Side Story: Feather and Zhen Poison (10)

On the other hand, it is considered from the perspective of the entire Plundering Clock organization.

As outposts for interdimensional invasion, they face difficulties in replenishing their personnel and must keep a low profile and act cautiously.

Once the attention of powerful forces is attracted, the advantages of developing covertly will disappear.

Death Knell understood these principles and intended to follow them wholeheartedly.

Upon hearing this, Jasho breathed a slight sigh of relief.

"Can you make a large number of guests at this banquet that Janet mentioned feel unwell?" Death Knell asked.

"It's difficult, but we can find a way," Jasho replied thoughtfully.

"With a widespread outbreak of illness at the banquet, if Saimusi is truly in the palace, he'll likely be dispatched," said the Death Knell, revealing her plan. "This method is far safer than us searching aimlessly like headless flies."

Jasho had to admit that it was indeed a viable strategy.

He began to seriously consider how to achieve this.

****

The Crown Prince's Palace.

Inside the room, in front of a huge floor-length mirror.

With two days to go before the banquet, the tailors finally finished making Chloe's banquet dress.

With the help of her maid, she changed into this midnight blue dress.

High-waisted and fitted, the skirt drapes to the floor with a slight train.

There are no exaggerated crinolines, nor are they the kind of flamboyant puffy skirts; instead, they feature more slender and elegant courtly lines.

"Excellent, Your Majesty!"

Janet clapped her hands, her expression light and cheerful, just like a good sister who was genuinely happy for her brother's marriage.

The tailor lady stepped forward, carefully measured several places that didn't fit properly, and skillfully marked them.

The maids then lowered the curtain and began to help Chloe remove her gown.

"Brother, I've heard that Queen Casimir is very resentful this time," Janet said to Xialike.

"Isn't this just common sense?" Xialike said calmly.

"Father is already very dissatisfied with her. Hopefully, she won't cause any more trouble this time," Janet said.

However, secretly she was gloating.

Casimir's antics against Xialike always end up hurting those on his side.

They can simply sit back and reap the benefits.

Janet also noticed that both Xialike and Chloe seemed preoccupied, their expressions revealing a deep and unconcealed sadness.

"I brought a snack for my sister-in-law."

She gestured to her maid Lilishan, and handed her the dessert that had just been packed from the restaurant.

"I'll come see you again before the banquet the day after tomorrow."

Janet then tactfully took her leave.

"Take care on your journey," Xialike said.

****

The seamstress bowed and withdrew to alter some details on the dress.

Chloe raised her hand, signaling the maids to leave as well.

The door closed, leaving only her and Xialike in the room.

"Why did you choose such a dark color?" Xialike asked. "Don't you prefer lighter colors?"

Although this banquet was destined to be unpleasant, when it comes to clothes, one should always choose what makes them happy.

"The lighter-colored ones are stained with blood, that's troublesome."

Chloe answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world, without even changing her expression.

After listening, Xialike let out a long sigh.

Once he decided to cut off the flow of the poisonous Pea and secretly release the antidote, there was no turning back.

"Have you thought about your plan?" he asked.

For the past few days, they have been investigating various details.

A plan had just taken shape when it was overturned by new problems.

This process is repeated.

"I've roughly figured out the plan," Chloe said, "But there are too many variables. Maybe—we have a fifty-fifty chance."

Her tone was uncertain.

"A crown prince with no real power, exchanged for an emperor of the empire." A slight smirk played on Xialike's lips. "A 50/50 split is already a very good deal."

A maid knocked on the door.

"Your Highness, Scholar Simmillai has come to pay a visit."

"Please invite him to the reception room!" Chloe called out.

After the maid left, she turned to Xialike and explained.

"This is a teacher I invited from the White Tower Medical College, who once taught Queen Yu Yao."

"Was it recommended by the Queen?" Xialike asked.

Chloe nodded.

"Right."

"She said if we encountered any problems with poisons, we could consult Simmillay."

"Perfect timing, it's one of the key things we need to complete our plan."

1

Chloe's eyes sharpened.

"It's all about this teacher, Simmilla!"

****

The three people took their seats in the reception room.

Simmillai was around sixty years old and had a kind face.

At first glance, the gentle and kind temperament of a doctor and teacher is fully embodied in him.

