Caleb Thorne stood by the window of his lavish suite at the Grand Eldoria Hotel, looking out at the city lights below. His mind wasn't on the breathtaking view, however. It was fixed on more pressing matters.
"Master, is it wise to dismiss Liam Knight so quickly?" Jaxon asked from behind him. "Roman Volkov seed convinced of his abilities."
I waved my hand dismissively without turning around. "Roman is easily impressed these days. This Liam Knight is nothing but hype—a man riding on the Ashworth family's coattails."
"But his knowledge of the Nine Transformation Pill ingredients was accurate," Silas pointed out.
I finally turned to face my disciples, my expression stern. "Anyone with access to ancient texts could recite ingredients. True alchemy requires sothing more—sothing I doubt this so-called 'King of Eldoria' possesses."
The truth was, I hadn't co to Eldoria to waste ti on pretenders. I was here for one thing only—the thousand-year divine dicine rumored to have surfaced in this region. Such a treasure appears once in a millennium, if that. I couldn't afford distractions.
A knock at the door interrupted my thoughts.
"Enter," I called.
A hotel attendant stepped in. "Mr. Thorne, President Westwood of the Eldoria Martial Guild is here to see you."
This was unexpected but potentially useful. "Send him in."
Darius Westwood strode into the room monts later. He was a powerfully built man with sharp features and calculating eyes. The new president of the Eldoria Martial Guild carried himself with the confidence of soone who'd recently co into significant authority.
"Master Thorne," he said with a respectful bow. "I hope I'm not intruding."
"Not at all," I replied, gesturing to a seat. "What brings the Guild President to my door at this hour?"
Darius settled into the chair, his posture rigid. "Word travels fast in Eldoria. I heard you t with Liam Knight today."
I raised an eyebrow. "And this concerns the Guild how exactly?"
"I believe it's my duty to warn distinguished visitors about... problematic individuals in our city," Darius said, his voice hardening. "Liam Knight is one such individual."
Now this was interesting. I took a seat across from him. "I'm listening."
"Knight is dangerous—unpredictable," Darius continued. "He's responsible for the death of my predecessor, Gage McBride."
"Directly?" I asked, my interest piqued.
Darius hesitated. "The situation was... complex. But make no mistake, McBride would still be alive if not for Knight's ddling with the Ashworths."
I could read between the lines. The man was afraid to openly accuse Liam because of the Ashworth family's influence, but his resentnt was clear.
"I see," I said thoughtfully. "So you believe this partnership I'm considering would be ill-advised?"
"Absolutely," Darius nodded firmly. "Knight can't be trusted. Whatever he's offered you, it's not worth the risk."
I studied Darius carefully. His words aligned with my initial impression of Liam Knight, but I wasn't naive enough to take them at face value.
"Tell , President Westwood, what's your interest in my affairs with Knight?" I asked pointedly.
Darius leaned forward, lowering his voice. "I've heard rumors about why you're really in Eldoria, Master Thorne. The divine dicine."
My eyes narrowed. "Those are sensitive matters."
"The Guild has resources that could help you locate it," Darius offered, his eyes gleaming with ambition. "Resources far beyond what Knight could provide."
And there it was—his true motivation. I couldn't help but smile slightly.
"An interesting proposition," I said. "What exactly would you want in return?"
"A mutually beneficial arrangent," Darius replied smoothly. "The Guild assists you in acquiring the divine dicine, and in return, we receive a portion of it."
I nodded slowly, appearing to consider his offer while my mind worked quickly. The Guild's resources could indeed be valuable, especially if they had information about the divine dicine's location. Liam Knight, regardless of his actual abilities, couldn't offer that.
"I believe we have the foundation for an agreent, President Westwood," I finally said. "Though specific terms will need to be negotiated."
Darius smiled, extending his hand. "I look forward to a prosperous partnership."
We shook hands, sealing our preliminary agreent.
After Darius left, Jaxon approached cautiously. "Master, do you truly believe what Westwood said about Knight?"
I chuckled. "It hardly matters. What matters is that the Guild has information we need. Whether Liam Knight is truly dangerous or simply annoying Westwood is irrelevant to our goals."
"And the Nine Transformation Pill you promised Knight?" Silas asked.
"A small deception," I admitted with a shrug. "I never intended to share the real recipe. What I gave him was... incomplete."
My disciples exchanged knowing glances. They understood my thods by now.
