Turning around, Kyon saw her… The extraordinarily beautiful woman with silver eyes that seed to see right through him… The graceful figure of the empress was wrapped in a long thin silver robe. The re presence of her majesty was enough for everyone around her to obey her implicitly. Her powerful aura put so much pressure on the mind and soul that even the indescribable beauty of the woman was pushed into the background.
Lovr hurried to greet the empress, observing all the formalities.
Lanatelle looked at the handso young man with a piercing gaze and said in a languid voice: «It would be better for you to forget about this personality of yours.»
Kyon raised his eyebrows questioningly: «Don't you like my appearance?»
«I absolutely don't care what you look like, so there's not the slightest reason why you should show the face of the ssenger of the goddess.» – she explained coldly.
«Don't you want anyone to know who I really am?»
«Of course. You know how many people are interested in getting you. As your patron, I am responsible for you. If unwanted people find out about your true identity, then I won't be able to protect you.»
«I understand you perfectly… It won't happen again.» – Kyon humbly agreed and started talking about the main thing. – «I am now your direct disciple. Let know what plans you have for and what is required of .» –he asked this because the traditional relationship of a master and a disciple clearly does not fall under this case. He only hoped that the woman would not encroach on his freedom – what he values most of all.
Lanatelle gracefully sat down on a chair, crossed her long legs, sipped "the wine" from the glass that appeared in her hands and spoke dispassionately: «You're good at the technique of movents… Your techniques are incomparable… Your skills as an alchemist and formacist can also challenge the heavens… As your master, I am not qualified to teach you anything new. I can only offer you access to inter-imperial level tournants, resources and patronage. Since you are my direct disciple, there is no longer any need for you to take any precautions within Rosarrio. There are only three places you are not allowed to go without my permission: the imperial departnt, any of the closed doors on this floor, and the basent of the palace where the treasury is located.»
Kyon's heart trembled excitedly, but he imdiately pulled himself together. The first place indicates that Lanatelle respects the 0th general. Everything is clear with the second place: a direct disciple should not intrude into her personal life. As for the third place, there is not only a treasury there… Surely Valeera is there!
«As for resources…» – the woman's voice faintly darkened as she lazily looked in the mirror. – «You must understand that Rosarrio is not the richest empire. A gapolis, two cities and four villages – that's what the seven human empires are. The weak and defenseless is always dependent on the strong and powerful. Rosarrio exists only because it benefits soone. The Torres arrived, as you could already understand, in order to collect tribute.»
«Tribute?» – Kyon muttered.
«Officially, the explanation of the Saturn authorities says that tribute is a paynt for protection. And soone really still believes in it, even despite the example of this blind faith – the empire of Cliath, completely destroyed by the supre beasts.»
Lovr perked up a little after hearing such information. There is not a single word about this event in any library. Everything is obviously kept in the strictest confidence. However, it is quite reasonable that the strong prosper at the expense of the weak, becoming even stronger.
After a short silent pause, indicating that the empress was giving him the opportunity to take the initiative, Kyon asked: «I heard that you were looking for a gifted alchemist. Is the reason in the dicine of transformation?»
Lanatelle nodded briefly and took out a box containing a coal-black ball. The atmosphere beca denser due to the energy emanating from him, and the sll of burnt wood resin spread in the air.
«Isn't that... the dicine of transformation?»
«A gift from the Torres for your victory. I couldn't identify it. Can you help ?»
Kyon carefully picked up the ball and began to study it, muttering: «Demon fir resin as a foundation… A very dubious decision. Hmm… That sll… Spiritual stimulant! How rough… Oh, that sll is familiar to too… It looks like they added concentrated powder from the horn of a succubus, apparently of the highest rank!»
Lanatelle's eyes shone mysteriously as she listened to the goddess' ssenger's thoughts. It took her a lot longer to figure it all out.
Lovr returned the pill to the box and gloomily sumd up: «You have indeed been given the dicine of transformation into the overlord phase… Exclusive work. And it's of great quality! Which, however, is not surprising, given the resin of the demonic fir in the base. The fact is that this resin is extrely loyal to other ingredients, but in exchange for this uniqueness, it is extrely toxic, and it is impossible to purify it.»
The empress pointedly kept silent, making it clear that he should continue.
«In general, if you take this dicine, you are highly likely to break into the overlord phase, even despite the unsuccessful attempt in the past, but the side effects… You won't like them.»
A spark of curiosity flashed across the woman's face. The fact that he was aware of the unsuccessful transformation attempt did not seem to surprise her.
Kyon coughed in embarrassnt: «For example, the concentrated powder from the succubus horn in this dicine focuses on the female womb, an extrely vulnerable and important place in the soul of any woman… It really should work, especially on virgins, but the side effect… Ahem… High chances of infertility and… To put it gently… Increased desire to make love.»
The empress crossed her long legs, continuing to remain silent.
{This technique is annoying…} – that's what Lovr thought about her "silent interrogation".
Talking about side effects can actually be considered a test of integrity. If he withholds sothing, the consequences can be unpredictable, so he was forced to tell everything he knew.
«And one more thing: a spiritual stimulant based on the toxic resin of demonic fir ensures that it will be incredibly difficult for you to reach each next stage of developnt… As for the breakthrough into the overlord phase, you can forget about it.»