To Xialike's surprise, Chloe, without even having a maid serve her tea, immediately revealed the whole story about the "Formless Poison" as soon as she sat down.

They even revealed without reservation that Emperor Lorenzo was trying to use this opportunity to restart the Battle of the Plain of Despair.

Before Xinmilai could recover from the joy of "meeting the Crown Prince and his fiancée," she was struck down by these heavy blows, leaving her stunned on the spot.

He suddenly looked toward the door to the reception room.

Meiwu'er was standing there, a kind smile on his face, but his hand was firmly on the hilt of his sword.

"Aaaaaah!"

Simmilai clutched her head and screamed, completely losing her previously composed demeanor.

"You're telling me all this because you never intended for this old man to leave alive!"

"Queen Yu Yao said you are a scholar with a strong sense of justice," Chloe said calmly, "And worthy of our complete trust."

"Wasn't it because she took the blame for me back then!"

Simmillai cried out in grief and indignation.

"The two of us were researching the poisons, but Yu Yao took on everything herself!"

"But back then, whether she covered for me or not, the consequence was still being expelled."

She was just helping me out of convenience.

"But now, this is a death sentence for me!"

Xialike and Chloe exchanged a glance.

"I never imagined that the great physician, Mr. Simmillai, would have such a hobby of researching poisons."

"Medicine and poison are inherently intertwined," Simmilai retorted.

He then sighed and began to recount what had happened back then.

"My research focuses on how to improve the resistance of living organisms to toxins, but I have repeatedly encountered setbacks."

"Yu Yao suggested we do the opposite: first try to destroy the creature's own resistance, find out exactly where the problem lies, and then study how to improve it."

We hit it off immediately.

Meiwu'er couldn't help but add, "In cahoots."

Simmilai ignored him.

"To be honest, we have made many discoveries and progress, and we are expected to open up a new field."

Unfortunately, a carelessness led to the exposure of this matter.

"You all know what happened next."

"In short—" Xialike began, "If His Majesty Lorenzo knew that you were also involved in the initial research on the 'Phantom of the Formless,' do you know what the outcome would be?"

"His Majesty will certainly treat me with courtesy and regard me as an honored guest."

Simmilai gave a bitter smile.

"After you've done this, you can silence me and leave no trace of my body!"

Lorenzo did not allow uncontrollable factors to remain.

"Professor Simmilla," Chloe said, puzzled, "If you really don't want to die, there are ways. For example, you could completely side with Lorenzo. Of course, that would mean losing a lot of freedom."

Simmilai could only manage a wry smile upon hearing this.

"Your Majesty, a year ago you sent people to White Tower Academy to inquire about Yu Yao's affairs from back then." But I lied and claimed to know nothing.

Chloe shrugged, completely honest.

"----Then you're dead."

"Nonsense!" Simmilai glared. "The crime of deceiving the emperor and delaying His Majesty's great conquest—how could I possibly survive!"

"It seems everyone has reached a high degree of consensus on Emperor Lorenzo's style of doing things." Xialike couldn't help but smile.

"Yu Yao is absolutely certain. I don't dare to report you; I'd be forced to join you."

As she was talking, Simmilai slammed her head against the back of the sofa in frustration.

Why am I such a rational person?

"I really envy you two, master and apprentice," Chloe smiled. "You know each other so well, you know each other inside and out."

"If I may be so bold as to ask, who is Your Highness the Crown Princess's teacher?" Simmilai asked.

"My first teacher was Bay Owl, and my nominal mentor was a Beckmann scholar."

Upon hearing this, Simmilai's expression froze.

Scholar Bay Owl, nicknamed Belladonna.

To have been mentored by that person and yet not gone astray, Chloe's talent and resilience are truly astonishing.

As for the other Beckmann, he's even more of a heavyweight.

"Is this Beckmann scholar a coincidence, or...?" Simmille couldn't help but ask to confirm.

"It's not a coincidence of names," Chloe smiled. "It's the Scholar Albatross himself."

Simmillay had no chance of survival.

He looked Chloe up and down, his eyes filled with amazement.

"Beckmann had six apprentices, all of whom he killed with his own hands."

"There's even a seventh one—and he's still alive!"

