The three entered the shop through doors covered in warding magic, and the unique mysterious aura of an alchemy shop washed over them at once. It felt like an ancient relic weathered by time—dull and steeped in age.
The interior was nearly cut off from the outside world. As the two wooden doors closed behind them, the faintly noisy sounds outside vanished completely, leaving only the ticking and swinging of an old grandfather clock.
Like every alchemy shop, the items displayed here were equally strange and bizarre.
A peculiar cloth doll dressed in layers of gorgeous skirts, exquisite hanging paintings with an exotic artistic flair, a strange half-log smeared with dark green slime, black-red bead-like gemstones resembling eyes...
Mysterious items emitting all kinds of different auras were arranged somewhat haphazardly across rows of layered shelves, awaiting their potential buyers.
"Old Jimmy! Customers are here!"
Walking in front, the little boy called out skillfully, breaking the silence that had just settled over the shop.
Clearly, this was not the first time he had brought customers here like this.
"Little Pace, is that you...?"
Hearing the voice, an elderly man dressed in a dark-red alchemist's robe with oil stains and signs of wear around its edges, his hair and beard gray-white and his back slightly hunched, slowly and shakily emerged from behind the shelves.
The little boy tactfully stepped aside, revealing the two of them.
"...And two adorable new customers. Welcome to Old Jimmy's Alchemy Shop. What can I do for you?"
The old man's slightly cloudy brownish-yellow eyes swept over the three of them. He flipped through a thick black leather-bound book in his hand and tapped a page with one finger.
Anvis took in the scene and understood the trick at once. The shopkeeper was actually recording Little Pace's actions.