Lord Ekeem didn’t even have thoughts toward whether it was a scam. The Blue Lotus was not simple and they wouldn’t waste time to just scam Lord Ekeem. He had also spent enough time around Apprentice Alchemists to tell that the smell from Erik was not something that could be piled up easily.
Grandmaster West seemed to realize where he was and looked to Hiao Xen. “Sorry for being late. Was in the middle of trying to create some potions. I have a number of Age Rejuvenation potions I would be interested in selling,” Erik said.
“We will gladly accept them at cost. I have looked into the issue and a compensation has been prepared for the items. I have received word from the higher realms that they wish to come into a contract whereby we could purchase these potions for our own use.” Hiao Xen watched Erik, but made it neither a question nor request but leaving it as a statement.
“Oh, I would be interested in the prices that you would offer.” Grandmaster West smiled, apparently amenable.
His eyes then slid over to Jole and his father, who was holding his shoulder. His smile faded and he shot a look back at the woman behind him, a displeased look on his face.
Hiao Xen cleared his throat. “Grandmaster West, this is the head of the Ekeem clan, Lord Ekeem.”
“It is an honor to meet Grandmaster West.” Lord Ekeem gave a low bow.
Grandmaster West simply nodded his head, waiting on him.
“I have come to resolve any issue remaining between our two parties. I can only hope to apologize for something that shouldn’t have happened,” Lord Ekeem said seriously before he pulled out three shining stones from his storage ring.
***
Erik fought to keep his eyes in his sockets. Mana stones! Mana stones? Whaa-at?
“I wish to offer these as a gift with no attachments, but simply an apology in my failings as a clan leader to bring up those who are under my banner.” Lord Ekeem held the Mana stones forward.
Hiao Xen looked to Erik to see whether he would take them.
Erik wanted to grab them, find Rugrat, and head off to the First Realm immediately. It was like hitting the jackpot in one go!
Though he was not a man to be pulled just by wealth.
“Thank you for your gifts.” Erik waved his hand and took the Mana stones and waited for Lord Ekeem.
“What Jole did was uncalled for. It is a stain on my family. I know that my own judgment might be softened by our relations, and I wanted to come to bring him to apologize and accept the punishment you hold for him.” Lord Ekeem raised his eyes to focus on Erik.
Erik nodded.
The boy might be bad but this Lord Ekeem is smart and calculating. Giving me the Mana stones first is meant to lessen my anger and to try to appease me so that Jole’s punishment might be lighter. The boy acted to harm and maim me. That is not something that should just be allowed to pass.
“First, Jole is not the only one who created this issue.” Erik looked to Delilah. “It was first created by another.” His voice turned firmer.
Delilah looked as if she wanted to crawl into a hole as everyone in the room focused on her.
“Delilah was working a stall that I was looking at. She thought that I had impure thoughts because of the way she had been treated in the market before. Delilah, explain your actions.” Erik moved to the side.
Delilah dropped to her knees and kowtowed to Lord Ekeem. “Young Master Jole came frequently to buy items from my stall and had an interest in me. It was not an interest I reciprocated, but one that I used to gain more wealth and not be punished. I hinted at the fact that my Master might have lecherous thoughts about myself. This played on Young Master Jole’s competitive spirit and he made to make an example of my…teacher. I didn’t know that it would lead to such a fight, or that so many people would be hurt. I don’t know what I wanted. I was just being silly, not knowing what my actions might bring. I am sorry for all of the strife I have caused!” Delilah hit her head against the ground.
The others in the room looked a bit shocked at her actions and looked at Erik. They could tell that her words were genuine, but such actions they had not seen before.
“Please, miss, you are the student of an alchemist Grandmaster,” Lord Ekeem started.
Erik raised his hand to stop Lord Ekeem.
