CH 112

The grand exchange meeting of alchemists and doctors was first attended by alchemists and physicians, followed by the imperial royal family, nobles, and distinguished guests.

The seating order is clearly arranged.

For example, famous alchemists or doctors, royal nobles, and so on will be led by attendants to sit in the front row.

The seats in the entire auction hall are in a semi-circular row, with an aisle in the middle, dividing the area into two. In the frontmost area is the display stand…

The auction venue is large, so it took seven days for everything to be fully arranged. The various settings inside are almost brand new.

One can just see how the Saint Airo Empire attaches great importance to this discussion because the Ed Chamber of Commerce was entrusted to take charge of it.

On the day the exchange meeting started, carriages stopped and walked at the entrance of the auction house.

—Most of the first to arrive were the alchemists and doctors.

Among them are many long-established and prestigious master alchemists.

Of course, there are also a number of junior alchemists who are true geniuses and talented. Moreover, there are also some people who are not worthy of being called one but disguise themselves as masters to cheat money…

As for the doctors.

Their status in the exchange meeting is not high, nor are they too famous.

In the auction hall, the famous master alchemist Chebman Norton sat at the top of the alchemy area early.

He’s a middle-aged man with a serious expression and an ordinary appearance.

But whether it’s his dress or mannerisms, it reveals a meticulous feeling.

—His bow tie is neat, his clothes have no obvious crinkles, and his hair with several strands of white hair is completely combed behind his head…

From the details alone, it can be seen that Chebman Norton is a man who is meticulous about everything, especially alchemy.

He is very persistent and obsessed with the study of alchemy.

This is not a secret within the Alchemy Association and is a feature for which he is known.

In addition, he received financial assistance from the Ed Chamber of Commerce—for him to study any expensive alchemy.

He is the master alchemist most valued by the Ed Chamber of Commerce.

His specialty is focused on making potions and ointments.

This will inevitably be compared with Lord Desinia who also has the talent of making potions and ointments.

Especially when the latter researched earlier than him the herbal medicines that could treat coughs and fevers and the ointments for treating wound ulcerations.

After that, many amazing things have been launched in the territory and the Thorns Chamber of Commerce.

Such as the new paper, movable type printing, bricks, asphalt concrete road, sugar, cement concrete road, etc.

It can be said that the achievements of Lord Desinia alone are completely comparable to the vast majority of alchemists. Not to mention his identity as the lord of the entire Desinian Territory.

—From a small earl in Wissas to now covering the territory of the two small kingdoms of Gadaat and Gaynor…

Everyone was shocked when they thought of this.

This Lord Desinia is really amazing.

How old was he when he destroyed the Gadaat Kingdom?

How old is he now?!

—Did he already have such a vast territory at such a young age?!

The more people recalled the events related to Lord Desinia, the more shocked they were.

—They were surprised that Desinia not only got good luck like being favored by the God of Creation but also had such outstanding alchemy talent…

Some people are envious, others will be jealous, and even doubt whether these achievements of Desinia were researched by him alone.

After all, this lord has a specially built alchemy tower in his territory. He called many talented alchemists as early as a few years ago.

If he used the results of other people’s research and put it in his own name…

That would really make people spurn him.

Such rumors spread quietly, full of malice, and also make some people who don’t know the truth believe it to be real.

—They think Desinia’s genius alchemist reputation is overblown and vain.

As the same young alchemy geniuses, there are two more famous in the Alchemist Association.

One was Jacob Ken, who specialized in how to make the Philosopher’s Stone, a holy medicine that could cure any ailment.

The other is Philipp Kiel, whose research direction is to convert any metal into gold.

The ultimate direction of alchemy research is probably these two.

Although there are many differences or details in the process, it will always return to the same “endpoint”.

Xia Zuoyi declared to the public that everything he studied was “alchemy”.

But in the eyes of an alchemist who has been steadfast in his research in these two directions, the alchemy he has studied has actually deviated a lot.

Therefore, people in the Alchemist Association have almost polarized views of him.

Some people disapprove of his identity as an alchemist, including Philipp Kiel.

Because it has never been something that nobles can study thoroughly.

They may be able to provide financial support, but they can’t persevere in painstaking research until gratifying results appear.

Nobles are extravagant.

They pay more attention to how to make their lives more comfortable and leisurely.

Instead of staying in the alchemy laboratory all day and torturing their precious hands and body with tools and potions…

Philipp Kiel was born in poverty.

Fortunately, he was accepted as an apprentice by an alchemist. More fortunately, he had a talent in alchemy and was valued by his teacher, which made him famous in the Alchemists’ Association.

But what he has taken pains or cherished to seek, all of which Desinia has—identity, wealth, fame…everything is enviable.

He admits to being a little jealous.

