Fate Potion

Faced with the threat of death, he was agitated and spoke with absolute certainty, not looking at all like he was lying.

So the original owner had not died because of that bottle of potion?

Lynn hesitated for a moment, then said sternly, "You're a spellcaster too, right? Swear it. Prove to me that everything you just said was true."

The bat's face twisted somewhat, but seeing that things had taken a turn, he could only let out a cold snort and struggle to raise his right claw.

"By magic above, by Brown Star above, who governs the fate of all living beings, I, Carlisle Reed, swear that everything I just said was the truth."

Only then did Lynn nod in satisfaction.

Swearing to "Brown Star" in this world really was useful.

"Let me go! Why should I be grabbed by a man like you?"

The instant Lynn loosened his grip, he darted behind the changing screen in the hotel room.

Gray smoke spread out, and when he walked out from behind the screen again, he had become a young man in formal attire, with black hair and red eyes.

He was indeed handsome, with pale skin and sharply defined features, yet there was also a trace of androgynous softness about him.

The vampires of this world did not seem to count as an evil race. Because they needed to drink fresh blood often, they liked to live among humanoid races, obtaining food through trade... Lynn quickly recalled.

Carlisle gritted his teeth and glared viciously at Lynn, seeming not yet freed from the anger of having been misunderstood and coerced just now.

But when his gaze fell on the half-standby Frost Ring beside Lynn, and the dangerous cold gleam it gave off, he immediately shuddered and used the motion of straightening his collar to avert his eyes.

"Where's the potion?"

Seeing Lynn reach out toward him, Carlisle frowned, some confusion in his red eyes.

"Didn't I already pay the deposit? Otherwise, you wouldn't have come knocking on my window in the middle of the night. I have to say, you're pretty good at keeping your word."

Although there was a blank in his memory, from Carlisle's account and the note tucked inside the book as corroboration, Lynn could easily guess that the original owner must have, while "high on potions," secretly contacted Carlisle's "contact" again to buy another potion and paid a deposit in advance.

Only, there was clearly no discount to enjoy for the second purchase.

Carlisle proudly lifted his chin. "Of course. I'm the most trustworthy potion merchant in all of Roan City!"

As he spoke, he reached toward his waist, then looked at Lynn with a strange expression and said, "Weren't you just saying your friend dropped dead after drinking my potion? You really are a liar. Don't tell me you're trying to take the chance to haggle..."

His voice was very low for the second half, but that did not stop Lynn from hearing it clearly.

The Frost Ring was instantly set beside his neck.

"Stop dawdling. Take out the potion."

Carlisle's already pale face turned even whiter at once, and he tremblingly handed the potion bottle to him.

But his mouth was still muttering, "Y-you look just like those addicts who get high on Silaman Grass! Strange, my potion doesn't make people addicted..."

Lynn took the so-called potion where "angel and devil coexist" and held it before his eyes, examining it carefully.

This was a bottle of potion that looked strange at a glance. Through the glass bottle, all sorts of colors had condensed into a cloudy mass, and they were constantly changing.

It was hard to say exactly what colors you saw.

Lynn wanted to open the stopper and smell it, but Carlisle immediately stopped him.

"You can't open it casually. Once opened, you have to drink it within a short time, or the potion will lose effect!"

Keeping his expression blank, Lynn asked directly, "What materials did you use to make this potion?"

Because of the threat of the Frost Ring close at hand, his demeanor seemed extremely oppressive.

Carlisle was clearly somewhat angry, but he restrained his fury and explained patiently, "That's a trade secret. How could I possibly tell you? Besides, I've already sworn that I absolutely can't say..."

He glanced at the potion in Lynn's hand and continued, "I can guarantee to you that the materials I used were all proper, safe, and met the standards of the Potion Making Standards!

"Originally, its effects would have been even more uncontrollable, but under the careful optimization of the genius pharmacist Carlisle," he lifted his chin and patted his own chest, "its negative effects have been kept within an acceptable range. Correspondingly, however, its positive effects have also weakened quite a bit."

Lynn remembered what he had said earlier. "A one-in-two chance. If it succeeds, you make a killing!"

"What positive effects are there?"

Seeing that the topic had finally moved in a normal direction, Carlisle relaxed a great deal and introduced them with considerable interest:

"There are quite a lot. For example, for a period of time, you'll gain a unique charm that lets you win every battle when interacting with the opposite sex. It's worth mentioning that the corresponding negative effect is gaining an intense attraction to the same sex...

"Another example: you can temporarily obtain a marvelous ability, and it just so happens to help you solve the difficulty before your eyes. Even more than that, if your luck is good enough, after drinking this bottle of potion, you can permanently improve some aspect of your abilities—and it'll be the aspect you need more!"

Permanent improvement!? The positive effect of this potion is actually that heaven-defying? But the upper and lower limits seem pretty far apart...

Lynn was astonished inwardly, but on the surface, he only looked calmly at Carlisle. He discovered that as long as he did not interrupt, this guy could keep talking forever.

"Moreover, after the improvements made by a genius pharmacist, namely me, the 'Fate Potion' gained a subversive innovation—

"If you drink it and obtain a negative effect, then within one month, the next Fate Potion you drink will definitely have a positive effect!"

He seemed to have already forgotten the Frost Ring right at his throat, and his whole person became immensely smug as he said to Lynn, "Because of that, the price for consecutive purchases within one month has to be doubled! For a potion this good, I can only make three bottles at most in a month! And that's only under extremely good luck! Charging you 3 gold coins isn't too much, right?"

"3 gold coins?" Lynn nearly failed to control his expression. Right now, his entire fortune was only a little over 2 gold coins!

Carlisle reached out to him and said with an expression that clearly said "selling it to you at this price is practically giving it away for free," "Bookworm, you paid a deposit of 1 gold coin. There are still 2 gold coins left."

"..."

Lynn silently put away the potion, then, under Carlisle's shocked gaze, gently pushed his hand aside.

"My name is Lynn Lowell. You keep calling yourself a noble Bloodline, yet you don't even understand basic social etiquette?"

Carlisle's expression stiffened at that. Bloodlines had always taken pride in their lineage and status, and he had not expected Lynn to attack him on that point.

Before the other man could react, Lynn pressed the assault, his voice icy.

"The friend I mentioned earlier suffered a mishap precisely after drinking your potion and falling into a state of mental derangement."

"So, it is an undeniable fact that you indirectly killed that friend of mine, Mr. Carlisle. What do you think would happen if I reported this, along with your private sale of counterfeit medicine, to the authorities? Mr. Barton of the Magic Association is someone who can't tolerate so much as a grain of sand in his eye."

Carlisle's face turned extremely ugly, especially after he heard Barton's name, as if something unpleasant had suddenly come to mind.

"What I sold clearly wasn't counterfeit medicine. I already explained so much to you. You should understand that. It was the 'Fate Potion,' a miraculous medicine!"

Lynn's expression softened a little, his tone carrying a trace of regret. "Mr. Carlisle, of course I'm willing to believe you. Unfortunately, I don't have that chance.

"Why don't we take this bottle of potion you brought today as evidence? If the facts are truly as you say, not only will the misunderstanding between us be resolved, I'll even help you bring in other clients.

"For example, the daughter of Roan City's lord, Miss Elaine of the Frey Family."