“I might know a few things about Alchemy, but that doesn’t mean that I will protect my students from their wrongdoings. If they have done wrong, then they should be punished and make apologies. If they are wrongly attacked, then I will kill those who tried to harm them. Delilah’s crime is one of pettiness and creating strife, leading to a confrontation that got people hurt and could have very easily led to someone dying,” Erik said calmly.
His eyes shifted to Young Master Jole. “Young Master Jole is a young man, but he has a cruel mind. A boy jumps into action right away. A man looks at what his actions might bring, studies the situation and learns from it. I do not blame his guards. They were being loyal to their young master, who wanted to catch a pretty girl’s eye. This shows that he is headstrong, stubborn, doesn’t think of others, and is lacking the discipline required for a leadership position.
“I would suggest that he takes on a new identity and a role within your family, one that he doesn’t wield power but is under others. A guard with your trade caravans, a runner or Novice for your different crafters. Up to four years but no less than two,” Erik said.
Just like a new second lieutenant with too much power, it went to his head. He needs time to mature, to be in the shit with everyone else to break his illusion that everything will go according to the plan he’s come up with.
Lord Ekeem and the others were shocked by his words and actions. They did not think that the matter would be resolved so quickly.
Lord Ekeem gathered himself first. “Miss Delilah, I accept your apology. While it is unfortunate, I hope that this will be an opportunity that young Jole will use to become stronger.” He faced Erik and bowed deeper than before. “Thank you for your punishment. It will be carried out immediately.”
Jole slumped, the tension and anxiousness draining from his body. He silently got on his knees and faced Erik. “Grandmaster West, this one thanks you for your mercy and hopes to learn from his mistakes.” Jole’s voice was shaky, his emotions in chaos as his worst fears had not come true and he was given a path forward.
People can get wiser after they’ve had time to reflect on their actions.
“I accept your apology,” Erik said simply.
“We will not keep Grandmaster West anymore,” Lord Ekeem said quickly, sensing that Hiao Xen and Erik had more to discuss.
“You can get up now,” Erik said to Delilah as the Ekeem clan quickly left the meeting room.
She did so, remaining quiet as she stood behind him.
“So, Age Rejuvenation potions?” Erik asked.
“Based on the quality of the potions and their level, we are willing to offer good compensation for them. Your most basic ones like those that were sold at the Second Realm auction, where you sold them for three hundred gold, we would buy them for three hundred and thirty gold. The higher grade potions would be scaled off that price.” Hiao Xen waved his hand to dismiss the other people from the Blue Lotus before the group moved toward the table where the tea was set up.
“Do you mind if Delilah sits in? Might be good for her to listen about Alchemy dealings. Selling them is part of the process, after all.” Erik smiled.
“Certainly. I don’t see any problem.” Hiao Xen smiled.
Seeing the two of them sitting down, the lady who was in the meeting hall quickly and expertly started to serve them tea.
Even with the heavy talks from before, although she seemed a bit flustered, her movements were short and concise, showing the skill and talent she held in her art.
“What about the Age Rejuvenation potions in your hands?” Erik asked.
“If you agree, then it is likely that they will be purchased by us. After al
l, it is better to feed one’s family who are starving than strangers you don’t know.” Hiao Xen didn’t try to hide anything.
Honestly, if I didn’t have the Blue Lotus, then I wouldn’t have a way to sell the potions. It seems that people find them quite valuable. It makes sense: even five more years of life in the Ten Realms, one can turn their life around, gain another level or ascend and gain more time. If I trade with the Blue Lotus, then I can gain a closer relationship. I can also find a seller I trust. If I don’t go with them, then I will have to come back and hope that they’ve sold the potions by the time that I go to the next Blue Lotus. What I need is liquid funds, not items floating around. A lot is needed to grow Alva Dungeon.
“What would the remaining Age Rejuvenation potions be worth in your collection?” Erik asked as the lady passed the teacup to Erik and then Hiao Xen.
Erik took a sip as Hiao Xen was receiving his cup.
