Bai Shi, carrying the massive Dragonslayer Swordspear, walked out of Hewg's smithy.
The other Tarnished stared, their eyes wide, when they saw Bai Shi's attire.
The set was not only handsome but also exuded a kingly, domineering aura.
The pressure it emanated was enough to make one's knees feel weak.
Before he wielded the Dragonslayer Swordspear, the set had been incomplete.
But with the spear in hand, the final piece of the puzzle was in place, and the armor set now unleashed its full, unrestrained glory.
Bai Shi enjoyed the admiring gazes of the crowd and suddenly understood a saying from his past life:
A man can't be insecure and own a Maybach at the same time.
While substance and inner character were very important, it was true that clothes make the man.
If Bai Shi were currently wearing an ordinary Storm Knight set, even if everyone knew he was the powerful Lord of Stormveil, they probably wouldn't have such expressions.But enjoyment aside, Bai Shi didn't indulge in the pleasure for too long.
Flattery and admiration were just seasonings on his journey.
What could truly satisfy him was changing the world with his own hands.
Making the world move in the direction he envisioned—that was the ultimate satisfaction.
Bai Shi then took a stroll around the Roundtable Hold.
Not to show off his new gear, of course, but to see if he could find any useful items before setting out.
In particular, he wanted to find Hilbert.
His last Rot Perfume had been quite effective, providing a decent stat boost.
And just as he had said, there were almost no side effects.
With Bai Shi's robust physique, he didn't even need to take Preserving Boluses.
Moreover, since the ingredients he used were plants grown in the Scarlet Rot, he must have a deep understanding of Caelid.
He might even be active in Caelid himself and possibly have special perfumes or items.
If possible, Bai Shi wanted to get some more from him as backup.
Fortunately, Hilbert, whom he hadn't seen on his last few visits, happened to be at his stall with a Jar-Bairn.
Seeing Bai Shi in his brand-new equipment, Hilbert's eyes widened in surprise.
He had heard all sorts of news about Bai Shi these days, and it had truly shocked him.
But when Bai Shi stood right in front of him, he realized how unreliable those rumors and news were.
Bai Shi was a world apart from before. It seemed rumors really couldn't be trusted.
However, Hilbert's shock lasted only a moment before he took the initiative to greet Bai Shi:
"Well, well, it's been a long time, Lord of Stormveil."
"I wonder how that perfume I gave you last time worked out."
Seeing Hilbert looking so energetic, Bai Shi smiled as well.
"Haha, it has indeed been a long time."
"The Rot Perfume was incredibly effective, especially since it had no side effects. I was very pleased with that."
Bai Shi had even considered distributing the Rot Perfume throughout his army.
After all, the side effects were minimal, almost negligible for his soldiers.
But whether it was feasible or not, he would have to ask Hilbert first.
Just then, Bai Shi's gaze froze. He noticed something unusual about Hilbert, and his expression turned a bit strange.
Seeing Bai Shi looking at him strangely, Hilbert was a little puzzled, twirling a strand of hair that had fallen across his face.
"Er, what's wrong? Is there something on my face?"
Bai Shi shook his head and pointed to the back of his shoulder.
A few red-and-white, fleshy, mushroom-like things were growing there. From their color, they looked just like the fungi that grew in the Scarlet Rot.
"Not on your face, on your body."
Hilbert reached toward the spot Bai Shi indicated, plucked the mushrooms off, and they burst with bloody juice.
"Oh dear, my apologies. I didn't even notice. How embarrassing."
"I've been spending a bit too much time in the Swamp of Aeonia recently. I probably didn't clean off all the Scarlet Rot."
Hearing this, Bai Shi couldn't help but break into a cold sweat.
This guy was a real workaholic, and his resistance to poison was just too high.
"Uh, I guess that's just you."
Hilbert scratched his hat and chuckled sheepishly, trying to ease the awkwardness.
"Alright, let's not worry about the details."
