My Anime Shopping Tree & My Cold Prodigy Wife!
Episode : 38

Chapter : 75

"It's circumstantial," Lloyd admitted frankly. "A web of motive and opportunity. But the professionalism of those attackers… it fits. Eldoria has the resources, the intelligence apparatus, the history of covert action. And they have the most to gain from destabilizing the Ferrum line right now."

He held Ken’s gaze, projecting conviction. "I can't prove it yet, Ken. But my instincts, honed by… recent events… tell me the Altamira shadow falls long here." He deliberately kept it vague – 'recent events' could cover the confrontation with Rubel, the sudden need to develop his powers, anything but the truth of reincarnation.

Ken remained silent for a long moment, his gaze distant, analytical mind processing the historical context, the strategic implications, Lloyd's unusual certainty. He knew the history, the tensions, the recent military shifts. Lloyd’s argument, while lacking direct proof, wasn't entirely baseless. It formed a coherent, if alarming, strategic picture. And Lloyd's recent track record for uncanny insight couldn't be easily dismissed.

"The Altamira clan," Ken murmured again, the name tasting like potential war. He looked back at Lloyd, a new level of seriousness, of shared understanding, in his eyes. "If your assessment is accurate, Young Lord, then the threat level has escalated exponentially. This changes the entire security calculus."

"Precisely," Lloyd affirmed grimly. "Which is why I need to get stronger. Faster. And why," he added, a flinty edge returning to his voice, "I need resources. Yesterday."

He looked out over the field of cursed sheep, then back at Ken. "Help me secure this site. Arrange for discreet retrieval of these pelts – tell the Guild I secured them but require assistance with safe handling due to the curse. Use estate resources if necessary, but keep it quiet. I need the reagents Master Grimaldi offered."

Ken nodded sharply, instantly shifting back into operational mode. "Consider it done, Young Lord. I will dispatch a specialized team from the estate guard, experts in handling hazardous materials. They will retrieve the pelts and deliver them directly to Master Grimaldi, securing the quicksilver in your name."

"Good," Lloyd said, relief washing over him. That was one problem handled. "Now, let's get back. I need rest. Fang needs rest." He glanced down at the wolf, who leaned tiredly against his leg. "And I need to figure out how to turn quicksilver into usable System Coins, or find another way to earn that Gold Coin before tomorrow morning." The hunt was successful, the potential threat identified, but the fundamental problem remained. Power required Coins. And Coins required ingenuity he was still struggling to fully grasp.

—-

The return journey from the Whispering Hills was marked by a grim sense of accomplishment rather than triumph. The ten cursed pelts, bundled carefully using makeshift tools and sheer nerve, were now Ken Park's problem. Lloyd trusted the stoic bodyguard implicitly to handle the retrieval and delivery to Master Alchemist Grimaldi with the utmost discretion. The potential payout in purified quicksilver was substantial, a vital step towards consistent System Coin conversion, but it wouldn't be immediate. And the five coins earned from the Ridge Runner bonus felt like finding lint in his pocket after winning a bar fight. Pathetic.

He needed that daily Gold Coin. He needed the ten System Coins it represented. The memory of the Maternal Bloodline Awakening task notification, demanding a fresh hundred SC, pulsed insistently at the back of his mind. A hundred coins felt like a mountain range he had to climb with pebbles in his boots.

Back within the familiar, imposing walls of the Ferrum Estate, the first order of business the next morning, even before contemplating breakfast or the potential fallout from his violent excursion, was the System conversion. The ritual was becoming grimly familiar. Standing alone in the pre-dawn chill of his borrowed suite (the sofa still radiating its usual lumpy malevolence), he accessed the System interface.

He pictured one of the precious Gold Coins from his meager allowance.

[Currency Conversion Protocol Activated.]

[Input Detected: 1 Gold Coin.]

[Confirm Conversion to 10 System Coins?]

Yes, Lloyd confirmed mentally, feeling a phantom lightness in his non-existent pockets. The System didn’t physically take the coin, merely deducted its value from his known resources – a level of surveillance that was both convenient and slightly unnerving.

[Conversion Complete. 1 Gold Coin Deducted.]

[10 System Coins (SC) Added.]

[Current Balance: 20 (Previous) + 10 (Converted) = 30 SC]

Thirty. Better. But still seventy agonizingly short of the hundred needed just for the Awakening task. Seven Gold Coins worth of daily conversions. Nearly half a month of his entire allowance, assuming he spent absolutely nothing else. Unacceptable. The soap venture wasn't just a good idea; it was rapidly becoming his only viable path to meaningful power progression.

