As Shade examined the manuscript, the witch continued:
"The original Steam Engine design in Baron Ramsay's possession will have to wait until tomorrow night's Charity Banquet before we can ask him about it. As for the 1688 edition of the Southern Continent Rare Plants Illustrated Guide at Candlekeep Library, I've already looked into it.
Yesterday, I said that you could only obtain that book through the Candlekeep Society, a joint organization formed by multiple Ring Arcanist groups. But I found that this illustrated guide is not owned by Candlekeep Library. Rather, someone who holds ownership of the library granted it the right to exhibit the book. If you want it, you don't actually need Candlekeep Library's permission. You only need to obtain permission from the guide's owner."
The fact that Old Mr. Laibury had failed to uncover this after so many years was enough to demonstrate this witch's local influence.
"Who does the guide belong to?"
Seeing how concerned Shade looked, the witch smiled again. She continued sipping her tea as the effects of the three drops of Blood Brew took hold:
"It belongs to a highly respected old scholar in the area. He is a botanist who has cultivated many rare flowers locally. I heard that over the past two years, he has been collecting seed samples of plants from all over the world. It seems he wants to build his own museum. Though he is an ordinary person, he has connections with the Candlekeep Society, which is why I was able to find him.
"I've already sent him a letter and arranged to meet him at Candlekeep Library this afternoon. I'll go with you then. I'll exchange some other manuscripts from my family collection with him. I don't think he'll refuse the deal."
Shade immediately thanked her, thinking