Alchemist Guild

While Kuro and Zhen try to go back to the inn to meet up with Sara. They managed to see Sara standing in a building in front of her.

There was a look of hesitation expression on her face so Zhen wondered what building she was looking at.

To his surprise, it's an Alchemist Guild that sells alchemy pills, pill recipes, magical herbs, etc.

Instead of randomly guessing her motive Zhen walked up to her and patted her shoulder while asking, "What's wrong?"

Sara snapped out of her thinking and looked at Zhen.

"Sara, wanna be my guide and show me the alchemist guild?"

Zhen asked her this so he can ignore the awkward encounter while giving her an excuse to enter this guild.

Earning more good points from her is good and Zhen has his selfish reason too.

Zhen doesn't like fighting much as it will make him too fatigued but he needs more money.

So, Zhen decided to try alchemy and make pills as that is a surefire way to wealth and it will increase his prestige at the same time.

It will be a pain to have troublemakers looking for him every time but if they know his status as an alchemist then all shall be well.

Sara nodded at Zhen's request and said, "Sure, although the alchemist guild does not have authorities compared to the City Council. No one makes trouble here as they are a sacred occupation and alchemists hate trouble since it will waste their precious time in experimenting."

"Understood"

Zhen replied while knowing it's not surprising to know this as almost every novel he read described alchemist people like that.

However, Zhen shakes his head at this information since they don't know that the meaning of "No one" is ridiculous.

It's not that there is no one, it's just that the value of offending them did not align with the benefits that they will obtain.

Meaning, if they benefit from offending the alchemist, they will go to action but discreetly as openly offending them in public is asking for a death sentence.

Zhen and Sara walked inside slowly with Kuro behind them and they can instantly see this alchemist guild is magnificent.

The lightings, to the decoration, are like those in a medieval castle and it has an illuminated atmosphere that welcomes people.

There's a woman standing a little away from the entrance, wearing a red cheongsam with those table designs used in a restaurant in welcoming customers.

She greeted Zhen and Sara with a smile when they arrived near her but Zhen saw a hint of surprise in the woman's expression when she noticed Kuro behind them.

She said to Zhen and Sara, "Hello guest, My name is Selina and how may I assist you today?"

'Her appearance can be considered above average and it's a given on why she is the receptionist for guests.'

Zhen nodded silently while thinking about the woman's appearance and behavior.

Zhen let Sara do all the talking as he used Sense to scan the area around carefully.

'It will be bad if some powerful alchemist detects me scanning the area.'

Zhen was extra careful when he used his mana to scan to avoid causing trouble.

Alchemist is known for their superiority in the soul area and is extremely sensitive in their surrounding. They are exactly as described in the public view because without a powerful soul, you can only dream to concoct an alchemy pill.

Meanwhile, Sara finishes talking when Zhen is still daydreaming about becoming an alchemist and courting Lily to be his woman.

Zhen just has a gut feeling that Lily is going to be perfect even though he never met her.

Zhen followed Sara to a section where they have magical herbs behind in glasses that have magic formation protection.

The formation is to prevent thieves from trying to steal it as almost all the magical herbs here are rare, in the rank of 4-6.

The Cacilla that Sara needed was a rank 3 and an uncommon herb. They are occasionally found by other adventurers in Forest of Trove though so it's not really a difficult mission.

The only difficult part is the magical beasts living in the forest itself.

Zhen couldn't help but ask Sara why she comes to this magical herb section.

'Did she accept a new mission and wants to buy the required herb to get an easy completion.'

*Pei* *Pei*

Zhen did a spitting saliva-out action to throw away his previous thinking. It's like how some people would touch wood when they say something wrong.

'What the heck is wrong with me for thinking my lovely Sara will try to do something as lowly as buying a herb to submit it. This is the bad thing about me, I always make inferences, and sometimes, it goes overboard.'

Zhen smacks his forehead for always thinking about illogical stuff.

Sara replied to Zhen after a while and said, "I want to find a Yozu magical herb to make soup to nourish my mother. My mother doesn't cultivate much but with the soup, it will improve her health."

'A Yozu herb?'

Zhen asked inwardly about the herb before looking at Kuro for help.

Kuro sent a transmission to Zhen and explained, "Yozu is a rank 5 magical herb and it is mainly used in the health category. They have a soothing effect and help improve a person's condition. However, this magical herb alone is extremely pricey."

'Ah, no wonder why Sara is hesitating, the price must be outrageous.'

After some time, Sara found the Yozu but became dejected, seeing the price tag on it.

Zhen looked at the price tag and screamed holy hell inwardly because it cost 20 gold just for one Yozu.

'That is already over 3/4 the price I spent in Lily's Mirage. This is a robbery.'

Sara sighs and says "Let go. I'll show you to the other section here."

Sara starts walking away before Zhen holds back her hand. Surprised by his action, Sara turns back to look at Zhen in confusion.

With a bright smile, Zhen said with a prideful voice, "Did you forget that I'm trying to be your boyfriend. Let me buy this Yozu herb. Before you reject my intention, I didn't do it for you but for Sandy. I need to earn your mother's approval to allow me a smooth journey to her daughter's hand."

A bashful look appeared on Sara's face as she heard Zhen's reasoning.

She wanted to reject his request when she heard him wanting to buy the Yozu but stopped after hearing his later sentence.

Her face is bright red like a tomato now and nodded slowly before exclaiming, "Hmph, cheeky rascal."

'Hehe, getting called a cheeky rascal from time to time is not bad if I get to see her tomato face while holding this smooth hand.'

Zhen took out 20 gold from his spatial ring and went near the price tag.

The price tag blinks and it creates a small surface where you place the required money which will open the herb.

They are high-tech enough to complete the transaction without having to go ask a person in charge to bring it.

After the glass opened, the Yozu automatically went to his hand and without any hesitation.

Zhen took this Yozu and handed it over to Sara's other hand. There's no way he was planning on letting go of his hand in holding her.

Sara accepted the Yozu herb and placed it into her own spatial ring while blushing.

Zhen heard Sara speaking in a low volume saying, "Let go to the other section now."

With a gentle tone, Zhen replied, "Alright, show me the pill recipe section. I want to try alchemy so I can create a beauty pill to maintain my lovely Sara's youth."

At this moment, Zhen heard a loud laugh behind them saying "Ha, you want to be an alchemist without an alchemist teacher to guide you. What a joke!"

'What the heck is this cliché scenario again. Can I not have a moment of peaceful date with Sara without being interrupted by a shitty brat.'

Zhen's face twitches on this cliche scene to happen to him.

'His next sentence should be damn obvious like, I'm an alchemist apprentice and I haven't even managed to concoct a rank 1 pill yet you think you could do it.'

Zhen predicted the brat to say this word like an arrogant young master would say.

Without being any off, the brat spoke the same thing Zhen imagined it to be.

'No original word of their own and I bet he is being this provoked is because I have Sara as a companion.'

Zhen guessed the reason why the brat would suddenly interrupt his conversation with Sara.

In this scenario, you get away as fast as possible or it will escalate things further.

Such as, Zhen beat the brat up for not knowing his place, and then his alchemist teacher has the free time to come out and back him up.

Blah blah blah, more face slapping and Zhen becomes an enemy of the guild.

Then another higher-up alchemist would magically show up and apologize for their behavior to him.

Not interested in this boring plot so Zhen said, "O'Lord Luca, with your protection, teleport me away."

Speaking that, Zhen made a cracking sound and teleported him, Kuro, and Sara away to his room in the inn.