The Reincarnated Telepath

Chapter 1 Advanced Alchemy Apprentice Advancement Assessment

Charlotte gently laid down the concocted "thermal spring" potion, exhaling a deep sigh of relief. Judging by its quality, this elixir for restoring vitality should possess a level of excellence akin to the mid-tier quality of a Chaohua-grade.

Reflecting on the days, it had been nearly a month since he arrived in this fantastical version of medieval Europe. Originally identified as a dispensable apprentice in the Gothic apothecary shop on Champs-Élysées.

Following the tutelage of professional apothecaries in basic pharmacology for nearly five years, yet failing to produce even the most rudimentary or lowest-level potion, he seemed utterly futile.

However, the reason the original owner of this body could still remain in the shop rested on two aspects. Firstly, his late father had once held the position of deputy alchemist in the shop but met his demise during an experiment to enhance potions. Thus, the shop owner and other alchemists bestowed some degree of care.

Secondly, he possessed an ample amount of impertinence, enabling him to endure the overt sarcasm and disdain from other apprentices.

However, all of this came to an end just a month ago.

Aston City's Gothic apothecary shop belonged to the Toman family's estate, as the original shopkeeper consistently incurred losses, prompting the family to dispatch a new shopkeeper to replace him.

The first action of the new shopkeeper was to target the numerous apothecary apprentices in the shop. Issuing a command that, after one month, all apprentices who had completed a year of study would undergo an advanced apothecary apprentice promotion assessment and eliminate those incapable of advancing.

Due to this news, the original Charlotte hastily returned home for a last-minute plea. Unfortunately, due to anxious errors, he followed in his late father's footsteps, succumbing to a potion experiment mishap. The similarly named Charlotte also transmigrated to this world at that exact moment.

The assimilated memories quickly led Charlotte to accept the reality of his transmigration. Regarding the potion experiment that resulted in the original Charlotte's demise, he maintained a respectful distance and concentrated on supplementing his understanding of this world.

After subsisting on black bread for nearly a month, Charlotte realized he was on the verge of becoming destitute. It was then that he decided to peruse the apothecary notes on the potion-making table. After all, based on his recent observations, being an apothecary in this world was considered a relatively lucrative and esteemed profession.

Before delving into it, the realm of apothecary studies in this world seemed mystical to Charlotte. To a modern individual, the idea of utilizing magical herbs to concoct potions capable of rapidly restoring one's stamina was challenging to fathom.

However, upon flipping open the apothecary notes, Charlotte was struck dumbfounded.

It was not because the content on the notes was too difficult to comprehend, rendering him hopeless as an apothecary, but rather because the content was surprisingly simple to the point of incredulity.

From the perspective of Charlotte, who was an outstanding student in the field of physical chemistry during his university years in the previous life, the apothecary studies in this world, based on what he knew, were nothing more than a variant of a small portion of the modern chemical system. The changes were limited and did not extend beyond the scope of understanding.

The remaining work involved analyzing the components of unknown raw materials, pairing equations with modern chemical knowledge, and other straightforward tasks.

Subsequently, using the remaining materials on the apothecary table, Charlotte began the experiment to concoct the simplest vitality-recovery potion. After a few failures, he successfully produced a finished product.

Although, based on the recorded standards for potion grades in the notes, it was just a budding-grade initial product, the completed potion could be sold for a silver coin. This instantly earned him half a month's allowance, excluding the cost of purchasing materials.

Afterwards, he successively used the remaining materials to concoct several potions. Despite unfavorable factors such as crude medieval potion-making instruments, the overall success rate was satisfactory. The completed potions ranged between budding-grade initial products and superior products.

In the end, he even exceptionally concocted a Chaohua-grade intermediate product, the "thermal spring," which even veteran professional apothecaries would hesitate to guarantee completion.

Charlotte hadn't visited the Gothic apothecary shop for nearly a month. Today happened to be the day for the advanced apothecary apprentice promotion assessment. Although he had previously concocted a reason for an accidental injury due to a potion experiment and avoided participation, to others, he might appear as a timid coward trembling at home due to fear of the advancement assessment.

