Blackhorn Auction

But the young alchemist was clearly unaware that he had just narrowly escaped disaster. When he heard Leon's refusal, his face immediately darkened. "Afraid I'll tamper with your potions? That's laughable. I've personally brewed more alchemical elixirs than you've ever seen in your life. With just these two bottles, you think I'd bother to mess with them?"

"I'm really not in a hurry..." Leon took a deep breath and repeated what he'd said earlier.

"Fine..." Seeing how insistent Leon was, the young alchemist could only nod with a disgruntled expression. "But my time is tight, I have an important experiment coming up. I'll give you three minutes, no more."

Leon smiled and placed the two bottles of alchemical potion on the table.

Both bottles were filled with a green potion, and as they were set down, a strong, pungent odor wafted through the room. The young alchemist merely sniffed it and couldn't help but wrinkle his nose.

"Two bottles of low-grade healing potion, estimated value: three hundred gold coins." The young alchemist made his judgment in just thirty seconds. As he put the bottles back on the table, he muttered under his breath, "Trash..."

At this, Leon simply said nothing, grabbed the two bottles, and prepared to leave. What a joke—one was a Ghost Elixir, the other a Volcano Potion, and he'd been told they were both healing potions, worth only three hundred gold coins. Did they really think he was some rich fool?

However, just as Leon was about to turn and leave, the door to the reception room was pushed open.

An elderly man in his sixties entered, his hair and beard completely white, face lined with wrinkles. He wore a rumpled gray robe and was breathing heavily as if he'd rushed to arrive.

"Is Master Merlin here?"

Though the Blackhorn Auction House hadn't contacted Leon in the past few months, they'd been investigating behind the scenes. Backed by Northend's premier force, the Blackhorn Trading Company, their intelligence network far surpassed any other in Seaview City. If they wanted to know something, nothing in Seaview City could escape their notice.

And that included the true creator of the Prismatic Elixir.

Naturally, the investigation was anything but simple. The Blackhorn Auction House mobilized all its intelligence resources, probing Roger Merlin, the Gilded Rose, the Goldspark Trading Company—every clue remotely related was scrutinized in detail.

At last, they reached a startling conclusion.

That bottle of Prismatic Elixir, so highly praised by Master William, was likely crafted by a young alchemist barely in his twenties.

That young alchemist's name was Matthew Merlin.

Kadgar took pride in this conclusion. By contrast, Sage's Spire—supposedly Seaview City's top power—had also acquired a bottle of Prismatic Elixir, but even Salomon and the others still believed the young Master Merlin was backed by some mysterious master alchemist.

The thought made Kadgar want to laugh.

Master Merlin had spent a long time in the Sage's Spire library. During that time, Sage's Spire had countless chances to approach him, yet every single opportunity was missed.

Even now, Salomon was probably still wracking his brain, wondering how to use this young mage to get close to the mysterious alchemist behind him.

But what was happening now...?

What exactly had happened while I was away?

"Please, Master Merlin, don't rush your decision. Our Blackhorn Auction House is truly sincere about working with you. Why not hear our terms first before making up your mind?"

"Alright, let's hear it." Given Kadgar's status, his words did carry genuine sincerity. Leon couldn't just turn him down outright. To be honest, if it weren't for that young alchemist spoiling his mood earlier, Leon would have placed both potions with the Blackhorn Auction House without hesitation.

So, after Kadgar made his request, Leon relented.

Listening to their conversation, the young alchemist—still looking utterly dazed—struggled to swallow. Ever since Kadgar had entered the meeting room, he'd suspected he was dreaming. How else could he explain what was happening before his eyes?

It was terrifying...

Kadgar, the chief appraiser of the Blackhorn Auction House, was actually being polite to a mage barely in his twenties!

No, really—polite!

The young alchemist had worked at the Blackhorn Auction House for ten years and had never seen Kadgar treat anyone so courteously. Whether it was Salomon from Sage's Spire or Monchi from the Twinmoon Trading Company, Kadgar had never been this polite.

Just what kind of background did this young mage have...?

The more he thought about it, the more the young alchemist couldn't help but swallow again, his throat dry as if something was stuck inside.

He realized his attitude toward the young mage hadn't been great earlier. He'd even called the two potions 'trash.' At the time, it hadn't seemed like a big deal—he'd been busy and a bit annoyed by the mage's distrustful demeanor.

So, when he appraised the two potions, he couldn't help but be a bit perfunctory.

Normally, that wouldn't matter, but now... things seemed much more serious.

This was someone Kadgar treated with respect, and he'd just gone and offended him. Worse yet, Kadgar seemed to value those two potions highly, even saying, "Our Blackhorn Auction House is truly sincere."

What did that even mean...?

From what the young alchemist knew of Kadgar, it meant he was determined to keep those two potions at the Blackhorn Auction House—no matter the cost.

The thought made the young alchemist's face go pale...

Luckily, Leon and Kadgar were both too focused to notice the young alchemist's pale face.

Hearing Leon's hint at willingness, Kadgar was instantly delighted and quickly laid out his offer: "Master Merlin, have you heard that our Blackhorn Auction House holds an auction every three months?"

"Of course," Leon nodded. The Blackhorn Auction was the grand event of the entire eastern kingdom—he'd come today for that very reason.

"Then, Master Merlin, if you're willing, I'd like to place your two potions in the Blackhorn Auction, which will be held in a few hours. What do you think?"

Kadgar didn't bother exaggerating the auction's prestige or explaining its benefits—he was confident his offer wouldn't be refused.

Even for a master alchemist, taking the stage at the Blackhorn Auction wasn't easy. It was the grand event of the eastern kingdom—being featured there meant recognition by all. Few master alchemists could resist such temptation.

So after making his offer, Kadgar said no more, only squinting slightly as he observed the young mage's reaction.

"Well..." No one expected that Leon, who had just agreed, now looked troubled after hearing Kadgar's terms.

Kadgar was momentarily stunned, unsure if he'd been unclear.

In fact, not only Kadgar—even the young alchemist who'd soured Leon's mood earlier wanted to jump up and yell. Are you kidding? That's the grand event of the eastern kingdom! Any alchemist who takes that stage instantly becomes a hundred times more valuable. If you're not moved to tears, at least don't look so troubled!

"I'm really sorry, Archmage Kadgar, but I don't think I can leave these two potions for the Blackhorn Auction."

...

The moment Leon spoke, the meeting room fell silent.