I Have Many Colleagues Who Want the Same Thing

At the Emerald Heart Tavern, Elan sat in his usual seat. Across from him sat a woman in black with golden hair.

"So, has the Pharmacist Association taken control of everyone who can brew Energy Potions?" Elan confirmed the information he had just received.

"Not everyone. Even at its peak, it never had that capability. It has merely offered generous benefits to all masters in this field," Celine said.

By the Pharmacist Association's standards, anyone whose success rate in brewing Energy Potions was slightly above one bottle for every four attempts could be recognized as a master of Energy Potion brewing.

The Association's main task now was to keep these masters steady. It had offered terms such as allowing them to join the committee and share in the Association's future revenues. These were the only conditions the Association could offer now.

"They should be sending commissioners to inspect every branch right now, checking how many people meet that standard. Those who do not meet it will probably be offered things like branch operating rights," Celine added.

"The Association really reacted quickly! It would have been nice if they had reacted this quickly when the civil war broke out in Antir," Elan joked.

Celine did not laugh and continued.

"So what do we do now? Our plan to make a move against Energy Potions has failed, hasn't it? What do we do next?"

"We failed, yes, but we gave up nothing. How many times does the Pharmacist Association need to succeed?"

Elan straightened his cuff, took a drink of water, and continued explaining.

"The Association's true pillars are those Apothecaries. If the Apothecaries oppose it, it cannot do anything."

"The Association has realized that too. Even though it is short on funds, it is still maintaining services for all Apothecaries. Ingredients and potions can still be purchased in limited quantities at low prices, and their privileges remain. That is why many Apothecaries are still watching from the sidelines."

"The independence of the Apothecaries from the two academies under your leadership was the real knife in its heart."

Celine picked up the thread.

"So what if they became independent? That news probably cannot get out anymore. The Pharmacist Association is truly bold, assassinating several Advanced Apprentices' people..."

"The two academies have been temporarily sealed off. Given the Association's methods, this investigation will probably be extended by two months, until after the assessments are over."

Elan spoke slowly.

"Could it be that the Association was simply lucky... that it just happened to be a conflict between Apprentices? Didn't Richter from Cuilan also kill several of Velos's people?"

"It just so happened that such a thing occurred, and the Association pulled a few strings to extend the investigation and drag this fatal matter out of sight..."

Celine drained her fruit wine in one gulp, then said disdainfully.

"Here we go again, with your 'there aren't that many schemes and conspiracies in the world, it's just a coincidence' routine. I really do not understand you. I have no idea how you became a Formal Mage..."

"And that Richter is practically a cancer among Apprentices. I have never seen anyone use 'privilege' so many times. Have all the people who became Formal Mages over the past ten years used as much privilege combined as he has?"

"He just happens to be in the territory you oversee too. Why do you not do something about him?"

Elan raised the still-unfinished glass of water and said.

"To become a Formal Mage, you naturally need exceptional Spell ability to advance. What are you even thinking?"

"As for Richter, shouldn't that be the Reform Sect's responsibility? I have dealt with him before. Isn't that why he does not dare come to the Emerald Heart anymore?"

Celine took another glass of fruit wine from beside her and spoke after drinking half of it.

"I am not talking about this with you anymore. Fine, are we continuing the plan now?"

Elan replied.

"Of course we are. Any obstacle we can throw in their way helps. How many have you recruited?"

"I only found two. Their success rates have not even reached one bottle per five attempts," Celine replied.

"Then I win. I only found one, but their success rate is slightly higher than that."

Celine held her forehead, black lines practically appearing across her face as she said.

"With so few people, can we even scrape together thirty bottles before the assessments end?"

"What is wrong with thirty bottles? At the prices you and I set, we earn eight silver coins for every bottle sold. Thirty bottles means two hundred and forty silver coins. That is what this tavern earns from selling alcohol in two years."

Celine shook her head and continued.

"Fine, then that is how it will be. Contact me if anything comes up. I will see whether I can let a few newcomers try brewing some."

"Goodbye."

Elan watched Celine's retreating figure and the several empty glasses of fruit wine on the table, muttering to himself.

"Maybe the Association will collapse tomorrow. We will not even need to work this hard."

Half an hour after that meeting ended, Fran arrived carrying a box and sat directly across from Elan.

"How many bottles this time?" Elan asked. He thought Fran probably only had one or two bottles on her, so why had she brought a whole box?

Fran opened the box, revealing six bottles of Energy Potion inside.

This surprised Elan somewhat. He had not expected her to bring six bottles. Based on Fran's success rate, she must have used at least thirty sets of ingredients.

He first examined each bottle. After confirming that they had all been made by an experienced hand, without any mistakes in the process, he picked one up.

He opened its cap and leaned in to smell it. After confirming the rich scent of Sun Flower, he spoke with satisfaction.

"Not bad. Quality like this will sell anywhere. I just did not expect you to have stock left over."

These had actually just been brewed. She had drunk the three bottles left over from last time while practicing Wind Blade Art, so she had gone to the Association and bought forty sets of ingredients, and the price had gone up.

She could not possibly take out dozens of bottles at once and say she had brewed them all herself. That would practically write 'there's something wrong with me' all over my face.

She did not deny having stock left over and simply went along with it.

"Yes. I had planned to save up a few more bottles before selling them last time, but your price is higher, so I came here."

After Fran received one large gold coin and a scattered total of eighty silver coins, she made her suggestion.

"Um... I also have friends who can brew Energy Potions. Can I help sell theirs too?"

Elan's eyes lit up when he heard that. He had no objections to Fran's explanation. It was perfectly normal for Apothecaries to know other Apothecaries. As long as someone could brew them, that was enough.

"I have no objection. As long as the money she spends on ingredients does not exceed what she earns selling the potions, I will take however many bottles she brings."

"I heard that one set of Energy Potion ingredients within the Association costs nearly three silver coins now. I hope she can make some money through me."

Elan chuckled happily, and Fran laughed as well. It was good to have someone help her dispose of these potions. From now on, she only needed to bring back more Energy Potions each time and say that she had found more Apothecaries.

Otherwise, she could only drink the excess like water.

"Oh, right. I want to buy a Combat Technique."

A Combat Technique? Elan was somewhat surprised. Buying a Combat Technique was not unusual, but it was a little strange for Fran.

Before reaching the Formal rank, knowing two Combat Techniques was already considered decent. Fran also knew a Breathing Technique, so logically, she was not lacking Combat Techniques.

Still, only a fool turned down money. What if she was buying it for a friend?