Chapter Forty-Seven: Chaklai

Without Avril, life once again became busy. Diligent work and dedicated research became Gong Hao’s sole focus. From the moment he succeeded Andrew, Gong Hao no longer accompanied Lancelot on hunts, nor did he serve as the librarian’s record keeper. For him, neither of these roles could bring much more benefit now; in fact, he barely involved himself in managing the servants anymore, devoting himself instead to alchemical experiments.

Among all of Heinz’s alchemical research, the study of spatial magic progressed the slowest, likely because spatial magic itself was considered supreme. The achievements an alchemist could reach in the deepest realms of magic were always limited. This had become Gong Hao’s primary subject. He had to do everything in his remaining time to complete research on the teleportation array—only then might he earn his freedom to leave. But this was, clearly, anything but easy.

Throughout history, countless famed alchemists had conducted experiment after experiment on spatial magic. Numerous spatial mages and alchemists threw themselves into the project, feverishly attempting to construct a freely connected spatial channel between locations, but without exception, all failed. It wasn’t until seven hundred years ago that an alchemist named Boyd Waite succeeded in crafting his first storage artifact, offering a glimmer of hope for spatial magic in alchemy. Yet with Boyd Waite’s sudden death, the technique vanished as well. Soon after, others also made inventions of varying significance, but the most renowned of all was still Electra.

He was the first—and only—person to complete a teleportation array.

The teleportation array, like storage artifacts and long-distance communication, relied on immense power to open a barrier in space, creating an artificial passage through which matter or information could be transmitted or stored. For Heinz, who had long researched this field, opening such a passage with sufficient energy was no longer an impossible challenge; after all, spatial mages could achieve this. The true difficulty lay in maintaining the passage.

Neither magic nor alchemy had ever solved this. It was as if Heinz had made helicopter blades that could lift the aircraft, but could never resolve the problem of the engine’s energy supply. And this energy supply, needed to breach the spatial barrier, consumed far more power than lifting dozens of tons of steel.

In fact, Heinz could only attempt such experiments a few times a year due to the enormous resource cost. This was precisely why spatial magic research had stalled: the cost of experimentation was simply too great for most to endure.

Not long after taking on this new task, Gong Hao realized that these three technologies had all ultimately stagnated due to the same issue: energy supply. Every other problem had pretty much been solved, except for the continuous supply of energy—this alone remained unsolved.

This was the only trial facing Gong Hao. If only he could solve the problem of continuous energy supply, every other difficulty would vanish at once. But how to overcome this obstacle? Once again, Gong Hao plunged into long, arduous exploration.

—

With a thunderous explosion, the fifth-floor window of the alchemy tower belched thick smoke.

Then Gong Hao emerged, his face blackened and his expression dark. His robe had burned through in many places, leaving him looking utterly disheveled. A few apprentices snickered, while only the dull puppet assistant mechanically handed him a towel.

Since Gong Hao had buried himself in alchemical experiments, such incidents had become commonplace. Each time ended the same: Gong Hao blasted from the lab, covered in soot. Were it not for his training in martial energy—he had become a level-two warrior—and his wind magic, which let him cast an air shield, these frequent explosions would have left him seriously injured.

At least his mastery of the air shield spell had improved.

“Another failure?” Andrew descended the stairs, laughing at Gong Hao’s sorry state.

Gong Hao could only shake his head. “You know, Lord Andrew, no matter how prepared I am for failure, each setback still hits me hard. It’s so demoralizing.”

Andrew waved his hand dismissively. “Shui, I’ve told you before, there’s no need to call me ‘lord’ anymore.”

“I have no other way to show you my respect. If not for your support, I wouldn’t be standing here in this robe, working on my most beloved experiments on the fifth floor of the alchemy tower.”

Andrew was quite pleased with Gong Hao’s deference. “I know how hard you’re working—these days you’re barely sleeping. But alchemy has never been a field conquered in a single leap; it requires patience and perseverance. Rest a bit. It’ll do you good, clear your mind, and keep your thoughts sharp.”

“I don’t know what else to do besides work,” Gong Hao replied, looking bewildered.

Andrew laughed heartily. “Oh, Shui, your greatest strength is your focus, but it’s also your greatest flaw. Why not go out for a walk? Today’s the day the Free Spirit arrives, and by tradition, you’re due to make the delivery.”

“Ah, the Free Spirit.” Gong Hao suddenly remembered—it was indeed the day the Free Spirit was due. His recent intense research had made him lose track of time.

“All right, I’ll go prepare,” he said.

The Free Spirit had arrived.

For the past twenty years, it was always Andrew who received the ship. Now, it was a boy not yet fifteen.

Every time Chuckley looked at Gong Hao, he found the youth filled with astonishing wonder. Gong Hao had broken the year-long survival limit for servants on the island. He had become an apprentice. Now, he was an assistant. All this had happened in less than two years—Shui Grell was making a three-level leap in his life at breathtaking speed, leaving Chuckley, who had once delivered the boy, deeply moved.

He still remembered the weeping boy about to leave home; now, that same boy stood before him, spirited and full of purpose.

