Chapter 604 Lumina
Sara led Erik through a series of shelves, each one laden with a variety of gleaming vials and intricately designed bottles. Her voice carried a soothing tone as she continued to detail the prices and discounts, her fingers brushing against the glass containers with practiced ease.
"If you're planning to purchase in bulk, we offer a discount of 10% for orders over fifty crates, and 15% for a hundred or more," she explained, her eyes lighting up at the mention of the sale. "And should you need something more unique, we have a special selection aside from our healing potions."
Erik's interest was piqued, and he turned to face her, his curiosity evident. "Something different, you say? What kind of potions are we talking about?"
Sara's lips curved into a knowing smile as she led him to a different section of the room, filled with an array of less conventional concoctions.
"Well, we have this Night Vision Elixir," she began, picking up a dark blue vial. "It allows the user to see better in the dark for about an hour. It doesn't grant absolute night vision, mind you, but it significantly enhances one's ability to navigate in low-light conditions."
Erik examined the vial, his mind already running through potential applications. It could prove useful for stealth missions or nighttime exploration.
"What else do you have?" he asked, his voice tinged with excitement.
Sara continued, her hands moving gracefully among the shelves. "We also have the Memory Enhancer, a potion that mildly improves recall and concentration for a short time. Scholars and students favor it but could be applied in various fields."
She then pointed to a greenish liquid in a spherical container. "This one's called Fleetfoot Serum. It grants a slight increase in agility and speed but lasts only about fifteen minutes. It's not as potent as some other potions, but it has its uses."
Erik listened attentively, absorbing the information as Sara described more potions, each with its own unique properties and limitations. There were potions to dull pain, enhance hearing, suppress hunger, and even mildly camouflage the user's scent, making them less detectable to Thaids.
As she spoke, Erik could not help but compare these potions to the powers granted by brain crystals. The effects were indeed milder, but he recognized the creativity and innovation behind each creation. It was clear they were trying to replicate brain crystal powers' effects through potions. They were not mere substitutes for one's birth abilities but they helped.
Sara concluded her presentation with a warm smile. "These are just a few examples of what we offer. We're constantly experimenting and coming up with new solutions to suit various needs. Of course, nothing can fully replicate the raw power of brain crystals, but these potions provide a range of support for those who may not have access to some abilities."
Erik nodded, appreciating the honesty in her explanation. "Thank you, Sara. These are indeed fascinating. I'll have to consider which ones would be most beneficial for my guild."
Sara was in the midst of describing another potion when a sudden intrusion in Erik's mind caught him off guard. His eyes widened as the biological supercomputer communicated directly to his consciousness.
[MASTER, I HAVE COMPLETED MY SEARCH. THE INDIVIDUAL GOING UNDER THE PSEUDONYM OF LUMINA HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS SARA NORTH. THERE ARE MANY THINGS I FOUND SUSPICIOUS; FOR EXAMPLE, MOST HIGHER-UPS TREAT HER WITH UNUSUAL POLITENESS DESPITE HER LOW-RANKING POSITION INSIDE THE COMPANY. NO PREVIOUS INFORMATION ON HER CURRICULUM WAS FOUND, AND SHE WAS HIRED WITHOUT PRIOR VETTING. ONLY A COMPANY ID AND ONE DOCUMENT LISTING HER NAME AND BIRTH DATE WERE DISCOVERED. THIS IS HIGHLY IRREGULAR. THERE IS NO PROOF FOR THIS CLAIM, BUT SHE IS LIKELY THE PERSON YOU ARE SEARCHING FOR BASED ON MY CALCULATION.]
Erik's breath caught in his throat as an image appeared in his mind's eye, a snapshot from the CCTV footage showing Sara entering and exiting a lab. The woman in the image was the very one standing before him, still speaking, unaware of the revelation that had just unfolded within Erik's mind.
His heart pounded in his chest, and he struggled to maintain his composure.
The room seemed to spin, and the sound of Sara's voice became a distant murmur. He stared at her, seeing her now not just as a friendly person but as Lumina, a mysterious alchemist dealing with criminal organizations.
"What do you think, Mr. Kay?" Sara's voice broke through his daze, and he realized she was waiting for his response.
He blinked, scrambling to recall what she had been saying. "I, uh, think it's quite impressive," he stammered, forcing a smile. "You have a wide variety of products."
Sara smiled back, but Erik could see something different now, a hidden layer behind her eyes, a secret concealed beneath her welcoming demeanor.
Erik's mind raced, the supercomputer's revelation echoing in his head. He needed to play it cool, to continue as if nothing had changed, all while knowing that Sara was not who she claimed to be.
The tour continued, but Erik's mind was elsewhere, constantly analyzing Sara's words and movements, looking for clues to her true identity. Each smile, each gesture, took on new significance, and he found himself caught between fascination and alarm.
He questioned everything now, wondering how deep the deception went, what her true role was within the company, and what she might be hiding. The common details of potions and prices seemed trivial in comparison to the enigma that was Sara North, a.k.a. Lumina. Erik still had to confirm this, but he had no reason to doubt the biological supercomputer.
As they wrapped up the tour, Erik's thoughts were a whirlwind of questions and uncertainties. He knew he had to tread carefully to gather more information without arousing suspicion. The stakes had just become much higher, and the game far more complex.
Sara's voice pulled him back to the present as she handed him a brochure. "Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or need further information," she said, her eyes twinkling with genuine warmth.
Erik took the brochure and thanked her, his voice betraying nothing of the shock that still coursed through him.
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...
As he rejoined Rebecca, he knew that the puzzle had just gained a new piece, one that changed the entire picture.
He glanced back at Sara one last time, her smile lingering in his mind, a riddle wrapped in an enigma, a face that now held a secret that could unravel everything.
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