From then on, Charlie's life became very structured, with his schedule filled to the brim.
In the mornings, he attended Master Narl's classes, and on days without classes, he studied fourth-level spell models, with the Holy Light Barrier being his first target. In the afternoons, he focused on sketching practice to cultivate his artistic skills, and in the evenings, he ensured at least four hours of starlight meditation.
Charlie occasionally took time to attend other instructors' courses, including various topics.
The reward of 600 credits for his tasks soon arrived, and after replenishing the teleportation function of his apprentice badge, Charlie had 653 credits left. For purely theoretical courses that did not require potions or related materials, the maximum credit needed per class was no more than 10, so he had more than enough credits to spend lavishly.
Through some courses, Charlie got a rough idea of the theoretical level of the Vagrant continent.
Mathematics and physics were roughly equivalent to Earth's early 17th-century level, with the concept of calculus still in its nascent stage. Astronomy was at the level of astrology, lacking a comprehensive theory, and problems related to spherical and curved surfaces remained challenging.
Materials science was comparable to Earth's late 20th-century standard, with excellent smelting and forging techniques. The strength of legendary armor reached the level of top-grade alloy steel, and when combined with some enchantment effects, their performance was even more superior.
In terms of energy science, it was comparable to that of 21st-century Earth, each with its specialties. Magic had entered every aspect of life, and the utilization of magical energy had reached a significant height, being environmentally friendly.
As for the development of personal strength, it far surpassed Earth's advancements. Compared to Earth's late 23rd century, where genetic science had made significant strides, the Vagrant continent still maintained an absolute advantage. According to Master Narl, legendary mages possessed the ability to traverse the void and move mountains, comparable to the pinnacle of Earth's technological achievements, whereas Earth achieved these capabilities through collective intelligence, while legendary mages relied solely on personal strength.
After pondering, Charlie realized that there were many opportunities for him to explore. He wondered what kind of impact Earth knowledge would bring to the Vagrant continent.
While he was in deep thought, Eileen came over to remind him that someone else had come to visit, and this time there were quite a few people.
Eileen had gradually gotten used to the changes Charlie brought to Anthony's apprentice laboratory and no longer reacted with surprise whenever she saw someone impressive.
When Charlie arrived at the laboratory, he found Leon accompanied by several senior students, a few of whom were curiously examining the setup of the underground world with a sense of novelty.
"Hey! Charlie! It hasn't been easy to find you these past few days; I've been here three times with no luck."
"I've been busy learning sketching from Master Narl, and my schedule is tight," Charlie replied with a casual smile, signaling everyone to take a seat. "What's up? Do you need something?"
"Can't I come see you if I have nothing to do?" Leon said, widening his eyes, then glanced at his friends, adding, "But this time, it's actually about something important!"
Charlie shifted his gaze to Eileen, and she immediately understood, quietly heading to the kitchen. This was a custom Charlie brought from his hometown: the tea he had created was made from hundreds of plants he had tasted and had unique effects.
The two had developed a tacit understanding, and Eileen was more than happy to handle these tasks. Charlie had brought her many conveniences and benefits, even giving her the chance to attend some basic courses from Master Narl, causing her aspirations to soar as she transitioned from a quiet botanist to a nature mage—a way for her to show her gratitude.
Soon, Eileen returned with a tray holding several steaming cups of fragrant tea, the aroma invigorating everyone present.
Charlie introduced, "This is Rain Leaf Tea, a specialty from my hometown, made from a secret recipe. It has various benefits, providing a slight boost to mental energy, akin to a simpler version of the Tranquil Thought Potion. It doesn't conflict with any other potions and has no side effects."
It's a good thing!
The students exchanged surprised glances; while its effects might seem average, its real value lay in its compatibility with other potions, effectively adding extra attributes. Some were already eager to see if it worked as Charlie claimed.
"Is it portable?" asked a tall, slender youth.
Charlie explained, "Absolutely. Just a few leaves in a cup of hot water will release the potion's effects."
The young man nodded and took a sip from his cup. "Wow! This is great, leaves a lasting fragrance."
As he spoke, he fell into a brief daze, perhaps struck by a sudden thought.
Leon, accustomed to the young man's erratic thinking, said to Charlie, "Charlie, your formula really works wonders. After I went back, I lost a lot of hair and nails, and it shocked me! The potency is indeed quite strong!
