BXBX NOVEL Chapter 89: Homemade Perfume!
Logan, however, had no intention of meeting with them. He firmly believed that the tribe did not need spiritual beliefs at this critical juncture.
"When you are hungry and desperate, will you believe in God?" he mused. "Yes. But when you are fed and content, will you still hold that belief?"
Logan wasn't sure of the answer, but he understood that the newly arrived victims were still unsettled. If they turned to spiritual support, the priests would quickly gain influence, converting these vulnerable individuals into their followers. Logan could not allow this. If there was to be any spiritual support, it would be him, the chief of the Silver Mane Tribe, who would provide it.
His resolve was firm: the tribe's loyalty and strength had to be directed towards its leadership, not fragmented by the influence of priests and their temples. This was a delicate balancing act, but one that Logan was determined to master for the future of the Silver Mane Tribe.
Logan summoned his uncle, Begon, and gave him clear instructions. "Tell the priests that the tribe does not have the time or resources to build a temple right now. We'll consider it once the people are stable and the famine is over."
The influx of disaster victims not only bolstered the tribe's strength but also brought valuable skills. Among the newcomers were pharmacists, blacksmiths, manufacturers, and other craftsmen. Though many were merely apprentices, their potential was immense.
The primary difference between these apprentices and formal craftsmen was not their skill, but a certificate, one that required a costly assessment fee of a gold coin, a sum far beyond their reach.
Consequently, while the overall strength of the Silver Mane Tribe had improved significantly, they still lagged behind other large tribes, especially in terms of high-level warriors. Tribes like Duskin boasted three sixth-level strongmen, while the Silver Mane Tribe had only Logan's grandfather as a sixth-level warrior. Jane, though powerful, was not a member of their tribe.
This shortage of high-level warriors was a pressing issue. Logan understood that strong individuals don't emerge overnight. Meanwhile, the growing population meant that not everyone could be put to work immediately. Thus, he pondered new ways to generate income under their current conditions.
One evening at Logan's home, Jane watched curiously as he hefted a wooden wine barrel onto the table. He had promised her a surprise, something he had been working on since he stopped searching for disaster victims.
"What's this?" Jane asked, her curiosity piqued.
"It's something all women in the world will love," Logan said with a mischievous smile. "Even goddesses would be captivated by it!"
Jane raised an eyebrow, skeptical but intrigued. "I'll believe it when I see it."
Logan laughed, undeterred by her doubt. "Trust me, you'll love it." With that, he pried open the tightly sealed lid of the wooden barrel.
A rich, intoxicating aroma filled the room. Jane's eyes widened in surprise. "It smells wonderful!"
Logan beamed with pride. "See? I told you. This is a special blend of herbs and spices I've been perfecting. It's not just wine; it's a potion that can captivate anyone."
Jane couldn't hide her smile. "You might be right this time. It does smell amazing."
Logan nodded, satisfied. "This is just the beginning. With this, we can not only provide for our tribe but also trade with other tribes. It's a way to ensure our prosperity and strengthen our alliances."
Jane looked at him with newfound respect. "You always have a plan, don't you?"
Jane inhaled deeply, his eyes widening in delight. "Oh, what a delightful aroma!" he exclaimed.
Curiously, he leaned closer and queried, "What is this enchanting scent? Is it something we can drink?"
Meanwhile, Kevin and the rest of the pack, lured by the scent, came bounding inside.
"What an amazing smell!" Kevin echoed.
"Simply irresistible!" another chimed in.
"What's creating this magic?" a third asked, their voices overlapping in eager curiosity.
The room buzzed with the excited chatter of the little beastmen, all intrigued by the mysterious fragrance permeating the house.
Logan, with an amused smirk, responded to their curiosity, "Of course it's not for eating or drinking!"
"This, my friends, is perfume!" he announced.
Perfume? The word seemed to hang momentarily in the air.
Jane, momentarily puzzled, nodded. "It's truly exquisite. But if it's not for drinking, what do we do with it?"
Logan, ever the patient explainer, said, "Perfume is designed to be worn. You sprinkle it on yourself to carry this wonderful scent."
