Chapter 47: The Threshold Between Darkness and Reality

Once again, he arrived at the Adolf Monastery.

It was unclear whether Zorn’s donation had played a role, but many parts of the monastery had been repaired.

He could even see some masons at work.

The old building was beginning to radiate new vitality.

Zorn enjoyed the meal offered within the monastery and participated in the midday prayer.

Originally, he had only intended to make a donation of 500 gold pounds and then leave.

However, Bishop Theresa requested an audience with Zorn and once again expressed her gratitude for his benevolence.

Since Bishop Theresa had taken the initiative to meet him,

Zorn seized the opportunity to discuss the steam factory and the “Sanctified Healing · Luminous Elixir” with her.

He was preparing to open sales channels ahead of time.

Zorn knew that witches had their own underground market channels to sell resources.

The “Spiritual Witch Grandmothers,” who served as assistants to Bishop Theresa, still operated within the realm of the supernaturals.

Many of these supernaturals frequented the Spiritual Witch Grandmothers to purchase resources.

When Theresa heard Zorn describe the astonishing effects of the “Sanctified Healing · Luminous Elixir” and its substantial production capacity,

she clearly realized something.

Amid the escalating tide of steam power, the massive steel factories with their roaring steam furnaces

were gradually devouring the craft upon which the witches relied—their potions!

Under the scrutiny of alchemists and potion masters,

the essence of potions and magical elixirs was being relentlessly uncovered.

And no matter how many witches there were, none could match the production efficiency of a steam factory.

Training a group of qualified witches proficient in alchemical potions required many years.

In contrast, establishing a steam factory and training competent workers took far less time.

The era was leaving the witches behind.

Fortunately, they still had a chance to change.

In the city of Ogran, Bishop Theresa seemed to have long felt the oppressive pressure of the tide of steam industrialization.

After listening to Zorn’s explanation, she quietly asked,

“Lord Zorn, may I send some witches to work in your steam factory?”

This request caused Zorn to pause thoughtfully.

Allowing witches to work in the steam factory posed no problem.

Zorn was not worried about them stealing his potion formulas.

His recipes were far too numerous to run out.

After all, he had once been a “Sanctified Potion Master,” possessing many top-tier potion and elixir formulas.

Though witches were influenced by certain authorities, this was merely part of the “corporate culture,” reflecting dedication and sincerity in their work.

It did not affect their faith nor would it cause enmity between Zorn and the witches.

Instead, letting them learn the advanced processes of steam-industrialized potion production and new alchemical knowledge

would gradually allow the roaring of steam and the burgeoning power of steam industrialization to permeate the ranks of witches,

using them as a conduit to transmit these forces to deeper realms.

This would hasten the awakening of the very faith held by the witches.

Given the current overwhelming tide of steam industrialization and Zorn’s need for the witches’ sales channels, he slightly nodded.

After all, influencing and exploiting supernaturals through authority and steam factories was more effective than with ordinary people;

the participation of witches would improve results.

Following the rat plague incident, supernaturals would slowly step onto the continental stage.

Witches entering factories to work was an inevitable trend.

Their discussion on the witches’ employment and potion sales lasted until the afternoon prayer, then concluded.

Undoubtedly, this was a mutually satisfying collaboration.

Bidding farewell to Bishop Theresa, Zorn boarded a carriage.

Soon, mist rolled in, engulfing the carriage deep within the fog.

Before, when he was merely a Fighter, he did not fear the wanderers lost in the mist.

Now, as a second-level Evil Spirit Sorcerer, with increasing resources and means,

if he encountered such wanderers again, their misfortune would only multiply.

After carefully organizing his thoughts,

Zorn instructed the coachman to head toward the steam potion factory on the southern side of Ogran city—more precisely, the Corric Steam Potion Factory.

Previously, within the witch monastery, Zorn had sensed that there seemed to be many more young witches than before.

