Chapter 2, Imperial Laboratory

These tall trees are the primary species on Purgatory Island—cloud fir.

People believe that the world is inherently hierarchical, and those who possess the bloodline of a magician are considered natural nobility

Alright, Xise, I will get things done well. I hope you will too

The saliva of the weeping grass is an excellent solvent. Pinch its face, and then drop a few drops of saliva, just as I am doing now, but be careful, its teeth are highly venomous. If your finger gets bitten, you will surely die. Do not drop too much each day, otherwise the weeping grass will wither away. " Saying this, Xise collected a few drops of saliva in a bottle, then stuffed the weeping grass back into the pot, covering it with soil again, and the crying ceased.

Large magical automatons designed for warfare have been created, and various puppet warriors have emerged like mushrooms after rain. Each weapon is imbued with magical power, and the warriors engage in battle using scrolls and potions. Any great invention is always first utilized in war, leading to mutual consumption, invasion, rampant plundering of resources, destruction of production, and annexation of land. For instance, when a significant deposit of mithril or adamantine is discovered in a certain region, it triggers a scramble among nations, mining and refining the resources while simultaneously consuming them through warfare, resulting in a situation where various resources are wielded with abandon.

Approximately one thousand years ago, a man named Georgie Lambern, despite lacking the ability to communicate with elemental forces, persistently pursued the mysteries of magic. Through tireless effort and research, he discovered that resonating with magical elements and borrowing their power was not the only way to wield magic. There are many other methods through which humans can harness elemental power, enabling ordinary individuals to possess the ability to use magic

Siser casually pulled out a plant from the flowerpot beside him. The roots and stem of the plant surprisingly resembled a doll, complete with hands, feet, and a fully formed face. As soon as it was uprooted from the soil, it immediately began to cry loudly.

"So this is the Empire's alchemical laboratory?" a young boy exclaimed, his tone tinged with excitement

Very well, Cisse, explain to them what this place is and what the rules are here

"Glaire, starting today, you are responsible for the material collection work in Area 13," said Xise to Gong Hao

The destruction of ecological resources by humanity has always been relentless, whether in the past, present, or future. To some extent, it represents that the greater the damage to the natural ecology, the higher the level of technological development in a given world.

Understood. Gong Hao nodded

Alright, I have informed you of all the uses, maintenance, and methods of these magical plants. It is neither complicated nor simple. Have you remembered everything?

Twenty years later, Patrick Haynes has become the most formidable alchemist on the continent, having mastered at least thirty lost alchemical arts.

He is, after all, not one of those naive youths, but rather a product of the information age characterized by an explosion of data; his understanding of human nature is far superior to that of these children

I remember you mentioned that the number of servants in this https://mhetushu.com is maintained at around sixty people throughout the year, is that correct

The castle covers a vast area, with a tall tower standing like a sword in the center, overseeing the surroundings with a commanding presence.

They take freely, yet never give back

Understood!" all the youths exclaimed simultaneously

Gong Hao's heart plummeted to the depths in an instant

Due to the evaporation of mist, visibility was greatly hindered. Therefore, after walking approximately 500 meters into the jungle, the youths discovered that a castle was actually standing in front of them amidst the jungle.

Yes

In Area 13, there are approximately 40 types of plants, each unique and possessing its own specific uses. In addition to the Crying Grass, there are at least five other magical plants that exhibit a high degree of lethality, and handling them requires extreme caution

I shall faithfully comply with your instructions, Lord Andrew

Indeed, that is the case

Surrounding the castle are puppet warriors clad in iron armor, identical to those accompanying the middle-aged man. The primary defense force of the entire castle consists of these puppet warriors. They are not life in the true sense, yet they are incredibly powerful and eternally loyal to their master

Vast stretches of pristine jungle extend from this end of the island's coastline deep into the interior of the island

Bloodline has become a crucial criterion determining whether an individual possesses the ability to learn magic. The probability of a descendant of a magician becoming a magician is significantly higher than that of an ordinary person. Consequently, the concept of bloodline is deeply entrenched, and the spirit of nobility is ingrained in the hearts of every individual on this continent

This is not certain; I have only been here for four months, and the number of people varies each month. Last month, a steward made a mistake and was taken away by Lord Andrew, and then I stepped in. " At this point, Cisse frowned and said, "You said you would only ask one question, Huigleir. You are asking too many; focus on doing your job well.

