Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 1546: Audrey Edwards
"Ah? Is she really a witch?"
This outcome was something Shard could never have anticipated. He was completely uninterested in the opera below at the moment; obviously, the news about the witch was far more intriguing:
"What does this Ms. Edwards do?"
"Master of Magic Potion and Alchemy. During the Randall Valley incident, when you first had a fever and fainted, she helped identify that bottle of concentrated pink essence for you. If Granny Cassandra’s alchemy and potion studies rank second in the Council, then the first is undoubtedly Edwards.
Besides her status as a witch, she runs a pharmaceutical company in southern Draleon, purchasing herbal medicine and manufacturing them into drugs. Her number of followers is the highest among us, mainly because the skills in magic potion and alchemy are most attractive to people. In recent years, her pharmaceutical company has even begun to venture into the field of chemical medicine and collaborates with Sister Delphine’s Serpent Heart Hospital—Paradise Island Pharmaceuticals Joint Company. You must have seen its advertisements in the newspapers."
"Yes, disinfectant alcohol, tincture pills, worm oil, quinine water. Their pharmacists have many exclusive formulas."
Though Shard didn’t need these, he had seen them many times in the newspaper advertising section.
Despite the presence of Circle Sorcerers causing medical and chemistry levels in this era, which resembles his Victorian hometown, to be slightly higher, the methods used by doctors in this era are still quite lacking. Bloodletting therapy and enema therapy are still common methods for doctors in remote areas.
The pharmaceutical companies that can produce those drugs Shard listed are quite rare. Although Paradise Island Pharmaceuticals hasn’t formed a blatant monopoly like across the Old Continent, they can be considered one of the best.
"Grand witches seem to all have quite good businesses."
Angelina whispered from the side, while Miss Galina nodded, not minding sharing some information with them:
"Grand witches all have their own followers. Relying only on giving them power is not enough to keep them following you. Moreover, since the previous Era, witches have had a tradition of luxurious enjoyment... Ahem, that’s not the point, Shard, you haven’t met Ms. Audrey Edwards, have you?"
Miss Galina asked Shard again, and this time Shard was sure:
"No, what’s wrong with her?"
"That woman’s mind has issues."
The Duchess said disdainfully, a tone Shard rarely heard from her, which meant she greatly disapproved of someone:
"You should know, the relationship between the Witch Council and the True God Church is quite delicate. Several witches in the Council have even been wanted by the Church. During the Pantanal War, we helped the Church a lot, and the wanted status was canceled. The Great Witch of Knowledge and Wisdom was one of those who were once wanted."
Talking about this made the Duchess increasingly unhappy:
"I don’t know much about her, or rather, I don’t get along with people like that. Whether she became mentally deranged from reading too much or was inherently out of sorts, there was a time she was somewhat manic even in the Council, almost on the verge of losing control, but His Excellency the Speaker trusts her greatly. As for her being wanted, it was related to her research into the Philosopher’s Stone." 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎
"Ah? What?"
"The Philosopher’s Stone, it’s the one you’re thinking of."
The witch said, tapping Shard’s chest, where he carried the Philosopher’s Stone along with an enhanced Witch Detection Badge. While holding Shard’s hand, Lecia had already guided his hand to her leg. The thin fabric felt quite nice.
Miss Galina continued:
"Most aspiring alchemists set the creation of their own ’Philosopher’s Stone’ as a goal, which in itself is not wrong. But the true method of creating a Philosopher’s Stone has long since been lost, leading to the slow emergence of erroneous, hazardous, and dangerous methods. About ten years ago, Ms. Audrey Edwards conducted experiments using dangerous methods. What she specifically did, I won’t mention, but the result was that she almost summoned an ancient evil object sleeping in Subspace... or perhaps she really summoned it, but His Excellency the Speaker and Sylvie’s teacher, who was still alive at the time, sealed it back. Even so, such behavior had a significant impact, which is why the Church wanted her for over a decade."
This was indeed very dangerous behavior, and for the peace and stability of the Material World, the Church’s approach was not wrong.
"Miss Danester said that the destruction of Green Lake Town was related to the Edwards family’s desire for the Elixir of Immortality."
Shard said softly, speculating whether the witch’s research on the Philosopher’s Stone was related to family tradition.
"How old is Ms. Audrey Edwards this year?"