It would not be long before some witches came to the steam potion factory for interviews.

Zorn needed to give a heads-up to Vladimir, the Potion Master.

Crossing the entire city of Ogran,

Zorn clearly felt the painful and disastrous mark left by the rat plague.

Many public hospitals, private clinics, and even small medical offices were overflowing.

Pollution from the sewers was ravaging the entire city.

The “plague” was forming.

In his mind, Zorn involuntarily pictured a few effective and affordable “Plague-Cleansing Elixirs.”

Although once the “Plague-Cleansing Elixir” appeared, rivals would quickly imitate it,

the time taken for imitation would be enough for the potion factory to earn a handsome profit.

At the same time, it could help contain the rat plague within the sewers instead of allowing it to run rampant throughout Ogran.

A prosperous and thriving Ogran was the perfect environment for Zorn to flourish.

A city overrun by rats would only spiral into decline.

...

By the time he returned from the steam potion factory, dusk had fully fallen.

At the manor’s gate, beneath two bright gas lamps,

Vanessa, dressed in a black and white maid’s outfit, occasionally tiptoed and peered out at the broad street.

Whenever a carriage approached, she prepared to welcome it.

But after the carriage sped past, a trace of disappointment appeared on her increasingly delicate face—it was not Lord Zorn’s carriage.

“You’ve been waiting here a long time, haven’t you?”

From the darkness beyond the lamplight, a familiar voice sounded.

“Ah! Lord Zorn, you’ve returned!” Vanessa exclaimed as she hurried over, her bright eyes shining with joy.

Zorn emerged from the darkness, carrying a monster’s suitcase.

He had been observing Vanessa for some time in the dark.

Uninfluenced by authority, Vanessa had followed her usual path, slipping into the vortex controlled by Zorn.

Zorn was already considering a suitable supernatural gift for her.

“Why didn’t you take the carriage?” Vanessa asked curiously, glancing down the street behind him.

“I got off while still on the street. I needed to think through some matters on the way,” Zorn replied slowly.

He then cast a glance at the brightly lit manor hall.

“Are there guests at home?”

“The rat catchers have arrived. They came at sunset and have been waiting for you a long time.”

“Hm,” Zorn nodded slightly and headed toward the hall.

He had already anticipated Bevis’s arrival.

They must have encountered trouble in the sewers.

...

After inviting the two rat catchers, Bevis and the younger Isaac, to dine together,

the three began discussing business in the sitting room.

Bevis, who had recently advanced to second level about a month ago, had now secured his place in that rank and was rapidly improving.

The young rat catcher, Isaac, was also progressing swiftly; Zorn estimated that in another month, he too would reach second level.

The future “Legendary · Godhunter” showed extraordinary talent,

though still slightly inferior compared to Zorn.

Regardless, this would be a period of rapid strength growth for the rat catchers during the outbreak.

Clearing his throat, Bevis spoke softly.

“Lord Zorn, you must have seen the rat plague that has erupted recently.”

“The plague is ravaging Ogran, and to eradicate it, the key is to eliminate the Rat King.”

“Today, several of my fellow rat catchers and I entered the sewers to search for the Rat King’s trail.”

“But nowadays, the sewers seem to have undergone some incredible and eerie changes.”

“The torches that once lit the sewers now only illuminate a radius of two or three meters around us.”

“Even if we intensify the torchlight, it remains the same.”

“The darkness… seems impossible to dispel.”

At this, Bevis’s expression darkened; he appeared to have touched on unpleasant memories.

“Moreover... the darkness seems to possess the ability to swallow sound.”

“As soon as we separate by a certain distance, we cannot communicate through voice.”

“This is why we lost a young rat catcher today.”

“Lord Zorn, do you know the cause behind the recent changes in the sewers?”

Sitting on the sofa, Zorn thought deeply before replying slowly,

“The boundary between the Dark Realm and reality has already formed within the sewers!”