The soil enhancent potion, seemingly inconsequential at first glance, possesses effects so potent that Hendrik dares not bring it to public attention.
This world is distorted, dominated by divine species who rule over everything, and extraordinary beings who rule over the mundane. Yet, even in realms governed by humans, the twisted values of the extraordinary are influenced by rules born from the long evolution of human society.
For instance, Ravenna can sustain herself on nutritional potions, customizing even their flavors, and higher beings have even less need for food, though few actually forsake eating entirely.
The empress's absolute rule ensures that no wars can erupt in the lands east of the Heavenly Mountains. The extraordinary channel their power into violence in only two ways: challenging other extraordinary beings or monsters roaming the lands, or venturing into the terrifying unknown of the Zero Realm Enigma with a more than ninety-five percent chance of disappearing.
Thus, most extraordinary beings convert this unexpressed violence into other desires: domination, pleasure, or the pursuit of higher transcendence… Thus, they do not detach from human society despite their elevated existence. The oppression from divine species forces them to seek satisfaction of their inner desires from lowers, from mortals, binding them even more to society.
The benevolent save others to fulfill themselves, while the malevolent indulge in brutality to revel in their sins. It's hard to imagine what terrible storms might arise on this land if these emotional, even extre, extraordinary beings were one day freed from the constraints of the divine species.
To return to the subject, given the extraordinary's high demand for all worldly things, food, being of paramount importance to the populace, naturally holds an unusual influence.
Even Hendrik, insensitive to the political climate, understands the turmoil that would ensue if this were made public.
With this potion, the extraordinary could enslave the common folk more deeply, ruling over them as they wish. The re thought sends shivers down Hendrik's spine.
But now, with Lord Ansel's assistance… all these issues can be smoothly resolved!
"This potion here is the final product."
Hendrik carefully placed a pendant in Ravenna's hands, "Its efficacy and stability have been thoroughly tested without issue. I've also detailed the dosage instructions in diagrams, understandable even to the less educated commoners."
"...Ravenna."
The man exhaled deeply, his expression solemn, "The Tower of Babel, and the future our teacher hopes for, I entrust to you."
Ravenna did not respond, rely clutching the pendant tightly and nodded slightly.
She turned and left Hendrik's office, where at the doorway, a young lady in a black dress, poised and serene, smiled at her.
"Are we ready to depart, Miss Ravenna?" Marlina asked softly.
"Let's go."
Ravenna placed the pendant around her neck, her expression serene, "Is Lord Ansel already at our destination?"
"Yes, Mr. Ansel is currently in Pelican City."
Despite her elegant attire and graceful deanor, which has grown impeccable over ti, Marlina still stood slightly behind Ravenna, responding with the utmost respect, "The use of the soil enhancent potion involves many considerations. According to Mr. Ansel...
the farming standards and enthusiasm of the commoners in Breeze City within the Spirity Lake Territory are sowhat higher than those in Pelican City. To ensure the fairness of this ga, he is making so adjustnts."
Ravenna did not respond to this but after a brief silence, she asked Marlina, "Did Lord Ansel... tell you the specific steps and procedures?"
"Yes." The young girl smiled, "Because I am the one replacing Mr. Ansel to oversee and supervise this ga."
"…Would you mind sharing them with ?"
"You should be able to et Mr. Ansel soon," Marlina said calmly, "Wouldn't it be better to ask Mr. Ansel himself?"
The soothing tone and pleasant voice made Ravenna pause in her steps.
She turned her head towards Marlina, "You seem... to be implying sothing."
Marlina just smiled, "You're overthinking it."
This girl, who had once confided in her about the imnse pressure Ansel was under, now remained silent, no longer sharing personal details about Ansel.
It seed like disappointnt, then resignation.
Ravenna's gaze shifted away from her smiling face, and an unconscious thought surfaced in her mind:
Had she ever thought, many tis, that if she were in my place, Ansel could be saved?
From this, Ravenna further pondered—
If I were as pure as her, many things would not have happened.
Do not misunderstand, the purity in Ravenna's eyes is not about being purely on Ansel's side, but rather... being purely committed to her ideals.
If she were truly pure, she would not be manipulated, played, and dominated by Ansel to this extent.
It is precisely because she cannot erase the shadow Ansel left in those glorious monts that she is now so deeply mired.
But this thought was just a fleeting one for Ravenna, hypothetical and aningless. The reality is... she indeed cannot clearly see Ansel's influence on her.
Not only can she not see it, but she is also sinking deeper.
Lost mories and truths...
Whenever fragnts of broken speech and images flickered through Ravenna's mind, and she ca back to her senses... she always felt an indescribable, ineffable sense of unreality.
It's not that those mories were fabricated, but rather... she didn't know how to articulate it, a kind of unnatural dislocation.
Seeing those vague fragnts, she beca increasingly reluctant to let a sorcerer skilled in the ways of the soul help her repair her soul, because she didn't want anyone to see that part of her past.
All she could do was wait.
"…!"
Marlina imdiately stopped when Ravenna suddenly paused, looking slightly stunned before asking with great concern, "Miss Ravenna, what's wrong?"
"…It's nothing." Ravenna's slightly shaking body stabilized, "Let's go to the teleportation circle, we shouldn't keep Lord Ansel waiting."
Besides the recurring mories, was there also... a periodic sense of rejection between the soul and the body?
Mrs. Myron was right, thankfully with her help.
Although Ravenna hadn't managed the most crucial part of resting, perhaps this was also the source of the various abnormalities between her soul and body during this period, but since it wasn't a major issue, it was not a big deal.
It's ti for the first step, the first step to change this world.
Although it's just two small territorial cities, although there's only one thing that can help them.
But with this beginning, the grand vision is no longer an illusion, but has stepped onto incredibly solid ground.
You must succeed, Ravenna.
You will succeed.
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