Chapter 14 - 14. A Bit Of Flattery Sure Opens Up New Doors

"Is there such a thing named 'Axe Oil Medicated Oil'? Does it mean that I had somehow being a bit left behind or something? Tell me what should I do next." Pointus looked at me in exasperation as he thought that his new medication that had not been in circulation yet had been beaten by other Herbalist in other towns.

"Hah hah hah... Don't you worry, Pointus my friend. This medication that you had just shown me would not exist in many years to come. Furthermore, as I've said I had learned botany and herbs and the medication that you had shown me could only be found in places far far away."

"I don't think it would be available anytime soon and I am sure you are not beaten to it. No worries there, my friend. Your fine profession is not threatened in any manner." I joked and laughed at my foolishness when I mentioned the brand of medicated oil from my world.

Anyone who hears it would definitely felt doomed for i am sure they would spend months on how to produce such medications.

Pointus let a long sigh of relief from his lips and sat slumped on his high chair. Beads of cold perspiration had emerged from his forehead and he took a hanky and hurriedly wiped it off.

"Young man, your knowledge seems very vast than mine. You could identify all the herbs that I had planted outside and even could identify the contents of the vial that I had produced to you earlier. You really surprise me and it stumps me indefinitely."

"Where did you learn from?" Pointus asked as he was curious about my background and wanted to perform his probe as much as he could to gather information for his own gain.

"It's a very long story... I used to make extracts to enhance a certain product to improve the everyday lives of the people before. In fact, it was more than 20 kind of extracts and essences from herbs, flowers and resins."

"But due to my prolonged comatose state, I may have killed more than half of my brain cells and I would like to remember all these once again."

I replied truthfully since there would be more herbs and plants to be discovered here in this world. The look of surprise did not leave Pointus the moment I mentioned that I had made 20 extracts and essences to improve the daily lifestyle of the citizens before.

He looked at me from head to toe and there were no signs that I was a Herbalist of some kind except for a small 15 inches long dagger on my left-hand side of my belt. Well, I've got to thank Eko and Fei since they were the ones that had introduced me to the herbs that made the range of scents much more unique.

"Would I be able to read some of your books? There must be some books under your own publication, right? And I am sure that even if you do not take me as an apprentice, you wouldn't mind if I read and refine my knowledge, do you? These books are hard to find and this would pronounce you as the number one Herbalist that the world had ever known."

I added a bit of flattery so that I could flip through and read about all the common plants and herbs that's was being collected in the large book he was poring earlier on when I stepped in.

"Ah, you mean this personal book that I had to add on for my own collection of known herbs and its uses? Here, you can read this book. It doesn't seem like much but I won't mind sharing the world of botany with you."

"It's general knowledge so these herbs are quite common to be found anywhere around this region. You may take a sit there, I won't be expecting much visitors anywhere. I'd be around the back here in case you need me."

Prius handed me the huge book that looked like half the size of a tabloid about an arm's length and as thick as about 6 inches and the moment I held it in both arms as I sat down on a stool at the end of the counter, I received numerous announcements coming at me.

I don't wish to note it all down because it is going to be repetitive and I won't want to receive any bad comments regarding this chapter of mine. Hah hah hah.

*Ding* Congratulations on discovering 'Almanac of Herbs, Rhizomes, Spices and Seeds' by Pointus. Learn?

The moment I muttered "Learn", all the contents with its sample leaves, stems, rhizomes and flowers were learned automatically and it entered my system and in my brain seamlessly.

*Ding* Congratulations on discovering Basic Herbalist Level 0/10 as a profession. You had learned a total of 2000 types of plants and its uses.

*Ding* Congratulations on levelling up. Level 21/100,000. Allocated points +200. Allocate now?

"Oh. My. God...!!! Just by picking this book and discovering 2000 different types of herbs, rhizomes, leaves, stems and seeds would give me a huge jump in my experience level and wow...!!! I've got 10 points for every levelling up. This is 'O U T R A G E O U S' Hah Hah Hah... " I was grinning and was so excited that I nearly fell off the chair.

