Chapter 55

Mali felt that he had stayed in the spiritual world constructed by the Four-Position Instrument for a long time, but when he came out and looked at his phone, less than a quarter of an hour had passed.

Before leaving the Alchemy Association, he also spent fifty-six Silver Shields to make all those Lizardman eyeballs into Monster Cards.

It wasn't that he was addicted to playing cards, but mainly because there was a discount for making Monster Cards as an association member, and even if he made them and sold them, he could earn more price difference.

And iron Monster Cards were also easier to store than bloody eyeballs.

This was also Mali's first time getting Monster Cards, and the effect of the finished product was a bit beyond his expectations.

Although the edges of the palm-sized iron cards were a bit rough, the Lizardmen carved on them were all lifelike.

These Lizardmen even retained some of their physical characteristics from before they died, and one of the Lizardmen on a card was riding a wild boar.

Mali recognized that it was the guy who launched the final charge at him.

Lievre on the side sighed, "Monster Cards are actually also a product of ancient alchemy, and can be considered one of the few legacies of the Fusion School that have been preserved."

Mali put the seven iron cards into the hiking bag behind him, plus the previous appraisal fee, he had already spent two Gold Eagles and forty-nine Silver Shields at the Alchemy Association today.

It can only be said that alchemists' money comes and goes quickly.

He originally wanted to buy another magic scroll to learn a Zero-ring spell, but the selling price of those magic scrolls was often a dozen or twenty Gold Eagles, which was a bit too expensive for him now.

And learning spells didn't necessarily require scrolls, although with his qualifications, having a scroll to feel the casting would indeed speed up progress quite a bit.

He still had to find a way to earn money first.

Lievre hired someone to send his pile of precious alchemy instruments back to the Truck, and then the old man accompanied Mali to the trade stronghold of the Rose Alliance in Yingzui City.

Compared to the deserted Alchemy Association, it was much livelier here.

Perhaps for the convenience of guild members to conduct financial transactions, the Rose Alliance didn't choose to set up its station in the better-ordered and cleaner Old District, but bought several houses on the west side of Fengshou Guangchang and enclosed them with walls.

From time to time, carriages loaded with goods and merchants, and people looking like porters, went in and out. Through the courtyard wall, one could hear the shouting prices inside, the crisp sound of Gold Eagles and Silver Shields colliding, occasionally mixed with a few giggles from women.

The air was filled with the smell of horse manure, smoked fish, tanned leather, and spices.

Although they chose the New District, this didn't mean the Rose Alliance didn't care about safety; on the contrary, to deal with the mixed environment of the busy market, they hired double the guards.

Some people were specifically watching the gate, and some were patrolling back and forth by the courtyard wall to ensure that no suspicious characters were let in.

Their equipment was even better than the city guards of Yingzui City, and each one looked well-trained.

When Mali and Lievre entered the door, the guards at the door originally wanted to step forward to stop them, but after seeing the brooches representing Alchemists on their chests, they withdrew their steps.

Soon someone came out to greet them from inside; it was a rather clever-looking apprentice who first saluted the two, and then said, "Are the two Masters here to find someone, or to talk business?"

Mali was slightly distracted; he always felt that he had seen the logo on the courtyard wall somewhere.

After a long while, he withdrew his gaze and said, "I want to join the guild."

The apprentice didn't quite understand, "Are you looking to cooperate with the guild's merchants to sell alchemy potions?"

"No, I formed a caravan myself and want to join the Rose Alliance."

"But... we don't publicly recruit members," the apprentice said in a dilemma, "The guild usually introduces new members through recommendations from old members, or at least invitations from people above the branch president level, and the quota for introducing newcomers to the branch each year is also limited.

"There are only two quotas in Yingzui City this year, and one of them has already been decided."

Mali remembered that when Bani was saved, he had said that he had many friends in Yingzui City, and if he encountered trouble, he could try to report his name.

So he took out the copper brooch gifted by the latter, "Do you know Bani the Timid?"

"Who?" The apprentice looked blank.

Mali admitted that he had thought too much. Fortunately, at this somewhat awkward moment, Lievre stood out.

"Is your president here? I want to see him."

"Who are you?"

The old alchemist pounded his staff on the ground and said with his head held high, "Vice Dean of the Guangyao Staff Alchemy Branch, Lifetime Member of the Alchemy Association, Platinum Donor of the Turtle Back Library, Honorary Knight of the Menia Kingdom, the number one person in ancient alchemy research on the Leiwateleisi Dalu—Lievre."

…………

The Rose Alliance's trade stronghold in Yingzui City consisted of four buildings: a guild hall, two warehouses (one large and one small), and an inn for merchants to rest.

Mali was now sitting on the first floor of the inn. He noticed out of the corner of his eye that a table of people by the wall was pointing at him, and someone had quietly left about twenty minutes ago.

Almost half an hour had passed since Lievre went to see that branch president.

The old alchemist's figure finally appeared at the entrance of the inn again, and he wasn't alone; he was followed by a middle-aged man with a beard, and the two were laughing and talking.

Lievre also saw Mali, winked at him, and made an "OK" gesture; this was a new action he had learned from Mali, meaning everything was going well.

To be honest, Mali didn't know how he had done it, actually convincing the branch president of the Rose Alliance in Yingzui City to give the last recruitment quota of the branch this year to them, whom he was meeting for the first time.

It can only be said that the lethality of the old alchemist's series of ridiculously long titles to ordinary people was still quite strong.

Even though he had now been exiled by the academy, except for noble lords like Jialisen who were well-informed and knew his background, ordinary guild merchants would really be bluffed by his identity.

That bearded president was probably secretly rejoicing in his heart at this moment, having recruited another strong reinforcement for the alliance.

If he could use this opportunity to get involved with the number one magic academy on the continent, the future development path of the Rose Alliance would undoubtedly be smoother, and he might also be praised by those above.

Just as he was about to hand the invitation letter to Mali to sign, a voice suddenly came from outside the door.

"Wait a moment, President Helun!"

Afterward, a group of people rushed in, and the leader pointed at Mali and said, "He is a liar! President Helun, be careful, don't be deceived by this cunning Outsider!"

Helun was a bit dissatisfied upon hearing this, "Baier-ta, how can you say that about a distinguished guest from the Wangdu."

Baier-ta sneered, "A distinguished guest? President Helun, do you still remember that matter I told you about four months ago?"

"What matter?" Helun was very busy every day and really couldn't remember what had happened four months ago for a while.

"I spent a lot of money to acquire alchemy creations from an Outsider alchemist, but the next day they all disappeared."

"Oh, that matter." Helun also had some impression, and then couldn't help but be stunned, looking at Mali, "Could it be that..."

"That's right, that person is him!" Baier-ta gritted his teeth and said.