"Esteemed Mr. Belfran! Sander of the Ster Family requests an audience," Sander said, enunciating each word in his most dignified voice. "By order of Earl Ster, I've brought you an invitation to the Basia Trade Fair.
"I hope you'll permit me to enter."
"Come in. Just leave it on the table," Hill said evenly.
Sander stepped into the carriage with utmost respect. As he arranged the items from his tray one by one on the crystal coffee table before the sofa, he swiftly took in the carriage's interior out of the corner of his eye.
His mind was instantly made up... Mr. Belfran had to be an exceptionally powerful alchemist!
The various mineral resources on the shelves had all been refined. Some had even been refined more than once. Only a qualified alchemist would impose such strict standards on himself.
And the unrefined ores... Those were precious minerals even the Ster Family would have to go to great lengths to obtain!
If they weren't about to be used, who would refine them in advance?
What if the separated mineral dust wasn't stored properly?
An alchemist who could leave these out in plain sight was not someone whose strength or alchemical skill could be underestimated!
Once he returned, all he had to do was tell the young lady what he had seen... Whether she could win this high-level alchemist's favor, or even receive a little instruction from him, would depend on Miss Ailiterman's ability and charm.
Hill watched Sander's every move in silence, his expression blank. He also reached a conclusion... Apparently, resources of this grade were enough to convey the standing of a level-ten Sorcerer.
He had seen exactly where Sander's eyes lingered.
After all, anything left lying around clearly wasn't among his finest treasures. It wouldn't matter if Hill