A venus flytrap sitting in a small clay pot was eyeing me with suspicion as I was whooping in silence and was clenching my fist in triumph. If I am a big fly, that tiny venus flytrap would have swallowed me whole.

"Fuyoo... I can't describe the feeling right now and I could only contain my excitement. Even if its a small progress despite reaching the maximum of 100k levels, at least it is worth it. I didn't know my luck had turned out this way. Woohoo...!!" I clenched my fist once more and punched it in triumphantly as the venus flytrap ignored me and turned its attention to the world outside.

"Haish...if I am this human, I could feast on bugs all day long and not being trapped here in this storefront and being fed only 3 times a day like a human being... Huu Huu Huu." the venus flytrap was contemplating its life stuck in a clay flowerpot instead of being in the ground with the rest of the plant.

"Pointus, I'm done now. I would like to take my leave." I said as I peered over the counter and was handing the book over when he emerged from the back room.

"So fast? Have you finished the whole book? Did you find it boring?" he asked as he adjusted his spectacles on the bridge of his nose and looked at me dumbfounded.

"Yes, thank you so much didn't know that you had a wonderful collection of over 2000 types of herbs and stuff as well as its uses," I said nonchalantly and Pointus can't believe that the young man before him could have read the whole almanack for under 15 minutes.

"What's the herb on listing #83?" he asked and want to find out if I had truly read and understood the whole boring book that he had compiled.

"Herb #83 is Hyssop. A shrub part of the mint family. It could be used as an antiseptic, cough reliever and expectorant. Its extract can be made into a mixture and be taken orally for 3 times a day, 1 tablespoon each for adults and 2 times a day for children. There's no known side effect and its a medication that is good for 3 days." I replied as though I was reading from a script in front of him.

"How about Herb listing #222?" Pointus wouldn't have imagined I had been able to reach that part within 15 minutes.

"Herb #222 is Lovage. It is a perennial plant. The leaves can be used as salads, the roots can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable and the seeds can be used as a spice, like the fennel. The roots can also be used as an aquaretic, for the excretion of water in the body without the electrolyte loss."

"WOW...!!! It is really amazing...!!! I thought you were joking and wanted to drop the book because it bores anyone to read it. Hah Hah Hah... You really are something, young man. I can never place a finger on how to describe you." Pointus remarked in amazement and was putting both his hands on top of his head and was looking squarely at me.

"Young man, I really don't know what else to think or relate to you. But would you like to come in and help me produce some medications for the citizens of Ingmery? I won't be able to offer you much but could we work out 20 credits per day?"

Pointus offered me an opportunity of a lifetime and indeed, at 20 credits a day I would be able to spend some time helping the store out.

"You can clock in and out anytime you like and we can embark on some new and old projects. I was thinking of harvesting these plants and distribute it directly to the infirmary," he suggested as he spreads his arms in a form of welcoming me into his trade.

"Sounds good to me, Pointus. I'd see you tomorrow then. I still need to sort out several matters first. Let me settle them and I'd drop in right after I had settled them. Thank you so much for your offer. Your almanack really is a good start, I hope you do have similar books of that kind."

"Oh no, its the only book I have in my whole collection and as you can see it's being published by me. How could you possibly read and memorise all these within a span of 15 minutes? A speed reader doesn't even match up to you." he remarked and still was in disbelief at what I had done.

"Hah Hah... Maybe it is due to the ginkgo nuts that I had consumed all these years that helps me build the brainpower and enhanced memory. Due to consuming ginkgo nuts daily, it gives sparks and electrons to my brain that seemed to be working tirelessly and filled it with ideas." I explained to Pointus and he made a point to consume that too to improve his brainpower as I bade him farewell and started for the door.

(Dear readers, this is a known fact that gingko nuts if eaten on alternate days would boost your brainpower, enhances your memories and make it work wondrously great for those who work in mental stress environment and great for students too. Look it up on Google for more info)