What Witch? This Alchemist is Breaking Bad!

“That kind of business... can it work too?” Adele subconsciously asked the question that had been buried in her heart.

“Yes, it can.” Leon glanced at Adele and gave a brief reply.

Moreover, because of potions’ high-price nature and the huge demand for potions among the powerful class, in some ways, accumulating connections and power among the powerful through Mana Essence business was easier than through other businesses.

In other words, as long as one expanded it enough, in this country, it was truly possible to climb to the upper levels by doing this kind of underworld business that violated the law.

“Those who steal a hook are executed, those who steal a nation become lords.” This had always been the most important lesson Earl Foyle had taught Leon through his own example.

Of course, in contrast, this was also a dangerous road along the edge of a cliff where one could die without leaving a corpse at any moment. The Earl himself was also an example of this.

From the moment he entered this line of work, Leon had always been standing on the edge of a cliff. It would not be strange whenever he walked toward destruction.

But the current Leon had already clearly understood what he truly wanted. After being silent in this world for such a long time after transmigrating here, he had realized that only this path could allow him to grasp a magnificent life completely different from the ordinary one he had in his previous life.

“But don’t you also have knowledge? Archbishop Miller can appreciate you so much, which proves that you really have ability. Why do you still need that kind of business?” Adele asked quietly.

“Knowledge is indeed a kind of power, but without resources to support it, it may not necessarily be able to display its strength. If I had not relied on the accumulation from that business to obtain the opportunity to gain a rank, I would never have been able to meet Archbishop Miller.”

As Leon spoke, he glanced at Adele. “Archbishop Miller also said just now that you graduated from a prestigious law academy and specialized in finance. You should also have some ability, right? But without money, wouldn’t you also be unable to solve your family’s predicament yourself?”

“Hurting someone where it hurts is a bit excessive.” Adele muttered quietly in complaint.

However, she understood the reasoning behind what Leon said. Even the most skillful cook cannot prepare a meal without ingredients. She herself possessed knowledge and even experience, but under the circumstances of lacking funds and carrying debts, there was almost nowhere for her abilities to be used.

Knowledge or personal ability, both were undoubtedly forms of power. But the prerequisite was... having a sufficient environment and conditions to transform them into power. Leon had precisely used the accumulation from that business to create such conditions for himself.

If she had sufficient funds in her hands, she also had some confidence that she could use them well. But if obtaining the first pot of gold required taking risks and accumulating it like Leon did, she did not have such courage.

Adele suddenly realized that perhaps this very difference was what had created the difference in their current circumstances—Leon, who came from a commoner background, had taken control of the life of her, who came from nobility.

The banquet soon reached its scheduled time. Afterwards, the polite steward led servants and maids into the banquet hall and respectfully guided everyone to their seats.

Then exquisite dishes were served one after another. An entire smoked swan was deboned, chopped, and mixed with vegetables and cold-cut ham to make a cold dish; lobsters produced from the southern archipelago were cut open from the back, revealing translucent shrimp meat; fresh oysters from the local port, plump like cream during their prime season, were grilled with butter and pepper; roasted venison was served with truffle sauce and drizzled with cherry wine sauce... Finally, the dessert was a platter made of seasonal fruit jelly and almond cold cheese tarts.

“Have you noticed that Marquis Veronia still has not appeared...” During dessert, Adele quietly said to Leon. “The banquet segment is also relatively simple.”

“Simple?” Leon looked at the jelly and cheese tart on his plate, which had been arranged like a work of art.

“I am not talking about the quality of the dishes. The grandeur is still there. I mean the entire process is relatively short. This is not a banquet centered around eating.” Adele quietly reminded Leon. “Normally, this should be the kind of arrangement where some major matter is prepared to be announced during the dance segment.”

“What do you think it will be?” Leon asked.

“How would I know? But I guess it should be related to the heir. Marquis Veronia is already old, and his children are no longer young either. It is probably not a marriage alliance matter. His eldest son already has a family and career, so it is about time for him to inherit.” Adele said.

During the banquet, Leon had also heard similar discussions. Marquis Veronia was already sixty years old and had long become a grandfather. Not to mention his sons, even his grandchildren had already established families and careers.

Besides his two sons, Marquis Veronia actually had a daughter who was now in her forties and had remained unmarried. Nobody knew the reason.

At such an age, even if a marriage alliance suddenly occurred, Marquis Veronia probably would not hold such a grand public banquet to announce it. Like Adele had guessed, the possibility that the marquis was preparing to announce his eldest son’s succession was quite high.

However, after thinking about it, Leon raised an objection. “Unless the marquis’s health has encountered a problem, this possibility should not be very high.”

“Why?” Adele subconsciously asked.

Leon did not continue answering her.