“It would be seven Mortal-grade Mana stones,” Hiao Xen said.
Erik looked up in alarm and tried to talk, forgetting that there was tea in his throat as he fought against choking and spitting the tea back out. He started coughing, thumping on his chest as he got control of his system again.
“Sorry,” Erik apologized. I’m already over here nervously rubbing my storage ring, thinking about the three Mana stones that are inside and you’re saying that I can get seven Mana stones in one go! Ten Mana stones! Ten thousand gold! Ten thousand fricking gold! I’m buying a yacht, then that new machine gun I was looking at, and a new television with all the channels.
Erik had a whimsical smile on his face as he got control of his thoughts.
It might be a lot of money, but that is only enough to get ten people back to the First Realm altogether. It can act as a buffer and help to power the dungeon or it can be converted into funds that can buy materials and items to aid those in the academy. It’s not spending the money; it’s investing it back into Alva Dungeon.
Hiao Xen was smiling opposite as he took a drink of the tea. He let out a relaxed breath, nodding to the woman who had served them and back over to Erik.
I have to figure out if it’s an even trade. That is a lot of money, but they might be messing with me.
“I wonder how much I would get for these.” Erik took out nearly all of the Age Rejuvenation potions that he had created and placed them on the table.
“May I?” Hiao Xen put down the cup and indicated to the potions.
“Please.” Erik sipped on the tea and sat back.
Hiao Xen looked over the different potions. He wasn’t an alchemist but as Erik watched his movements, he got ideas on how to improve his own analysis of potions.
Hiao Xen put the last potion down and then sat back in his chair, his eyebrows pinched together in thought. A smile appeared on his face as he was thinking. “It looks like I should commend Grandmaster West. These potions show improvements upon the last ones you sold to us. It makes it harder to estimate their worth, but I would place their worth to be at four Mana stones and three hundred gold.”
Going to die of heart attack and drowning in money at the young age of thirty-three! Erik sunk into thought, mentally totaling up the worth of the different potions and building a scale in his mind.
After a few minutes, he nodded and finished off the remainder of his tea. “It’s good doing business with you.” Erik held out his hand to Hiao Xen.
Hiao Xen took his hand and shook it. “I will have the contract finished up and given to you. I have the Mana stones on me. And you said that you would be interested in changing some gold for Mana stones?”
“That’s no worries.” Erik smiled. It might not be too abnormal for powerful figures to have a few Mana stones in the Second Realm, but if I was to take that into the First Realm it would create an uproar!
Hiao Xen took out twelve Mana stones and placed them on the table.
The Mana density in the room seemed to become stronger. As Erik breathed in, he felt a soothing feeling in his Mana gates.
He took the Mana stones into his storage ring.
Finally, we have our tickets home.
Chapter: Buying Spree
Rugrat was working in the forge when his sound transmission device went off. He answered it, not breaking his momentum in the slightest.
“Go,” Rugrat said. He was so focused on his work that he didn’t want to waste time talking. He had nearly completed his work.
The original armor he had made for Erik before he stumbled across the path of compression had been all redone.
He still wasn’t happy with the level of his compression and wanted to develop it further, but that was something that required help and aid of someone who knew the craft better.
Honestly, Rugrat had pulled most of this from his interactions with Tan Xue and he was hopeful he could get her to assist him.
It didn’t take him long to compress the armor and he was finishing off the last piece now. He needed to focus on making items that were worth money. Defense was good and all, but he couldn’t go too far down the path of making Erik’s armor or he might not be done for weeks.
“We’re rich! We’re so goddamn rich it doesn’t even make sense! You Lidel leaves! Everyone thought that you were useless but I saw right to your true value!”
“What?” Rugrat frowned. Shit, I thought I was the mentally unstable one.
“The Mana stones! I got them and more. We can leave at any time!”
“What!?” Rugrat missed his mark and winced as his whole arm vibrated.
