I'm a proper student; I only take nine kinds of potions every day.

Chapter 132 Investigating a Case? Let me drink my fill of the potion first.

When Evan woke up the next morning, the first thing he did upon opening his eyes was, as usual, to check the control panel.

The Ironhead Potion's reverse effect has appeared.

You reversed the side effects of the incomplete Ironhead Potion.

Your electrical resistance is permanently increased by 2%.

Your skin is now more resilient. Your constitution has been permanently increased by 0.01.

"The iron-affected area has expanded from the mouth to the entire head, and the side effects have increased accordingly."

Ivan memorized the data, then got out of bed.

This effect is beneficial to oneself, but detrimental to a normal Witcher.

As he picked up his schoolbag to leave, his gaze fell on the cupboard.

The purplish-yellow crucible lay quietly inside.

"This thing is so big, it's inconvenient to carry around. It would be a shame if someone stole it thinking it was something valuable."

He pondered for a moment, then his eyes lit up.

Ten minutes later, the outer wall of the crucible had been smoked again with coal fire, and it looked no different from an ordinary broken iron pot.

He then poured half a pot of dirty water into the pot and casually threw it on the floor in the corner of the kitchen.

It was placed next to that old, broken water bucket and was completely inconspicuous.

"Even if a thief broke in, he wouldn't be interested in a broken pot filled with sewage."

After leaving the restaurant, it was still the Bee Restaurant, still offering cheap breakfasts for sixty cents, with large portions and unlimited food.

Then I took the tram to school.

At nine o'clock in the morning, while Ivan was sitting in the classroom taking a German class, two more notifications popped up on the panel.

You reversed the side effects of the quick-acting energy potion.

Your electrical resistance is permanently increased by 5%.

Your willpower has strengthened. Spirit permanently +0.04.

Ivan stared at the number.

"5% reactance?"

He quickly compared it in his mind to the previous oral version of the energy potion.

The electrical resistance is increased by about 2% to 3%, while the fast-acting version doubles it.

"Leaving aside the positive effects, the side effects have already been confirmed to have doubled."

"Dr. Forem only mentioned reducing electrical resistance before, but it seems that the fast-acting version will also reduce willpower."

"Good stuff, you should eat more of this in the future."

His gaze shifted to the second one.

You reversed the side effects of the quick-acting purification potion.

Your silver resistance is permanently increased by 4%.

You like the moon more now; Moon affinity +6%.

[The Moon's affinity was reversed from being devoured to: Sun's affinity +6%.]

Ivan was taken aback when he saw this information.

"Why do these side effects look so similar to those of the Anti-Moon Potion?"

He recalled the data from the previous anti-moon potion in his mind: silver resistance 2%, moon affinity 3%.

Quick-acting purification potion: Silver resistance 4%, Moon affinity 6%.

"Double it all!"

"Both are basic potions, which means the fast-acting version does have twice the side effects of the regular version, and the overall effect is similar to that of rectal absorption, with only some minor differences."

As he deftly twirled the pencil, Evan suddenly had a flash of inspiration.

"Wait! Are the Anti-Moon Potion and the Purification Potion related?"

"Both have similar side effects, and their main functions also involve purification."

"Could it be that Professor Byron modified the Anti-Moon Potion using a Purifying Potion?"

He wrote down this conjecture, thinking it might come in handy later.

After reviewing the side effects, Ivan took advantage of the moment when the teacher turned around to write letters on the blackboard to glance down at his complete panel.

Basic panel:

[Occupation: Witcher]

[Rank: Apprentice]

【Trait: Cain Thirst Bloodline: Copper Plague; Wings of the Black Sun (6.501%)】

[Constitution: 11.606→11.678]

[Spirit: 3.84→4.03]

[Vision: 3→4]

[Talent: Power of Nine Dragons]

Special Skills Panel:

[Super Self-Healing Power: Lightning Speed]

[Tolerance: 6.5%]

Blood quality: 511.5% → 516.5%

[Blood toxicity: 77% → 96%]

Solar affinity: 47% → 62%

Status panel:

Silver resistance: -60% → -54%

[Reactance: -37% → -30%]

[A Glimpse into Reality: Spiritual Limit Reduced by 20%, 132 Hours Remaining]

My mental strength has finally broken through level 4. My physical condition is also steadily improving. My solar affinity has exceeded 60%.

