Chapter 5, The Poisoner
However, after careful study, Du Wei developed a great interest in this field of potion-making
Overseeing the family business? That's nothing but a joke. Everyone knows that the family's significant enterprise is in the capital! In the political center of this empire! ... And those industries in the family territory ...? ... Those farmlands? Those farmers? And those taxes!? These can be managed by just sending a few stewards!
In this world, although people verbally assert that potion masters are a type of magician, and even the Magic Society has officially confirmed this in black and white, the reality is that people's true thoughts are, "Can this really be considered a magician?"
On a dark and windy night, he departed from the imperial capital in a carriage. His destination was the territory of the Rollin family located in the southern province of Kote in the Empire. The official announcement stated that "Master Du Wei, who has just turned thirteen and is about to come of age, will be going to the family territory to oversee the family estate"
As for Du Wei
The day after his mother gave birth to a younger brother, Du Wei was taken by a servant to the count's room to visit his mother, who was weak after childbirth, and his younger brother
In his view, this is a very novel field
It is evident that the noble lord is very pleased. This newborn son, like the traditions of the Rollin family, has a loud and powerful cry. Although he has just been born, it is already apparent that he will surely grow up to be very strong
What does it resemble
It is undeniable that Du Wei still harbors a great interest in the magic of this world. Although the wizard Clark has determined that he lacks talent, Du Wei, unwilling to accept this, still holds onto a glimmer of hope. Naturally, the grand count's residence possesses a considerable collection of books, many of which pertain to magic and related subjects.
For almost several months, the Count had no inclination to visit this son who had utterly disappointed him. Even the Countess, who had originally been affectionate towards Du Weici, had to reduce her visits to her son due to her pregnancy and impending childbirth
The Count's continuous efforts in sowing and cultivating with the Countess over the course of a month finally bore fruit. Soon, the Countess became pregnant again, and in the winter of the following year, Count Raymond joyfully welcomed his second son.
The affection of the servants, the praise of the captain of the guards, the concern of the father, and even the opinion of a tutor invited to teach him all suggest that this count's second son is quite talented. It is even said that the count has decided to arrange a marriage alliance with a certain family in the imperial capital for the future of the family, securing a prominent engagement for his only six-year-old son
A medicine that can render one mute, a medicine that can petrify, a medicine that can ignite... Quite interesting, isn't it
Count Raymond had no interest in even glancing at this worthless son of his; after a perfunctory greeting, he waved him away. Although the Countess, lying in bed, felt a twinge of compassion, her attention was soon drawn away by the cries of the newborn.
Finally, when Du Wei was thirteen years old and his younger brother Gabriel was seven, the news arrived. It was also the final decision made by the Count!
Do not misunderstand; he has no intention of spending any more effort on such a talentless fool of a son. The lord earl has directed his focus of "effort" towards his beautiful countess.
However, among the names of animals and plants mentioned above, especially those like "jumping frog," "sword dragon," "Keke triangular scale fish," and "book fire scale grass," nine out of ten are things that Du Wei has never even heard of
Subsequently, Du Wei, who was determined not to give up until he reached the Yellow River, shifted his focus to the "Alchemy of Potions" as mentioned by Mage Clark
He reminded himself internally: Do not overthink. ... You are not of this world, he is not your father ... ... and she. ... ... ... She is not either ...
Du Wei's younger brother has been healthy and lively since childhood. At the age of six, he has already begun training under the chief guard, Alpha the Swordsman. It is said that the chief guard has a very favorable opinion of this count's second son. Almost everyone in the household regards him as the future hope of the Rowlin family! The count clearly lavishes all his care on his second son, and he has even decided to wait another two years, so that when Gabriel turns eight, he can officially impart the Rowlin family's ancestral martial arts and fighting spirit to him
The Earl rarely sees his eldest son even once a month. The only exception is the Countess, who often visits her son in private. Occasionally, on quiet nights, the Countess would come to Du Wei's room barefoot and in her nightgown, holding her poor child and singing lullabies to him, soothing him to sleep
Starting next year, he will personally teach Gabriel martial arts, imparting the family secrets of the Roland family. At the same time, Count Raymond has also established a marriage agreement with the Empire's Minister of Finance, allowing the two political allies to further collaborate through this union, and Gabriel's future wife will be the granddaughter of the current Minister of Finance (who is nine years old)
In reality, Du Wei understood very well: he had been exiled.
... ...