Bai Shi nodded, letting the small incident pass.
Bai Shi had sought out Hilbert this time because he wanted to know about Caelid.
So he began to ask:
"You made that Rot Perfume using plants that grow in the Scarlet Rot, right?"
"I'm planning to head to Caelid soon, so I thought you might know a lot about the place. I came to ask what you know."
"Also, if possible, I'd like to buy some items from you."
Hilbert's eyes lit up. Business had arrived, and it seemed like a big order.
"Yes, I've just been there recently... actually, I should say I've been active in Caelid for a long time."
"What do you want to know? As long as I know it, I'll tell you everything without reservation."
Since leaving Leyndell, the Royal Capital, Hilbert had been wandering the Lands Between.
While wandering, he explored the local customs and traditions of various places, especially their local medicinal plants and flora.
And ever since going to Caelid, Hilbert had practically made it his home.
Caelid was severely corroded and polluted by the Scarlet Rot.
Because of this, the native plants and animals there had been greatly affected.
Among them, plants often changed faster and more thoroughly than animals.
After all, a change in the soil they lived in had a devastating impact on plants.
For the vast majority of plants, the only way to survive was to change and adapt to the environment.
As a result, many new mutated plants had appeared in Caelid, many of which had never been seen before in the Lands Between.
At the same time, a batch of plants said to have existed only in ancient times had also reappeared in Caelid.
Hilbert had been exploring the uses and effects of these completely unknown plants.
Therefore, he had traveled all over Caelid and knew the place very well. Now that Bai Shi needed it, he could share his experience.
And his research had yielded quite a few results.
Whether it was about matters in Caelid, the distribution of beasts, or the Scarlet Rot itself...
Seeing Hilbert's confident demeanor, Bai Shi knew he must have a wealth of knowledge.
So he began to think, listing the questions he wanted to ask in his mind.
"First, and the question I'm most concerned about: if I go to Caelid without protection, will I be immediately affected by the Scarlet Rot there?"
"I've heard Caelid has been completely polluted by the Scarlet Rot. Does the air itself carry the infection?"
Hilbert nodded. This was indeed an important question.
"Caelid has indeed been terribly polluted by the Scarlet Rot. But fortunately, the air poses no serious danger to people, especially a powerful warrior like you."
"The faint Scarlet Rot in the air might make you feel a little unwell, but as long as you don't live there for years on end, it won't break out. You'll just need to treat it every few months."
"What you need to be careful of is the Scarlet Rot in the swamps. Staying in it for a period of time will lead to rapid infection. You must take Preserving Boluses immediately at the initial stage. If not treated in time, there will be serious consequences."
Bai Shi felt a little relieved. If the situation in Caelid was so severe that just breathing would infect his lungs, then he would have to suffer a lot more.
He would either have to endure it or stuff his bag full of medicine.
But now that the normal air wasn't a major threat, he didn't need to worry too much.
"Alright, second question."
"Do you know about the Radahn Festival?"
Hilbert had a flash of understanding.
Indeed, if there was anything that could attract a warrior like Bai Shi to a place like Caelid, it would probably be the Radahn Festival.
After all, Caelid was so infested with Scarlet Rot now that it was practically a living hell. There was nothing to gain by going there, especially for a great figure like Bai Shi.
"Of course I know about the Radahn Festival. I usually rest in the ruins of a village near Redmane Castle, so I'm quite familiar with the news from the castle."
"I've heard the festival will only begin when the sky is full of stars."
"Coincidentally, I also know a little about astrology. By my calculations, there are only about two or three weeks left until the festival."
Bai Shi was lost in thought.
The timing was about the same as he had heard. So if he headed over now and rested a bit after finding a place, he could prepare to participate in the festival.
He would go to Redmane Castle first to check the situation, then head out to other parts of Caelid to explore for a while. He would see what he could resolve and what he could pick up first.
"So, the third question: do you have any recommended perfumes or items I can use in Caelid?"
