Located on the west side of Flying Fish Port, the Church family's territory was only seven to eight kilometers away from Mulberry Valley, and it indeed didn't take long to visit.
Baron Church also came, and it was Leider who entertained him.
Ivan took Justine and Lisa to tour the castle, feeling as if he were stepping into a battlefield because the two girls took an instant dislike to each other and continuously engaged in veiled verbal sparring.
"Mr. Ivan, I always knew you would become a hero. I never expected you could capture the Giant Silver Bone Ray alive. Blessed Virgin above! I don't know how excited I was to hear the news, and unlike others, I was never shocked because I believed that you would eventually do something great, eventually becoming the most conspicuous figure."
Lisa stared at Ivan, her admiration clearly visible in her eyes.
Justine chimed in, "Miss Lisa is right, I was nearby at the time, unfortunately not much help, but being able to witness Brother Ivan become a hero firsthand, that image, I think I could remember for a lifetime."
Lisa immediately turned her head to glare at her, and as the two women locked eyes, it seemed as though invisible sparks flew between them.
As such scenes occurred frequently, Ivan's head began to ache, and he would have preferred to entertain Baron Church in place of Leider.
"There are still matters to attend to in the territory, I'll come back later to entertain you all."
When they finished touring the castle, he found an excuse to leave the two with his sister Peggy, asking her to continue showing them around.
Turning around, he went up to the fourth floor's collection room, which he had now converted into an apothecary lab, where he had placed all the old apothecary tools.
The territory was in dire need of refurbishment, and everything required money, selling potions was a good option. Baron Karl's 150 Gold Coins came into play, and had Beaman use them to purchase a large amount of herbs.
He needed to concoct healing potions, detoxification potions, glorybower powder, Ocean Blue Potion, and both page class and knight class Bat Secret Medicines, as well as Goliath Frog Secret Medicines.
He actually also wanted to make nutrition potions, Physical Strength Potions, and Ginger Summer Water, but sadly those magical ingredients weren't available here.
That Beaman was able to return so quickly was thanks to Pearney's help.
Pearney sent back a letter, and upon reading it, Ivan couldn't help but complain, "She's changed, the young lady has grown mercenary."
He had asked Pearney to gather some incomplete Breathing Methods for him, and in return, Pearney demanded three Physical Strength Potions as payment, showing none of the restraint typical of a noble lady, despite having previously mentioned to ask for help whenever needed.
In her letter, Pearney attached an important piece of information: the selling price of one Physical Strength Potion could be four low-grade magic stones.
The castle crossbows, long spears, and other items were for building castle defenses. He didn't understand why there were boxes with medicinal herbs, as they were not what he had requested.
"Miss Pearney said, since she was making a trip anyway, she might as well bring you some extra bits and pieces."
"Give my thanks to Miss Pearney," Ivan replied.
Seeing that Knight Givern didn't intend to stay long, Ivan handed him a box containing a Physical Strength Potion.
As he watched the two knights and their entourage depart, Ivan opened the letter, which included a recipe for a Calming Potion.
Pearney wrote that the Calming Potion was a special type of healing potion that could soothe internal restlessness, alleviate pain, and relieve negative symptoms. It might even help in suppressing the power of curses, and she asked for his help in brewing it.
So it was; even possessing such a potion recipe, he couldn't help but admire the Hobson family's heritage.
Pearney also mentioned that he could partner with her for selling potions and buying medicinal materials. She would send someone to trade directly, ensuring that Mulberry Valley would not be at a disadvantage.
This was worth considering. Ivan didn't rush to reply. Turning around to call people to move the items, he realized that her team hadn't taken the carriages, which apparently were also gifts. It was clear they were no strangers to wealth.
Late at night, near the Lord's Hall.
Justine stood quietly in the corner of the wall, the moonlight casting her in the light of a forest princess lost in the mortal world.
After a while, steady footsteps approached from not far away, and upon hearing the sound, her face grew timid and anxious.
She had been rather depressed these days. Despite dressing meticulously every day in a different outfit to make herself look beautiful, the person she yearned for had shown no special response.
This person, if not cloistered on the top floor, was up in the mountains observing something, returning only late at night. At most, he would calmly compliment her and then... nothing followed. Was she not making her feelings clear enough?
Or had she been overshadowed by that Miss Church?
'Justine, Justine, how could you possibly be inferior to that little girl.'
'If shameless, then be shameless. I don't believe you feel nothing at all, if not, then—'
Watching the increasingly closer figure, Justine clenched her teeth and made up her mind; she straightened her chest, lifted her skirt, and under the moonlight, she walked towards the figure with small steps.