The herbal shop in the alley diagonally across from the Red Theater was still open. Fat Apothecary Darkwill sat behind the counter, calm on the surface but anxious inside.
Ever since receiving Abner's advice, he had often taken opportunities while preparing potions for others to hire adventurers or pirates to inquire about his teacher's whereabouts.
And just yesterday, he had finally received news from a guard at the Governor's Mansion: his teacher, Roy King, had been secretly arrested by the military and was currently being held inside the Governor's Mansion.
Had this guard not joined the Naturism Sect and overindulged with a noble young lady, leaving his body severely depleted and himself unable to afford medicine, he would never have risked telling the Fat Apothecary this.
Of course, the more important reason was that Bayam's governor was about to leave office, so the guard no longer held the same respect for him as before.
Over the past day, Darkwill had contacted every Life School of Thought member he knew through various means, seeking necessary assistance. Yet he had no way of knowing who would come or when. He could only suppress his fear and anxiety, keep the shop open, and pretend that nothing had happened.
"Darkwill, you're very uneasy," said the owl perched on little Boudi's shoulder.
"I don't need you to point that out. I know my condition very well." Darkwill waved a hand impatiently.
He still remembered how, when he had studied under his teacher, Roy King had constantly warned him to beware of official organizations and true Sanguine. To that end, Roy King had given many examples: being permanently imprisoned underground, unable to see sunlight or women; becoming a researcher and using one's body to test the dangers of certain Sealed Artifacts; enduring all sorts of experiments