After a brief visit to the alchemy storage, where a servant provided him with ten additional sets of Tier 3 elixir ingredients, Mr. F returned to his laboratory with renewed focus. Each step was carefully calculated, every movement precise as he meticulously inspected the reagents. Unlike the previous day, when some ingredients had lost their magical potency, these were of much better quality. They couldn't be described as the best, but they were adequate for crafting Tier 3 elixirs.
Mr. F approached his cauldron and lit the fire. He followed the recipe's instructions exactly as before, eventually using compression to form another pill from the ingredients. As he scrutinized the pill, he noticed it was slightly better than the two he had made the day before. Despite the alchemical talent he had gained from merging with the other soul, he was unsure how to significantly improve. He could think of a few points where he could have regulated the heat better or timed the compression more accurately, but would these minor adjustments make a significant difference? After all, the pill had reached 52% efficiency of the ingredients' potential. It could already be considered a success, but it wouldn't be enough to impress the family.
Even with minor changes, he estimated he could improve the pill's efficiency to a maximum of 55% under normal circumstances. Another method would be to use more ingredients and try to increase the compression again, but Matilda would see through this trick during the demonstration and deem it a waste of materials.
As if the system had read his thoughts, new text appeared before his eyes.
[Procedure analyzed]
[15 mistakes were made in the last alchemical process]
[Mistake 1: The cauldron's temperature was half a degree too low, causing the ingredients to not heat quickly enough, resulting in a 1% potency loss]
[Mistake 2: ...]
Every mistake Mr. F had made was listed. After a brief calculation, Mr. F realized it was possible to bring the pill's efficiency up to 62%! He felt a surge of determination. With the detailed analysis provided by the system, he could pinpoint the exact moments where he went wrong. The system's precision and insight were beyond anything he had ever experienced.
Mr. F decided to go through the process again, paying close attention to the system's feedback. He adjusted the cauldron's temperature by half a degree and made sure to follow the exact timing and procedures listed. As he repeated the process, he felt newfound confidence. Each step was executed with meticulous care, correcting every mistake pointed out by the system. Finally, he used the compression technique once more to form a pill.
This time, as he examined the pill, it glowed with a faint but unmistakable aura of increased potency. The system confirmed his success:
[New alchemical process completed]
[Pill efficiency: 61%]
Mr. F couldn't help but smile. While not the full 62%, this was a significant improvement. The system had proven invaluable, and with its guidance, he was on the path to mastering his craft like never before.
Mr. F worked through all ten sets of materials. After each round, the system identified new errors in his technique and pointed them out. While these had less impact than the initial guidance, they still helped him refine his skills. By the end of the day, he managed to create a pill with 64% efficiency.
Mr. F was pleased with himself. Although these pills hadn't yet reached their maximum potential, he was satisfied with achieving 64% efficiency on the second day. Had other alchemists been able to read his thoughts, they would curse him and his ancestors for generations. Such a degree of improvement would take normal alchemists years. Even a Tier 5 alchemist with years of experience would need at least a few months to reach this level!
…
Meanwhile, in another part of the city, the wheels of intrigue were turning.
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In a dimly lit room illuminated by candlelight, the captain of the city guards sat, reviewing several reports and making notes on various papers. The flickering light cast shadows on his stern face, deepening the lines of frustration and weariness etched there. A woman entered the room—it was Tem, the same woman who had previously interrogated Mr. F. She approached his desk with a deliberate grace and placed a sack full of magical objects on it.
"Have you questioned all the suspects?" the captain asked without looking up, still focused on his notes.
"Yes, I have," she replied, her voice calm and measured.
"Anyone who seems particularly suspicious?" he asked again, his tone sharper, betraying his impatience.
"No," came her curt response.
At this, the captain finally looked up, his eyes narrowing as he scrutinized her. "I don't know why your church has decided to help us with this investigation, but if you withhold information, I will hold not only you but also your church accountable."
Tem's expression remained neutral, but her eyes flashed with a hidden amusement. "Of course," she replied with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
The captain stared at her for a few more seconds before returning to his task. Meanwhile, Tem left his office with a satisfied smile on her face, her mind already working on the next steps of her plan.
Back in her private quarters, Tem took out a crystal with various engravings. She injected a part of her magical power into it, and after a few minutes, an indistinguishable voice could be heard from the other side of the crystal.
"Why are you contacting me? I hope it's important."
Tem was not offended by the statement. With humility, she began to speak. "During the burial of some people in our jurisdiction, we detected traces of soul magic." Another crystal appeared in her hand, which she pressed against the crystal she was using to communicate. Images and data were projected, and the person on the other side reviewed everything in a matter of seconds.
"Interesting," the voice said, now tinged with intrigue. "Do you have any suspects, and if so, what strength do they possess?"
Tem allowed a grin to creep onto her face. "I have a few suspects, Your Excellency, but the question is... how will the church reward me for my services?" she asked, her voice dripping with greed.
The voice on the other side paused briefly, then resumed speaking. "Depending on the classification of the target, you will be rewarded with a promotion and the possibility of receiving a Tier 6 elixir, which will elevate you to Tier 6. This, however, requires that the individual does not escape and is at least a Tier 7 soul mage."
Tem's eyes sharpened as she heard about the potential reward. She was satisfied with the possible compensation. "Await my report, Your Excellency," she said before breaking the magical connection to the crystal.
The person on the other side clicked his tongue in disdain. "Tch. These greedy lower servants. Just wait until I have you between my fingers. Let's see how demanding you are then," he muttered to himself, licking his lips.
Tem knew, however, that she was playing with fire.
Since childhood, she had been a member of the church, having grown up as an orphan in one of its institutions. Initially, she believed wholeheartedly in the teachings and directives of the church and was a devoted servant. But everything changed on the day she decided to pursue an official title within the church.
That was the day she quickly realized just how corrupt and deceitful the institution truly was. Intrigue and power struggles became a part of her daily life from the very first day in her new position. The senior priest to whom she was assigned wasted no time in making his disdain clear, informing her that the position she now held had been reserved for his nephew and suggesting she relinquish it.
Every day, she faced insults and violence without any means to retaliate. Her word was worth nothing compared to that of a priest. Yet, she endured it all, resisting every attempt to break her spirit until the day she surpassed the position of that very priest. Through the network of contacts she had meticulously built over the years, she managed to plant false evidence against him, resulting in the church branding him as a rogue mage and hunting him down.
The mere thought of this brought a wave of satisfaction and happiness. It reminded her that no one could stand in the way of her desires. She had risen through the ranks, learning to navigate the treacherous waters of church politics with a ruthless efficiency that had earned her both fear and respect. But she also knew that power was fleeting, and she would need to continue proving her worth to maintain her position—and her life.
As Tem plotted her next move, she couldn't help but think about Mr. F. He was clearly hiding something, and the traces of soul magic she had detected suggested that he was involved in something far more dangerous than he let on. If she could expose him and deliver a powerful soul mage to the church, the rewards would be beyond her wildest dreams.