From this day forward, Hines devoted himself wholeheartedly to his beloved alchemical research, on one hand providing a large number of war machines for the Kingdom of Lance, and on the other hand, researching various lost alchemical techniques with the assistance of the Kingdom of Lance

This jungle resembles a product of the Jurassic period of Earth, spanning hundreds of thousands of years, with towering giant trees everywhere. These tall trees rise straight into the clouds, their expansive canopies resembling enormous umbrellas that cannot be encircled by three to five people. The ground is covered with gnarled tree roots, vines, and plant tendrils

After arranging for the other youths to attend to their tasks, Xise led Gong Hao to a flower shed, where some peculiar potted plants were cultivated—plants that Gong Hao had never seen before. Some of the plants even had branches and leaves that swayed about, moving with a dexterity akin to that of human hands and feet.

After addressing some important matters, Xise and Sake divided the newcomers into two teams and led them into the castle

"May I ask what the difference is between an apprentice and a servant?" a curious young boy inquired

This is called the Crying Grass, and its cries are quite annoying. " said Xise, as she gently pinched the cheeks of the stem doll and the * picture * book with her fingers, revealing a row of sharp teeth in its wide-open mouth

A gigantic snail, resembling a small hill, lazily rests in its cage, accompanied by a chilling mist that appears with its breath

To be able to work in the core secret location that can rapidly empower a nation must excite every young person, and everyone begins to whisper among themselves. Some even fantasize that they might learn some profound alchemical spells, and from then on, they too could achieve great success.

Another boy named Xise replied respectfully

Where did all the extra people go

The boy named Sack hurriedly said: "No one dares to defy your will, Lord Andrew"

Arriving at such a significant place usually signifies one outcome—they will never be able to leave this island for the rest of their lives

Next, Xise explained the characteristics and precautions of various magical plants to Gong Hao one by one

On this island, they discovered the long-lost primeval jungle and various rare magical beasts

During the tumultuous years of the Hundred Years' War, alchemy became the standard for determining national strength. Enormous magical war puppets proved to be far more practical than the unruly sorcerers, and they were also more sustainable. However, after the Hundred Years' War, people discovered that the once prosperous continent had been reduced to a shattered wasteland by the ravages of war. The materials available for alchemical production dwindled, a multitude of magical plants perished, and various magical beasts vanished from sight. As primitive jungles disappeared from the surface, they were replaced by vast ruins composed of discarded magical dolls, golems, and other alchemical artifacts.

Accompanied by the youths, they arrived at the front of the castle, where two boys, approximately sixteen years old, approached. One of them stepped forward, placed his right hand on his chest, and bowed respectfully, saying: "Lord Andrew, you have returned"

The fog cypress is a type of water attribute magical plant that absorbs water elements from the air and releases a large amount of tangible mist to regulate the humidity of the surrounding environment. They mix with the miasma above the Sea of Death, producing an even larger white smoke that envelops the entire island. Only at the scorching noon does Purgatory Island emerge from the mist, revealing its hideous visage

Ten years later, the Kingdom of Lance successfully defeated two neighboring countries that were originally stronger than it, becoming one of the three great powers of the Northern Continent of the Wind Whispering Continent. Strick VI was crowned emperor, establishing the Lance Empire

They discovered that there are approximately over 8,000 species of organisms inhabiting Purgatory Island, including nearly 2,000 species of demonic creatures and plants. Due to the island being shrouded in mist for many years, it is rarely known to the outside world, and the environment here has almost never been damaged by outsiders. Currently, about 300 species of magical beasts that exist on this island have already become extinct on Wind Whisper Continent.