Lecia asked again, gently stroking her leg with Shard’s hand. Miss Galina glanced at her with a smile, knowing exactly what she was thinking:
"I can’t tell you the exact age; a woman’s age is a secret, after all. I do have the duty to keep other people’s secrets... But her age is much older than mine. Apart from Granny Cassandra, this lady has the greatest age in the Council. I suspect that when she was born, the Edwards family might still have been in Green Lake Town, or perhaps she was the first generation born after the Edwards left Green Lake Town."
"Oh?"
Shard thought of Miss Danester mentioning that the decline of Green Lake Town and the Edwards family happened over a hundred years ago. If the Grand Witch Audrey Edwards is indeed very old, then she might directly know the meaning of the "Sun, Moon, and Stars" pattern in the letter.
"But she looks quite young, and her attitude is also very youthful, as if time hasn’t left any marks on her. I once thought that it was due to successful research on the Philosopher’s Stone and the Elixir of Immortality, but after reading Shard’s Immortality Magic, I think her youth might be due to another reason."
"Another woman who looks young but is actually very old?"
Lecia said in a lowered voice, her tone somewhat unstable. The Duchess leaned back slightly, comfortably resting on the sofa:
"Although Shard wants to get information from Edwards, I don’t recommend him to go directly to this crazy woman, it wouldn’t be good for him. Although Audrey Edwards’s mental state has evidently stabilized in recent years, she still occasionally has unusual behavior. Therefore, I suggest that Shard seek other clues first. We need to help him find other descendants of the Edwards family. If we really can’t find other directions, then I will think of a way to inquire about Audrey Edwards... it’s indeed interesting, these Circle Sorcerers who pursue knowledge and wisdom that seem to always end up in madness."
She probably thought of Sir Lakin Prisia, the Chosen of Knowledge and Wisdom who fell into madness but thereby gained so-called "omniscience."
"I understand, I won’t associate with such people. Besides, I don’t intend to wander around recently. The Rings Tobesk equestrian competition starting on Sunday is my main focus for now... and speaking of which, is there a Roder Card sub-competition?"
The ladies laughed, and Shard could even imagine Tifa behind him also smiling.
"The sub-competitions are announced only after the opening and registration ends every year, so no one can cheat ahead of time. But so far, Roder Card has never been a project."
Lecia explained, her flushed face probably due to the fact that Shard’s hand was indeed warm, and her voice was soft because she didn’t want anyone to hear it trembling. Shard calmly nodded, as if he had no idea what his hand was doing, Miss Galina also said:
"I specially came to talk to you tonight about not just the matter of Edwards, but also the Rings Tobesk equestrian competition. My nephew, Lecia’s father, our His Majesty the King, asked me to inform you via private relations that Carsonrickians will participate in this competition."
She suddenly sniffed, suspiciously looking at the three people on the side in the dark.
Shard said:
"Isn’t that quite normal? Foreigners participate every year, and the competition rules don’t prohibit Carsonrickians and citizens from other duchies from participating. In recent years, even women have been allowed to participate."
Of course, since the competition is not divided by gender, and there is a noticeable difference in stamina between men and women, so far all the champions have been men.
"This time, the foreigners are not ordinary people.
Due to the division of trade routes and border lines involving the Pantanal region, although the negotiation venues have been selected in Mikaela Ironworks City and Green Lake City, both countries must still appoint representatives to first go to the neighboring capital to arrange the schedule and other matters. The Carsonrick delegation is not large, led by Earl Lewis of the Parliament of the Carsonrick Kingdom. You don’t need to pay attention to him; rather, the ones you should watch are Eric Forun and Charles Follen, the brothers in the team. They are the twin sons of Marquis Furen, 31 years old, in the prime of youth and strength, and they will participate in the Rings Tobesk equestrian competition. My nephew asked me to tell you, make sure to win against them."
Miss Galina looked at Shard and said:
"You know why."
"If they win, the negotiations will be on the back foot from the very start."
Shard nodded, not particularly concerned about beating two ordinary people:
"I will register officially tomorrow, and I will be at the opening banquet on Sunday evening."
"You have no choice but to participate; you are currently the only ’Official Knight’ in Draleon, not someone who inherited the title of Knight from the family."
Lecia said, incessantly using the thumb pad to rub the back of Shard’s hand and then bit her lip so she wouldn’t hum. Shard’s hand didn’t go too far on her skirt-covered leg, but just rubbing gently was more than enough:
"Shard, everyone is watching your performance."
"Shard himself knows well. This negotiation with Carsonrick is the biggest diplomatic event since peace resumed between the two countries, and obviously, every one of us hopes for peace to continue."
