Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 3141: Chapter 3142: Two Solutions

"...So that’s the situation." Lady Baoxiya tapped her forehead with her folding fan, showing a helpless expression: "You know, Nail Granny has already left the Southern Domain, trying to get her to help refine the hat is nearly impossible."

"According to Sister Dong Liz, you’re now the only option."

At this point, Lady Baoxiya chuckled softly: "Originally, I was wondering how to contact you, but the unexpected thing was, while I was fretting, Regina reached out to me."

"You should know what happened next."

Lady Baoxiya wanted to find Angel, and Angel happened to want to find her, thus today’s meeting was arranged.

"This is quite a coincidence," Angel raised an eyebrow and said.

Lady Baoxiya smiled, shaking her folding fan slightly: "Since it’s such a coincidence, would you consider agreeing to my request then?"

Angel was silent for a moment, then said: "Is this considered an exchange condition?"

Exchanging the liberation of Qi Li on the condition of refining a hat?

Lady Baoxiya: "If you wish to consider it an exchange condition, that works too. In fact, to resolve Qi Li’s matter, I have two plans, and one of them can indeed be used as an exchange condition."

Angel was taken aback: "What do you mean?"

According to Lady Baoxiya, one of the plans can be accessed without any exchange condition?

If that’s the case, why not directly choose that plan then?

Lady Baoxiya seemed to notice Angel’s confusion and explained: "Once you hear my two plans, you’ll understand..."

Then Lady Baoxiya began to detail her resolution plans for Qi Li’s matter.

The first plan requires no exchange condition. Lady Baoxiya will directly issue an order for the Ashiliya Academy’s Scent Department head to cancel Qi Li’s task and revoke the ban punishment against Qi Li.

This plan was actually the solution Angel initially thought of for Qi Li.

At that time, Angel thought Lady Baoxiya might use this plan for a conditional exchange with him.

But now it seems, Lady Baoxiya doesn’t intend to "blackmail" Angel with this plan?

After hearing the plan, Angel felt a bit puzzled in his heart. Did he misjudge Lady Baoxiya as too manipulative? Or is there some deeper intention behind Lady Baoxiya’s actions?

Lady Baoxiya didn’t elaborate much on the first plan but directly presented the second plan, which can be used as an "exchange condition."

"The second plan is, I won’t get involved in resolving this matter, but I can teach Qi Li a special extraction technique in private. This extraction technique has a speed similar to ordinary ones, but the quantity extracted each time is much greater than with previous techniques."

"Which means, if Qi Li learns this extraction technique, she can clear the No. 1 material library much faster."

"And this special extraction technique is a unique creation of mine, never passed on. I offer it in exchange for you helping Dong Liz refine a hat, how does that sound?"

After hearing Lady Baoxiya’s second plan, Angel’s expression seemed somewhat peculiar.

Indeed, Lady Baoxiya’s resolution plan included the "accelerated extraction" option.

As expected, thoughts of Alchemy Masters are surprisingly alike, Lady Baoxiya coincidentally thought of the same thing as Midora.

However, does this plan sound any different from borrowing equipment from Sterling?

Borrowing Sterling’s equipment may cost points; exchanging with Lady Baoxiya for the extraction technique costs an opportunity for alchemy. Ultimately, both cost something, it doesn’t seem much different?

Thinking this way, the first plan seems better?

Yet, why does Lady Baoxiya willingly assist unconditionally with the first plan, while the second plan involves an exchange?

This inclination, does it mean Lady Baoxiya believes her contribution in the second plan is greater?

Indeed, offering a special extraction technique is certainly a substantial contribution. But in the first plan, she hardly needs to contribute anything, just needs to issue an order.

...Not quite.

Angel thought carefully; if Lady Baoxiya uses the first plan, she indeed has to contribute. She contributes her reputation, or rather, her credibility.

She guarantees Qi Li’s release using her reputation. The people in the scent circle are willing to agree because of Lady Baoxiya’s influence.

