as soon as you have any information.”
Zeke then retrieved Richmond’s research materials and the artifact containing demonic power from the camp, placing them in a dimly lit room in the hideout.
“Research this artifact. Let me know if you find anything, no matter how small.”
“Understood, master. Don’t worry.”
After assigning the task to Richmond and leaving him with Kay, Zeke finally headed back to his mansion for the first time in a while.
“Welcome back, young master.”
However, Decker, who greeted Zeke, had an unusual expression.
“Decker, what’s wrong? Is something going on?”
Decker, who was always composed, seemed unusually unsettled. At that moment, Zeke sensed a commotion inside the mansion.
‘Hmm?’
Leaving a sighing Decker behind, Zeke headed straight to the drawing room.
Inside, two teenage boys he had never seen before were sprawled on the sofa, munching on snacks and sipping juice. Crumbs were scattered everywhere, and the walls were stained with strange colors.
Decker, who had followed Zeke, frowned and trembled slightly at the sight of the two.
Zeke realized that these boys were the culprits who had tested Decker’s immense patience.
The boys, wearing oversized robes for their age, surprisingly bore the emblem of certified alchemists—a hexagonal symbol.
Seeing the resemblance between the two, Zeke tilted his head in curiosity.
‘Could they be…?’
A thought crossed Zeke’s mind.
The infamous twin alchemist prodigies, Al and Jeff.
Just then, Al and Jeff noticed Zeke and sprang to their feet, exclaiming, “The sponsor! The sponsor is here!”
Despite their youthful faces, Al and Jeff rushed towards Zeke.
Decker stepped in front of Zeke, addressing them sternly, “Stop! If you act rudely towards the young master, I won’t stand by any longer!”
Zeke clicked his tongue at Decker’s unusually stern demeanor.
‘If even the usually calm Decker is reacting like this, these brats must have caused quite a ruckus.’
Despite their cute appearances, their antics were devilish.
Zeke gestured to Decker that it was fine and addressed the twins.
“Al and Jeff. This is our first meeting.”
Al grinned and extended his hand. “Nice to meet you, sponsor—I mean, Sir Zeke Draker.”
Zeke shook Al’s hand, and at that moment, a message window appeared.
[A substance containing a high concentration of Laughing Mushroom has been detected.]
[Your constitution neutralizes the poison.]
Known for their pranks, the mischievous twins had tried to pull a fast one with a laughter-inducing substance right from the start.
When Zeke showed no reaction despite shaking his hand, Al tilted his head in confusion, while Jeff signaled to Al with his eyes, as if asking what was going on.
Zeke tightened his grip on Al’s hand.
As Zeke’s grip grew stronger, Al’s face twisted in discomfort.
“Ugh, wait, let go of my hand…”
Zeke tightened his grip even more, smiling slyly.
“The gloves of a pureblood awakener are made from dragon leather, offering great elasticity and protection against various contaminants. Like Laughing Mushrooms, for instance.”
Al and Jeff were taken aback by Zeke’s words.
When Zeke finally released his hand, Al stepped back, rubbing his sore hand.
“Ouch, I thought my hand was going to break.”
Jeff exclaimed at Zeke, “Just for a little prank! Trying to break an alchemist’s precious hand! Isn’t that too much?”
Zeke sat on the sofa and addressed them calmly.
“If I wanted to, I could have pulled out not just your hand but your entire arm.”
Zeke’s cold voice made Al and Jeff’s faces turn pale.
Despite their notorious reputation, there was an undeniable aura of authority around Zeke that they couldn’t defy.
“Bro, what do we do? Our plan’s completely backfired.”
“Damn it. We were supposed to establish dominance from the start.”
Though they whispered as quietly as possible, Zeke heard every word. He smirked inwardly and spoke to Al and Jeff.
“It seems you have something to say. Get on with it. I’m busy.”
Al and Jeff, slightly deflated, sat back on the sofa.
Jeff was the first to speak up.
“How did you know? That we used Laughing Mushrooms.”
“I don’t see why I should tell you.”
Jeff clamped his mouth shut, feeling as if he’d been outsmarted.
Zeke then addressed them both.
“I believe I provided sufficient research funds through Lord Paynen. Why did you come all the way here? I thought I made it clear to avoid contact.”
Zeke’s sharp gaze and firm voice made Al and Jeff feel overpowered.
Al spoke with a slightly trembling voice.
