Chapter 142
The appeal of Yan’s proposal stirred both nobles and trainees within the training grounds. Their murmurs filled the air.
“Is that even possible?”
“Handing out elixirs like that? And working for just three years?”
Socheong’s words contained two key points:
Abundant Elixir: An elixir substantial enough to last a lifetime.
Freedom After Three Years: The promise that they could leave as they pleased after three years.
Certain nobles furrowed their brows. It defied their common sense.
Where would Yan find the resources to gather so many elixirs? And how would they compensate for the loss if trainees left after three years?
The high-ranking officers, standing alongside the nobles, observed Yan’s actions with keen interest. Unlike the nobles, they had little to lose even if they couldn’t recruit talented individuals.
And then it happened.
Merriott, a visitor from the southern dukedom, raised his hand with a cold expression. “Forgive me, but your words are hard to believe. Even the trainees find it difficult. Can you provide proof?”
Elixirs were treated as treasures, each one rare and valuable. To offer such an elixir in exchange for a mere three years of service seemed impossible by Merriott’s standards.
Yan, standing on the dais, met Merriott’s gaze. A faint smile played on his lips—a smile inappropriate for someone backed into a corner.
“Caught you,” Yan thought.
His ambiguous conditions were all bait, designed to lead to this very situation. Yan cleared his throat and addressed the assembly.
“How can I prove my words?”
Merriott responded with a straightforward solution. “Demonstrate the existence of such an elixir. If that’s proven, then the other conditions will naturally apply.”
The nobles concurred with Merriott’s pragmatic approach. “Exactly. To offer such a precious elixir—unbelievable!”
“Let’s verify it now!”
As the nobles’ voices grew louder, Damian, who had been observing from a distance, stepped forward. “Considering the debate revolves around whether the conditions are true or false, let’s focus on that.”
Merriott nodded. “Agreed.”
Damian continued, “Then, Lord Yan, as the sole disciple of the Special Commander, would you be willing to test this elixir? If it’s genuine, the other conditions will naturally follow.”
Yan raised an eyebrow. “Certainly.”
From his pocket, Yan produced a leather pouch. The sound of clinking beads echoed as he retrieved a handful of violet-colored orbs.
“Behold,” Yan declared, “this is the elixir I spoke of.”
The nobles erupted into chaos. They questioned its authenticity, accusing Yan of mocking them.
But these beads, unlike typical elixirs, failed to evoke any extraordinary sensations. They appeared no different from common trinkets sold in markets.
Undeterred by the fierce criticism, Yan maintained his composure. “Special Commander, would you care to sample one? Confirm whether it truly is an elixir or not.”
Damian’s eyes widened. Yet, instead of reaching for the beads, he hesitated.
Merriott seized the opportunity. “You are the Special Commander’s sole disciple. Even if the Special Commander himself confirms it, misunderstandings may still arise.”
Damian halted mid-motion. Then, with a wry smile, he asked, “Do you doubt me? That I’d cover up my disciple’s lies?”
“It’s merely a possibility,” Merriott replied.
“Only a possibility?” Damian’s and Merriott’s exchange created an intriguing tension.
Within the training grounds, silence settled—a pause in the battle of wills between third-stage cultivators.
Breaking the silence, Yan grinned at Merriott. “Why complicate matters? Just have Merriott try it. Must we make this harder than necessary?”
Merriott’s brow furrowed. He hadn’t expected Yan to be so forthright.
“Perhaps,” Merriott wondered, “does he believe Prince Hwang and the Special Commander will resolve this?”
Merriott could not voice his doubts. There was no evidence yet of Yan’s deceitful proposition. Verification was essential.
After organizing his thoughts, Merriott nodded.
“There’s no need for that. Since you’ve permitted it, I shall verify it myself.”
The nobles snickered, anticipating Yan’s impending humiliation, while the trainees, unable to foresee the outcome, could only swallow their anxiety.
Merriott rose from his seat among the distinguished guests and approached the podium where Yan stood.
As he reached Yan, Merriott whispered a piece of advice.
“If this is a falsehood, you can still retract your claim. You’ll endure momentary scorn, but at least you won’t bear the full brunt of responsibility. I offer this counsel for the sake of His Highness, the Crown Prince.”
Yan shrugged nonchalantly, pushing forward a handful of what he claimed to be elixirs.
Merriott’s frown deepened as he picked up one of the purple beads and brought it to his mouth.
Crunch. Crunch.
Merriott chewed slowly on the bead Yan had handed him and then swallowed.
His eyes widened in surprise, and he turned to look at Yan with astonishment.
Yan simply continued to smile.
