The most shameless alchemist in history

733 Extreme Cold Purgatory

"Tanya, are you alright? I told you not to push yourself, just stay in your room and rest, but you insisted on coming down," Rhodes complained. He had originally been very opposed to Tanya leaving her room to come down for a meal.

She only needed to deliver lunch to the room as usual, but Tanya insisted on going downstairs herself. Rhodes couldn't persuade her otherwise, so he had no choice but to comply. However, seeing Tanya's condition at this moment, Rhodes became somewhat annoyed.

"I already told you I'm fine, so don't underestimate me. I'm very capable, you know that, Rhode?" Tanya said confidently, though she felt that Rhode was acting a little strange compared to usual.

In the past, Rhodes would have found all sorts of strange reasons to argue with her and make fun of her, but since returning from the Abyss of Winter, Rhodes has become exceptionally caring towards her, almost to the point of being meticulous. This made Tanya suspect that Rhodes had taken some kind of drug or was possessed by some unknown creature.

“That’s right, Tanya is very powerful. After eating, shouldn’t Tanya go and have a nice nap?” Dure said with a smile. He knew that the more he argued with Tanya, the more excited she would get, so he might as well go along with her.

"Yawn, Dure, you're right. And now that you mention it, I do seem a little sleepy. Well, I'm full, you guys can chat some more, I'm going back to rest." Tanya yawned slowly, then got up and headed up the stairs to return to her room.

"Tanya, be careful. Are you sure you're really okay? Shall I take you?" Rhodes was worried about Tanya's health, so he immediately got up and followed her, carefully supporting her, afraid that she might fall down the stairs, which would be terrible.

"Rhodes, you're so long-winded. I'm an adult, not a child. This level of talk is perfectly fine for me. You're just looking down on me. Besides, Rhodes, you seem a bit strange. You're not usually this long-winded."

Tanya looked at Rhodes with a puzzled expression. Faced with Tanya's suspicious gaze, Rhodes subconsciously turned his head to the side, not daring to look her in the eye. His heart was pounding and his breathing became rapid.

"How am I being long-winded? Alright, go back to your room quietly, take it slow, understand?" Rhodes raised his voice, perhaps out of guilt. He ignored Tanya's opinion and helped her upstairs, walking step by step.

Because Tanya's body had not fully recovered, she walked very slowly. Fortunately, Rhodes was very patient, and gradually, amidst the noise, they disappeared from the sight of Dr. Dure and Dr. Sara.

"Their relationship is really good, but Tanya seems a bit carefree and oblivious, as if she doesn't understand Rhode's feelings." Dure had been watching Rhode and Tanya until their figures completely disappeared before slowly turning his gaze away and saying with a smile.

"That's just how Tanya is. Although she's a girl, she's very carefree and absent-minded, while Rhodes is more meticulous. But they're still young, and they have plenty of time to explore. Youth is a wonderful thing." Dr. Sarah laughed heartily, her eyes revealing envy. However, when she mentioned her two proud students, her words were filled with genuine pride and satisfaction.

“Doctor, aren’t you young too? You’re still in your prime.” Dure said with a smile. His words weren’t entirely flattery towards Dr. Sarah. After all, the journey from the Abyss of Winter to Winter Town was extremely treacherous. Even a young person like Tania couldn’t withstand the wind and snow on the way, but Dr. Sarah persevered all the way. At least in terms of physical strength, she was in no way inferior to a young person.

"I'm old, I'm really old, my hair is all white. If I were twenty years younger, I would definitely go to the Frozen Purgatory to find the Ice Dragon. But at this age, both my physical strength and mental strength are declining. I can't compare to when I was young at all. It seems that I will never see the Ice Dragon again in my life," Dr. Sarah said with some regret.

Ice Dragon has always held a very special place in his heart. His greatest wish in this life is to see Ice Dragon again, but given the current situation, it seems impossible for him to fulfill this wish.

"Extreme Cold Purgatory? What kind of place is that?" Du Lei pondered the term. It was the first time he had ever heard of such a place. At the same time, the image of those enormous icy wings appeared in his mind.

If his guess is correct, he fell from the broken bridge of Winter's Bridge eight years ago and was attacked by an ice dragon. However, he did not have concrete evidence, and too much time had passed, so he did not tell Dr. Sara about it. Otherwise, if he was wrong, wouldn't it be too cruel to let Dr. Sara face the shattering of her hopes again?

