Chapter 125: The Bargain

“Two batches of body-tempering potions? This kid sure knows how to talk big!”

“Judging by his looks, he’s only about seventeen or eighteen. Even if he’s a prodigy who started studying potion alchemy at five or six, that’s only eleven or twelve years of experience. It’s questionable whether his alchemy skill has even reached the low five-star level, let alone now claiming he can brew two nearly mid-level five-star body-tempering potions.”

“I’m wondering if he misread it and thought the mid-level five-star ‘body-tempering potion’ was actually the low-level three-star ‘body-strengthening potion.’”

“Yeah, that’s possible!”

...

The onlookers whispered among themselves, watching the situation unfold with keen interest.

Simon had been preoccupied with breaking through to five-star alchemy recently, so in his mind, Roland’s potion alchemy was still stuck at the mid-level five-star tier. He wasn’t present earlier when Roland told Cervantes at the alchemy shop that he had reached the low six-star level.

Now hearing Roland say he intended to brew two mid-level five-star potions, although feeling it was a bit reckless, Simon thought Roland’s excellent skills might just pull it off.

“Roland, you...” Teacher Monroe opened her mouth slightly, gazing gratefully at Roland beside her. She didn’t know the full extent of his alchemy skills, but considering he was only seventeen, reaching her level was already impressive. Just as she was about to persuade him otherwise, an irritating voice interrupted.

“Hahaha... Roland, what do you think this place is? Do you think you can just change the test questions whenever you want?” sneered Maki disdainfully.

“Maki, don’t go too far!” Simon snapped angrily.

Roland stopped Simon from losing his temper and calmly said, “Steward Maki, what would it take for you to let my teacher go?”

Roland had seen everything Teacher Monroe did earlier. When she began packing up to leave, he knew her potion alchemy wasn’t very advanced, and brewing a body-tempering potion was unlikely for her. But from the look in her eyes, he could tell she desperately wanted to pass this membership test. Though he didn’t know why, Roland understood how devastating it was to see hope shattered. Now, he was determined to help her overcome this challenge.

Maki sneered at Roland, thinking, “This kid is defending that pretty girl so fiercely; maybe there’s something going on between them. Hmph. If that’s the case, I might as well take advantage of him and squeeze some gold out of him. If I succeed, I’ll be better off financially. Even if Monroe passes, I’ll have plenty of chances to deal with her later. If they fail, they’ll have to leave without a fuss. I have nothing to lose.”

With that thought, he chuckled coldly. “Roland, since you want to play the hero, I won’t stop you. But asking you to brew two body-tempering potions is way too easy for you!”

“Then what does the steward want me to brew?” Roland’s eyes flickered as he asked.

The feeling of holding someone else’s fate in his hands was exhilarating for Maki. He snapped his fingers and said, “Roland, since you want to save the beauty, why not brew three doses of ‘Detoxification Potion’?”

A roar erupted in the hall.

“Detoxification potions? Those are advanced five-star potions! Not even members who’ve been in the Alchemy Guild for over a decade would dare guarantee they can brew those!”

“Hey, did you hear that? He has to brew three doses in total, with only three sets of materials, and achieve a 100% success rate! What level of alchemy skill does that require?”

...

Roland took a deep breath, still calm. “Fine, I accept.”

Immediately, the whispers resumed.

“What? Did he take the wrong medicine? He actually agreed!”

“I almost felt sorry for him before, but now it seems he’s just a bluffer with no substance.”

“You don’t know the whole story. Maybe he can’t brew it himself and is sacrificing himself to save his teacher. Better to give up one than have both fail. That’s actually quite honorable.”

“Hmm, when you put it that way, it does make some sense.”

...

Amid the murmurs, Maki smiled triumphantly. “Just as everyone says, if you can’t brew this advanced five-star potion, and you want Monroe to sneak through the test, that’s way too easy for you. So, to prevent such things, I suggest you place a wager of fifty thousand gold coins here. If you fail to brew it, the fifty thousand goes to me. And let me emphasize — this is a suggestion, not a demand. Everyone heard that, so no one can accuse me of abusing power at the guild. Anyone want to vouch for me?”

“Shh...” His words triggered a chorus of boos around him. Even his own men looked at him with disdain. They didn’t expect Steward Maki to be so shameless. It seemed Roland and Monroe were about to pack up and leave. They all believed Roland wouldn’t be able to produce such a sum.

Yet, fate seemed to toy with the nerves of the crowd. After a brief pause, Roland slowly pulled out a magic crystal card from his pocket and said softly, “There are over sixty thousand gold coins on this card. If I lose, you can take fifty thousand right away.”

Even Maki was momentarily stunned. He ordered his men to bring over a miniature transfer machine and personally checked the account balance, which showed 63,592 gold coins. Only then did he relax.

“Roland, thank you for your kindness, but you really shouldn’t waste fifty thousand gold on me,” Monroe said gratefully. Though she didn’t understand how Roland had such a fortune, her heart was touched that her student would risk so much for her.

“Teacher, don’t doubt me. Trust me,” Roland’s eyes reassured her that he was confident.

“I say, Roland...” Simon admired this alchemy prodigy deeply. Now torn, he didn’t know whether to advise Roland to withdraw the fifty thousand gold. If he did, how would Monroe feel? But if he stayed silent, and Roland lost the money, he would feel guilty toward his friend.

Seeing Simon’s dilemma, Roland smiled and patted him on the shoulder. “Don’t forget, Little Hawk needs a hundred thousand gold every year. I’m not exactly swimming in coins either. Would I joke around with this money?”

Simon was momentarily speechless. Of course, Roland wouldn’t waste his younger brother's surgery funds here. But could he really brew three doses of advanced five-star detoxification potion? Simon’s mind was still stuck on Roland’s skill being mid-level five-star. He never imagined that Roland’s alchemy had already reached the six-star level—so advanced even his father Cervantes would be impressed!

Just as Monroe and Simon prepared to say more, fearing Roland might back down, Maki, worried about a change of heart, ordered the test questions for Roland and Monroe to be switched.

Monroe’s task became the same as Simon’s: to brew one low-level five-star insect-repellent potion. Roland’s was changed to brewing three doses of advanced five-star detoxification potion!

Everyone thought Roland was just showing off, playing the hero trying to save Monroe. They expected him to drop the wager and leave immediately after the switch.

But Roland gently extended his arm. A faint red flame of fire magic swirled around his fingertips. Under the astonished gazes of the crowd, he began to sketch the alchemy transmutation circle!