Although silver resistance and electrical resistance are still negative, they have been steadily increasing.

"Great, let's buy the ingredients tonight and continue eating!"

The daytime passed quickly, and Evan did not go to Professor Byron to ask for a potion.

On the one hand, I was afraid that eating it too frequently would scare the guy and make him wary in advance.

On the other hand, the grid of Nine Dragons' Power has been a bit crowded these past few days, so he plans to prioritize using his own quick-acting magic potions to make up for his weaknesses.

The fast-acting version not only has more side effects, but also a shorter reversal time, higher efficiency, and crucially, it can also increase your spiritual vision by winning a prize.

After school, Evan stuffed the money into his backpack and went straight to the McCree Detective Agency.

Pushing open the wooden door, the smell of tobacco and old paper wafted out.

McCree was sitting behind his desk when he saw Ivan walk in, and a shrewd smile appeared on his face.

Why didn't you come yesterday?

Ivan smiled and sat down on a bench: "I had a lot of homework yesterday, and I was too tired."

McCree sighed, twirling his pipe around his lips. "Students these days are really busy. I've heard that the academic pressure has increased significantly since the education reforms."

Evan nodded: "Yes! Nowadays, medical students must have at least two years of basic science education at the university level, and some even need to complete four years of undergraduate studies to obtain a bachelor's degree before they can apply to medical school."

McCree slapped him hard on the shoulder: "Keep it up, kid! Look at those famous doctors now, living in mansions, making money, and their status among social elites!"

He took a puff of his pipe, a genuine envy gleaming in his eyes.

"That's something to be envious of."

After exchanging a few words, McCree put down his pipe, leaned forward, and became more serious in his tone.

"I've taken on a job that I think would be perfect for people as skilled as you and Ms. Adolf."

Ivan asked curiously, "What kind of work?"

McCree narrowed his eyes: "Have you heard of the Poison Blade gang?"

The image immediately flashed into Evan's mind.

On the tram, there was a thief covered in disease and pustules. He was the one who provided the clue about Nyogda's family.

"I've seen them, those people who steal things on the tram."

McCree nodded: "Yes, it's them. These guys have been using that despicable tactic of getting themselves infected so that no one dares to arrest them quite openly lately."

He picked up a newspaper from the table; it contained a news article about the size of a small piece of tofu.

The headline reads: "The Poison Blade Gang is expanding, and citizens are filled with fear."

"These sickly people now number in the hundreds, and the numbers are expanding very rapidly."

"The client I received wanted to find out where they got all these illnesses."

Ivan went straight to the point: "Where's the money?"

McCree laughed: "They're very generous. Just find the location and tell them, and you can get ten dollars."

His tone became more serious: "Of course, kid, this isn't an easy job. Those diseases are terrifying."

Ivan tensed his arms, then grinned, "It's okay, I'm in good health."

McCree nodded: "Then I'll leave it to you. Also, I have something to do today, so I won't be serving meals!"

After saying that, he sprang up from his chair with an agility beyond his years, grabbed his coat and hat, and slipped out the door before Ivan could say, "Boss, I'm hungry."

The door slammed shut behind me.

Ivan sighed regretfully.

Stepping out of the detective agency, the chilly wind of late November rushed into his collar, and Ivan zipped up his old jacket all the way.

As he walked, he recalled the information the thief had given him that day.

"Nyo Clinic, and that very beautiful Mrs. Camille."

Thinking of this, Evan's mind automatically recalled the documents he had seen in the police station's archives yesterday.

Various viruses are now emerging in the lower-class communities of Bolton.

These viruses share a common characteristic: they are almost non-infectious and do not spread through the air, droplets, or contact.

However, the symptoms that appeared were extremely frightening: ulcers, pustules, skin diseases, limb swelling.

Many general clinics treat these symptoms as injuries or skin diseases.

But in reality, these diseases are essentially infections at some other level.

According to Gray's investigation records, the earliest source of these viruses can be traced back to about two years ago.

It first appeared in an abandoned mine south of Bolton.

There was a group of people secretly mining there. One night, a group of workers suddenly ran out from deep inside the mine.

Those workers had white eyes, couldn't understand human speech, and would bite anyone they saw.

They had similar symptoms at the time.