“The Frozen Purgatory is the coldest place in the world. If the Abyss of Winter is the birthplace of the Ice Dragon, then the Frozen Purgatory is where the Ice Dragon meets its end. According to records, the Ice Dragon wanders between the Abyss of Winter and the Frozen Purgatory every year. Since it is not in the Abyss of Winter, it can only be in the Frozen Purgatory,” Dr. Sarah said with emotion.

Although he had never been to the Extreme Cold Purgatory, he knew it was a terrifying place, far more frigid than the Abyss of Winter. He knew his old bones couldn't withstand the ravages of the Extreme Cold Purgatory's winds and snow.

"Does such a place really exist in this world? If I have the chance, I definitely want to go and see it." Du Lei remembered the name Extreme Cold Purgatory. The reason he remembered it was not because he was particularly curious, but because he had a deep grudge against the Ice Dragon. It was the Ice Dragon that knocked him down to the Abyss of Winter, which caused him to sleep for eight long years. So he naturally held the Ice Dragon responsible for this.

“Brother Du Lei, you are still very young, and you are also an excellent magic user. You will definitely have the opportunity to go to the Extreme Cold Purgatory. By the way, what’s going on in Winter Town? I just inquired and it seems that the Southern Front is going to attack the town’s warehouse, which caused the commotion these past two days.”

Dr. Sarah asked curiously, since they had been staying at the hotel for the past two days. Winter Town was not a large area, and even the slightest rustling sound could be clearly seen and heard.

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734 Reconciliation Possible

"That's indeed the case. Currently, both the Northern and Southern armies are concentrated on the front lines of Winter City. They urgently need a breakthrough to open up the situation. For the Southern front, destroying the supplies piled up in Winter Town would effectively inflict a heavy blow on the Northern army. For the Northern army, ensuring the safety of supplies is an essential part of maintaining the army's combat effectiveness. Therefore, they have strengthened the defenses of Winter Town, which has led to the current situation where Winter Town is frequently experiencing disturbances." Du Lei explained in detail the current situation facing Winter Town.

Although he and Dr. Sarah arrived in Wintertown at the same time, he had more access to information about what was happening there.

"I see. So it seems that the eight-year civil war in the Snow Kingdom is finally coming to an end?" Dr. Sara nodded thoughtfully. The Snow Kingdom occupies a pivotal position in the Northern Continent, and this protracted civil war has had a far-reaching impact, and it is also one of the research topics of Sena University.

"But what will happen to the Snow Country after the war ends?" Dure shook his head slightly. He could foresee the future of the Snow Country after the war, which was not optimistic at all.

"After the war ends, regardless of which side wins, the Snow Country's national strength will inevitably be greatly weakened. Moreover, there are traces of interference from neighboring countries in this war, so the Snow Country may become a vassal of other countries in the future."

Dr. Sarah thought for a moment and answered seriously. If others had heard him, they would have thought it was absurd, but Dure knew that it was the result of Dr. Sarah's careful consideration.

"Don't the Southern Front and the Northern Front see the hidden dangers? I don't believe it." Dure frowned. He believed that both the Northern Front and the Southern Front had many top strategists. If he and Dr. Sarah could see the problems, those people couldn't possibly not see them. But even so, they still allowed this to happen, which puzzled Dure the most.

“Brother Du Lei, you have to understand that whether it’s an individual or a country, their starting point for doing something is always for their own benefit. Just looking at the Snow Country itself, the result of the civil war will inevitably lead to a weakening of its national strength, which is not a good thing. But for the Southern or Northern Country, if they lose this war, then the problem they face is not just a weakening of their country, but that they themselves will be wiped out.”

Dr. Sarah astutely pointed out the crux of why the South and the North, knowing the outcome of the war, still fought so fiercely.

“I see. If they lose the war, they lose everything. So, compared to the weakening of their national strength, what they don’t want to see is losing their power. Ultimately, it’s the struggle for interests that’s at play.” Dure nodded slightly, agreeing with Dr. Sarah on this point.

"On this land of the Snow Kingdom, the Northern Kingdom, as the dominant party, has ruled this land for hundreds of years. However, with the changing times, the Southern Kingdom, which originally had little status in the Snow Kingdom, began to actively strive for rights commensurate with its own wealth. From the perspective of the Northern Kingdom, this was an act of seizing power from them, so their reaction was strong. Meanwhile, neighboring countries, in order to expand, also actively participated, trying to get a share of this change, ultimately leading to the current situation," Du Lei nodded thoughtfully as he spoke.

“That’s true. So the conflict between the Southern Kingdom and the Northern Kingdom was inevitable, and this civil war lasted for eight years. The Snow Kingdom’s national strength was also greatly weakened by this internal strife.” Dr. Sara affirmed Dure’s statement, nodded, and continued.

