Click!
Adam pulled open the heavy, dark brown gate, intricately carved with an unfamiliar floral emblem.
The prominent flower motif was likely the family crest of the minor noble who once owned this courtyard, etched with such precision that it betrayed the gate's considerable cost.
However!
The creaking of leather and iron hinges as the gate swung open revealed that this expensive entrance had gone unmaintained for quite some time.
A middle-aged man in a black gentleman's suit, his face flushed with well-kept vitality, caught sight of Adam. The impatience in his eyes vanished instantly.
"Good evening, Sir Adam."
Before Adam could speak, the man stepped forward, bowing slightly with a broad, practiced smile.
The professional fake smile, paired with his preemptive greeting, seemed deferential but carried an undercurrent of overbearing authority.
"You even know my name. Looks like you've done your homework." Adam said calmly, unsurprised.
Imina didn't know his name, "Adam," as a middleman had no need for her employer's identity.
Finding his residence wasn't difficult. All the potions flowed through Imina from this place, tracking it down would only take some observation.
"So, you traced it through the lease contract?" Adam chuckled lightly. He'd signed the contract using his adventurer identity.
The man's forced smile faltered briefly. This alchemist named Adam was far younger than he'd expected.
The pristine white priest's robe and gentle demeanor gave an initial impression of someone easily manipulated.
But in just a sentence or two, the man realized this young alchemist was not only troublesome but also unshaken by mere words.
"My name is Bert, a pharmacist affiliated with the Herb Guild. Tonight, our guild is hosting a banquet, inviting pharmacists from various herb workshops."
"The alchemical potions you've created, while not made from herbs, are still a form of healing potion."
The man's professional smile returned as he continued, "Our guild leader personally invites Sir Adam to attend."
With that, he stepped aside, gesturing toward a four-wheeled carriage behind him.
"Not interested."
Adam replied flatly, turning to head back inside.
He had no desire to engage in such scheming social games. It wasn't just a waste of time, it was like having the power to flip the table but choosing to sit and play along with their charade.
Utterly dull and pointless.
"Sir Adam!"
"Are you sure you want to refuse? This is an opportunity for both of us." The man said, his face cooling, his voice rising sharply.
Before the Bloody Emperor's rise, they wouldn't have bothered inviting an outsider alchemist like this. Selling potions at such absurdly low prices?
They'd have ensured this young man didn't see the next sunrise!
Of course, that would've been after seizing his alchemical recipes.
But since Bloody Emperor Jircniv took the throne, a slew of new regulations had ushered in novel innovations from across the nation.
Jircniv actively encouraged the emergence of new ideas.
This forced many old methods to change.
No one wanted to make waves and catch the eye of the Bloody Emperor. Those who dared had already been culled.
The man took a deep breath, softening his tone. "I've noticed your alchemical potions have a very short shelf life. If you lack the 'Preservation' spell for long-term storage…"
"We can provide that spell, along with other alchemical techniques."
"With your talent, mastering these spells and techniques would surely elevate your alchemy to new heights."
At this, the man's smile returned. "All we ask is a little guidance on the creation of your alchemical potions."
Adam paused mid-step, turning back to face the man, a faint smile on his lips.
The man's heart leapt, thinking Adam had agreed.
"Not interested."
With those words, a sharp whoosh cut through the air.
Black chains, slithering like serpents, wrapped around the man's neck before he could react, his face flushing red as he gasped for air.
"Grr!"
The Invisible Hound's body swayed, its bone chains snapping forward, hurling the man through the air. He crashed into the nearby carriage with a scream.
Neigh!
The startled horses whinnied, bolting down the street with the damaged carriage in tow, sparking a chorus of gasps from onlookers.
"Your control over the bone chains is getting smoother."
Adam praised the Invisible Hound with satisfaction, turning back into the courtyard as the heavy brown gate closed behind him.
As for the trouble this incident might cause, Adam didn't care. This world, from start to finish, was one where the strong reigned supreme.
A simple display of third-tier Angel Summoning would be enough to intimidate most.
The next day, thanks to Imina's deliberate efforts, word began to spread about Adam, the mysterious alchemist who had developed a new potion to treat disabilities.
The news caused a stir, particularly in the Adventurers' Guild and the "Singing Apple Pavilion." A hub for worker teams.
The recently popular, cheap, and effective alchemical potions were highly sought after by those who regularly ventured into danger.
If not for their short shelf life, they'd have stockpiled them by the crate.
Adam, their creator, was well aware of this. Anything valuable would be hoarded by those who got to it first.
His diluted Regeneration Potions not only had reduced healing effects but also a shelf life of only five to six days.
This sharply curbed any attempts at mass hoarding.
Using the Preservation spell could extend a potion's shelf life, but at eight copper coins per potion, expending mana to preserve such low-value items was hardly worth it.
As the rumors spread, Adam, accompanied by his Invisible Hound, made a rare trip out of the noble courtyard.
On the bustling main road, pedestrians strolled along elevated sidewalks, laughing and chatting, while the central lane teemed with carriages.
This semi-modern design had startled Adam when he first saw it half a month ago.
The more he observed, the more he felt the stark gap between the Re-Estize Kingdom and the Baharuth Empire.
Blending into the lively crowd, Adam headed toward the central plaza.
The Empire boasted three renowned landmarks: the Imperial Ministry of Magic, the Imperial Magic Academy, and the Grand Arena.
The Ministry of Magic was the most enigmatic, established by the fifth emperor. It occupied a dedicated district in the capital, producing nearly all the Empire's magical equipment.
Its security rivaled that of the Imperial Palace, and it was directly overseen by Fluder.
The Imperial Magic Academy, founded during the sixth emperor's reign, was Adam's destination today.
Inside a quaint, elegant restaurant near the academy, the aroma of translucent red tea wafted from the table. Adam sipped from his cup, quietly awaiting his target.
He didn't wait long.
A girl, seemingly twelve or thirteen, with shoulder-length golden hair and a frail frame, entered. She wore a loose, slightly wrinkled French-style robe and clutched an iron staff taller than herself, moving cautiously.
She scanned the restaurant warily before spotting Adam by the window.
He was waving at her.
"Hello, sir. Are you the one who posted the request?" The golden-haired girl asked timidly as she approached.
"That's right. Please, have a seat." Adam said warmly, gesturing for her to sit.
Arche!
This girl's name marked her as the most tragic member of the future worker team "Foresight."
Adam had sought her out because Arche possessed a rare talent, the All-Seeing Eye, identical to Fluder's own innate ability.
He needed that talent to confirm something.
***
Every 5 reviews and 200 power stones, a bonus chapter will be dropped.
(5,10,15, 200, 400, 600, and so on then two bonus chapters will be dropped, 1 for 5 reviews and 1 for 200 power stones, so that's 2 bonus chapters!)
And if you want to read more than 50 chapters early, feel free to visit pat re on. com / Xelenea (remove space).