Lord of Caldera - Chapter 86

Chapter 86: Chapter 86
Ulrich sighed and glanced toward the shadows in the corner.

“Gert, are you here?”

“You called for me, my lord?” A shadowy figure emerged from the darkness—a hunched old man who had been serving as Ulrich’s hidden aide.

“Make the potion.”

“What kind of potion, my lord?”

“The invisible elixir. You have the ingredients, I assume?”

“I have more than enough,” Gert replied with a sinister smile, ready to get to work. Just as he was about to leave to prepare the potion, the door opened.

“My lord.”

“Sir Ray? What brings you here?”

It was rare for Ray to seek out Ulrich directly, so her entrance carried some urgency, though her face was hidden beneath her helmet.

“I received a letter from my family,” she said.

“Is it about your mother’s illness?” Ulrich asked.

“Yes… her condition has worsened,” Ray replied, her voice trailing off. She seemed reluctant to speak any further, but Ulrich understood her unspoken request and nodded.

“Very well. Gert, before making the other potion, prepare a treatment for Ray’s mother’s illness. I’ll provide the necessary jewel squash as an ingredient.”

“As you wish, my lord.”

“Thank you, my lord,” Ray sighed in relief, bowing deeply before leaving with Gert.

Once the two exited, Oscar, who had been observing, spoke up with a hint of disapproval in his tone.

“My lord, are you going to continue with this arrangement?”

“What do you mean?” Ulrich asked.

“Providing the jewel squash for Sir Ray’s needs. That’s no small expense—how long do you plan to keep purchasing it?”

“What choice do I have? It’s the only effective treatment for her illness.”

The illness, known as “sleeping sickness,” was mysterious and relentless, causing its victims to sleep longer and longer until they resembled a lifeless corpse. Without regular treatment, they would eventually waste away. While there was a sustaining medicine, it required a consistent supply of ground jewel squash, an extremely costly ingredient.

“Luckily, the funds from the dungeon expedition are more than sufficient. A few dozen jewel squash shouldn’t be an issue.”

“It’s not just the expense, my lord. Sir Ray is valuable in the long run, isn’t she? Instead of this constant cost, why not just…”

“No,” Ulrich cut him off coldly.

“Forgive me, but are you sure that Ray’s loyalty would…”

“Enough. Not even Ray will be given the elixir. That’s final.”

Oscar reluctantly held back, though he couldn’t shake his sense of unease. He knew Ulrich viewed Ray as practically in his grasp already, but he worried that this vague, half-hearted kindness might not truly secure loyalty.

‘I hope this doesn’t come back to bite us someday,’ Oscar thought, swallowing his unease.

Gert, Ulrich’s go-to man for covert operations, was skilled in both assassination and subterfuge. Officially, however, he held the role of the family’s apothecary, a position established with Count Bill’s endorsement.

-He’s an expert in medicine, knowledgeable as any high-ranking priest.

-He’s essential. Many would dismiss him because of his status, but you recognized his value.

-Your praise is more than I deserve, my lord.

And so Gert entered the family, his position as an apothecary allowing him to operate freely. Now he could mix any combination of herbs into lethal poisons under the guise of crafting medicine without raising suspicion.

‘Nothing could be more delightful,’ Gert thought with a grin, gathering a few herbs as he continued preparing the potion Ulrich had requested. He was carefully watching the simmering brew when a voice called out from outside.

“Apothecary, are you there?”

“Who is it?”

“It’s Max. You remember me, right?”

“…Come in.”

After a moment of hesitation, Gert allowed Max inside. It would have been strange for an apothecary to turn someone away, after all.

‘Tch, not someone I want to deal with right now,’ Gert thought. Though Max’s background was unclear, he knew that Max had also worked as an assassin in the past. While others might not notice Gert’s subtle actions, a fellow professional might pick up on something.

“What do you need?”

“I’m here on behalf of Lord Sylas. He asked if you could spare a few herbs.”

“Let me see the list.”

Gert glanced over the list Max handed him, selecting the requested herbs and handing them over quickly. He was eager to get Max out as soon as possible.

“Here you go. Now, if you don’t need anything else, I’d appreciate it if you left. I’m quite busy.”

“Understood. By the way, what’s that potion for? Those are rare ingredients, typically unused,” Max said, his curiosity evident.

“Since when do you meddle in other people’s potions? Are you an apothecary now?” Gert replied icily.

“Oh, not at all. I was just curious.”

Max left quickly, leaving Gert scowling. Though he doubted Max knew what he was making, the encounter left him feeling unsettled. Alone once more, Gert resumed his work, focused on completing the potion. Meanwhile, Max, carrying the herbs, muttered to himself.

“That crazy old man… he’s really making that potion. Was he once a leader of the Black Moon?”

Max shook his head in disbelief and quickened his pace. There was a lot he needed to report to Lord Sylas.

“A transparent potion?” Toby asked, scratching his head as he listened to Max’s explanation. The name sounded more like a nickname than its true name.

“Yes. It’s thick when prepared, but when finished, it turns clear like water—hence the name.”

“What an uncreative name.”

“But it’s as terrifying as it is simple. Once someone takes it, they need an antidote at regular intervals, or their insides begin to dissolve. Anyone who consumes it is practically enslaved to whoever holds the antidote,” Max explained grimly. Worse still, there was no complete antidote for the potion.

“Even if someone rises to the rank of commander, they still have to keep taking it. Only a few higher-ups know the formula, binding members to the organization for life.”

“That’s horrible. Do you know how it’s made?” Toby asked.

“No, I don’t. I was only tasked with gathering ingredients but was never taught the proportions or extraction methods,” Max replied. But he recognized the components, which made him realize immediately what Gert was up to. Sylas nodded thoughtfully, digesting Max’s information.

“So, Ulrich is truly serious about this.”