However, humanity has never been short of rebels; there are always those who attempt to break free from their shackles, defy conventions, and transcend the confines of their cages

From this point on, alchemy gradually fell into obscurity along with books. Some powerful alchemical practices were thus lost to history

Every morning, an apprentice will come here to collect the materials you gathered the previous day. You simply need to hand over the materials to him, and he will inform you of the materials required for the next day. As long as you follow the instructions and continue preparing the supplies for the next day, your task will be considered complete. Your room is number 13, corresponding to your management area. As long as you complete your assigned tasks, you can arrange the remaining time as you wish. To the east of the castle, there is a canyon, and to the west, there is a lake; both areas are off-limits. Additionally, the tower where Master Hines resides is accessible only to apprentices and a few adults. Apart from these areas, you are free to explore, but it is advisable not to leave the castle, as it is protected by a barrier, and outside the castle, there are various terrifying magical beasts. Do not think about escaping; just focus on your work, do you understand?

Every month, a group of underperforming young servants is sent elsewhere to work, and then a new batch is brought in each month. Such a lie can probably only deceive these naive children.

However, in an instant, Gong Hao's heart sank.

Since the existence of magical elements was inadvertently discovered on the Wind Whisper Continent, and the first human magic was successfully created through the resonance between one's own power and the surrounding magical elements, becoming the first human magician on the Wind Whisper Continent, the history of the application of magic on the continent has now developed for six thousand years

This discovery caused a sensation at the time, prompting many who yearned for magical powers to continue the research of Georgie Lambern, ultimately leading to the formation of a vast system of magical engineering, which is the origin of alchemy

Yes, therefore this month we have added fifteen individuals.

Purgatory Island is an irregularly shaped island with a diameter of approximately 80 miles. More than two-thirds of the island's area is covered by pristine jungle

Approximately twenty years ago, a merchant ship belonging to the Kingdom of Lance inadvertently entered the hidden Purgatory Island shrouded in mist while navigating through the Sea of Death

After some thought, he suddenly said: "Cecilia, may I ask you a question?"

However, as resources became depleted, the lack of materials hindered the ability to conduct extensive experiments and create, causing alchemy to gradually lose its former glory. People discovered that wizards remained an irreplaceable force on this continent, while alchemists began to find themselves utterly useless

A creature resembling a mantis waved its scythe-like arms inside the iron cage, emitting sharp hisses towards the people outside. As the scythe arms swung, the magical barrier on the iron cage occasionally flashed with white light

Whether it is material technology or magical technology, their common characteristic is the continuous deepening of understanding of the world in which they exist, and the application of this understanding to transform it into inventions that serve humanity. As civilization develops to a certain extent, it becomes a competition between humans and other beings for natural resources

A three-eyed cat was jumping around in its cage, emitting a shrill cry that reverberated like thunder, yet it could not penetrate the soundproof barrier set up outside the castle. Next to it, in an iron cage, was a dragon-like creature covered in scales of various sizes, huffing and puffing flames, instilling a sense of terror in onlookers

Following in Andrew's footsteps, fifteen youths ventured deeper into the island.

You may speak

Yes, "" Gong Hao nodded

If the existence of wizards represents the pinnacle of primal force in the magical world, then alchemy is the mainstream direction of technological development within that realm. The latter holds far greater social significance than the former. It enables ordinary people to harness the power of magic, thereby accelerating the rapid development of society as a whole

On Purgatory Island, Hines received the support of the entire kingdom to develop various war puppets for the Lance Kingdom. Due to the extreme scarcity of resources, war puppets have become exceedingly rare in the present continent. The existence of Purgatory Island has provided the Lance Kingdom with an opportunity for revitalization

Although alchemy has long since declined, some nations, holding strong hopes, are unwilling to abandon their aspirations of reviving the former glory of alchemy

Listening to Xise's statement, Gong Hao finally understood where he had arrived

A bottle of ordinary magical potion may require the destruction of at least 10 magical plants and the killing of 5 magical beasts for its preparation People only utilize the parts that are beneficial to themselves while the parts deemed useless are discarded as a luxury

Andrew coldly said: "Sack, did anyone make a mistake while I was away?"

