Trust

"Finally finished..."

At noon, after working all morning, Isaac let out a long breath. With his hands on his hips, he looked at the three bright-red potions on the table beside the crucible, his heart filled with accomplishment.

The market price of one Blood Essence Potion was 100 Gold Coins, while the cost was 30 Gold Coins. The extra Silver Moon Grass was practically negligible, meaning he could net 70 Gold Coins from every bottle of Blood Essence Potion!

Getting rich was just around the corner!

"Grrr..."

"Jeez." Hearing his stomach growl, Isaac shook his head. He picked up a potion and headed outside. Food first.

"Is lunch ready?" Stepping out of the room, Isaac asked Smith, who had been standing guard outside the door.

"It is, Young Master. Today, I prepared your favorite Roasted Chicken and Faron's Exquisite Cake."

"You went into town? Oh, right, you had to recruit Goblin Slayers." Isaac suddenly understood, then asked, "Did the recruitment go smoothly?"

Smith sighed softly. "Very smoothly. After I paid, William told me to come back and wait. He said the Goblin Slayers would arrive tomorrow."

Isaac frowned at that. William was the governor of Fisrui, the town closest to the manor. As one of only two potion-growing towns in Solomon Territory, it could not possibly lack money. Let alone five Gold Coins, even spending fifty Gold Coins to hire a squad of Goblin Slayers would have been easy.

Normally, this matter could have been resolved without Isaac needing to get involved, much less pay for it.

"William... I remember he was close to my second brother, wasn't he?" Isaac stopped and turned back to Smith in confusion.

Smith sighed helplessly. "Yes. William used to be the Second Young Master's knight."

Isaac shook his head. That explained things. Although he still did not know what his second brother wanted, it was probably just another struggle for power and profit. As the second son, he had a chance to compete for the inheritance.

But in Isaac's view, it was only a chance. Their eldest brother was outstanding—exceptionally outstanding!

At only thirty-three, he was already a peak Grand Knight, just one step away from becoming a High Knight!

One had to know that throughout Solomon Territory, only Viscount Solomon was a High Knight!

And his eldest brother was not merely powerful. He was also extremely capable when it came to governing the territory. Against someone like that, how could anyone compete? What could they possibly use to compete?

Yet apparently, his second brother had not admitted defeat. He was preparing to make one last push, and Isaac had gotten caught up in it...

Of course, perhaps he had been dragged into it deliberately.

Who knew?

"Forget it. They're only goblins. With Goblin Slayers helping us search, they shouldn't amount to much. Whatever Second Brother wants to do has nothing to do with me. Uncle Smith, go call Brother Barton. I have something for him."

"Yes." Smith nodded slightly, turned, and left, while Isaac continued toward the dining hall alone.

"Ah... what a mess..." Isaac sighed again and shook his head. He had thought that even after hiding out here, he would escape all this ridiculous trouble...

Fortunately, it would not affect him much. This was a supernatural world, and individual strength was the fundamental factor that decided everything. That was why he thought so highly of his eldest brother, and the same applied to himself.

He had already embarked upon The Wizard's Path. His future was bright. He was no longer the sickly young Solomon master who had been too weak to truss a chicken!

Tossing the potion lightly in his hand, Isaac headed toward the dining hall with brisk steps.

By the time Isaac reached the dining hall, Smith and Barton had already arrived ahead of him and were waiting. Isaac was not surprised in the slightest. One was a Formal Knight, and the other a Quasi-Knight. Neither was ordinary, so it was perfectly normal for them to be faster than him.

After sitting down, Isaac casually slid the Blood Essence Potion across the table until it stopped in front of Barton. He said calmly, "Brother Barton, you've been stuck at the Quasi-Knight stage for many years, haven't you? This is a Blood Essence Potion. Drink it first and see whether it's enough to help you break through. If it isn't, I'll give you more. This is a time when we need strength."

After saying that, Isaac began devouring the Roasted Chicken as if nothing had happened. This was not something he got to eat often. One roasted chicken cost more than a dozen silver coins, and with his finances, he truly could not afford to eat much of it.

But the other two were nowhere near as calm as he was. Smith and Barton both stared wide-eyed at the bright-red potion on the table, especially Barton. He was already in his late thirties, nearly forty. His physical abilities had declined severely, and he had long since lost any hope of advancing further. Otherwise, he would not have come to follow Isaac.

But if he had a Blood Essence Potion...

Then perhaps he could still make one last attempt!

The thought made Barton's heart burn!

Compared to his son Barton, Smith was even more shocked. As Isaac's chief steward, he knew perfectly well that before coming here, the Young Master had not bought any potions. He had only purchased enough ingredients for three Blood Essence Potions. So this could only have been made just now—but how was that possible?!

He had only become a wizard yesterday!

"Young Master, did you... make this?" Smith asked cautiously.

"Yes, so drink it. In this manor, only you and Brother Barton are close to me. Naturally, good things go to you first." After saying that, Isaac continued wolfing down the Roasted Chicken.

Once he finished eating, he needed to make a trip to the Cottage in the Woods and find out what exactly was going on there. He had originally planned to learn the Three Basic Arcane Spells before going, but plans could not keep up with changes. A goblin had appeared out of nowhere...

The manor's defenses were sufficient, but what if something happened?

Although he had become a Formal Wizard and awakened Talent Wizardry, his combat strength was actually rather average. He only hoped the Cottage in the Woods could bring him some good news.

"Young Master Isaac, this is too precious. I can't accept it!" On the other side, Barton pushed the Blood Essence Potion away with a conflicted expression, politely declining Isaac's offer.

He wanted it badly, but he also understood Isaac's current situation. Rather than giving it to an old worthless man like him, with no future ahead, it would be better to give it to someone younger and more talented. That would offer the greatest value.

"Enough. We've known each other for so many years. Why are you still being polite with me? Take it. It's only a potion." Isaac looked at Barton helplessly.

How could he not know that giving it to Barton offered poor value?

The problem was that he could only give it to Barton. He had brought only twelve people from home, and the only ones he could trust were Smith and his son. Smith was older and already a knight, so the potion's effects would be extremely limited. As for the others, Isaac did not trust them at all.

Loyalty was not something that could be cultivated in a day or two.

So, in comparison, the utterly loyal father and son were more worthy of nurturing. They were only a few potions, after all. To him, they were nothing worth mentioning.

"Th-this... thank you, Young Master Isaac!" Barton looked at Isaac with emotion. Excitedly, he dropped to one knee before him and pressed his right hand over his chest, too overwhelmed to speak.

This was a knight's oath of loyalty.

Isaac shook his head, swallowed the last bite of cake, then rose to his feet and left the dining hall without looking back.

"Smith, I have something to do outside. Leave Brother Barton in your care. Don't follow me."