But now, Bartholomew was indeed using the word "sir"...
Because just now, the president of the Alchemist Guild, Lance, had someone bring down a message.
"Ask Mage Merlin if three months of study at the Ashen Tower can be exchanged for the remaining alchemical formula."
Bartholomew's expression changed instantly...
What kind of place is the Ashen Tower? It's the kingdom's alchemical sanctuary. Every alchemist dreams of entering it, not only for its unparalleled research atmosphere, but also for its deepest and most comprehensive alchemical knowledge. If you're lucky, you might even be personally guided by a Grandmaster.
However, the Ashen Tower rarely interacts with the outside world, and never openly accepts disciples. The alchemists there are like ascetics, burying themselves in research day after day, year after year. In some ways, the Ashen Tower is a truly independent kingdom—a kingdom that belongs only to alchemy.
This independent kingdom is almost completely cut off from the world. Only when those legendary Grandmasters need to replace their assistants does an outside alchemist get a chance to enter the Ashen Tower.
Such chances are exceedingly rare...
At most, there are only a dozen or so opportunities each year. Those who receive them are usually from the kingdom's major alchemist guilds. Take the Alchemist Guild of Seaview City, for example—they only get one every few years. As for Bartholomew, he's been applying for ten years straight. He fails every year, but he never gives up.
Bartholomew knows that with his own talent, he's reached the limit of his alchemical journey. If he relies solely on his own efforts, he'll likely remain at his current level for life. To progress further, he must enter the Ashen Tower, access those legendary alchemical secrets, and receive guidance from the Grandmasters.
But this opportunity is truly too rare...
Even with Bartholomew's considerable standing in the Alchemist Guild, getting a chance to enter the Ashen Tower is a matter of luck.
Yet now, such an opportunity was being offered in exchange for an alchemical formula!
When Bartholomew heard this, his expression shifted again...
It wasn't because the chance to enter the Ashen Tower had slipped away, but because of the value of that alchemical formula.
Lance's reputation in Seaview City might not be the loudest, but within the Alchemist Guild, his prestige is almost mythic. Whenever he speaks, no matter how major or complex the decision, the entire guild falls silent.
It's not like Salomon's situation at Sage's Spire...
Salomon may command respect in Seaview City, but at Sage's Spire, he's just one of the Triumvirate. When it comes to major matters, the three leaders must convene and decide together.
But in the Alchemist Guild, Lance is truly supreme—almost a dictator, making every decision alone.
Just like now, the chance to enter the Ashen Tower is priceless, yet with a single word, Lance decides its fate—and no one questions him.
Even Bartholomew, who'd applied for ten years straight, could only cast a look of envy at Leon when he heard the news...
"Grand Alchemist Bartholomew, isn't this question a bit inappropriate...?" Leon looked at Bartholomew with a half-smile. He didn't say it outright, but the sarcasm in his expression was obvious—even a fool could see it.
"Well..." Bartholomew was left a bit embarrassed by Leon's smile.
It really was a rather inappropriate question...
For an alchemy shop, alchemical formulas are everything. Whoever owns the better formulas can create better recipes; whoever creates better recipes can dominate the market.
Take the Gilded Rose, for example. It was just a small alchemy shop, barely worth a few hundred thousand gold coins. But with the advent of the Elixir of Hope, the Gilded Rose instantly became the center of attention in all Seaview City. Once the hearing is over, business will surely boom. As long as no major mistakes are made, becoming the city's top alchemy shop is just a matter of time.
This kind of core technology—enough to decide life and death—asking about it so bluntly really is a bit much...
But not asking isn't an option either...
"Mage Merlin, our Alchemist Guild isn't asking for your alchemical formula for free. We're willing to offer terms in exchange..."
"Oh?"
"One million gold coins. How about that?"
Heh... Of course Leon knew the value of the remaining alchemical formula. Any competent alchemist would find it impossible to refuse.
So Bartholomew's offer of a million gold coins was met with nothing but a "heh" from Leon...
