Emperor's Reckoning

The young man in front of the stilled cauldron stretched his hand that was covered in white flame. As if the flame had its own thought, it moved under the golden cauldron and lit it.

Lyon noticed that the golden cauldron was actually lifted up by the white flames as it occasionally moved up and down. (This is some witch trick, isn't it?) thought him as he reminisced of an old cartoon in his original world.

Though he commented that inwardly, he didn't lose his focus as he carefully examined the event in front of his eyes.

The young man that was conducting the art of alchemy, take a bunch of ingredients in the rack before putting it inside the cauldron. Lyon didn't recognize a single ingredient the young man was taking.

Rubbing his chin, Lyon approached the young man and peeked inside the golden cauldron. He saw the batch of ingredients swirling inside the golden cauldron. They slowly lit up before fusing into one piece of light.

"Lyon, this is the moment where the impurities of the product being stripped with the soul flame," said Rowland softly.

Lyon squinted his eyes as he saw bits of white light raining down from the piece of light like glitter. (So the bits of lights are the impurities?) thought Lyon.

"Ha!" the young man shouted as he flicked his finger, this sudden motion also startled Lyon who took a step back.

The piece of light was jumping out of the golden cauldron and landed on the young man's palm. There was only one pill produced and the color was white like a normal medicine in Lyon's world.

(Hmm, this looks like a regular flu medicine) said Lyon unimpressed.

"Congratulations young alchemist, the pill you make is a success!" said Rowland to the young man.

"Ah, thank you, manager, though this is the lowest grade of a pill it still took me a long time to make it," said the young man while shaking his head.

Rowland patted his shoulder as he said, "Don't worry, as long as you keep training, you will get better eventually."

"Ah, you are too kind, manager," said the young man with a smile.

"Hahaha, nevermind that, it's time to pay up, let's go to the counter," said Rowland as he hurriedly stood behind the said counter like a cashier.

The young man smiled wryly as he followed after him, "I intend to keep the pill, how much should I pay in total?"

"Don't worry I already keep a tab for you, with the ingredients you used and the rent for the golden cauldron, it will be... eight million golds," said Rowland with a smile.

Hearing the prize, the young man almost splurted out blood. (Eight million?! Might as well kill me now!).

Rowland nodded, "I know, I know, it's cheaper than the usual price, this is because you are a young aspiring alchemist."

(Cheaper?!) was the young man's thought before fainting with blood oozing from the edge of his mouth.

Lyon saw the familiar clerk dragging the fainted young man from the third floor as Rowland approached him with a smile.

"I will give the tab later, making such a pill must be too much for him," said Rowland while shaking his head in a disappointment.

(I don't think it's because of making a pill) thought Lyon as he smiled wryly. "Hmm? Where is Aelina?" asked Lyon as his gaze didn't find the beautiful woman.

"I'm over here," said the princess as she revealed herself from behind the black cauldron. She was hiding for her identity of course. She didn't want to make any more necessary problems for her own.

"Ah there you are, no wonder I felt something beautiful was missing, haha," said Lyon with a hearty laugh.

His words made Princess Aelina blushed, she couldn't believe that he would flirt with her in this kind of situation, not to mention in front of her own uncle.

"Hohoho, you got yourself a keeper here niece," teased Rowland before he joined Lyon in his laugh.

(Gh! These two!) thought Princess Aelina. She was happy yet a bit angry at the same time.

*cough

Still with a blushing face, the princess cough before saying, "Well, Lyon after watching how a pill was made, do you still want to try?"

"Of course!" said Lyon without hesitation.

"Uncle, what is the difference between these three cauldrons?" asked Lyon.

However, before Rowland could answer, the soothing voice of the princess answered him instead. "The golden one is the only one that is still intact."

"What? Is that true?" asked Lyon in a surprise.

The princess nodded, "Yep, the other ones are broken or chipped off. They should be replaced honestly."

Lyon averted his gaze to the wry smiled middle-aged man. "C'mon my beautiful niece, you don't have to say it like that, they can still be used you know."

"Hmph! I will not let you ripped my friend off," said Princess Aelina.

"Well, I was about to tell him to use the golden cauldron anyway," said Rowland.

"Tell me, uncle, do you put different prices for the other two cauldrons and this golden one is the highest among the three?" asked Lyon with a smile.

Rowland nodded, but before he could say anything, the princess said, "Lyon, the three of the cauldrons have the same engravings."

Her words made Lyon to quickly looked at the other two cauldrons and compared them to the golden ones. "Wow, so the color is actually from paint and the three of them made from the same material?"

Rowlan could only smile wryly.

(This old fox is quite crafty but sadly he met the young fox today) thought Lyon as he perked a smile.

Suddenly his hand was over Rowland's nape and their body turned away from the princess. Their position was the same as Lyon with the clerk downstairs.

Princess Aelina shook her head before Lyon said anything.

"Uncle, my good uncle, wouldn't it be bad if this news were to leaked out," whispered Lyon with a cold voice. He looked like a devil striking a deal with a lesser devil.

"Y-you wouldn't right?" replied Rowland softly.

"Hmm, I don't know..." paused Lyon as he rubbed his thumb and index finger together before continuing, "Of course I won't, but you know even the walls are not soundproof so someone might hear it."

"Gh!" Rowland knew what his wording meant. Even if Lyon was the one that spread the news he got no proof to accuse him. (To think that I would be played a by a youngster) thought Rowland.

By his identity, people wouldn't dare to mess with him, but Lyon was different, he was the friend of his niece, the princess.

With a gulp, he said, "Alright, alright, I understand. The rent for the cauldrons and the ingredients will be free of charge for you."

"And?" continued Lyon.

"And what?" said Rowland.

"I took fancy of the pills on the second floor," teased Lyon.

"No, I cannot give you that, I will have a massive deficit!"

"Shame, I would have loved to see this store flourish in the coming years."

"Guh! Fine! You can only take five pills, beyond that then I can't."

Lyon patted Rowland's back as he stood straight and said, "Now that's my uncle hahaha!"