by Zhuang Bifan
"…" Andoine almost died from anger. His finger almost poked Lin Li's c.h.e.s.t: "Fool, you believe whatever that idiot Macklin says? Why don't you think about it, if it was not a good thing, why would the Supreme Council set it as the top prize? Do you think that all of members of the Supreme Council are fools?"
"How would I know if they are…"
"Then look at me, do I look like a fool?"
"You…" Lin Li was in dazed, he stared at Andoine for a while before asking in an uncertain tone, "You… You're part of the Supreme Council?"
"What else do you think?" Andoine glared at him angrily before advising him with admonishing words and kind feelings. "Before Horza came to Alanna, he had already told me about this. At that time, I thought that you have a good chance. I didn't think that you would be so disappointing. You even feel like giving up. Do you know what you are giving up? It's a chance that many mages have been hoping for in their lifetime!
"Is it that good…" Lin Li swallowed his saliva and looked at Andoine doubtfully. "Then tell me, why would this new guild be so powerful?"
"I can't say." Andoine was rather troubled.
"Then, let's not talk about this. Let's talk about the trial this time. Tell me honestly, what's so special of this trial that the members of the Supreme Council would attend to it personally and create a new guild?"
Andoine's expression immediately froze, and he started to hum and haw. "There's… There's nothing special. Can you stop asking so many questions?"
"Do you think I will believe it?" Lin Li pouted his lips and thought to himself, If there was nothing special, then why was the Supreme Council in a rush? First they created a mission at the Shadowglen, making me live through an encirclement of undead. I had nightmares daily even when I returned to the Guild of Magic. After that, it got worse. Horza was even sent over and said that the winner of the finals can establish a new Guild of Magic.
If this was nothing special, then would I have to wait till a rooster lays eggs before it's special?
"Ok, I admit. The trial this time has an inside story…" Andoine was forced till he had no way out, so he could only nod and admit it at the end. "As for what the inside story is, I can't tell you. Anyway, just think about it carefully. I have already said what I can. If you really still do not understand, then kill yourself somewhere…"
"Understood…" Lin Li nodded and agreed to it. He trusted that Andoine would definitely not harm him. Since he'd said that heading this new guild would be beneficial to him, then it would surely be beneficial. In any case, he would have to win the finals in a month's time. As for what benefits there were, he would have to ask Andoine then.
"Anyhow, work hard. There would be many benefits." Andoine finally gave off a satisfied smile. He patted Lin Li's shoulder. "Come, I'll introduce some acquaintances to you."
"What acquaintances…" Before Lin Li could finish his sentence, the expression on his face froze. When he said acquaintance, there really was an acquaintance. He had only just stood up when he saw an acquaintance.
Chapter 216 - Shaun the Fatso
Lin Li rubbed his eyes, and realized that he was right.
Wasn't that round figure amongst the crowd the fat bandit he'd met at the black market? Oh, and the fat bandit went missing after he promised to sell one Thunder Eaglet to Lin Li…
"Felic, you'd better watch out and not create any trouble for me today. Those people who are coming would not be easy to deal with…
"Do you see that guy with a big beard and wearing an armor standing at the corner there…?" As Andoine brought Lin Li towards the middle of the guild hall, he asked him patiently.
"What's with that man?" Lin Li followed Andoine's gaze and saw a burly middle-aged man with a huge beard. With his build and majestic armor, he was like a magical beast that just came down from the mountains. He sat at the corner like a statue.
"His Highness, Prince Lionheart Johnathan."
"Damn…" Lin Li was shocked.
He really is a bigshot…
Andoine laughed. "You should make a guess who that old man speaking to Prince Lionheart is…"
"A mage?" Lin Li asked subconsciously. But, after the question left his mouth, he realized that he was wrong. That man was definitely not a mage. Although he was donning a long gray robe, the aura he was exuding was not mystical, but one with a faint stench of blood. It was a smell that only people with bloodied hands would emit.
