Chapter 43: Making Friends
Chapter 43: Making Friends
Magic Core!
Charlotte's eyes lit up as he carefully picked up the dark red stone.
The dim light of the oil lamp reflected off the magic core, giving it a brilliant shine. It felt smooth and warm in his hand. Upon closer inspection, he noticed fine white strands, resembling spiderwebs, intertwined within the translucent magic core.
This was Charlotte's first encounter with a magic core. From its appearance alone, it was indeed beautiful, resembling a ruby.
However, the reason why magic cores were valuable was not because of their beauty but because of their special practical value.
When attached to a magic wand, a magic core provided a significant boost to spells cast by a mage of the same element. It enhanced both the casting speed and power of the spells, with the effects becoming more pronounced as the magic core's rank increased.
Embedding a magic core into a weapon not only added to its aesthetics but also bestowed enchantment effects, empowering knights in battle.
Furthermore, magic cores found widespread application in various magic formations and arrays, serving as the central energy source for most high-level formations.
It could be said that magic cores were the most crucial energy source in the Isos Continent.
Over a thousand years, the number of magic-infused creatures in the wilderness had increased. Whenever a magical beast of a certain level was slain, there was a chance to obtain a magic core.
The exorbitant prices of magic cores lured many adventurers into the wilderness to hunt magical beasts in exchange for wealth.
The magic core from Charlotte's second-rank Eight-Legged Crimson Spider had a value of 20,000 copper coins. In contrast, the two magic cores from the fifth-rank Rampaging Giant Lizards at Harry's General Store were priced at one million copper coins.
The higher the level of the magical beast, the higher the price of its magic core.
This was not difficult to understand. Even without losing his magical source, with his original strength as an advanced mage, Charlotte wouldn't have stood a chance against the Rampaging Giant Lizards. A single touch from them would have turned him into a pancake.
Returns were proportional to risks.
However, these details were not the focus. Charlotte was neither a formation mage nor a blacksmith, so the magic core was useless to him.
But it was worth 20,000 copper coins!
Undoubtedly, it was a substantial sum.
He could easily exchange it for cash at any reputable pawnshop.
"No wonder they say killing and arson bring quick money." Charlotte's fingers caressed the smooth magic core, feeling somewhat sentimental.
As an upright doctor, he wouldn't stoop to the level of robbing people on the road.
Today, the one-eyed werewolf had come looking for him, and the magic core he obtained by risking his life was acquired with a clear conscience.
Putting away the coins on the table, there were a total of five silver coins and sixty-two copper coins.
A third-rank werewolf reduced to such a state was truly embarrassing.
Next, Charlotte took out the information that Harry had included as an extra, two thin sheets of paper.
The Jaderson family was one of the four renowned families in the Abyss. Charlotte's knowledge about them was limited to that extent.
By the light of the oil lamp, Charlotte attentively read through the rough information.
The Jaderson family controlled a significant portion of the Abyss's potion market. They were wealthy and had a group of fiercely loyal Black Magic Guards, who had been modified with potions, under their command.
Charlotte quickly found information about Carol. As Gabriel Jaderson's youngest son, Carol was infamous for his ferocity and bloodlust. He was known as the Tiger Overlord and ruled the Abyss with an iron fist, daring anyone to provoke him.
Although Carol was the youngest son, he was greatly favored by Gabriel and had taken over the family's most important potion business in recent years. He was considered the next successor to the Jaderson family by outsiders.
With courage and strategy, that is the general evaluation from the outside.
By getting involved with the Capas family, Charlotte estimated that they wanted to expand their potion business into the Lance Empire.
Half an hour later, Charlotte put down the information in his hand, feeling a bit of a headache.
This opponent was not easy, and from what he could see, he had no chance of winning.
As the local tyrant of the Abyss, the Jaderson family had been in business for hundreds of years. How could an outsider like him shake their foundation?
Just sending one Black Magic Guard would be enough to deal with him.
After pondering for a while, Charlotte ignited the information with the oil lamp and threw it into the trash bin. He put the magic core into his pocket, took three bottles of Water Essence Elixir from the cabinet, and left the clinic.
It was difficult to find Diana in the Abyss. Tenants could only see her on rent collection day.
But in the territory of Baka Street, it wasn't difficult to find one of Diana's subordinates.
Charlotte quickly found a black-robed man napping on the street. The recliner was placed right at the entrance of the largest bank on Baka Street, and a long knife was beside him. The man had three fox tails embroidered on his chest, the symbol of the Harriman family guards.
Only the Harriman family members dared to relax and take a nap like this on Baka Street.
Charlotte approached and gently pushed the man.
The guard instantly opened his eyes, his hand already gripping the long knife as he looked at Charlotte.
"Don't misunderstand, this is something Miss Diana urgently needs. I would like to ask for your help in delivering it to her," Charlotte quickly spoke up, seeing the guard's cold expression and the killing intent in his eyes.
Upon hearing Diana's name, the guard's expression softened slightly. He glanced at the potion bottle in Charlotte's hand and then at Charlotte himself, asking, "Are you the doctor from that clinic?"
"Yes," Charlotte nodded and handed over the potion bottle. "These three bottles of Water Essence Elixir, I kindly ask you to deliver them to Miss Diana. The other two bottles, please ask her to wait for two more days."
The guard took the bottles, hesitated for a moment, but eventually nodded.
He guarded this Baka Street every day and naturally heard that his Miss seemed quite interested in this doctor. It was said that she even let him ride in her carriage, and many people on Baka Street had witnessed it.
Summoning up some courage, he didn't dare to mess with such matters.
With the bottles in hand, the guard entered the bank and soon rode away on a horse.
Charlotte watched him leave and then calmly walked into the pawnshop across the street from the bank.
The shop assistant at the door greeted him with a smile and quickly went to inform the shopkeeper, whispering, "Shopkeeper, he is Dr. Charlotte from the clinic up ahead. I just saw him directing the Harriman family's guard to run errands."
The shopkeeper's eyes showed a hint of surprise. It seemed that this young man had indeed aligned himself with Diana. In the Abyss, that was considered to align with a top-notch power.
"Dr. Charlotte, a rare visitor," the shopkeeper approached with a smile, adding a touch of flattery.