The Reincarnated Telepath

Chapter 4 The Final Astonishment

The city of Aston, also known as the City of Adventurers, serves as both a paradise and a hell for those brave enough to venture. Its nomenclature originates from the vast subterranean labyrinth known as the "Black Abyss" situated beyond the city walls. Within, flora and fauna have undergone grotesque transformations into monstrous entities, multiplying incessantly. Every few years or decades, a calamity named the "Black Tide" erupts, with hordes of creatures surging forth from the labyrinth, wreaking havoc in all directions. This catastrophe surpasses the dread of any mere plague.

The "Black Abyss" serves not only as a nesting ground for these monsters but also as a natural repository of extraordinary resources. Unique minerals, crystallized elements of shadowy gold, magical flora, and the coveted crystalline essence known as "Obsidian," harbored within high-tier monsters, constitute treasures coveted by aspiring practitioners of the arcane arts.

Beyond the pursuit of wealth, the Baizhao Empire encourages the formation of adventurer parties to explore the labyrinth's core, aiming to diminish the scale of each recurring "Black Tide." Those who contribute significantly to this cause receive prestigious honor medals. The fervor for profit and distinction has turned the collective exploration of subterranean labyrinths into a fervent trend sweeping through the entire empire.

Adventurers, a group endowed with both wealth and honor, paradoxically find themselves in close proximity to death. The labyrinth's inherent dangers have rendered equipment and elixirs indispensable commodities within the welcoming embrace of Aston City.

"I aspire to become a telepathic practitioner. If that proves unattainable, I shall strive to attain knighthood or become a swordsman. In any case, I am determined to explore the depths of the underground nest. Of course, Uncle Mark, rest assured, I will not embark on such ventures until my abilities warrant it. I am not inclined to risk my life needlessly."

"Well done! A boy unwilling to become an adventurer is not a commendable lad. Regarding your desire to become a telepathic practitioner or a knight, I wholeheartedly support your aspirations. As mentioned earlier, if Charlotte can concoct a stamina-restoring elixir of the same caliber as yours, I will present him with a grand gift. Since you are, in fact, Charlotte, I will bestow this substantial gift upon you."

Upon concluding her words, Annie handed Charlotte a book, stating, "Since childhood, I aspired to become a telepathic practitioner, yet my aptitude did not align. However, I have carried this book with me, hoping to encounter someone I would deem worthy of pursuing the path of a telepathic practitioner. Today, I offer this book to you."

"This is a limited edition, non-reproducible introductory textbook distributed by the Imperial Telepathic Guild. It delves into fundamental telepathic principles, catering primarily to telepathic apprentices and novice practitioners."

"Additionally, within the Norde Gate of Aston City, there exists an aptitude assessment center established by the Imperial Telepathic Guild. However, common children with unremarkable aptitudes are unlikely to gain acceptance into the guild. Therefore, in the event you face rejection at the guild's gates due to your aptitude falling short, please remember that the Goth Apothecary is open to you at any time."

Charlotte received the book and, after gazing at Annie for a while, spoke quietly, "Thank you."

Finally, with aspirations of becoming a telepathic practitioner and the opportunity bestowed upon him, Charlotte departed from the Goth Apothecary.

The profound twists and extraordinary developments of today seem to have left others in a state of temporary astonishment, rendering them unable to revert to their usual composure.

Meanwhile, Annie took a deep breath and chuckled, "Aiding someone truly brings a sense of tranquility to the heart. Now, esteemed newly-appointed advanced alchemical apprentices and the three positions of alchemists, our primary concern at Goth Apothecary currently lies in enhancing the success rate of apprentices and junior alchemists in potion-making. Therefore, I implore each of you to exert efforts in identifying individuals with high potion-making success rates. That is precisely what our Goth Apothecary needs most at this juncture."

At this point, Annie noticed a peculiar exchange of glances among the surrounding individuals, followed by curious gazes directed towards her, tinged with a hint of sympathy. What was happening?

"What's the matter?" Annie inquired of Herman, who was closest to her. However, instead of directly answering her question, Herman glanced towards the experimental station where Charlotte had been.

