20 Experiment

[Black Bear City], [Southern District]

In the Southern district, there were many small businesses. All were under the protection of [Black Serpent]. There was one building which was especially popular with mercenaries: [Bear Blacksmith]

It was an old man, Peter, who used to look at the Blacksmith Union with great envy in the past. However, he was not talented enough to receive an apprenticeship. When the hard times came, all the competition left, making him the one and only remaining blacksmith in the city.

Although the weapons he made were not high-quality, they were still sufficient to cut through flesh. In times where werewolves ran freely, many wanted to purchase weapons.

"What do you mean, you can't sell me a weapon?", a young 15-year-old mercenary screamed at him, "I am part of the [Silver Eagles], you know? I am their scout! How am I supposed to scout, if I don't have any weapon to fight with?"

Peter shook his head: "I apoligize. I know the reputation of your mercenary group, but there has been some tension between Black Serpent and the mercenary guild. The leader personally forbade me from selling any weapon to people unaffiliated with his organization"

"What is that? Honest, hard-working men like you old man should not be an underling in a criminal organization! Watch as Knight Robert capture them all! Nobody will buy from you then, even if you beg them to"

"Look, kiddo. Even if I could sell you weapons, you would be at the end of a long queue. Many townsmen have asked me the same thing as you, and I will give you the same answer: NO! The leader of Black Serpent is wise. He knows that giving weapons to untrained men and women will result in deaths"

"Tsk...Just wait until my leader hears about that, your leader will beg him to-"

Before he could move, a sword was pointed at his neck. A shadow, who had been listening to the conversation, could not contain himself anymore: "This is a warning to your leader and every mercenary of Black Bear City. Enter our territory and you will be considered an enemy"

The boy could not believe it. He was a trained scout. His mission was to observe and detect people, yet the man pointing a sword at him was incredibly stealthy. He hadn't managed to sense his presence at all. It was not something that could be found in the streets.

---

Meanwhile, as his men made sure to control the streets and complete his orders of economic expansion, Arthur was busy in his laboratory. With new workforce, he no longer needed to be hidden. Five shadows guarded the headquarters at all time, and hundreds of rats surveilled the streets at all time.

With Emma's support, the number of rats reached 200. Even townsmen were willing to work for [Black Serpent], swearing loyalty to the [Underworld Hero of Black Bear City]. It represented order and safety, in a city that had been chaotic for years now.

[Beep! 835 mL [Blood Essence] from the [Adult Werewolf] has been successfully extracted and distilled]

'What are the test results from experiment n°8?', Arthur asked

[Beep! Judging from the reaction speed in vial n°8 and n°9, consumption of the Blood Essence is expected to increase the host's [Magic Power] by 0.08 point]

Arthur felt a bit of nausea upon seeing the huge vial of blood essence he would have to drink to increase his magic power. However, the growth was huge. If he could kill all werewolves in the town, then his his magic power would be able to catch up with that of Greem, the White Jade Mansion Owner and arcane tower apprentice.

After consuming the blood essence, Arthur felt a surge of power he never felt before. Even meditation only provided slight gains in magic power, nothing to be compared with the consumption of blood essence.

It was no secret that the blood of monsters could increase magic power. Arthur did not have the idea randomly. However, those who could extract blood essence from monsters were very rare.

It required precise knowledge of distillation, equipment and practice. Those who could do this were called 'Alchemists', and while it was much easier than making elixirs, it was not something that average acolytes would risk doing. In a world where knowledge was kept in secrecy in particular places, becoming an alchemist was something impossible.

For someone who worked in chemistry laboratories in modern world, however, distillation and concoction of potions were easy matters. Arthur did not lack knowledge. In fact, he probably possessed more knowledge about 'alchemy' than anyone else. What he lacked, however, was data, resources to experiment on, as well as equipment. Thankfully, the old man Peter had accepted to work with [Black Serpent] and became a contracted blacksmith.

He was not the only one who decided to join [Black Serpent] in spite of possessing a honest life.

All shadows now possessed a place to live in the sewers.

Although the sewers themselves were dirty, it was a reminder of where they came from.

Hard times create strong men. Strong men create peaceful times.

Black Bear City would surely enter a new golden age of prosperity once [Black Serpent] would fully control the city.

After stabilizing his magic power growth, Arthur sighed: 'Is it time to take care of those mundane matters still?'

Arthur was not indifferent to the expansion of his little underworld organization. After all, it was directly correlated to how much influence he wielded in the city. The more influence he had, the more information and wealth he would accumulate.

With enough influence and wealth, he would be able to fund his experiments and put concrete results on ideas.

[Black Bear City Meditation Technique] and Greem opened a new world to him, a realm of mystery called magic. As a curious soul, he could not fight his instincts to explore it.