“Well, it’s not exactly a problem…”
Zeke raised an eyebrow at Al’s words.
“A problem? Do you think I paid you over a hundred thousand gold to create problems?”
Al and Jeff flinched at Zeke’s words. A hundred thousand gold was indeed a significant sum.
There was no other patron as generous with rare materials as Zeke.
Al, his voice now barely a whisper, cautiously spoke to Zeke.
“Well, it’s not really a problem, but…”
Zeke silently stared at Al, making him feel even more suffocated.
‘He’s terrifying. Damn it.’
As Al struggled to speak, Jeff interjected.
“The fermentation isn’t working!”
Zeke turned his attention to Jeff.
“What do you mean the fermentation isn’t working?”
Jeff swallowed hard and explained.
“To suppress the addictive effects of Soma and turn it into a medicinal product, we need to ferment it to alter its components… but no matter what we try, it just won’t ferment. I mean, it won’t.”
Zeke pondered over Jeff’s explanation.
‘Fermentation isn’t working, huh.’
Having never studied alchemy in his past life, Zeke found Jeff’s words hard to grasp.
Sensing Zeke’s confusion, Al retrieved a toolbox from beside him.
When Al opened the box, it unfolded into a miniature laboratory on the table.
Zeke watched in fascination as Al set up the tools.
‘Alchemists each have their own unique toolboxes. It’s intriguing. Do they use magic to shrink everything and store it inside?’
Zeke curiously examined the various beakers and flasks filled with colorful liquids.
Al pointed to one of the flasks.
“This is the natural ingredient for Soma. According to our hypothesis, once it ferments and its components change, it will have incredible effects.”
“And what exactly comes out when it ferments?”
“Have you heard of antibiotics?”
“You mean the medicine that prevents infections? I thought that already existed.”
Al and Jeff were taken aback by Zeke’s unexpected knowledge of antibiotics and continued their explanation.
“The ones available now are ridiculously expensive and have severe side effects. If used incorrectly, the area where the medicine is applied could necrotize.”
Hearing Al’s words, Zeke shifted his posture.
“So you’re saying that the antibiotic made from fermenting this Soma won’t have any side effects?”
Al and Jeff’s faces brightened as they nodded enthusiastically.
“Exactly! But… we haven’t been able to create a fermentation sample, so our research is at a standstill.”
“Then why come to me? If you’re stuck, shouldn’t you be doing more research?”
Al and Jeff exchanged embarrassed glances before speaking to Zeke.
“Well, the thing is…”
Zeke clicked his tongue, his expression one of disbelief.
“Did you blow through the entire budget? All hundred thousand gold?”
Al and Jeff looked away, their expressions sheepish.
The materials they used were so rare and expensive that the budget was quickly depleted.
Al turned to Zeke, pleading.
“Please, just this once, trust us and provide more funding! Once this antibiotic is complete, it will be a groundbreaking pharmaceutical!”
Zeke regarded Al and Jeff with skepticism.
The two of them looked at Zeke with hopeful eyes, trying to secure the funding.
He shook his head and said, “I’m not an expert in this field, so I can’t make a decision right away. I’ll have to consult with Lord Feynan when he returns.”
At Zeke’s words, the color drained from their faces.
“Well, the thing is…”
They knew that if Zeke asked Feynan about additional funding, it would be denied. Most of the budget had been spent on expensive materials, and they had been caught using those materials to make their own experimental potions.
They had approached Zeke while Feynan was away on a business trip to the south.
Zeke, perceptive as ever, saw right through their intentions.
He clicked his tongue again and picked up the flask containing the Soma.
“What good is skill if you’ve lost the trust of your superiors? Can you really justify the expense?”
Al and Jeff were left speechless.
Their usual philosophy was that “great inventions come from playful experiments,” but mentioning that now might result in more than just a denial of funds—it could cost them dearly.
“Jeff, I think we’re done for.”
“See, I told you we shouldn’t get involved with Drake.”
As the twins whispered their blame to each other, Zeke pretended not to hear and stared at the Soma in the flask.
“Is it really that hard to ferment this? Isn’t fermentation just a form of decay?”
On a whim, Zeke decided to use his power of decay as a joke.
Bubbling, bubbling, bubbling!
The Soma, which had been a white powder, suddenly turned into a liquid and began to boil under Zeke’s power.
The twins, who had been blaming each other, were startled by the reaction in the beaker Zeke was holding.
“That reaction!?”