Chapter 1280
After all, an ordinary Level 2 Sky Rank creator is nothing compared to a terrifying Saint Alchemist. Anyone with a shred of sense knows who to choose...
Leon nodded, saying nothing more. Dean Gandalf personally reassigned Leon to a new alchemy laboratory, so he could continue transcribing the secrets of the Runes of Truth. The next day, Leon heard some news.
The Astral Academy's announcement had already spread—everyone knew about it. Immediately after, the Jackson Family issued their own statement: Lafayette was expelled from the Jackson Family, cast out as a discarded pawn...
"Merlin, let's go finish off that guy. He's already been abandoned by his family—kill him, rip out his soul, and leave the rest to me..."
Ever since Lord Shaun personally tore apart a Sky Rank mage's soul, he'd become addicted—obsessed with having Leon capture another one. Now, with an enemy served up on a silver platter, he couldn't be happier...
Leon ignored Lord Shaun's clamoring and continued organizing the results of his Runes of Truth transcription. For Lafayette, living might be worse than death now—abandoned by everyone, unwelcome at Astral Academy, and forsaken by his own family. Even if all this was just for show, it couldn't feel good...
The next day, after finishing the transcription of the Runes of Truth, Leon prepared to deliver the crystal plates to Astral Academy. That was the agreed price, but more importantly, these plates could earn Leon plenty of benefits from the academy. Based on past experience, the results of transcribing eighteen hundred Runes of Truth could be exchanged for three planes at Astral Academy—and not just any planes...
Holding the crystal plates, the Astral Academy staff didn't accept them immediately. Instead, upon seeing Leon, they led him straight into Dean Gandalf's Mage Tower...
Staring at the mountain of crystal plates before him, Dean Gandalf's eyes burned with fervor. Even as a Saint Alchemist, much of what was recorded on those plates was beyond his own knowledge...
But in this era, there's no such thing as forgery—every Plane Key carries the true essence of its plane.
"These are the Plane Keys of the planes Astral Academy has fully conquered. They're your payment for those crystal tablets. All six planes were only recently conquered and haven't been developed yet—their resources are abundant, and each one produces something unique you won't find in Northend World."
Dean Gandalf smiled and briefly explained the six planes, but Leon was hesitant to accept them.
Six newly conquered planes, not yet developed—but if nothing goes wrong, all the necessary preparations have been made. Just send some people in, and you can start reaping the benefits. These planes are rich in resources, even those not found in Northend World.
It's like a pile of raw materials transformed into a delicious cake, placed right in front of him—he only needs to open his mouth and eat. Such a good deal, and all at once. Leon doubted that the transcription of 1,800 Runes of Truth was worth this much.
Every fully conquered plane costs a mage faction dearly. From the first conquest to complete control, and then from complete control to full resource extraction, the process can take centuries—or at best, decades.
After all that time and expense, finally reaching the stage of full harvest, and then giving it all to Leon? The price is far higher than expected—at least double what Leon imagined, maybe even two or three times more.
With something so valuable as payment, Leon didn't believe Astral Academy was being generous for nothing.
"Dean Gandalf, the transcription of 1,800 Runes of Truth is valuable, but it can't fully express their mysteries. Six fully conquered planes, not yet exploited, are worth far more."
Leon merely pointed out the issue, and Gandalf instantly understood what Leon was getting at...
"Comprehending the secrets of 1,800 Runes of Truth in one go—this is more than double Astral Academy's previous record. Many of these rune secrets are ones we've never had before."
Six fully conquered planes—normally, that's a lot. But in this case, it's not excessive at all. It's also Astral Academy's way of making things right with you.
"Of course, there's one more thing we hope you'll agree to, Master Marfa. Someone important wishes to meet you—would you be willing?"
Hearing this, Leon instantly understood—this was all to give face to that person...
Going to so much trouble just for a meeting—how could Leon refuse? Judging by Gandalf's demeanor, it didn't seem like a bad thing...
"May I ask who wishes to see me?"
As he asked, Leon pondered—there weren't many in the entire Odin Empire who Gandalf, a Saint Alchemist, would address so respectfully. He guessed a few possibilities, but still wasn't sure...
Gandalf kept smiling and shook his head.
"I can't say more—if you agree, you'll find out soon enough."
Leon didn't press for details and agreed.
"Alright, I'll agree to this, but not right now—give me some time."
Gandalf didn't insist on it being now either—he simply nodded.
After leaving Astral Academy, Leon began thinking about how to handle the six planes. The best way was to let the Gilded Rose take care of them.
While Leon was still in the Blazeforge Plane, the Gilded Rose had already expanded to over eighty branches, with more than eight hundred certified alchemists—from novices to grandmasters.
After Leon returned from the Blazeforge Plane, the Gilded Rose expanded even faster. With the foundation Leon established there, and the orc fortress now a commercial hub, nothing could stop the Gilded Rose's growth...
During Leon's tenure as head of the Merlin Family, Farrow received special training, and his alchemical abilities soared—he's now barely reached Worldshaper rank.
After merging with the Merlin Family's business network, the Gilded Rose faced no resistance in its initial expansion. Beyond potions, they're now involved in magical devices, golems, and alchemical arrays.
With a solid commercial network, advanced alchemical skills, and a powerful R&D team, the Gilded Rose regularly develops new signature potions.
Their products are the most stable, most effective, and have the least side effects—sometimes none at all. Most importantly, the Gilded Rose offers the lowest prices, which is their deadliest weapon.
