For Bernadette, the fighting techniques written by Odis, though ingenious, were of little use.
However, Bernadette found Odis's overview of combat in the general outline quite novel, as if she were reading a very exciting novel.
Or rather, Bernadette had seen this way of "digesting" potions with academic papers, but those papers didn't offer much new content; most of them were summarizing the experiences of predecessors, rather than redefining fighting like Odis did.
In particular, by imbuing combat with the meaning of punishing others' evil deeds and promoting kindness, it is enough to transform this combat technique, which tends to be barbaric.
She returned the manuscript to Odis and said meaningfully, "It seems you know many secrets about potions."
For example, the "role-playing method".
Odis smiled and said, "It's alright, it's alright, I don't know much anyway."
Bernadette asked casually, "When did you start writing this paper?"
"This isn't a thesis," Odis explained. "I plan to write a book about combat, outlining the theory and practice of fighting."
Bernadette was taken aback; this was something she hadn't expected.
She picked up her black tea, took a small sip, and repeated, "Your potion should be digested soon."
Thank you.
At this point, the waiter began serving the food, and the two started chatting aimlessly, from current international politics to the weather in Backlund.
Odis glanced at the sunlight outside: "The weather is really nice today; it's been sunny for most of the day."
Bernadette shook her head: "Since arriving in Backlund, I've had to use witchcraft to dehumidify my room every day. This city's awful weather is probably only something vampires would like."
Odis recalled a servant of a certain church of the Earth Mother Goddess: "It seems so."
Then he changed the subject: "I have a way to temporarily dispel the thick fog in Backlund. Are you interested?"
Bernadette, who was cutting her steak, glanced at Odis and said, "What's the point of dispelling it? It won't do me any good."
Odis thought for a moment and then said, "How about we share that technology?"
Bernadette smiled. "Tell me, what is your purpose in dispelling the fog? How can you help me?"
Odis sighed: "I'm doing an experiment on a 'hurricane array,' but as you know, it's dangerous to do this kind of experiment under the noses of the Church of Storms. I need you to help me stay hidden."
"Just for an experiment?" Bernadette asked, putting down her knife and fork.
"Of course, there are other purposes as well, such as collecting some key data," Odis said with a grin.
Bernadette stared into Odis's eyes for a second or two before saying, "You're very clever; you already know how to circumvent my secret technique."
Odis's two answers did not directly address the question. His answers were truthful, so his nose did not grow longer, but that may not have been his main purpose.
Bernadette smiled and said, "Let me think about it. Why did you use the 'Hurricane Array' to temporarily dispel the fog? It's certainly not to change the environment of Backlund."
"Moreover, I only know of a 'Gentle Breeze Array,' and I've never heard of a 'Hurricane Array,' which is obviously a powerful array that you've modified."
"Even if it's just to temporarily dispel the fog, a strong wind is needed."
"You actually want to share such a practical and advanced magic array with me?"
She smiled and concluded, "What you're secretly plotting is definitely not insignificant."
Odis, however, still did not reveal his purpose: "Everyone has secrets, don't they? For example, after I saw you, I thought of the portrait of Emperor Roselle."
Bernadette shrugged nonchalantly: "Many people would make that connection."
Odis put a piece of beef in his mouth, chewed it slowly, and after he finished chewing, he said, "How about I help you build a ship?"
Bernadette smiled and said, "I don't lack ships; I even have my own shipyard."
"It's twice as fast as the most advanced steel behemoths today, and its firepower can rival a small cruiser fleet," Odis said. "Of course, most importantly, as long as the magic array on the ship is maintained, it can theoretically maintain its power indefinitely."
Bernadette smiled with satisfaction: "I finally feel your sincerity. I will help you, and even if you have very dangerous plans, I will try my best to save your life."
This reminded Bernadette of the ship model she had seen at Odis's house. She knew perfectly well that this ship must be an application of Odis's core research!
Odis raised his glass and smiled, saying, "It's a pleasure working with you."
"It's a pleasure doing business with you." Bernadette clinked glasses with Odis, took a sip of her drink, and then picked up her knife again, saying, "My hunch was right; something big is about to happen in Backlund."
Odis smiled without saying a word. Having a Sequence 3 help would make the year-end operation much safer.
He didn't continue the topic, but instead asked, "You just said you have a shipyard?"
Not a single mistake, not a single poem, not a single post, not a single piece of content, not a single look!
Bernadette joked, "Can't I have it?"
"I was just remarking on how wealthy you are," Odis said honestly. "Is being a pirate really that lucrative?"
Bernadette was not surprised that Odis had recognized her: "You have to see what level of pirate you are."
Odis spread his arms wide: "Look at me, do I have the potential to be a pirate?"
"Yes, because you already possess the most difficult condition for a pirate to achieve."
"What are the conditions?"
"He has a powerful backer."
Odis was slightly taken aback: "I have no backing at sea."
"Now we have it."
Odis understood, raised her glass and smiled, "A toast to Her Majesty the Queen!"
"Cheers." Bernadette corrected, "You can just call me Your Highness."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
For both of them, the meal was quite fruitful. Bernadette successfully established a deep cooperative relationship with Odis and also established a loosely binding superior-subordinate relationship with Odis.
Odis, on the other hand, was protected by a high-sequence individual and had a backup plan for himself.
After the two had eaten and drunk their fill, Odis asked Bernadette to send him back from the spirit world. In the next few days, the "Mechanical Heart" might monitor him. He was originally in the backyard of the herbal shop, but he suddenly appeared in the "Nanmu Restaurant," which would cause some trouble.
So, it would be better to simply return to the backyard of the herbalist's shop through the spirit world. Bernadette would also use some secret techniques to make the waiter who served them earlier forget that Odis had ever been there.
Back in the backyard of the herbalist's shop, Odis was about to continue writing "The Manual of Combat" when suddenly the imposing figure of the Fool appeared in his mind, followed by the image of the "Little Sun" praying.
It turns out that "Little Sun" captured the creature from the "Forsaken Land" that Odis needed.