Hilbert's eyes lit up.
Finally, this was the moment he had been waiting for.
"Yes, yes, of course I do."
Hilbert pulled out three perfume bottles from behind his stall.
Seeing this, Bai Shi knew these must be special perfumes not normally sold.
Just like the Rot Perfume he had given him last time.
Bai Shi picked up one of the bottles.
Even with the lid tightly sealed, the perfume exuded a strong smell.
It wasn't a foul odor, but more like that of certain pungent chemicals.
Hilbert quickly reminded Bai Shi:
"Ah, that one isn't for drinking. Be careful not to mix it up or ingest it by mistake."
"What is this?"
Bai Shi asked.
"This is Wither Perfume. It's specifically for dealing with the plants in the Caelid region."
"After being infected by the Scarlet Rot, those plants have mutated terribly."
"Although most plants are victims, there are quite a few among them that were ferocious even before the mutation."
"Stimulated by the Scarlet Rot, they've become even more savage. They'll even lie in ambush, waiting to attack passersby and turn them into nutrients."
"This Wither Perfume is specifically for dealing with them. It's a concentrated, potent formula, so you don't need to use a lot each time."
"Sprinkle it on the ground near those plants, and it will immediately enter their root systems and cause them to wither. However, if you sprinkle it directly on their leaves, branches, or other parts, the effect will be very weak."
Bai Shi understood. Wasn't this just a weed killer?
"Is this effective against other plants too?"
"Of course, and it's even more lethal. But because of the Scarlet Rot, there are almost no normal plants left in Caelid, so you can use it freely."
Good, it seemed quite effective.
He just wondered if this Wither Perfume would have any effect on an Erdtree Avatar.
Thinking about it, an Erdtree Avatar could probably be considered a plant, so it might have a special effect.
However, the Erdtree was no ordinary plant.
Whether it would be effective against them was still unknown; he would have to try it later.
He'd just find an Erdtree Avatar and splash it on. If it worked, it would wither. If not, he'd just kill it.
Bai Shi pointed to the other two perfume bottles, which looked identical.
"These two bottles contain the same kind of perfume, right? What do they do?"
"Hehe, this is my masterpiece."
Hilbert puffed out his chest, very proud.
"I call this perfume Neutralizing Perfume."
"When sprinkled on contaminated soil, it can neutralize the Scarlet Rot in the area. The components in the perfume will neutralize it, rendering it ineffective."
"Not only that, when you spray it into the air, you will also inhale the perfume. After inhalation, it will similarly neutralize the Scarlet Rot in your body, stopping it from doing harm."
"Furthermore, the Neutralizing Perfume will remain in your body for some time, and any subsequent Scarlet Rot that enters will also be neutralized, until the Neutralizing Perfume in your body is depleted."
"However, it's hard to control exactly how much Neutralizing Perfume is available in your body, so I recommend that once you leave the covered area and encounter Scarlet Rot again, you should still take Preserving Boluses when needed."
"Also, don't use it in areas without Scarlet Rot, as it will be poisonous. It's only fine in Caelid because the air there contains Scarlet Rot."
Bai Shi's pupils constricted. He never expected Hilbert to come up with something like this.
You always manage to come up with something new.
"Will the neutralized Scarlet Rot on the ground stay that way forever?"
Hilbert nodded, a confident smile on his face.
"I did say it's my masterpiece."
"The neutralized Scarlet Rot is harmless. But unfortunately, the surrounding Scarlet Rot will quickly spread over again. Otherwise, I would have been able to clear out the area where I live."
This perfume had a lot of potential for development. If research could continue, it might have a huge impact on the situation in Caelid.
If production was sufficient to cover the entirety of Caelid...
Even if it was just treating the symptom and not the root cause, at least the symptom would be treated.
"How is this done?"
Bai Shi asked hurriedly.
This perfume was of great importance; it might even determine whether Caelid could be restored in the future.
