Over the next two days, Isolde turned almost every place Valen used to frequent upside down.
His bedroom, study, underground laboratory, and even the abandoned ventilation ducts behind the walls were not spared.
The faceless servants dismantled several removable wall panels.
Lia moved all the furniture aside, tapping the floorboards inch by inch, and found three hidden compartments and two concealed spaces.
Unfortunately, there was nothing Isolde wanted inside them.
One of the hidden compartments contained a few unsent old letters, mostly concerning materials Valen needed to trade with other mages.
Another was stuffed with long-expired potions. The corks had rotted, and the liquid had solidified into weirdly colored clumps, with even the system only offering:
【An expired, unknown mixture】.
The last hidden compartment did, however, contain a few manuscripts.
Isolde flipped through them page by page, but they were merely incomplete records of early experiments.
Isolde closed the last manuscript and pressed her throbbing temples with her fingertips.
“It seems we can only stop here for now.”
There were too few clues; continuing to rely on guesswork would yield no results.
Rather than wasting all her time on these temporarily unsolvable questions, it was better to deal with the matters she could resolve first.
As Isolde stood up to leave, an old book pressed beneath the foot of a cabinet caught her eye.
Its cover was covered in dust, and its corners were blackened from potion corrosion.
It possessed no magical fluctuations whatsoever, looking even more ordinary than the manuscripts beside it.
Isolde bent down to pick it up.
《Basic Potion Preparation and Common Alienation Management》.
She hadn't harbored much hope initially, but as she casually flipped through a few pages, her movements quickly came to a halt.
There were no secretive experiments recorded in the book.
Most of the entries were for hemostatic medicines, cold-dispelling remedies, low-tier antidotes, and basic potions to treat mild alienation symptoms.
Isolde continued flipping through the pages.
【Frogification Reversal Potion】
【Scope of Application: Short-term bodily mutations caused by accidental ingestion of frog beans, corrupted frog beans, and certain amphibian-type alienation materials.】
【Note: If the alienation persists for more than thirty days, the flesh and blood structure will gradually set, drastically reducing the potion's effectiveness.】
Isolde hadn't found the clues about Decay she had been searching for all day, but she had managed to find a way to save the heads of those three unlucky bandits first.
It wasn't a wasted effort after all.
The materials required for the recipe were not rare. She possessed all of them, and the difficulty of crafting it was not high.
She took the book and headed to the underground laboratory.
The cracked cauldron had been replaced, and the dusty bronze racks were wiped clean once more.
A fire burned quietly beneath the cauldron, and the pale green liquid gradually turned into a clear, light blue as she stirred.
This was an entry-level reversal potion. With the system helping her identify the state of the materials, Isolde only wasted a small pot of liquid during her first attempt at adjusting the heat, successfully completing it on her second try.
Once the liquid cooled, she poured it into three narrow-necked glass bottles.
【Obtained: Frogification Reversal Potion x3】
【Quality: Common】
【Effect: Reverses short-term frogification states caused by frog beans and similar low-tier materials.】
【Note: Ingestion may cause temporary symptoms such as vomiting, dehydration, and tongue numbness.】
Isolde picked up one of the bottles and swirled it against the firelight.
As long as they could change back, it was fine.
As for vomiting a few times, that was still better than spending the rest of their lives with frog heads.
She stored the three bottles of potion into her ring, her gaze sweeping over the tools, dry rations, and old equipment piled nearby.
For the station construction to officially begin, relying on just those three was far from enough.
Letting them recruit people on their own might easily bring all sorts of sketchy characters onto the old trade route.
She couldn't stay there to keep an eye on things for long periods; she needed someone who could manage affairs on her behalf.
At this thought, Isolde's gaze fell upon her open palm.
A few silver-white Soul Threads emerged from her fingertips, gently intertwining in midair.
She suddenly had an idea.
...
When Lia was called into the room, a large piece of black fabric was already spread across the long table.
Beside it lay tanned wolf hide, silver buckles, dark red silk thread, and a newly drawn clothing design.
“Miss.”
Lia walked to the side of the table. The crow-feather hairpin was still pinned behind her ear, and her other cheek remained wrapped in old bandages.
Her chin-length short hair clung smoothly to the side of her face, making her single grey eye look even quieter.
Isolde looked at her. “Stand straight.”
Without asking questions, Lia immediately lowered her crossed hands and stood up straight.
Several Soul Threads flew out from Isolde's fingertips, quickly wrapping around Lia's shoulders, waist, and arms to record her exact measurements.
Lia looked down at the silver threads wrapped around her waist.
“Is Miss making a new maid dress?”
“No.”
Isolde unfolded the fabric. “I'm preparing to promote you.”
Lia's eyes flickered slightly. Isolde did not explain further, and a dozen Soul Threads simultaneously pierced through the fabric.
Cutting, pinning, and sewing.
Under the control of the Soul Threads, different steps were carried out simultaneously.
The cut fabric was quickly pieced together, and fine stitches advanced rapidly along the edges.
The originally ordinary black fabric was tailored into a sleek black coat with fitted shoulder lines and a slightly tapered waist.
Low-profile dark patterns were pressed along the cuffs, collar, and edges of the pockets, with only a tiny spider lily mark left on the silver buttons.
It lacked the complexity of a typical maid dress, yet was not as heavy and clunky as knightly armor.
This was a style she had adapted from modern suits, allowing ease of movement while looking sufficiently elegant and formal.
