Eleanor sat up straight, her blue eyes beneath golden lashes narrowing slightly:
“So, you infiltrated the Duke’s mansion for…?”
Selena’s expression suddenly grew serious, even the pale gray pupils filled with a determined look:
“To investigate the remnants of the Abyssal Cult branch.”
Her voice was low, not at all like that of a young girl.
“They’ve been selling poisons disguised as healing potions in the Western Diocese—using Hemostatic Vine as the base ingredient, but mixing in deadly toxins corrupted by the Abyss.”
The vampire girl’s gaze shot at the boy like an arrow:
“The common folk taking these potions see short-term effects, but they become addicted.”
Her expression showed clear disgust. “Long-term use drains both mana and vitality, eventually driving people mad.”
“Those scum have poisoned countless civilians with this— and during our hunt, we even found many colluding church insiders.”
“They’ve been profiting massively from this poison, even using it to control addicted civilians!”
“Bishop Lyle has ordered the Holy Knights to purge them,”
Selena’s fangs flashed faintly, “but in the end, a small faction managed to escape the diocese.”
Her eyes locked firmly on Julius. “We’re here to exterminate them.”
“But why would you exterminate cult remnants inside the Duke’s mansion… huh? Wait, no!”
Eleanor’s voice cut off abruptly.
She suddenly turned to Julius:
“Julius—”
The would-be saint’s voice rose sharply. “What exactly are you and Helos up to?!”
The boy’s voice tightened as if strangled, his gaze involuntarily drifting toward the workshop.
“Speak quickly!”
Eleanor glared at him impatiently, her tone growing heavier.
Julius’s eyes flickered evasively:
“Miss Helos has recently been researching pharmacology…”
His voice grew quieter and quieter, the last words nearly swallowed.
At this, Selena’s pale gray lashes twitched slightly, a dangerous glint flashing in her eyes.
The boy took a deep breath, straightening his back in a resigned manner:
“You know her constitution is unique, so she wanted to create potions that work without requiring mana.”
His gaze shifted between the two girls, finally dropping his shoulders in surrender:
“As for what the finished product looks like…”
Julius’s voice suddenly grew very small. “Alright, I admit, they do look like crap.”
His face firm.
“But I guarantee! They’re definitely not poison, and have nothing to do with those Abyssal Cult guys!”
Seeing Julius’s earnest expression, Eleanor slowly turned to Selena. The pale girl’s gray eyes reflected in Eleanor’s deep blue:
“I trust my servant’s words.”
“However, if what you say is also true, I’d like to invite Mr. Kyle to the mansion for a detailed discussion.”
“I’ll report this matter to my father as well, since it concerns the safety of the people around Olivias City.”
Inside the workshop, candle flames flickered.
Helos’s silver hair tips shimmered softly under the dim light.
She turned to Julius, worry filling her pale purple eyes.
“Why were you gone so long?”
The girl’s voice was light, like a feather drifting in the air. “Did something happen?”
Julius’s black uniform still carried the morning dew’s scent. He pressed his lips, his throat moving as he swallowed:
“Hmm… you could say that.”
The boy explained the identities of Selena and Kyle.
When he mentioned the Abyssal Cult’s poisoned potions, Helos’s fingertips twitched, and she instinctively glanced at the pile of failed potions beside her.
“Isn’t it a bit of a coincidence?”
Helos stuck out her tongue, then looked down at the potion she was halfway through brewing.
Just by appearance alone, outsiders would find it hard to tell if it’s poisonous or not.
“Yeah, I didn’t expect that either.”
Julius sighed, his black hair swaying slightly with the shake of his head. “So, are you going to keep making this potion?”
Helos suddenly lifted her head, a carefree smile tugging at her lips:
“Of course! This matter doesn’t have much to do with me anyway.”
She tilted her head and winked at Julius:
“The work of chasing those Abyssal Cult members won’t be given to me—the ‘Cursed Maiden,’ right?”
“That’s true…”
“Oh, look at this,”
***
Helos suddenly laughed, twirling a lock of silver hair, swaying her head like a proud little cat. “Sometimes this identity has its perks.”
“But it’s strange—you said a few days ago that someone was buying large quantities of Hemostatic Vine?”
“Yeah, those potion shop owners—”
Julius’s words cut off abruptly.
He suddenly looked up at Helos.
Right—Selena and Kyle targeted them because at this point, they chose to purchase Hemostatic Vine through commissions.
So why had no one bought it in bulk before?
Could there be something wrong with those potion shop owners?
“You’re right! I need to report this to Miss Eleanor immediately.”
“Eh?”
Helos blinked, her pale purple eyes reflecting the tense profile of the boy.
After a brief silence, she seemed to understand something. “Uh, alright.”
“Be careful, okay?”
“Yeah, I’ll be right back!”
Julius’s voice still echoed in the workshop, but his body had already rushed out the door like a whirlwind.
Helos only caught a glimpse of the boy’s hurried retreating figure, the corner of his black uniform flickering past the doorway.
The silver-haired girl shook her head with a mock maturity. “Young people sure are impatient.”
Her gaze fell back on the half-finished potion in her hands. Sunlight streamed through the window, shining on the workbench, highlighting the slight furrow in her brow.
Strange. This potion clearly already had some effect… so why hasn’t the vitality alchemy unlocked yet?
What could still be missing?
Helos’s thoughts began to drift.
Ordinary potions do require mana to catalyze, but—
Hmm?
Mana?
Suddenly, her pupils constricted slightly, as if she had caught a key clue.
The books never said… the mana used to catalyze potions must come from the caster themselves, right?
Her gaze involuntarily shifted toward the wooden box on the shelf. A flash of inspiration crossed her pale purple eyes.
What if she used these pre-made mana cores as the catalyst?
Just like when she made that grenade before.
Could it be—
“That’s it, that’s it!”
Helos clenched her right fist, pounding it into her left palm, a look of sudden realization lighting up her face.
“Even though I don’t have mana myself, I can use mana cores!”
“Aren’t they made exactly for this kind of thing?!”
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