"Alright then!" Bartholomew panicked at Leon's response and quickly changed his offer: "Formula for formula! If you're willing to trade yours, the Alchemist Guild will offer three—no, five—exclusive formulas in exchange. We guarantee these five are unique to the guild; you won't find them anywhere else in Seaview City!"
Heh...
...Bartholomew was sweating now. Another "heh" from Leon...
A dignified Grand Alchemist, saying all the right things, only to be met with two "heh"s—at this moment, Bartholomew was ready to crawl into a hole.
And he couldn't force the issue, either...
After all, Leon had Salomon backing him. If that old butcher got upset, even President Lance would be in trouble.
Besides, this Matthew Merlin was almost certainly a Grand Mage himself. Just look at that Wind Blade from earlier—so fast that even the three Grand Mages couldn't react. If it came to a real fight, Bartholomew doubted he could survive a single strike.
In terms of strength and background, Matthew Merlin was now qualified to stand as Bartholomew's equal. Not to mention, he was holding an alchemical formula that even President Lance coveted.
Facing someone like this, no matter how reluctant Bartholomew felt, he had no choice but to negotiate patiently...
In the end, Bartholomew gritted his teeth and played his final card.
"Alright, Mage Merlin. One chance to study at the Ashen Tower for three months, in exchange for your alchemical formula."
Bartholomew's face twisted with pain as he made the offer...
Gone, all gone...
A chance that only comes once every few years—gone...
Then Bartholomew saw the young mage smile: "No deal!"
"No... no deal!" Bartholomew nearly jumped up, his expression like he'd just watched his wife walk into a hotel with another man.
No deal, no deal...
Bartholomew's mind was stuck on that one phrase: no deal...
"You—you—you... how can you say no!" At this point, Bartholomew had lost all composure, his face twisted, his eyes glaring fiercely at Leon.
If not for Leon's terrifying combat prowess, Bartholomew would have loved to grab him by the neck and shout, "Are you an idiot? How can you refuse? Do you even know what a chance to study at the Ashen Tower means? Do you know how many alchemists apply year after year and never succeed? Do you know I'm one of them?"
"Alright, Grand Alchemist Bartholomew, the alchemical formula can be traded—but I'm not interested in the Ashen Tower study opportunity."
Seeing Bartholomew so agitated, Leon didn't want to keep him hanging. After thinking it over, he decided to give a little hint...
In fact, Leon had come to this hearing today for the sole purpose of selling that alchemical formula.
As for everything else...
Like slapping Granger in the face—that was just a bonus for Leon...
Otherwise, Leon wouldn't have written four alchemical formulas on the draft paper. If he'd only wanted to prove that Cliff had taken the Dissipation Potion, he had a hundred ways to do it—none nearly so troublesome. So, Leon wrote out four formulas but kept the most crucial one hidden.
Most Grand Alchemists might not notice...
But those top Grand Alchemists who've lingered at the peak for years, desperate to become Grandmasters, would surely realize that behind these four formulas, there must be a fifth. That fifth formula is the most vital, the true core. With it, the entire recipe would transform, producing a brand new alchemical elixir—one powerful enough to help a Grand Alchemist ascend to Grandmaster.
So really, what Leon was selling today was a chance to become a Grandmaster!
That's worth far more than a chance to study at the Ashen Tower...
Besides, for Leon, entering the Ashen Tower was just about learning knowledge.
Leon wasn't lacking in knowledge now...
What Leon needed was more alchemists...
In all of Seaview City, the only place that could quickly and efficiently supply more alchemists was the Alchemist Guild!
But there was no need to explain all this to Bartholomew. Business was all about negotiation—a little hint was enough to let him come back and discuss terms slowly.
"By the way, Grand Alchemist Bartholomew, I think the Alchemist Guild should seriously investigate who's been slandering the Gilded Rose. This is a direct challenge to the industry's rules—if it keeps happening, the Guild's reputation will suffer..."
With that, Leon didn't give Bartholomew any chance to argue—he simply left the empty meeting room.
Leaving the three Grand Alchemists staring at each other...
For a moment, all three Grand Alchemists were left utterly dumbfounded.