“Don’t you listen! We’ve got our ticket home!”
“How the hell did you do that?” Rugrat asked.
“Sold some potions. Looks like I made the most from the auction after all!” Erik laughed.
“Just you wait. Once I get enough good materials... Wait, we can go back? I can talk to Tan Xue!” Rugrat had begun arguing with Erik and then it had clicked in his mind. Tan Xue should hopefully be back in Alva Dungeon.
He had been thinking of Alva Dungeon this entire time, but now, now that they had the ability to go back, he felt a pressure weighing on him. What has happened since we were there? Is everyone okay? Did they get into trouble? Did the academy work?
“I’ll get my gear,” Rugrat said.
“Not so fast. We can leave in a few days, but before we go we should see what items we can get here in the Second Realm that we can’t find in the First Realm.”
“We haven’t heard from them in months,” Rugrat said, his fears coming to the fore.
“I know. And I want to go back as much as you want to but at the same time, once we use the Mana stones, they’re gone. If we can bring back more items to help them out, wouldn’t that be worth it?”
Erik’s words made sense and Rugrat calmed himself down.
He looked around the forge. Now that they had the funds, it didn’t make sense that he would keep on working here to make items to raise funds.
“Okay, I’ll come to where you’re staying.” Rugrat started to clear away the items in the forge.
“I’m going to contact the Thantis Traders. Start making a list of all the things you want and the things that would be useful for people in Alva Dungeon. First, I’m going to head to a spell shop and see if I can’t upgrade my firepower.”
“Understood. I’ll be over there soon,” Rugrat said.
“Got it!” Erik closed the call and Rugrat looked around the forge. He had been focused on his work and hadn’t checked the area in a while.
He had Feng Yi put the goods outside the courtyard. Even though he trusted the other blacksmith to a degree, he didn’t want to show off his setup.
Rugrat cleared away his tools. He looked at the dungeon core resting in his furnace. It was unaffected by the flames as it glowed, absorbing Mana, consuming the impurities and releasing pure Mana.
Rugrat walked around and looked at the Mortal Mana cornerstone. It was still in rough shape, but it had started to repair i
tself, recovering from the overconsumption. Rugrat was pleased seeing its rate of recovery.
If we can get this hooked up in Alva Dungeon, it should be pretty good!
He quickly took the different items in the courtyard into his storage ring.
After a few minutes, it was as if he had never been there.
The Mana that had been gathered up was dissipating outward, slowly seeping through the surrounding villas.
Rugrat silently left the villa and headed toward Erik’s residence.
I wonder if I could get those new calipers that Feng Yi was talking about. Or if I could get a bunch of the midras steaks! No, need the Yelwa fruits and Reoi bird! I’ve missed fried chicken and watermelon! Ugh, food!
Rugrat’s eyes were shining as his stomach growled in agreement.
***
Delilah was back in the residence, studying. Erik, on the other hand, was walking up to a store where Cai Dan had agreed to meet him.
He had contacted Liao Ah, who seemed to be busy with something but she had sent Cai Dan to meet him.
“Erik!” Cai Dan waved over to him.
“How are you?” Erik asked as he got closer.
“A lot better now that I’ve seen everyone. It’s a bit terrifying thinking how close we were to...you know.” Cai Dan’s smile slipped away as Erik smiled and nodded in understanding.
“Makes you appreciate life more! Come on, let’s go and spend some money.” Erik patted her back and pulled her forward with him into the store.
A counter ran across the front of the store. Behind it were different storage chests.
People moved forward up to the counter and told the server what they wanted; the server would head back and look for the item and bring it back to the counter.
Cai Dan pulled out an emblem and showed it to one of the guards. They quickly moved to the side, allowing them to enter a special line that went right to the front instead of waiting with everyone else.
Erik made sure to not be left behind as he talked to Cai Dan out the side of his mouth. “What is that thing and how do I get to bypass lines?” Erik asked.
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