Chapter Three: The Duties of a Servant

The materials collection area within the castle housed approximately three hundred varieties of magical beasts, four hundred types of magical insects, and five hundred kinds of magical plants. These were divided into sixty sections, each overseen by a young servant, providing the master alchemist, Heinz, with whatever ingredients he required. The number and diversity of magical creatures and plants varied in each section. Some contained as many as a hundred different magical plants or insects, while others had only a handful of magical beasts. Those with fewer specimens were often the most dangerous and the hardest to collect materials from.

Gong Hao’s task was to watch over Section 13, which held forty-two species—a total of eighty-six magical plants. Most of these eighty-six came from the jungles of Purgatory Island, and four were nearly extinct on Windsong Continent, with only a handful remaining even on Purgatory Island. If a caretaker accidentally killed one, it could mean the loss of that species from Windsong altogether.

Today, Gong Hao was pruning a stalk of Dragon Whisker Grass. This plant behaved almost like a sentient creature, its leaves swaying like human arms. Its roots were a vivid red, fiercely corrosive; a careless touch could cause extensive ulceration, so Gong Hao handled it with utmost caution.

“Hey, Hugh!” A small head poked into the greenhouse.

Gong Hao turned to see Fink.

“What brings you here?” Gong Hao asked.

Fink grinned as he entered. “I’ve finished my work, and since I had nothing else to do, I thought I’d come see you.”

“Sounds like you have an easy job.”

“I’ve been lucky. Hey, did you hear? Brent, that unlucky fellow, got assigned to Section 9. There’s a terrifying Sabertooth Beast there. Its head is as big as a table, and its teeth are long and sharp—wow, it’s really scary.” Fink spoke with a hint of schadenfreude, yet his tone remained innocent.

He gestured to show the size of the beast’s head, his face exaggerated.

Brent had bullied Hugh and Fink on the ship before Gong Hao arrived in this world. The two boys had suffered at the hands of the taller Brent. Perhaps because of his burly build, Sack assigned him to care for the fierce fourth-level magical beast in Section 9.

“Yes, I heard. I also heard Brent burst into tears right then and there,” Gong Hao smiled.

“That’s right,” Fink said proudly. “His job is to scrape powder from the Sabertooth Beast’s teeth every day. I hear it has incredible effects, but I doubt the beast likes its teeth being treated that way.”

“The powder from the Sabertooth Beast’s teeth is used to make mana-blocking potions. The beast itself can’t cast spells, but it’s immensely strong and, more importantly, can resist most magical attacks. Its teeth are both its weapons and its armor,” Gong Hao explained.

“How do you know that?” Fink was surprised.

Putting the freshly pruned Dragon Whisker Grass back in its pot, Gong Hao replied, “You know I served at Baron Harden’s estate. Baron Harden loved hunting; there’s a place called Redleaf Mountain near Southwell Town, where he often went, sometimes with his son. Once, we encountered a Sabertooth Beast on Redleaf Mountain. It killed three men on the spot. The baron fell seriously ill after returning, and for half a year, he didn’t visit Redleaf Mountain again. That’s when I learned about the Sabertooth Beast.”

From Hugh Glare’s memories, Gong Hao found Baron Harden to be a decent man—cheerful and generous, but unfortunately lacking in business acumen. If not for his inherited estates, he might have gone bankrupt long ago. Now, except for his patch of land, Baron Harden had almost nothing left.

What a pity. If the baron had had a little more money, perhaps Gong Hao wouldn’t have been sold to this godforsaken place.

Well, if one must lament, better to be angry at his aunt’s greed than mourn the baron’s misfortune.

With the Dragon Whisker Grass pruned, Gong Hao had finished his last task. Although this was only his second day on Purgatory Island, he quickly mastered all the necessary precautions. In his former life, he was a top student in chemistry, accustomed to lab work and highly skilled with his hands.

“All right, I’m done too. Fink, let’s go for a walk. It’s best not to linger here,” Gong Hao said.

“Why? I think it’s nice. Look at the beautiful flowers,” Fink pointed to a bright red blossom nearby.

Gong Hao’s face changed dramatically as he shouted, “Careful!”

The flower Fink had pointed at suddenly burst open, revealing a ring of sharp teeth beneath its petals, which lunged at Fink’s finger.

Gong Hao threw himself forward, knocking Fink to the ground. The flower’s jagged teeth grazed Gong Hao’s shoulder, tearing a chunk of flesh from his arm.