"Actually, although the process is complex, the principle is simple: Scarlet Rot is also a type of poison."
"Since it's a poison, there must be an antidote. We just haven't found it yet. But I have found another poison that can neutralize and cancel it out."
During his investigation, Hilbert discovered that even though Scarlet Rot was extremely corrosive and could even erode inorganic materials like weapons, the Scarlet Rot was indeed a special type of poison, and not something else.
A poison of unknown origin, with more violent toxicity, invasiveness, and diffusivity.
And it was very peculiar. When it was a liquid, it was like an ordinary poison, nothing special; one just had to be careful not to touch it.
But when the Scarlet Rot completely corroded and infected animals and plants, it would become more and more active, as if it had a life of its own.
The Scarlet Rot would modify its hosts in various ways, allowing them to use the power of the Scarlet Rot, and then use these hosts to expand the contamination further.
To investigate the relationship between poison and Scarlet Rot, Hilbert even went to find the "Mushroom People" near the swamp who worshiped the Scarlet Rot.
They were all fanatical believers of the Scarlet Rot, but fortunately, there were still some who could communicate. Hilbert disguised himself as a believer and successfully learned what he wanted.
In the end, he came to one conclusion: Scarlet Rot was indeed a poison.
So, since it was just a poison, it was bound to react with and be influenced by other medicines or other poisons.
And this was the specialty of perfumers. The so-called art of perfumery was precisely about using various medicines, and even poisons, to create the desired perfumes.
In his long exploration, he found a plant called the Poison Mold Mushroom.
Because of its special toxins, the Poison Mold Mushroom grew on its own even in Scarlet Rot-infested areas.
The toxins of this mushroom were the key to neutralizing the Scarlet Rot.
By extracting the toxins from the Poison Mold Mushroom and combining them with Cave Moss Crystal, the Neutralizing Perfume was finally created.
It wasn't an antidote, but a neutralizer.
Just as acid-base neutralization produces water and salt, it worked by neutralizing and changing the properties of the Scarlet Rot, rendering it harmless.
Bai Shi took the three perfume bottles.
These were indeed very effective perfumes.
"What is the production yield of the Neutralizing Perfume? It could be very useful for the situation in Caelid."
Hilbert scratched his chin with his fingernail.
"Although I would also like to solve the Scarlet Rot problem in Caelid, unfortunately, it's very difficult to do."
"Not to mention that for the vast expanse of Caelid, the perfume is just a drop in the bucket. And you have to remember, even if the Neutralizing Perfume neutralizes the Scarlet Rot, the rot from other areas will quickly spread over."
"Furthermore, the current yield of Poison Mold Mushrooms is very low, so the materials are hard to come by, and the manual production process is also very tedious."
Bai Shi smiled.
"None of these are problems. If I provide you with manpower and materials, can you mass-produce these two perfumes?"
Hilbert gulped. Bai Shi's wealth and generosity truly shocked him.
Moreover, he could see Bai Shi's ambition.
Did he really want to solve Caelid's Scarlet Rot problem through such a method of chipping away at a stone with persistent dripping?!
Hilbert's heart began to pound.
He knew he seemed to be participating in a major event that would change the Lands Between.
As a perfumer, faced with the opportunity to possibly solve Caelid's Scarlet Rot, what reason did he have to hesitate?
"Theoretically, yes."
Hearing this, Bai Shi nodded.
Stormveil had plenty of manpower. And when it came to cultivating mushrooms and moss, the Demi-Humans were experts.
Have the Demi-Humans cultivate them, and the Misbegotten work as assembly line laborers. That should allow for mass production, right?
Use the Neutralizing Perfume to neutralize Caelid's Scarlet Rot, then whether by burning it or building fire walls, push forward step by step, and the Scarlet Rot can definitely be gradually brought under control.
Although this process would surely be very, very long, and he might encounter all sorts of difficulties and obstacles along the way.
But Bai Shi was not afraid.