This intangible contribution might be greater than a tangible one.

After all, building a reputation is challenging, but a collapse in reputation is easy.

Additionally, Qi Li damaged the Fragrance Wizards’ "spiritual faith," even though Lady Baoxiya can use her reputation to protect her, this approach might generate resentment among some Fragrance Wizards.

Often, the crucial factor in the fall of a towering structure might not be overtly cracked ground nor raging disasters, but a subtle breeze.

The resentment in the hearts of some Fragrance Wizards is this breeze. Initially creating little impact, it grows larger over time and could eventually become the straw that breaks the camel’s back in an unlikely event involving Lady Baoxiya.

Thus, using reputation as a guarantee might involve more than a tangible contribution. But why did Lady Baoxiya not use this plan for an exchange with Angel?

—Because, without an exchange, she potentially gains more.

The intangible contribution, how much it is worth, remains an unknown factor.

Similarly, the price she asks to recoup naturally remains an unknown factor.

The only "unknown factor" Angel can think of is... personal connections.

The first plan appears to have no exchange conditions, yet Lady Baoxiya’s intangible contribution is enough to earn Angel’s gratitude.

And a debt of gratitude is the hardest to repay.

Now, Lady Baoxiya isn’t asking Angel to exchange for special magic patterns of Life Alchemy; but what if she calls for it as a favor in the future?

Considering this, the first plan seems ordinary, but it’s actually a significant pitfall.

Instead, the second plan has a clear price, everyone attends to their own business, no mutual debts... perhaps the second plan is actually more suitable?

Angel’s choice began to shift from initially favoring the first plan to presently seriously considering the second plan.

The second plan seems slower, but learning the special extraction technique benefits one for life. Additionally, addressing the "too slow" issue of the second plan can be achieved.

That is, both the special extraction technique and Sterling’s machinery can be utilized. These two methods conveniently do not conflict, allowing simultaneous progress.

Once both are working in parallel, Qi Li might complete the full clearing of the No. 1 material library in less than half a month, or perhaps even in under a week.

This speed is certainly not slow.

However, to achieve such speed, Angel’s efforts would be significant.

While Angel was pondering in his mind, Portia suddenly spoke: "You seem to be somewhat confused?"

Angel didn’t deny it, nodding: "Indeed, I’m a bit puzzled."

Portia didn’t ask what Angel’s "confusion" was, but rather asked: "Do you think it’s better if I revoke Qi Li’s punishment with just a word, or is it better for Qi Li to earn the fragrance circle’s respect by fulfilling her original goal?"

Angel: "...The latter."

Portia smiled and said no more.

But Angel understood Portia’s implication.

This was a reminder to Angel: Qi Li needed to eliminate not just the punishment, but also the prejudice that the entire fragrance circle had against her.

Portia could easily dismiss Qi Li’s punishment with a word, but that would only eliminate the punishment without addressing the prejudice. In fact, it might even worsen the prejudice.

Whereas if Qi Li were to "clear the first raw material depot through her own efforts"—at least in the eyes of others, it was her effort—this would truly eliminate the punishment and simultaneously remove prejudice.

This is why Portia proposed this plan for a conditional exchange with Angel.

Not just because of this method, but Portia was willing to offer a special extraction technique; moreover, this method is the true solution to Qi Li’s plight.

With this said, Angel’s choice was actually already very clear.

The second option was definitely more suitable.

Additionally, besides the reasons mentioned before, he actually also considered Qi Li’s personal mindset.

Originally, Qi Li had resolutely decided to clean up the first raw material depot because she felt she had implicated allies of the House of Lilith. Moreover, Qi Li didn’t want Kanter’s help because her mental state was problematic.

To solve this matter, merely addressing the punishment isn’t enough; Qi Li’s psychological factors must also be considered.

Qi Li might not care about the fragrance circle’s prejudice, but she cares about the attitude of allied families of the House of Lilith, who indeed care about the fragrance circle’s prejudice. Going in circles, prejudice is definitely one of the factors affecting Qi Li’s state of mind.

