As promised, another chappy. You have no idea how hard it was to find some free-time to write it… and guess what… I did not found any free time, and made it in my not-free-time. ;)

Edited by: KenChi死

The next day. I woke up, got breakfast, took once again the quest (I was informed, that at my current rank I need to finish some rank quest at least three times before I would be considered for promotion) and left heading once again in the direction of “Black Snake”, so I could finally take a look at my new laboratory (MY laboratory… how wonderful it sounds…) and meet my new crew, so we could start the mass production of potions, poisons… and drugs (well, the last one is but on the “maybe-to-do-in-future” list, I have still not informed Rogue about this… “Possibility”), so we could finance the underground, black market, spies and assassins… Just your average normal Monday.

Why are you looking at me like that? What?! Drugs? Yes, I do not discard the possibility of starting drug creation… Wait, which one of you though I am a knight in shinny armor? Ain’t going to happen. I am going to enjoy myself fully. Take as much as one can hold without giving anything back… or maybe giving back just as much as is required, so I can gather one more time.

I am not a puppeteer nor a puppet. Not a sinner nor saint. I shall do bad things… as long as no one would catch me. I will appeal to someone’s honor while hiding a dagger behind my cloak, readying myself for a backstab.

Ha-ha “Even though I walk through the valley of shadow of death, I will fear no evil…”… no, my love, I can ensure you, that I am the EVIL that lies within that valley. Dance with me, at the verge of darkness… for there are no strings on me… Pardon me, my poetical side is strong today.

Where were we? Ah, that’s right! I was heading through dark alleys, walking past stumbling drunks, orphan playing in the dirt and cheap hookers in a devastated piece of clothing that one day was a dress.

Just in front of the “inn”, the lil’ girl from before was sitting once again. My previous guide. What was her name again? Clarice? Clare?

“Sup Boss!” The little pyromaniac was in high spirit “Are you excited to see your new workplace?” “Yes. I am literally overflowed with emotions.” Do I have to mention that my tone suggested something different than words I just said? “And why did you call me Boss? I thought only those who would work directly under me w… wait, did you just…?” “That’s right! Mr. Rogue picked me personally as your new student… and I tried using your advice in practice… the one about my fire magic – to not be afraid… it was such a new sensation… but unfortunately I burned my room..”

Aha… crap. So this is the real reason why Rogue give you to me, is it? Well, it is still better to teach a few girls with some basic knowledge in magic, than whole bunch of people.

“Can you please tell me how you make potions, that heal wounds? Or those that make you get tired slower? Or…” “I can give you lesson right now. You know what is the most important thing while you make a potions?” I waited few seconds. She was looking at me with eyes so big from excitement, she almost looked like some anime character. “The most important thing in alchemy… issss… Patience. So be nice, show me the way, and as soon as we would meet with the others, we will begin.”

And the fire of excitation in her eyes died. Foolish lil’ one. You will soon understand what I told you.

Another dirty corridor, followed by a dirty street just to get into yet a dirtier and uglier place. The place so dirty and ugly, no one would ever think about going next to it – near the outlet of a cesspool. The stench was terrible. And it was perfect. It would hide the smell of herbs. The lazy splashes of dirty water could cover the sounds of work inside the not so small building nearby.

“The old city ended here, and this was the place when sewers once ended… before the slums grew here. This building here – was a canteen for the poor, back in a time when Kingdom actually cared about us. But as small amounts of money that was designed for help was running shorter, and the number of poor was getting higher… the area was changed from helping center into ghetto, for everyone hated. The poor were forced to build slums as they are now… and this place… you will see.”

I saw what she meant pretty quickly. Beastmen. No friendly ones. The whole place could be seen as a slums within the slums.

“Should I expect trouble?” “No. Mr. Rogue has many friends. The Assassin guild, The Thieves guild… also owner of this place calling herself the “Governor”. As long as we would not start anything funny… Oh, and they are also paid by the Syndicate as guardians of new facility. You should be treated at least friendly as soon as they would know they have a coin thanks to you…” “Why are they here? I mean, I saw a few beastmen living… let’s say peacefully with humans.” “Those who obey rules, yes. These here… the tribal culture may be a bit violent. For example the tribe or wolfmen – Red Fang. They usually have a few children from one pregnancy. The weakest is killed on the spot, another one will be killed by siblings as they would grow a little. And humans do not like those kinds of traditions…”

I could only answer with “Aha”, because what else could I have said? Better not to judge someone’s traditions without knowing its origins. If they used to live in a dangerous place without excessive food supplies, killing the weakest one that couldn’t hunt was cruel, yet necessary. Yet what I noticed was they greetings. “Wait for the call” or “Answer the call”. I allowed myself to ask about it too.