"Nope, not a mage." Lin Li shook his head and took his words back.
"Is he an assassin?"
"That's right…" Andoine nodded his head. His gaze was filled with satisfaction at Lin Li's answer. "He is Oro, an assassin under the Ruby Moon. More than half of the assassins in Felan Kingdom are under him. If you want to prevent yourself from being killed in your sleep or during a meal, you'd better go and get closer with him later. Despite being a classic rookie in pharmaceutics, that old man is extremely addicted to the field. Go and flaunt some of your knowledge in front of him and I'm sure he will protect you afterwards."
"…" Lin Li rolled his eyes. Wasn't it the same for Andoine?
"And that guy over there…" As Andoine brought Lin Li over, he told him about everyone in the hall. Lin Li could not help but admit that the old man's knowledge was not what anyone could surpass.
The people he told Lin Li of were not well known. It would be difficult for anyone to recognize them in public. Yet, this old man could not only identify each and every one of them, but also know their respective abilities and personalities as though they were his friends he had known for over 10 years.
This trip really widened Lin Li's horizons.
Although it was supposed to be a low-key gathering held by the Pharmacists Guild, there were more than half of the elites in Felan Kingdom present. Each man Andoine had told him about turned out to be a very influential figure.
The gathering consisted of people from all walks of life: the biological brother of the reigning monarch; the king of all assassins who traded money for lives; the archmage boasting great power; the wealthy merchant… and even a priest and a Necromancer who manipulated corpses…
Just as the two man were walking by, Lin Li could see clearly that that the Necromancer and the priest were engrossed in their discussion about their personal experiences in the field of pharmaceutics. They did not in the slightest sense look like what the common people viewed them as—mortal enemies.
"They are not going to start a fight?" Lin Li was dumbfounded.
"Well, they might if they were outside. Because there are strict laws imposed by the Pharmacists Guild."
"Oh, yes. Do you know that fatty over there?" Lin Li nodded his head and wanted to direct Andoine's attention to that fat man. Yet, he realized that the fatso vanished from his sight again. He could not help but mutter, "Is his zodiac Rat…"
"Which fatso?"
"He is a bandit I met in the black market once, but now he is gone again…"
"Bandit?" Andoine shook his head. "I don't have any impression of him."
"Forget it…" Since it was not a great matter, Lin Li did not take it to heart. He followed behind Andoine and walked to the middle of the guild hall. Along the way, there were many people that approached Andoine, and Andoine casually introduced them to Lin Li.
"He is Felic, a new student of mine." While Andoine introduced Lin Li, he always did it with much pride.
"Brother Felic is really lucky to have Andoine as his mentor. He is definitely going to have a bright future ahead of him…" Calluses were starting to form in Andoine's ears due to the never-ending compliments he had heard as they walked from that isolated corner to the center of the guild hall.
However, in order to sustain the praises Andoine received, Lin Li had no choice but to force all his smiles out on his face with words of salutation.
"Master so-and-so, how are you? Master so-and-so, how's your father? Master so-and-so, how's your mother…?"
After squeezing out of the crowd, Lin Li could not help
but wobble due to fatigue. He turned to Andoine beside him and asked, "Are you very close to them?"
"Only so-so." The old man nodded his head and laughed awkwardly. "I would exchange my magical scrolls for the formulas of their potions. It is going to be worth a few hundred thousand gold coins from these past few decades…"
"What a prodigal!"
While they bickered with each other, Lin Li found that round figure amidst the crowd again.
"Why couldn't I find him just now…" Lin Li rolled his eyes after discovering the fella speaking passionately to people at an isolated corner.
"I'm going there to take a look." After informing Andoine, Lin Li wanted to walk towards the fatso and ask where is the Thunder Eaglet he promised.
Then, he heard something very familiar.