After finishing the clothes, Isolde picked up the piece of wolf hide.
She had selected the softest layer from the belly. After repeatedly thinning it, she cut it into the shape of an eyepatch, lining the inside with a layer of soft cloth.
Finally, a few strands of dark red silk thread passed through her fingertips.
The silk threads traveled back and forth across the surface of the black wolf hide, gradually outlining a blooming dark red spider lily, identical to the emblem of Crow Candle Castle.
【Crafting Complete: Crow Candle Castle Steward Uniform】
【Crafting Complete: Crow Candle Eyepatch】
Isolde used Mana-Conducting Threads to reinforce the high-stress areas such as the shoulders, back, elbows, waist, and abdomen of the clothing, while preserving the original toughness of the wolf hide.
It couldn't be considered magical equipment, but it was much sturdier than ordinary clothing, enough to withstand minor scratches and tears.
Isolde pushed the clothes toward her. “Go change into them.”
Lia looked at the clothes on the table and did not immediately reach for them.
“Miss, Lia's current clothes can still be used.”
“I know.”
Isolde leaned back in her chair. “But next, you'll be managing people, money, and materials on my behalf, as well as handling external affairs on behalf of Crow Candle Castle. You can't keep going out dressed in a maid dress.”
She paused, looking up at Lia.
“Others don't need to know who I am, but they must know that you have the authority to make decisions for me.”
Lia remained quiet for a few seconds before receiving the set of clothes with both hands.
“Yes, Miss.”
She turned and walked into the adjacent room.
Not long after, the door opened once more.
Isolde raised her eyes, her gaze lingering on her for a moment.
The black coat made Lia's slender figure look even taller and straighter. The slim-fit trousers and soft-soled short boots facilitated movement and made her look far more capable.
The old bandages had been removed.
A soft black eyepatch covered that side of her face. The dark red spider lily was positioned right in the center of the eyepatch, adding a touch of mystery to her otherwise pale, quiet face.
Her chin-length short hair was neatly pinned behind her ear with the silver-grey crow-feather hairpin, complementing the dark red pattern on the eyepatch in a subtle play of light and shadow without clashing.
Standing there, Lia no longer looked like an ordinary maid who simply followed behind her master.
She looked more like a chief steward in some ancient noble house, holding the ledgers, keys, and all the secrets.
Isolde nodded in satisfaction.
“How does it feel?”
Lia raised her hand, her fingertips lightly touching the edge of the eyepatch. “Very soft.”
“It's made of wolf hide with an inner lining, so it won't chafe your skin.”
Isolde walked up to her and smoothed out her slightly crooked collar.
“Starting today, you are no longer just responsible for taking care of me.”
“You are the steward of Crow Candle Castle.”
Lia's grey eye widened slightly.
“Steward?”
“The castle's internal affairs are yours, and you will also oversee the construction of the external station.”
Isolde's tone was natural, as if she were announcing something that should have been settled long ago.
“When I am not around, you will make the decisions regarding the castle's internal affairs and external projects.”
“Within these two scopes, your words represent my will.”
Lia lowered her head, her voice softer than usual. “Lia will manage everything well for Miss.”
Isolde nodded and turned to walk out.
Lia followed behind her. The candles in the hall lit up in succession with their footsteps, illuminating her brand-new silver buckles and the dark red spider lily.
When they reached the top of the stairs, Isolde suddenly stopped.
“By the way, the castle will suspend business for now.”
Lia immediately looked up. “Close all active hosting?”
“Yes. The defense mechanisms will run as usual, but stop the active hosting and luring for now.”
Now that the old trade route in the North had just been restored, if another caravan were to be swallowed by Crow Candle Castle, all her previous preparations for road repair and station construction would become a complete joke.
“For the foreseeable future, we are going to do legitimate business.”
Lia took serious note of this. “Yes, Miss.”
“Pick out a batch of ordinary leather armor, old weapons, and tools from the warehouse as well,” Isolde continued walking forward. “I'll take you to meet three people.”
“Three people?”
“For now, they can be considered external employees.”
Isolde paused for a moment as she recalled those three frog heads huddling and croaking together.
“Their appearance is slightly unusual, but they will recover soon.”
“They will be in charge of leading the workers to build the station, but any people they recruit must be vetted by you. You will also be in charge of wages, materials, and personnel arrangements.”
“As for the specific rules, I will lay them out clearly in front of them once we reach the station.”
“Can outside workers approach the mist zone?”
“Only as far as the old station,” Isolde replied quickly. “Keep the path leading to Crow Candle Castle hidden. Also, do not take out too much Immortal Hardwood at once; only provide the parts that have already been cut and processed.”
“If you notice anyone inquiring about the mist zone or the employer's identity, make a note of it first and do not let them get close to the core area.”
“Once you confirm their intentions are suspicious, then decide whether to expel them or continue observing.”
Lia noted down each instruction, her single grey eye gradually reflecting a sense of calm and competence.
“Lia understands.”
Isolde raised her hand again to summon several masked faceless servants, ordering them to carry the prepared wooden chests.
“Let's go then.”
The castle gates slowly opened, and thick fog drifted in from outside, only to part to both sides before them.
Isolde took the lead down the stone steps, with Lia following closely behind her in her brand-new uniform.
The crow-feather hairpin flashed with a sliver of silver light in the mist, while the dark red spider lily on the eyepatch bloomed quietly.
Rate on N.U.
