Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Chapter 1564: Chapter 142: ’Lotus Tea’ Lind

”What’s that thing?” asked ’Battlefield Lightning’.

Even Ditte felt a tinge of sympathy for those Undead Tribe members whose expressions instantly turned livid.

Whether the Undead Tribe wanted to sell something to Lind, or try to sow discord between Ellie and the family... he still knew that the Undead Tribe friendly to him was not of the same faction as those around Ellie.

Just in Danboro, there are two major factions and seven sub-sects. It’s normal for the larger Undead Tribe to have internal conflicts.

Ditte was aware that the Undead Tribe on the ’Battlefield Lightning’ side were trying to win over him and Lind, yet he didn’t find it inappropriate... Open attempts to win favor are more comfortable than enticing with benefits.

Ditte naturally understood, no matter how he tried to persuade, the Stelter Family would never support Ellie’s actions, nor would the insightful commander from the Undead Tribe believe it.

If it were me, I wouldn’t believe it either.

Verbal promises are the least reliable.

Only intertwined interests prevent easy shifts in one’s stance.

However... his eyes blinked... was the potion the Undead Tribe referred to the kind that assists apprentices in quickly grasping magic runes, aiding in the accelerated absorption of magical energy?

Or was it something capable of directly advancing one’s rank?

The Undead Tribe’s ranks advance swiftly, Ditte could understand... the energy absorption speed of an Elemental Body is entirely different from a human.

But the flesh and blood of a human body makes that difficult, let alone direct advancement... like himself as a Knight; if the body isn’t adequately tempered, even if certain methods pushed him to a high-level rank, he couldn’t directly learn high-level skills.

However, such external force could easily cause bodily imbalance, leading to rupture of blood vessels during practice of high-level skills, all normal.

This opportunistic approach Ditte felt would be tried in any world... whether others in different worlds succeeded, but Aesces over many years had only various failure warnings.

”Lightning, can you not speak?” The thinly veiled angry tone of ’Old Age Striking King’ made the tall knight atop the ox shrink his shoulders in pity, hiding behind Ditte.

Interruption of Ditte’s thoughts prompted him to turn and smile at Lightning... Lightning subtly gestured a finger towards his lips and bowed his head silently.

”Don’t bother with Lightning. Apart from oxen and hammers, he’s nothing.” ’Old Age Striking King’ turned back to Lind, ”Our Undead Tribe doesn’t have those divine medicines that elevate one level per bottle.

However, there is a focus potion, originally used to restore our mana and accelerate chanting speed.

But in other worlds, we’ve given it to human friends, they said within an hour of consumption, spiritual power becomes particularly focused, and magic runes in the mental sea easily condense.

Expressing it this way, do you understand?”

Lind pinched his palm, pursed his lips, nodded: ”I get it, this is most effective for us apprentices who need to comprehend more magic runes to advance to official mages.”

’Old Age Striking King’ nodded with satisfaction: ”This isn’t an isolated example, many human territories well-connected with our Undead Tribe have conducted experiments.

Unfortunately, ordinary people can’t afford this potion.

It requires many materials, including pearls, a shell that can only grow in the purest seawater, and after devouring the surrounding coral with water-condensing functions, takes three years to cultivate pearls.

Therefore, the price isn’t low.”

”So... how much is it?” Lind gently lowered his head... Did Ellie refrain because the potion was too expensive, beyond his means?

The family recently decided on his punishment: They wouldn’t spend any money on his mage journey before he came of age and separated from the family.

Having a teacher capable of advancing to a high-level alchemist and providing sufficient learning materials was already the family’s last benefit willing to give him... Lind knew the abundance of practice resources came from Ditte as a brother funding the lab from his own pocket.

Otherwise, according to family rules, he was limited to ten tries per experiment.

Ellie had similar limits, but she had compensation from Mother Helena... using the original provisions intended for Lind.

Moreover, she had the Hall of Abundance providing resources, all belonging to Ellie.

Lind undoubtedly knew if he wasn’t halfway a victim, he wouldn’t even have his current privileges.

He knew, all problems rooted in his own greed.

Yet, when ’Old Age Striking King’ smilingly stated ’2000 gold per bottle’, his hand sharply dug into his palm.

”Does Ellie know about this?” Ditte glanced at Lind, then turned to the smiling ’Lu Huayu’.

If it was 20000 gold per bottle, Ellie not mentioning it, could be understood... Without family support, Lind was incapable of affording such a potion.

As his brother, maybe he wouldn’t bear it and would spend savings to buy Lind a few bottles, but continuous supply wasn’t feasible.

Count Stelter always held strong principles, never changing his orders for anything.

Since punishment was given, Lind could only rely on himself.

But at 2000 per bottle?

Even if Lind’s aptitude wasn’t that great, drinking dozens of bottles should yield some effects, right?

”Miss Ellie?” ’Lu Huayu’ softly smiled, ”She’s quite a major client! She bought many of the more expensive kind, but those only work for official mages. Lind doesn’t need them for now.”

Lind raised his head to Ditte: ”So she knew all along.

Or...

Indeed, she wouldn’t treat me as a brother anymore. I was the one who erred first.

However... I sincerely believed, after punishment, I could continue surviving in the family... Seems that wasn’t the case.”

Ditte understood Lind’s words.

Count and Countess Stelter, and Butler Ted should know of this potion, but they never purchased it for Lind... never even mentioned it.

He cast a glance at the Undead Tribe... actually, ’Old Age Striking King’ arrived just today, unfamiliar with their Stelter family’s feuds, hence directly spoke about these matters.

The Undead Tribe present earlier naturally didn’t want to stir trouble with Count Stelter over small matters.

As for himself, he always only interacted with people from the Battlefield Family: Battlefield had no mages, not even priests.

Their knights skilled in healing skills preferred combat by hammer throwing.

”Lind, don’t be like this, at least in future, I...” He couldn’t resist comforting his little brother.

”I know, Brother Ditte surely didn’t know.” Lind raised his head, his eyes a bit red but expression firm, ”Brother, from now on, is it only you?”

’Old Age Striking King’ paused briefly, then turned away as if baffled by the situation, exchanging glances with ’Sui Chen’, inquiring what was happening.

Ditte helplessly glanced at her: Though not wrong, she indeed brought tremendous inconvenience.

In truth, returning after discussing Lind’s case with parents... at least before Lind wronged him, as heir, he was willing to accept Lind living in the castle.

Otherwise, Count Stelter intended Lind to move to a residential area outside the castle with family members... continuing magic learning was his father’s gift to Lind, but Lind must understand his identity, no matter what, he could never inherit the Earl’s position.

Although such outcomes benefitted Ditte slightly more, his status and wealth completely secured.

But Ditte always remembered Lind as a small pity bundle back then.

Lind lacked outstanding skills, wasn’t it related to enduring excessive hardship at birth?

Individuals with poor health long term often engage in morbid thoughts, not to mention, was it Lind’s fault for having Silk Spider poison?

The Stelter Family indeed bears issues causing the child injustice.

Ditte sighed, dismounted, embracing Lind softly comforting.

’Old Age Striking King’ subtly twisted her lips, asking ’Sui Chen’ with eye contact: Is the boy always so tender and manipulative?

’Sui Chen’ managed a wry smile, nodded slightly, and gestured his eyebrows, looking at ’Lu Huayu’.

’Old Age Striking King’ followed the gaze, suddenly realizing: Isn’t this a toned-down version of Road Eunuch?

’Lu Huayu’ slightly twitched lips, flashes of anger mixed with grievance in his look: I damn well am not like this! I rely solely on myself!