Alchemist Gerald

The man walked into the mansion, and the iron gates swung shut behind him.

Roger waited in the shadows of the alley entrance for a moment. Once he was certain the man would not be coming back out anytime soon, he silently slipped out of the alley and retraced his steps.

After walking a safe distance away, he found an empty corner, removed the Mask of a Thousand Faces, and returned to his original appearance.

Returning to his rented house, Roger locked the door behind him and reviewed today's discoveries from start to finish.

The mysterious man who had plotted with Sargon in the forest and vanished with a teleportation scroll had now appeared at the gates of Count Augus's mansion, walking inside as casually as if he were returning to his own home.

Regardless of whether this man was Count Augus himself, there was no longer any need for further proof that the count's manor had ties to the Purple Sun Sect.

However, he couldn't just force his way in. With a Rank Four or Rank Five swordsman holding down the fort, the chances of winning a direct confrontation were far too low.

He needed another way to approach them.

A method that didn't require force, wouldn't leave him locked outside the iron gates, and might even prompt the other party to invite him inside.

Putting these plans aside for the moment, Roger retrieved the map of the royal capital from his system inventory, spread it across the table, and located the Alchemist Association.

Then, he returned to his room and closed his eyes to meditate.

Early the next morning, Roger put on the Mask of a Thousand Faces and headed to a tailor shop in the city. He picked out a dark gray robe, pairing it with a belt and leather boots.

The outfit wasn't luxurious, but it was neat and tidy, fitting the respectable appearance expected of an alchemist who had just arrived in the royal capital to make a living.

After changing, he looked at himself in the tailor shop's bronze mirror.

The reflection showed a young man in his early twenties whose face was completely different from Roger's own.

Once he was sure his disguise and attire were perfectly natural, he left the tailor shop and walked toward the Alchemist Association.

The royal capital's Alchemist Association was also located in the inner city, about a thirty-minute walk from the Mage Association.

Stepping into the hall, a scent of herbs washed over him.

Roger walked straight to the counter facing the hall. The receptionist looked up, offering a professional smile.

“I'd like to register with the association.”

Roger got straight to the point, giving the name “Gerald.” He claimed to be an independent alchemist who had studied alchemy on his own for many years and had recently arrived in the capital, hoping to register an official identity to start his business.

“An independent alchemist?” The receptionist pulled a form stamped with the association's emblem from under the counter and pushed it toward Roger. “Please fill out your basic information. The registration fee is one silver coin.”

Roger took the form, filled out the details with a mix of truth and lies, and pushed it back along with a silver coin.

The receptionist filed the form away in a cabinet, retrieved a bronze badge from a drawer, and handed it to Roger.

“This is your registration badge. Please keep it safe. If lost, there is an additional fee for a replacement.”

Roger took the badge, pinned it to his robe's collar, and asked in the tone of a newcomer:

“I only arrived in the capital a few days ago, so I'm not very familiar with the alchemy circle here. Are there any regular events, or perhaps opportunities to meet fellow alchemists?”

“Then you've come at the perfect time. The association hosts several internal exchanges every month—some are academic, while others are just casual gatherings for everyone to chat.” The receptionist's tone grew warmer.

“Next week, there's a small exchange event. It's mainly for a few resident members to discuss recent recipe insights, and the Deputy Vice President will also be attending.”

After a brief pause, the receptionist added:

“But if you're looking for the liveliest social scenes, those would be the private gatherings hosted by the noble lords in the city.”

“Particularly Count Augus. Every ten days or so, he hosts a banquet at his mansion. The attendees are a diverse crowd from all walks of life. Our Vice President and Deputy Vice President are regulars there and reportedly receive invitations every single time.”

“Count Augus?” Roger asked, sounding as though he was hearing the name for the first time.

“You've just arrived in the capital, so it's natural you haven't heard of him,” the receptionist said with a smile. “He loves making connections with talented individuals, regardless of their background or class. As long as you have real skill in a certain field, he's eager to befriend you. Receiving an invitation from him is considered quite prestigious here in the capital.”

“That is indeed rare,” Roger agreed, chiming in before steering the conversation back. “By the way, are the Vice President and Deputy Vice President easy to talk to? I've just joined the association and would love to find an opportunity to ask some professional questions, but I'm worried it might be too forward.”

“Don't worry, they are both wonderful people and very willing to guide newcomers. In fact, they appreciate self-taught talents like you even more,” the receptionist replied. “However, the Vice President has been staying home recently to research new alchemy recipes, so the association's daily affairs are currently managed by the Deputy Vice President.”

“The Deputy Vice President is currently in the analysis room on the second floor. He should be out in a bit, so you can wait in the lounge area for now.”

Roger nodded in thanks and walked over to sit in the lounge area in the corner of the hall.

About ten minutes later, an elderly man in a dark green robe walked down the stairs. He had a brisk stride, and his gray beard was braided into several small plaits hanging over his chest. A gold leaf badge was pinned to his collar.

“Deputy Vice President Pepis,” the receptionist behind the counter greeted him.

Roger stood up to greet him, bowing politely. “Hello, Deputy Vice President. My name is Gerald, and I just registered with the association today. I've only recently arrived in the capital, so I hope to learn a lot from you.”

Pepis stopped, his gaze falling on the badge on Roger's collar before looking at his face. He nodded politely in response. “Ah, a new face. Welcome to the Alchemist Association.”

“I apologize for the intrusion, but I have a few questions regarding ingredient extraction. I wonder if you have a moment?” Roger asked.

The Deputy Vice President nodded slightly. “Let's hear them.”

Roger posed a technical question regarding temperature control in the herb extraction process.

He had chosen this question from the knowledge pool of his Alchemy Specialization. It wasn't overly complex, but it was enough to show an insider that the asker had genuine practical experience rather than being a mere armchair theorist.

Pepis raised an eyebrow upon hearing it and countered with a question about the details of catalyst ratios. Roger answered fluently.

After chatting for a few minutes, the Deputy Vice President's expression shifted from polite to serious. Finally, he nodded slightly.

“The alchemy circle in the capital isn't large, but there are plenty of opportunities. Since you've just arrived, it won't hurt to get to know some of your peers.”

“There's a small exchange meeting next week where several potion merchants and material suppliers will be present. You should check it out. I'll introduce you to a few people then; it'll help you establish a foothold here.”

Roger nodded in gratitude and naturally followed up on the lead. “Thank you very much, Deputy Vice President. I heard from the receptionist earlier that the social circle in the capital is quite broad, and some nobles even host gatherings for people from all walks of life?”

“Indeed.” The Deputy Vice President stroked his braided gray beard. “The liveliest of them all is definitely Count Augus's. He hosts a banquet every so often, and people from all sorts of professions attend.”

“I receive invitations quite often as well, and I occasionally bring a few promising young people along to help them expand their networks.”

Roger didn't press for any more details about the gatherings. Instead, he steered the conversation back to alchemy, asking a few follow-up questions about extraction techniques.

Pepis was clearly much more interested in this topic than in social small talk. He immediately asked the receptionist for a quill and a blank piece of parchment, then leaned over the counter to write down a few of his personal insights on adjusting catalyst ratios.

Roger took the note, put it away, and thanked him once more. Using the excuse of needing to head back and immediately work on the extraction, he bid farewell and left the association.