The middle-aged noble twirled the lavender magic potion between his fingers, examining it with interest.
"This is the new low-level power potion that's been circulating under our Shelley Chamber of Commerce's name?"
He turned to the black-robed magician beside him and handed over the potion.
The magician, Giles, took it wordlessly, his sharp eyes scanning the liquid inside.
The steward, standing nearby, bowed respectfully.
"Yes, my lord. This potion has caused many customers to abandon our low- and mid-level potions in favor of this one. The problem started because..."
He glanced at the trembling young man kneeling on the floor.
"...this clerk took action without authorization."
A Costly Mistake
John, the clerk of the Shelley Chamber of Commerce, fell to his knees, his face drained of color.
"Lord Earl, please, let me explain!"
The middle-aged nobleman smiled, adjusting his position in his chair to something more comfortable.
"Go ahead. Speak slowly."
John swallowed, gathering his courage.
"The person who sold me this potion is a student of the Orland School of Magic. He claimed to be the Deputy Dean of the Institute of Magic and the disciple of Master Giles, the great potion master."
Giles, the black-robed magician, raised an eyebrow.
John continued desperately, "He said that Master Giles didn't want anyone to know that this was his latest invention. He needed to borrow the Shelley Chamber of Commerce's name to distribute it."
The clerk's voice trembled.
"And the potion works. It really does! So I agreed to sell it for him!"
Then, as if realizing something, he added:
"Oh, by the way, his name is—Luciel Lanster!"
A Name That Holds Weight
The nobleman repeated the name, his fingers tapping the chair's armrest.
"Luciel Lanster..."
He then turned to Giles, waiting for confirmation.
Giles' expression remained unreadable.
But then he spoke.
"Giles has no such disciple."
The room fell silent.
The nobleman sighed.
"Oh?"
John's face twisted in horror.
"Maybe—maybe he's a disciple that Master Giles secretly accepted? Maybe no one knows yet? Or—or he just became his disciple recently?!"
"Impossible."
Giles' voice was firm.
Then he fell silent again.
John turned to the nobleman, his eyes pleading.
He believed Luciel was Giles' disciple.
He had to be.
Who else but a master like Giles could create a low-level potion with triple effectiveness?
If the noble believed that Luciel was Giles' disciple, then—
Maybe he wouldn't be punished.
But the Earl's next words shattered his last hope.
A Cruel Truth
The nobleman chuckled.
"Do you know who this is?"
He gestured toward Giles.
"He is the real Deputy Dean of the Orland School of Magic."
"The real master of magic potions."
"The real Giles."
John's mind went blank.
Giles narrowed his eyes.
"You said I wouldn't know whether I had a disciple?"
John froze.
A chill crept down his spine.
The nobleman waved a hand lazily.
"Have him return the gold coins he earned under the Shelley Chamber of Commerce's name."
"And then—dismiss him."
"Yes, my lord."
The guards grabbed John's arms as he screamed in desperation.
"Wait! I—I was tricked! Please! Have mercy! I was deceived!"
His pleas fell on deaf ears.
The guards dragged him away, his voice fading into the distance.
The Potion's Mystery
Once the room was silent again, the nobleman turned back to Giles with a smile.
"Interesting, isn't it?"
"A student at Orland Academy impersonating your disciple?"
Giles didn't respond.
His eyes were locked on the potion bottle in his hand.
"This potion..."
He murmured, deep in thought.
"I increased the blue tangerine dosage and replaced bitter silver leaves with hyacinth seeds..."
A sharp exhale escaped him.
"Tsk. I didn't expect this."
The nobleman raised an eyebrow.
"So?"
Giles looked up, his gaze serious.
"If this potion was really created by Luciel Lanster..."
"Then he's far more talented than you think."
The nobleman leaned forward, intrigued.
"Even if I claimed him as my disciple now, it wouldn't be an exaggeration."
The nobleman whistled softly.
He had been friends with Giles for many years.
He knew better than anyone—
Giles never praised anyone easily.
But now, he was openly admiring a boy he had never even met.
A New Plan
The nobleman chuckled.
"It seems our Shelley Chamber of Commerce will continue its partnership with this 'counterfeit master's disciple.'"
Giles stood up.
His fingers tightened around the potion bottle.
"Let me know the moment you hear anything about this kid."
The nobleman grinned.
"Don't worry, old friend."
"To be honest—"
His eyes gleamed with curiosity.
"I'm just as eager to meet this genius."
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