"So, Dr. Sara, is there any possibility of reconciliation between the Southern Front and the Northern Front, which holds real power? After all, continuing the internal strife will only weaken them further. But if it stops now, at least a considerable portion of the Snow Kingdom's national strength can be preserved," Dure asked tentatively, offering his own insights.

"Reconciliation? Mr. Dure, first of all, you need to understand one thing: there is no such thing as reconciliation in this world. Any so-called 'reconciliation' is the result of a compromise between the two parties regarding the redistribution of interests. In the short term, both parties agree on the benefits they have gained, so reconciliation can last for a considerable period of time. However, as time goes on, one party will always feel that they have been taken advantage of, so they try to reach a new reconciliation. It's like a cake; the party with the bigger fist always wants to share the bigger slice." Dr. Sarah pointed to the cake and gave an analogy.

"So, regarding the current situation in the Snow Country, Dr. Sara, do you think the Southern Front and the Northern Front can reach an agreement on the distribution of benefits?" Dure changed his question, hoping to get Dr. Sara's answer. As a professor at Sena University, Dr. Sara's knowledge was very extensive, which Dure greatly admired.

“If it were another country, it might be possible to solve the problem, but since it’s the Land of Snow, it will probably be very difficult.” Dr. Sara thought for a moment, then gently shook his head, giving a negative answer.

"Why can other countries solve this, but the Snow Country can't?" Dure couldn't understand this, and he asked in confusion.

"Because of tradition," Dr. Sarah simply stated as her answer to the question.

“Tradition? What does that mean?” Dure pondered the word carefully, trying to discern some unusual meaning from it. In fact, several speculations came to mind, but he quickly shook his head, rejecting them one by one, because he did not believe his guesses were correct.

"Given the current situation in the Snow Kingdom, if both sides are to reach a reconciliation, then the Northern Kingdom will inevitably have to share power with the Southern Kingdom's forces. However, Brother Dure, the Northern Kingdom has held power for centuries. This power doesn't belong to any one or a few individuals, but is shared by a deeply entrenched network of powerful families. The current Frost Queen was able to win the fierce battle for the throne many years ago and sit on the throne entirely because of the support of these powerful families. Even if she is willing to reconcile, will those families agree? Therefore, it is highly unrealistic for the Southern Kingdom's forces to reconcile with the Northern Kingdom. Only by ending the old order through war and carrying out a comprehensive reshuffling of power can the Snow Kingdom have a chance to be reborn," Dr. Sarah said with a sigh.

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735 Leave as soon as possible

“So that’s how it is. No wonder Winry said that. Dr. Sarah, if, I mean if the Frost Queen abdicates and a new representative takes the stage, would that alleviate the predicament facing the Snow Kingdom?” Dure nodded thoughtfully.

He recalled what he had said to Wenli when he left the villa. At that time, Wenli had a very helpless expression on her face. At this moment, he could finally understand Wenli's feelings. At the same time, a new guess emerged in his mind, and he immediately asked.

"The Frost Queen abdicates? The only possibility for her abdication is that she is defeated by the Southern Front and overthrown. Before that happens, the army that supports the Frost Queen will inevitably fight to the death to protect its existing interests. This will also inevitably lead to a significant weakening of the Snow Kingdom's national strength, which is something that the surrounding countries are happy to see." Dr. Sarah shook her head and said.

“No, besides being defeated by the Southern Front, there is another possibility that the Frost Queen will abdicate.” Dure thought for a moment and then said with certainty. Although Dr. Sarah was knowledgeable and respectable, and her speculation was actually very logical and reasonable, Dure knew some information that even Dr. Sarah did not know.

"Oh? Are there any other methods, young man Du Lei? Tell me about them." Dr. Sarah suddenly became interested and asked curiously. He was growing increasingly fond of the young man in front of him, and the two began a new round of discussion...

After two days of turmoil, Winter Town finally returned to peace. Since the heavy snow had just stopped, the town's children ran outside to build snowmen and have snowball fights, having a great time. The previous two days, due to the frequent clashes between guards and rebels on the streets, the children had been kept at home by their parents and couldn't come out, which had made them very restless.

The children played until dark before reluctantly heading home. When Du Lei left the hotel, he saw the snowman built outside and a little boy writing in the snow, but he was quickly dragged back by his parents. Night had fallen, and it was dinnertime.

However, Dure did not stay at the hotel to have dinner with Dr. Sarah and her group, nor did he accept the invitation from the villa. Instead, he headed towards the bridge on the east side of Wintertown, where the Southern Front's stronghold was located.

