186: Handling hazardous materials is all about setting rules, huh?

Lately, an office was set up in a corner of Goldendown Castle.

Nothing strange about that, really. But watching the officials coming and going, all I could do was smirk.

Ignoring the dozens of civil servants bustling in and out of the office, I head straight for my destination.

"Hey Van. You really went too far bringing in court bureaucrats, didn’t you?"

This was the private office of King Vaindeck Midrights von Maugary, of the Maugarian Kingdom.

Kyle had prepared it—King Vaindeck came so often, it made sense.

"Late again, Craft. How’s the marshland situation?"

Vaindeck—no, Van—looked up from signing papers.

Listen to people, damn it... Took a little longer than expected, but the problem’s sorted. I want to talk it over with Kyle and Professor Javir.

Got it. Bring both of them. Start the meeting as soon as they arrive.

Van cuts straight to it—but the white-bearded old man standing beside him presses a hand to his forehead.

"Your Majesty. We’ve already sent word days ago. Can’t just barge in without letting the other side know. Don’t forget your position."

It’s Batista, head alchemist of the Maugaria Court. He’s been dealing with this kind of nonsense every day. No wonder his eyes look like they’ve seen hell.

"Hmph. Kyle’s not just bringing me and Craft along—now he’s dragging Javir into this meeting too. This isn’t just politics. It’s about that guy over there, no doubt brewing up some nonsense again, and how we’re gonna manage it. You think we can just sit back and relax later, after something this big? Something that could rival communications or transfer gates?"

"That’s… uh…"

Hey, old man Batista. Can you stop glaring at me like that? Go ahead, scold me like you did earlier!

"Besides, it’s just a meeting to hear Craft’s report on the wetlands. Kyle’s probably already got everything ready—been waiting for the call, no doubt."

"Understood. Someone, send word to Lord Elixir!"

And so, we moved into the conference room.

◆

"Your Majesty. I am truly humbled and overjoyed that you have granted my request—"

"Cut the formality. Get to the point."

Kyle begins a respectful greeting, but Van waves one hand dismissively, cutting him off.

We’re all in this room—Kyle, Professor Javir, and me on one side. On the other: Van, old Batista, and Zaid. We’d passed each other in the hallway when we moved to the conference room, and then Van just dragged me along.

"Fine, Zaid, you lead."

Looks like he kidnapped him to make him chair the meeting. Zaid’s supposed to be buried in paperwork as a civil servant these days.

"Your Majesty. I can serve as chair, but first—might I ask what the agenda is?"

"Beats me. Ask Kyle."

Van spits it out. Zaid gives a light press to his temple.

"Lord Elixir Development. Explain today’s agenda."

"Yes. I would like to explain the handling of a newly developed alchemical elixir."

Van muttered, “Alchemical elixir?” and raised one eyebrow.

“Let me explain, my lord. The alchemist Jabir will do so.”

Zaid glanced at Jabir.

“Fine. Alchemist Jabir. Explain to everyone.”

“Hmph. First, I’ll distribute the materials.”

Jabir, unbothered, passed out the documents to all present.

On the first page, the title was written in bold.

“Complete Development and Deployment of Poison Mist for Certain Monsters”

Van, Battista, and Zaid froze, staring at the words.

Jabir didn’t flinch at their reactions. He continued, calm as ever.

“—This is the poison. Won’t affect certain strong specimens.”

It wasn’t a long explanation. But when it ended, the three of them were utterly drained.

Van lifts his face, regaining composure.

"So, the poison that works on the most common monsters seen across the kingdom is complete. And the method to make it—something nearly every alchemist with a crest can replicate—is done too."

"Indeed. I'm proud of myself, I suppose. Or maybe I should’ve asked you first. Hard to say."

Jabir shrugs, but Van raises a finger.

"Hmph. In the end, you still had to come to me for the method. Saved you the trouble, that’s all."

"True enough."

Jabir flops face-first onto the table. Kyle leans in, quiet.

"Jabir. This alchemical poison is already being used on a large scale in the marshlands. Hiding it now? Impossible."

"I know that, I know."

"But without this, developing the marshlands would’ve taken a century."