"The divine dicine takes priority," I declared firmly. "Everything else is just a diversion."
---
I rushed through the morning streets of Eldoria, clutching the list of ingredients Caleb had provided for the Nine Transformation Pill. My heart was pounding with excitent. If I could successfully craft this legendary pill, it would an a trendous breakthrough in my cultivation.
The recipe Caleb had given after our eting seed authentic but surprisingly simple compared to what I expected. Still, I wasn't complaining—simpler ant more achievable.
"The Cloud Fla Grass might be found at Mount Qinvor," I muttered to myself as I walked. "But the Seven Star Root..."
That particular herb was known to be extinct in the wild for over a century. My only hope was that Caleb himself had so in his collection.
I reached the hotel where Caleb was staying and asked the front desk to call his room. Minutes later, I was being escorted up to his suite.
When I entered, I found Caleb examining so ancient scrolls with his disciples. He barely glanced up at my arrival.
"Master Thorne," I said respectfully, "I've reviewed the recipe you provided for the Nine Transformation Pill."
"And?" he asked disinterestedly.
I hesitated, noting his cold deanor. Sothing had changed since our eting the previous day.
"I believe I can craft it," I continued, "but so of these ingredients are extrely rare. I was hoping you might have them in your collection, as we discussed."
Caleb finally looked up, his expression unreadable. "Show your list."
I handed him the paper where I'd ticulously written down everything I would need. He scanned it quickly, his lips curling into what almost looked like a sneer.
"Is sothing wrong?" I asked. Read ahead and get updates at *.
"If the Nine Transformation Pill only needed these ingredients, it wouldn't have been called the rarest pill!" Caleb said dismissively, tossing the paper back to .
I felt like I'd been slapped. "But this is the recipe you provided."
"A simplified version," Caleb replied with a wave of his hand. "A test to see if you'd recognize its inadequacy. A true master alchemist would have imdiately spotted the deficiencies."
My excitent deflated instantly, replaced by confusion and frustration. "Why would you intentionally give an incomplete recipe?"
"To test your knowledge," he said coldly. "And you failed spectacularly."
I noticed Jaxon and Silas exchanging smug glances. This had been a setup from the start.
"I see," I said, struggling to keep my voice even. "What's missing from the recipe, then?"
"That's not information I share freely," Caleb replied. "Especially not with those who overstate their abilities."
I took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. "I ca to you in good faith, Master Thorne."
"And I responded accordingly," he countered. "The alchemy world is full of pretenders claiming mastery they don't possess. I had to determine which category you fall into."
His dismissal stung, but I wasn't ready to back down. "Then give the complete recipe. Let prove myself with the actual pill."
Caleb studied for a mont before shaking his head. "I have more pressing matters to attend to in Eldoria. My ti is too valuable to waste on uncertain ventures."
Before I could respond, there was a knock at the door. Silas opened it to reveal Darius Westwood standing in the hallway.
"President Westwood," Caleb greeted him warmly. "Right on ti."
My eyes narrowed at the sight of the Eldoria Martial Guild president. His presence here couldn't be coincidence.
"Knight," Darius acknowledged coldly. "I didn't expect to find you here."
"I was just leaving," I replied, my mind racing. These two forming an alliance could only an trouble—especially for .
Caleb smirked slightly. "Mr. Knight was disappointed to learn that alchemical mastery requires more than just morizing a few ingredients."
Darius's lips twitched with barely concealed satisfaction. "So people in this city have an inflated sense of their abilities."
I understood the situation clearly now. Darius had poisoned Caleb against , likely feeding him the sa biased narrative he spread throughout Eldoria. And Caleb, already skeptical, had eagerly embraced it.
"I'll leave you to your eting," I said, heading for the door. "But Master Thorne, rember that true wisdom includes recognizing when you've been misled."
As I walked out, I heard Darius begin speaking about "the matter we discussed." Whatever they were plotting, it involved sothing valuable enough to bring together an alchemical master and the head of the Martial Guild.
In the hallway, I clenched my fists in frustration. The Nine Transformation Pill had been within my grasp, or so I thought. Now I'd not only lost that opportunity but potentially gained two powerful enemies in the process.
"Fine," I muttered to myself as I reached the elevator. "If Caleb won't share the true recipe, I'll find another way."
What troubled most wasn't the deception or the lost opportunity—it was wondering what exactly these two were planning, and whether their alliance was ford specifically against .
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