Chapter 20: Chapter 20: Formula Improvement
[You have successfully brewed Fire Source Beast Bone Soup. Skill Level +12]
[Fire Source Beast Bone Soup Skill Level Breakthrough: Skilled (3/300)]
[Attribute Points +0.2]
After a full day of tireless effort, Duane finally raised his Fire Source Beast Bone Soup Skill Level to "Skilled."
In an instant, a stream of information flooded into his mind.
"Huh?"
A look of astonishment crossed Duane’s face. He discovered that, in addition to the techniques and experience for brewing the soup, this Skill Level breakthrough had also granted him some extra information:
Take the branches of a Willow Tree, stripped of their leaves. Cut them into small pieces, crush them slightly, and soak them in water for half a day. Then, remove them to dry before sealing them in a container with clean water to ferment for three days. This can be used as a substitute for White Crystal Fruit.
"This..."
Duane was stunned. He hadn’t expected a Skill Level breakthrough to provide such information.
After all, while White Crystal Fruit wasn’t exorbitant, it wasn’t cheap either.
The cost would really add up, especially since Duane planned to brew Fire Source Beast Bone Soup in large quantities.
But the branches of the Willow Tree weren’t an issue at all.
To be precise, this type of tree could be found everywhere; it wasn’t the least bit rare.
In fact, there were quite a few of them right on the grounds of Lakefront Manor.
It looked very similar to an ordinary willow tree, but it was evergreen and grew an incredible number of small branches. Even if they were snapped off, new ones would sprout within a few months.
Using it to replace White Crystal Fruit would save Duane a huge amount of money.
Of course, that wasn’t even the most important part.
The most important part was that the information from the Skill Level breakthrough had actually *improved* the recipe for Fire Source Beast Bone Soup.
Recipes were the closely guarded secrets of every clan; leaking one without cause could even incite a war.
Nobility who didn’t possess such recipes were at a disadvantage both economically and in terms of Extraordinary power, forced to conduct their own research or find other ways to compensate.
Now, Duane had obtained an "improved" recipe. It was like mastering a core technology.
Even if he chose not to use it, he could earn a fortune in Gold Coins just by selling it to Viscount Ugo Calvin.
Of course, he wouldn’t be foolish enough to sell it. The risk was too great.
For one thing, the people who grew White Crystal Fruit would certainly have it in for him.
’Isn’t the Calvin Clan one of the main producers of White Crystal Fruit?’
Duane composed himself, and his thoughts returned to the matter of Skill Level.
’Reaching the Skilled Level revealed a substitute for White Crystal Fruit... so if I reach Mastery, will I find a substitute for the Fire Source Beast Bone itself?’
His heart began to race at the thought.
If that were true, he could bypass the Calvin Clan entirely and create his own brand of Extraordinary Cooking.
In that fleeting moment, Duane glimpsed a path to building his own power in the future.
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, and made a decision—
’I can’t stop brewing Fire Source Beast Bone Soup just because it no longer gives me attribute points. I have to keep going!’
"Mara, I recall you saying the Calvin Shop sells Fire Source Beast Bone Powder?" Duane asked.
"Yes, My Lord!"
Auntie Mara had been spending more time with Duane lately. While she was still very respectful, she was less apprehensive and more at ease around him.
She had also come to accept the fact that the Baron frequently spent time in the kitchen.
"Compared to the whole bones sold in standard packaging, this Dry Bone Powder is easier to store. They say as long as it’s kept away from moisture, it can last for a year without any problems."
Her tone shifted. "However, each pound of Dry Bone Powder costs five Silver Coins more than the whole bones."
Five Silver Coins... that was a 50% markup.
Considering the processing fees, material loss from grinding, and the long shelf life, the price increase didn’t seem excessive.
As Duane had Jack and John come in to take the soup away to be drunk, he considered how much Dry Bone Powder he would need to buy.
Now that his Skill Level had reached Skilled, the gains from each batch of soup would become smaller and smaller.
It would take a total of 300 points to get from Skilled to Mastery.
By a rough estimate, two hundred pounds of Dry Bone Powder should be more than enough.
However, considering the situation on Black Forest Island, Duane decided he had to buy as much as he could.
Once he was on the island, it would be difficult for him to come back out to shop.
After all, the shipping costs were exorbitant, and he didn’t own a ship.
"Mara, I’ll have Raymond accompany you to the Calvin Shop later. I need to make a one-time purchase of four hundred pounds of Fire Source Beast Bone Powder!"
"Good heavens, My Lord! Have you gone ma—"
Realizing her tone was inappropriate, Mara immediately corrected herself.
"Please forgive my impudence, My Lord, but four hundred pounds of Fire Source Beast Bone Powder will cost sixty Gold Coins! Why would you buy so much...?"
Sixty Gold Coins! That was an enormous sum!
"It’s fine. I have a use for it."
Duane didn’t offer any further explanation. "If anyone asks, just say that I intend to strengthen my soldiers."
Spending money to strengthen one’s Warriors was common enough.
But to spend this much money strengthening *common* soldiers was not something a typical member of the Nobility would do.
If outsiders were to find out, they would probably think Duane was getting desperate and clutching at straws.
Mara still couldn’t understand, but she would not refuse the Baron’s command.
"Very well, My Lord. But what about the White Crystal Fruit?"
A pound of White Crystal Fruit only cost three Silver Coins, but in large quantities, it was still a considerable expense.
"I have other sources for the White Crystal Fruit."
Duane didn’t elaborate. "If the Calvin Shop asks, just tell them you’re sourcing it from someone else."
"Yes, My Lord. I’ll remember."
Duane added, "The day before we set off, I will be hosting a farewell dinner at the castle. I’ll be inviting everyone who is following me to Black Forest Island, so you’ll need to arrange for the food in advance."
"Yes, My Lord!"
Mara had experience with this; after all, Lord Carter had also hosted banquets for other nobles in the past.
Besides, her five assistants had all arrived, so she was confident she could easily handle this relatively informal dinner.
’His Lordship is such a generous and kind man!’
Mara couldn’t help but think. ’The Baron is even inviting the servants to the dinner party. That’s highly unusual, too.’
Lately, the Baron had done so many unusual things that she was almost getting used to it.
Duane wasn’t doing this to promote some ideal of equality or a classless society.
His main goal was to boost morale and build cohesion before they departed.
To him, a noble’s banquet was nothing special—just a chance for better food and drink.
But for these servants and soldiers, it was likely their first time attending such an event. After all, some of them had probably never even tasted white bread in their entire lives.
This dinner was bound to be a memorable experience for them and would give them something positive to aspire to.
For example, they might think that even though life on Black Forest Island would be harsh, they could still live well by following the Baron.
After leaving the kitchen, Duane went straight outside the castle. He looked out and saw a number of Willow Trees along the Clear Water Lakefront.
"Owington, go gather some branches from the Willow Trees and put them in the inner courtyard," he ordered.
The Male Servant was surprised, wondering what the Baron was up to now, but he moved immediately. "My Lord, how many do you need?"
Considering the recipe’s proportions, Duane replied, "Just gather a pound for now."
’There’s no need to stockpile it. After all, Willow Trees are everywhere, so Black Forest Island is bound to have them too.’
Still, just to be safe, Duane decided he would take some cuttings with him to Black Forest Island to plant when he left.
Willow Trees took root quickly and had a very high survival rate, so Planting them would be no problem at all.