These past few days, once the effects wore off, I did a test. Previously, my strongest strike measured nearly 1500 kilograms of force, and just yesterday, with a single blow, I broke through 2000 kilograms effortlessly. Now these classmates are all asking me for the secret to my breakthrough!"
"Congratulations!" Charlie smiled and explained, "Last time, you brought the head of an Angoro Magic Rhinoceros, which already contained a magic crystal; of course, it's much more effective than just ribs.
But don't celebrate too soon; the initial effects are extraordinary, but relying on it to reach new heights in one go is impossible."
Leon looked at the others, puzzled. "Isn't this a normal phenomenon? The cliff decrement effect is a problem every combatant must face. Well, maybe you, being a magician, don't understand our situation.
That's why we try every means to gather more new supplement solutions. Everyone here has basically used various alchemical potions and recipes. Other than some that are temporarily unusable, we can't find any other supplement methods, making everyone interested in your recipe."
It turned out to be a common knowledge issue. Charlie had thought it was an isolated incident, but now it seemed that selling medicinal dishes could be a very promising business.
One of the students next to Leon asked, "Excuse me, Mr. Charlie, would using higher-grade magical beasts as the main ingredient yield better results? My body is attuned to fire elements; what if I replaced the Angoro Magic Rhinoceros with a Fire Salamander?"
"Oh my! Fili, the meat of a Fire Salamander is sour and astringent; would you really want to eat that?"
Fili laughed, "As long as it boosts my strength, what's the big deal?"
In truth, these medicinal dishes were formulated by Charlie after tasting various ingredients and analyzing their nutritional properties with the chip, ultimately creating a supplement plan through calculation. The ribs of the Angoro Magic Rhinoceros were the best-known option, hence the remarkable effects; switching to other substances was uncertain.
An idea sparked in Charlie's mind as he smiled, "In my hometown, these recipes have been around for a hundred years, refined through many years of wisdom. I don't know what effect changing the main ingredient would have—perhaps it would be better, or perhaps completely useless; who knows?"
Fili nodded apologetically, "Alright! I was just asking."
Charlie probed, "Are all of you interested in trying this recipe? I don't have that much stock right now; I can supply just enough for one person."
Leon laughed and explained, "Don't worry, we've thought it through. There are seven or eight of us here; it's not like everyone can bring a whole rhinoceros head over. You don't have the space for that, so we'll need you to step out.
Fili's uncle runs a restaurant in the Arcane Circle commercial district. Two days ago, we prepared the main ingredients—all three complete Angoro Magic Rhinoceroses. These guys are probably already starving!"
Leon's friends burst into hearty laughter.
Fili added, "This isn't for free; we've decided to pay 500 credits in processing fees for each head. What do you think of that price?"
That's a total of 1500 credits!
Charlie was momentarily stunned by the figure, but considering there were eight of them, it would amount to less than 200 credits per person, which aligned with Leon's psychological pricing. Last time, Leon had brought a reward of 200 credits, which Charlie had declined.
Moreover, processing three Angoro Magic Rhinoceroses wasn't an easy task; an adult rhinoceros stood about 2 meters tall, was 4 to 5 meters long, and weighed between 2 to 3 tons. Even after removing the innards and skeleton, there would still be nearly a ton left, and it would likely take one person a whole day to handle it.
Seeing Charlie seem to hesitate, Fili added, "If you think it's too little, we can raise the price a bit more."
Charlie wasn't a greedy person; he was already satisfied with the offered price and preferred to think long-term.
He waved his hand and said, "The price is fine, but I have a few requirements."
"Go ahead."
"First, I need a team of cooks to help remove the innards and large bones; this will save me a lot of time. Second, I want to handle the cooking process myself without any interruptions. Third, it may take four days to complete, processing two people's worth each day." The implication was clear; they would understand that 1500 credits would not buy the recipe.
"Deal!"
Upon hearing these requirements, Fili beamed and readily agreed, sensing that Charlie was a straightforward person.
"Can we start today?" someone eagerly asked.
"Yes, but I'll need two hours to prepare some auxiliary materials. Please give me the restaurant address, and I'll head over two hours later."
Fili stood up and shook hands with Charlie, smiling, "Charlie, thank you! You're a very sincere and genuine person!"
"You too, and I look forward to our collaboration."
"Likewise."
Leon watched them with a smile, viewing this as his way of giving back to Charlie.