Heimrich, Anna, and Friedrich left the cemetery in silence. For Heimrich, the events at the graveyard had gone exactly as planned, though he couldn't ignore the faint tension that lingered in the air. The streets of Würzburg were quieter now, the bustle of the day giving way to the muted hum of evening. Friedrich walked a step behind Heimrich and Anna, his thoughts churning. What had he agreed to? And why did part of him feel that this was the first decision he had made in years that truly mattered?
When they arrived at the tavern, Heimrich led the way inside with the measured confidence of a leader, and Friedrich felt, for the first time in years, that here was someone he could follow. The warmth of the hearth and the faint smell of roasted meat greeted them. Anna exchanged a brief word with the innkeeper, and then Heimrich motioned for the group to head upstairs to their room. The private space was exactly what Heimrich needed to begin his work, and Friedrich followed without hesitation, his unease tempered by a growing sense of trust.
"Stay still," Heimrich instructed, pulling out the Bio-Enhancer, a device that gleamed faintly in the firelight. Its sleek, metallic surface pulsed with a soft, otherworldly glow. He pressed it against Friedrich's chest without hesitation, confident in its precision and effectiveness.
The sensation was immediate. A warmth spread through Friedrich, followed by a sharp, almost unbearable ache in places he thought he would never feel again. His tongue burned, the phantom pain of its absence replaced by something new. Friedrich gasped, instinctively reaching for his throat, but Heimrich held his shoulder firmly. The Bio-Enhancer emitted a faint beep, and its pulsing glow dimmed slightly, a clear indication that its charge had diminished further.
"Don't move," Heimrich said evenly, his tone carrying the weight of authority. "Let it do its work."
The warmth intensified, then subsided, leaving a strange sensation in its wake. Tentatively, Friedrich moved his tongue inside his mouth. It was there. Whole. Functional. His breath caught as he realized the magnitude of what Heimrich had done.
But that wasn't all. The pain in his lower body that had been his constant companion for so long was gone. Slowly, Friedrich reached down, and the truth hit him like a tidal wave. His manhood har regrown. Of course he wouldn't test its functionality now, when there were still people around. He would later find some time alone and check it thoroughly.
Tears welled in Friedrich's eyes before he could stop them. He turned his face away, trying to hide his reaction, but Anna's soft voice reached him. "It's all right," she said gently.
But Heimrich's tone was sharp and commanding, cutting through Friedrich's emotional haze. "Now is not the time for tears," he said firmly. "You swore loyalty to me, and now it is time to honor that vow. The path forward depends entirely on what I command and say. Your loyalty is your purpose now, Friedrich, and nothing else.""
Friedrich wiped his face quickly, nodding as he forced himself to regain composure. Heimrich leaned back in his chair, his mind already racing through possibilities. "You must become the Baron of Würzburg," he declared, his voice calm and unwavering, as though the idea was inevitable. "And with you as Baron, I will hold true power as the Lord of Würzburg. "
"How?" he managed to rasp, his voice still unfamiliar but steady.
Heimrich's lips curled into a faint smile. It was not just about solving a problem; it was about seizing control over resources. Friedrich as Baron would serve a singular purpose: granting Heimrich access to Würzburg's resources, workforce and materials. 'With Friedrich's rightful claim and my intellect,' Heimrich thought, 'this city will become the backbone of my ambitions—.'
"Leave that to me," Heimrich said. "As a professor of chemistry, molecular biology, and engineering, I've solved problems far more complex than this. Even without my usual resources, there are ways."
Friedrich's brow furrowed as he tried to make sense of Heimrich's words. Despite not fully understanding, Friedrich decided to trust him. 'He knows what he's doing,' Friedrich thought.
Heimrich glanced toward the window, his expression thoughtful as he calculated his next move. "Bavaria is still a land of mostly wild nature," he mused aloud. "Its forests, particularly in the south, should have the deadly nightshade, Atropa belladonna. Its berries are sweet and enticing, but lethal. The common folk don't yet understand its danger. Many have died simply from eating them, mistaking them for harmless fruit."
Heimrich paused, his thoughts deepening. 'The true effects of belladonna as a poison,' he reflected silently, 'won't be formally documented until 1686, when John Ray identifies it in his work. Until then, it remains an untraceable weapon—misunderstood and perfectly suited for my needs.'
Anna's eyes narrowed, catching on to Heimrich's train of thought. "You want to use it as a poison," she said flatly.
Heimrich nodded. "Exactly. I don't have the tools or time to synthesize something more advanced, but nature has already provided a solution. If used correctly, it will be untraceable—a tragic accident, nothing more."
Friedrich hesitated, then spoke up. "Eberhart's birthday is coming soon," he said. "He adores the cherry cake his wife always bakes for him. It's a tradition that started when they first met at a tea party hosted by the Count of Unterfranken. She baked the cake in the Count's honor, and Eberhart fell in love with her after trying it. Since then, she's baked the same cake every year for his birthday."Anna leaned forward, her brow furrowing. "Are you suggesting we swap the cherries in the cake with deadly nightshade?"
Friedrich nodded. "It would be the perfect way, but there's a problem. How do we get the nightshade berries into the kitchen without being noticed?"
Heimrich's eyes gleamed with calculation. "Then we create a need for new cherries. Friedrich, the night before the birthday, you must find a way to sneak into the kitchen and dispose of all the real cherries. The staff will panic and scramble to replace them, which will be nearly impossible at this time of year. That is when we'll introduce the nightshade berries as substitutes. To ensure the plan's success, Anna will set up a stand near the castle, selling the deadly nightshade berries disguised as an exotic and especially sweet variety of cherries. Marketed as a rare delicacy, the staff—desperate to replace the missing cherries—will likely buy them without question. The success of this plan will then hinge on luck, whether the Baroness unknowingly uses them to bake Eberhart's cherished birthday cake.Heimrich continued refining the details of the plan, ensuring every angle was considered. Anna would need to create a convincing backstory for her stand, claiming to be a traveling merchant with connections to rare and exotic fruits. Friedrich's role was equally critical—his timing in disposing of the cherries had to be perfect to avoid raising suspicion among the kitchen staff. Any mistake could unravel the entire scheme.
As the hour grew late, Heimrich noticed Friedrich's restlessness. "You've been away from the castle long enough," Heimrich said firmly. "Lingering too long will draw attention. Return and act as if nothing is amiss. In three weeks' time, everything must be ready."
Friedrich nodded reluctantly, understanding the importance of maintaining appearances. With a quiet farewell, he slipped out into the night, his thoughts heavy with the weight of the plan.
The following weeks passed quickly. The chill of December settled over Würzburg as Eberhart's birthday drew near, bringing with it the preparations for the Christmas season. The city buzzed with activity, yet beneath the surface, Heimrich, Anna, and Friedrich worked in secret, each step bringing them closer to the fateful day."