Honestly, I just want to say—the book is already fat enough. If you're still stockpiling chapters, it's really time to start reading!
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Bartholomew struck while the iron was hot. Following the four formulas provided by Leon, he personally concocted an alchemical potion.
...Granger stared at the potion, nearly in tears. He was just making a comment—did you really have to move so fast? You only got the formulas a few minutes ago and already have a finished product. Are you trying to make me look even more pathetic?
Granger guessed right again...
Not content with just producing the potion, Bartholomew went a step further and volunteered to help Leon with the extraction. Under the masterful hands of a Grand Alchemist, the blood in the glass vial was swiftly separated. A few drops of clear liquid were extracted and placed in another vial, giving off a pungent, acidic smell...
"Granger, take a look at this..." After finishing everything, Bartholomew sniffed, a troubled look crossing his face.
...Granger almost jumped out of his seat.
Damn it, what's with that troubled look you're giving me?
Don't tell me you want me to taste it myself...
We're all members of the Alchemist Guild here—do we really have to play this dirty?
Why don't you try it yourself...
"What... what are you trying to do?" Granger instinctively covered his mouth, his eyes full of suspicion as he looked at Bartholomew.
Bartholomew saw the look in Granger's eyes and instantly knew what he was thinking.
What an idiot...
Bartholomew cursed inwardly. He really looked down on this fellow Grand Alchemist; Granger's behavior was disgraceful. All for a bit of petty profit, he maliciously attacked that young mage in the hearing, thinking no one would notice...
If it were someone else, Bartholomew probably wouldn't have bothered.
For a Grand Alchemist, the fate of an alchemy shop is a trivial matter. Offending a colleague over such a small thing seemed hardly worth it to Bartholomew.
But today, this one couldn't be ignored...
Morgan had made it perfectly clear just now: when the young mage returned to the Gilded Rose, Salomon personally escorted him to the door!
What does that even mean...
Someone personally escorted by Salomon—is that someone Granger can afford to offend?
Granger was lucky, really. That Wind Blade earlier only sliced open Cliff's wrist. If someone with a worse temper had been present, given what Granger said, that Wind Blade might've landed on his neck—and then he'd have nowhere to cry about it...
It's one thing to be clueless about your own fate, but dragging me in to clean up your mess?
Thinking about this, Bartholomew felt a bit resentful. The hand holding the vial involuntarily moved closer to Granger again...
"Take it away, take it away!" Granger was on the verge of tears.
"It does look like a Dissipation Potion..." Bartholomew waited until Granger was sufficiently flustered before removing the vial and giving his opinion. Then, almost as an afterthought, he asked, "Granger, what do you think?"
"I..."
Granger opened his mouth, but had no idea what to say.
He really was in a tight spot...
If he agreed with Bartholomew's assessment, today's hearing would become the biggest joke in the Alchemist Guild—and the punchline would be Granger himself. But if he disagreed, what if Bartholomew shoved the vial in his face again? Was he really supposed to drink it himself?
"Well..." Granger agonized for a long time before finally seeing the light. Monty Family, magic materials—screw all that. He couldn't even protect himself right now, so why bother with their mess?
That's just how people are—once you figure things out, you become decisive...
"That's right, I think this is a Dissipation Potion too!" Once Granger made up his mind, his expression shifted to one of authority. He took the vial from Bartholomew and strode over to the young apprentice mage: "Cliff, do you have anything to say for yourself?"
"I..." Cliff was completely stunned. Everything was happening too fast—a Wind Blade had just sliced his wrist, then a Grand Alchemist left him speechless, and now another Grand Alchemist had suddenly switched sides, confronting him with a stern face and a vial.
How did it end up like this...
Cliff had never seen much of the world; the most impressive people he'd met were alchemists. But to see three Grand Alchemists together—he hadn't even dreamed of such a scene.
Let alone being sternly interrogated by a Grand Alchemist...
Cliff stood there in a daze, cold sweat streaming down his forehead.