Following Herman's line of sight, Annie, too, gazed at the additional row of potions next to the previously observed budding mid-grade potion. Evidently, these were the potions concocted by Charlotte in the other nineteen attempts.

Judging by the expressions of those present, could there be additional successful concoctions?

Piqued by this question, Annie scanned from left to right, initially encountering an unmistakable failure, which was not particularly surprising.

However, the second one proved to be a success, albeit at the lowest tier. Considering Charlotte's prior status as a failed alchemical apprentice, this progress was indeed remarkable and merited inclusion in the priority training list.

Yet, Annie harbored no regrets regarding her earlier decision to permit Charlotte to leave Goth and support his aspiration to become an adventurer—a "fool" dreaming of becoming a telepathic practitioner amidst commoners.

Despite losing an excellent alchemist, she had bestowed another individual with the opportunity to pursue their dreams. This, in her estimation, was worthwhile.

As Annie ruminated while observing, her gaze shifted to the third vial. Her mind was still occupied with other thoughts from earlier, so she did not immediately realize that it, too, was a qualified product—a budding mid-grade potion.

When her thoughts gradually returned to the present, and she became aware of what lay before her, Annie's eyes slowly widened.

Recalling the strange glances and gazes exchanged by others earlier, Annie began to formulate an unsettling conjecture.

Continuing her gaze from left to right, the first one was unmistakably a failure, easing the tension in her mind ever so slightly.

Yet, upon looking further right, her heart leaped abruptly. It was another qualified product, albeit at the lowest level. In terms of success rate, Charlotte had now surpassed Herman.

Moving her gaze further right, her heart once again experienced a sudden surge—another qualified product, this time at the budding mid-grade level. Although this did not surprise Annie too much, given her elevated psychological expectations based on her earlier unsettling speculation.

However, what intrigued her even more was a feeling of déjà vu, as if she had undergone a similar stage in the past.

To confirm this suspicion, Annie hastened the speed of her gaze movement—failure, budding low-grade, budding mid-grade...

Confirmation complete, her gaze ceased moving further right.

With a pattern of failure, budding low-grade, and budding mid-grade forming a distinct phase, there were now five repetitions of this identical pattern.

This is by no means a coincidence; rather, it signifies a definite pattern, suggesting that the young man named Charlotte can accurately control the grade of each potion within at least the budding high-grade level. It also implies that if he is willing, he has a one hundred percent success rate in potion-making each time.

Despite the brain reaching a conclusion, the thoughts scattered in the mind, leaving behind two key terms.

Success rate... one hundred percent...

Such talent is the true genius needed to change the current situation in Goth. However, just a moment ago...

Huh?

Annie's peripheral vision noticed four vials of "Hot Springs" separated from the previous dozen potions on the experimental table. They were much purer, and the estimated grade was approaching deep autumn level.

"Master Robert, are these potions you concocted? Why are they placed together with Charlotte's?"

"Apologies, Miss Annie. Although I can also produce stamina recovery potions at the Superior Huahua level, my success rate is only forty percent. I cannot achieve consecutively concocting potions of this level four times."

"Could it be..." Annie's expression was one of disbelief.

Robert glanced at the dispirited Herman, sighed, and said, "Yes, Miss Annie. As you suspected, these were also concocted by Charlotte."

Annie was thoroughly shaken.

"Now I am certain. Charlotte is the savior sent to us by the heavens. No, becoming an adventurer is too perilous. Charlotte must not become an adventurer. As the future chief alchemist of our shop, he must not suffer even the slightest harm."

When uttering these words, Annie seemed to have completely forgotten that she had been supportive of Charlotte becoming an adventurer just a while ago.

"Herman, lead the way. We're going to Charlotte's house. He cannot be allowed to leave. As the chief alchemist of our future, I cannot approve of it."

Herman hesitated for a moment before finally squeezing out a response, "Uh, Miss Annie, I don't know where Charlotte lives."

"What? You don't even know where Charlotte lives? What's the use then? Hurry up and prepare the carriage. I'll check the registration records."

A bitter expression intensified on Herman's face. Clearly, Miss Annie had praised him to the skies not long ago, but now he felt useless because he didn't know Charlotte's address.

Moreover, since when did knowing or not knowing Charlotte's address become a standard for capability or incapability?