104: Preparations before cooking

Lance had mentioned potions earlier.

She carried many herbs and potions with her and even knew how to concoct rare potions to eliminate the scent of a Foster Mother; she certainly wasn't just an Elementary Pharmacist.

And Hain had said that there was a way to make an S-rank lose control: a special potion.

So, was it possible for Lance to concoct such a potion?

But ultimately, she and Lance had only just met.

Even if everything Lance said was true, even if she was also a Foster Mother like Tu Nan and could be just as ruthless to herself—cutting off a piece of her own flesh without anesthetic...

There was no reason for her to take a risk for Tu Nan—to drug an S-rank Male Beast.

Normally, that would be the case.

But was Lance someone who could be understood through common logic? Tu Nan observed her calmly.

Tu Nan decided to give it a try.

However, she could never reveal everything about the System or her own life.

She needed a new "story."

A story that Lance would find both reasonable and interesting, making her willing to help.

And of course, Lance had to be able to concoct that special potion.

Got it!

"You mentioned earlier that you could help me concoct that special potion. Does that mean you're a Pharmacist?" Tu Nan began by revisiting the previous topic.

Lance was very proud. "That's right! Me! The Genius Pharmacist, the light of Female Beasts, an epoch-making existence!"

"Wow! For a Female Beast to achieve this is... really not easy." Tu Nan's eyes sparkled, three parts feigned but seven parts sincere. "I don't have any special skills, so I really admire people like you."

"Hehehe." Lance was a bit embarrassed. She was very sensitive to emotions and could see Tu Nan's sincere admiration.

Rubbing her earlobe, she said sheepishly, "It's not that exaggerated, hahahaha. Well, most of them, yeah, I can make almost all of them. Mostly new potions; the ones I concoct myself are quite good. I'll give you some next time."

Tu Nan was satisfied; there was hope.

She asked curiously, "Then do you know of any herbs or potions that can make an S-rank beastman lose control? Is it considered a Forbidden Drug?"

Lance's laughter stopped abruptly, and Tu Nan's expression also cooled.

"Oh, Pearl..." Lance was astonished. "You really don't treat me like an outsider. An S-rank, Colonel Kong. Tell me, what are you planning to do?"

She was full of interest. "If you want me to take such a big risk, you have to give me a plausible reason, right? Hmm?"

Lance didn't explode in anger.

Nor did she refuse.

This showed that she not only could really make this drug but was also truly crazy. Just as Tu Nan had judged, beneath this Female Beast's cynical exterior was suppressed madness.

Tu Nan curled the corners of her mouth.

"Didn't you say my eyes are full of desire? You were right."

"You could also say it's love." Tu Nan wove everything Lance knew into this story.

"You're right. A Foster Mother... can't possibly fall in love with those Male Beasts, just as furniture doesn't fall in love with the owner of the room."

"But I love the Children." Tu Nan's eyes shone brightly. "You saw those Two Children, didn't you? Aren't the babies incredibly cute? They trust you, protect you, and depend on you wholeheartedly. They are the anchor of my life."

Tu Nan didn't need to act; it was a total outpouring of genuine emotion.

"I love them. Since I've had them, my life finally has real meaning. I'm no longer just an optional presence."

"I want more, and I have a special quirk..." She gave a morbid smile.

"I only want to give birth to the Children of the strong." She bit her lip somewhat anxiously. "My genetic Rank is too low, and I don't want to hold my Children back."

"They shouldn't have to suffer even a bit of what I went through, you know? I want them to win at the starting line!"

Lance was greatly shocked.

"Good grief, you're even crazier than I thought." She clicked her tongue in wonder.

"I knew any Foster Mother who could escape would have some skill and ambition. Sure enough." She held Tu Nan's head and observed her for a long time, as if studying a rare species.

"Although... I can't quite understand your hobby, I respect everyone's personal interests. Hmm, stealing a child from Kong Jiamu? You want to break his Gene Lock?"

She let go of Tu Nan and leaned back, lying on the sofa and laughing uproariously.

"Cough, cough... How interesting. So, the father of those Two Children isn't an ordinary person either?"

Tu Nan thought of that strong Wanderer, the Male Beast who had risen from the bottom-tier Chaotic Beasts to join the Sharp Blade Squad and was set to become a noble's son-in-law.

"That's right, he's not an ordinary person either. But he's only A-rank, so it wasn't this troublesome."

Tu Nan simplified all her previous difficulties into a single sentence.

"You've feasted well..." Lance began to admire the Female Beast before her.

"I believe now that you truly have ambitions. After all, an A-rank Male Beast isn't someone everyone would be willing to let go of."

Tu Nan nodded politely and accepted her praise without hesitation.

"I haven't lost my mind. No matter how strong or noble the master is, what does that have to do with a slave? I only want Children."

Lance was overjoyed!

This was great. She had met and saved many Foster Mothers, but they were always stuck in a mysterious sense of guilt and required extra energy to soothe.

People as clear-headed as Pearl were truly rare.

For the sake of this clarity, she had to help. Enthusiastically, she asked, "I see things are progressing quickly between you and that Kong Jiamu. So, what do you plan to do?"

Tu Nan countered, "I need to know what that potion is like first. I can't just pour it down his throat, can I? If it were that easy, he wouldn't have lived this long."

Very smart, Lance thought.

Things were getting more and more interesting, and working with a smart person meant she didn't have to worry about leaving a trail that could lead back to her.

She happily began to plan with Tu Nan.

"The most powerful drugs are all forbidden. And each has a unique scent that's very easy to identify."

This was exactly what Tu Nan thought; for example, catnip should have a distinct smell.

"But you've met me, Lance! The Genius Pharmacist!"

If Lance had a tail, it would have been wagging high by now. But she was a... Tu Nan couldn't quite tell her species, but she was definitely an Aquatic Species; she had beautiful Ear Fins behind her ears.

She smiled deviously and said to Tu Nan, "I just happen to hate birds the most; I'm always thinking of ways to make them go crazy. So... I just happen to have a potion that can make them lose their reason."

The mad researcher looked up at the Void Realm, muttering things Tu Nan couldn't understand for a long time before finally nodding.

"Yes, S-rank is a bit troublesome, but Kong Jiamu seems to be only S-minus. Adding one more specific Spice should do it."

Tu Nan swallowed hard and asked boldly.

"Can that Spice be added separately?" At Lance's thoughtful gaze, Tu Nan gave an example.

"For instance, could it be made into a perfume to be sprayed on me?"

Lance clapped her hands together.

"A Genius idea! I have a feeling... we're going to get along very well."

Excellent. The day Kong Jiamu would fall into her clutches was just around the corner.