"Boss Merlin, Master Alchemist Bartholomew is here." Just as Leon—who now inhabited the body of Matthew Merlin—was engrossed in his research on magical components, Remy knocked on the door of the alchemy laboratory yet again.
"Alright, I know. Please ask Master Bartholomew to wait a moment—I'll be right there." Leon, feeling rather pleased with himself, put away the stone tablet. Honestly, he was in such a good mood that even Bartholomew barging in on his research couldn't wipe the smirk off his face.
A few minutes later, Leon met Bartholomew in the reception room.
It had only been a few days since their last meeting, but this master alchemist seemed even more reserved around Leon than before.
Because early this morning, Bartholomew had heard the latest gossip.
Yesterday evening, a young archmage stormed solo into Venomfog Gorge and forced the Viper's Nest—the most notorious underground force in Seaview City—to cough up a trade route.
When he heard the news, Bartholomew's heart did a little tap dance of panic. He hurried to ask around, and soon learned the name of the young archmage—sure enough, it was Matthew Merlin... or rather, the young man everyone now called Leon.
Bartholomew had been utterly stunned—left gaping like a fish out of water.
That's right, Bartholomew had long known that Master Merlin was absurdly powerful—so much so that he could slice open a mage apprentice's wrist with a Wind Blade right under the noses of two archmages. Not exactly subtle.
But Bartholomew had never imagined his power could reach such an utterly ruthless level. Honestly, he was starting to wonder if 'humanity' was just a rumor around here.