From a distance, Damian asked, “So, Lord Merriott, do you believe that what our guest has presented is indeed an elixir?”
All eyes within the training center were fixed on Merriott’s face, tense with anticipation.
Merriott scanned the crowd, closed his eyes, and sighed deeply.
“…I apologize for the commotion. It is indeed an elixir.”
To his astonishment, it was genuine. As he chewed and swallowed, he felt a minute amount of mana accumulate in his dantian.
Though it was a tiny amount, the undeniable fact was that mana had gathered in his dantian, confirming the substance’s nature as an elixir.
Merriott’s declaration sent another wave of shock through the training center.
They had all seen Yan pull out a pouch full of purple beads earlier.
If all of those were elixirs…
How did he manage to acquire so many?
Speculation ran wild, with some even guessing that Yan might be an imperial bastard, just like Damian.
Yan, facing the astonished expressions of the nobles and trainees, spoke.
“I know you have many questions right now, but it would be absurd to let my actions disrupt the event’s schedule.”
Yan continued with a gentle smile.
“While circumstances prevent me from disclosing much, I can share this much with you.”
The nobles looked at Yan, each wearing a different expression.
Yan took a deep breath and revealed,
“I have discovered a method to mass-produce elixirs.”
* * *
Yan’s declaration, that he had found a way to mass-produce elixirs, hit the assembly like a thunderbolt, leaving the faces of nobles and institution heads ashen.
“Mass-produce elixirs, you say?!”
“Such a thing… Is it even conceivable?!”
Some impetuous nobles, unable to accept the claim, gestured wildly in protest.
The rest began to ponder the implications. If elixirs could indeed be mass-produced, it would cause an uproar not just in the empire, but across the entire continent.
Children, who took time to sense mana, would have their process expedited by consuming elixirs.
Wealthy nobles would lavish their knights with elixirs, bolstering their forces.
Those in power would seek Yan’s favor to acquire these artificial elixirs.
And through such dealings, Yan would amass wealth equivalent to mountains of gold.
Even a cursory thought revealed as much.
And if, just if, one could possess the method to mass-produce elixirs…
Gulp!
Greed began to glimmer in the eyes of some nobles.
At that moment, Hans, seated among the nobility, chuckled and rose to his feet.
“Would you be willing to share some with the Beowulf Duke’s house?”
“Of course. I owe the Duke a great debt, so I’ll ensure a quality supply.”
“Heh, I’ll be looking forward to it.”
Next was Count Zion.
“Listen here, I trust our relationship, but surely you won’t exclude the Zion Duke’s house, right?”
“Ha! Of course not. As long as you pay the price, I’ll supply as much as you need.”
“Ah, much obliged.”
Their conversation caused those harboring greed to abandon their schemes.
With ties to the northern guardian, Duke Beowulf, and the eastern tiger, Count Zion, not to mention the trust of the Crown Prince and the Special Commander, crossing Yan would be akin to stirring a hornet’s nest.
But they were not disheartened.
In their recent exchange, Yan had not said ‘give’ but ‘supply.’
This meant Yan intended to sell the artificial elixirs for money.
Not just the nobles, but the institution heads too looked at Yan with earnest eyes.
If elixirs could be mass-produced, it would greatly benefit their organizations.
With various thoughts in mind, the time for the trainees to make their choices approached.
The instructors began explaining the selection process.
It was simple.
Just approach the faction whose conditions appealed to you from those that had presented earlier.
Representatives from a hundred factions stood on the auditorium stage.
The trainees needed only to line up at their faction of choice.
A buzz started among the trainees.
“Hey, where are you headed?”
“Didn’t you hear what Lord Sun said? He’s offering a chance to board a warship.”
“I’d rather be the head of a snake than the tail of a dragon.”
“Wow, after all the life-and-death situations, you’re choosing a rural lordship?”
As the instructors stepped forward, the commotion among the trainees subsided.
Then, one by one, they began moving towards their chosen factions.
After about an hour, all the trainees had made their selections.
“Ha…”
“As expected.”
“Unbelievable. Has there ever been such a recruitment period?”
“Never.”
The guests chuckled at the revealed outcome.
It was inevitable.
Only three trainees had chosen the faction of Lord Sun, who had offered the most extravagant conditions.
One each for the east and west.
Six for the northern Duke’s house.
Nine for the other nobles and institution heads.
Four decided to stay with the Special Task Force.
And the rest…
“Who would have thought a single noble house would sweep up eighty trainees.”
“If I’d known, I would’ve waited for the next cohort.”
Eighty trainees stood in line before Yan.
Yan looked at the trainees before him and grinned.
“Welcome. Let’s do our best from here on out.”