Translator: CinderTL
Roland, of course, had no way of knowing about the secret conversation between Derek and Nielsen.
At that moment, he was being urged by Galvis to purchase a mountain of ingredients and drinks before diving headfirst into the kitchen.
Drawing on his culinary skills from his past life, now enhanced by his [Cooking] skill, it didn't take long before the dining table was laden with dishes radiating enticing aromas and cooked to perfection.
"Ah!"
The bard inhaled deeply, genuinely impressed, and eagerly stuffed a steaming, delicious morsel into his mouth.
The burst of savory flavor on his tongue prompted him to give Roland an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
"Roland, your cooking is absolutely divine!"
"Slow down..."
Roland pushed a specially prepared portion of food into Joe's small bowl beside him, then turned to the scholar beside him, who was still reading while eating.
"How is it, Bronson? To your liking?"
"Hmm... quite excellent..."
The scholar praised the food, but his expression remained unchanged.
A moment later, he finished his meal.
Unlike the previous days, Bronson didn't immediately get up to return to his room.
He set down his book, looked up, his expression unusually focused.
"Roland, do you remember when I mentioned that the concentration of Magic Elements varies by region?"
"Of course I remember," Roland replied, nodding as he continued to eat heartily.
"Has your research progressed?"
"Indeed."
Seemingly oblivious to the grease stains on the table, Bronson laid his open book flat on the surface, pointing at a page.
"Look, after consulting ancient texts, I've discovered that variations in Magic Element concentration significantly influence local landforms and certain natural phenomena. This implies..."
The scholar's voice rose slightly with excitement.
"...that even without specific spell runes to guide them, when the concentration of Magic Elements reaches a certain threshold, spontaneous inter-elemental fusion can occur! This further validates your earlier hypothesis. Perhaps..."
His fingers unconsciously tapped the table, his eyes gleaming with fervor.
"By utilizing the spell patterns I've been researching, we can first extract a specific Elemental Magic from the air, release it, and then suddenly introduce a completely different element."
"In theory, this could allow us to simulate effects normally achievable only with high-level spells..."
At this, Roland abruptly set down his utensils, his gaze locking onto Bronson as if trying to dissect every nuance of his words.
If this scholar's reasoning is correct...
Then even with only the basic Fire Arrow spell, by forcibly fusing different Elemental Magics, he could unleash unimaginable destructive power, triggering unpredictable chain reactions!
This would undoubtedly become a game-changing trump card in battle.
More importantly, the hypothesis about fusing Magic Elements had initially been just a tentative assumption he'd thrown out based on memories from his previous life.
He never imagined Bronson would actually pursue this line of thought and devise a seemingly viable method!
As Roland considered this, the admiration in his eyes for Bronson nearly overflowed.
"Ahem... Of course..."
Bronson cleared his throat awkwardly, feeling deeply uncomfortable under Roland's intense gaze, as if he were being appraised like a precious jewel.
"This is just... a very preliminary concept."
"And even if it could be realized..."
His tone grew cautious.
"The energy generated by such a fusion would be extremely difficult to control. The greatest risk lies in..."
"The caster themselves would likely bear the brunt of the uncontrolled energy backlash... It's far less precise, stable, and safe than true high-level spells."
"Don't feel pressured, Mr. Bronson..."
Roland gently patted the scholar's shoulder.
"You can proceed with your research at your own pace. Time is ample. As for the funding your institute requires..."
He paused, his voice firm.
"You need not worry about that at all."
With that, Roland produced a card from his inner pocket.
The card was made of an unusual material, neither metal nor wood, its surface shimmering with a faint, azure glow.
It was a gift from the merchant Colin, given to him at their parting in Far Ocean Port.
This card allows access to funds at any branch of the Merchant Guild across the River Domain Nations, functioning much like a bank card from Roland's previous life.
Though Roland hadn't yet checked the exact amount stored on the card, given Colin's reputation for generosity, he was confident the merchant wouldn't disappoint.
"The funds on this card should cover all your research expenses," Roland said, handing the card to Bronson.
"This... Roland... I..." Bronson clearly recognized the card. He had been present when Colin entrusted it to Roland, fully aware of its value.
Gazing at the card held so close, the scholar's face was a complex mix of emotions. Excitement at securing ample funding mingled with deep gratitude for Roland's unwavering trust.
Roland simply pressed the card into Bronson's slightly hesitant hand.
"Of course," he said with a gentle smile, trying to ease the scholar's agitation. "Just like our original agreement, the fruits of your research..."
"Ha!" Bronson understood Roland's unspoken words. He chuckled softly, shaking his head with a mix of resignation and relief. Without further hesitation, he clutched the faintly glowing card tightly in his palm.
Just as Roland was about to speak again, a melodious song drifted over, accompanied by the strumming of a harp.
"Ah! What a touching scene! Long live friendship!"
Galvis strummed his harp, his face adopting the exaggeratedly sentimental expression characteristic of a bard.
Roland and Bronson exchanged weary glances, then wordlessly closed their mouths.
The two men quickly devoured the remaining food on their plates, then simultaneously stood up and retreated to their rooms without a word.
"How... utterly rude..."
Galvis sighed dejectedly, gazing at the empty dining table and the closed doors. The harp's melody abruptly ceased.
Back in his room, Roland shut the door, sealing out the faint harp music and the salty tang of the sea wind.
He lay down on the bed, focused his spirit, and the familiar Job Panel materialized before his eyes.
Having hastily claimed the [Fisherman] job earlier due to the impending dinner, he hadn't had time to thoroughly examine the specific benefits conferred by job resonance.
Now, finally, he had a moment to spare.
He turned his attention to the text on the panel.
[Detected: Blacksmith Apprentice job. Job resonance can be triggered.]
[Job Resonance]
[Fisherman + Blacksmith Apprentice]
[Additional Benefit: Impervious Craftsmanship]
[The structural strength of fishing gear is significantly enhanced, permanently reducing wear and tear and completely eliminating rust. When used in any aquatic environment (rivers, lakes, seas), equipment degradation, aging, and performance decline caused by water erosion are entirely nullified.]
(End of the Chapter)
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