Flesh is Weak, Alchemy is the Ascension

The next day.

The Dusk Sea, Fairy Tail Island.

Inside the Fairy Tavern, the sounds of clinking glasses, rowdy shouts, and the thumping of muscular bodies echoed throughout the establishment.

Adventurers and pirates filled every corner of the tavern, gulping down strong spirits while babbling loudly.

"I've got a treasure here. You want to take a look?"

"Treasure? That thing of yours isn't even as big as my pinky nail, and you dare call it a treasure?"

"Bullshit! Not as big as your pinky nail? Why don't you go to the Pureheart House outside and ask the girls there? Ask them if they could even stand up the next day to take customers after spending a night with me!"

"Tch? What does that prove? It just proves you're a pervert. What does that have to do with your thing being the size of a fingernail?"

"You little..."

"Alright, alright, stop bickering. Just bring it out! I heard your crew on The Wind-Calmer had quite the haul from that ruin. What was it called again?"

"The ruins of the Burns Merman Court! I heard that before it fell, this court ruled over the entire Dusk Sea and the surrounding territories. They were incredibly powerful! Since The Wind-Calmer explored it, you must have scavenged plenty of treasures!"

"There are treasures, but not as many as you think! The reason the Burns Merman Court fell was because the son of King Burns V rebelled, leading other mermen to fight his old man. That battle was world-shaking..."

"Enough, enough. Who wants to hear a history lesson? Get to the point!"

"The point is... there aren't that many treasures. Most were consumed during the internal strife of the Burns Court. Plus, the ruins were later hit by the Gray Fog. Many transcendent items were eroded by it, so there aren't many left that still hold their power."

"Then why did you say you had a treasure?"

"Hehe, although many transcendent items are gone, there are still some well-preserved ones! This 【Skull Ring】 in my hand was found in the vault inside the ruins. Rumor has it that this treasure was crafted by Burns V himself. You should know, when that Merman King was alive, he was a Legend-rank Necromancer..."

Just then, the doors of the Fairy Tavern were pushed open, and a group of figures clad in black robes walked in.

They passed through the noisy and chaotic first floor of the tavern and headed toward the private rooms on the second floor.

The last figure in the black-robed line scanned the surroundings. After confirming they weren't being followed, he entered the room, locked the door, and set up a soundproofing spell.

Once everything was prepared, the people in the room took off their robes, revealing their original appearances.

They were a diverse group: Humans, Giants, Vampires, Dwarves, and even a Wood Elf.

Despite belonging to different races, they all shared a distinct characteristic—no matter what race they were, a part of their body had been replaced with precise alchemical creations instead of original flesh and blood.

"Chairman, is the ruin those people outside were talking about the one we're looking for?" asked a Vampire whose eyes had been replaced with alchemical pupils.

The target of his question, a Dwarf whose body was more than half-replaced by alchemical parts, replied:

"Likely not."

"Although the world map has shifted, a thousand years isn't enough to move that ruin so far away."

"According to the map markings, the ruin we are looking for should be further north."

Hearing this, the Vampire nodded. "It's good that it's not the one here. I saw that the opening of this ruin caused quite a stir. Even for us, it wouldn't be easy to seize the target creation from it."

At this time, another figure asked, "Chairman, you said it's been nearly a thousand years. Can the alchemical core of the Deep Diver inside that ruin still be used?"

"If it can't be used, won't our hard work searching for that ruin be in vain?"

The Dwarf Chairman said, "It doesn't matter! Even if the alchemical core has failed, it can be reactivated with some simple repairs."

"Besides, even putting the alchemical core aside, the alchemical techniques and alchemical golem structures preserved in the ruins are enough for us to study and improve!"

After a pause, the Dwarf Chairman looked at the Wood Elf in charge of the money and asked, "By the way, how much of our funds are left?"

The Wood Elf checked the coins in the bag and said, "Chairman, there are about ten gold coins left."

"Not enough." The Dwarf Chairman's eyes darkened. "Bat, go outside and snatch some more."

"Understood, Chairman." Upon receiving the order, the Vampire quickly walked out of the room.

A moment later.

The Vampire called "Bat" returned to the room. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed a blood-stained coin purse onto the table.

"Chairman, this money should be enough."

The Dwarf Chairman opened the purse and nodded slightly. "Hmm, the gold coins are enough... why is there a copper bell in here?"

He casually tossed the copper bell aside, and its tinkling sound echoed in the room.

In the corner of the room, Scott Parker heard the crisp sound of the copper bell. When he saw the blood-stained bell, his pupils suddenly contracted—

He recognized that bell.

Not long ago, their group had gone to a general store on the island to purchase tools. This bell was the one the shop owner wore on his waist.

At the time, the shop owner had told them with a smile that the copper bell was a gift from his four-year-old son...

Scott had even played with that adorable little boy, who looked like a doll.

But now...

Scott stared at the blood-stained coin purse. A sudden chill rose from the bottom of his heart, and cold sweat instantly drenched his back.

"What?" Noticing Scott's gaze, the Dwarf Chairman turned his head and grinned. "You want gold coins too?"

With that, the Dwarf Chairman tossed a blood-stained gold coin into Scott's hand. "Take it. Use this gold coin to go have some fun with the whores at the brothels."

The chill in Scott's heart deepened, but he forced a smile onto his face. "Thank you... Chairman."

"Hahaha! We're all members of the Alchemy Guild, no need to be polite!" The Dwarf Chairman laughed and patted Scott's shoulder. "Once we master the alchemical techniques in the ruins, we won't need to spend money on those brothel whores anymore!"

"I'll lead you straight into the houses and we'll take whoever we want!"

"Anyone who dares to refuse, we'll just kill them and keep going! Hahahahaha!"

Looking at the wrinkled skin on the Dwarf Chairman's face as he laughed, Scott's stomach churned with nausea!

But no matter how disgusted he felt, he didn't dare show it in the slightest.

Scott maintained a respectful expression toward the Dwarf Chairman, but his heart hardened as he secretly made a vow.

It was only because of his high alchemical talent and the special alchemical techniques he possessed that the Dwarf Chairman had spared his life and recruited him into the Alchemy Guild.

But once the Dwarf Chairman obtained the alchemical techniques from those ruins, the skills in Scott's hands would lose their value!

At that time, these crazy bastards might just kill him for fun on a whim!

He had to escape them before they mastered the alchemical techniques of that ruin!

"Scott, my boy, what are you thinking about?" At this moment, the Wood Elf treasurer draped an arm over Scott's shoulder and asked with a chuckle.

"No, nothing," Scott said with a start, forcing another smile.

The Wood Elf winked at him. "Haha, no need to hide it. I know you're already fantasizing about the days of doing whatever you want to people after mastering powerful alchemical techniques!"

"But you must remember, everything you possess was given to you by the Guild!"

"Remember the Guild's motto: The flesh is weak, alchemy is the ascension!"

"Well said!" The Dwarf Chairman laughed loudly and raised his glass.

"Hahaha!"

"The flesh is weak, alchemy is the ascension!"