Hiring?
Minori didn't expect Leinas to bring that up so suddenly. After a moment's thought, he shook his head.
He had too many secrets—joining the Adventurer's Guild was purely for convenience, not companionship.
"Sorry, I don't plan to hire anyone," Minori replied.
"…I see."
Leinas looked momentarily disappointed. Her lips pressed together as she hesitated. "About the reward…"
"Three thousand—no, two thousand gold coins," Minori quickly offered a lower price, eyes lighting up slightly.
He was running low on funds. Other than gold, there was nothing Leinas could provide that truly interested him.
And given her status, how much wealth could a disowned noblewoman realistically have?
"Two thousand gold coins?"
Leinas stiffened at the amount. Her voice rose slightly, as though something within her had been stirred. Then, she raised her right arm, touched her left shoulder, and gave Minori a deep bow.
"I decided on the reward long ago."
With that, she turned, grabbed the black spear, and walked away.
"…What?" Minori blinked, confused.
That's it? She's just leaving?
Does that mean… she doesn't even have the two thousand gold?
...
The next month of fire, August 31.
By the time Minori returned to the Imperial Capital, August was already coming to a close.
He and Leinas had departed on the 24th. Seven days had passed.
Though, now only Minori returned. Leinas had vanished—abruptly and without a trace.
Noble District – Residential Area.
On the first floor of his estate, Minori was greeted by a cold voice.
"You're finally back, Mr. Alchemist." Imina stood with arms crossed, expression sharp.
"Sorry, I ended up taking longer than planned."
Minori gave a helpless smile as he bent down to pet the small, mischievous dog brushing against his legs. "Anything happen while I was gone?"
"The day after you left, someone from the Herb Guild came again."
"Then the Adventurer's Guild."
"After that, teams of adventurers and workers. All hoping to use your regeneration potion to fix their injuries."
"And, naturally, a few nobles."
Imina counted them off one by one with elegant fingers. "I told them all you were researching new potions. Also said the ogres stopped supplying blood, so regeneration potions couldn't be made anymore."
"But that's not the real problem."
She reached into her coat and flicked an ornate envelope toward Minori.
"This is."
Minori caught it and flipped it open, casting Magic Interpretation as his eyes scanned the contents.
"Osco?"
The name tugged at his memory. Familiar, but elusive.
"The wealthiest merchant in the capital. He runs the arena," Imina supplied.
"According to that invitation, the banquet was held two days ago at the most luxurious hotel in the Empire."
"So don't worry—" she added dryly, "—you already missed it."
"…Wonderful." Minori sighed.
"Congratulations. You've now offended someone you really shouldn't have."
Minori remained calm. He didn't plan to stay in the Baharuth Empire much longer.
With his current strength, even without revealing everything, Angel Summoning alone was enough to place him at Orichalcum rank in the Adventurer's Guild.
He was a step away from Adamantite—"Steel Rank"—a level only reached by two teams in the Empire, both reliant on numbers and synergy.
An elite Adamantite adventurer wasn't just strong—it was a title worth more than a national tycoon.
In terms of national power, Baharuth did exceed the Re-Estize Kingdom. But in terms of high-end combatants?
It was lagging behind.
"…Anyone from the palace come by?" Minori asked.
He already had the Cursed Knight job class.
But the "Sage" class still eluded him. Unlike with Leinas, where fate seemed to pull them together, he could only wait passively when it came to Fluder.
And Minori had already spent over a month in the Empire.
"No one from the palace," Imina said, visibly puzzled. "Not once."
Minori was clearly disappointed.
He had stirred up enough chaos. Helped heal crippled nobles. The Blood Emperor was surely aware by now.
So why the silence?
"You should be worrying about something else," Imina said, her amber eyes narrowing with concern.
"After it spread that ogres couldn't supply blood anymore, a noble tried delivering captured ogres to us."
"…Really?"
Minori looked toward the courtyard. Only one frail ogre lay tied up there.
"No need to look. They turned back halfway," Imina explained, her violet ponytail swaying.
"Osco's doing?" Minori frowned.
"To be precise: War King Go Gin." Imina's expression turned serious, tinged with respect.
"Go Gin…" Minori's eyes darkened slightly.
A subhuman who had shocked the entire Empire with sheer might. One of its most famous figures.
He wasn't just a symbol. He was a hero-class warrior—likely level 30+, and even stronger thanks to racial bonuses.
Compared to him, even the "Eastern Giant" Gu of the Tob Forest was second-rate.
As the Bone King once said: the difference between a wild boar and a farm-raised pig.
"Rumors now say you stopped selling troll-blood potions because War King Go Gin forbade it," Imina said bitterly.
Even though she knew the real reason, the Empire believed the lie.
And since Go Gin was supported directly by Emperor Jircniv, that rumor held real weight.
Even if someone had hoped to befriend Minori, the famed alchemist, this development forced them to reconsider.
"Damn it."
Imina clenched her fists. "They're probably also the ones blocking our supply of ogres."