As expected, she introduced the alchemist.
"This is my friend. He's also a traveling alchemist. At the moment, he's completing a few tasks for our alchemy house. Just to be clear—his rank is Apprentice!"
She spoke with great pride, and I turned to face him.
My surprise wasn't because of his rank, but rather the fact that he was a traveling alchemist. In this profession, most practitioners settle down under the protection of a power, a family, an empire, or a sect.
Supposedly, there are associations as well, but at least in this part of the continent, not much is heard about them.
When someone is a traveler, they're usually like mercenaries. While not all are affiliated with the Mercenary Guild, they're alchemists who wander the world seeking to understand alchemy on their own. Of course, this path is extremely difficult and rarely leads to success. Professions don't function like cultivation. They require a structured path to build a foundation of knowledge—just like any cultivator needs a cultivation technique and martial arts to truly reach their peak.
Looking at him, I sensed a calm and humble aura from his body—quite different from many professionals tied to other powers, who usually walk around with their noses in the air.
He seemed to be scanning the room, probably looking for the boxes.
"It's a pleasure," I said, standing up and shaking both their hands.
As soon as we sat down, the alchemist couldn't wait any longer.
"Can I see the pills?" he asked, with a hint of urgency.
I started by taking out the more common pills.
He examined them carefully, demonstrating a professional demeanor even in his excited state.
"Yes. They all match the grades noted. Honestly, the work is very well done. The blend of the herbs' properties is skillfully managed and purified through a strong yet delicate firepower. Of course, if there were an innate or natural flame used, the effect would be even stronger... but those are quite rare. I don't have one myself and must rely on artifacts or increasing my comprehension of the Dao of Fire."
I didn't reply, letting him continue.
"Judging by the proficiency, the alchemist who made these is more skilled than I am—possibly even at the Adept level..."
Lady Luiza wasn't bothered by his remark. She carefully gathered the pills and ordered them to be properly prepared for auction.
Now both of them were staring at me with anxiety, curiosity, and greed in their eyes.
I then brought out the boxes, placing each one before them and slowly opening them.
When the alchemist laid eyes on the pills, his expression immediately changed—his eyes widening in shock, quickly shifting to joy and curiosity.
It was clear he could barely contain himself, but he waited for my permission.
Pleased with his attitude, I gave a slight inviting gesture.
He eagerly approached each pill, inspecting them with heightened care. His mental power and Qi scanned them, verifying their authenticity and properties.
Through the movement of his energy, I could sense his solid foundation in the Dao of Alchemy.
Each time he checked a pill, his face shifted between surprise, insight, and delight.
When he reached the highest-grade pill, he just... stood there.
Staring, completely mesmerized for long, long minutes.
In truth, he seemed to be trying to deepen his Dao, learning from the pill itself.
While I understood the importance of such moments, I didn't intend to just stand there waiting for him forever.
Thankfully, the elder stepped in.
A soft cough brought the alchemist back to reality.
"Forgive me. I was just... rather impressed."
I waved it off without care, and Lady Luiza asked,
"So, what are the results?"
His expression turned completely serious as he opened his mouth to answer.
"Honestly... I've only seen this pill from a distance. There was a young master humiliating his half-brother—son of his father's concubine, or something like that. It was quite the scene. Somehow, the brother revealed incredible strength and beat the young master down—he even took the pill for himself..."
I was left speechless hearing such a typical protagonist tale from his mouth. But I focused on the more relevant part of his explanation.
"The pill had a slightly different hue, but it definitely matches this one. I managed to analyze it back then with the young man's permission, and I'm confident—this is the same pill."
"In terms of purification and other aspects, this one is even better than the one I saw."
Upon hearing his confirmation, the elder fixed her gaze on me. Her expression now carried even greater goodwill and a genuinely warm smile.
"May I ask who the creator of these pills is?" she asked.
"No, you may not."
I rejected her question without the slightest hesitation.
She seemed surprised by my bluntness but didn't press further, knowing the nature of the business she was conducting.
"Excellent. All the items will be placed in the auction. As usual, you will receive 70% of the profits, plus a fixed payment of 50 low-grade spirit stones and a VIP seat. Your safety during the event will also be guaranteed."
I considered negotiating, but the percentage seemed fair. From what I know, auctions can take up to 50% of profits from sales, so receiving 70% was already a sign of goodwill.
"Will it happen on the scheduled date?" I asked.
"Unfortunately, no. It will be delayed by two days so we can do proper marketing," she replied.
"Alright. I'll return in two days." Without further delay, I stood up, ready to leave. But she stopped me, handing over a small symbol from the auction house.
"May I know your name?" she asked, smiling graciously.
I glanced around the room, then replied a second later,
"You can call me Mist."
And with that, I walked out.
...
Third Person POV
Inside the room, a guard turned to his mistress, the elder of the Duke's family.
"Should we follow him?"
She kept her gaze on the door for a moment before answering,
"No. It could create complications and damage any potential relationship with him. That's not how I or our auction house operate—even if some of my siblings and relatives would act otherwise."
The guard remained silent, waiting for her orders.
"Notify everyone about the delay and organize a strong promotional campaign."
She gave the order to the guard and her servants.
Once they had all left, she turned her attention back to her friend.
"Well, my friend. Let's talk about a few other matters..."