Chapter 667: Chaos Drinks
And the following drinks really opened Roland's eyes.
Some were like coffee, slightly bitter but with a rich, exotic aroma, while others were like soup, delicious and warming; the most unique one was so unfamiliar that he couldn't find a corresponding taste in his memory. If he had to describe it, he could only coin a new term: Dragonfire Wine.
It wasn't wine made from dragon fruit, but rather the dragonfire of fantasy—the initial taste was a scorching sensation, as if lava was pouring into his mouth, followed by a burnt aroma that made it feel like his tongue had been roasted, and finally, the refreshing fragrance of juicy fruits, mixed with a hint of alcohol.
The longer it lingered in his mouth, the more drawn-out the aftertaste became. If it were winter, it would definitely be an irresistible drink.
"Your Majesty, is it really that good?" Probably seeing Roland's intoxicated expression, Nightingale couldn't help but reveal herself, licking her lips as she asked.
"You'll know once you try it," Roland handed her the cup.
Soon, Nightingale let out a satisfied hum, her eyes narrowed into slits.
"I've already tasted it," Wendy said with a knowing look, "Its flavor is indeed irresistible."
After finishing all the Dragonfire Wine, Roland burped with lingering satisfaction, "Is there any more of this drink?"
Evelyn shook her head, "I can't repeat the last result... The new ability has no pattern at all."
"Can't repeat it?" Roland paused slightly. After Wendy gave a detailed account of the tests she had done, he finally understood why she was so troubled.
This ability could turn water, wine, or other liquids into beverages, but the specific beverage it would create couldn't be controlled. Or rather, each product was different.
It consumed far more magic power than converting alcohol, barely enough to cast once a day, and the amount converted was also quite limited, roughly equivalent to the capacity of a wine barrel—Roland had seen those wooden barrels in taverns, each holding about one cubic meter of liquid.
To date, Evelyn had used her new ability five times, resulting in five different flavors of drinks.
The thought of not knowing when he could taste Dragonfire Wine again, or perhaps never being able to relive the experience, filled Roland with regret.
That was probably why Evelyn was so disheartened as well.
For witches, advanced awakening was akin to a rebirth, even offering the chance to transform from a non-combat witch into a combat witch. Despite his constant emphasis on the vast potential for development in every witch's ability, Evelyn, who came from Sleeping Island, couldn't fully change her mindset so quickly.
Roland knew that she had always felt her brewing skills were terrible. Now that she had finally evolved, her new ability hadn't fundamentally changed things, only shifting from wine to a wider range of drinks, and she couldn't even control the result, which made her feel even more downcast.
He didn't have a good solution to this. Changing ingrained beliefs usually required time to wear away at them. When a large number of support witches shone in Neverwinter City, the witches' attitudes would naturally change.
But he would never say that this ability was useless.
The Age of Exploration, which was once initiated in pursuit of spices, and the Silk Road, which flourished due to porcelain and silk trade, all proved people's demand and desire for luxury goods. These drinks were undoubtedly luxury goods—exquisite flavors, unique experiences, and a touch of stunning brilliance to add to this dull world, which would be sought after in any era.
And it had almost no cost!
For example, Dragonfire Wine, if sold to the Fjords and other kingdoms, would be worth at least its weight in gold dragons.
There were always wealthy merchants and nobles with too much money who would pay for it.
As for wars triggered by greed for luxury goods… others should thank the heavens if Roland didn't rob them first. Attacking Neverwinter City was no different from seeking death.
Evelyn was undoubtedly a walking gold mine.
Moreover, trade was not the only use for these drinks.
History told him that things that were widely loved by the masses could often play a role in spreading culture and ideas.
Additionally, in the arduous years of war, soldiers fighting on the outer edges of the Impassable Mountain Range would be greatly encouraged if they could drink a bag of beverage transported from Neverwinter to the front lines.
Any means that could enhance cohesion and strengthen the confidence of the people in the war against the gods, he wouldn't consider too much.
"From now on, in addition to alcohol... no, the conversion of high-concentration alcohol, I will specially build a beverage storage room for you," Roland decided, "You can use all the remaining magic power on the new ability. I believe everyone who drinks it will be fascinated by it."
"O-Okay... Your Majesty." Although Evelyn agreed, she still looked somewhat doubtful.
She didn't realize her value.
However, Roland didn't say everything he was thinking. He knew that as long as she kept doing it, Evelyn would eventually see the changes brought about by her Chaos Power.
"As for their names, let's just call them Chaos Drinks," Roland said with a smile.
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After the welcome banquet in the evening, Scholar Misiranxing walked into His Majesty the King's room.
He had served three Wimbledon kings, and with Roland Wimbledon, it was his fourth.
And the latter was the most perplexing monarch he had ever encountered.
Leaving aside the absurd and frivolous rumors in the capital, this young ruler always gave him a sense of unpredictability—not haughty, nor deliberately profound, it was as if... the other party's thoughts had gone beyond the scope of ordinary people, leaving him at a loss.
The reply letter was the best proof.
Misiranxing had never seen a king so indifferent to the news of the Doomsday Star. Half of a sheet of paper was greetings, and half was an invitation for the Astrology Society to move to the Western Region, claiming that it already had a better astronomical telescope that could fully satisfy the needs of stargazing. Finally, at the end of the letter, he slowly mentioned that Neverwinter City had also discovered new clues about the Red Moon, which needed to be discussed with the astrologers.
No surprise, no panic, the whole letter was like casually responding with an "Oh, I see."
Come to think of it, even when Roland Wimbledon first appeared at the observatory and learned of the existence of the Doomsday Star, he didn't seem too surprised.
Although having such a calm and composed king was a blessing for the people, the feeling that his lifelong pursuit had finally been realized but not given enough importance was still a little hard to bear.
The room was brightly lit. His Majesty was writing something, and the table was full of thick documents. Misiranxing hadn't seen such a scene in a long time.
"Your Majesty, good evening," he bowed slightly with a sense of relief, "The Astrology Society extends its greetings to you."
"Ah... you've come," Roland put down his pen and gestured for him to sit, "Sit down, I have many things I want to talk to you about."