"Building walls around the entire marshland while fighting monsters? That's about how long it’d take."

Zaid, who’d been pressing his forehead, straightened his collar.

"Everyone’s aware, I’m sure, that while the operation’s tricky, its power’s undeniable. Shouldn’t we set guidelines for dealing with alchemical toxins?"

Jumping straight to course correction after the meeting started dragging—perfect for a chairperson.

Honestly, Zaid’s only lacking a curse to be truly exceptional.

Van, who’d been slumped over the desk like Jabir, lifted his head and tightened his face.

"…We need to spread it across the whole kingdom."

"Too hasty, even for you,"

Think it through, Batista. As long as we’re using it in the marshlands, word’ll spread fast—whether it’s soon or late. Common folk feel magic monsters coming. If they find out there’s a poison that knocks ‘em down easy, everyone’ll want a piece.

Hmm.

Batista tugged at his beard, waiting for Van’s next words.

If demand gets so high people are rushing to buy, fine. But there’ll be idiots trying to steal it for sure. Price goes up? More of them’ll show up.

Makes sense.

If every soul in the kingdom wants it, its value’ll just keep climbing.

Let the greedy fools die for it—no skin off my nose. But if they don’t know how to use it right, even getting it’ll be dangerous. That’s people in the kingdom dying. Spread it without the right knowledge, and you’ll just cause chaos.

Well, Batista. I’m truly impressed by Your Majesty’s foresight.

...I’d seen something like that before with stamina potions. Away from Goldendown, regular potions were sold as Craft-made and marked up high. I just followed that logic through.

Proof that experience has sunk in, Your Majesty.

Van turned slightly, cheeks tinged red.

Not many chances to get praised by old man Batista, huh.

“So, we’re settled on expanding it across the kingdom?”

Zaid asked calmly, and everyone nodded in agreement.

After that, it was decided that in addition to the wetlands, Batista and his apprentices would run trial tests in several other regions, and the formula would be handed out to alchemists in the royal service.

We’d iron out the flaws in testing, then slowly roll it out from around the capital.

And so it was decided: unlike previous products, the use of this one would require mandatory oversight by specialized alchemists—no exceptions, no distribution to the general market.

Villages or towns wanting alchemy poison had to submit petitions to the king first. Once approved, an alchemist from the kingdom would be sent. Only after that would the poison be handed out—through the alchemist’s direct channel.

Use had to follow the alchemist’s guidance exactly. Dosages, timing, everything strictly controlled.

...That was the general plan. Of course, it could all change depending on how the trials went.

"Problems are piling up, though. First off, we don’t have nearly enough alchemists."

"Low manifestation rate. Can’t really help it."

"Would be nice to make rune affinity mandatory for everyone across the nation..."

"Then mana potion prices would skyrocket. The cost of the main ingredient—magic stones—would go through the roof."

When I pointed it out, Van waved one hand like he already knew.

"…But if these monsters spread across the kingdom, wouldn’t magic stone prices drop?"

"Egg or chicken? If the test results look good, we might have to push the heraldry affinity program first—budget be damned."

"Where exactly do you plan to get that kind of budget from?"

"That’s why I’m pulling my hair out!"

Bastia shook his head.

"Problem’s not just that. Some of these strong individuals survive. We’ll need to plan how to deal with them."

"Those immune to poison were pretty strong, right? Craft?"

"Yep. Hydras with four heads? Dead for sure. But by five heads… sometimes they survive and go wild."

"Breaking that kind of enemy? You'd need a pretty damn skilled unit."

"Swamp zones? We’ve got lizardmen warriors who’ve chugged stamina potions like water to toughen up. But calling something a 'elite force across the whole kingdom'—that’s a whole different story."

Van crossed his arms, eyes on the ceiling.

"...Could raising the baseline by making heraldic aptitude mandatory actually boost those forces?"

"Meaning every citizen’s got a mark?"

Yeah, that’d be terrifying.

Zaid, silent for a moment, spoke softly.

"The topic’s shifted. The agenda’s been completed. Further discussion should wait till another day. With that, the meeting is adjourned."

Seriously, Zaid, you’re awesome.