Mika 029 (Patreon)

“Ten sets? And a Medium Grade Solar potion?” Tara’s eyes sparkled. She hadn’t expected that the Elder was going to offer her so much. Even just the Medium Grade Solar potion alone would have been enough, but the ten sets of potions and pills were a great bonus. “This niece can’t help but thank uncle!”

“There’s no need for that,” Yan said. “You’ve treated us so well, it’s only right that we should reply politely.”

Tara smiled wider. “Does the Elder by chance have any more Silverforge pills? This here is willing to buy them for a decent price.” Silverforge pills were quite difficult to come by, and if she could secure even one more for her grandfather, he may overlook some of her outbursts for a while.

“I have one or two more. Is this for the Great Elder?”

“Yes. Grandfather was extremely pleased with the Silverforge pill.”

“It is no simple matter to gift them to dear niece,” Yan said, holding out a Silverforge pill. 

“No, no! We’ll buy them at a fair price. It is our policy.” She tried to convince him. She couldn’t possibly ask for much more, otherwise their relationship would increase too quickly and on unstable foundations. 

“If niece needs other pills, this uncle will sell them to her for a fair price as well.” Yan smiled down at her, as though she was his own daughter.

“If you are willing to sell them to niece, she will definitely offer a good price! Unless you are taken with any items within our Auction Hall?” 

“I haven’t yet had a peek,” Yan admitted. He offered her a few more Silverforge pills, which surprised her, but she quickly summoned out the gem slips to pay for them. 

Silverforge pills weren’t too expensive, but they were quite rare. She made sure to pay a little more for the privilege. With these Silverforge pills, her grandfather would be satisfied for a few months. She wondered what kind of trouble she could cause with so much favour.

“I still have some important business to attend to, but allow me to call for an escort.” She snapped her head to a nearby guard.

“I prefer to do such things alone. I will take the tabs of any items which I find interesting and hand them in once I’m done to a worker.” 

“As you wish, dear uncle.” She bowed and then quickly excused herself. She would keep the Silverforge pills safe until she would need them.

“Is there anything you’re looking for?” Yan asked Mika.

“Some plain weapons and armours. Low Grade and Middle Grade gems, and a creature core too.” 

“A creature core?” Yan hadn’t expected to hear that. “Let’s see if we can’t find any of these items around.”

The pair of Alchemists walked around. The creature core they found was a Bronze Panther. It wasn’t the best, but it certainly wasn’t the worst. It was five thousand gold, which wasn’t a big deal for them right now.

“I need some gold ink too,” Mika said. There were quite a few items he needed in order to set up a few things for the future.

Once they had brought all their items, they returned back to the inn where they sorted all the items they had bought.

“Tomorrow they’re selling all kind of Iron Grade weapons,” Mika said. “I’ll buy them all, but I’ll pretend I’m doing it on your behalf. I should be safe within the auction, so you can work on refining the pills and potions.”

“I will also go and speak with a few contacts I know within the city. You should remain in the Auction Hall. I don’t trust the Tegros, and we’ve offended them quite harshly.”

“I don’t trust them either. I’ll wear the gauntlets just in case.”

“Will you be able to deal with them?”

“I have a few tricks up my sleeve.” Mika smirked up at Yan. 

“Very well,” the Elder said. Mika had surprised him so much that this wouldn’t be all that surprising. 

“I do want to go back and reforge those blades though,” Mika said, holding his chin in thought.

“The ruined blades?”

“Yes.”

“You know how to reforge such things?”

“I do.”

Elder Yan rubbed his forehead. Of course he did. “In the next few weeks, the Runesmith within the town will be coming to pick up a shipment. Would you like me to place an order for a forge?”

“Is he trustworthy?” Mika didn’t have any dealings with the Runesmith. Runesmiths were slightly different to Inscriptionists, their western counterparts. 

“I believe so. We have known each other for quite some time, even if we rarely see one another.”

“If that’s the case, I might teach him some Runesmithing techniques.”