However, magic is not something that everyone can learn. Those without talent, no matter how hard they strive, cannot become excellent magicians. Through thousands of years of research in the Wind Whispering Continent, it has been discovered that truly capable individuals who can learn and wield magical powers occur approximately once in every ten thousand people. Among them, those with outstanding talent who can master advanced spells appear only once in every hundred thousand. The individuals who can invent and create new spells may not even appear once in a million. The individuals who can invent and create new spells may not even appear once in a million.

The apprentices are responsible for participating in the master's experiments, serving as assistants in design and manufacturing. Their status is significantly higher than that of us servants, and there are not many of them, approximately around ten, all selected from the most outstanding alchemical apprentices across the empire. The role of the servants is to perform various menial tasks, acting as assistants to the assistants. There are about sixty servants in the castle, each with numerous tasks to complete. The work of the servants is to perform various menial tasks, acting as assistants to the assistants. There are about sixty servants in the castle, each with numerous tasks to complete. I and Sack are the head servants, and you will be directed by us on a daily basis

Their work aims at those unknown creatures confined in cages

However, I have heard that the Empire sends a batch of servants to Purgatory Island every month

Sister Dao: "Master Haines is the supreme master of the Alchemy Castle, and his will is our destiny. Below Master Haines, there are two assistants: Lord Andrew and Lord Pierre. You have already met Lord Andrew; he is primarily responsible for managing the servants. Lord Pierre is mainly responsible for managing the apprentices"

Gong Hao said in a low voice: "So, are you saying that fifteen people were taken away by Andrew last month?"

In the Western and Eastern Library, it is often the case that some individuals make mistakes. Andrew will take those who err away, and they will never be seen again. Andrew claims that it is due to their lack of diligence in work that they are not allowed to work here, and they are sent to other places to perform their duties.

What does it mean? Xi Se Yi Leng did not understand the meaning of Gong Hao's words

To Gong Hao's surprise, he found no information related to these creatures in Xiuyigleier's memories, which means that most of these magical beasts are species that are on the brink of extinction

Moreover, for some unknown reason, he felt an increasingly ominous sensation in his heart, yet he could not articulate it at that moment

During the most frenzied era of alchemy, vast expanses of primordial jungles were felled, and magical beasts were slaughtered. Except for a few extremely dangerous areas inhabited by top-tier magical creatures, virtually no place that could be reached and damaged by human footprints was spared.

How many people does Andrew generally take away each month

Unlike wizards, alchemists do not rely on their own powers to cast spells. They utilize their extensive knowledge to gather various rare materials and create a range of magical tools to achieve their goals. If wizards are individuals of formidable personal ability, then alchemists are great engineers; they design and manufacture various magical devices to fulfill the continuous pursuit of quality of life by people

What should I do?" Gong Hao asked

I mean... wishing you good luck

King Strick V of the Kingdom of Lance personally summoned the most outstanding alchemical grandmaster in the country at that time, Patrick Hines, requesting him to immediately travel to Purgatory Island to construct an alchemical fortress. He also designated the waters of the Sea of Death, under the jurisdiction of the Kingdom of Lance, as a forbidden area, citing the protection of the lives of the fleet personnel as the reason.

In the six thousand years of human magical development, over three thousand spells have been created, and dozens of factions have emerged. The categorization of wizards by type and level has gradually become more systematic, transforming the entire Wind Whisper Continent into a typical magical realm

To understand the existence of Purgatory Island, one must first comprehend the history of magical development on Wind Whisper Continent

Is it really to become a prisoner that I have crossed over to this world?

The leader of the caravan reported this great discovery to the king of his country, and thus a grand plan was born

Sack stepped forward and said: "Alright, now everyone count off from left to right. Those with even numbers follow me, and those with odd numbers follow Xise. We will take you to the places where you need to work. From now on, you must work hard and not make the adults unhappy. Is that understood?"

Pointing to the tall tower behind him, Xise said: "Master Hines and Lord Pierre reside in that tower, and they usually do not come out. Generally, you will not see either of them. All instructions are issued by Lord Andrew, so we only need to follow Lord Andrew's orders to carry out our tasks"

In the center of the castle lies a vast open space. Countless young servants dressed in white are busily attending to their respective tasks