Chapter 114: A Ray of Hope

"Is the yield really that low? And there’s no inventory at all?"

Hearing this, Lando couldn't help but feel a wave of disappointment. He had initially thought he’d stumbled upon a new "get-rich-quick" scheme, but was this really it?

Sensing Lando’s letdown, Seth looked quite embarrassed. "I’m sorry, Senior Lando."

Lando looked at the flustered Seth and chuckled. He patted the boy’s head and said, "There’s no need to apologize for something like this! By the way, you mentioned earlier that the Freisen Flower can only be grown in your clan’s sacred land and that it withers if taken away?"

Seth nodded.

"Have you ever considered other methods, like seeking help from the arcanists of the Silver Tower?" Lando pressed.

"My elders mentioned that they have asked some of the great arcanists from the Silver Tower before, but it seems our Silver Tower... isn't specialized in this area, so the results weren't very effective."

"..."

"Senior Lando, you might have misunderstood. While the nectar of the Freisen Flower can improve one's aptitude, the effect is quite minimal. In fact, one bottle is about the limit of what it can do; anything more is essentially useless."

It was useful! Immensely useful!

Seth couldn't hear the internal shouting in Lando’s mind; he only felt that this Senior Lando was perhaps a bit too overly enthusiastic about the Freisen Flower nectar.

After the meal, Lando casually mentioned wanting to travel to the world of Liveredrickson. Seth immediately volunteered to take leave in two days to head back to his homeland, inviting Lando to join him and promising to be a qualified tour guide.

After Seth left and Lando prepared to head out, Old Moore stopped him.

"What’s wrong, Old Moore? Why the serious look?" Lando asked with a smile.

"I’ve heard about the Tree Sea Elf clan. What you said matches up with what little Seth told me. It’s clear that by using little Seth to send you these gifts, they are trying to get into your good graces. While I don’t know why you are so fixated on Freisen Flower nectar, I hope you’ll use more gentle methods and not make things difficult for the boy."

"Oh! So I’m really not your favorite child anymore, am I? I’ve never seen you worry about me like this!" Lando teased.

Old Moore gave him a look of disdain. "A thick-skinned, black-hearted brat like you doesn't need my worry. I only worry about your enemies!"

Seeing Old Moore stand up to leave, Lando chuckled and promised, "Don't worry, little Seth is my junior, too. I won't put him in a difficult position!"

Old Moore turned back, only to see Lando’s figure already disappearing into the distance. He couldn't help but curl his lip and mutter, "Tch! Brat!"

***

Lando arrived at the laboratory entrance. He already had a few ideas in mind and just needed to confirm them with his mentor, Ordo.

"Mentor!"

Ordo set down his book and smiled. "If this is about the magic tower, don't ask; think it through yourself!"

"...It’s not about the magic tower!"

"Oh? Then what is it that has you in such a rush, not even taking a break?"

"I met a junior recently from the Tree Sea Elf clan..." Lando recounted their meeting and the gift he had received, then continued, "I’m very interested in this Freisen Flower nectar and want to obtain a large quantity, but the clan is already struggling to meet their own internal needs. I’m wondering if there’s a way to increase the yield."

After listening, Ordo didn't ask why Lando wanted so much of it. Instead, he said, "Freisen Flower nectar has the property of improving aptitude. It is most effective for those with white-grade aptitude, capable of elevating almost anyone to green-grade. Its effectiveness diminishes for those already at green-grade, and it is negligible for blue-grade. For someone like you with purple-grade aptitude, it has almost no effect. The Silver Tower has conducted exhaustive research on it. The main reason for this effect is that the Freisen Flower takes root in special areas where world energy radiates. The flower absorbs this energy in a unique way and condenses it into nectar. However, this utilization of world energy is actually quite inefficient; the human body can only absorb about 5% to 10% of the world energy contained in the nectar. Simply put, it is a high-end luxury item for those with low aptitude, and it has no value in scaling up production."

Ordo smiled then and added, "Do you really think the Tree Sea Elf clan lacks the ability to increase its yield?"

At first, when Lando heard that the effect came from world energy, he felt a sense of confirmation. But when he heard that only 5% to 10% could be absorbed—knowing that his system should theoretically extract 100%—and then learned that the Tree Sea Elves actually *could* increase production but chose not to for other reasons, his expression darkened.

"Did Seth lie to me?! He said the Tree Sea Elf clan had even asked the Silver Tower arcanists for help and there was no way to increase the yield."

"That shouldn't be the case," Ordo explained. "The boy named Seth likely doesn't know the truth. The growth of the Freisen Flower requires world energy. If they were to build too many cultivation sites, it would undoubtedly consume a massive amount of that energy. This would not be a good thing for the world of Liveredrickson; it would slow down or even cause the world to stop growing. That is why the clan says what they do to the outside world. I suspect only the high-ranking members of their tribe know the truth."

Lando nodded in realization. He knew that worlds could grow. If news got out that Freisen Flowers could be mass-produced, then even without external pressure, the internal demand alone might cause unimaginable damage to the world of Liveredrickson.

After all, thoughts like, 'Maybe if my aptitude improved just a little, I could become an arcanist!' or 'Improving my aptitude could take me further, even if just by a little!' were unavoidable for anyone.

Lando felt a sense of helplessness at this outcome. If it were simply a lack of technology, he had been ready to persuade Mentor Ordo to invite people from the Biological Paradise to help, creating a win-win situation. But in the current situation, how could he break the deadlock?

Sensing Lando’s disappointment, Ordo first shook his head with a smile, then said to him, "Actually, your request isn't entirely without a solution."

The previously listless Lando suddenly brightened, looking at his mentor with hopeful eyes.

"Although its market value isn't high, the exotic properties of the Freisen Flower have intrigued many arcanists at the Silver Tower. Consequently, corresponding laboratories have been established. However, due to the agreement with the Tree Sea Elf clan, they have remained confidential. At your current level, you can go and intern there. As for whether you can get what you want, that will be up to you."

Lando was overjoyed. "Mentor, you are magnificent!"