«I see.» – Lanatelle nodded with satisfaction, hid the ball in the box, which she then put into the ring, and began to speak seriously. – «I need the dicine of transformation into the overlord phase of a very high quality. These are sold only once a year at auctions in Saturn, and their price reaches astronomical values that I cannot afford for the reasons previously ntioned. Tell , can I hope that you, the greatest alchemist of the era, will help ?» – she asked, looking shrewdly at Kyon.
{Here it is - an opportunity!} – Lovr did not know a better way to take revenge on the enemy than to do it for his own money. By making dicine, he will gain the empress's trust, and while she will transform her soul for 1-2 weeks, he will save Valeera.
And that's not all the advantages. For the money of the Russells, he will learn the principle of making the most expensive, complex and important branch of alchemy: dicine directly related to developnt. It includes the dicines of transformation, breakthrough and acceleration of developnt. The principles of their manufacture are similar in many ways.
«I will gladly take up this task, master. However, I will need ti, ingredients, resources and recipes of similar dicine on which I can practice… There is no need to hire ntors.» – no one in the world could say Kyon's final words, since making any dicine without a ntor is like reinventing the wheel. Almost no one has the ability to do this.
«I'll give you everything you need. However, you must understand that I do not have a recipe for the dicine of transformation into the overlord phase. The great families in Saturn sell them for huge sums of money. I can't afford such expenses. You will have to create dicine based only on the ingredients it consists of. You can buy this information without any problems for a reasonable price. But can you, "The Legendary Lord of the Cauldron", build a high-quality house without blueprints, with only building materials?»
«I can handle it.» – Kyon confidently declared. – «But let choose this house myself…»
«Of course. Choose what you want. You can read the list later…»
«"Frozen heart" dicine.» – imdiately answered Lovr.
Lanatelle's thin eyebrows rose in surprise: «"Frozen heart" dicine? It is extrely difficult to make… What is the reason for this choice?»
«The reason is that it is much more effective in comparison with any similar dicine of the sa purity. And all due to the fact that its main requirent is complete serenity in the heart of the one who is going to take it, otherwise a failure with a serious recoil will follow. You are a very rational person, resistant to strong emotions, which just fits the condition. And once you failed in a breakthrough, so such high-quality dicine is an ideal option.» – Kyon calmly explained.
But there are actually two more reasons. Firstly, if Lovr manages to learn how to make such a complex dicine, then the production of any other dicine of a similar type will beco easier for him. Secondly, before taking the pill, it should be sprinkled with the blood of the one who will take it. This is a great opportunity to steal the drop of blood the 0th general needs.
«A good choice. You really deserve to be my direct disciple.» – The empress praised the young man. – «You will receive a detailed list of the ingredients needed to make it in the next week. And now you can start practicing using the ingredients in the treasury. Buy the missing items through the Golden Pig guild, with which you cooperate.»
{She knows a lot about …} – Kyon thought discontentedly.
However, it is not difficult to find out that he is "The Legendary Lord of the Cauldron", whose dicine is sold like hotcakes even in other empires, given his alchemical antics in the order.
Lanatelle finished her thought: «In a month I can give you five billion spheres for alchemical needs. I hope that in the coming years you will make for "Frozen heart" dicine of at least excellent quality.»
{Only five billion?! In the coming years?!} – Kyon was taken aback. – «Lady Lanatelle, you underestimate my skills. I can do it in a month! However, five billion is definitely not enough for … If you would give more… I will take care of the expense report. Your investnt in a direct disciple will pay off handsoly.»
The empress shook her head: «The six-year-long world war has exhausted the Russells treasury. The post-war reconstruction of cities and the strengthening of the army also did not allow to accumulate reserves. And no one canceled the annual tribute. Five billion a month is the maximum amount I can allocate.»
Kyon's mood changed dramatically. He doesn't have that much ti at all. Valeera is probably tortured every day in the cellars of the palace… It is unlikely that she will be able not to give up for more than a few months, after which she will tell everything she knows, including the fact that Zosimos is Kyon. He can save her only by learning the layout of the palace, and for this information he will have to deliver the drop of blood to the 0th general. And it would be better for him to find Valeera when Lanatelle transforms the soul to minimize the risks.
{And how am I supposed to pull this off… Borrow from the Golden Pig guild?} – it was not even a question, but a statent. There is simply no other option. He will have to take on almost all the costs of making transformation dicine with a trick.
The conversation ca to an end. Kyon duly said goodbye to the master and headed for the exit, but suddenly turned around and said: «May I ask one last question?»
«Yes, you may.»
«Is Stephanie Russell related to you in any way?»
«Yes.» – Lanatelle answered briefly.
«Is she really…»
«It's ti for you to leave.» – the empress said in an icy tone.
Kyon bowed once more and left the 13th floor in thought, heading towards the treasure room with the ingredients. Before going to the Golden pig guild, he should find out what amount will at least approximately satisfy his needs.
As soon as Lovr left the 12th floor, where the powerful barrier blocking any communication ended, he heard Juno calling on the sound transmitter, followed by her commanding, but sowhat excited voice. She wanted Roman to co to her right away, and swore that he would leave her safe, unhard and satisfied.
{Can't she restrain herself anymore?} – Kyon thought a little disappointedly.
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