After preparing lunch in advance for Fischl, who was feeling unwell, Nolan went out, walking through the bustling streets and alleys.
The brick-paved road had several cracks that had opened up under the long-term pressure from heavily loaded horse-drawn carriages.
The nearby buildings had been somewhat damaged by the windstorm a while ago, and there were still construction teams working on repairs.
Mondstadt City is very large, and with so much housing repair work suddenly coming up, coupled with the limited number of construction workers available, it would take at least one or two months to restore the entire city to its original state.
After a long while, Nolan arrived at the Fountain Square.
Just as he was about to turn right and head down towards the Adventurers' Guild, he happened to see several people gathered around the alchemy table, seeming quite lively.
The Chief Alchemist with light golden hair, Albedo, seemed to be painting.
Sucrose, who wears glasses, Timaeus, and the Captain of the Cavalry from the Knights of Favonius, Kaeya, were watching from the side.
Nolan, with his keen adventurer's intuition, sensed that something was happening. Perhaps there might even be a place where he, an honorary knight, could help out.
After all, it was all about doing commissions and receiving quests, he'd go wherever there was Mora to be earned.
With this thought in mind, Nolan walked over to the alchemy table.
"Good morning, everyone!"
Nolan greeted them with a warm, spring-like smile.
Hearing his voice, everyone except the deeply focused Albedo turned to look in his direction.
Upon seeing Nolan, whom they hadn't seen in a long time, Sucrose was a bit surprised. Timaeus, who works at the alchemy table, occasionally meets him and chats a bit.
For example, about the progress of his project of "extracting raspberry pigment to make non-fading dyes".
"Oh? Isn't this our honorary knight? did something good happen to you recently?"
The Cavalry Captain Kaeya joked with a smile on his dark face.
"Well, just yesterday while on an adventure, I was lucky enough to get a claymore sword prototype..."
Nolan told the story of how he had commissioned the blacksmith shop to build the weapon.
"I see."
Kaeya nodded, somewhat surprised. Even in the Knights' Order, they don't have many of these weapon prototypes in stock.
When he first requested a two-handed sword prototype for Apprentice Knight Noelle to have the craftsmen build the Favonius Greatsword, it was all delayed for a long time before they had a spare one available for her to use.
At this moment, Albedo suddenly stopped his movements, looked at the painting on the canvas, and showed a trace of contemplation.
"What's wrong, Master Albedo? Could it be that the dye I developed isn't good?" Timaeus asked with a hint of confusion.
His non-fading dye had been successfully developed, and the dye Albedo was using now for his painting was the one he had researched.
Unfortunately, since raspberries themselves are yellow, the dye he developed is also only yellow. To use it in painting, it needs to be used as a base and then reconfigured into other colors.
This, of course, is not difficult for a professional painter like Albedo.
"Indeed, it can still be improved.
"However, what I find strange is not this, but rather that I've discovered the Rifthound I've painted seems to be merely a hollow form.
"Even if created, there's no way to study it. Is it really because my understanding is insufficient?" Albedo lowered his gaze and fell into contemplation again.
As a master in the field of "Creation Alchemy", wanting to create something that doesn't exist in the world is actually not as difficult as "replicating" something that already exists.
After all, the former can be done according to one's own understanding, while the latter requires sufficient understanding of the already existing thing.
"..." Faced with such a high-level problem, Timaeus could only scratch his head, completely unable to interject.
"Painting an Rifthound? Are you guys researching something?" Nolan curiously asked the girl with emerald-colored hair.
"Ah, yes, Mr. Albedo wants to research methods to counter the corrosive power of those monsters, so he wanted to try to see if he could draw a living one."
Sucrose, who wore round semi-rimless glasses on her fair nose, answered with a still somewhat shy tone.
I can't believe it's like this? As expected of you Master Albedo, creating one yourself if you don't have research material.
Nolan was stunned for a moment, then felt a bit strange: "If you want a live Rift monster, why not just go to Wolvendom and capture one?"
With Albedo's strength, capturing those monsters should be a piece of cake, right?
"We've already tried that. Ordinary physical restraints have no effect on them as they can traverse through space. Special sleeping drugs are also broken down by the monster blood within them. We currently have no other method, hence this last resort," Albedo shook his head and answered.
"Ah So, you're short on Mora now, right? If you can help Albedo capture a Rift monster, surely the Chief Alchemist won't be stingy with Mora," Kaeya said with a smile, spreading his hands.
"Kaeya, don't joke around. If even Mr. Albedo finds it difficult, how could I possibly do it?" Nolan gave him a helpless look.
If his spiritual power were a bit stronger, he might be able to stun them with his intangible spiritual tentacles, but with his current strength that can only bend spoons, it likely wouldn't have much effect on those monsters' consciousness.
In addition to interfering with real objects, his invisible spiritual tentacles could also attack the enemy's spiritual consciousness.
"No need. The Reconnaissance Company's Captain already sent over a few monster corpses yesterday. Although they disappeared quickly, preventing me from thoroughly studying that corrosive power, I already have some clues about how to treat the wounds that their attacks cause, which can't be healed normally."
Albedo said, folding his arms.
Ever since he saw these monsters, he felt they were very dangerous, and developing methods to counter the power of "corrosion" is imperative.
If one day they emerge on a large scale, it would be a disaster for humanity.
"Mm-hmm. Apart from Mr. Albedo, I've also started a new project related to 'bio-alchemy' for myself.
"That is, to develop something like a topical healing ointment that can quickly heal wounds. This way, when someone is bleeding profusely, we can quickly stop the bleeding."
Sucrose said with a smile on her white face as she twitched her furry emerald-colored ears.
"Oh, I see."
Nolan nodded thoughtfully. It seems the Knights of Favonius already fully understand the danger of the "Bleeding Hounds".
"But you're explaining so clearly, is there something you want me to help with?"
Nolan smiled at the somewhat shy girl.
"Hehe, you've seen right through me. To develop and produce that kind of ointment, we need a type of fungus with excellent hemostatic effects called 'Philanemo Mushroom'. They can usually only be found in the forest.
"Since you've come over, can I ask you to go with me? Um, it's just near the Whispering Woods. Don't worry, I'll provide compensation."
Sucrose touched her ear somewhat embarrassedly, her fair face showing a bashful blush.
(End of Chapter)
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