Mr. Rat of the Steam World

Chapter 22 Potions and Inspiration

Dear Ms. Afra Biden:

I wonder how you are? Do you like the gray mouse? And have you forgotten to write in your diary?

Last time I forgot to remind you not to restrict those little guys' lives too much, but to observe their independent living habits. However, I'm sure you're smart enough to figure that out on your own, so I won't nag you any further.

This contact is partly to ensure that the incident at our firm that day did not disturb you and could affect future engagements, and partly because the fire at our firm was caused by retaliation against a previous client. To avoid a repeat of that, we hope to find a suitable vacant house near your estate to serve as our new firm and seek refuge. Thank you very much.

Sherlock Holmes.

After reading the opening, Afra pressed her knuckles to her lips somewhat embarrassedly. But as she read on, her brows furrowed slightly, and she suddenly remembered something she hadn't realized before.

"No way……"

Afra took a deep breath, trying to feel better, then got up and quickly went upstairs.

Just as I turned the corner of the spiral staircase, I caught a glimpse of Philip the butler at the end of the corridor. The old butler was looking down at the bills in his hand, his white-gloved hands holding the leather cover, and a silver pocket watch chain dangling from his vest pocket.

“Uncle Philip!” Afra’s voice was filled with excitement. Before she even got close, her skirt had already swept across the carved railings of the corridor. When she was two steps away, she simply ran up and threw herself at Philip, taking his arm.

Startled by the sudden commotion, the butler, Philip, looked up and, seeing who it was, helplessly adjusted his glasses: "Miss, please slow down, watch your step on the carpet—"

Before he could finish speaking, she gently shook his arm.

"Help me investigate something." Afra tilted her head back and deliberately dragged out her words. "I went to a detective agency the day before yesterday, so could you help me find out what kind of background that arsonist has?"

Butler Philip said softly, "Why are you suddenly curious about this?"

Afra snorted: "I'm just trying to find out, what are the chances of such a coincidence? What if the arsonist is targeting me? I'll be on guard, right? Help me investigate, please help me investigate."

“Miss,” the butler, Philip, interrupted her. “I have other matters to attend to from the Earl. Would you like me to take a look at them when I’m done?”

"You're just giving me the runaround again."

Afra turned her back angrily.

"Then could you help me find a spacious empty house near the manor?"

Butler Philip looked at the little girl he had watched grow up, and the seriousness in his eyes softened a bit: "I'll arrange it for you in a bit, but you can't have anything else to do. I really have to go now."

Afra's eyes lit up, and she tiptoed and spun around. "I knew Uncle Philip was the best!"

After saying that, he ran away as fast as he could, leaving the butler behind shaking his head and smiling bitterly. Then he quickly walked towards the study where the Earl worked.

The moment I pushed open the door and saw Earl Biden.

"Sir, Miss suddenly asked about the arson attack at the agency that day. Should we tell her about Zell's situation?"

"Also, it seems that Mr. Sherlock has contacted Miss."

……

"You better stay here quietly, or you'll get beaten up again."

Bella, who was pacing around boredly, glanced at Lu Ran suspiciously upon hearing this: "Are you leaving? You're not going to leave me behind for something good, are you?" "Bullshit, do you think I'm that kind of rat?"

Lu Ran snorted softly, and before Bella could react, he pushed off with his hind legs and ran out quickly.

He didn't know when Afra would be able to sort things out, so he planned to go and find the potion to see what was going on. Come to think of it, he hadn't really seen what the potion looked like since he got it; he had only glanced at the instructions.

That night, Lu Ran deliberately chose a secluded corner of the main house where few people would come. After returning to the familiar place and making sure no one was around, Lu Ran began digging again.

The potion wasn't buried very deep, and they quickly found it. This time it was daytime, and they were finally able to see the potion clearly. Lu Ran was stunned at first glance.

Inside a transparent glass bottle with a wooden stopper and a narrow top and wide bottom, a dazzling potion, mainly black and purple, was swaying. As it swayed, the liquid seemed to come alive, bubbling and gurgling. Not to mention that Lu Ran himself wasn't interested in this potion system, even if he were, he would probably give up after seeing such a poisonous thing.

"These potion makers are really something else. Do they completely disregard the user's experience in their pursuit of mystery? It's disgusting."

Lu Ran made a comment and began to play with the potion in his hand.

"How do you calculate the relevant item information? Do you just take it with you?"

Lu Ran tentatively activated the "Open Di" function and entered magic.

Enlightenment: Magic (Whether to determine magic as the direction of enlightenment requires Collective Wisdom lv4, and a total cost of 500 gold pounds. Enlightenment will automatically stop if the wealth is insufficient midway.)

As if sensing Lu Ran's thoughts, the system paused for a moment and then a line of small text appeared out of thin air below.

[Whether to pursue potions as a direction for magical enlightenment research may be influenced by reference materials or items; using these items will offset 250 gold pounds.]

"They really are from the same origin!"

Lu Ran was taken aback, but then quickly realized what was happening.

"But what is the result of this influence and enlightenment? Is it to use this potion as a blueprint for magical research and enlightenment? But I don't remember any magic that would allow you to backstab someone. It's more like a magic that allows you to assassinate someone from behind."

Lu Ran imagined magical enlightenment as him wielding a staff, unleashing fireballs and wind blades with a whoosh. This doesn't really look like it...

"Never mind, I'll just make do with it. It's still part of the magic system, after all. Without this thing, it'll be ages before I can unlock magical enlightenment."

Lu Ran scratched his head. He didn't think it would be easy to get the evidence of treason that Earl Biden had. Even if he got it once or twice, it would still be a long way from the consumption of five hundred. But now he inexplicably felt that there were more and more extraordinary people from the church around him, and they were getting closer and closer. Lu Ran felt really unsafe continuing to be like this without any self-protection.

As for these so-called knowledge of order and chaos, Lu Ran didn't think they were part of magic itself. Magic should just be pure skills and techniques. Besides, even if there were some backstabbing techniques, he wasn't afraid of teaching them to him; what was there to fear as the giver of the rat swarm's intelligence?

"I currently have about 150 yuan in savings. I need to rent a place soon, which will take up some of it. Then, even if I reduce 500 yuan by half, it will still be 250 yuan. So, I'm still short about 100 yuan..."

Lu Ran gritted his teeth and thought for a moment.

"Never mind, let's earn the hundred that's shortfall first. If we can't find a new way to make money later... let's just enlighten them with whatever magic we can find."

"Anything that can inspire is a good thing. Maybe once they understand the principles of magic, they can create their own magic even without the system."

Lu Ran made a decision.

(End of this chapter)