"Ah? She's really a witch?"
This result was something that Shade could never have imagined. He didn't care about the opera below at all. It was obvious that the news from the witch was more interesting:
"What does this Ms. Edwards do?"
"Master of potions and alchemy. She was the one who helped identify your bottle of concentrated pink essence when you had a fever and fell unconscious during the Randall Valley incident. If Cassandra's alchemy and potions are ranked second in the parliament, then Edwards must be ranked first.
In addition to being a witch, she runs a pharmaceutical company in southern Delarion, purchasing herbs and making them into medicines. She has the most followers among us, after all, the crafts of potions and alchemy are the easiest to attract people. In recent years, her pharmaceutical company has even begun to get involved in the field of chemical pharmaceuticals, and has also cooperated with Sister Defulin's Snake Heart Hospital - Paradise Island Pharmaceutical Union Company, you must have seen its advertisements in the newspapers. "
"Yes, disinfectant alcohol, ya tablets tincture, earthworm oil, quinine water, their pharmacists have many exclusive formulas."
Although Shad didn't need these, he had seen them many times in the advertising section of newspapers.
Although the existence of ring wizards made the medical and chemical levels of this era, which was very similar to the "Victorian Era" in his hometown, slightly higher, the methods of doctors in this era were still very expensive and scarce, and bloodletting and enema were still commonly used by doctors in remote areas.
There are quite few pharmaceutical companies that can produce the drugs listed by Shade, and although "Paradise Island Pharmaceuticals" has not formed an exaggerated monopoly of a pan-Old World nature, they can also be regarded as one of the best.
"The big witches all seem to have a pretty good livelihood."
Ajelina whispered to the side, and Miss Carina nodded, not minding sharing some information with them:
"The great witches all have their own followers. If you want them to follow you with peace of mind, it is not enough to just give them power. Moreover, witches have had a tradition of enjoying luxury since the last era... Ahem, this is not the point, Shade, you should not have met Audrey Edwards, right?"
Miss Carina asked Shade again, and this time Shade was very sure:
"No. What's wrong with her?"
"This woman has mental problems."
The Duchess said with disdain. Shade rarely saw her speak in this tone, which meant that she looked down on someone very much:
"You should know that the relationship between the Witch Council and the Orthodox Church is very delicate. There are several witches in the council who have even been wanted by the church. We helped the church a lot during the Pantanal War, and the wanted list was cancelled. The Great Witch of Knowledge and Wisdom was once wanted."
Talking about this, the Duchess became even less happy:
"I don't know much about this person, or rather, I don't get along with people like this. I don't know if she has become insane from reading too much, or if she is just not right. There was a time when she even acted a little crazy in the parliament, and was on the verge of losing control, but the Speaker trusts her very much. As for her being wanted, it is related to her research on the Philosopher's Stone."
"Ah? What?"
"The Philosopher's Stone is what you think it is."
The witch said, tapping Shade's chest. The Philosopher's Stone was carried by him, hanging together with the enhanced witch detection badge. And Lecia, who was holding Shade's hand, had already led Shade's hand to her leg. The thin fabric felt quite good.
Miss Carina continued:
"Most aspiring alchemists aim to create their own 'Philosopher's Stone', which is not wrong in itself. But the true method of making the Philosopher's Stone has long been lost, which has led to the creation of some wrong, hidden, and dangerous methods. Audrey Edwards used a dangerous method to conduct an experiment about ten years ago. I won't go into details about what she did, but she almost summoned an ancient evil sleeping in the warp... Or rather, she did summon it, but was sealed back by the Speaker and Sylvia's teacher who was not yet dead at the time. But even so, this behavior still caused a great impact, which led to the church's wanted list for more than ten years."
This is indeed a very dangerous behavior. For the sake of peace and stability in the material world, the church's approach is not wrong.
"Miss Danister said that the destruction of Green Lake Town was related to the Edwards family's desire for the elixir of life."
Shade said softly, wondering if the witch's research on the Philosopher's Stone was related to family tradition.
"How old is Miss Audrey Edwards?"
Leicia asked again, grabbing Shade's hand and gently stroking her leg. Miss Carina smiled and glanced at her, knowing exactly what she was thinking:
"I can't tell you her exact age. Women's age is a secret, and I have an obligation to keep secrets for others... But she is much older than me. Except for Grandma Cassandra, this lady is the oldest in the council. I suspect that when she was born, the Edwards family might still be in Green Lake Town, or she is the first generation of descendants born after the Edwards left Green Lake Town."