"Mr. Pharmacist, your eyes are so sharp to have taken an interest in my herbs. Look at the dewdrops on its petals closely—I had picked this Tricolored Flower just this morning. I'm selling one flower for 100 gold coins, and if you were to buy 10 from me, I'm giving you one free. You can't meet with such a good deal every single day." "
"…" Lin Li scratched his head. Wasn't that exactly what the fella had said to him when he paid for the Thunder Eaglet?
The target of the fat bandit was a midde-aged man in a long black robe. Lin Li could vaguely remember that man as Amman from what Andoine had told him just now. He was the president of Thunder City Guild of Magic, and had strong abilities himself. Being a level-17 Archmage a few years ago, he was just a step behind the well-known Macklin of Alanna.
On top of that, Amman was only 40 years old. Compared to Macklin, who was going to reach 60 years old soon, most mages would feel that Amman would have a brighter future.
Of course, Antoine did not elaborate much about Amman.
There was only a slight difference in level between an Archmage and a legendary-mage. Yet, such a gap seemed unreachable. To exaggerate a little, it was a gap that distinguished the absolute difference in occupations. Although an Archmage was powerful, he would be restricted by laws of magic. In contrast, a legendary-mage had already surpassed all restrictions in magic, and arrived at the intrinsic essence of magic.
In the eyes of a legendary-mage, an Archmage was not worth mentioning. If he was willing, he could kill around a hundred Archmages with the wave of an arm. Even Macklin—despite being acknowledged as the mightiest Archmage—had to submit to Andoine like a mouse that met a cat. What was more for Amman, who was less able compared to Macklin?
To Andoine, there was no value in any Archmage at all. If not for his study in pharmaceutics, and coincidental participation in that gathering, Andoine would not even mention him.
As for the young man beside him, Lin Li was unable to figure out who he was. He could only make use of the age of both man to conclude the young man was the student of Amman or an attendant…
Amman did not even lift his eyelids while the fatso Shaun fed him all the lies.
In reality, if not for the strict rules in the Pharmacists Guild, Amman would have chased Shaun away. Shaun was like a fat housefly that kept buzzing by his ears. It was utterly absurd that he called the Tricolored Flower a herb when it could be found almost everywhere in the black market. His guts to promote it to the president of the Thunder City Guild of Magic made him really foolish.
While the president had to keep his chill due to his status, the young man beside him did not have to care much.
Just when Shaun was trying to drown them in his honeyed words, the young man frowned and reached out his arm to push Shaun's shoulder away.
"Fatso, you are too annoying. Just scram, man."
Shaun was already plump in size. He was like a round ball standing there, with his head and body bent towards Amman in ingratiation. How would he expect that the young man would reach his arm out to him out of the blue? Since it was unexpected, he tumbled off like a ball straight away, and rolled a few rounds.
"Hahaha…" That amusing sight caused laughter to erupt from the crowd.
"Hold back, Milo." It was the Pharmacists Guild, after all. Since he'd only attained that invitation card through a lot connections, Amman did not want to create too much of a fuss. He was not going to allow Milo to mess things up due to his rashness.
Chapter 217 - Tricolored Flower
"You can just choose not to buy from me. Why is there a need to hit me…" Shaun mumbled in a wronged tone as he got up from the ground. Frankly speaking, he was already used to being beaten up. When he was selling the young of magical beasts in the black market, he always got beaten up the very next day he sold one.
To him, that was nothing. Protection from his rough skin and thick flesh would allow him to fully recover after resting a few days.
But, the treatment today was too unfair…
It was his first time dealing as a honest businessman. This time, he neither conned nor lied. The herb he tried to sell was also carefully chosen—not even a strand of it was a weed. How could he expect to be beaten up when he had not even had the chance to say a few lines…
Of course, injustice was injustice.
Shaun clearly knew that he would not dare to seek justice even if he was given a hundred guts. After dragging himself up clumsily, he limped towards the crowd to find the next buyer after a soft mutter.
"Hold on."
Little did Shaun expect to be held back the moment he turned away.
"Take your trash away," said the young man as he pointed to the Tricolored Flower on the table.
