5.3 - Cheese King

5.3 - Cheese King

The lab in the Newt and Demon was getting worse by the moment. Theo had battled his way back to town, fighting against the sucking mud and biting turtles. Covered in mud, he dumped a vial of [Cleansing Scrub] over himself before entering. Salire had gone somewhere, likely attempting to avoid the constant sensation of illness brought by the soil.

That stuff is very gross, Tresk said. She went to pinch her nose, but realized she didnt have one. Dang lizard face.

Im thinking this potion isnt strong enough to do all of Qavell, Theo said, dumping out a sample of the soil. But it should get us started.

The alchemist tipped the vial, allowing some of the liquid inside to coat the soil. Running through the sample were seams of green. The potion soaked into those streaks immediately, glowing with golden power. Looking closely, he could see the battle within the dirt. The necromantic energy fought against the [Hallow the Soil] potion for control. But the potion did its work well, scouring the entire sample clean.

Woohoo! Tresk shouted, pumping her fist. Do the big one next.

Theo dumped the entire potion into the clay jar, then shielded his eyes. Golden light filled the lab, bringing with it a strange mixture of scents. The potion itself had a pleasant smell that he couldnt pin down. Something like freshly laundered clothes. The soil had a foul stench, like rotting meat left out in the sun to bake. While the mixture was unpleasant, it didnt last long. The potion cleansed the soil, leaving behind nothing but regular dirt. His stomach immediately unknotted itself, leaving behind only the faintest sense of unease.

Well need to produce this in massive quantities. Do you know where Salire went off to?

Nope.

Okay. Perfect. Theo eyed his stills, then sent his thoughts out to his lodestone network.

The golems working his pop-up farm had collected a massive amount of Earths wheat. He sent an order for them to march over to the lab, bringing as much as they could carry. Once the order was sent, he turned on the spot and headed out of the lab. Tresk followed behind, but went her own way once they were outside. Her duties to the stealther squads in town were absolute, and she did good work. Their scouting was vital to the towns safety.

Miana, Theo called from the edge of a wooden paddock.

The half-ogre was grooming one of her many karatan charges. She waved happily, stood up from her stool and jogged over to the fence. Yeah?

How much [Karatan Cheese] do you have?

Miana held a knowing grin on her face. She leaned in over the fence, pressing her finger into Theos chest. Youre going to ask me for a Theo amount of cheese, arent you? Is this official business, or have you just developed a taste?

Im always official. Mister official over here.

How many units?

No less than a thousand.

Miana grimaced. Youre going to cause a shortage.

No other option. Were talking about the undead here.

Miana gestured back to her herd of Karatan. The horrific bug-cow hybrids were something Theo would never get used to. I only have so much livestock. Isnt that trader from Partopour here?

Does he have cheese?

I dont think so.The roots of this story extend from novell bìn origin.

Then I need your cheese. Give me the cheese.

Miana sighed. Fine. Ill see what I can do. For the sake of your alliance, huh?

Theo shook his head. She was still dealing with some stuff. Unlike most people in town, she was put in a horrific position. When the town was founded, she was held hostage. Forced to keep it at a low level. All for Theos sake, and all at the hands of Yuri. Well, Yuri never admitted it was him. But the writing was on the wall. When it came time to settle up for the cost of the cheese, he overpaid her by a considerable amount. Then he pretended not to hear her protests as he walked away with thousands of units of delicious cheese.

Maybe I will start a cheese empire, Theo giggled to himself. Build a nice cheese tower.

Creating the [Hallow the Soil] potions wasnt really an issue. Theo consulted a map of the region in his mind on his way back to the Newt and Demon. He had difficulty estimating the square miles he would need to cover in the Southland Alliances lands. The number ballooned to absurd heights when he considered the places between the alliance and Qavells capital. He had crafted thousands of potions in the past. But none of those projects were this massive. Or this vital.

The bell above the door rang as Theo stepped into the shop. Salire was behind the counter, looking far more energetic than before.

The smell is gone!

Indeed it is. I found a solution to the corruption problem, but

But we need a lot? I figured.

The alchemists apprentice was getting the hang of everything. But she was still locked into performing first tier reactions, and hadnt shown as quick of advancement as him. She was still invaluable in the lab, though. Only Tresk had been able to handle the volatile materials before, and she was always too busy. The duo headed for the third floor, breathing in clean air for the first time in a day.

My sanctum is restored, Theo said, letting out a contented breath.

Salire giggled. So, whats the plan?

The only way we can get the Suffuse property is from cheese. Theo removed a wheel of [Veostian Karatan Cheese]. Thats a massive problem. Especially with the undead headed west. We cant import ten-thousand units of the cheese if the place thats known for it is gone.

A dark thought made itself known on Salires face. Theo cleared his throat. Not that Im certain the undead are going for Veosta. Just a guess.

More than a guess, Id bet, Salire muttered.

Right. So, the underground. Has Azrug given it a name?

Salire shrugged.

Theres a lot of reagents down there. Mostly mushrooms. We can cultivate mushrooms, so I need to know everything they have there.

Salire brightened up at that comment. She withdrew an assortment of reagents, then set them out on the table. Theo tried to hide the prideful look on his face. His apprentice had taken the initiative while he was busy, likely heading down into the underground to collect reagents. None of the first properties were revealed to the alchemist, but the half-ogre went through them one-by-one. None had the properties he was looking for.

So, heres what were going to do. Theo held the first wheel of cheese over a still. He crumbled it in his hands, letting the pieces fall onto the cold Drogramathi Iron below. Well brew all of these, and Ill check each reagent with [Reagent Deconstruction]. Sounds good?

