Hubert paced with his hands behind his back and spoke slowly.
"The purpose of analyzing the ingredients in medicinal wine is nothing more than to copy it, seize the market at a lower cost, squeeze out competitors, and monopolize the business."
"That's right! We've always done it this way," Pat said.
"But not this time."
Hubert sighed.
"The recipe for this medicinal wine isn't complicated, and it doesn't require any particularly expensive or rare herbs. The difficulty lies in the blending technique."
"I tried to imitate it, but it was too difficult and the yield rate was too low!"
"All technical difficulties ultimately translate into costs."
"If we imitate this medicinal wine, the final price will be at least twice as high as Panter's Distillery!"
"This unprofitable business isn't worth the effort."
Patu scratched his head and whispered, "If that's the case, why does Pansen's distillery sell it so cheaply? Aren't they just losing money to gain publicity?"
"Perhaps they've mastered a more advanced cocktail-making technique," Hubert speculated.
"I'll capture that kid guarding the distillery and torture him. Maybe I can get the secret recipe out of him!"
Patu's face was grim.
Hubert glared at him, his eyes cold.
"Are you out of your mind?"
"Would you tell a little kid who works as a gatekeeper about such a valuable craft?"
"Except for Pansen and his precious daughter, no one else in the martial arts school knows this secret."
"We're not above offending Pansen's martial arts school."
"But just for a medicinal wine recipe, it's not worth it! Do you understand?"
"Teacher, I understand." Pat hung his head in frustration.
Although he felt resentful, he had to admit that the teacher had a point.
There were plenty of profitable businesses in the world; it wasn't worth tackling the tough nut of Panter's Distillery.
...
After the distillery incident subsided, a rumor spread through the academy.
It was said that the secret recipe for Panter's medicinal wine was in the hands of PanSen and his daughter, and that they would give it to Tanya as a dowry.
In other words, except for Tanya's future husband. There's no way anyone else in this world knows the secret recipe.
"Alan! Why are you spreading such rumors?"
Tanya arrived furiously, demanding an explanation.
"Because I'm afraid of being kidnapped, tortured, and forced to reveal the secret recipe."
Alan was honest as always.
"If I were half as capable as my senior sister, I wouldn't have to worry so much."
"Hmm... thinking about it, this is the only solution."
Tanya scratched her head, easily forgiving her junior brother who had used her as a shield.
"But there's something I still can't understand!"
"My friends in the Department of Natural Sciences all say that if we use the normal process to make our medicinal wine, unless the price doubles, we'll definitely lose money!"
Tanya's distinct black and white eyes widened, filled with curiosity.
"Junior Brother, how do you manage to sell the wine at such a low price and still make money?"
Alan spread his hands, his face filled with frustration.
"Sister, you might not believe me, but I just use ordinary techniques."
"As for why it's so difficult for others to recreate that flavor, but I'm the only one who can do it with absolute certainty?"
"Maybe it's just talent."
...
In fact, Hubert had already figured out 99% of the recipe for the medicinal wine.
The only missing ingredient was the last key ingredient.
Alan spat into the medicinal ingredients.
This was his secret recipe.
A secret recipe that could never be imitated.
...
The Heritage Island, where the Warlock Academy was located, was located in the southern seas. It had a mild climate year-round, and there was no snow or ice in winter.
This made Alan, who came from Quint Island, with its distinct four seasons, quite uncomfortable.
Before he knew it, winter had already departed.
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, another spring was drawing to a close.
Before he knew it, Alan had already been at the Warlock Academy for over half a year.
Under the careful guidance of his mentor, Pantheon, and his senior sister, Tanya.
After more than six months of diligent training, he finally reached the threshold of advancement to a first-level warlock!
Meditation World.
Another winter of blizzards.
Another bloody and brutal war.
The flames of war had raged for over two months.
The moment of victory had finally arrived.
Frost-covered hills, atop snowy mountains.
Augustine of the Iron Stomach Clan.
Alan, the poisonous demon of the Snow Mountain Clan.
The chieftains of the two great ogre tribes, king against king.
A desperate struggle is underway!
The first stage of the duel.
Alan and Augustine, a draw.
Now we've entered the second stage.
Augustine, unleashing his true power!
Power derived from his noble dragon bloodline!
"Great ancestral spirit!"
"Immortal dragon!"
"Give me the strength to defeat my formidable foe!"
Augustine, the half-green dragon ogre, stood atop a snowy mountain.
Raising his arms high, he prayed to the heavens!
His prayers resonated deep within his veins.
He received the response from the green dragon ancestral spirit!
Crackling!
Augustine's bones and muscles crackled like frying beans.
Originally three meters tall, he suddenly grew even larger!
His height soared to over six meters, and his weight had increased eightfold, reaching a full four tons!
His rapidly expanding body, with a reckless abandon, tore through his hides.
Exposing vast swathes of muscle as solid as granite!
The surface of his muscles was covered in vast, hard, emerald-green dragon scales!
Even more terrifying was yet to come.
Two lumps of flesh bulged behind Augustine's shoulder blades.
As Alan watched in astonishment,
With a "poof," the two lumps burst open simultaneously.
From them stretched a pair of dragon wings covered in green scales!
This was Augustine's trump card—atavistic transformation!
Now, he no longer possessed many of the characteristics of an ogre.
He looked more like a giant green dragon, standing upright.
The heavy body crushed the fragile ice.
The dragon's sturdy legs and tail slowly sank through the snow.
However, when he spread his vast wings,
He became like a lithe bird, soaring into the air on the wind.
Augustine soared, overlooking his tiny opponent.
He sighed with melancholy like a poet.
"Ah, this is fate..."
"So beautiful, yet so cruel."
"I thought I'd finally met an equal."
"Finally, I could have a good fight."
"But when I truly exerted my strength, I was disappointed to find that my opponent was so vulnerable."
"Blue-skinned brat, who do you think I am?"
"I am the son of Croshir, the heir apparent of the mountains!"
"Blue-skinned wretch, who do you think you are?" "?!"
"Tell me, who is your father, and who is your mother?"
"Do you have noble blood?"
"Do you have glorious ancestors?"
"You have nothing!"
"How can you challenge me?"
"Hmm? Are you worthy enough to compete with me?!"
"Even compared to ordinary ogres, you're just a freak with a disgusting complexion! An inferior creature!"
"In my eyes, you're nothing but trash!"