The person who can create a semi-divine artifact, what bad intentions could they possibly have?

Edward was overjoyed—from now on, he too would be a "public servant." This time, his mentor Wilson had really come through, solving all his worries at once and even adding plenty of extra benefits.

He had originally thought it would be as simple as taking the items back and hanging up the sign. He hadn't expected there to be so many follow-up tasks.

First, under Kaydelin's guidance, he found the Letter of Appointment issued by the Alchemist Association, the Chairman's Badge, the Official Alchemist Badge, and the Standard Robe inside the supply chest.

At Kaydelin's strong insistence, he followed the maid Jessica to the changing room in the back and put on the Standard Robe issued by the association. Now his style finally matched everyone else's.

Kaydelin looked at Edward in his new robe, nodded, and said:

"Now you need to make a decision. Will the Alchemist Association branch be located in the Magic Tower or at your home?"

"Is there a particular significance to this?" Edward asked.

"If you put it in the Magic Tower, the two guilds will share office space. This is common in other small states, but you'd have to come to work every day. Putting it at your home is fine too, but you'll have to cover the cost of sending guards to deliver documents and notices. Also, the monthly maintenance of the Magic Tower's Magic Array will be your responsibility."

Edward thought to himself, I spent my whole previous life commuting to work every day. In this life, if I can work from home, I'm never leaving the house! So he firmly chose the latter.

After that, he signed a series of documents with Kaydelin. Finally, Kaydelin asked:

"How do you plan to handle the Hanging Ceremony?"

"A Hanging Ceremony? Can't I just go home and hang up the sign?" Edward asked, puzzled.

"The establishment of an Alchemist Association branch in White Eagle City is a major event. Normally, you'd need to invite the Grand Duke, the Speaker of the Council, the council members, the mayor of City Hall, the Customs Director, and the heads of various guilds—like the Adventurer's Guild, the Mercenary Guild, the Shipping Association, the Fishermen's Association, and so on. You'd also need to treat everyone to a meal. Whether they come or not is up to them, but you must deliver the invitations. And you'd need to hire a band..."

Kaydelin's mouth rattled on like a machine gun from Edward's previous life, making his head spin. Last time, because it was new and exciting, he'd made his opening ceremony a bit too lively, and that had attracted the Knight Princess and the young mage. If he did this again, who knew what kind of people might show up? This was already seriously violating his "low-key" character design.

"Please, wait a moment, Ms. Kaydelin. As you can see, our Alchemy branch is just me alone. I really can't handle all this. Is there a simpler way?"

Kaydelin understood that most Casters were reclusive and not good at socializing, so she said: "There is another way. You can go home, simply hang up the sign, then visit every guild in the city in person. Remember to leave your contact address. If you really don't want to run around, sending a letter to notify them is also acceptable. I can help you send letters to the Council and City Hall."

"Then I'm very grateful to you." Edward decisively chose the low-key hanging method.

Afterward, Edward put the long box sent by the Alchemy Guild into his Spatial Ring and prepared to take his leave. But he noticed the princess and her cousin standing behind him with beaming smiles, the tall captain of the knights standing behind them with an "I'm watching you" expression, and behind him, the princess's personal maid, Lulu.

"Princess, do you have business to attend to as well?" Edward asked with a puzzled smile.

"Yes, Mr. Smith, we're accompanying you to the Hanging Ceremony for the Alchemist branch." Princess Andrea replied with a smile.

"Isn't this a bit too grand?" Edward said, a little embarrassed.

"Boss, are you reluctant to treat us to lunch?" Alice chimed in, teasing the new Branch President of the Alchemist Association. She had been kept on too tight a leash by her mother these past few days and hadn't had a chance to go out. Now that she finally had an opportunity, she wasn't about to let it slip by. Besides, she was full of anticipation for "Smith's Today's Meal."

"Of course not. It's my honor that you're willing to come to my home. I welcome you with open arms." Edward said with a smile, then turned to ask Kaydelin:

"Chairman, will you come too? This Humble One believes his cooking skills are not bad."

Kaydelin shook her head:

"I won't go. Having Andrea and Alice represent me is enough. I still need to stay on duty at the Magic Tower."

"What a pity. I'll treat you to a meal another day."

As they were leaving, Kaydelin didn't forget to remind Alice and Princess Andrea not to stay out too late and to come home early.

The group turned and left. The Magic Guild receptionist, who was also Kaydelin's personal maid, Jessica, leaned in and whispered:

"Master, are you really comfortable letting the princess and miss associate with that alchemist? They're all young people. What if..."

Kaydelin turned her head and gave Jessica a strange look, then said:

"Do you know what Andrea's sword is?"

"Yes, I do. A Semi-divine Artifact. It's all over the Duke's Mansion."

"Then what ill intentions could someone who can forge a Semi-divine Artifact have? At most..."

Kaydelin didn't finish her sentence, but Jessica understood her tone. It was like what people in Edward's previous life said: "What ill intentions could someone who drives a Rolls-Royce have? At most, he's after my niece's body."

Jessica was stunned speechless, immediately covering her mouth to stifle a gasp.

Kaydelin glanced at her and added:

"Do you know what ancient states did to obtain Semi-divine Artifacts? They sold land, sold mountains, sold castles, sold princesses—and not just one, and they still might not get one!"

Jessica was too shocked to speak. These secrets were beyond the knowledge of a simple maid like her. After finally calming down, she asked:

"Then why were you so cold to that guy named Smith just now?"

"I was testing him. I feel this young man is very grounded, not the arrogant type just because he has talent. And he's from This Country, close by. If Andrea can interact with him normally, maybe there will be a good outcome in the future..."

Kaydelin said with a genuine "auntie" smile, then, as if suddenly remembering something, her expression turned serious as she turned to Jessica:

"And, you tell those gossips in the mansion to keep their mouths shut. If word gets to other states, someone might start getting ideas. If I find out who spread the word, I'll tear her mouth apart!"

"Y-yes, Master." Jessica replied timidly.

When Edward and the others walked out, a carriage was already waiting outside. As before, it was an ordinary carriage from the Duke's Mansion, not her blue-and-white, ornately decorated personal carriage. The Knight Princess glanced back at the captain of the knights following behind. Reinhardt's eyes darted away, and he awkwardly turned his head to the side.

The princess didn't bother with it. She called everyone into the carriage, and the captain of the knights led the way on horseback. The group headed straight for City Gate Street.

Next chapter high-energy warning: Edward's old flame is coming...