However, it didn't matter; he had no intention of continuing to stay at the Gothic apothecary shop. He didn't plan to follow the normal promotion procedure, advancing to become an advanced apothecary apprentice, then a professional apothecary signed with the Gothic apothecary shop.

In his view, starting his own "business" or setting up a stall in the trading area with some protection money paid to the underworld was more worthwhile than working for others. After all, he didn't want to endure the disdainful glances of other apprentices and apothecaries due to the incompetence of the previous owner of this body.

More importantly, from the integrated memory fragments, Charlotte learned that his cheap father, one of the two deputy apothecaries of the Gothic, died on the eve of the selection of a new chief apothecary.

Whether it was accidental or a conspiracy, Charlotte didn't want to delve into it, but staying away from hidden dangers was undoubtedly the right choice.

There was no need to participate in today's assessment. After all, the assessment involved giving twenty sets of materials, equivalent to twenty chances. As long as he could successfully concoct even the lowest-grade finished vitality-recovery potion, the assessment would be considered successful—too easy for him.

Arriving at the entrance of the Gothic apothecary shop, Charlotte was immediately captivated by a daydreaming girl sitting by the door.

With a delicate face, gem-like pupils, and a slightly curled golden hair, the beauty of the girl fascinated Charlotte. If not for his remarkable observation skills noticing a slight potion stain on the girl's sleeve, based solely on her appearance and demeanor, he might have thought she was a lost noble lady. Now, he thought she was probably a new apothecary apprentice.

Charlotte sighed in his heart, feeling fortunate that such a beautiful girl had joined the study of alchemy. Although she had nothing to do with him after today, he continued walking without stopping. However, just as he was about to pass by the girl, he suddenly heard her muttering to herself:

"Well, I've pretty much understood it now. The internal constraints hindering Gothic's development are not in the aspect of management strategy that needs improvement, but the low success rate of basic potion concoction. As for the external reasons directly causing Gothic's losses, it's not something old Kullen can solve. However, what should be done?"

The girl's words left Charlotte speechless. He thought, "You, a novice apothecary, don't study the knowledge of pharmacology properly and gossip about the previous shopkeeper behind his back, but now you're contemplating such significant issues for the future development of Gothic apothecary shop. What kind of heart is this?"

Nevertheless, Charlotte had more important matters to attend to. Anyway, after today, he would leave the Gothic apothecary shop. Regardless of how enticing the apothecary apprentices inside might be, they had nothing to do with him anymore. He was just about to enter the shop when the girl at the entrance called out to him.

"Are you also an apothecary apprentice in the shop?"

After thinking for a moment, Charlotte considered that, at least for now, he still counted as a member of Gothic. So, he nodded.

The girl then seemed quite interested, beckoning him over and saying, "Come here; I have some questions to ask you."

Although Charlotte wanted to tell the girl that he was busy and, if she, a novice apothecary, wanted to ask about pharmacology, she should ask questions to her senior apprentices. But considering she was a beauty, he forgave her.

So, Charlotte obediently crouched beside the young lady, gazing into her eyes, and assured her, "Feel free to inquire about anything you find challenging, and I shall instruct you."

Anne found the way this young man spoke quite amusing; he probably didn't realize that he was the new shopkeeper of Gothic. However, this was also good.

Due to certain reasons, she had been "exiled" from the imperial capital to Aston City to take over the family's loss-making business. Initially, she had plans to quickly turn around the Gothic Pharmacy's financial situation and transform it into one of the premier apothecaries in Aston City, using it as leverage in negotiations with the family.

However, the situation in Gothic turned out to be worse than anticipated, and until now, there was no progress. This month, she was truly fed up with the situation.

"Do you know how to formulate the 'hot spring' potion?"

"I know a bit."

"And what's the success rate?"

Charlotte didn't know the typical success rate for potion formulation in this world. However, compared to the extremely low passing standard of the advancement assessment, which required success in just one out of twenty attempts, his potion success rate seemed extraordinary.

