Translator: CinderTL
"Princess Gloria."
After confirming there were no anomalies nearby, the female attendant glided gracefully behind the golden-haired girl and whispered respectfully.
"What shall we do next...?"
"Has Brother Lucius woken up yet?"
"Well..."
The attendant shook her head slightly, paused thoughtfully, and then spoke cautiously.
"Given Prince Lucius's usual habits, he likely hasn't stirred yet at this hour."
"Ah..."
Realizing she had asked a foolish question, Gloria sighed softly and strode forward decisively.
"To the adventurer's guild."
"The adventurer's guild?"
The attendant frowned, instinctively advising against it.
"Princess Gloria, your presence here is already somewhat inappropriate given your status. The adventurer's guild is a chaotic place, frequented mostly by commoners. If the nobles were to find out..."
"Now is not the time for such concerns, Mel!"
Gloria gazed at the attendant's slightly dark complexion, took a deep breath, and quickened her pace.
"The phenomenon, originally confined to a single area, has now spread throughout the entire Eastern Region. If this continues..."
Her voice trailed off slightly as her gaze fell upon the glass vial clutched tightly in her hand.
The viscous, pitch-black substance within the vial stirred faintly, as if sensing her presence, its slow undulations reflecting a faint, eerie glow in Gloria's azure eyes.
"If we can't uncover the source of this phenomenon, it will inevitably devour the entire kingdom. By then..."
She exhaled softly, leaving the sentence unfinished, but her tone was resolute.
"According to my imperial father, the adventurer's guild gathers many skilled and extraordinary individuals. Even if they can't analyze this liquid collected from the Withered Lands, we can post a commission there. I'm sure..."
Perhaps realizing the naivety of her own thoughts, Gloria trailed off again. Surrounded by her guards, she gradually moved away, disappearing from the crowd's sight.
"So that was Princess Gloria. Why isn't she at the church? What's she doing in a place like this?"
"Who knows? We can't afford to meddle in the affairs of such high-ranking figures. Best to keep our distance."
Hearing the whispers and subtle movements of the nearby merchants, Roland narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Gloria... Princess Gloria?"
"So, she's King Monen's daughter?"
Withdrawing his probing gaze, Roland shook his head gently and stepped into the Alchemist's Guild.
Contrary to his expectations, the guild's interior was spacious and brightly lit.
Countless glowing crystals floated in the air, casting a clear, cold-white light that illuminated every corner.
The walls were divided into open-plan work cubicles, each resembling a miniature, fantastical shop.
Some alchemists meticulously weighed luminous powders, while others patiently monitored bubbling glass vessels, recording changes with meticulous care.
Customers could freely stop to observe, ask questions, and even complete transactions on the spot.
This wasn't a solemn guild hall, but rather an orderly knowledge market brimming with wisdom and an air of mystery.
Roland glanced around with mild curiosity, strolling between the various stalls.
Before long, he had acquired several newly purchased potions.
He didn't gulp down the potions. Instead, he dipped a finger into one and gently tasted a drop.
Taste Synesthesia activated.
Instantly, a massive stream of information flooded his mind.
Griffin's Might Potion
Main ingredient: Extract of adult griffin heart blood, mixed with Dragon Blood Moss, Rock Core Powder, and Lesser Earth Elemental Crystal Core Powder. Extracted under high temperature and pressure, then fused through mana channeling.
The effects were indeed remarkable, granting a significant boost to strength in a short period. But...
Feeling the warm current surging through his body, Roland shook his head slightly.
The price was inevitable weakness after the effect wore off, with a slight chance of damaging the body's foundation.
"Crude formula, obvious side effects, extremely poor cost-effectiveness," Roland concluded instantly.
He memorized the ingredients and process but completely abandoned any thought of using it.
Next, he analyzed the remaining potions one by one.
The Shadow Walker Potion claimed to briefly increase movement speed and reduce footsteps, but its effects lasted too short and relied on a rare material called Ghostlight Moss, making it difficult to replicate.
The other so-called antidote elixir was a misnomer, capable of neutralizing only a few common, low-level biological toxins.
Most of the other potions were similarly underwhelming.
The alchemists of the Golden Valley Kingdom seemed more focused on immediate promotional hype than on the stability and safety of their potions.
Realizing this, the initial excitement Roland had felt upon entering the guild vanished without a trace.
Just as he was about to leave, a peculiar aura caught his attention.
It was a complex scent, a mixture of various demonic beast blood and tissues, which resonated faintly with the Dragon Blood surging within him.
Following the scent, his gaze landed on a secluded corner of the hall.
Unlike the other stalls, which displayed a dazzling array of medicinal herbs and shimmering potions, this booth showcased various bizarre demonic beast body parts.
A scale that flickered with faint lightning, several vials of strangely colored blood samples, and even a meticulously preserved claw were on display.
Most striking was a small vial of dark red liquid, within which something that seemed alive slowly flowed.
Behind the stall, an alchemist with a hunched back was intently mixing something, completely oblivious to the surrounding commotion.
Just as Roland was drawn to this unusual stall, a man in neat robes embroidered with potion bottle patterns strode directly toward the corner.
"Old Danny!"
The man's voice was loud, even...
arrogant and domineering.
It stood in stark contrast to the surrounding alchemists, who spoke in soft, measured tones even when hawking their wares.
As a result, Roland, standing some distance away, could hear every word of their conversation clearly.
"You haven't paid your guild dues for this month. I trust you understand the rules."
The man, completely ignoring the stares of onlookers, tilted his head back and slammed his fist heavily on the counter, producing a dull thud.
"Five silver coins. Not a single one less. Understand?"
"This..."
Hearing the sum, the alchemist called Danny slowly turned, revealing a face as rough as old tree bark, his eyes wide with shock.
"Lord Uriel..."
The old alchemist wrung his hands, forcing a fawning smile onto his face.
"Could I have a few more days to pay? And... wasn't last month's dues only four silver coins?"
"What's that?"
The man called Uriel narrowed his eyes and snorted coldly.
"I said five coins, and that's what it is. Do you have a problem with that?"
"No, no..."
Danny waved his hands frantically.
"I just..."
"Enough!"
Uriel seemed too impatient to hear any more excuses, waving his hand dismissively.
"Danny, you should understand that I've been more than generous with you."
"That 'potential potion' you sold last month nearly turned a customer into a demonic beast! Those scales growing all over his body..."
He shuddered at the memory.
"If I hadn't intervened, do you think you'd still be here?"
"Yes... I'm very grateful for your help," Danny said, his voice dropping.
"But you know my research requires rare materials—those demonic beast samples and bloodline extracts..."
"I don't care about your bloodline research!" Uriel interrupted.
"Five silver coins, paid in full by today. Otherwise, I'll have my men throw all this... this monster junk out!"
Uriel glared at the demonic beast parts on the stall with disgust before turning and leaving.
As soon as he was gone, the tense atmosphere dissolved, and the fairground buzzed back to life as if nothing had happened.
Roland glanced at Danny, who was sighing heavily behind the counter, a glint of interest flashing in his eyes.
(End of the Chapter)
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