“Ah, that? We don’t know much about their religion as they do not talk with strangers, but is seems as if they have two divine beings they worship… not at the same time, more like while worshiping one, they hate the other. Same with another camp. They believe that one day their… “leader” will appear and call them for something they call the “war march” or something like that. There would be nothing wrong, but Mr. Rogue’s spies reported, that lastly group of beastmen-adventurers, as they report back from their mission, startrd spreading rumors that “He is back”, and that he told them to “Gather strength”. Sounds sinister, don’t it?”.

… Two divine beings, worshiper camps hate each other… sounds familiar? But those adventuring beastmens… can’t be… please tell me it’s not true… what the hell?! I told them to “fuck off”… kindly, for sure, but how could they misinterpreted it like this?! Now, it means one thing – trouble…

We entered the building. In the small hall, just before the main room, I allowed myself to drop the hood off. We walked further.

“The main alchemist is in the building!” Clarice shouted from the door, making a few workers get up from their seats. Nodding to greet me, a few half-words like good morning. And almost without stop we headed into the deeper part. I just threw a few glances around. All around the room long tables were placed. On each of them a few basic tools. On the other end of the table was baskets of freshly harvested herbs, on the other a big pot on a fireplaces, not yet ignited.

At the end of the room we walked on higher floor thanks to stairs into a separated office, and it was a place when I met the rest of the group. Clarice was the youngest, the oldest woman with grumpy face was almost 50… or something around that, you never can tell plus I was always bad in estimating someone’s age.

“This brat will teach us?” The oldest lady was grumpiness was not only in her face “What can he teach us about? How to play in dirt?”

Dear lady, if you think I am going to treat you nicely here, think one more time. I have no time for coaching, slowly building reputation, constantly repeating after each of your fails “you can do it!” and so on. And I allowed myself to show it.

“Kaito…” I whispered quietly, yet loudly enough for everyone to hear, while snapping fingers.

The beast appeared out of thin air, pinned woman to the wall while growling.

“This is your first, and final warning. Here, I am your mentor, king and god. Rule number one: I am always right. Rule number two: if I am not right, look at number one. The difference between you and me, is that you are replaceable. You must have a very good reason to be here. Not enough coin? Debt to rogue? Desire to learn? This is the only time I would allow it, before we start. If you have any objections… leave now… Thank you Kaito…”

The beast vanished one more time and woman fell on her knees. I waited about half a minute.

“You are still here, so I presume your reasons to be here is stronger than fear and pride. I demand only a few things: mostly to not waste my time, and to be efficient. So, we will start right away.”

That’s right. I did not come here to make friends. Not to this particular building. My new friend is Rogue, and I have deal with him. He fulfilled his part – he gathered equipment and found a locations. It’s my time to do what is needed.

“Did anyone of you cook anything? Do not answer. Rhetorical question. Alchemy, you see, is similar to cooking. With this small exception that food rarely explode in your hand leaving you without some fingers…” and a face of a certain goddess flashed right in front of my eyes… especially her first try of cooking “… pardon me, I just remembered something… where did I… ah, I already told it to our little friend…” I pointed here on Clarice “… the most important thing is patience. If you are boiling decoction, and you would do it minute too fast, it would be useless, if you would forget about it, and it would boil it for a minute to long… just pray you would not be in the same room… Does alchemy involves magic? Yes and no. It surely helps. Many potions can’t be created without it. You simply won’t achieve fire hot enough to make some substances boil… With this we shall stop our theoretic lesson about theory, and proceed to practice… No one laughing? Shame.”

I took a herb out of the basket, put it on table and took a knife in my hand.