"This is not trash!" Shaun exclaimed as his face turned red. He had used more than a month to pick this batch of Tricolored Flowers. Now that they were labeled as trash, he could not help but feel indignant.
"This is hilarious…" The young man glanced at Shaun with disdain. He rolled his sleeves up to brush the flower off the table. "See clearly next time, don't bring a bunch of trash everywhere again. How would my mentor need them with his status?"
The few pharmacists beside him shook their heads after the young man spoke.
That fatso was really shameless to try to sell a Tricolored Flower to a pharmacist. It was as though he was insulting Amman to be a quack pharmacist in his face.
To pharmacists, the Tricolored Flower only had one function—to weaken any medicinal effects.
Generally, only the students of a pharmacist would use the Tricolored Flower. That was because they had not grasped the skill of prescribing medicine despite knowing the formula. They would always make mistakes while they dispensed medicine. Although those mistakes were unlikely to be huge, they would very likely result in some troubles.
In order to minimize the problems their students created, some mentors would suggest that they add the Tricolored Flower into their prescription. Although that would weaken the effect of the medicine, it could decrease the reaction between different ingredients and lighten the impact of potential failures.
Although Amman was not a Master of Pharmaceutics, as a person of status and a high position, it was weird enough for him to be patient with someone selling Tricolored Flowers to him. It would imply that he was not proficient in that field as he needed the Tricolored Flower to minimize errors.
Tricolored Flower was an insult to any esteemed pharmacist.
"Only you use the Tricolored Flower. Your entire family uses it!"
Of course, most of the pharmacists would believe that the fatso had no ill intention in trying to sell the Tricolored Flower to Amman.
The function of the Tricolored Flower was generally known among the pharmacists, but not always their students—not to mention a low-level bandit. No one knew where he got the invitation to the gathering, and how he knew there would be so many pharmacists present for him to promote the Tricolored Flowers. He just wanted to earn some money, but did not expect himself to make such a blunder…
Amman's attitude was good enough. If he'd been a hot-tempered man, he would have thrown tha fatso out of the Pharmacists Guild long ago.
"Fatty, come
over here." While Shaun bent his back to put all the flowers into the herb sack, he heard someone calling out to him. After turning his head, he saw a young mage standing behind him. He frowned, feeling that he had met the young mage somewhere before…
"What's the matter, Mr. Mage?"
"It's not a great matter…" Lin Li smiled while picking up the Tricolored Flower from his feet. "I just wanted to ask, where did you keep the Thunder Eaglet you promised me the other time?"
"Thunder Eaglet?" Shaun was a little stunned.
"You've forgotten? Do you need me to find Elijah to talk to you…"
"Oh!" After hearing Lin Li mention Elijah, the fat bandit suddenly remembered the identity of the young mage before him. Wasn't he the person who'd ordered a Thunder Eaglet from him in the black market a few days ago? From Elijah's submissiveness and respect towards him, he knew Lin Li was not to be messed with.
Now that he met him again, Shaun knew he had not guessed it wrongly. He was indeed a big shot. If not, how would he appear at the Pharmacists Guild? He knew that unlike himself, everyone here held great influence.
"Erm…" The thought of the Thunder Eaglets changed the expression on Shaun's face.
It was a fact that he had the Thunder Eaglet. Yet, would he dare to take it out?
He would at most get some beating for lying. What if that Thunder Eaglet were to injure that young mage after it grew up? Wouldn't he lose his life for it? Not only that, one Elijah was enough for him to be fearful of.
No. He couldn't let that happen…
"Mr. Mage, that Thunder Eaglet…" Shaun hesitated, and did not directly tell Lin Li he was not going to sell that eaglet. "They have run out of stock. Why don't you give me some time, and I will pass it to you after I get one?"
"Out of stock?" Lin Li glanced at the fat bandit skeptically. He was definitely aware that the case was not only a hoax from the start, but also a lowly one. Anyone who had some experience in the black market would know of a conman who sold the secrets of taming the offspring of magical beasts.