The stem withdrew, swallowing the bloody meat. The thick stalk resembled a human neck, its chewing and swallowing motions visible, enough to make one’s skin crawl.

Fink’s face went pale. “Oh, I’m sorry, Hugh. I really didn’t know the flower would do that.”

“That’s a Bloody Orchid, a jungle killer. Nearly extinct now—this is the only one left. Damn it, I just fed it, and it’s still hungry,” Gong Hao gritted his teeth from the pain, his sensitive young skin burning at the wound.

He glared at Fink helplessly. “Never approach these plants lightly. Remember, it’s not only beasts with fangs and claws you need to fear.”

“Like women,” Fink chimed in quickly.

Gong Hao looked at him in surprise. “Who told you that?”

“My father. He was a brilliant merchant, but in the end a woman took all his fortune. He drank himself to death, and I lost my support and was sold here. Before he died, he told me—all beautiful women are dangerous creatures. I just didn’t expect a flower to be the same.”

Gong Hao thought of the female intern who had blown up the entire laboratory and sent him here, and hugged Fink’s head. “Yes, your father was right… and even women who aren’t so beautiful are just as dangerous.”

“But I still like pretty girls,” Fink said with a silly grin.

Gong Hao laughed as well, his body trembling and aggravating his wound, making him gasp.

“Hey, you’re bleeding a lot. We should see Master Andrew. This is the Alchemy Castle, after all—they have the best healing potions.”

“No!” Gong Hao was startled, grabbing Fink’s arm. “Fink, I’m your best friend, right?”

“Yes… what’s wrong?” Fink was a little surprised.

“I just saved your finger, didn’t I?”

“Maybe your whole hand… That flower’s mouth was huge. All right, Hugh, what are you getting at? Your wound is serious, you shouldn’t delay.”

“Then listen to me, Fink. You owe me a favor. I want you to pay it back now.”

“Tell me what to do, I’ll do it.”

“Good. Don’t tell anyone about my injury. Remember, not a word to anyone.”

Fink stared at Gong Hao, who sighed softly. “Trust me, Fink. This place isn’t as simple as you think. I just don’t want Andrew to know I’m useless. Quite the opposite—we need to be better than anyone else.”

“Is that really necessary?” Fink questioned. “We’re just servants. Even if we work hard, we won’t get promoted.”

“It’s absolutely necessary,” Gong Hao insisted. “Remember, Fink, don’t come here unless it’s important. If needed, I’ll find you. I need to understand this place first before making any decisions.”

“All right, Hugh. You just saved me, so I’ll listen. But are you sure your wound isn’t serious?”

“Trust me. It’s just a flesh wound—nothing to worry about,” Gong Hao said firmly.

—————————————————

If a person cannot see clearly the environment he is in, he is destined to spend his life in mediocrity.

That was what Gong Hao’s father had taught him.

No matter what sort of place Purgatory Island was, Gong Hao was certain it was not a philanthropist’s paradise.

All the servants here were bought on the open market by the Empire of Lance and sent to this place. The work was far from safe. If someone worked poorly, they would be sent elsewhere. Did that mean only those who slack off could escape danger?

Such a paradox would never exist in any world governed by wisdom—whether material or magical.

Moreover, the castle on Purgatory Island had been here for twenty years. Was it possible that in two decades, they had never found sixty hardworking servants? Something was wrong.

The ones sent here were all adolescents, inexperienced and naive, easily deceived by a simple lie—but not Gong Hao. His mind was that of an adult.

To blend in, he often had to speak as a twelve-year-old, though he unconsciously revealed a mature air, setting him apart from the other boys, except for Fink.

Sadly, Fink remained innocent. Gong Hao could not tell him that those who shirked their duties might be executed, or used for some other sinister purpose.

No, not execution.

Every month, a new batch of youths was sent by arduous journey, only to have some chosen for slaughter? That made no sense. Purgatory Island was no execution ground.

So where did the missing young servants go? What was their fate? Whatever the answer, it surely related to alchemical experiments!

But what sort of experiment required so many people?

Gong Hao realized that alchemy in this world was a vast, complex discipline, and his own knowledge was woefully lacking.

Before he could find the answer, he ought to study the mysteries of alchemy more thoroughly.

After sending Fink away, Gong Hao gazed at the eighty-six magical plants in the greenhouse. Perhaps his understanding of alchemy should begin with these specimens.

How the wound hurt!