Chapter 134: Conspiracy

"Are you guys ready?"

Killian asked as their carriage soon arrived in front of a peculiar building.

Regis and Pandora looked at the massive building in front of them with expressions of awe.

At first, the building seemed to be a normal building just like any other workshops in the district.

However, what was special about the building was the amount of chimneys on it.

The building alone had six chimneys that were going out at various parts, all emitting different colored smoke.

Creak—

At this moment, the double doors opened as a bespectacled man wearing a robe walked out and greeted them.

"It’s a pleasure to finally meet the Esteemed Adventurers who supplied us with valuable research materials!! My name is Serfon, a Middle Stage Two Star Alchemist. Follow me inside, the President has been waiting for your arrival."

The bespectacled man was a middle aged man who sported a dark green robe that seemed to cover his body.

However, what caught the three’s eyes were the large bags under his eyes, as well as the obviously tired expression on his face.

Not to mention that his dark green robe has numerous tears in it.

Though they also noticed his bright eyes that looked like it had boundless curiosity towards the world.

Regis, Pandora, and Killian, glanced at each other before bowing their heads as a way of polite greeting before following behind him.

As soon as they entered the building, their eyes wandered around.

They saw the lobby that was bustling with activity as people lined up in different parts of the reception desk.

Noticing their reaction, Serfon explained, "As you see, our Alchemy Hall is the main supplier of medicines, potions, and other sorts of things in the whole fortress."

"The people you’re seeing are either merchants or adventurers who are in the process of replenishing their stocks."

At this moment, Regis asked, "Why don’t the citizens directly buy from the Alchemy Hall? Wouldn’t it be way cheaper if they did so?"

"About that..." Serfon looked slightly surprised as he heard his question.

Killian interjected from the side, "My companions are travellers who aren’t really exposed to this kind of thing, so..."

Hearing him, a look of understanding immediately appeared on Serfon’s face.

After clearing his throat, he spoke, "Well, it is as you said. However, it would also mean that there’s a high chance that our Alchemy Hall would always be flooded with people."

"This won’t only make it hard for us to regulate the place, but would also place pressure on the alchemists. Besides, this will also strengthen the relationship between us, the fortress, and the merchants as this helps with the development of the economy."

"In short, this practice benefits the fortress as a whole which makes business better for all of us."

’Ehh? So I guess it’s not really that simple, huh?’ Regis thought silently.

While continuing to explain the inner workings of the Alchemy Hall, Serfon led the three of them to the second floor.

As soon as they entered, Regis, Pandora, and Killian’s eyes widened in surprise.

The setting of the first and second floor could only be said as vastly different from each other.

There were various cubicles that greeted them, each with an alchemist that had a serious expression on their face.

Apparatuses that seemed to be for conducting experiments were all over the area as ingredients of various kinds could be seen in containers.

Furthermore, some of the ingredients looked like they were alive as Pandora noticed something that looked like a tentacle trying to wriggle out of its container.

There were also bulletin boards in each cubicle where pieces of paper with various drawings were pinned.

"It’s kind of chaotic..." Regis commented, which elicited a laughter from Serfon.

"Haha, you’re right. However, this is also the atmosphere which calms alchemists the most."

Serfon let out a soft chuckle as he led the three children and navigated through the chaotically placed cubicles.

It didn’t take long before they went up another flight of stairs and arrived in front of a door which had the emblem of a cauldron with a magic circle on it.

Not wasting any more time, Serfon took a step forward and knocked, "President, the Esteemed Guests are here."

"Good!! Come in."

An elderly voice could be heard from the other side of the door.

Creak—

Serfon opened the door for the three, before closing it afterwards.

"So... you are the young adventurers who were able to bring us the body of the demonized chimera and the soul core of a lich, huh?"

"Yes, Mister President..." Regis responded with a careful voice.

However, the elderly man paused before chuckling, "Don’t call me that. Just call me Wagner. It isn’t obvious, but I’m the same age as Serfon who escorted you here."

’Ehhhh?’ Regis and Pandora both had one singular thought in their minds.

Meanwhile, Killian seemed to be dazed.

They observed the wrinkles on Wagner’s face and his sickly pale expression which made him look like an old man in his seventies.

"I know what you’re thinking." Wagner smiled kindly, "My current appearance is because of a failed concoction a few years ago..."

"Anyways, that’s that. What I called you here is because of something..."

Before he could finish his words, he noticed one of the children staring in his direction with wide eyes.

As if remembering something, Wagner clapped his hands, "Oh, I forgot to introduce you to my daughter."

Regis and Pandora looked to where he was pointing and saw a cute girl who seemed to be their age.

The girl had black eyes and green hair, as well as large round glasses.

From the start, she had been silently standing beside Wagner while looking at the three with a curious expression.

’Beautiful...’ Killian thought as he smiled softly at the green haired girl, making her shyly avoid his gaze.

Meanwhile, Regis and Pandora became speechless at what they were seeing.

Wagner didn’t seem to mind as he only chuckled softly, "This is my daughter, Eralyn. She told me that she wanted to meet you guys so I hope you don’t mind..."

"Don’t worry about that, Grandpa Wagner. It is to our utmost pleasure to meet your cute daughter~"

It was Killian who responded, making Regis and Pandora feel like vomitting, ’He’s shameless!"

"You’re cheeky, aren’t you?" Wagner laughed as he spoke, "Well, let’s first get down to our main agenda..."

’He’s not angry!?’ Regis and Pandora couldn’t believe what was happening.

Wagner gestured for the three children to sit down at the sofa while he and Eralyn sat down across them.

"Firstly, I would like to update you with all of our findings so far. I reckon that you have the right to know this since you are the ones who provided us with the materials..."

What happened after was Wagner filling Regis, Pandora, and Killian with the information they found out so far.

The first was the book that they had surrendered along with the corpse of the chimera and the soul core of the lich.

It turned out that after deciphering some parts of the book, Wagner and the others found out that the author of the book succeeded in creating a certain lifeform.

"...yes, what you heard is right. We also surmised that the corpse of the chimera seemed to be the lich’s attempt at recreating the achievement of the book’s author."

"However, what’s stranger is the goal that was written in the book..."

"Goal?" Regis tilted his head.

Pandora also looked on with a curious expression.

Meanwhile, Killian and Eralyn only had eye contact with each other with no signs of listening to the discussion.

Wagner nodded and continued, "We were able to decipher that the goal of the book and thereby the lich, is to create a lifeform that can build immunity towards anything through endless evolution."

As Regis heard Wagner’s words, he couldn’t help but feel a nerve wracking sense of bad premonition deep inside his heart.

Not knowing what he was feeling, Wagner continued, "I personally believe that if the author is successful in creating a lifeform that is capable of building immunity towards anything, it would spell the end of the world."

At this moment, Regis couldn’t hear anything but the loud beating of his heart, ’Why... Why does it sound so much like my gift!?’

He couldn’t help but feel palpitating worry throughout every fiber of his being.

The similarity between the goal of the author of the book and his Perfect Adaptation seemed unusually close.

It made him feel a mini panic attack as he couldn’t help but doubt his origins.

However, no one was able to notice a thing since Regis was already an expert in acting and hiding his emotions.

In other’s eyes, he had only become intrigued as he listened to the old man attentively.

Wagner continued speaking with a calm voice as he narrated their current findings to the three young adventurers.