Lord of Caldera

Chapter 86

Ulrich sighed and glanced toward the shadows in the corner.

"Gert, are you here?"

"You called for me, my lord?" A shadowy figure emerged from the darkness—a hunched old man who had been serving as Ulrich's hidden aide.

"Make the potion."

"What kind of potion, my lord?"

"The invisible elixir. You have the ingredients, I assume?"

"I have more than enough," Gert replied with a sinister smile, ready to get to work. Just as he was about to leave to prepare the potion, the door opened.@@@@

"My lord."

"Sir Ray? What brings you here?"

It was rare for Ray to seek out Ulrich directly, so her entrance carried some urgency, though her face was hidden beneath her helmet.

"I received a letter from my family," she said.

"Is it about your mother's illness?" Ulrich asked.

"Yes... her condition has worsened," Ray replied, her voice trailing off. She seemed reluctant to speak any further, but Ulrich understood her unspoken request and nodded.

"Very well. Gert, before making the other potion, prepare a treatment for Ray's mother's illness. I'll provide the necessary jewel squash as an ingredient."

"As you wish, my lord."

"Thank you, my lord," Ray sighed in relief, bowing deeply before leaving with Gert.

Once the two exited, Oscar, who had been observing, spoke up with a hint of disapproval in his tone.

"My lord, are you going to continue with this arrangement?"

"What do you mean?" Ulrich asked.

"Providing the jewel squash for Sir Ray's needs. That's no small expense—how long do you plan to keep purchasing it?"

'Tch, not someone I want to deal with right now,' Gert thought. Though Max's background was unclear, he knew that Max had also worked as an assassin in the past. While others might not notice Gert's subtle actions, a fellow professional might pick up on something.

"What do you need?"

"I'm here on behalf of Lord Sylas. He asked if you could spare a few herbs."

"Let me see the list."

Gert glanced over the list Max handed him, selecting the requested herbs and handing them over quickly. He was eager to get Max out as soon as possible.

"Here you go. Now, if you don't need anything else, I'd appreciate it if you left. I'm quite busy."

"Understood. By the way, what's that potion for? Those are rare ingredients, typically unused," Max said, his curiosity evident.

"Since when do you meddle in other people's potions? Are you an apothecary now?" Gert replied icily.

"Oh, not at all. I was just curious."

Max left quickly, leaving Gert scowling. Though he doubted Max knew what he was making, the encounter left him feeling unsettled. Alone once more, Gert resumed his work, focused on completing the potion. Meanwhile, Max, carrying the herbs, muttered to himself.

"That crazy old man... he's really making that potion. Was he once a leader of the Black Moon?"

Max shook his head in disbelief and quickened his pace. There was a lot he needed to report to Lord Sylas.

"A transparent potion?" Toby asked, scratching his head as he listened to Max's explanation. The name sounded more like a nickname than its true name.

"Yes. It's thick when prepared, but when finished, it turns clear like water—hence the name."

"What an uncreative name."

"But it's as terrifying as it is simple. Once someone takes it, they need an antidote at regular intervals, or their insides begin to dissolve. Anyone who consumes it is practically enslaved to whoever holds the antidote," Max explained grimly. Worse still, there was no complete antidote for the potion.

"Even if someone rises to the rank of commander, they still have to keep taking it. Only a few higher-ups know the formula, binding members to the organization for life."

"That's horrible. Do you know how it's made?" Toby asked.

"No, I don't. I was only tasked with gathering ingredients but was never taught the proportions or extraction methods," Max replied. But he recognized the components, which made him realize immediately what Gert was up to. Sylas nodded thoughtfully, digesting Max's information.

"So, Ulrich is truly serious about this."