Chapter 20: The Seventh Branch
Elliott pushed the remains of the worthless ingredients to one side.
Then he took out the real materials from the Spatial Pouch.
They were fresh mid-grade herbs purchased for delivery to the Hundred Herbs Apothecary.
'First, sixty packets of Blood-Staunching Powder.'
According to the contract, he had to deliver a total of one hundred and eighty products within a month. Sixty packets each of Blood-Staunching Powder, Antidote Pills, and Vitality Pills.
Elliott had no intention of delivering everything at once.
'Ten days. I'll divide the deliveries into ten-day intervals.'
The reason was simple.
He needed a steady supply of mana stones.
Delivering everything at once and receiving payment at the end of the month would be unbearable for someone who desperately needed every mana stone he could obtain.
The ingredients had to be purchased immediately, while payment would not arrive for an entire month.
During the negotiations, Elliott had proposed delivering each product in order, and Arum had accepted.
Blood-Staunching Powder would be the first delivery.
'I don't have as much time as it seems.'
Blood-Staunching Powder was not the only thing he had to produce.
There were still Antidote Pills and Vitality Pills.
He could already produce goods suitable for delivery with his current Skilled rank.
However, Elliott was not satisfied.
'I need to raise both of them to Expert at the very least.'
As with Blood-Staunching Powder, he needed to fill their proficiency as much as possible. Only then could he avoid wasting expensive mid-grade ingredients and produce the best results efficiently.
He had to meet the delivery deadline while continuing to raise the proficiency of the other two medicines with worthless materials.
He also needed to train Arcane Spells such as Intangible Sword whenever he had time.
"There is no time to move slowly."
Elliott's gaze sharpened.
Without delay, he lit the fire beneath the Bronze Furnace.
The Seventh Branch of the Black Serpent Syndicate was dark and damp.
Smoke from cheap incense hung heavily in the air, mixed with the faint metallic scent of blood.
Zelian, the branch leader, rested his chin on one hand as he looked at Acke.
"You simply left him there?"
The question carried a sharp edge.
Acke's expression did not waver beneath his gaze.
"Yes."
"Why?"
Acke might have appeared unintelligent, but he possessed enough judgment to remain useful.
That was why Zelian kept him nearby.
"He paid part of the principal in advance."
A heavy leather pouch landed on the table.
Its opening loosened slightly, revealing mana stones glowing with a faint blue light.
"Hmm."
Zelian reached inside, gathered a handful of stones, then let them fall back into the pouch.
One hundred and twelve.
It was an unusual number.
People paying a debt normally brought a clean amount, such as one hundred mana stones.
Yet Elliott had paid exactly one hundred and twelve.
"One hundred and twelve."
Zelian's eyes narrowed.
"What is the meaning of this number? Was it whatever remained after he spent the rest?"
"No. It was the full payment he received after trading with Arum at the Hundred Herbs Apothecary."
"The Hundred Herbs Apothecary?"
Zelian's brow shifted.
"Does he work in medicine? Why was he there?"
"I don't know. The man who seemed to own the place was bowing and treating him with great respect."
"Interesting."
"I also saw them sign a contract. It appeared that he would supply all of his products to the shop from now on."
The corner of Zelian's mouth twisted with interest.
'Elliott Franrt, was it?'
Until two months ago, he had been nothing more than a third-rate fool who borrowed money without understanding his own position.
There were always people like him.
Some claimed they would learn Arcane Arrays.
Others said they would study alchemy.
Some tried to create Runes.
They struggled desperately to escape their miserable lives.
Ninety-nine percent of them were sold when the deadline arrived.
Somewhere.
Alive or dead.
'Yet this one signed a supply contract with an apothecary.'
Was he part of the remaining one percent?
Zelian took a round Arcane Artifact from inside his clothes. It resembled a small compass, with a red point blinking at its center.
The Soul-Trace Spell.
It was one of the Black Serpent Syndicate's more vicious methods of controlling debtors. A mark was placed upon their souls, allowing the Syndicate to track their location.
'It seems he has no intention of fleeing.'
The red point remained motionless in a corner of the slums, directly over Elliott's shack.
Most debtors would already be planning to escape under cover of darkness.
Elliott had instead locked himself inside his home.
Either he was confident he could repay the money, possessed remarkable courage, or had simply lost his mind.
"Give the order, and I'll drag him here immediately and throw him into the Labor Camp."
Acke spoke carefully.
"Or perhaps..."
Zelian collected the pouch of mana stones and smiled faintly.
"The deadline is tomorrow. The Soul-Trace Spell is still responding normally."
He tapped the table with his fingers.
"Leave him alone. He has not fled, and he has even found a way to earn money. There is no reason to interfere."
"I will follow your decision."
Elliott's hands moved over the Bronze Furnace as though they were dancing.
A sharp hiss sounded as the last ingredients dissolved and red energy filled the interior.
The sensation had become deeply familiar.
He had reached the point where he could almost judge the temperature of the flames with his eyes closed.
Elliott opened the furnace lid and transferred the finished powder into waxed paper packets.
[Alchemy successful!]
[High-Grade Blood-Staunching Powder acquired.]
Five packets.
Elliott finally released the breath he had been holding and dropped onto the floor.
No matter how skilled he became, repeated alchemy consumed a great deal of mental energy.
'I'm not a machine.'
He grabbed the water beside him and drank deeply.
"That tastes good."
The cool water eased the burning dryness inside him.
Elliott leaned against the wall and nearly closed his eyes, but immediately shook his head and forced himself upright.
'There is no time to rest.'
Dawn would arrive soon.
The agreed deadline was close.
He had to visit the Black Serpent Syndicate.
The money was ready.
However, this was a lawless world where fists carried more authority than rules. There was no guarantee that the Syndicate would simply accept the payment and leave him alone.
'I need to show them.'
If they tried to touch him, they would bleed as well.
Elliott rose and took his stance.
[Intangible Sword]
He twisted his Mana and guided it toward the tip of his index finger.
The energy condensed again and again.
Just as it was about to cross the critical point, it lost stability and scattered.
Crackle!
Ding!
[Cast failed!]
[Mana condensation is unstable.]
[Trait, Infinite Proficiency, activated!]
[Proficiency increased!]