Note: This chapter is dedicated to Becca_Elizabeth_7470 for the magic castle she sent a few weeks ago and becoming top 1 golden ticket contributor. Ain wuv ywou 💗

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When the vice head asked the higher-ups and the senior alchemists in the meeting room like that, the others immediately responded. 

"Vice head, I think the problem isn't the illegal auction itself. It's more about the potion lists that the Sloan Family shows us…" 

One of the senior alchemists, who didn't give a damn about politics and such, couldn't help but get curious about the potion's authenticity. 

"This isn't the first time a force tries to find an illegal auction, anyway. But the potions that they're going to auction...that's the problem." 

"Indeed. I have never heard or seen such potions...they might be fake, but if they're not...our headquarters have to get our hands on the potion." 

Another senior alchemist supported his friend. 

Of course, what he meant by getting the potions was by bidding for them. 

"I see that the problem only lies on the license...if that's so, why don't we invite the Sloan Family head to show us the potions?" One more alchemist chipped in. 

"If the potions are real, we can grant them a license in exchange for some backdoor deals…" 

"Yeah, yeah, why should we make an enemy out of such a tiny family? We should just poach them instead." 

Not all alchemists were arrogant peeps with nothing but themselves. The senior alchemists weren't like the youngsters. 

They knew that there were still some hermit alchemists out there that didn't join the guild. If those powerful hermits held an auction, they also couldn't boycott the auction, right? 

Even though it was still 'illegal'. 

"I don't see the problem with the Sloan Family, anyway. They are going to hold an illegal auction...and they announced it. Just that." 

"Hmm, true, true. There are tons of illegal potion auctions nowadays, right?" 

"Right. The customers will be responsible for themselves if they get conned. After all, the Roane branch already said that the auction is considered illegal." 

"Then, what's the problem?" 

"Ah, that. The Roane Branch also said that they will blacklist anyone who attends the auction…" 

"Oh, that's normal. It's not as if all the branches did that." 

"That's true, but a lot of powerful forces residing in the Roane region expressed their interest in the auction...I'm afraid we can't just blacklist them." 

The ability users needed the alchemists, but the alchemists also needed the ability users, especially the big bosses. 

After all, there's still 1% of weird alchemists in the Godlif country that didn't join the guild. The big forces could just go to such people or buy potions abroad. 

As the Godlif alchemist branch, they would die of shame if their country's people bought potions abroad instead of buying from the local guilds. 

Thus, the headquarters were a lot more flexible than they looked like. 

"Ah, about the big shoots wanting to attend the auction...I heard the shaman guild master said that she will also attend…" 

"Oh damn. We can't just blacklist her, right? One of her contracted spirits is our ancestor…" 

That's right. The famous female alchemist in the past was actually one of Rie's contracted spirits! The woman had two spirits and one of them was an alchemist…

What a joke, right? 

That's why the alchemist guild couldn't just blacklist the shaman guild master…

"Aish, can't we just check the potion's authenticity and grant them a license? Of course, as payment, they better give us one of the samples…" 

Someone among the higher-ups suggested it to the vice head. 

After all, they're also curious about the potions, ah! 

"But you see, some big forces related to the Aretha Family strongly oppose the auction…" Another higher-ups commented.

"Our branch guilds get tons of donations and business deals with the 7 sacred families. If we offend them…" 

"Damn it. If only the guild master is here. He can think of a better solution." 

The alchemist guild was a lofty existence, but they also didn't want to offend powerful forces casually. 

It's just that...the two sides involved with the Sloan Family were equally strong…

Just what to do, ah? 

The vice head listened to all the suggestions while tapping his fingers on the table. The middle-aged man mumbled to himself before finally speaking to the people in the room. 

"I think, for the time being, we shall see whether the potions are authentic or not." 

The man rubbed his temple as he continued his speech. 

"In the end, our job as the alchemist guild headquarters is to make sure that the potions sold inside the country are all authentic. Am I right?" 

"You're right, vice head. If the potions they sold are actually authentic, but the Roane Branch said that they're fake...our customers won't trust our judgement anymore." 

"That's indeed the case." The vice head nodded at the senior alchemist. 

"Right, as for the auction license...I think we will still need to wait for the guild master, " He added. 

In other words, the auction might still be labelled as illegal, but at least they will know whether the potions are harmful or not. 

They didn't care about the Sloan Family's ruined reputation if the potions were fake. But if it's real and they said it's fake, the alchemist guild would be the one bearing the shame. 

"If all of you agree with my solution, immediately ask the Sloan Family to send the potions sample. Just one drop of each potion is alright." 

The vice head stood up as he looked at the oldies in the room. 

"Let's solve this problem before the guild master comes back!" 

"Alright!" 

Since the senior alchemists and the higher-ups tacitly agreed with the solution, they immediately sent an official message to the Sloan Family. 

"Dear Sloan Family head, please send us the soon-to-be-auctioned potion samples for testing." 

The headquarters finally joined the fray! 

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