Rush

"Yeah, I am for real." Enjoying the reaction of the random lucky man to his heart content, Sebian actually had to hold back his body from shivering. With the secret of the box now unveiled to every single person in the shopping hall, the storm was about to hit this place and do it hard.

Turning his head around, Sebian smiled gently towards the duo that disrespected him at the entrance. While he claimed that the stall already ran out of the pills, he openly gave away an entire box of them for no reason at all! But what was even worse, he just gave away a grade three stone as well!

For Sebian, the reaction of both those two from yet another sect and all the customers of the hall was natural. Even if the exact ratios were different, a single grade three stone would amount to roughly the life wealth of an average human. Even though people from different organizations wielded wealth far greater than anything like that, it didn't mean such a treasure was of no price for them.

'Still, I see he already noticed it.' Just a single glimpse at the elder's face was enough for Sebian to ascertain his guesses. Because rather than coming here to make a short profit, this man was here to assess the situation!

Because for people with real wealth, one or two additional grade three stones didn't change anything at all. Even with pills, as useful as they were, wealthy people wouldn't bother stockpiling them as their price was set and they stably circulating through the market.

And here is where Sebian's scheme struck. From the very beginning, making money was just a side task for the alchemist. Given his profession, he could make easy money anywhere he wanted just by concocting and selling pills.

It was all about power.

With the local scene already set in stone and split between a few major and a shitload of minor forces, the only way in which Sebian's side could grow was by stealing parts of the influence from other parties.

But they wouldn't readily give it up. Maybe if there was an actual saint with seer abilities. Maybe then, one of the factions in the city would give away its power and wealth to Sebian willingly. But others were bound to suffer at the threads of Sebian's scheme to fuel the growth of the organization he would create himself!

Yet, for that to happen, the entire pill situation had to get as convoluted as possible.

"Sir, I would like to ask, do you maybe have some spare pills to sell?" Sensing the opportunity, one of the richer customers in the shop approached the stall. Hiding his face away from the instant, angry stare of that elder's female companion, he pulled out his pouch before placing twenty stones from on the counter.

"Oh, it just so happens I actually still have some spare. Just give me a moment!" While he was pretending with his words, Sebian couldn't be bothered to pretend with his action. Turning a small piece of hardened paper into yet another box, he then lowered himself below the counter, filling the small box with the precious pills. After the familiar screeching of the box's lid, he then reemerged behind the wooden table only to pass the box on the counter to the customer.

"It's a pleasure doing business with you." Gracing the clearly wealthy man with one of his best smiles, Sebian snatched the twenty stones from the table before pouring them into a special contained he prepared beforehand.

'Half of the expenses is already back.' Thinking about the reality of his situation, Sebian had troubles holding back his tears. Because with just one more box of pills sold, he would already enter the realm of making profits. All the while five hundred and fifty pills still remained in the box below the counter!

Adding up all the other pills that he prepared, Sebian could already see himself rising as one of the wealthiest people in the city. But right as the first purchase concluded, Sebian looked at the counter with a tense grin on his face.

"Aina, dear, did you put the name tag for the low celestial pills?" Turning around and speaking in a normal voice, Sebian asked. "Master, you told me… Nevermind, I'm sorry. I will…" Dropping the idea of arguing with the man, Aina attempted to apologize and fix her apparent mistake, only to be stopped by Sebian's raised hand.

"I can vaguely recall saying something like that, as such I wasn't blaming you." Calming the girl down, Sebian showed his truly kind side to the world for the first time today. "But still, if I could ask you to put it up, it would be of great help." With how the entire hall was tense after two consecutive purchases and all the drama that this stall was in a centre off, it was the nigh time for the desserts and the killer move on Sebian's end.

"Low Celestial Pills, Forty Grade two stones." Once this text appeared atop the counter of Sebian's stall, the silence in the shopping hall only deepened. For a moment, the alchemist could hear the chirping of the birds, mixing with the other noises of the busy street of the city outside. Then, the shopping hall erupted with voices, as everyone with any money left in their pocket rushed towards Sebian's stall!