Regardless, Charlotte modestly replied, "It's decent."

Anne thought that this young apprentice lacked humility. Even Mr. Robert, the chief apothecary with a 50% success rate in basic potion formulations, wouldn't dare to answer her question like this. Well, Anne waved her hand dismissively:

"You must be here for the advanced apothecary apprentice advancement assessment. Well, go on then. Since you're so confident in your potion success rate, give it your best. I hope to see more of you."

After saying this, she lowered her head again to ponder over the issue. The two provisional solutions she considered were:

1. Requesting a junior potion researcher from the Telepathy Guild's Potion Development Department to provide regular guidance. However, this was challenging, and she had no connections at the moment. Additionally, the cost of hiring a researcher was exorbitant.

2. Identifying and nurturing apprentice apothecaries and junior apothecaries with higher potion success rates.

Personally, she leaned toward the second option. Initiating the advancement assessment early and raising its difficulty level were steps aimed at selecting outstanding advanced apothecary apprentices.

So, Charlotte, despite having the urge to tell them that he wasn't there for the assessment but rather to "resign," shook his head after seeing the girl lost in thought. Why bother saying so much to a newly arrived apprentice?

Walking into the shop, Charlotte observed a group of people surrounding an apprentice named Herman emerging from the assessment laboratory.

"Herman, you're truly amazing! Successfully formulating three stamina recovery potions, and one of them is even a budding high-quality one. Truly worthy of Master Apothecary Robert's son. You should become a professional apothecary soon."

"Yes, in no time, Herman will become the third-ranking deputy in the store. Truly deserving of the title 'Apothecary Little Prince.'"

"And he'll be the youngest deputy, no doubt. I'm sure Miss Anne will favor Herman. If he manages to win Miss Anne's heart, not only will he own the entire Gothic Pharmacy, but he might even enter the Tomann family as a nobleman."

Herman's flatterers praised him, almost leaving him unable to close his mouth. He noticed an unwelcome figure approaching and sneered, "Isn't this the former deputy's son, the cowardly Charlotte? Why aren't you hiding at home, pretending to be injured, waiting for today to pass? How dare you show up yourself?"

Seeing Herman's expression, his lackeys knew how to speak to please their master.

"Charlotte, you waste. Weren't you scared off by the assessment and hiding at home? Using a lame excuse like getting injured in an experiment. Just like your dead i***t father, I bet you'll end up dead on the experimental table sooner or later. If you don't want to die, give up potion-making and leave Gothic."

"Is your plan to continue freeloading at Gothic Pharmacy, eating and drinking for free? You are a shameless parasite. However, your visit today is futile. Miss Anne has said she won't accept waste, especially not a super waste like you, who has studied for five years and hasn't successfully formulated a potion even once."

Charlotte had sensed the insults from his integrated memories but facing the insults live, he wanted to eliminate them all. However, he knew his current strength wasn't enough. The right thing to do was endure, but he also didn't plan to endure it silently. So, he had a plan.

"If you make me uncomfortable, I won't let you off easily."

Smiling, Charlotte clapped his hands. "What you said is spot on. Someone like me, who has been freeloading, should leave early. I completely agree. But I also plan to participate in the advancement assessment. What if I accidentally pass? What if I accidentally formulate a budding high-quality potion? What if I accidentally become the youngest deputy and accidentally win Miss Anne's heart, entering the ranks of nobility?"

Herman's face turned purple with anger. He didn't know what happened to this cowardly guy today, daring to counterattack and ridicule him. Furious, he said, "You?! Just you?! You want to pass the assessment? If you can pass and even formulate a budding high-quality Telepathy Recovery Potion, I'll kneel in front of you, kowtow three times, and become your lackey from now on."

Although angry, Herman wasn't foolish; he left a way out for himself by raising the requirements. What if this waste indeed gets lucky and produces a budding high-quality potion?

Charlotte thought, 'Just another fool, letting anger cloud his judgment. He doesn't even know how to negotiate properly.' With a radiant smile, Charlotte continued, "Then, young master and a few lackeys, follow me to the potion room.“