When Chloe first learned of this, she was so shocked she couldn't close her mouth.

The Bay Owl dared to leave her with Beckmann; it truly wasn't afraid she'd die young.

Unfortunately, Mr. Beckmann passed away not long after.

She never had the chance to find out the secrets behind it.

"If I happen to achieve something in the future," Chloe said softly, "I will vindicate my master."

****

That's all for now.

Chloe reveals her true purpose in seeking out Simmilla.

On the one hand, there is the search for an antidote to "the poison of no form".

The antidote they currently possess can only neutralize the "Formless Poison" mixed into the dried Pea.

There is currently no cure for those who have already been poisoned.

Simmillay Great Scholar have made profound contributions to this related field.

"However, our most urgent task is to develop a poison," Chloe said calmly, "The kind that can kill Emperor Lorenzo."

Although Similai was somewhat prepared, she still couldn't help but sigh again upon hearing this.

"If I were to be executed by His Majesty now, I would not be so unjust as to say that I have done so."

2

"But what if we allow the 'Formless Poison' to appear in the world in this way?"

His gaze gradually sharpened.

"Then Yu Yao and I will be forever nailed to the pillar of shame!"

The truth about the "Formless Poison" will eventually be revealed, or it will be uncovered by future generations through meticulous investigation.

Regardless of what Xinmilai and Yu Yao's original intentions were, later generations, when reviewing history books, will only curse these two vicious instigators.

On the contrary, poisoning the emperor didn't earn him any infamy.

Simmillay began by discussing matters related to her profession.

"Making a drug that can kill people is very easy."

The difficulty lies in not being discovered.

"The more potent the toxin, the easier it is to identify its signature."

"Then it is added to the identification sequence of the toxin identification spell."

"Not to mention the emperor, even the poison examiners serving ordinary nobles are a difficult obstacle to overcome."

Chloe pulled out a green alchemical spellbook, opened it, and found it filled with runes, recording poison identification sequences.

"This is the latest version of the verification book."

Approximately 432 common toxins can be detected.

Simmilai glanced at it.

"But this is just the standard version."

"The secret files in the hands of the court examiners contained even more. Many rare poisons, and even substances with low toxicity, were included."

"Their surgical sequence one"

After a moment's thought, Simmillai gave an estimate.

There should be around a thousand.

Chloe recalled the experienced poison examiner she had met with Lorenzo the day before yesterday, mentally assessing the examiner's skill level and time commitment to arrive at more accurate data.

"The one next to Lorenzo has a recognition range of around 1,400."

Upon hearing this, Simmilai hesitated visibly for a moment before smiling wryly and saying, "In short, relying on conventional poisons is impossible."

"So—" Chloe looked at him, "What exactly is this 'Seven Absolutes' that Queen Yu Yao sent me to ask you?"

A hint of reminiscence crossed Simmill's expression.

"That was an exploratory study that Yu Yao and I did back then."

"She came up with a way to bypass toxicologist testing—incomplete poison."

Do you have an alchemy workshop here?

"I'll demonstrate it to you."

Chloe nodded.

The four left the reception room and went to the next room.

Simmillai first took a small amount of baking soda, prepared a solution, and poured it into a test tube.

He picked up another test tube, added a small amount of magnesium sulfate, and prepared a solution in the same way.

Afterward, Simmillai engraved complex runes on the outer walls of the two test tubes.

A faint glow appeared, and subtle Magic Power slowly seeped into the two liquids.

Then, he carefully poured the baking soda solution from one test tube into another test tube containing magnesium sulfate.

As the liquids mingled, the runes engraved on the outer wall shifted and overlapped, eventually coalescing into a more complex, two-colored magic array.

Simmire lifted the test tube, gently shook it, and a slight smile appeared on her lips.

"Not bad, you succeeded on the first try."

When baking soda is mixed with magnesium sulfate, magnesium carbonate is formed.

This simple chemical reaction is considered basic common sense by alchemists.

Chloe looked at the still clear and unchanged liquid in the test tube and guessed the key.

"You used magic to separate them?"

Simmillay nodded.

"The two liquids have in fact mixed together and can be locked into being incompatible,"

"No response occurred."

"Interesting, this counts as a second masterpiece?" Chloe said.

"That's how I understand it," Simmilla replied.