Chapter 114: The group’s blessings 1

For several minutes, the conversation remained focused on food.

Elena wanted to know how many kinds of pizza existed.

Adam replied that he could practically change the toppings endlessly.

This immediately sparked a new series of questions.

Pizza with only meat?

Possible.

Very spicy pizza?

Possible.

Pizza with different cheeses?

Possible.

Sweet pizza?

Adam hesitated.

"Technically, yes, although that’s starting to stray quite far from what I would call a classic pizza."

Elena didn’t seem to see any problem with it.

"Make one."

"Someday."

Then it was the burgers’ turn.

Adam explained that they could be made with beef, chicken, fish, different sauces, various cheeses, different vegetables, and even different buns.

Shiora was mentally taking notes despite not having a notebook.

The paella sparked a discussion about seafood.

The desserts triggered even more reactions.

When Adam mentioned the ice cream he hadn’t ended up making, seven pairs of eyes immediately turned towards him.

He almost regretted having spoken.

"What is ice cream?" Elena asked.

"A very cold dessert."

"Like sugary snow?"

"Not really. The texture is much creamier."

Elaria was immediately interested in the process.

"What’s it made of?"

"Milk, cream, sugar. Then you can add vanilla, chocolate, fruit, pistachio... lots of things."

Selene sat up straight.

"Tomorrow."

"No."

"The day after tomorrow."

"We’ll be traveling."

"During the journey."

Adam stared at her.

Selene returned his gaze with utmost seriousness.

"Are you going to keep this up much longer?"

"Until I get a satisfactory answer."

Shiora smiled.

"She’s grasped the concept of negotiation."

"It’s entirely your fault."

The merchant then asked the question Adam had been waiting for all along.

"More seriously, would you agree to us selling some of the recipes?"

Adam looked at her.

"Some."

Shiora’s smile immediately widened.

"Perfect."

"I said some."

"That’s enough."

Adam thought about it nonetheless.

He wasn’t opposed to the idea.

On the contrary.

Some of these recipes could easily enrich Valoria’s cuisine.

Some were simple.

Inexpensive.

Easy to reproduce.

And if they were properly distributed, they could also create new economic opportunities.

"Pizzas are easy," he finally said. "Burgers too. Some sauces as well."

Shiora nodded.

"Desserts?"

"A few."

"Chocolate?"

Adam grimaced slightly.

"Now we’re getting to the first problem."

The entire business discussion subsided.

"Raw materials," Isadora understood.

"Exactly."

Adam explained what he had discovered at the market.

Cocoa existed.

Coffee too.

Vanilla.

Nuts.

Sugarcane.

But their current uses were completely different.

Cocoa was hardly ever grown for food.

Coffee was used primarily for certain medicinal or alchemical preparations.

Vanilla was mainly used for its aroma.

And the production of granulated sugar was practically nonexistent.

Shiora thought for a moment.

"So if we launch several products using these ingredients without securing the supply..."

"Prices will skyrocket," Adam finished.

She nodded.

"And our competitors will buy up everything they can find."

Vespera added:

"Some plants probably come from specific regions."

"That’s what I thought."

Isadora sat up slightly.

"So we shouldn’t rely solely on Valoria."

The discussion quickly took a different turn.

Find regions that naturally produce cacao.

Identify coffee varieties.

Buy seedlings.

Test their cultivation in the duchy.

Secure several suppliers rather than just one.

And most importantly...

Sourcing from multiple cities.

Shiora immediately agreed.

"If demand really increases, we need to diversify even before the launch."

Adam smiled.

"That’s why I didn’t want to tell you about it too soon."

"Too late."

Selene sighed.

"You’ve really just turned chocolate into a business strategy."

Shiora looked at her.

"Do you want to keep eating it?"

"Yes."

"Then let me work."

Selene fell silent.

Adam burst out laughing.

They finally decided to postpone the detailed discussion.

The next day’s trip remained the priority.

They would also have to examine several technical issues.

The Chamber’s machines could greatly speed up certain preparations, but they couldn’t form the basis of external commercial production.

The methods would have to be replicated without relying on the Chamber.

Building facilities.

Adapting the tools.

Finding artisans.

Training cooks.

Defining standards.

Elaria already seemed far too interested in this part.

Adam immediately raised a hand.

"Later."

She closed her mouth.

"I haven’t suggested anything yet."

"I know you."

The conversation slowly drifted to other topics.

Adam sank deeper into the cushions.

Then something suddenly came back to him.

He looked at Elena.

Then at the others.

"Wait."

Several eyes met his.

"There’s something I’ve never asked for."

Isadora raised a slight eyebrow.

"What is it?"

"Your blessings."

The silence that followed was short.

But Adam noticed.

"I’ve heard of some of them, but almost never in detail."

He looked at Elena.

"For example, I know Elena is skilled with the sword and the wind."

Elena immediately looked away.