The Gilded Rose also has unique products that other alchemy shops can't even imitate. Using potions as their spearhead, they've rapidly taken over the Andalusia market...
In the Blazeforge Plane's potion market, the Gilded Rose holds the largest share. With unique products as their standard, business is booming. Besides the raw materials from Leon's own territory, they now cooperate with all major orc tribes.
The gray orcs who first followed Leon are now incredibly wealthy—among all eight orc clans in the Blazeforge Plane, they're the richest by far.
With the Gray Orc Fortress on the Four Seasons Plain, they've built a true city of steel—expanded three times, with eight massive mana reactors powering the city. Its defenses could easily withstand an army and a dozen Sky Rank powerhouses—no one dares cause trouble.
Now the Gilded Rose's alchemist team can do independent R&D—potions are no longer their main focus. They've even started researching magic-powered battleships.
Now, the Gilded Rose has developed floating battleships in Northend World—even stronger than before. Under Farrow's guidance, they're not yet up to future standards, but they already show promise.
Farrow remembered everything Leon had ever said. The Bone Plane had long been opened to the Gilded Rose, and Leon once remarked that with a magic-powered battleship and a mage leading the way, conquering the Bone Plane would be easy.
But developing such technology required immense funding—lots and lots of gold. Farrow remembered this well, and the Gilded Rose's current success is closely tied to Leon's casual remarks.
Now, the Alchemist Guild of Andalusia is working closely with the Gilded Rose—their first project is the large mana reactor developed by the Gilded Rose. With these, many Mage Towers can set up better defenses and research more innovations.
The royal family's core mana reactor was built by the Gilded Rose. With talent, wealth, and support, the Gilded Rose can't help but thrive. They're now rich enough to rival nations, with over eight hundred alchemists and thousands of apprentices, plus countless mercenary bands, small families, and independent alchemists and mages attached to them.
But now, fewer people know of the Gilded Rose's ties to the Merlin Family and Leon. Farrow has become a celebrity—even the royal family of Andalusia defers to him. If the Gilded Rose fell, the entire kingdom's strength would plummet.
With the Gilded Rose's breakthrough, the number of surviving mages and warriors is countless. Their reputation in alchemy is unmatched.
Some have tried to target the Gilded Rose, but few dare. A mid-tier power in Andalusia once robbed a Gilded Rose caravan—by the next day, their family estate was a crater.
Wealth rivaling nations isn't just talk—even the Odin Kingdom takes the Gilded Rose seriously. When Leon arrived, the Gilded Rose was already preparing to open shops in the kingdom. By now, negotiations should be complete.
The six resource-rich planes from Astral Academy are no burden for the Gilded Rose. Even if not fully conquered, it's fine—their conquest teams have grown. Using the Invincible as a model, their ships may soon rival the smallest magic-powered battleships, and their magi-crystal cannon research is close to a breakthrough.
As Leon pondered these things, someone from the Gilded Rose came to report...
"Master Merlin, Farrow's negotiations with the Odin Kingdom are nearly complete. Eight major mage factions and several smaller ones have signed cooperation agreements with the Gilded Rose. The royal representative is a prince."
"In ten days, Farrow will host an alchemy expo to showcase our strength. He asked me to check if you have any instructions, Master Merlin."
Leon sighed—Farrow truly was a talent, managing the Gilded Rose brilliantly. Now, when people in Andalusia think of gold coins, they think of the Gilded Rose. Alchemical goods are hugely profitable, and with a high success rate, profits multiply.
Leon placed the six Plane Keys into a box made of eternal starmetal and handed it to Farrow's most trusted assistant—a person with great authority in the Gilded Rose.
But only Farrow could open the box. If anyone tried to tamper with it, the six Plane Keys would instantly be teleported to Leon's demi-plane—no risk of theft.
"Give this to Farrow. These six planes are fully conquered and rich in resources—let Farrow handle them."
Farrow's assistant took the box, eyes wide with shock, and carefully put it away. He looked at Leon with undisguised admiration.
Amazing—at the start, Master Merlin led the core alchemy research. Without the resource sites Merlin developed, the Gilded Rose couldn't have thrived.
Six resource-rich planes—no amount of gold could buy that. With them, the Gilded Rose won't be short on raw materials for a long time. A new wave of expansion is coming, no wonder Merlin is confident about the Gilded Rose's future in Odin Kingdom.
Ignoring the assistant's awe, Leon took out a dozen sheets of paper, densely filled with rare ingredient requests—some of which couldn't be found anywhere else.
"Give this to Farrow and have him prepare these for me—I need them."
The assistant wasn't fazed by the rarity of the list—he accepted it calmly. For the Gilded Rose, there may be alchemical items they can't make, but there are very few raw materials they can't obtain. Many abyssal ingredients are exclusive to the Gilded Rose.
Farrow's assistant left, and Leon smiled and shook his head. In Astral Academy, he'd heard Farrow's name often—barely a Worldshaper, yet more famous than some of the top Worldshapers there.
Few know the names of mage family heads, but everyone knows Farrow. The Gilded Rose's ambitions in Odin Kingdom require more than a few coins—compared to the Henry Family, the Gilded Rose spends far more. In half a year, Farrow's spending could be called burning money.
With such huge profits, the local families of Odin Kingdom flocked like sharks to blood. After seeing the Gilded Rose's strength, those sharks became the friendliest partners.