And his more reasonable guess—some alchemy results are not necessarily researched by Lord Desinia…

He is sitting in the seat belonging to the alchemist area in the auction hall, next to Jacob Ken, who was also dubbed as a genius alchemist. 

He looked at the other party and whispered, “Do you think Lord Desinia will sit with us or with the nobles?” ‘

Jacob frowned and replied, “When the lord comes, we will know.”

He doesn’t seem to want to talk.

But Philipp wanted to chat with the other party, so he continued, “Have you heard about the hunting competition at the Bore Mountain Hunting Ground a few days ago?”

“Lord Desinia’s beasts had wounded someone.”

“In the end, the first prince had to take the injured viscount to the hotel to make amends and give away a lot of things…”

Jacob looked at him when he heard his words, “No one said that it’s because the viscount deliberately led his people to kill Lord Desinia’s beast by making it seem that they’re just hunting down their prey?”

“Otherwise, why would the eldest prince go to the hotel together?” 

The grand prince is upright.

If it was really the beast that hurt people, no matter what happened, he would ask Lord Desinia for an explanation. The eldest prince would definitely not let the viscount go to apologize to Lord Desinia.

What’s more, the viscount didn’t show up much after that. It is said that he stayed at home all day long.

Philipp: “This lord’s status is equivalent to that of a king. His black-and-white cavalry alone can not be easily provoked by other countries. Now he has caught up with this alchemy event…”

“The empire naturally needs one less thing to worry about. I’m just saying…”

“Shut up.”

Jacob frowned, “You really dare to say anything, huh? Aren’t you afraid of disaster coming out of your mouth? No matter what happens to Lord Desinia, it’s none of your business.”

“Don’t wag your tongue here.”

Philipp Kiel curled his lips in distaste, saying that he was as timid as a mouse, and there was no one else here, so what if he talked.

Unexpectedly, Jacob pursed his lips and said, “I’m telling you now because you’re also an alchemist… I plan to go to Desinian Territory after the exchange meeting.”

Therefore, he can’t continue listening to these words.

He had some friendship with Philipp but it was not too deep.

This time it was Philipp’s turn to frown.

He asked dissatisfied, “Why don’t you consider Master Norton?”

“He is a master alchemist with real talent and knowledge.”

“And now the Ed Chamber of Commerce is fully supporting him, no worries about the lack of connections or financial assistance. Who knows whether the talent of Lord Desinia is true or not…” 

Jacob didn’t tell the other man that the reason why he wanted to go to Desinian Territory was that he had accidentally met an alchemist who was studying in the Alchemy Tower there.

He learned what kind of place it was through chatting with the other party…

Jacob believed in the rumors that Lord Desinia was talented and thought he could develop well in the Alchemy Tower.

…

Jacob does not agree with Philipp’s rhetoric.

The latter also disagreed with the former’s idea of ​​going to Desinian Territory.

So they stopped talking and turned their heads indifferently to each other. At this time, almost all the alchemists and doctors who came to participate had arrived.

Movements began to arise from the area where the nobles were located.

The servant’s announcement came from the door.

Philipp keenly captured the words “Desinia”, and he immediately looked back—

—To see a young man in exquisite and extravagant clothes walk in from the door of the auction house.

It seems that because of the sufficient heating in the auction house, he took off the cloak he was wearing shortly after he came in, and then handed it over to the butler standing beside him.

Without his cloak, he was still wearing a black, straight coat on his upper body.

The black coat hung over the bend of his leg. On the inside of the coat, he’s wearing a white shirt over a burgundy vest, outlining his slender waist.

He casually inserted his hand into the slanted pocket of his trousers, with a round-rimmed monocle in the left eye of his beautiful face, and a thin golden chain hanging by the side of his ear…

Philipp watched in a trance. Seeing him slowly walk towards the alchemist’s area, he suddenly became flustered so he pushed the man sitting next to him.

“What are you doing?!”

Jacob thought he was looking for a fight.

Philipp said gruffly, “So, that’s Lord Desinia?!”

Jacob took a glance and nodded, “That’s right.”

He saw that Philipp was staring fixedly at Lord Desinia and not talking anymore. He’s confused as to what’s happening with him so he just wanted to turn his head back when Philipp suddenly exclaimed. 

“You’re right!”

“Before, I was too narrow-minded. I have to reconsider whether to accept the invitation of the Ed Chamber of Commerce. After the exchange meeting, we may have a detailed chat…”

Jacob was baffled. Who wants to chat with you?!

At this time, Xia Zuoyi was seated not far from Chebman Norton, the master alchemist.

He whispered to Udit and Fernandi who were standing behind him, “Count the number of the alchemists and doctors participating in this exchange meeting…”

“After the meeting, pay attention to the people that the Ed Chamber of Commerce wants to recruit…”

“Yes, my lord.” The two replied in a whisper.