Elysium Medopolis City (2)

The pharmacist convention proved to be more complex than they had initially expected. They noticed that everyone seemed to have formed factions, making Devin and Ethan feel left out. However, this didn't deter Devin, as he wasn't particularly interested in the convention to begin with.

Disappointed, Devin and Ethan decided to set up a stall to sell their potions. First, they had to go to the administration office to pay for a stall and obtain the necessary permits.

Devin couldn't help but twist his mouth in frustration at the exorbitant cost. They were charged 5 gold coins for a small stall in a less-than-ideal location.

"Let's not dwell on it. Sometimes, we have to bow out heads when under other people's eaves ," Ethan sighed, accepting the situation.

With a resigned sigh, Devin and Ethan began cleaning the stall and setting up their products. They sold acceleration potions and detoxification potions, with top-grade potions priced at 10 gold coins, high-grade potions at 7 gold coins, and mid-grade potions at 5 gold coins.

However, seeing that the foot traffic to their stall was limited, Devin decided to take a stroll around the market. He ventured to the central market, where numerous shops lined the large open space just beyond the city gate. Three paths extended through the market, one leading south and the other two branching towards the eastern and western parts of the city.

Devin could sense powerful auras in the market, realizing that many influential individuals must have gathered in Elysium City for the event. He visited different stalls, purchasing medicinal herbs in bulk regardless of their level, as he knew they would have corresponding uses and prescriptions.

As the sun began to set, Devin concluded his shopping spree and bought food from one of the stalls to enjoy with Ethan. They made their way back to the stall, packing up their merchandise as Devin inquired about their sales.

"Not great. Our stall location isn't ideal, and we lack both reputation and faction affiliation," Ethan responded with disappointment.

"Well, at least we sold one top-grade detoxification potion. It's a good start," Devin reassured him, offering a glimmer of positivity.

"I had to talk until my throat was sore before the customer bought it," Ethan remarked, as they headed to the hotel to rest and eat.

Meanwhile, in another part of the city, a mysterious figure sneaked into a building.

The rest of the people in the room breathed a collective sigh of relief upon seeing the man who had entered. There were a total of six individuals in the room, including the newcomer.

Among the group, a sickly man lay on the bed, his once lively complexion now drained of its vibrancy. The air hung with a pungent scent, a painful reminder of the toxic substance coursing through their veins.

The poisoned man's breaths were shallow and labored, each one a struggle against the venomous invader that had infiltrated his body. Beads of cold sweat adorned his forehead, sparkling like miniature crystals under the pale light filtering through the room's windows.

"How is the boss doing?" the man who had just entered asked.

"I fear the boss's condition is worsening," replied a weary-looking woman.

"If only those people hadn't blacklisted us from receiving treatment. I can't believe there is no one at this convention who can help the boss," lamented another member.

"Jasper, where have you been?" inquired a man with sharp silver eyes, an air of authority surrounding him.

"I disguised myself and roamed around the market. I wanted to see if there were any potions available in the downtown stall area that could alleviate the boss's pain," answered Jasper.

"You should know better than to expect anything decent from that area," commented another member.

"I couldn't just stand by and do nothing," protested Jasper.

"So, did you find anything worthwhile?" asked the composed man with silver eyes.

"I did find something. The pharmacist claimed that this detoxification potion is superior to anything available in the market. It's top grade. I observed that he doesn't belong to any faction and seems to be unaware of the market's rules, which is why he is being blackballed," explained Jasper as he handed the potion to the man.

"How much did you pay for it?" the man inquired.

"Ten gold coins," Jasper responded.

"Dude, how could you spend so much on a potion with an unknown source?" questioned another member.

"I don't care even if it cost more. I can't bear to see the boss like this," Jasper passionately declared.

"Enough!" the man commanded, putting an end to the discussion.

"Jasper, how confident are you about this?" the man asked.

"At this point, Ty, we can only treat a dead horse as if it's alive," Jasper admitted.

Ty looked at the potion, sensing its top-grade quality from its purity. He couldn't be sure if it would truly detoxify their boss, but he decided to trust Jasper's advice and give it a chance.

"Sally, give the potion to the boss," Ty instructed after careful consideration.

"Ty, are you serious? What if it worsens the boss's condition? Will you take responsibility?" Adam challenged, still skeptical.

"Do you have a better solution? Because from where I'm standing, I don't see any other options. The Elder made sure no one would treat the boss or sell us any potions, even if they were fake. We're in the dark here. We don't know who poisoned the boss or why. All we know is that manager of the Green Valley Pavilion said the boss offended the Elder," Ty explained.

"I agree with Ty. Let's give it a try. At this point, I don't think anything could make the situation worse," Charlie chimed in, voicing his support.

Seeing that the majority of the group sided with trying the potion, Adam begrudgingly backed down.

Sally swiftly administered the potion to the boss, who lay on the bed. The room fell silent as everyone held their breath. Deep down, they didn't have much hope for the potion, but a glimmer of hope lingered in their hearts.

The boss's body started jerking on the bed, accompanied by increasingly louder groans.

"What the hell is happening? I knew we shouldn't have given the boss the potion," Adam complained, his earlier doubts surfacing once again.

No one responded to him as they all crowded around the boss. Suddenly, the boss began to vomit dark blood onto the floor. The stench filled the air, making everyone feel nauseated. However, their shock quickly turned to awe as they watched color returning to their boss's once pale face. While still pale, it was no longer a lifeless shade.

The boss opened his eyes, weakly requesting water. Someone swiftly brought water, which the boss used to rinse his mouth before drinking four cups in quick succession. With each sip, he regained his strength. Though his breathing remained feeble, it was no longer labored.

"I didn't think I would see you all again," the boss murmured before closing his eyes, exhaustion washing over him.

"What happened, Sally?" Jasper inquired.

"I have good news. The toxin in the boss's body has been alleviated. With just one more potion, the boss should be fully cured. Right now, he's just sleeping," Sally explained.

"Jasper, you must find a way to buy all the potions from that stall. I believe the attack on the boss isn't simple. Adam, tell the guys to stay low-key and continue to pretend. In fact, spread the news that the boss's condition has worsened and he might die anytime from now," Ty instructed.

"You know this will cause unrest," Charlie voiced his concerns.

"I know. I've always thought we expanded too quickly. We can use this opportunity to root out the bad eggs," Ty responded.

"Okay, no problem," Adam agreed before leaving to carry out their second-in-command's instructions.

Devin and Ethan had no idea that a big business opportunity was about to come their way.

The following day, Devin continued his search in the market for rare herbs or a lucky find. Suddenly, he heard a commotion and saw a crowd gathering in front of a large pavilion.

Curiosity piqued, Devin approached and saw the name of the pavilion was Green Valley Pavilion. Two burly guards were mercilessly beating a thin and frail boy while hurling insults at him.

Devin noticed that the surrounding people did not dare to intervene and were merely watching the spectacle unfold. He overheard someone in the crowd talking to their friend, "This is the third time this boy has been beaten by the guards. He keeps saying his sister went to work there and hasn't returned in four days."

"Well, the guards keep claiming they have never seen anyone like his sister."

"I've noticed the rates of missing people have been increasing lately, especially from the slum area."

"It's better to stay quiet. This is Green Valley Pavilion. We can't afford to offend them."

Devin saw that the boy was bleeding and pleaded to see his sister, but the guards paid no heed, only threatening to break his legs if he approached the pavilion again.