The bitten people soon turned into something similar to them.

Before this matter could even be reported to Gray, it was intercepted by the Red King's laboratory.

The Red King Laboratory negotiated with the landowner and then conducted some unseen experiments in the mine.

After that, the matter was dropped.

But a year ago, reports began to come in of strange knocking sounds coming from the abandoned mines at night.

It was rhythmic, like someone was hammering against the rock face.

Several thieves who wanted to sneak in and steal some ore never came out.

After the police were notified, they went to investigate and found only a few signs of a struggle near the mine entrance; the thief's body was missing.

When the case came to Gray's hands, he led his team to the scene for investigation and detected residual traces of the extraordinary aura of the Healing Church's copper transformation deep in the mine.

So at the time, Gray and his group categorized the matter as an internal affair of the Healing Church and put it aside.

Until recently, an increasing number of people have reported being attacked in mines and mountains by some kind of brass-skinned humans.

Those things are incredibly strong, invulnerable to swords and spears, cannot speak, and attack anyone they see.

At the same time, a large number of thieves infected with various strange diseases appeared in the city.

The Poison Blade Gang grew from a dozen to over a hundred members in just a few months.

Only then did Gray and his team belatedly begin to conduct a serious investigation.

Unfortunately, there are rules above, and a city has four law enforcement systems: the police, the church, the nobility, and the chamber of commerce.

The four systems operate independently, without interfering with each other, yet they also hinder each other.

Gray and his group encountered setbacks at every turn from the very beginning.

When you ask the Healing Church about copper-colored cosmetics, their answer is always the same four words: "No comment."

The copper mine where the copper corpse appeared was owned by the Bolton Mining Guild.

The Chamber of Commerce said there were no problems, everything was normal, and those reports were just rumors and slander spread by aristocratic factions, merely a tactic of business competition.

Ultimately, Gray spent a great deal of time and effort to pinpoint a key point from various fragmented clues.

A crossroads where all clues converge.

Niyo Clinic — Kemif. —

Ivan stood under the streetlight on the street corner, the cold wind making his collar swing back and forth, looking towards the south of the city.

The dim skyline there was jaggedly cut by factory chimneys and church spires.

"Mrs. Cammy————"

"This target is so big, I guess a lot of people are watching it. If I, a little Karami, go there now, I'll just be a complete clown."

, 7

"Now that we have a clear goal, let's wait and see."

"The top priority now is to drink enough potions! And then we can fix the last two weaknesses."

Silver resistance, electrical resistance —

These two negative numbers are still too large. If he encounters any unexpected situation, these two weaknesses could cost him his life at any time.

Moreover, knowing that there was a bronze corpse, other factions must have prepared electric-based methods.

He needs more potion ingredients.

Besides the supplies from David, there is another source for the potion ingredients.

Tavern!

At 6:30 p.m., Evan and Hill sat side by side in the last row of the tram.

The small coal stoves under the seats in the carriage were not heating enough, and a thin layer of water vapor condensed on the window glass.

The tram is heading towards East Bolton, destination: Maverick Square.

"How's your progress going?" Evan asked, turning his head to the side.

Hill leaned back in his seat, his face showing exhaustion.

"It's alright!"

"I've never dealt with ciphertext before. This stuff is really beyond human ability to learn; it's hidden inside those thick legal texts."

Looking at her like that, Evan said with some concern, "If you're too tired, go and rest. I'll go to the tavern by myself."

The tavern, a gathering place for wild superhumans.

There, you can not only accept hunting quests, but also buy regular monster materials.

The source of the materials David possessed, and the final destination of the ghoul part the two had captured earlier, both originated from there.

Hill chuckled and said, "Silly boy! You can't get into this place without someone's introduction."

She stretched, her joints cracking.

"I'm not tired, but I feel like this stuff is polluting my brain. Now I can recite those legal articles by myself when I close my eyes."

Evan smiled and said, "That shows you've really absorbed what you've learned, senior sister."

Hill chuckled and scolded, "Hey kid, where are you? I heard yesterday you got the materials and the crucible. Did you succeed?"

The two did not deliberately lower their voices, after all, there was nothing special about such a conversation.

Afraid of scaring Hill, Evan didn't tell the truth: "Fifty-fifty, I plan to buy materials and try again today."