After the Earl died, the eastern noble forces lost their central pillar, causing the eastern noble circle to become anxious for a time. There were rumors that Duke Gran had found a way to eliminate the Earl, which meant that the western noble group might still be preparing to further suppress the eastern forces.

Of course, even if Duke Gran was not responsible, it was indeed an opportunity for the western group now.

Even during this banquet, Leon could feel the influence of this situation.

Including Enrique, more than one person who had seen him being introduced to the Earl by Bishop Beckett had tried to ask him whether he had any information related to the Earl.

The lower nobles did not possess much power, and their information was not particularly well-informed. They could only ask around at social gatherings like this.

Facing such circumstances, the two remaining eastern nobles with the greatest influence, Marquis Veronia and Marquis Lorraine, undoubtedly faced much greater pressure from the western noble group.

Under such circumstances, Marquis Veronia suddenly abandoning his own prestige and connections to stabilize people’s hearts, choosing instead to avoid the situation and let his son take over the family to handle such a difficult situation, clearly could not be called wise.

Taking a step back, even if it had reached the point where a replacement was unavoidable, announcing such a matter so suddenly at a banquet in front of so many eastern minor nobles would only make people’s hearts more unsettled.

The banquet soon reached its end. The servants and steward began arranging the dance hall, lighting all the candles on the chandeliers and making the banquet venue brighter. The red curtains that had always covered the second-floor corridor were pulled open, and musicians dressed in formal attire had already taken their places with their respective instruments.

After a short rest, the steward rang a bell. The orchestra upstairs began playing a gentle overture, which was the signal telling the guests that the dance could begin at any time.

Watching the other guests stand up in pairs and walk toward the dance hall, a bitter smile appeared on Leon’s face.

What was meant to come had finally arrived.

“What? You are starting to get nervous at the last moment?” Adele noticed Leon’s reaction and did not miss this chance to tease him.

“It is time to test the results. Let’s go.” Leon took a deep breath and held Adele’s hand.

As a husband and wife attending a banquet, this segment was something they had to at least dance once at the beginning. In the Empire, this was considered a necessary etiquette toward the host. This was also something Adele had taught him.

“Are you really okay?” Adele confirmed with Leon.

“If you do not believe in me, you can at least believe in yourself a little. You are still a decent teacher, after all.” Leon smiled slightly.

Half a month ago—

“You want to learn social dancing?”

Inside the Viscount’s estate, Adele stared at Leon in shock, at one point suspecting that she had heard wrong.

“Next next week, we are attending a banquet at the marquis’s place. If there is dancing, I need to hurry and learn.” Leon answered.

“Do you really have to attend this banquet?” Adele replied with a troubled expression.

She had already tried persuading Leon. At first, Leon had said he would investigate, but after leaving once and returning, he had firmly decided to attend the banquet.

“I have my own considerations. I can only trouble you to accompany me.” Leon said in a tone that left no room for refusal.

“But you do not even know how to dance social dances!” Adele said with an expression of disbelief.

Leon, who came from a commoner background, should not have specifically learned proper noble social dances. Judging from his question, that was indeed the case.

Why did he insist on attending this banquet under the title of Viscount Arend?

“That is why I need to hurry and learn. Do you know any reliable teachers? Introduce one to me so I can do some intensive training and learn quickly, at least enough to get through this part.” Leon said.

“The etiquette teacher who taught me dancing was hired from the Imperial Capital and has already returned. Learning dance, those professional teachers all follow procedures starting from the basics. With only ten or so days, I am afraid...” Adele hesitated.

“It does not need to be that troublesome. As long as I can handle one dance, that is enough. Even if it is expensive, it is fine. I can afford it.” Leon said.

“This circle is only so large. It will spread very quickly. If it gets out that you had to temporarily hire someone to guide you before attending a dance, and the others at the banquet find out, there will definitely be people watching you make a fool of yourself...” Adele sighed and said helplessly. “Forget it. Since you insist on going, I will teach you. I am fairly good at this.”

“You will teach me?” Leon had not expected Adele to make such a suggestion, especially not voluntarily.

“There are only half a month left anyway. Rather than having someone teach you from the beginning, it is better to practice directly with me. You are only trying to deal with this one occasion. You only need to finish the opening dance with me. As long as we cooperate well, we can get through it.” Adele said.

“That is indeed true.” Leon nodded. In that case, directly practicing with Adele was indeed the most efficient method. “I am just a little surprised that you would actually take the initiative to suggest teaching me.”

“I am only choosing the practical approach because I cannot change your decision. If you insist on attending the banquet, then during the dance segment, a husband and wife at least need to finish the opening dance for it to count as basic etiquette. You are my ‘husband’ now. If you embarrass yourself, I will also be embarrassed.” Adele said helplessly.

In terms of social occasions, Adele understood very clearly that she and Leon were tied together in honor and disgrace. After all, they were husband and wife in name.

“Alright.” Leon nodded. “Then I will trouble you.”