Chapter 180: The Flesh Crystal Bargain

“Dimeritium becoming highly sought after on the market will affect sorcerers?”

Lannor’s brow furrowed slightly.

After absorbing fragments of the Emperor’s Children’s memories and surviving the nest of intrigue surrounding Arya’s royal capital, he had become far more sensitive to seemingly ordinary developments like market fluctuations.

Major upheavals often began with something small enough for most people to ignore.

Tissaia answered calmly.

“Although dimeritium is exceptionally effective at suppressing Chaos magic, its impact on sorcerers has, so far ... developed in a favorable direction.”

She folded her hands neatly atop the desk.

“Kings have begun to realize how terrifying an assassin wielding arcane power can be. At the same time, they have also begun to value magic itself. Many sorcerers have profited from this shift. The collective influence of our profession has increased, and magical research is receiving greater attention.”

“The mining and trade of dimeritium, a substance often called a sorcerer’s bane, have expanded dramatically. Yet the interests of spellcasters have improved as well.”

Lannor considered the information for a moment.

There were too few data points.

Any conclusion now would be little more than guesswork.

He simply nodded.

“Then let’s hope dimeritium continues not causing trouble.”

With that matter set aside, Tissaia studied him from head to toe.

“You wish to join my Crystal Cultivation Project. Before anything else, you should understand that this project explores the very frontier of alchemy.”

Her voice remained even.

“I cannot allow someone into it simply because he is good at killing things.”

Lannor had expected this.

Reaching into his alchemy satchel, he produced two potion bottles and placed them on the desk.

Entering an academic project without results to show would be pointless.

“Original formula. Improved formula.”

The two bottles rested side by side.

Perfectly symmetrical.

“The effect is accelerated stamina recovery. The original causes muscle spasms as a side effect. The improved version eliminates those spasms, but the potion’s inherent toxicity erupts all at once instead of building gradually.”