Chapter : 76

He bypassed the main dining hall, grabbing a quick roll and some cheese from a passing servant tray, needing fuel but unwilling to face his father’s potentially probing gaze just yet. His destination was the heart of the estate's logistical machine: the kitchens.

The controlled chaos was already in full swing, the air thick with the familiar symphony of smells and sounds. Lloyd moved with newfound purpose, ignoring the curious stares and hushed whispers that still tracked his presence like persistent flies. He headed straight for the butchery section, the metallic tang of raw meat sharp in the air.

Jasmin was there, already hard at work, her small frame surprisingly efficient as she wielded a heavy cleaver with practiced precision. She looked up as he approached, her eyes widening momentarily in alarm before settling into a look of nervous anticipation. She quickly wiped her hands, dropping into a hurried curtsy.

"Y-Young Lord," she stammered, color rising in her cheeks. "You… you returned."

"Indeed, Jasmin," Lloyd replied, keeping his voice calm and low, mindful of nearby ears pretending not to listen. "And successful, I trust?"

Jasmin nodded eagerly, her nervousness momentarily eclipsed by pride in her accomplishment. "Yes, my lord! As you instructed!" She gestured towards a collection of large, sealed earthenware jars tucked discreetly behind a stack of empty crates in a cooler corner of the butchery area. "The tallow. I collected the trimmings daily, rendered it down myself after my main duties were done. Kept it clean, stored it away from the main larders."

She led him over, carefully removing the heavy lid from one of the jars. The rendered beef fat within was pale, clean-smelling (or rather, lacking the usual rancid undertones of poorly stored tallow), and solidified into a smooth, waxy mass. Lloyd peered inside, mentally estimating the quantity. Several large jars, each holding gallons. Enough. More than enough for initial experiments.

"Excellent work, Jasmin," Lloyd said, genuine approval warming his voice. He saw her visibly brighten under the praise. "Exactly what I needed. You've exceeded expectations."

"Thank you, my lord," she murmured, dropping her gaze again, though a small smile touched her lips. "I… I am glad to be of service. Will you be taking it now?"

"Not just yet," Lloyd replied. "Storing it here is perfect for now – discreet, cool. But you've completed the first part admirably." He paused, letting the anticipation build slightly. "Now, we move to the next phase. The part where I begin my work."

Jasmin looked up again, curiosity replacing the nervousness in her dark eyes. "Your work, my lord?"

"Indeed," Lloyd confirmed. "To make what I intend to make, fat is only half the equation. We need its chemical counterpart. A special kind of water, you could say. Something extracted from ash, something… potent."

He saw the confusion furrow her brow. "Special water, my lord? From ash?" The concept was alien, nonsensical based on her understanding of the world. Ash was just… waste from the fire.

"Exactly," Lloyd affirmed, leaning in slightly conspiratorially, lowering his voice further. "Think of it as… the hidden fire within the ash, drawn out by water. A substance powerful enough to transform things. But also," he added seriously, "dangerous if not handled correctly."

Jasmin’s eyes widened slightly, a flicker of alarm mixing with her confusion. Dangerous? What strange magic was the Young Lord pursuing now? First tallow, now dangerous ash-water?

"Not dangerous in the way of magic spells," Lloyd clarified quickly, sensing her unease. "More like… the way a blacksmith’s forge is dangerous if you touch the hot metal. It requires respect, care. Control." He saw her relax fractionally. "And for this process, we need somewhere quieter than this." He glanced around the bustling kitchen. "More private. And we need the right kind of ash."

Jasmin hesitated for only a fraction of a second. Her loyalty, bought with the promise of her mother's health and triple wages, warred with her inherent caution and bewilderment at these strange requests. But loyalty, fueled by desperation and a growing belief in this surprisingly knowledgeable (if slightly eccentric) young lord, won out.

"May I… may I assist you further, my lord?" she asked timidly, yet with an underlying eagerness. "May I see… what you intend to create? I wish to be useful."

Lloyd considered. He needed help collecting the ash, managing the extraction process. Having Jasmin involved from this stage would bind her more closely to the project, make her a true accomplice rather than just a supplier. And explaining the process to her would solidify it in his own mind, forcing him to articulate the steps clearly. The risk of revealing unusual knowledge was present, but manageable. She was already indebted, already sworn to secrecy.