Mika 018 (Patreon)

The Elder kept his promise, as within the month, they were heading towards the city in order to participate in the auction. Though he could have gone to the town auctions, he had wanted to execute the next phase of his plan. His guild had been building its name and wealth for a few months now, and he wanted to create a big splash.

“Elder, please don’t hesitate to spend your own wealth. If something is even remotely interesting to you, bid for it. Even if you overpay by several times, don’t be shy.” Mika had a few other thoughts, but he’d need to ask the Auction Head about a few matters.

“The city’s Alchemists’ Guild will also be there. Unfortunately, my father’s influence doesn’t reach as far as this remote region. If this was nearer to the capital, I could certainly throw around the weight of a Starr, but it would be a little awkward here…” Elder Yan smiled nervously.

“You are worrying too much,” Mika said, waving his hand. “Your guild will soon be the most influential guild within the entire region. It will only take a few years before you’ll rival any city guild, and a short time after, you’ll have then kneeling before you.”

“Don’t be too hasty, Young Master. If one heats metal too quickly, it will melt before you can temper it into shape.”

“That’s only if you aren’t quick enough to subdue it.” A wicked smile flashed across Mika’s face.

The Elder was taken aback once more by the young boy. Mika always spoke with such confidence, it could easily be seen as arrogance. If the Elder hadn’t seen the boy’s miracles, he would have certainly thought that Mika would need a spanking.

“All you need to do is display your wealth. Even if they think it’s foolish, we’ll get the last laugh.” Mika glanced at the Elder’s ring. The ring was a powerful ring, not the greatest in his possession, but certainly a ring fitting of his status. Even Mika couldn’t help but want to covet it, but he’d need to pace himself. “Elder,” Mika said, his voice like a child for once. “Do you by chance have any herbs within your ring?”

“Yes I do,” Elder Yan replied, a little surprised. Of course he had herbs in his ring. Every ring he possessed had a minimum amount of herbs. “Do you need some?”

“Which herbs do you have?” Mika asked. “Your rarest ten.” He smiled innocently.

Elder Yan stared down at Mika, a little apprehensive. It would be awkward to say since they were so valuable, but he already owed the boy so much. He sighed and nodded. He used a technique so that only Mika could hear him and then began to list the ten herbs he had in his ring.

Mika’s eyes flashed with surprise when he heard the last few herbs. He certainly should have expected the Elder to possess such great herbs, but to think he had a few he required for the future. “Did I hear the last one correctly?”

The Elder nodded. Most ten year olds wouldn’t have heard of such a herb, but Mika wasn’t any ten year old.

“…” Mika paused to think for a long moment. Since he knew that the Elder possessed such an item, he needed to secure it for himself. “With that item, you could make…”

“If I have six Gold beast cores…”

“Elder,” Mika said, even more like a child. “I will ask politely that you keep the item reserved for this little one. Before the Elder could protest, Mika summoned a paper and the Elder watched intently. Mika handed over a formula for a High Grade Mana Potion. 

“This…” Elder stared down at it. He rubbed his eyes a few times and then looked to Mika. The ingredients used and the refining method would decrease the cost of making such a potion to less than a tenth of what they spent now, with ingredients which were easily found. If any other Alchemists’ Guild produced such an item, they would be the greatest in the entire region, perhaps the country.

“A down payment for my request, Elder. Please do not forget.” Mika stared up at the Elder, who merely bowed his head respectfully. No doubt the Elder had kept the item for his own son, but Mika would certainly make it up to him.

Mika then handed a second formula. “Please make one potion for this auction. We’ll be dealing with the auction directly soon enough. You’ll offer them exclusive rights for a whole year, making one potion a month for them. We will split the profits, half and half. Ask that they reveal the potion at the beginning of the third phase so you may use the money raised as part of your own funds. If anyone asks you where you received such potions, tell them a wandering Alchemist had given you the recipe for assisting him in an urgent matter when you were younger and you had only just managed to perfect the technique. The wandering Alchemist should eventually gain some attention too, and we’ll reveal him to be the God of Medicine.”

“What does this make?”

Mika smiled. “A Perfect Grade Cultivation Potion.”

The Elder gasped. A Perfect Grade Cultivation Potion? This was one of the most valuable items in the entire empire. Only one or two would be created in a single year from all the guilds. 

“I will assist you in making it tonight since it would take too long otherwise. It won’t take more than an hour.”

“An hour?” Elder Yan could feel his lifespan drop with every passing second. Mika was not good for his heart.

Mika smiled. “Elder, would you like to take a guess about how long it would take my Master?”

“Would it take him an hour? No, half an hour? No, a quarter of an hour?”

Mika laughed and then raised a finger.

“One… minute?” Elder Yan reached up to his chest, unable to handle such information. “That’s absurd. Such a talent is beyond even my comprehension.”

“Elder, I won’t forgive you for being so rude to my benefactor.” Mika frowned. “A minute? You insult him.”

“Are you… serious?” Elder Yan blinked. 

Mika continued to smile as he leaned back. When it came to those who had assisted him, he had never refused to repay the debt. When it came to the God of Medicine, Gomin, he was the man who had helped him the most in each of his lives and he had yet to repay the debt. He would need to spread the good word of a great man across the lands.

“Elder, let us quickly create the potion so you can put it on sale at the auction. Remain confident in your ability and none will doubt you.” Mika tried his best to help the Elder get back on his feet since he appeared to be like a wounded puppy.

“As you say.” 

The pair of them checked into an inn nearby, one which was quite fine. The Elder wasn’t sparing an expense tonight it seemed. The two then went up to refine the potion, using the ingredients which the Elder had within his ring. At the end, the pair of them were exhausted, but the potion had been made. The Elder took it to the auction, whereas Mika went for a walk.

Mika kept his Alchemist badge at his hip in order to keep away intruders. True Alchemists were a great boon to society so very few would ever try to offend one. Though it was the city, the Starr family was still famous around this region due to Jon’s arrival a few years ago.

As he walked around the city, he noted how much bigger it was compared to his own town. His town had a million residents, whereas this city was at least twenty million. The place was one of the biggest cities he had been in, especially for such a remote region.

As he turned around a corner, he quickly stepped aside for someone to walk by, but they stumbled over nothing and fell, dropping a plate. 

“Hey brat! What the hell do you think you’re doing?” The man said, staring down at Mika angrily. “Don’t you know how much this cost?” It was a man in his early thirties, someone rough looking. He was Forged Iron First, which was pretty decent for a man his age. 

“Excuse me, this little brother had stepped aside quickly to allow you to walk freely.” Mika smiled, clasping his hands together. 

“You tripped me over, you damned brat!” The man clenched his fists angrily, not noticing the Alchemist badge at Mika’s side. 

Mika understood the situation, and very quickly bowed his head. “It seems this one has offended older brother. Allow me to guide you to my Elder for appropriate compensation and punishment!” Mika bowed his head further, as though apologetic. His lips were a smirk as he formed his plan.

The man seemed a little perplexed, but slowly nodded. Seeing how eager Mika was, he relaxed. “Oh? Just leave that ring of yours with all the items inside and we can call it even.”

“My ring is worthless in comparison to a fine plate. I can see it was finely crafted. Please allow me to make things right, otherwise it would shame my family!” Mika urged. “My Elder will surely deal with this matter fairly!”

The man didn’t want to make things awkward, but hearing that this country bumpkin probably had an elder who didn’t want to start any issues, it made his wallet green with envy. “If you insist!” What luck! He hadn’t expected such a mark!