112: Chapter 0112 The Fruit of Sorrow

Felin was also a Mechanical Alchemy-type wizard, and she was from the renowned Lanwei Alchemy Academy. Perhaps she could bring him new ideas to solve the super long-range problem.

As a return gift, Li Size prepared to give Felin two bottles of the zero-ring mental power amplification potion he refined. Its effect was double that of ordinary amplification potions on the market, which could play a significant role at a critical moment.

After arranging the correspondence with Felin, Li Size let out a soft sigh, then quickly turned his attention to another pressing matter:

That was the commercial threat from the De Kela Si Merchant Guild.

This guild was no ordinary entity. It was famous in the Crimson Soul Duchy for distributing witch boxes, holding sales and after-sales maintenance agency rights for multiple well-known witch box brands. Its channels were extensive, and its capital was abundant.

However, precisely because it lacked core patented technology developed independently, De Kela Si always struggled to gain a firm foothold in the higher-tier market's discourse power.

It was for this very reason that they coveted the intellectual property rights of Li Size's two innovative inventions, the 'little sorcerer donkey' and the 'witchcraft motorcycle,' determined to acquire them.

Since the opponent was now clear, Li Size clearly realized that only by deeply understanding the opponent's strategy and weaknesses could he seize the initiative in this commercial and technological contest.

What he needed was not just defense, but a systematic and thorough countermeasure plan.

As of now, he could rely on two main intelligence channels:

The first was his father-in-law, Payne, the Deputy Director of the Monte Province Police Department.

Payne was not only well-connected and possessed numerous official and unofficial sources of information, but his position also allowed him access to some investigations and archives that were not publicly disclosed. This was undoubtedly an important and relatively reliable source of information.

The second channel was to purchase intelligence through Flora, utilizing the Dark Web contact method.

This type of intelligence was often more secretive and direct, possibly even involving internal dynamics that the De Kela Si Merchant Guild preferred not to disclose. However, it also came with higher risks and uncertainties.

Li Size secretly spent some intimate time with Gelia in her apartment, then contacted Payne.

His father-in-law was quite surprised that Li Size had learned the enemy's identity before he did and immediately agreed to help him investigate information about the De Kela Si Merchant Guild.

When Li Size returned to the apartment late at night, he encountered Flora waiting there. She brought him the latest information regarding the sorrow fruit:

One piece of news originated from the neighboring Stomhold Province. It was rumored that traces of the sorrow fruit had been discovered in the wilderness outside the city of Eridolia in Stomhold Province.

This discovery was located in a dangerous area known for the frequent appearance of high-tier Demonized Creature and First Ring Demonized Creature. The environment was perilous, and the sorrow fruit might be growing in hidden jungles or valleys.

The other piece of news came directly from within Monte Province. A Dark Web member reported that traces suspected to be sorrow fruit had also been observed in the wilderness area near Gele City.

This discovery was also in a high-risk zone, primarily dominated by the activity range of high-tier Demonized Creature, featuring complex terrain including dense forests and swamps.

The sorrow fruit, as one of the key main ingredients for refining the 'brain in a vat' potion, was undeniably valuable.

This potion could permanently enhance the user's Mental Energy, making it a rare treasure for a Wizard Apprentice.

However, obtaining the sorrow fruit was extremely difficult. Not only was the growing environment perilous, but it also required facing the threat of high-tier Demonized Creature, which deterred many Wizard Apprentices.

'Stomhold Province is too far. The round trip takes too much time,'

Li Size tapped the table lightly with his fingertip, his gaze falling on the marker for the Gele City wilderness on the map.

'Let's investigate the area around Gele City first. It's closer, making it easier to provide support. If we can successfully obtain the sorrow fruit, there's no need to travel that far.'

Flora lowered her head and replied:

'Master, rest assured. I will go prepare now. I will depart tomorrow morning to scout and retrieve the sorrow fruit for Master.'

Her voice was soft, yet carried an unquestionable firmness, clearly indicating that she had already contemplated the plan to go alone countless times in her mind.

Li Size shook his head, his fingertip pausing over the annotation for the 'Zero Ring High-tier Demonized Creature Area.'

'That place is no joke. The perception of Zero Ring High-tier Demonized Creature is several times sharper than ordinary Demonized Creature. It's too dangerous for you to go alone.'

Flora suddenly looked up, a flicker of surprise flashing in her amber eyes:

'Master, you...'

'I'll go with you,'

Li Size interrupted her, his tone leaving no room for argument.

'It's a good chance to test my newly improved witchcraft hand cannon. It should be sufficient for dealing with Zero Ring Demonized Creature.'

As he spoke, he took out the cold-gleaming hand cannon from his storage ring. The runes engraved on the barrel faintly flowed in the dim light.

Flora looked at the hand cannon, then at the concern in Li Size's eyes. Her lips moved, but she finally only curtsied:

'Yes, I obey.'

However, beneath her lowered eyelids, a faint blush secretly appeared.

The next morning, Li Size and Flora, following the guidance from the Dark Web information, arrived at Mist Veil Town on the outskirts of Gele City. Under an old locust tree at the town entrance, a man cloaked in black was already waiting.

He lifted his hood, revealing a pale yet sharp face. He was Kyle, the High-tier Wizard Apprentice who had contacted Flora on the Dark Web.

Kyle's gaze swept over the witchcraft hand cannon in Li Size's hand, a hint of undisguised greed flashing in his eyes. He then enthusiastically stepped forward:

'Are you two here for the sorrow fruit intelligence? Follow me. I will only take you to the specific location.'

Kyle led the two into a secluded private room in a tavern. He took out a yellowed map from his embrace and pointed a finger at the mark deep within the forest:

'The sorrow fruit tree is in the core area of this 'Whispering Forest.' However, some Zero Ring High-tier Demonized Creature are entrenched there. I advise you to be careful.'

He paused, then added:

'I can provide you with a hidden path that avoids most of the patrolling Demonized Creature, but the condition is that you must help me eliminate a few Zero Ring High-tier Demonized Creature along the way. They have been harassing my collection points recently.'

Li Size and Flora exchanged a look, taking it as a normal intelligence exchange and thinking nothing more of it, so they nodded in agreement.

Following Kyle's guidance, the two stepped into the Whispering Forest.

As soon as they entered the edge of the forest, they encountered the first wave of enemies: three Zero Ring Mid-tier 'Shadow Claw Wolves.' They were agile, their fur like ink, and their sharp claws gleamed with a faint light.

Li Size quickly raised the witchcraft hand cannon. With a loud 'bang,' a bullet containing an energy level of 6.57 whistled out, directly piercing the head of the leading Shadow Claw Wolf.

Flora drew the short sword at her waist and moved like a phantom among the wolf shadows, stabbing her sword precisely into the throat of another Shadow Claw Wolf.

The remaining one, sensing the danger and attempting to flee, was hit in the hind leg by Li Size's second shot, collapsing to the ground with a mournful cry.