Chapter 1216: An Offer Made

Izroth looked toward Rygar as he removed a scroll from his inventory and held it out toward the Apothecary.

"On this scroll is a list of traits. Find me ingredients that match any of the traits. The more common the ingredient, the better. If you do well in the tasks I assign you, I will reduce the amount of time you have to spend as my servant. However, if I find that you slacked off—I will make sure that you experience the most difficult year of your life, Apothecary Rygar." Izroth said with a carefree smile, accompanied by a cold and distant gaze.

In truth, if it was not a matter of convenience, Izroth would have never taken a servant like Rygar. After all, once Franz Winsor became a guest elder of his Mystical Realm Palace, there would be no lack of high grade Apothecaries who wished to join. Even if it meant becoming a servant, most Apothecaries would not hesitate to do so if it meant getting the smallest of chances of meeting or learning from a grade ten Apothecary.

By that time, someone like Rygar would not even be fit to take care of the herbs in the Mystical Realm Palace. That’s why, even though reducing the time Rygar had to spend as a servant seemed like a blessing in disguise to the grade seven Apothecary, in reality, it was a ticking time bomb that would undoubtedly lead to a lifetime of regret.

Rygar accepted the scroll. He wanted to retort; however, he swallowed his words and anger when he saw the look in Izroth’s eyes that made him instinctively take a step back.

"...Well, I can get the time I have to spend as a servant reduced just by finding a few herbs with matching traits? That much can be done in my sleep..!" Rygar thought to himself.

"S-Since the two Elders are here as well, I hope Apothecary Izroth won’t forget his words." Rygar said as he left promptly to carry out the task assigned to him.

’The earlier I start looking for ingredients, the sooner I can begin coming up with a reliable way to resist the mark of corruption.’

The scroll Izroth gave to Rygar contained some traits that were similar to the ingredients he used to treat Nova’s mark of corruption. However, the traits listed on the scroll were more tame in comparison. There were also some entirely new traits that mostly had to do with resisting negative effects and repelling invasive substances.

After Rygar took his leave, Oaklein and Cryosa led Izroth, accompanied by Celia, to one of the nearby teleportation platforms that allowed one to move in between the floors of the Apothecary Guild. These teleportation platforms could only be activated by certain employees of the Apothecary Guild, as well as the Elders, Vice-Head and Head of the Apothecary Guild.

...

A few minutes later...

Guided by Oaklein and Cryosa, Izroth and Celia arrived in Malric’s private room.

Compared to the room on the fourth floor where Worldly Skies resided, the room on the ninth floor was several times more spacious and luxurious. The magic formations in place were also of a much higher rank. And, since this private room belonged to the Vice-Head of the Apothecary Guild, there were several bookshelves filled to the brim with books of varying rarity.

Celia’s eyes widened in excitement as she looked around the room. It was her first time seeing such a luxurious room just for crafting pills. Not to mention, it was the private room of a grade eight Apothecary, who also happened to be the Vice-Head of the Apothecary Guild.

"Hey, did you make that pill knowing that the Vice-Head was watching the promotion test?" Celia suddenly whispered in a low voice.

Izroth shook his head and replied, "It is merely a coincidence. I suppose fate allowed our paths to cross."

Malric’s presence truly was a coincidence. This was Izroth’s first time visiting the main Apothecary Guild building. Of course, as an Apothecary, he had heard of Malric’s name before; however, he had no idea what the Vice-Head even looked like before today.

Celia sighed, "I wanted to see your crafting technique with my own eyes, but... What was that back there? I couldn’t even follow your movements."

"Do you want to learn it?" Izroth asked.

"You’ll really teach it to me?" Celia said with an expression that showed a mixture of eagerness and surprise.

Celia knew firsthand that Apothecaries did not easily share their crafting techniques with others.

"It’s nothing much. I can teach you, but you’ll have to join my Mystical Realm-" Izroth started.

"I’ll do it! I’ll join! So, when are you going to teach me?" Celia said without hesitation and full of anticipation.

"It’s a bit inconvenient to do it now. We will talk about it further after the grade five promotion test." Izroth stated.

"I can wait that long." Celia nodded with an easygoing smile.

"It may take a while for the Vice-Head to get in contact with the Order of a Thousand Blossoms. Until then, Apothecary Izroth is welcome to use this private room as you see fit." Oaklein voice sounded.

Izroth wasted no time heading over to one of the bookshelves as he began to quickly flip through the pages of the books to commit them to memory.

Seeing Izroth casually flipping through the books, Oaklein cleared his throat and said, "Apothecary Izroth—I wish to discuss a certain matter with you regarding the hydra’s blood in your possession. I wonder if you have some time to spare?"

"I also wish to discuss this matter with Apothecary Izroth." Cryosa mentioned.

’Oh? They certainly didn’t waste much time. Though I expected this much when I revealed the Blood of the Immortal Hydra. It’s too tempting of an ingredient not just for Apothecaries, but any craftsman.’

Even though the Blood of the Immortal Hydra was a mythical-ranked ingredient, it was something so incredibly rare that its value was easily comparable to that of a pseudo divine-ranked ingredient. Rather, in a way, it was even more valuable due to the Immortal Hydra being a unique existence.

"Since the two of you have already shown your sincerity, I am willing to discuss a thing or two—as long as your sincerity remains genuine." Izroth warned without adverting his gaze from the book in his hands as he flipped through its pages.

"As I’m sure Apothecary Izroth is aware of, it is not simple to come across hydra’s blood. That’s why, as long as you’re willing to part ways with a bit of hydra’s blood today, I will hand over a Seven Stars Formation." Oaklein stated straightforwardly.

The Seven Stars Formation was a high grade formation that was ideal for creating a suitable crafting environment. It was something that all Apothecaries hoped to set up in the places that they resided.

"Furthermore, I will permit Apothecary Izroth to use my personal account at the Herbalist Guild. I noticed that you sent Apothecary Rygar for some ingredients earlier, so I assume that you have a few things you need to collect. The Herbalist Guild has close ties to the Apothecary Guild. Although there are some things you can do by yourself, it helps to have some added influence when it comes to buying certain materials." Oaklein stated.

He then continued, "I will also hand over three grade eight Mind Suturing Pills. While you cannot take them at your current level, once you become a grade seven Apothecary in the future, it will help to stabilize your foundations and allow you to become a grade eight Apothecary with a greater level of ease."

Oaklein thought about that was best to offer Izroth. With the way her carried himself and the mysterious crafting technique he displayed back during the promotion test, Oaklein figured that Izroth already had a teacher. Therefore, he decided to offer things that were a bit more in line with an Apothecary needs for the present and future.

While it was still difficult to put an exact price on hydra’s blood, in terms of overall value, he made sure that Izroth would not be on the losing end of the deal.

Cryosa then stepped forward and said, "Seeing as how Apothecary Oaklein has already offered some of what I was going to, I will keep it simple. I learned that Apothecary Izroth is the owner of a place that specializes in selling pills called the Mystical Realm Palace."

Right when Izroth requested the Right of Challenge, Cryosa sent one of her people to gather his information through the Apothecary Guild. It was there that she learned of the existence of the Mystical Realm Palace.

"As you know, selling pills comes with its fair share of difficulties. At times, having a good product alone is not enough for one’s name to spread. That is why, I will offer Apothecary Izroth two things. The first is the use of my name as a grade eight Apothecary and an Elder of the Apothecary Guild. As for the second—I will add to Apothecary Oaklein’s plan to give you a Seven Stars Formation and help build an environment at the Mystical Realm Palace that is ideal for crafting." Cryosa stated.

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