Right!

The lab was quickly filled with stifling heat. Salire turned on the artifice air conditioner, but it was a losing battle. Theo prepared the stills and set them to work. Then he turned his attention to the ten reagents resting on the table. He went through them, applying his mana to deconstruct them. As expected, there were reagents that had some of the same properties as plants on the surface. The [Lifeshroom] had all the same properties as the [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root]. One sample was just an uncultivated [Manashroom].

A mushroom at the end of the line felt promising. Unlike most mushrooms Theo had encountered, this one was as hard as stone. He could break sections of it off with his alchemically inert knife, but otherwise it would need to be ground with the grinder artifice. As the alchemist deconstructed the reagent, revealing all three properties, he rubbed his hands together.

There it is.

Theo nodded, watching as the man withdrew a carved wooden duck. And theyve left behind a serious problem. Tainted soil. The entire continent will be uninhabitable before long.

Unless you do something about it. Right? Miltar smiled a blinding smile. Anyway, I have a single [Mycology Cave Seed Core]. Fifty gold.

Theo folded his arms. That wasnt a horrible price. He could get it from Fenian for fifteen to twenty-five gold, and expected to be gouged within an inch of his life. Sounds good. Oh, do you have any illusory necklaces? The ones that change your clothes.

Fresh out. I have a coat, if you want it.

The heat within the cabin was awful. The padded gambeson Theo was forced to wear for safety was bad enough. Why would he want a coat of all things? Not sure if youve noticed, but were in a swamp.

Oh, but this is no ordinary coat, Miltar said, withdrawing a jet-black coat from his inventory. He swished it through the air, shaking the material out.

The coat was sized to the approximate height of a half-ogre. Or a dronon. Two sets of buttons ran the length vertically, and a large hood was attached to the collar. As cool as the thing looked, it also looked very hot.

Inspect it, Miltar said, noting Theos hesitation.

Theo did so.

[Coat of Rake]

[Leather Coat]

Epic

This coat once belonged to a mysterious dark-elf. He was said to live in a moon.

Effect:

The wearer of this cloak will have the [Extreme Comfort] status.

The first attack made against the wearer, per day, will be completely absorbed.

All attacks made while the wearers feet are not on the ground deal bonus damage.

Please note, the [Regulated] status relates to a persons body temperature. I have a ring that does the same thing.

Theo took the coat into his hands, feeling the material. It seemed to be made of leather, but was supple. It was also stylish enough for him, although he was never one for fashion. He gave the trader a flat look. How much?

This is a priceless artifact.

Its only epic. A fair amount of my gear is already epic.

Ah, but does it make you comfortable? Also, note how the back end of the coat is split near the middle. Room for your tail. Tell you what. Ill sell you the seed and the coat for seventy-five gold.

That was robbery, of course. Theo was used to getting his gear for free, or at cost. But the [Coat of Rake] wasnt just good for keeping him cool. It had the [Minor Foresight] effect on the second property, and an interesting effect as the third property. He hadnt tried aerobatic combat yet, but this could be useful. When his feet werent touching the ground, this item would take effect. Otherwise his [Leather Boots of the Defiler] would be in play. The cost wouldnt even drain his funds completely. Alchemy had been making money constantly, even if the town wasnt doing so well.

Sixty. Remembering that Im the archduke.

Oh, the old Im the leader of this place so youll cut me a deal play? Alright, alright. I like it. Miltar rubbed his hands together. How about forty and a crate of your anti-undead potions.

How many is a crate?

Call it fifty.

Theo reached out a hand. Deal.

Miltar shook Theos hand, then let go of the coat. The trader withdrew the seed core and handed it over. The alchemist took out his mid-tier [Hallow Ground Potions] and handed those over, along with the gold.

I love when business goes well, Miltar sighed.

On a serious note, Theo said, tapping his finger on the desk. How is Partopour viewing the undead threat?

Were unconcerned at the moment.

What if I told you that I was almost certain the undead were moving west? Toward Veosta, and perhaps Tarantham?

Well, that might raise our level of concern.

What about the fact that they can traverse the sea?

Ding! Higher. Anything else?

Theo considered how much information he should include. Balkor is alive.

Oh, Miltar blinked a few times. The smile faded from his face. How many potions can you spare?

Im not producing the worlds supply of [Hallow Ground]. Doesnt Partopour have alchemists? Any specialists in distillation?

We have a guild. There certainly arent any Drogramathi alchemists.

Theo had to think about this for a moment before he acted. A part of him wanted to hold onto all of his secrets. Isnt that why Belgar died? Isnt that why Drogramaths dronon were on the brink of extinction? There was no way that [Hallow Ground] could be used against the innocent. The [Experience Boost] property was dangerous, but it wouldnt kill anyone. The alchemist withdrew a length of parchment and began scribbling.

These are instructions on how to distill the [Swamp Truffle] into [Hallow Ground Essence]. Im including warnings to only brew the first tier version. It should be strong enough. Theo then withdrew a cultivated [Swamp Truffle] from his inventory, setting it on the table. And a sample for your people to seed in a [Mycology Cave].

How much? Miltar asked.

Theo didnt care how much he was paid for the recipe. If the other nations didnt prepare themselves for the undead, there wouldnt be a soul left to trade with. Free with a caveat.

Oh?

Spread the recipe to Bantein, the Khahari Desertwherever. I have a bad feeling about the undead. I think were just getting started.