After the two of them sat down, Alena slowly began to speak.
"The source of this plague lies in the Dragon Graveyard outside Dragon’s Slumber."
She paused, a flicker of fear passing across her face.
"At first, only one of the gravekeepers in the cetery was infected. Later, even the priest who treated him caught it as well. In less than half a month, the plague had spread throughout the entirety of Dragon’s Slumber."
"After that, large numbers of imperial citizens in the surrounding cities were infected too. By last month, the plague had already reached Galehold... and by now, I fear it may have spread across the whole Empire."
She let out a sigh, her voice slightly choked with emotion.
"Setting aside the other regions, in Dragon’s Slumber alone, tens of thousands of imperial citizens have died from it within just one month."
Daniel fell silent for a mont before asking, "What are the characteristics of this plague?"
Alena forcibly suppressed the grief in her heart.
"This plague can spread through any dium, and it can also attach itself to all kinds of living creatures. Its infectivity is terrifyingly strong. Once soone is infected, a fiendish seed will be born inside the patient’s body. That seed will continue to devour the host’s life until the host dies. As for where those fiendish seeds go in the end... we still do not know."
Daniel listened carefully to the end.
[Ding! You have completed Phase One of the quest: "Investigate the Source of the Plague"!]
He rose to his feet and bade Alena farewell.
Before leaving, he turned back to look at her and said calmly,
"Please believe this: the dawn of mankind will surely co."
Alena nodded heavily, but the gloom in her heart did not lessen in the slightest.
...
After leaving the shop, Daniel revealed a composed expression.
Back in his previous lives, the formula for a potion that could cure this plague had already been posted on the ga forums.
In order to complete this quest, Daniel had deliberately morized that formula during his second life.
It was worth ntioning that the formula had originally been developed by the players together with Alena.
But now, he no longer needed to go through all those tedious side quests.
With the formula already in hand, he could simply brew it directly.
He unfurled the Eternal Black King and flew toward Luminara.
...
Luminara, Alchemists’ Guild.
Inside the guild hall, the attendant saw Daniel and imdiately hurried forward respectfully.
"Your Grace the Duke, how may I be of service?"
"I want to learn the secondary profession of alchemist."
"Of course."
The attendant smiled. "This is your second secondary profession. Normally, the introductory fee would be ten gold coins, but for an honored guest such as yourself, you need only pay one silver coin."
[Prompt: Spend 1 silver coin to purchase "Basic Alchemist Principles"? Note: At your current level, you may only learn two secondary professions at the sa ti.]
"Yes."
With a wave of the attendant’s hand, a golden light appeared before Daniel.
Imdiately afterward, Daniel decisively sold the introductory manual to the guild shop.
[Ding! You have successfully sold a secondary-class introductory skill book to the Doom Guild, triggering Millionfold Boost!]
[Ding! You have obtained 1 gold coin, and you have received "Legendary-Grade Alchemist Arcana"!]
The corner of Daniel’s mouth lifted slightly.
"I need to use your study chamber."
"Certainly, Your Grace. You may use the highest-grade study chamber completely free of charge."
The attendant bowed respectfully.
Daniel nodded and strode into the interior of the guild.
...
Inside the study chamber.
Half an hour later, Daniel had successfully completed all of the arcane study.
[Ding! Your "Alchemist" class rank has been raised to "Legendary-Grade"!]
A brilliant golden radiance erupted from Daniel’s body, illuminating the entire study chamber in dazzling splendor.
[Legendary-Grade Alchemist]
Effects:
Success rate for all alchemy 100% (guaranteed success) The quality of all alchemical products is at least Blackgold-grade Can craft legendary-grade potions and special items Alchemy ti reduced by 95%
Description: The supre realm of alchemy, where one thought can turn stone into gold. In the entire history of the Empire, no more than three people have ever reached this level.
Looking at that line of description, Daniel could no longer suppress the smile on his face.
Legendary-Grade Alchemist!
This ant that from now on, any potion he brewed would succeed without fail, and at a minimum, it would be of Blackgold-grade quality.
Now that his alchemist class had successfully advanced, Daniel did not hesitate any longer.
He imdiately followed the potion formula from mory, purchased the required materials through the study chamber panel, and placed them all into the transmutation array.
[Prompt: Brew "Unnad Potion"?]
"Yes."
The transmutation array lit up, and all of the materials vanished in an instant.
A mont later, a potion glowing with pale golden light appeared within the array.
[Prompt: You have successfully brewed "Unnad Potion." Alchemist class EXP 100!]
[Prompt: Please na the potion you have just brewed.]
"Dawn."
Daniel answered without the slightest hesitation.
[Ding! You have nad the potion "Dawn"!]
[Ding! Obtained "Dawn Elixir (Blackgold-grade)" ×1!]
Daniel took the potion out of the transmutation array.
[Dawn Elixir (Blackgold-grade)]
Effect: After consumption, it can perfectly cure a certain strange plague and all of its variants.
Description: This potion was developed by the imperial duke and Legendary-Grade Alchemist, "Faustus," in order to resolve the Empire’s plague disaster.
Holding the Dawn Elixir in his hand, a cold glint flashed through Daniel’s eyes.
Of the quest’s three major objectives, he had already completed two—investigate the source of the plague, and develop the cure.
Only the final one remained: eradicate the mastermind behind it all!
That legendary-grade beginner-level monster that had been forcibly nurtured by the Dark Council.
Daniel had no intention of relying on the strength of the Empire’s legendary-grade powerhouses, as the players had in his previous lives.
He would act personally.
"Legendary-grade..."
He put away the potion, a chilly arc curving at the corner of his lips.
"Let see just how capable you really are."
Daniel stored the pale golden potion in his robes and imdiately set off for the Ministry of War.
...
Inside the Ministry of War’s main hall, candlelight illuminated the broad stone chamber with a warm brightness.
Minister Kasel stood with his hands behind his back, pacing before the long table. The sound of his boots striking the stone floor was hurried and uneven.
This military minister, who was usually as steady as a mountain, now resembled an old wolf trapped in a cage, restless with anxiety.
Ahem!
Daniel stopped at the entrance and let out a light cough.
Kasel spun around sharply. In his weary eyes, light burst forth at once.
He closed the distance in three quick strides, his voice brimming with barely restrained urgency.
"Your Grace the Duke... has there been progress?"
Daniel took out the potion from his robes and handed it to him.
The golden liquid flowed slowly inside the glass vial like sunlight made solid.
"A miracle cure for this plague,"
he said briefly.
Kasel received the potion with both hands, moving as gently as though he were cradling a star that might shatter at any mont.
He lowered his head and stared at the light inside the vial. His lips trembled slightly, and only after a long while did he find his voice again.
"I knew it... so long as Your Grace takes action, there is nothing that cannot be done."
Daniel then pulled a parchnt filled with the formula from his inventory and laid it flat upon the table.
The writing on it was neat and clear. Every step, every ingredient, had been marked down in exact detail.
"The Ministry of War can test the potion on infected patients. This is the complete formula."
Kasel looked at him with gratitude and let out a long sigh.
In that sigh was not only the relief of a burden lifted, but also profound respect.
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