According to his plan, he would go to Winter City first thing tomorrow morning. Before that, he had to resolve the matter of Winter Town. Otherwise, once he left, the Northern Army and the Southern Front would start fighting again, and Wenli and Liana would once again be on opposite sides, which would be very bad.

"Miss Liana, let's leave here as soon as possible. This place has been exposed, and that guy will definitely come here with the Northern Army to arrest us soon. We have to leave." Inside the stronghold, Doma was trying to persuade him. Ever since he saw the man leave at the entrance of the stronghold, he had a bad feeling that something was going to happen.

"Doma, how dare you say that? If it weren't for you, we wouldn't be in this situation!" Thompson glared at Dorma fiercely, his words carrying a hint of disappointment and frustration. After all, he had been running the business in Winter Town for many years to achieve its current status.

However, due to Doma's mistake, not only did his years of hard work go to waste, but Liana was also put in a very dangerous situation, which made Thompson very angry.

“Even if he comes back, he definitely won’t come back alone. He’ll bring people from the North with him. How can a man like that be trusted?” Doma clenched his fists. He really couldn’t understand why Miss Liana would have such unreserved trust in that man.

The more she trusted that man, the more anxious and uneasy he became, as if a flame was burning fiercely in his heart. He wasn't like this before, and he couldn't understand how he had become like this.

"Knock knock knock." Just then, there was a knock on the door. The door was not closed, so when they turned around at the sound, they could easily see a young man calmly looking at them in the doorway. Doma recognized the guy immediately.

He was the suspicious man who had left not long ago. Seeing him return now surprised and alarmed Doma, who instinctively reached for the gunpowder gun he carried.

"Dure, you're back?" Upon seeing the person, Liana was overjoyed and immediately went to greet him. Regardless of what others were saying or trying to persuade her, she had unparalleled trust in Dure. She believed that the latter would never let her down, and now Dure had proven with his actions that her belief was correct.

"You bastard...you actually dare to come back? What kind of scheme do you have this time? How do you plan to harm us this time?" Doma asked loudly when he saw that Dure was very nervous.

Before this, he had so desperately hoped that this person would betray Miss Liana and come with the guards of the North, because only in this way could his suspicions be proven correct. However, when he looked behind Dure and confirmed that he had come alone, it made Doma very anxious.

"Intrigues and schemes? I think you may have forgotten what I said before. If I really wanted to deal with you, I wouldn't need to go through all this trouble. I could easily wipe you all out in one fell swoop. The reason I'm here is because I have important business to attend to." Dure coldly responded to Doma's questioning, not taking his words to heart, because Doma posed no threat to him whatsoever.

"Alright, Mr. Thompson, don't blame Dorma anymore. It's because that woman named Winry is too cunning. It's also my fault for not being prepared enough and underestimating her, which has led us into this predicament. But Dorma, I believe that Dure won't betray us, so you don't need to worry too much. Just wait for him quietly, and he will definitely come back."

While taking responsibility upon herself, Liana comforted Doma. Although she hadn't known Dure for long, having only a brief encounter eight years ago, she had a very strong trust in him.

"Important business to attend to? What important business could you possibly have to attend to? I can tell you clearly have ulterior motives towards Miss Liana. Don't think I don't know your tricks!" Doma raised his voice and shouted angrily. He felt as if his heart was being roasted over a fire, which made him extremely uncomfortable, and this feeling was entirely caused by the man in front of him!

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736 Cannot Make the Decision

"Doma, that's enough! I don't see you've reflected on the mistakes you made today. Come out with me!" Thompson couldn't sit still any longer. He couldn't let Dorma lose control here. After glaring at Dorma, he dragged her out of the room. Dorma was usually very obedient to him and very capable, but he didn't know what was wrong with her these past two days. She had become so impulsive, which disappointed him greatly!

"Fine, I'll go then, hmph!" Dorma snorted and left the room. Before leaving, he glared fiercely at Dure, which made Thompson very helpless. He was afraid that Dorma would do something wrong, so he hurriedly chased after him. After all, Dorma was too young, and he was very afraid that something might happen to Dorma.

"I'm sorry, Dure, Doma isn't usually like this. I don't know what's wrong with him, why he suddenly has such a big problem with you," Liana said apologetically. Although she had only been in Winter Town for the last two or three days, she hadn't had much contact with Duma.

However, in the limited time they had together, Doma was quite diligent in his interactions, and Liana observed that he seemed relaxed and cheerful when interacting with others, making him appear to be a carefree and lively person. She just couldn't understand why he harbored such strong hostility towards Dure.