Adam stopped.

Then he looked at the others.

Selene was smiling.

So was Shiora.

Even Isadora seemed amused.

Adam slowly returned to Elena.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Elena."

"What?"

"Why are you looking at the wall?"

"I’m not looking at the wall."

"You’re looking at the exact wall."

Lyriana let out a soft laugh.

Adam understood then.

"You didn’t tell me everything."

Elena sat up straight.

"I didn’t lie to you!"

"I never said you lied."

"I really do have Sword Mastery and Wind Mastery."

"But?"

Elena hesitated.

Selene answered for her.

"But those aren’t her blessings."

Adam looked at Elena.

She seemed slightly embarrassed now.

"Seriously?"

"I just didn’t think it was important at the time."

The others burst out laughing.

Adam stared at her.

"Not important?"

Elena realized she had probably just chosen the worst possible way to phrase it.

"Well... not like that."

"Then explain."

She sighed.

"Sword Mastery and Wind Mastery are indeed two skills. Both are Green Rank, Uncommon Grade."

Adam nodded.

"I more or less knew that."

"But I also have two innate blessings."

"Two?"

This time, he was genuinely surprised.

Elena looked away again.

Isadora finally decided to save her daughter.

"Child of the Wind and Saint of the Sword."

Adam remained silent.

Then he looked at Elena.

"The names alone tell me it’s not exactly Uncommon level."

Elena gave an embarrassed smile.

"No."

"What rank?"

"Gold."

Silence.

Adam sat up.

"Both?"

"Yes."

The laughter started again as Elena immediately tried to explain.

"You never asked me their rank!"

"I didn’t even know I was supposed to ask!"

"So technically—"

"Elena."

"Okay."

She gave up.

Adam shook his head in amusement.

Then another thought came to him.

"Wait... so blessings have ranks too?"

Vespera nodded.

"Of course."

Adam looked at her.

"Why didn’t anyone tell me that?"

"You didn’t ask."

Adam ran a hand over his face.

"I’m starting to hate that answer."

Elaria then explained that blessings used the same general classification logic as items, skills, and several other forms of power.

The weakest started at Gray, the Poor rank.

Then the ranks gradually increased.

The highest known blessings eventually reached Black, the Divine grade.

Adam immediately thought of his own blessings.

"And mine?"

Vespera replied without hesitation.

"Mana Body is Orange rank, Unique grade."

Adam blinked.

"Orange?"

"Yes."

"And Eyes of the World?"

A slight pause.

"Gold. Legendary grade."

This time, Adam remained silent for longer.

He mentally looked at his chart.

He had always considered blessings a separate category without really thinking about their rarity.

But a Unique Orange blessing...

And another Legendary Gold one...

He suddenly realized why some people might have become extremely interested if they had discovered their true nature.

"And the ones you can get in dungeons?"

Elaria replied:

"Mostly low ranks." "

Vespera continued:

"Dungeon-obtained blessings do exist, but most are low-level."

"Mid-level ones are already rare," Selene added.

Isadora finished:

"As for high-ranking blessings... obtaining one directly from a dungeon is almost unheard of."

Adam looked at Elena.

Two Legendary Gold blessings.

Innate.

"So you were born with two extremely rare blessings."

Elena started to panic again.

"Put like that, it sounds a lot more impressive than—"

"Because it is," Selene interrupted.

"Don’t help me."

Adam laughed.

"Okay. I want to hear everything now."

He settled in more comfortably.

"Let’s start with Elena since she’s the one who tried to hide half of her abilities."

"I didn’t hide anything!"

The laughter resumed.

Vespera finally brought a touch of seriousness to the discussion.

"Child of the Wind. Gold Rank, Legendary Grade."

Adam concentrated.

Elena explained herself:

"It makes me practically immune to wind attacks whose level doesn’t exceed what I can withstand."

Adam frowned slightly.

"So someone of your level using an equivalent or inferior wind technique..."

"Will have a very hard time hurting me with it."

"Not bad."

"It also allows me to learn wind techniques almost naturally up to Gold Rank."

Adam whistled softly.

"And Saint of the Sword?"

Elena seemed to regain some confidence.

"Gold Rank, Legendary Grade as well." "

She placed a hand on the sword she almost always carried.

"It gives me a much deeper understanding of everything related to swords. I can master weapons of this category that are normally much more difficult to use, including some models exceeding Gold rank, and learn sword-related techniques much faster."

Adam understood immediately.

His Green Wind and Sword Mastery skills were ultimately only the most visible part of his talent.

The blessings were the true foundation.

"Okay."

He turned his head.

"Isadora?"

The duchess smiled.

"Two as well."

Adam was no longer surprised.

Or at least, he was trying not to be.

"The first one?"

"Tactical Encyclopedia."

Vespera clarified:

"Red. Mythic Grade." "

Adam turned abruptly to Isadora.

"Red?"

"Yes."