Chapter 71: A Vast Blue Ocean

Imperial Capital, Changguang Avenue.

Lilian and Irene jumped down from the carriage, taking in the scholarly atmosphere of the street.

Street lamps floated by the roadside, casting a faint glow even in broad daylight.

Lilian gazed at those lamps—maybe this was the reason it was called Changguang Avenue?

“Whoa—”

Irene’s face filled with wonder.

Usually, they just went straight to May Avenue to buy food, but who would have thought June Avenue would be like this?

She’d never seen such a high-end, enchanting scene.

“Irene, we’re not here to go sightseeing today.” Lilian waved her hand in front of Irene’s face. “Help me look out for any shops with signs for things like ‘refreshing’ or ‘aiding sleep.’”

Lilian’s goal was clear: find the potions or teas that scholars, mages, and students drank most often.

Most of the roadside shops were bookstores or places selling various tools for school.

And not far away, there seemed to be a small alley selling all kinds of snacks…

People bustled to and fro.

Some wore long robes, books tucked under their arms, hurrying past.

Some were in school uniforms, strolling down the street in small groups.

The air was filled with the scent of old books and ink, with the occasional whiff of food.

Lilian felt a bit disappointed. Apart from the fact that this world had magic and there were more scholars around with hairlines that seemed in peril, not much was different.

It was much like the area near a university in her previous life.

Her fantasies were shattered.

“Let’s go, stop staring.” Lilian dragged Irene toward the little alley.

Places with food usually had more people; maybe they’d overhear something useful.

The alley was lined with snack stalls, the air thick with the mixed smells of grilled meat, sweets, and bread.

Irene pulled Lilian to a small stall—it looked like they were selling Slime?

Lilian was a bit curious and wanted to try one.

“Would you like one? The girl students around here all say they’re great.”

“How much?”

“Twenty copper each.”

So damn expensive.

Still, it seemed students around here spent quite a bit.

Even a snack cost twenty copper.

If she priced her potions at one Glo, students should easily afford them.

The market was bigger than Lilian had imagined.

“Two, please—the blue ones.”

“I want the blue one too.” Irene’s mouth was already watering.

The stall owner grabbed a blue Slime, dropped it into a container, then smashed it with a pestle—smack!—again and again.

Lilian watched as the round Slime turned into Slime Jam.

He scooped it into a cup and handed the Slime Jam to them.

She tried a sip—sweet, jelly-like, pretty good, but Lilian didn’t think it was worth twenty copper.

Who knew if Slimes were hard to catch; this business seemed pure profit.

No wonder it was said students’ money was easy to earn.

She dug out two twenty-value copper coins from her pocket and handed them to the owner, then they left.

For convenience, copper coins in the Dawn Empire had their values printed on them—like 1, 5, 10, 20, and 50.

A hundred copper was one Glo silver coin.

Lilian saw a stall crowded with students and walked over, hoping to hear some useful gossip.

“Where should we go next week?”

“So many new girls showed up on July Avenue…”

“Heard that someone from the neighboring academy fell for… someone’s girlfriend.”

“Really?”

“I heard about it too…”

“Forget that stuff, when are we going to get fries…”

This was a group of male students.

Lilian stopped in her tracks.

“So, what does that girl called Lilian look like?”

“They say she’s especially beautiful, like a succubus—she’s got the Cohen heiress and Her Royal Highness wrapped around her finger.”

“Man, if those two liked me, I’d be fine living in a big villa, or riding a flying carpet…”

“Heh, I wish Her Highness would…”

“I’ll get my hair done tomorrow…”

This was a group of female students.

With a black line across her face, Lilian pulled Irene away.

Why was it all such boring stuff?

Lilian fumed with frustration—couldn’t they talk about academic difficulties, not having enough energy, or not being able to pull all-nighters?

You’re the empire’s future, for goodness’ sake!

Turns out, students were the same no matter what world you were in…

No helping it; she’d have to ask someone else.

Irene, on the other hand, was listening intently—she’d have lots to chat about with the other maids when they got back.

Lilian wasn’t here for gossip, so she dragged Irene back to the place where they’d bought the Slime Jam.

Since she’d bought something here, the boss shouldn’t get impatient if she asked a few questions.

“Boss, is there anywhere nearby that sells things to help you stay awake?”

“Stay awake?” The owner seemed not to understand Lilian’s meaning.

“You know, stuff to drink when you’re studying at night and feel sleepy.”

“Oh, Spicy Leaf Tea!” The boss suddenly understood, pointing to a shop down the street. “Just head out and look to your right, the one with the red sign.”

Hearing that name, Lilian almost lost her composure.

Spicy things to stay awake…?

Following the owner’s directions, the two found the shop.

Inside were slogans like “Score 20 more points after drinking!” and “Official All-Nighter Drink for Exams!”

The shop didn’t smell as spicy as she expected. All the Spicy Leaf Tea was bottled in small glass containers.

“How much for a bottle?” Lilian asked.

“One Glo.” The owner was a little old man, balding, with Irene snickering behind her.

How much?

One Glo per bottle?

“I’ll take one.”

Let me try it.

Pop—

She pulled out the wooden stopper and examined the liquid inside.

Dark purple, not thick, watery, with a faint bitter scent.

It looked all right—not like some dangerous concoction.

Lilian took a small sip, and her expression changed dramatically.

It tasted like coffee with chili peppers, and at the same time, her mouth was full of the crackling sensation of popping candy—each pop like a tiny electric shock.

They must have added some kind of fire-attribute herb, something like coffee beans for bitterness, and for the crackling, probably Thunder Grass powder.

Thunder Grass was a very common potion ingredient, known for occasionally releasing jolts of electricity with a “crack!”—hence the name.

Lilian remembered her parents had used this stuff before to make some kind of medicine for patients with nerve issues.

After a few zaps, they definitely weren’t nervous anymore.

This stuff wasn’t even really a potion—just throwing the ingredients together and pouring water over them.

Lilian was speechless. She felt a little sorry for these students.

Was this really what they drank to stay awake?

“Isn’t there anything better?” Lilian asked.

At once, the boss’s eyebrows shot up.

“Little lady, what are you saying! On all of Changguang Avenue, who doesn’t know my tea’s the strongest? Look over there.” He pointed at the “Official All-Nighter Drink for Exams!” sign. “That’s the top third-year student’s very own endorsement!”

“But the taste…”

“Good medicine is always bitter, young lady.”

“Isn’t there a potion with similar effects?”

“You must be joking, little lady!” The boss looked shocked. “Using potions just to stay awake!? That’s too wasteful! Except for nobles and master mages, who could afford that?”

Well, Ophelia… oh right, she was the princess, so that was fine.

All right, Lilian more or less understood the market now.

There was demand, people had the means, and the competition was utter garbage.

A vast blue ocean of opportunity was opening before her eyes.

Countless gleaming gold coins seemed to be waving at her.

“So, how does it taste?” Irene curiously leaned over, nose sniffing near Lilian’s bottle.

“Delicious,” Lilian said, deadpan, handing her the bottle.

Irene took a big swig without hesitation—and instantly her face scrunched up, all her features twisted together like a steamed bun.

“Geh geh geh…” Lilian covered her mouth, stifling her laughter.

Serves you right for calling me a scoundrel.

“Lilian, you’re such a bully!” Irene shouted, indignant.