“It’s alright. It’s normal for young people to be impulsive. So, Liana, what have you thought about while I was away?” The last time Dure saw Doma, he was also given a lot of trouble by him, but he didn’t take it to heart. What he cared about was the important matter he had discussed with Liana before leaving.

“Durey, as I told you before, I can’t make this decision on my own. I have to discuss it with Mr. Grant. And it’s not enough for just our Southern Front to agree; the Northern Front also needs to compromise. Durey, you may not be aware of the current situation in the Snow Kingdom. Getting the Northern Front to compromise is completely impossible. Furthermore, we are currently in a superior position. There’s no reason for us, the superior party, to voluntarily give up the benefits we are about to gain and compromise with the inferior party, right?” Liana had thought about it carefully while Durey was away, and she still had some concerns.

"Mr. Grant? Where is he now?" This wasn't the first time Dure had heard this name. He had heard it from Liana and Winry once before. He remembered that it was the name of the leader of the Southern Front, a mysterious man.

“Well… Mr. Grant is currently in Winter City.” After thinking for a moment, Liana decided to tell Dure this highly confidential matter, because she knew that Dure was trustworthy. Moreover, even if the Northern Kingdom knew Grant’s whereabouts, Winter City was the front line where the two armies were currently facing off, and they would have no way to deal with Grant.

“Winter City? I’m leaving for Winter City tomorrow, so I think I can meet him there and have a proper talk.” Dure nodded slightly, a clear plan already forming in his mind.

"Dure, you want to meet with Mr. Grant? But Mr. Grant doesn't meet with outsiders, I'm afraid..." Liana knew Grant very well, and she hesitated as she spoke. Grant was a very cautious person, otherwise, as the Snow Kingdom's number one wanted criminal, he would have been arrested by the Northern Kingdom long ago, and he wouldn't still be active on the front lines.

“Even if he doesn’t want to meet outsiders, isn’t there still you, Liana, to introduce me? Does he not even want to meet you?” Dure asked her in return. In the plan that was forming in his mind, Liana played a crucial role. He knew very well that without Liana’s help, he would not be able to realize his plan.

“See me? But Dure, I haven’t finished my mission yet. I have to stay in Winter Town until I finish it. And Dure, you said you’re leaving tomorrow. I’m afraid I can’t finish in just one day.” It wasn’t that Liana was unwilling to help Dure.

Although she wasn't quite sure what Dure was planning, she would be happy to help if he needed it. However, given the current situation, even if she were willing to introduce Dure to Grant, there simply wasn't enough time.

"Completing the mission... Liana, with Restia in charge of Winterhold now, do you think you still have a chance to destroy all the remaining warehouses in Winterhold?" Dure asked her softly.

He had discussed the topic with Winry not long ago. Although he had only been in Wintertown for a short time, he had connections with both the Northern and Southern factions in Wintertown. So it was not surprising that he was the one who knew both sides best. He was well aware of Restia's strength, so he did not think that Liana had any chance of succeeding.

"Well... Restia is difficult to deal with, but we've come this far, so we have to give it a try no matter what. We can't give up halfway." Liana wasn't the kind of person who acted rashly. Every time she carried out a mission, she would think things through carefully, repeatedly considering and rehearsing each step of the mission to ensure there would be no problems before taking action.

This is why her success rate in completing missions has remained high over the years. However, when facing Restia in Winter Town, she felt a deep sense of powerlessness. If it were just Restia, it wouldn't be so bad, because brute force alone would not be enough to win. She could have used strategy instead.

However, on the side of the Northern Kingdom's army in the harsh winter town, besides General Restia, a woman of great strength, there was also the renowned heir to the throne. The meticulousness of her thinking was something that Liana had never heard of before. Almost every step she took was anticipated by the other party, and she was completely blocked.

"Liana, don't do anything foolish like throwing an egg against a rock. There are other ways to solve problems besides violent conflict. Come with me to Winter City tomorrow. Let's put the matter of Winter Town on hold for now," Dure solemnly reminded Liana.

“Although you say that, Dure, but…” Liana was still very hesitant. For a moment, she was unsure of what to do and was conflicted. On the one hand, she wanted to stay in Winter Town and continue to deal with the woman named Winry and Restia. On the other hand, her reason told her that what Dure said was right and that she had no chance of winning if she stayed.

"Miss Liana." Just then, someone knocked on the door. Liana and Dure inside the room looked over. The person knocking was a young man wearing a warehouse worker's uniform. His hat still had snow on it, indicating that he had just come in from outside.

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737 evacuated the town