Chapter 101: Herrick's Collection

“According to the analysis, the small pieces of flesh that were cut away vanished directly into the air, and the replenishment of the larger mass did not draw on any free energy.”

The intelligent sphere core’s wording was rather peculiar.

“Shouldn’t that be decomposition? Why say it vanished?” Linway frowned and asked the sphere core, “And the replenishment of the larger mass doesn’t require energy? How is that possible?”

“After the small pieces of flesh vanished, they did not break down into free energy. Likewise, when the larger mass was replenished, no fluctuation in the surrounding free energy was detected.”

Linway immediately fell into thought. This went entirely against the law of conservation of energy.

The replenishment of flesh was even more exaggerated than the notion of perpetual motion. It not only consumed no energy, but could also generate energy on its own to sustain itself. However one looked at it, it was a paradox.

“Core sphere, formulate hypotheses based on the test results.”

Linway pressed his lips together, a contemplative look rising in his eyes.

“Hypothesis one: the flesh’s capture and disappearance of energy is carried out through transmission via an unobservable extradimensional space.”

“Hypothesis two: the energy that disappears and the energy used for replenishment are converted through some unknown method.”

Linway lightly stroked his chin, weighing the two hypotheses given by the intelligent sphere core.

“In Herrick’s old master’s notes, it was recorded that there were other worlds beyond the wizard world. Could the supposed extradimensional space refer to that...”

Of the two hypotheses, Linway leaned more toward believing the first.

“Next, we need further experiments and observations.” Linway once again ordered the intelligent sphere core, “Core sphere, mark the midline of this piece of flesh. I want to see what changes occur if it is cut into two halves of exactly equal energy.”

Before, the flesh had vanished in small pieces and multiplied through replenishment in larger ones. If it were cut into equal parts, would the same thing still happen?

“Model analysis in progress... midline test... test failed, unable to mark the midline.”

The result relayed by the intelligent sphere core surprised Linway a little. “Why?”

“Unknown energy within the flesh is in an unstable free state and cannot maintain a perfectly balanced cutting condition.”

“What a strange form of life...”

Linway had come into contact with many advanced theories in biological mutation, but flesh tissue in such a state was something he had never seen before.

“Infinite reproduction... flesh proliferation... extradimensional energy replenishment...” Linway drew in a faint breath. “If this flesh could be transplanted...”

His eyes suddenly lit up. “If this flesh could be combined with a human body to induce mutation, then the efficiency and force of the body’s self-regeneration...”

In his excitement, Linway slapped his hands together sharply, startling Herrick, who had already begun to doze off beside him.

“Core sphere, use my body as the data sample and establish a model for the possibility of combining it with this flesh.”

“Model construction in progress... estimated time required: 17 hours and 53 minutes.”

“So long... the degree of complexity is very high,” Linway remarked softly.

After being awakened by Linway, Herrick wore a displeased expression. It took off its eyes and held them in its hands, pacing back and forth beside Linway.

“Hey, what’s your name?”

Herrick suddenly asked. After Linway entered the room, it had first addressed him as “food,” then, after being beaten senseless, it had cried out “sir.” Now that Linway’s attitude no longer seemed as stern as before, it suddenly did not know how to address him.

“Linway.”

Linway gave a brief reply.

“Linway... as expected, only my name, Herrick the Great, is truly pleasant to the ear.” Herrick bared a grin, flashing all its long front teeth.

Linway glanced around again. It seemed there was nothing else left here that could capture his attention.

Although he had not obtained the Replica Space or the Snow-White Tears Potion, Linway felt no disappointment at all. The value of this flesh far exceeded the other two. It was only because Brent had been forcefully lifted from an ordinary mortal straight into a wizard apprentice that this flesh had ended up here. If Brent had truly received systematic wizarding education, this flesh might already have been taken by him, and there would have been no chance for Linway to keep it.

“Well then, here.” Looking at Herrick, Linway suddenly pulled a biscuit the size of a palm from his sleeve, still wrapped in transparent paper.

Although wizard apprentices could reduce their need for food, before advancing to the rank of official wizard, they still could not entirely avoid eating and drinking. So before coming to the Kingdom of Leighton, Linway had purchased some high-energy biscuits. These biscuits were much like compressed rations from his former life, except that they had been specially processed by wizards. The energy contained within them far surpassed that of ordinary food. Just a single bite could keep a third-rank wizard apprentice from needing to eat for an entire week.

This high-energy biscuit was something Linway carried with him casually, and he did not mind giving one to Herrick, who might be useful to him in the future—especially since the other was such a glutton.

“Food!”

Herrick’s eyes instantly blazed with intense light, as though it had laid eyes on the brightest jewel in the world.

It snatched the biscuit and, without even tearing off the wrapper, bit straight into it.

Crunch!

Herrick bit off half the biscuit in one mouthful. A look of utter intoxication spread across its face as it slowly chewed, seemingly savoring the biscuit’s flavor.

“Not bad, not bad, I like it.” Herrick muttered to itself, then stored away the remaining biscuit. “I’ll save these for later. But this kind of life won’t last much longer. In another two years, the sixty-year companionship term I promised the old master will be up, and then I can go out and gorge myself to my heart’s content!”

“Linway, since I’m in a good mood, I’ll give you two things.”

Herrick turned and walked to the table inside the room.

It pushed the table aside, revealing the stone wall behind it.

Clang!

Herrick struck the wall hard, and a hidden cavity appeared before Linway’s eyes.

Inside were two or three small objects and an old book.

After weighing his options, Herrick finally took out a black ring and the old book.

“I don’t like owing anyone favors. Consider these two things as repayment!”

Herrick snorted, his face wearing a look of condescending generosity, though from the twitching nerves at the corner of its eyes, it was clear Herrick was still feeling some pain in parting with them.

“What are these?” Linway took them.

“These are all private treasures of mine, Herrick the Great, and have nothing whatsoever to do with the old master.” Herrick said proudly. “The black ring has a one-cubic-meter space inside it, and it can store inanimate objects. Let me tell you, this was forged by alchemists from the Wizard Continent. There is nothing like it on your little Starlink Coast!”

Linway paused slightly and muttered to himself, “The legendary space ring?”

He held the black ring in his hand and examined it closely.