The Test Subject Was Found

Knock, knock, knock. It was time for Joseph to report on his work to Drew again.

Drew opened the door and listened to Joseph's report.

As he wrapped up, Joseph said, "The students are all making good progress.

At the first exam we held, one student scored full marks.

But he has made a request."

"What request?"

"He wants to learn alchemy from you."

"Who?" Drew's heart stirred. He guessed who had made the request, but still wanted to confirm.

"Nelson Eddie."

"Fine. Tell him to come see me tomorrow." Drew had guessed correctly. As it happened, he'd been planning to seek Nelson out himself.

Nelson was the perfect candidate for testing the Perfect Healing Potion. The fact that he had a talent for magic meant his body could adapt to magical energy.

But he hadn't begun training yet, so his body was still that of an ordinary person. He was the ideal candidate.

Drew pretended to consider it. He didn't say whether he agreed or not, only telling Joseph to have Nelson Eddie come see him tomorrow.

"All right. I'll bring him here after class tomorrow."

The next day, Nelson Eddie and Joseph arrived at Drew's place right on time.

After bringing Nelson Eddie to Drew's quarters, Joseph left, leaving Nelson alone to face Drew.

While Joseph spoke with Drew, Nelson Eddie took a look around his quarters. It was basic instinct for a successful businessman.

Drew's quarters were very simple. There was only an Alchemy Laboratory and a storeroom—not even a bedroom or a bed.

Nelson Eddie was wondering where Drew slept when Joseph had already left.

"Do you know why I asked you here today?"

"It's about my request to learn alchemy from you, isn't it? May I ask what your conditions are?"

"How did you know I had conditions?"

"If you'd refused, you wouldn't have asked me here today.

If you'd agreed, you wouldn't be asking me this way just to test my talent for alchemy.

So you must have some conditions.

Besides, I don't believe anything in this world comes for free.

If you want something, you have to give something in return." As a successful businessman, Nelson Eddie had a good eye for these things.

"I do have one condition.

I'm conducting an alchemical experiment and need a suitable test subject.

If you're willing to cooperate, I can test your talent for alchemy. If you pass, I'll teach you." Drew stated his condition outright.

Hearing Drew's terms, Nelson Eddie hesitated.

Any experiment carried some risk. In return for taking that risk, all he would get was an opportunity—and there was no guarantee he would succeed.

The risk and reward were clearly out of balance. As a businessman, he would normally have turned down an offer like this.

Businessmen valued profit. Something that demanded a lot but offered little wasn't worth considering.

But now, as someone with a chance to enter the world of magic, this was an opportunity.

He was willing to pay a much higher price for it.

After all, because of his age, no one was willing to teach him.

And learning magic on his own, without anyone to guide him, would be incredibly difficult.

Even Thomas, a brilliant talent, had made little progress after losing his master's guidance.

So he had to seize every opportunity, no matter the cost.

Having made up his mind, Nelson Eddie looked up at Drew and asked, "May I know what kind of experiment it is?"

"Do you know about Healing Potions?" Drew was pleased with Nelson Eddie's choice, so he answered.

"I used to work in that field, so I know about common potions like Healing Potions."

"This experiment is about Healing Potions. I've made a new kind of Healing Potion and want to give it to an ordinary person.

But I'm worried an ordinary person might not be able to withstand its effects.

Someone in your situation would be much more suitable. I need you to drink the potion and tell me how you feel."

"No problem. I'll take part in the experiment.

If it's just a Healing Potion, there shouldn't be much danger.

As far as I know, if an ordinary person accidentally drinks a Healing Potion, they'll be fine as long as they can find a Priest who can cast the Divine Healing Spell in time.

And you said my circumstances are special, making me a better candidate than an ordinary person.

So if we have a Priest on standby beforehand, there'll be almost no risk." Nelson Eddie agreed to participate and even offered a good suggestion.

"Good. I'll have Joseph contact a Priest at the Moonbrook church. Once that's arranged, we'll conduct the experiment.

Don't rush, either. It's best to conduct the experiment while you're still an ordinary person.

So you can't come into contact with magical energy just yet. Once the experiment succeeds, I'll teach you not only alchemy but magic as well.

And if you have the talent, I'll take you on as my disciple." Nelson Eddie's cooperation made Drew very happy, so he offered him even better terms.

Nelson Eddie was overjoyed. Becoming Master Drew's disciple was something so many people dreamed of.

If such good fortune really landed in his lap, he would rise to greatness overnight.

Even Joseph, an intermediate-class professional, was only Drew's follower. A disciple clearly held a higher status than a follower.

Nelson Eddie couldn't sleep that night. It was rare for a middle-aged man who had seen so much of the world to lie awake like that, which showed just how excited he was.

Drew had mentioned a place earlier: Moonbrook.

Anyone who'd played Warcraft back in the day would know the place. Moonbrook was best known for the Deadmines, its lowest-level dungeon. It was where the Defias Brotherhood gathered.

Of course, the Defias Brotherhood didn't exist yet. Moonbrook was still a peaceful, prosperous town.

The Defias wouldn't appear for decades. And Drew knew how to prevent that tragic group from ever forming.

Moonbrook was the large town nearest to Lincoln Town, the place that had been mentioned repeatedly before.

Drew had only learned its name and discovered where he was when he went to collect a bounty the last time.

Moonbrook was in Westfall, not far from Stormwind City, the capital of the Kingdom of Stormwind.

The Defias Brotherhood had come into being because the craftsmen who rebuilt Stormwind hadn't been paid what they were owed. Later, they attacked the king, leading to the queen's death.

Preventing the organization from forming would be simple: just make sure they got paid. Better yet, if he could organize the Orcs' invasion and stop Stormwind from being destroyed, that would be even better.

But that was getting off track. Those events were still far in the future and weren't something he needed to consider right now.

The first priority was to have Joseph contact a Priest at the Moonbrook church who could cast the Divine Healing Spell, then arrange a time for the experiment.

Drew had originally planned to ask Nelson Eddie to tell Joseph to handle it.

But Nelson Eddie volunteered to take care of it himself.

He said he knew Pastor John at the Moonbrook church. Pastor John was a devout Priest, an intermediate-class one who could cast the Divine Healing Spell.

Drew had originally wanted to find a novice Priest, but he hadn't expected Nelson Eddie to know an intermediate-class Priest. That was even better.

Priests were much rarer than mages.

Drew was puzzled. How did an ordinary person like Nelson Eddie know someone like that?

Nelson Eddie explained that, as a businessman, he couldn't afford to neglect charity. For an ordinary person, it was an excellent form of protection.

Nelson Eddie often donated to the church and was a well-known worshipper. Pastor John, the person in charge of the Moonbrook church, thought highly of him.

That made things easier. Nelson Eddie said he'd take care of it as soon as he got back, then took his leave.