“…”

“…”

Dawn came and Mika spent most of the day within the Auction Hall once the Elder dropped him off. He made his way to the auction so he could spend all his coin. The morning’s auction proved to be quite fruitful. He was able to buy a number of normal weapons, some Low Grade gems, and Iron Grade equipment, from weapons to armour. No one bothered him since he remained seated on the top floor, being shown much courtesy from the Auction Hall.

“How oppressive!”

“Didn’t they buy everything they wanted to yesterday?”

“Who is this boy?”

Tara soon arrived to check on up on him. “It seems you take after Elder Starr,” she teased him.

“I was just following my Elder’s orders.” Mika smirked. “It seems he’s still annoyed at the city folk looking down on him. He confided in me last night, telling me that his pockets were still far too heavy.”

“If that’s the case, then perhaps this little brother would like to stay for the phase four auction tonight?”

“I can’t refuse sister’s invitation.” Mika clasped a hand over his fist in respect. It would be a good chance to reveal to the woman how audacious he could truly be.

The phase four auction tonight began with many of the major and minor families in attendance. This time it wasn’t invite only, it seemed, and many had sent their Young Masters, Mistresses or their Elders.”

“You’re the young Alchemist who was part of yesterday’s troubles, aren’t you?” Patriarch Leone called out.

“This one greets the Patriarch,” Mika said, standing and clasping his hands together in respect. “That is correct. The Tegros indeed dared to hurt a crippled boy within the Auction Hall.” 

“Nasty business,” Patriarch Leone said, gritting his teeth. “Are you feeling better?” Patriarch Leone invited himself into the same room and sat down beside Mika.

“My Elder’s pills are the best. Even if I lost an arm, I’d be able to regrow it with the potions and pills he refines!”

The lionlike man laughed. “Is that so? That’s good to hear. I am Patriarch Leone Leone, and what is this young Alchemist’s name?”

Leone Leone? Mika blinked. “This one’s name is Mika Blackhand.”

“Blackhand?” He rubbed his chin. “Isn’t there a little girl who is a genius from that clan?”

Mika straightened up and smiled. “That is the case. She is my esteemed older sister, and none can match her at her age.”

“Oh? None at all? I have a son who is fairly decent. He’s thirteen and already Base Copper Fifth.”

“My sister will soon reach Iron, and she’s only fifteen.”

Patriarch Leone raised his brows. “Is that so?” He smiled. “What refreshing confidence you have, young Mika. I hope your sister appreciates you. Sometimes young geniuses get lost in the world and can’t appreciate the good they have.”

“My kind sister always plays with me, as long as I’m not working.” Mika smiled, though Leone could see the exhaustion on Mika’s face. 

Leone chuckled and continued to chat to Mika until the auction began. This truly was worth being called a phase four auction, since it was beginning with a full set of gear in Bronze Grade. Full sets of gear were extremely rare, and usually when one could buy an entire set, the set would give an additional benefit.

“We’ll start the bid at two hundred gold for this full set. Let’s begin!” Tara clapped her hands together excitedly. 

“Two hundred!”

“Two hundred and twenty!”

“Two hundred and forty!”

“Three hundred,” Leone roared out, grinning wide. 

Right beside him, Mika leaned in slightly and raised his paddle. “Four hundred.”

“Four hundred?”

“Who is this kid?”

“Isn’t that the boy from yesterday?”

“How audacious! Didn’t he see Patriarch Leone had bid right before him?”

Leone turned to look at Mika. Mika tilted his head innocently. “Is something the matter, Patriarch?” He wondered how Patriarch Leone would respond to such a provocation.

“Why are you in such a rush?” He chuckled. “Isn’t part of the fun to slowly creep up the price?”

“I just thought that sister Tara would like us to get to the meat of it quickly,” Mika said. “I’m just a little cripple, but when it comes to money, this Alchemist Mika Blackhand of Starr Alchemy, will be able to pull his weight!”

It was obviously a declaration of war against anyone to come and fight against him with their gold on the line.

“How bold!”

“This boy! Does he want to face all the Young Masters and Mistresses here?”

Leone chuckled. “I suppose that is fun too. Why do you need to fight with small fry when you can face against someone your own level?”

“Patriarch Leone understand exactly what I mean.” Mika smirked.

“Audacious!”

“Impudent!”