Chapter 32
"Analyzing and estimating the compatibility between Cross Swordsmanship and Foil Swordsmanship… 89%. Is it synthetic?"
"Synthesis."
"Combining…"
"Successfully synthesized. The result is Huazhe Cross Swordsmanship."
The synthesis of the new swordsmanship took two days. During this time, Luciel perfected the Huazhe Swordsmanship, bringing it to a flawless 100%.
After reaching perfection with Huazhe Swordsmanship, Luciel began to recognize its limitations. The moves were too ornate, more for display than practical use. No wonder it was considered court swordsmanship; it was likely created for royal performances.
However, this flaw complemented the fierceness of Cross Swordsmanship, which lacked the refinement of elegance. The newly synthesized Huazhe Cross Swordsmanship combined the strengths of both styles, eliminating their weaknesses, making it far more powerful than either of the original techniques.
It should qualify as an intermediate combat skill now, Luciel thought, feeling a surge of joy.
Intermediate combat skills were available only to students in their fifth year or above, and the elective cost was prohibitively high—more than a thousand gold coins. Without the help of his chip, Luciel would have never been able to learn an intermediate combat skill before graduation.
Of course, mastering the Huazhe Cross Swordsmanship was more challenging than learning either of the original techniques alone. Thankfully, Luciel already had the foundation from the two sword styles, so relearning was easier, though still demanding.
Time to visit the Shelley Chamber of Commerce.
Luciel needed to focus on his studies for the upcoming chief student test in a little over a month. He also had to acquire new auxiliary training materials and analyze intermediate medicines—all of which required a lot of gold coins.
There was still some money owed to him by John, which Luciel was determined to collect.
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"Has that person shown up again?"
In an opulent room, a well-dressed middle-aged nobleman was shocked when his butler delivered a report.
"Very good," the nobleman said with a smile, standing up. "I must meet this young man whom Giles himself admires."
"I'll send someone to bring him in right away."
"No need," the nobleman shook his head, a glint of interest in his eyes. "I will go see him personally."
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"John quit his job and went back to the countryside?"
Luciel was taken aback by the news. But upon looking at the 50-year-old man in front of him, who claimed to be taking over John's position, Luciel sneered inwardly.
It was obvious the man had been dismissed. His back was slightly hunched, indicating he often worked bent over, but his palms and skin were well-maintained, suggesting he wasn't accustomed to rough labor. He likely worked as a butler for someone important.
Luciel glanced around the shop but didn't spot anything unusual.
"John isn't here, but the transaction between Mr. and our chamber of commerce can continue. In fact, we're willing to offer a higher price than before," the elderly clerk said, his voice calm.
"Alright," Luciel nodded, accepting the payment for the last batch of potions, along with three bottles of magic potions—intermediate strength, speed, and physique. He agreed to the deal and left the shop.
As soon as he stepped outside, his expression darkened.
Shelley Pharmacy... I won't be coming back for a while.
He had no doubt that his optimized low-level power potion had caught the attention of some important figures, and they probably knew everything about him by now. He wasn't sure if his lie about being Giles' disciple had been exposed yet, but one thing was clear—he needed to lay low for a while.
Since he was an official student at Orland Knight Academy, they couldn't harm him as long as he stayed inside the academy's walls.
Luciel made up his mind to avoid the limelight and left in haste.
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As Luciel left, the middle-aged nobleman stepped out of the shop behind him.
"Very calm, intelligent, and vigilant…" The nobleman smiled. "I like this kid."
The butler replied with a note of approval, "And it seems he recognized my identity. He doesn't seem like a typical 16-year-old from a small noble family."
The nobleman looked thoughtful. "Three years at school with no special achievements, until recently when he suddenly became a standout with a double-excellent evaluation. And the new types of magic potions. Do you think a 16-year-old could achieve all that?"
"My lord, what do you mean?"
The nobleman's eyes gleamed with insight. "Behind him, there must be a great powerhouse. A mediocre talent who becomes a genius knight, and a master of magic pharmacy. A person whose achievements could rival, or even surpass, Giles."
He paused for a moment, then added, "It might even be… the existence of a Great Magister."
The old butler trembled, his face registering shock. "What?!"
The nobleman's speculation was incredible. "How many strong masters are there in the Kingdom of Ryan? And one of them is behind this young man?"
The butler was stunned, but the nobleman waved a hand dismissively.
"It's just a guess. But there's no harm in beingfriend him first. It's always best to act first."
The nobleman turned to the butler. "He has a sister at the Magic Academy, doesn't he?"
"Yes, and she's a magic genius."
"Send someone to befriend her and offer her as much help as possible. It's not easy for a small noble family to support two children at Orland Academy. I'm sure this little magic genius will be in need of gold…"
"Understood."
The nobleman thought for a moment and then said, "As for Luciel… let's not rush things. If we act too obviously, we might scare him off."
He smiled slightly, recalling Luciel's earlier behavior. "He's like a rabbit; if we act too boldly, we might just scare him away."
The butler nodded respectfully. "Yes, my lord."
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