"oh?"
Shade thought of what Miss Danister had mentioned, that the decline of Green Lake Town and the Edwards family happened more than a hundred years ago. If the great witch Audrey Edwards was really old, then she might have directly known the meaning of the "sun, moon and stars" pattern in the letter.
"But she looks very young, and her mentality is also very young, as if time has left no trace on her. I once thought that this was the result of research on the philosopher's stone and the elixir of life, but after reading Shade's The Secret of Immortality, I think her youth may be due to other reasons."
"Another woman who looks young but is actually very old?"
Leicia lowered her voice and spoke with a somewhat unstable tone. The Duchess leaned back slightly and leaned comfortably on the sofa:
"Although Shad wants to get information from Edwards, I don't recommend that he go directly to this crazy woman. It will not do him any good. Although Audrey Edwards's mental state has obviously stabilized in recent years, she still behaves abnormally from time to time. Therefore, I suggest that Shad look for other clues first. We should help him find other descendants of the Edwards family. If he really can't find other directions, I will find a way to ask Audrey Edwards... It's interesting to say that these ring warlocks who pursue knowledge and wisdom seem to have fallen into madness in the end."
What she was thinking of at this moment was probably Sir Richard Prisher, the chosen one of knowledge and wisdom who fell into madness but also gained the so-called "omniscience".
"I understand. I won't get in touch with such people. Besides, I don't plan to travel around recently. The Tour de Trobesque, which opens on Sunday, is my main concern recently... By the way, is there any Rodeo Drive in the sub-events of the competition?"
The girls all laughed, and Shad could even imagine Tifa smiling behind him as well.
"Each year's sub-events are announced after the opening ceremony and the end of registration, so that no one can cheat in advance. But so far, Rhodes has never become an event."
Leicia introduced, her face flushed probably because Shade's hands were really warm, and her voice was soft because she didn't want people to hear her voice trembling. Shade nodded calmly, as if he didn't know what his hands were doing at all. Miss Carina said again:
"I came to see you tonight because, in addition to Edwards' matter, there is also the city jockeying competition. My nephew, Resia's father, our king, entrusted me to tell you in private that the people of Carsenrick will participate in this competition."
She suddenly sniffed and looked suspiciously at the three people on the side in the dark.
Shad said:
"Isn't this normal? Foreigners participate in the competition every year, and the rules of the competition do not prohibit the people of Carsenrick and citizens of other principalities from participating. In recent years, even women have been allowed to participate."
Of course, since the competition is not divided into groups according to gender, and there are obvious differences in physical strength between men and women, all the champions so far have been men.
“The foreigners this time are not ordinary people.
Because it involves the division of trade routes and borders in the Pantanal region, although the negotiation sites have been selected in Mikaela Blast Furnace City and Green Lake City, the two countries still have to send representatives to the capital of the neighboring country to discuss the schedule and other matters. The Carsenrick delegation is not large, and the leader is Count Lewis of the Carsenrick Kingdom Parliament. You don't have to care about this person. The brothers Eric and Charles Foren in the team are the ones you should pay attention to. They are the twin sons of Marquis Foren, 31 years old this year, at the age of youth and strength. They will participate in the city riding competition. My nephew asked me to tell you that you must beat them. "
Miss Carina looked at Shade and said:
"You know why."
"If we let them win, the negotiations will be at a disadvantage from the start."
Xia De nodded. He didn't care about winning against two ordinary people.
"Registration will officially begin tomorrow, and I will be at the opening dinner on Sunday evening."
"You can't refuse to participate even if you want to. You are the only 'official knight' in Draerion, and you did not inherit the title of knight from your family."
Leicia said, rubbing the back of Shade's hand with the tip of her thumb, and then bit her lip to prevent herself from humming. Shade's hand did not go too deep into the bottom of the skirt, but just rubbing the legs wrapped in fabric was enough:
"Shade, everyone is watching your performance."
"Shad understands it himself. This negotiation with Carsenrick is the biggest diplomatic event since the peace between the two countries, and it is obvious that each of us hopes that peace can continue."