Truth is, Monty really had no other choice...
After Roger Merlin's death at sea, Seaview City's alchemy market was thrown into chaos. For Monty, who had schemed for years to break into the alchemy trade, this was the perfect opportunity. To seize it, Monty spent four million gold coins at the Blackhorn Auction, securing the Volcano Elixir and Phantom Elixir—hoping to win the support of two Grand Alchemists from the Black Tower.
Monty thought that with the help of those two Grand Alchemists, plus the immense wealth of the Monty Family, dominating Seaview City's alchemy market was just a matter of time.
But just then, Roger Merlin's son—that kid named Matthew Merlin—reopened the Gilded Rose.
Honestly, at first Monty didn't pay Matthew Merlin any mind—a kid not even twenty, plus an old man in his sixties. What kind of storm could they possibly stir up in Seaview City?
But it didn't take long for Monty to realize something was off...
Because Matthew Merlin's rise was just too fast—so fast that no one could even react.
When Roger Merlin had just died, Matthew Merlin was still a mage apprentice who couldn't even scrape together eight thousand gold coins. But in the blink of an eye, he became a mage—and at the Blackhorn Auction, he tossed out over a million gold coins, competing with Monty for the Redflame Fish Oil.
At that point, Monty thought, fine, maybe this kid deserves a little attention...
But before Monty even had time to act, Matthew Merlin launched the Elixir of Hope at the Gilded Rose—scaring the whole city half to death. Worse yet, Monty heard from Granger that Matthew Merlin might have already reached the rank of Grand Mage.
No, no, no—this wasn't even the end...
Early this morning, Monty—just like Bartholomew—got the news: Soth's ten-year hold over Venomfog Gorge had been shattered by a young Grand Mage, who stormed in alone, blasted two watchtowers apart with Fireball, and forced Soth to surrender a trade route. And the name of that Grand Mage? Matthew Merlin.
When Monty heard the news, it was like he'd aged ten years in an instant...
Because Monty knew—it was already too late.
Roger Merlin's son had finally grown up—grown to the point that even Monty had to treat him as an equal...
At least he still had the Black Tower behind him...
Just a few days ago, the Black Tower agreed to Monty's terms: as the provider of the Phantom Elixir and Volcano Elixir, Monty would get first access to the research of two Grand Alchemists. The advanced techniques they extracted from those elixirs would be offered to the Monty Family's alchemy shops before anyone else.
For Monty, this was nothing short of phenomenal news.
The Black Tower's reply gave the Monty Family a crushing edge in alchemy—two Grand Alchemists on site, plus the new techniques from the Volcano and Phantom Elixirs, would put Monty's shops a decade ahead of any other alchemy business in Seaview City.
The Elixir of Hope, after all, was only targeted at mage apprentices...
But what the Monty Family was about to unveil were works by two Grand Alchemists—using techniques drawn directly from the Volcano Elixir and Phantom Elixir!
The Monty Family's alchemy product launch was held as planned, three days later.
The launch featured two potions: the Berserker Elixir, which could temporarily turn a swordsman into a berserker with the strength of a Greatsword Master, and the Void Elixir, which could instantly twist space and grant one second of immunity to physical damage.
Anyone who'd attended the Blackhorn Auction could tell at a glance—these were just downgraded versions of the Volcano and Phantom Elixirs.
But even as knockoffs, they still shocked half of Seaview City.
The Volcano Elixir and Phantom Elixir had been the showstoppers at the last Blackhorn Auction, selling for four million gold coins and smashing all previous records.
Now, the Monty Family's Berserker and Void Elixirs, while far less potent, were still rare gems among alchemical potions.
Suddenly, almost everyone thought the Gilded Rose had finally met its match.
After all, the Gilded Rose had been riding high thanks to the Elixir of Hope. If they hadn't been so short on alchemists, they would've opened branches in every corner of Seaview City by now. Their meteoric rise had stunned the whole city.
With the Monty Family's launch, the city was abuzz—some gloating, some quietly anxious. For the moment, almost no one had faith in the Gilded Rose.
There was no helping it—the Monty Family's foundation ran deep. A thousand-year lineage isn't just talk, and now, with cutting-edge alchemy on their side, it wouldn't be long before they monopolized Seaview City's market, just like Roger Merlin did back in the day.
Meanwhile, inside the Blackhorn Auction House.
"If Monty knew that his prized Berserker and Void Elixirs were just leftovers from Grand Mage Merlin, I wonder how he'd feel..." Farrow stood on the balcony of Kadgar's study, looking out at the crowds across the street at the launch event, a biting smile on his face.
"Heh..." Kadgar just chuckled, saying nothing.
As chief appraiser of the Blackhorn Auction House, Kadgar would never stoop to Farrow's level of snide gloating. Still, if Monty had heard that chuckle, he might've felt a chill run down his spine.
"By the way, Farrow, the Gilded Rose is recruiting alchemists..."
"Huh?" Farrow's ears perked up at once. Who owned the Gilded Rose, after all? Farrow knew perfectly well—at the last Blackhorn Auction, Grand Mage Merlin's casual advice had sent his own alchemy skills soaring. Was Kadgar hinting at something...?
Just imagining the possibility made Farrow's breath quicken.
"I've already spoken to Grand Mage Merlin. Find some time to go over in the next few days."
"Ah... Thank you, Mage Kadgar, thank you, Grand Mage Merlin..." Farrow was so excited he could barely get the words out.
"Alright, you can go now. That's all I wanted to tell you today."
"Yes, yes—thank you, Mage Kadgar..." Farrow left, heart brimming with joy.
Farrow had no idea that the Gilded Rose wasn't just welcoming one alchemist, but fifty. This was the deal Leon struck with Bartholomew: fifty alchemists in exchange for an alchemy formula. Bartholomew was efficient—within three days, he'd sent all fifty to Leon.
But those fifty alchemists weren't nearly as thrilled as Farrow...
Members of the prestigious Alchemist Guild, now reduced to working for an alchemy shop—and fifty sent all at once! Was this some kind of clearance sale?
*************
(Author's note: Woke up late today, didn't get up until after six, so this update was delayed until eleven. Sorry! Feels like I'm living the life of a vampire lately.)
(One more thing—'End of Magic' finally got a Sanjiang recommendation! You can claim a Sanjiang ticket by clicking 'Sanjiang' at the top of the homepage, then find 'Claim Sanjiang Ticket' in the upper right, click the red 'Claim' button, and you'll get a ticket. Scroll down to find 'End of Magic Throne,' click 'Vote,' and that's it!)
(That Sanjiang ticket means a lot to me! If you have a moment, please vote—thanks a ton!)
(And don't forget the recommendation tickets!)
(Rolling on the floor...)