After listening for a while, Du Wei made a very apt analogy in his heart: if one were to compare the medical industry of his previous life, then a true magician would be equivalent to the various specialists in a hospital. As for potion masters, they could at most be considered as the nurses assisting the doctors. Although they all work in the hospital, the status and income of nurses are far inferior to those of the real doctors. As for potion masters, they could at most be considered as the nurses assisting the doctors. Although they all work in the hospital, the status and income of nurses are far inferior to those of the real doctors.
Because it seems that potion-making is also a form of magic. Moreover, potion masters can barely be considered a type of magician. Although Du Wei inquired with the servants in the manor to understand what this so-called "type of magician" truly signifies in the hearts of the people in this world
In fact, there are also reports stating that this marriage was arranged a long time ago! It was even decided before Gabriel was born! Originally, it was Du Wei who was supposed to marry the daughter of the Minister of Finance! However, Du Wei is now regarded as a hopeless fool, so the marriage partner, bearing the heavy responsibility of the alliance between the two families, has become his younger brother, the genius, Gabriel
While the entire Count's mansion was celebrating this joyous occasion, Du Wei remained in his room, diligently reading the hard-to-come-by books on "Alchemy" that he had painstakingly gathered
Only the laboratories of true wizards are equipped with these materials. In the realm of magic, alchemists typically serve as assistants and aides to those genuine wizards.
Days pass one by one. Du Wei remains engrossed in the study of potion-making. However, his knowledge still only exists in theoretical readings on paper. After all, many of the bizarre materials mentioned in potion-making are not even available at the prestigious Rollin family or the Earl's residence of the Tushuz family.
Beyond this, Du Wei, the eldest son of the family, was forgotten in the corner
What Du Wei did not know was that his idea coincidentally aligned with the world's perception of alchemists: poison makers
For example, how can one use the eyes of the multi-legged frog, combined with purple wormwood, to create a substance that temporarily renders a person mute? Furthermore, how can one utilize the saliva of the Starfin Swordscale Dragon, along with clover and the liver of a Keke triangular-scaled fish, to grind out a powder that can petrify a person?
In Du Wei's mind, the profession of a potion master is more akin to that of a physician. However, while physicians save lives, potion masters are more adept at concocting harmful poisons
Recalling that stormy night, this beautiful woman once knelt in front of the statue of the goddess for an entire night for her own sake, which stirred a twinge of bitterness in Du Wei's heart, prompting him to shake his head vigorously
Du Wei quietly stepped back, behind her was the Earl's satisfied laughter, along with the cries of a baby. Although her heart had already gone numb, Du Wei could not help but feel a twinge of disappointment.
Thank heavens, the last words of that wizard Clark had an effect after all. Under the thought of "what could be worse?", the Count decided to send his foolish son to study potion-making.
The continuous setbacks left Count Raymond deeply disappointed in his son. However, after this disappointment, he worked even harder.
In an effort to eliminate the distractions within, Du Wei could only redirect all his attention to his studies
Unknowingly, six years have passed. During these six years, Du Wei's younger brother has grown robustly. This child, named "Gabri," is more akin to a typical heir of the Rowling family compared to the foolish Du Wei
This is fundamentally reminiscent of a chemical system from another world
Du Wei had never thought that the so-called magic could be explained in this way
Moreover, for such a small child, even if he is the son of a count, no one would dare to provide him with those dangerous magical herbs
Only at these moments does Du Wei's heart soften. Sometimes, he has to pretend to be asleep to escape these moments that make him feel like crying. Often, the tears and sighs of the Countess accompany him into slumber
After reading numerous books, Du Wei had to admit that the wizard Clark was right; he indeed lacked the talent to become a magician. Even if he sat for an entire day and night, he could not sense any fluctuations of magical elements. On one occasion, he even fell asleep without realizing it.
In fact, the precise news that Du Wei received was that he would likely leave the Earl's residence and move to the family estate in some rural area of the southern province of Kote. Moreover, without the Earl's summons, he could forget about ever returning to the imperial capital in his lifetime
For example, a substance extracted from a type of fire-scaled grass, when dried and crushed into powder, can instantly ignite when sprinkled anywhere
Since this son is already a failure, he is destined to lack the ability to inherit the family and cannot carry on the family legacy... Therefore... one must strive to have another son!
Alchemy, as the name suggests, is the study of the preparation of various magical potions
Everyone understands that the title of "Heir of the Rowling Family" has already shifted from Du Wei to his seven-year-old genius brother