He went on to share his knowledge about perfume making, a craft he had pondered for a long while. In his past life, he had encountered various perfumes on his wife's makeup counter, each one precious and uniquely scented.
"The essence of perfume lies in its blend of alcohol and essential oils. Similar to brewing, albeit with different purity requirements."
He explained how essential oils are distilled from flowers, capturing their delicate fragrances in a liquid form, a process not too daunting for someone with his skills.
"Just mix alcohol, essential oils, and water in that order," Logan detailed. "Though what we have here has only settled for 24 hours. It's still quite volatile, and the scent might not last the day."
He smiled, his eyes twinkling with a hint of mischief. "But with aging, storing it in a cool, dark place for a month, the perfume's concentration increases, its presence lingers longer in the air, and it evaporates more slowly."
Despite Logan' detailed explanation, Jane's expression remained blank, prompting Logan to demonstrate. He scooped a small amount of perfume with a wooden spoon, letting it splash into his palm. With a swift flick, he sprinkled it over Jane, creating a fine mist around them.
"Watch the mist," Logan encouraged, a playful grin spreading across his face.
As Jane marveled at the floating droplets, Logan urged, "Now, smell your clothes!"
"It smells wonderful! Sister Jane smells so nice!" Jane exclaimed, burying his nose in his sleeve. Before he could savor the scent further, Ginny, Logan's little sister, tugged eagerly at his clothes.
"Sister Jane, you smell like a fresh spring garden!" Ginny exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with delight.
Logan glanced over and swept Ginny into a warm hug. His sister's adorableness overwhelmed him, and he affectionately rubbed her small, rosy cheek. "Little rascal, it's not just Sister Jane who's wearing it, you're scented too. Let me smell!" he chuckled, nuzzling close to her.
With a tender rub and a sniff, he exclaimed, "Ah, you smell wonderful!"
"Really, brother?" Ginny asked, her small wolf teeth peeking out in a delighted grin.
Logan responded with a warm smile and a nod.
Eagerly, Ginny grabbed her clothes, brought them to her nose, and took a deep breath. Her eyes widened in surprise. "It smells so good, brother! Ginny smells lovely!"
"Yes, you're my fragrant little doll!" Logan laughed, setting her gently on the ground.
Jane watched the playful exchange, her eyes sparkling with fascination. The aroma enveloped her, reminiscent of a field brimming with blossoms. To her, Logan's abilities seemed increasingly wondrous.
"Is this truly a gift for me?" she asked, her voice tinged with awe.
"Of course, this entire barrel of perfume is yours!" Logan declared with a buoyant smile.
He had been inspired to create the perfume after lying close to Jane and noticing her unique natural scent, which had sparked the idea.
In a spontaneous gesture of gratitude, Jane planted a quick kiss on Logan's cheek, promptly sealed the barrel, and slipped it into her spatial ring. Logan, caught off-guard by her swift actions, was momentarily speechless.
"You... you've stowed it away already? There's no rush; no one else is claiming it," he said, a hint of exasperation in his voice. The barrel wasn't small, it held at least 15 kilograms of perfume, surely more than one could use in a lifetime.
"But you were giving it to me, right?" Jane responded, somewhat confused.
"It's yours, but aren't you going to save some for me?" Logan retorted, his tone laced with annoyance.
"Save some? Were you planning to give it to another woman?" Jane asked sharply, her face suddenly serious.
Logan was taken aback. "Don't be absurd," he chided gently, pinching her cheek. "Bring it out again, I need some."
Complying, Jane retrieved the barrel from her spatial ring.
Logan procured a wooden jug and filled it with some of the perfume, then suggested, "Store the rest again. And why not share some with Mother, your second mother, your aunts? It's a perfect chance to strengthen your bonds with them."
Jane paused, her eyes lighting up with realization. The last time Logan hosted a gathering, he had introduced her to the entire Silver Mane family. The aunts had all extended invitations to visit their homes. She had been fretting over finding suitable gifts, and as a result, had delayed her visits. Now, she held the perfect offering in her hands.