Mr. F entered his laboratory with a lightheartedness that was hard to hide, even making small triumphant gestures. Albert noticed this unusual behavior and couldn't help but ask, "Did something good happen?" He wasn't used to seeing his old master in such high spirits.

Realizing that his demeanor was somewhat out of character, Mr. F composed himself, trying to regain his usual calm. "Ahem... We have a new task. And it's a long-term assignment."

Albert's ears perked up at this news. "A long-term assignment? Aren't those usually reserved for the senior members of our lab?" he asked, his excitement barely contained.

"Indeed, Albert. As of now, I've been welcomed into the inner circle," Mr. F replied with a hint of pride.

Albert looked at Mr. F with admiration. He had never heard of an alchemist rising to the inner circle so quickly. While it wasn't uncommon for outside alchemists to be consulted and brought in when the conditions were right, this was still an impressive feat.

"What sort of task have you been given, Master?"

"Behold and be amazed, young Albert. The task is to produce Magic Gathering Potions. These are designed to help magicians of Rank 4 and 5 accelerate their accumulation of magical energy."

Albert's eyes widened in awe. "But isn't that a complex Tier 5 elixir?" he asked nervously.

"You're correct, Albert. This elixir is indeed more challenging to craft than the ones we've been working on so far. But I'm confident we can handle it."

"We?" Albert repeated, his voice tinged with anxiety. "But Mr. F... I'm not sure if you knew, but most Tier 5 potions and above require at least a Rank 2 alchemist to assist in their creation. With my current skills... I don't know if I'm capable..."

"Don't worry, young man," Mr. F said, reassuring him with a gentle smile. "I've arranged with Matilda that we won't start brewing the elixir for another three days. My goal is to help you pass your alchemist's examination by then!"

"WHAT?!" Albert was stunned, his mouth dropping open in disbelief. He thought back to the past few days, filled with one failure after another. He had never succeeded in making even a single potion on his own, and now Mr. F was saying he would help him pass the examination in just three days? It sounded like a dream—one too good to be true.

Mr. F could see the astonishment on Albert's face, but he couldn't blame him. After all, his unique physique had been a barrier to his progress in alchemy. But that was about to change. Mr. F was determined to help Albert overcome this hurdle. With that in mind, he waited until Albert had calmed down, then headed to the alchemy supplies counter. There, he purchased the recipe for the Mini Nitro Bomb, a set of materials, and an old alchemy cauldron.

Afterward, Mr. F left the estate and headed to an open field nearby. He wasn't sure what the consequences of brewing such an unstable elixir might be, so he wanted to play it safe. He couldn't risk blowing up his laboratory, so he decided to brew the elixir in the open air.

He carefully unfolded the recipe and studied it intently. The main ingredients were glycerin, magic-infused sulfur, and the magic core of an Acid Spitter Frog.

Each of these components carried its own risks. Thankfully, transportation via spatial items was entirely safe since they existed in a complete vacuum.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Mr. F set up the cauldron and followed the recipe precisely. All the ingredients simply needed to be thrown into the cauldron once it reached a high enough temperature. Mr. F was initially uncertain whether such a straightforward approach could be correct, but he decided to stick to the recipe. After all, deviating from it would make little sense. How could he allow his own uncertainty to override the accumulated experience of countless alchemists who had successfully made this potion hundreds of times?

As the ingredients began to boil inside the cauldron, they appeared stable. Mr. F meticulously followed the recipe, and after a few minutes, he extinguished the fire and let the liquid cool.

It wasn't until the familiar letters appeared before him that he knew he had succeeded. However, he decided to review the system's analysis later. First, he needed to get out of there. He took out a special vial and prepared to decant his creation. He carefully dipped the ladle into the liquid and began pouring it into the vial. But then, he made a mistake.

The vial wasn't tilted enough, and the liquid fell from a height of about 10 centimeters into the glass. The liquid started to change color, from dark blue to bright yellow, and Mr. F realized this meant the liquid had become activated!

In the same moment, he dropped everything and fled from the cauldron's location. Before the vial even hit the ground, it exploded, triggering a chain reaction. With a massive explosion, everything within a four-meter radius was obliterated, leaving only a charred, blackened crater.

Mr. F had no time to marvel at the explosion's power; he needed to get away. After all, he had just caused a loud noise, and it wouldn't be long before someone came to investigate.

As Mr. F made his way back, he began to contemplate the recipe. The brewing process was clearly manageable, but the liquid was incredibly unstable and prone to ignition. It would need to be handled with extreme care, or it could end up killing the user. Even using it in combat seemed risky—what if the enemy struck the vial while it was still in your hand? Or what if it accidentally activated while being thrown?

Mr. F now understood why, despite its explosive power, this was classified as only a Tier 4 elixir. It should, by all rights, have been a Tier 5 elixir in terms of power!

But this didn't concern Mr. F at the moment. He had achieved his goal. By successfully creating the potion, he could now test something with the system.

The familiar script appeared before him, and he tasked the system with downgrading the recipe to develop a Rank 1 or 2 potion. Mr. F was nervous, unsure if it would work, but to his surprise, the system was more capable than he had anticipated.

[Analysis Complete]

[Recipe Being Generated]

[Highly Unstable Formula Found]

[Two Options Detected]

[Option 1: A Rank 1 potion with explosive properties. Highly unstable. Minor shocks will trigger the explosion.]

[Option 2: A Rank 2 pill with explosive properties. Slightly unstable. Can be thrown to cause a small explosion upon impact.]

Mr. F was amazed at the system's capabilities. Did this mean he could completely negate the disadvantages? Of course, it would still be dangerous to entrust these elixirs to a novice, but in the hands of someone who knew how to use them, they could be a brilliant weapon! What if he armed a Rank 1 mage with hundreds of these pills? Wouldn't that make him nearly invincible in long-range combat?

But another idea crossed Mr. F's mind. "System, can you develop a recipe that allows the Rank 5 elixir to be formed into a pill? According to the recipe, compressing the magic would cause immediate detonation, making it impossible."

[System Analyzing]

[System Encountered Unexpected Issues]

[User's Magical Power is Too Low]

[Estimated Calculation Time: 30 Days]

[Please Note: The System Cannot Be Used During This Calculation Period.]

[Do You Wish to Proceed? Yes/No]

"No," Mr. F responded without hesitation. A month was too long—after all, he might need the system when brewing vitality potions. He decided to satisfy his curiosity another time.

Soon, he arrived back at the laboratory. Outside the door, he could hear Albert arguing with someone inside.

"What's going on in there?" Mr. F wondered as he stepped inside.

"I've told you already, these are Matilda's orders. From now on, Mr. F will have a Rank 2 alchemist assisting him with brewing potions and ensuring he remains in the best mental and physical condition. There's nothing you can do about it."

"No! Master F promised to make me an alchemist! He would never lie to me!"

"Look at yourself. After several years and multiple masters, you still haven't managed to create even a Rank 1 elixir. Just give up and go back to your family. They're rich enough that you—"

At that moment, the person arguing noticed that Mr. F had entered the room.