Chương 167: Chapter 164 -Old Man's gamble

Once the filtered mana was collected inside the box, I removed the mana crystal, which had now completely turned into dust. Then, using the dust, I quickly turned it into mana paste and replaced the mana paste on the surface of the box. I activated the bottom of the box once more until the box was mana-free again. Then I removed the paste and started examining it. An involuntary smile appeared on my face as I kept examining it. By the time I was done, I had started jumping where I stood.

The mana crystal I had placed inside should have contained 1000 to 1100 units. The mana absorbed by the mana liquid was only 500 units. Even if I considered a plus-minus 10% margin of error, the presence of other elements in the mana, and even if I considered every data point skewed, the maximum non-elemental mana that could be present in a mana crystal could not be more than 60 to 65%. Definitely not enough purity to form a core.

Once my excitement was under control, I started performing experiments with various sizes of crystals. Over the course of the next week, the reward of 20 mana crystals I had received was reduced by half. Yet instead of feeling a sense of loss, I felt ecstasy. Each and every experiment showed less than 60% non-elemental mana. I recorded all my experiments in detail and started conducting one final experiment. This time, I was not using a mana crystal, but my own mana.

Before starting, I checked my mana, which was at its peak: 3312. After activating the box, I started passing my mana through the tube on the left, and it followed the same process. As I sent the mana through, I made sure to keep a constant watch on my mana level. Once I had sent 100 units of mana, I stopped. The mana followed the same process. Once the segregation was complete, I collected the non-elemental paste, analyzed it, and stored it like some type of prized possession.

The mana I sent also had less than 60% non-elemental mana present, almost the same as the mana crystals. This paste was the reason why people with elemental affinity lower than 80% could not form a core. It was also why people with higher affinity, people like Lela, were not allowed to use the meditation techniques that were taught to us, and why Tier-4 people like the captain had their offices filled with the elemental mana they had an affinity with.

Because when the body absorbed mana, it did not filter the elements present in the mana crystal. This meant the mana inside a person's body was a strange mixture of everything they had absorbed over the course of their life. Moreover, once we entered Tier-2 of mana cultivation, we were required to coat our mana nodes with mana absorbed from crystals. This meant people with lower affinity had their entire foundation built on something unsuitable for forming a mana core.

After discovering this, I became even more excited. My first theory had been proven correct, and now I had a clear and achievable path forward. The next step was to learn how to form a non-elemental core outside the body and create a device that would allow me to purify mana for mana cultivation, something small enough that I could carry with me.

Just as I was about to make my way to the library to research some runes and read more about Velkar Town, one of the privates under Lieutenant Cicero informed me that I had been summoned to his office. Suddenly, all my excitement vanished. I had been postponing this meeting for a long time. I was about to leave for Velkar Town, so I could not leave without meeting him, but I had been dreading this meeting.

It had been almost a year since he had a huge outburst and ordered me to stop researching the non-elemental core. Since then, our relationship had been a little strained. We talked about missions, the progress of my squad, and my progress as a sergeant, but I avoided mentioning anything about runes and mana cultivation. This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Still, whenever I met him, I would get the feeling that he knew all the details about me and my research.

Entering the office, my nervousness only increased. Even from the lieutenant's expressionless face, I could tell he was not in a good mood.

"I hear your time off was approved," the lieutenant stated as soon as I took a seat opposite him.

"Y-yes, sir," I replied, stammering. The lieutenant looked me up and down as if deciding what to do with me.

"Have you started human experiments already? How many people have you sacrificed for your experiments? Or are you waiting to start once you reach Velkar?" the lieutenant asked. His words left me confused to no end. What was he talking about? What human experiments? The last time I had talked to someone who was not part of my squad was seven days ago, when I was interrogated.

"For your core research," the lieutenant pointed out. For the first time since I had known the lieutenant, I lost my temper, and with that my respect for him. A small amount of mana leaked out of me.

"I had not expected this from you, Lieutenant. Blaming me for crimes I have never committed. You might not have principles, but I do. I would never conduct an experiment that would harm someone. I have no interest in advancing if it comes at the cost of someone's life," I said. Unafraid of insulting the lieutenant, in my mind, all relations with him were over. I was no longer interested in working with him, and I would request my transfer as soon as I left his office.

I almost stood up to leave, only stopping midway because of the hint of a smile on the lieutenant's face. Looking at me, the lieutenant nodded.

"The non-elemental mana core is a taboo topic in Avalon and many other kingdoms. It is not banned, but it is highly monitored," the lieutenant said, shifting into lecture mode, something I had seen countless times.

"I did not react properly when you first mentioned your interest in a non-elemental mana core, and I apologize for that. I have been observing you more keenly since then, waiting for you to slip up and follow a darker path like many researchers before you. But you did not. I am still not completely sure whether I should allow you to continue this research, and as bizarre as it may sound to you, I am the last person who should stop you," the lieutenant said, his voice sounding almost sad.

Then he bent down and pulled out two very old journals.

"I have decided that I will not stop you, but I will also report your research to Count Darrow and the Council."

"Lieutenant, I am unable to understand what is going on," I said. The lieutenant nodded and pushed the two journals forward. On top of the journals, I read: House Cicero's Research into Non-Elemental Mana Core. I looked at the lieutenant with a surprised expression and delight. At first, I thought the journals might contain a way to form a core, but then I shook that thought away. If that were true, the lieutenant himself would have reached Tier-4. Still, reference research like this could help me a lot.

"Do not look delighted, Sergeant. This is not something that will help you. Rather, it is a cautionary tale of what not to do. The reason I lost my temper, the reason this type of research is not promoted, is that every time, it leads to human experiments."

"My house, my own father, killed more of his own subjects, innocent civilians, than that beast you killed." I looked at the lieutenant in horror.

"Once, my grandfather was a disciple and colleague of Princess Aurora and a leading researcher in core formation. So when it was discovered that the sole heir of House Cicero was elementless, my house poured all their resources into researching non-elemental core formation. While I was busy finding ways to save lives, my family was taking them away. So many of them, in fact, that even the royal family noticed."

"When the truth behind the research was revealed, eight houses under mine were exterminated, leaving only me alive. Since then, I have been stationed here to repent for the crimes my family committed."

"Lieutenant, why are you telling me all this?" I asked.

"Because from your activities, I know you are conducting research into non-elemental mana cores. Moreover, your recent activities in the library and your requests for information on mana herbs at the supply department suggest your search has only intensified."

"So before you make any foolish decision, I want to discourage you from following that path. And even after my warning, if you continue down that path, at least I will know I did everything in my power to guide you toward the right one."

"Lieutenant, you can rest assured. I will not do anything that would harm another human," I assured him, but he only shook his head.

"You do not have to explain anything to me. I do not trust myself to know when someone has crossed a boundary they should not have, not when I did not even know about my own family's activities. I can hardly be trusted to monitor yours." The lieutenant sighed and continued, "As I said, I will inform the Council about the conversation we had today and also transfer you from my company. But I will also declare you as my disciple, so only you will be allowed to keep those journals."

"Sir? Why?" I had expected to never see what was inside them. After all, if you wanted to prevent someone from conducting human experiments, you did not provide them with a guide on how to do them.

"Consider it an old man's last gamble." Then he looked into my eyes and said, "Edward, a lot of innocent lives were lost while filling those journals. I hope that someday you will find a way to form a non-elemental core. And while the innocent lives that were lost can never come back, maybe your research will save just as many."