The only way to solve the prejudice is through the second option.

Angel: "If I were to choose, I would opt for exchanging the special extraction technique."

Angel didn’t give a direct conclusion, but prefaced his statement with "if," because at this moment he actually had more than one option.

He could also solve Qi Li’s problem through Sterling mechanics.

Of course, pursuing both options would definitely be better, but the second option involved an unpredictable variable—Dong Liz.

Angel had to understand the full scope of Dong Liz’s alchemy before deciding whether to accept this refining process.

Especially since Dong Liz mentioned repeatedly that crafting the hat was her sister’s request, making this hat-refining drama all the more mysterious and complicated.

Even though Angel leaned toward the second option, he found it hard to make further decisions without clarity on Dong Liz’s complete alchemical picture.

Angel shared his thoughts: "...If indeed I need to refine the hat, at least let me know what’s going on with her sister?"

"Lady Portia, do you know anything about Dong Liz and her sister?"

Portia pondered for a while before speaking: "I don’t know much more about Dong Liz than you do. But her sister is indeed an issue."

"Dong Liz has said repeatedly that her sister is right behind her. But I can’t see her sister."

"According to the results of the Truth Veracity spell, Dong Liz wasn’t lying. Yet, at the time, I still didn’t believe there was a sister following her."

"Because the Truth Veracity spell can only detect normal people, if a mentally ill person with delusions creates a fantasy of having a sister nearby and firmly believes in the existence of this sister, then the spell can’t discern reality."

In other words, when Portia first met Dong Liz, she treated Dong Liz as a mentally ill person.

Only later, after Portia contacted Summer Witch, her opinion began to shift.

"Summer Witch, although often appearing crazy, merely processes things differently than others do. Once you understand her way of thinking, you can comprehend her ideas."

"I’ve known Summer Witch for many years, and we’ve been trading closely recently, so I somewhat understand her behavioral patterns."

Portia: "From certain details Summer Witch showcased, I can ascertain one thing: she fully supports Dong Liz’s intent to refine the hat."

"Such support seems not directed at Dong Liz personally but at a mysterious presence."

Angel: "...Dong Liz’s sister?"

Portia nodded: "Exactly, that’s my assumption. Summer Witch gave significant support to the decisions made by Dong Liz’s sister."

"This is precisely why I began to doubt my previous judgment."

"Perhaps Dong Liz truly has a sister, merely invisible to us."

Portia sighed lightly, glancing at Angel: "I understand, this conclusion sounds absurd. But later I asked Summer Witch again, and her answer was affirmative."

"Summer Witch also acknowledged the existence of Dong Liz’s sister."

"I don’t believe Dong Liz, but I trust Summer Witch."

Even though Portia, to date, hasn’t found any clues regarding Dong Liz’s sister, she tends to believe such a person exists.

Angel thought for a moment and asked: "Can anyone else see Dong Liz’s sister?"

"As far as I know, no one can see her, even..." Portia hesitated, as if deciding whether to continue, but eventually, she voiced her lingering words: "I even think Summer Witch cannot see Dong Liz’s sister."

"Summer Witch can’t see Dong Liz’s sister?" Angel asked, surprised.

Portia nodded: "Yes, I’ve observed Summer Witch; she always glances around whenever facing Dong Liz, but never settles her gaze anywhere, as if searching for something without finding it."

"Hence, I suspect that Summer Witch might have determined Dong Liz’s sister’s existence by other means, but just like everyone else, she can’t see her."

Angel: "If that’s the case, why does Summer Witch support Dong Liz’s sister’s decisions so intensely?"

Portia took out her folding fan and swayed it: "That, I don’t know. Perhaps Dong Liz’s sister possesses certain unexplained peculiarities? Which, in turn, might have been discovered by Summer Witch."

"Why don’t you try talking to Dong Liz’s sister directly?"

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