“Thirty puppet warriors, twenty flesh golems, undead puppets, and spirit fiends. The rest are in the crates. Please check the inventory,” Gong Hao said politely.

“Shui Grell, I hear Master Heinz has entrusted you with a great responsibility—research on the spatial array?” Chuckley didn’t bother checking the goods; his subordinates would handle that. Instead, he began a warm conversation with Gong Hao.

“Yes, Lord Chuckley. It’s all thanks to my mentor’s appreciation and guidance.”

“And no lack of your own effort.”

Gong Hao made no reply.

Chuckley glanced back at the ship, where Bailey and several warriors waited.

“You get along well with Bailey and the others?” he asked lightly.

“Lord Bailey has always looked out for me.”

“Looked out for you so well that every time you deliver the goods, he invites you for a drink?”

“…Yes, my lord.”

“Shui Grell, did you hear Bailey married last month?”

“I hadn’t heard, sir.”

“It’s his third wedding this year. Since you came to the island two years ago, Bailey has married five wives—he now has thirteen women.”

“Lord Bailey is truly fortunate.”

“What amazes me is how he supports so many women!” Chuckley glanced at Gong Hao, a hint of meaning in his eyes. “Perhaps I should ask Heinz if the castle's supply requisitions have been increasing.”

Gong Hao answered steadily, “There’s absolutely no such issue, Lord Chuckley. Of course, if you wish, you could marry as many wives yourself.”

“Oh?” Chuckley raised his eyebrows. “Shui Grell, you know, as a leader, there are times when you can’t govern your subordinates too harshly. Sometimes you must turn a blind eye. No one likes someone who blocks their path to profit. But if my leniency causes losses for the Empire, that’s unacceptable. What do you think I should do?”

“That was my oversight, Lord Chuckley, but I can make amends.”

“Very well. You know where my room is.”

“Yes, sir,” Gong Hao replied with a smile.

Chuckley turned away, and Gong Hao headed toward the bow.

As he boarded, Bailey greeted him with a hearty laugh and a hug. “Hey, look, everyone! Is this Shui Grell? He’s become a great alchemist’s assistant! My God, you’re driving me mad. I heard Pierre died of illness—is that true?”

“Yes, Bailey, but that’s no excuse for you to marry so many women. Damn it, you’ve made Chuckley suspicious of us.” Gong Hao wanted to punch the lot of them. Chuckley wasn’t one to be trifled with—his men colluding with those on Purgatory Island to make money behind his back? There was no way he’d remain indifferent.

A warrior named Bors interjected, “It has nothing to do with marriage; that’s just an excuse. Last month, Bailey bought an elven slave girl at auction. Do you know how much he paid? This damned dog, Bailey, spent a thousand gold witt—a sum even nobles would balk at!”

“She’s irresistible! And I had a friend bid for me,” Bailey protested.

“But she ended up in your home, you fool,” Bors retorted. “And Chuckley saw her.”

Then he turned to Gong Hao. “So Chuckley checked all of us, and he found that over the past two years we’ve all been…”

“Spending money like water?” Gong Hao asked coldly.

Bors shrugged helplessly. “Isn’t that what money’s for?”

“Well, congratulations. Now you have a new partner sharing the spoils. I’m afraid I’ll have to give everything I have this month to Chuckley just to appease his wrath.”

“Oh, no!” the warriors shouted in unison.

“I’m sorry, gentlemen, unless you want the whole scheme exposed. You’ve benefited for two years, and Chuckley’s gotten nothing. He’s the boss—he must be compensated.”

“Damn you, Bailey! I warned you—women are trouble!” the warriors cursed at Bailey.

Bailey surrendered. “All right, all right, I’ll sell her when I get back. I’m tired of her anyway. I’ll make it up to everyone.”

“Bailey, where are my items?” Gong Hao cut off their arguments; this wasn’t something to be debated loudly.

“They’re here,” Bailey replied, producing a stack of documents. “At last, I’ve figured out what’s going on with Lancelot. Damn, the guy’s actually royalty.”

“Royalty?”

Gong Hao was taken aback.

“Yes, though not from the House of Glory.”

“He’s from the Southern Family?” Gong Hao understood.

“That’s right, the Southern Family,” Bailey confirmed.

Gong Hao nodded slightly and produced a new list. “This is what I’ll need next month.”

“You always want the oddest things—and they’re a pain to get. I bet Lord Chuckley won’t run around for you. Damn it, we do all the work, and he gets all the benefits,” Bailey grumbled.

Gong Hao replied bluntly, “And if anything goes wrong, you’ll be the ones to take the fall. Chuckley has never uttered a single word to me about money, yet he gets everything he wants. If there’s a slip-up, he’ll merely be guilty of poor supervision, but you’ll end up at the gallows. You should be grateful for his generosity, kindness, and tolerance. Look at yourselves, then look at your superior—that’s the difference. I suggest you stop resenting Chuckley’s greed. If he weren’t greedy, you’d all be dead. As for me, things might be different—Purgatory Island needs me.”

The warriors were left speechless by Gong Hao’s sarcasm.

Unconsciously, the golden-haired boy who once addressed everyone as “sir” had become someone who could reprimand them at will.

The change in status had been so natural, and yet so profound.