“You can’t create a potion without recipes… I mean, you can, but if it would work and how it would work is yet a completely different matter. To create a healing potion, so low, that it barely cures anything… you do it like that, what you want from the plant is roots and leaves, now, cut the root into small cubes and drop it into boiling water till it become slightly grey, in the meantime smash the leaves in mortar…”

I was describing the whole process. First just showing them how I do it, just so I could later on describe what actually needed to be done. If they would find a bit more effective way of doing it, good for me. Lesson for you, my dear readers: you can learn something even while you teach others.

“… we use alcohol, because it improves the speed of potion absorption by the body. Any questions?” before anyone could actually ask anything I quickly added: “None? Perfect. Now, to your positions. Show me what you remember. While having problems, call me. And you better call me. I want potions of at least acceptable quality. I prefer running from one of you to another, than to face you quietly wasting ingredients. In the meantime…” I headed once again to my pot with the potion to finish whole process, pour in to small glass vials… and try something new “…I will finish my job.”

And my wonderful assistance went right away to their jobs.

“Samantha! What are you doing? You were told to cut them into cubes, not to turn it into dust!” “Shut up and mind your own business, they are cut into cubes to release its juice faster. The smaller it is, the faster it takes! Powder is the quickest way”

I smiled hearing this. Someone here is thinking.

“Are you sure about that?” I asked walking to her “…No. I am sorry if…” “You are right. It is the very reason to do it. But are you sure that you would be able to finish the part I was doing in the meantime before the decoction would be ready?”

She was hesitating. Yet she made her mind.

“I do, sir.” “In that case, continue.”

And I left once again…. What a nice feeling… having apprentices… especially those who are listening to you, and putting two and two together finding their own conclusion.

“P…pardon me boss… should essence have a color like this?”

Look not everyone is brilliant here. Don’t mind it, I would feel a bit useless if they would do everything perfectly right away.

It took a bit over an hour for everyone to finish their tasks. Now the time for testing came.

“A failure” I said without anger nor disapproval “See? In the last phase the potion should turn slightly red, or at least pink. Yours is grey. You probably made an error at the very beginning.”

Moved to another one

“Failure. But I think you can tell it by yourself.” The owner of this one was a big talker, and while talking all the time to her friend she did exactly what I warning them from. Explosion. Small one. No one got hurt. While intensive boiling the herb let out a small amount of methane – for the herb was usually growing near swamps – and I hope you know how it acts at high temperature? “We have a winner. A bit weak as for the potion, and we would definitely NOT sell this kind of products, but this is the best potion of this batch.” Little Clarice – our winner – was almost flying overjoyed.

I quickly pointed out another mistake of another woman and moved to Samantha. Her potion was as red as blood.

“How do you think. Is your potion good or not?” “I think, that it is good.” “Comparing to Clarice… better or worse?” “You said, that the stronger color, the stronger potion… so I think mine is better.” “Yet I already told, that our little Clarice is the winner… Do you know where you made a mistake?”

Silence was answer given to me.

“The smell. When you add the alcohol, the smell of the potion is getting much stronger. I can easily tell, that what we have here, is not a potion, but a soup. In many potions, this kind of mistake could be forgiven. But not here. Alcohol is essential. You simply forgot about evaporating process with the dilution of the mass with alcohol. And the substance that lies within the herb is transported and absorbed almost completely… thanks to alcohol. I am sorry to say that, but what you gave here to me is as effective, as chewing raw root… tell me, is there something we can do to save it, or we should flush it?”

Just checking the way she thinks one more time.

“We could… no, I missed the phase. Flush it.” “Flush it” I nodded.

It was still early. We were practicing over and over again. Up until evening. Almost without break. I stopped, when all girls made “acceptable” potions three times in a row and let them go back to wherever they came from.

I was left alone in laboratory sitting and thinking.

I got up, cleaned my pot, and started creating something new. Aurora herb. While leafs and roots are a medicine… flowers were a little poisonous. To check something new, I shifted my teeth into Acid Spitter fangs, and poured a few drops into vial. The green poison turned slightly violet.

You have succeed while creating [Low-medium Fanged Flower Poison]You have gained 40 exp

[Fanged Flower Poison]Grade[Low-Medium]Poison made by a somewhat skilled AlchemistSpecific creation of combined venom of snake-kin and poison from plant.

Because of the ingredient used, it is not deadly, if consumed in small dosesVarious status effects may be added:- Body parlays

- Breathing problems

- Hp loss over time

- Nausea

I looked for few moments into the vial, and then I gulped the poison in one go.