"Who is that?"
"The emblem on the carriage... that's Count Bélaïa's family crest."
"Count?!"
Murmurs swept through the assembled crowd.
In the Baharuth Empire—where most aristocrats had been purged by the Blood Emperor—any noble who remained held genuine authority. Unlike the Kingdom of Re-Estize, titles here still meant something.
A young noble stepped out of the elegant black carriage. His blond hair shone in the sun, and though he leaned on a ruby-headed cane, there was nothing wrong with his legs—it was merely a fashion accessory.
What drew more attention was how his left arm never left the depths of his sleeve.
As soon as he stepped onto the street, his sharp violet eyes locked onto a black-haired youth standing calmly in front of the courtyard gate.
Minori.
"Good morning, Master Alchemist Minori," the young noble greeted with a faint smile and graceful bow. "My name is Joshua St. Elah Adebayo Belambela. May the scent of hydrangeas bring you fortune today."
Joshua turned toward the crowd next, his tone polite but unmistakably firm."Everyone—if I may humbly request, could I be granted the first opportunity?"
Silence.
No objections.The gathered crippled and wounded individuals instinctively stepped back. No one dared offend a Count's house.
"Then come in," Minori replied calmly, before turning and walking back into the courtyard.
Joshua followed. His butler, however, remained expressionless outside as the heavy gate closed behind them.
The crowd grew tense again.If the first person didn't succeed, the second had to fight for a chance.Who knew how long this miracle-giving alchemist would continue?
Courtyard Treatment
Inside, both men sat facing each other.
"Before we begin, let me clarify something," Minori said flatly. "This regeneration potion works only on acquired injuries. It cannot reverse congenital defects."
Such bluntness bordered on impoliteness, especially toward a noble.
Joshua, however, remained unfazed.
Capable individuals were always a bit eccentric.
"Congenital... cannot be healed?"
The noble calmly pulled his left arm from his sleeve.
What emerged was a handless forearm, the stump ending in pale scar tissue—clearly a severed limb, not a birth defect.
Minori nodded slightly.
"Then you're eligible. I will reopen the wound to allow clean regrowth. It will hurt. Prepare yourself."
His gaze flicked toward the ruby cane Joshua still clutched tightly.
It was magical. Minori could sense that much, but its function remained unclear.
Joshua gave a dry chuckle."The absence of pain for all these years was the stranger sensation, Master Alchemist. I'm prepared."
Without further delay, Minori drew a mithril dagger and cut the stump cleanly.
Joshua's composure shattered—he screamed aloud, his face twisted in agony.
The next hour was grueling.
Minori carefully applied the regeneration potion in cycles. With each burst of regrowth, he cut, adjusted, corrected the angle of muscle and bone. It was surgical—but brutal.
By the end, Joshua's entire robe was drenched in sweat. His face was ghostly white, his body trembling uncontrollably as he staggered back to his carriage.
"He's an ordinary human after all..." Minori murmured, watching him leave. His expression relaxed slightly, the tension fading from his brow.
"Next," he called, turning back toward the waiting line.
Royal Palace: The Report
Elsewhere—
Joshua's carriage didn't return to the noble district. It made a sharp turn, bypassed the manor grounds, and headed straight for the Imperial Palace.
The road through the central plaza parted for him.
Inside the crimson-carpeted royal chamber, the Blood Emperor Jircniv Rune Farlord El Nix sat reading documents beneath golden, shadowless lamps.
His striking purple eyes glinted with sharp awareness. The scent of fine ink and the silence of the court were his constant companions.
"Your Majesty, he has arrived," a secretary whispered.
"Send him in," Jircniv replied, not looking up.
Joshua entered and knelt gracefully, hand over heart.
"Your Majesty."
Jircniv set aside the scroll in his hand.
"How did it go?"
"I obtained it," Joshua said. He lifted his ruby scepter and, without hesitation, stabbed it into his newly grown palm.
Blood spurted—but none fell.The red gem drank it greedily.
In seconds, Joshua's healed hand withered, blackened, and crumbled to dust.
From the center of the ruby, a clear, viscous, sapphire-colored droplet coalesced.
The potion had been extracted.
"Your Majesty." Joshua offered the scepter.
"Send it to the Ministry of Magic for analysis," Jircniv said with a pleased smile."And well done, Joshua."
"I'm honored to serve, Your Majesty."
With a respectful bow, Joshua followed a palace agent out of the chamber.
Jircniv turned to his secretary.
"What else do we know about this so-called 'alchemist'?"
The man bowed."Information remains sparse. He's registered as an adventurer from the Kingdom of Re-Estize."
Jircniv frowned slightly.
"Rank?"
"Bronze."
The Emperor snorted."The Adventurer's Guild... still clinging to that ancient promotion system."
He closed his fingers over a new document.
"Activate our agents in E-Rantel. I want a complete background report."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
That Evening – Back in the Courtyard
The evening wind rustled the grass. The little evil hound lay chewing a large ogre spine, content.
Minori stood nearby, arms folded, watching Imina—who was clearly upset.
"It's not just not going well!" she snapped. "We're being cut off. Nobody's selling troll corpses anymore. Every supply route's blocked."
"Troublesome," Minori said with a faint smile. He had expected pushback eventually.
Imina scowled."Seriously. You couldn't have waited a bit longer to reveal your damn miracle potion?"
"I didn't think it would be so effective," Minori said flatly.
"Ouch!" the evil hound barked, suddenly on alert.
Its ears twitched. It faced the eastern wall, growling low.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Three masked figures leapt over the wall with agility unnatural for ordinary people.
Minori didn't move.He was already staring at a fourth figure, standing still in front of the main gate.
That one hadn't leapt.He had simply appeared.
A cloaked individual in a gray robe, face obscured.
Imina's expression changed at once. She stepped protectively in front of Minori.
"Hey... you thinking retreat?" she asked quietly, her hands already on the hilts of her twin daggers.