How did it come to this? Jonathan, the Monty Family's butler, had promised over and over that no one would expose him. Didn't he say Grand Alchemist Granger would help him?
So... this is how he's helping me?
"Bartholomew and I both believe that what we extracted from your blood is Dissipation Potion. Which means, Cliff, you likely gave false testimony at this hearing. After consulting with Bartholomew, we've decided to end this hearing. The Gilded Rose may resume business at any time. As for you, Cliff, you'll be subject to further investigation. I hope you'll cooperate."
It's over. All over...
As Granger finished speaking, the young apprentice mage felt his vision go dark. It was over—everything was over. Not only were the Monty Family's promises gone, but now he had to suffer the consequences of drinking Dissipation Potion. Worse yet, the Alchemist Guild would conduct a full investigation. If they found he'd lied in the hearing, he'd never get work in Seaview City again.
This chapter isn't over yet~.~ Click next page to read more!
It wasn't supposed to be like this...
That day, when he left the Gilded Rose, he was already a ninth-rank apprentice mage. With a little more effort, he might've become a full mage soon. A bright future was within reach—so why did he agree to Jonathan's plan, why did he drink that Dissipation Potion?
Cliff stood there, lost and broken, wanting to defend himself but only managing to mutter, "This isn't Dissipation Potion, you have no proof..."
And even that muttered protest was overheard by Granger...
Granger was instantly furious. Damn it, you still want proof? Do you want to see me drink this Dissipation Potion myself before you're satisfied?
"Take Cliff away. Make sure he's watched closely—he may be connected to several serious cases. The Alchemist Guild will send specialists to investigate soon."
...The young apprentice mage's vision went black again as he was dragged out of the conference room.
As Cliff was being dragged out, another staff member entered and took the draft paper with the four alchemical formulas from Bartholomew.
But at that moment, everyone in the conference room was busy.
Granger was busy smoothing things over, Leon was busy playing it cool, Bartholomew was busy organizing the hearing records, and the last Grand Alchemist was busy dozing off. So no one paid attention to where the draft paper went.
"Uh, Mage Merlin, it's all a misunderstanding, really..." Granger's smile looked more like he was about to cry.
Normally, with Granger's status as a Grand Alchemist, even if he made a mistake at the hearing, he wouldn't need to use such a fawning tone with Leon.
But as luck would have it, when Bartholomew discussed the hearing results with Granger earlier, he let slip—maybe on purpose—that Salomon had personally escorted someone. Just a hint, but enough for Granger to catch on.
Granger nearly burst into tears at that.
So after all this, the person the Monty Family wanted him to deal with was actually such a dangerous figure!
If he'd known, forget magic materials—even if the Monty Family gave him free rein to their warehouse, he wouldn't have agreed. What a joke! Salomon hadn't personally escorted anyone in over twenty years. Last time, he only escorted Ryan from the Monty Family to the reception room, and it caused a sensation in all of Seaview City. Now, this Matthew Merlin had been personally delivered to the Gilded Rose by Salomon!
The more Granger thought about it, the more he broke out in cold sweat.
"Heh..." Leon just smiled at Granger's attempts to curry favor. He didn't say much, but he also didn't make things harder for him.
Because Leon knew—someone would be coming to see him very soon.
Sure enough, just as Granger was trying to explain himself, another staff member entered the conference room and whispered something to Bartholomew.
Bartholomew, who had been organizing the hearing records, froze for a moment when he heard this, then suddenly stood up, staring at Leon with a look of confusion and shock.
Bartholomew stood there for a long while before finally swallowing hard. "Um, Mage Merlin..."
"What's the matter, Grand Alchemist Bartholomew?"
"The formulas you just provided... is one missing?" Bartholomew switched to the formal 'sir'—if word got out, half the city would be shocked. After all, Bartholomew was one of the most important members of the Alchemist Guild, ranking even above Granger. In the entire guild, maybe in all of Seaview City, you could count on one hand the people he'd ever address so respectfully!