The territory of the Aurelius Duke was even larger than Noel had imagined. Yesterday, he had only visited the reception room.
But even that reception room alone was already grand in scale. When Noel, Wendy, and Carla arrived at the agreed-upon time, Sebas welcomed them and led them into a luxurious carriage, which then brought them to a lavish mansion, complete with sprawling gardens and a gilded palace.
Wendy, having never seen such luxury before, was stunned by the sight, while Noel, accustomed to moving through such circles, remained composed. He knew well that in a place like this, appearing timid would only hinder one's work.
Today, he was the main actor, here to craft the medicine himself. But with the years of experience he had, he felt confident that there would be no major problems.
However, he still needed to confirm the specifics with Duke Aurelius. Which alchemy method would the Duke prefer?
Regardless of the choice, Noel would give it his all, but it was necessary to confirm with the client.
If it was fixed-point alchemy, it would take a long time, requiring dry pots and precise instruments, with extended simmering to complete the process.
He knew the prescription he had written well; the medicine was extremely complex and would likely take an entire day just to prepare.
If instantaneous alchemy was used, the processing would be rougher, but the medicine could be completed in about half a day. Of course, the efficacy would not match that of the slower method, with some potency lost, but the speed was advantageous.
Duke Aurelius deliberated for a while, fully aware of his wife's worsening condition. He wanted treatment to proceed as quickly as possible; there was no time to waste.
Noel had expected the negotiations to be troublesome, with a standoff with the client, but surprisingly, the Duke's decision aligned with his own preference for using instantaneous alchemy.
Afterward, Wendy and Carla were shown to a resting room, even larger than the previous reception room.
Meanwhile, Noel was led to a quiet room for the alchemy preparations, as absolute silence was needed when conducting alchemy experiments.
However, even this room was extraordinarily lavish. Since the materials had not yet arrived, Noel sat on the soft sofa, waiting.
On the table before him were various drinks, including champagne and red wine, a typical gesture of hospitality in upper society.
One key ingredient in the prescription was the nectar of the Frost Mist Flower; he wondered if it had been procured.
Noel pondered what alchemical techniques would allow him to finish the medicine most quickly.
Duke Aurelius and Sebas had not appeared yet, leaving Noel waiting for quite some time. He wasn't angry about being left alone; rather, he simply felt this room was too out of place for him.
He tried a sip of the noble red tea prepared on the table. Halfway through, a maid came to replace it with a freshly brewed cup. The service was impeccable.
> "All materials are ready, and the equipment has been moved to the underground lab. I will guide you."
The one who came to fetch Noel was once again his familiar face, Sebas.
Truth be told, though Noel was an outsider, he could tell that Sebas was a highly competent butler. Anyone who could handle affairs so efficiently in a ducal household was surely extraordinary.
Noel found himself lost in thought about Sebas when he suddenly bumped into his back.
"Is something the matter?" Sebas asked, noticing Noel's odd behavior.
"Ah, I was mentally simulating the alchemy process just now and got distracted," Noel explained.
Sebas did not mind after hearing this.
"We're here."
Even before opening the door, Noel could smell the fragrance of medicinal herbs. He had a strong feeling that this room had been used for alchemical concoctions before.
It was a room specifically designed for medicine crafting, proving that the Duke had prepared for this in advance, only now bringing Noel in to proceed.
Sebas opened the door with a polite gesture, and Noel entered without hesitation.
But he couldn't help but feel the lab was somewhat eerie, perhaps due to being underground. It was too dark, and somewhat damp.
This could potentially affect the quality of the medicine, but with his skill, he was confident he could compensate for it.
Sebas proceeded to light the hanging lamps around the lab, illuminating the entire room.
Noel looked around at the various pieces of alchemical equipment, unable to hide his delight. Even his own workshop did not have such advanced apparatus.
He had wanted to purchase similar equipment himself, but it was simply too expensive, and the maintenance fees for such instruments were also high, making it unwise to buy them.
Only someone as wealthy as Duke Aurelius could afford such advanced machinery.
Noel examined the devices one by one. Some of the apparatuses had unusual shapes, and although he was unsure of their functions at first glance, he quickly read through all the instruction manuals provided.
With his years of alchemical experience, he swiftly became familiar with how to operate them, finding them easier to use than expected.
"By the way, where are the alchemy materials?" Noel asked Sebas, who was standing by.
"They will arrive shortly," Sebas replied.
Noel was reassured, knowing that Sebas' words carried weight in the Aureli household and that things would proceed smoothly.
"Then, I'll play around with these instruments a bit to get a feel for them."
"You may use them as you wish, but please remember to be extremely careful when crafting the medicine. Any mistake would be unacceptable," Sebas said firmly.
"I am an alchemist from the Mond Alchemy Workshop. If I am here, then any medicine I craft will represent the standards of the Mond Workshop," Noel replied calmly.
"You do understand the significance of the Mond Workshop in the alchemy world, don't you?" he added with a sharp glance.
Sebas certainly knew of the Mond Workshop. Its founder, Mond Manchester, had once been the youngest alchemist to earn an S-rank title.
He later established the Mond Workshop, and although Mond had a peculiar temperament, rarely accepting commissions unless he took a personal liking to someone, his reputation was unassailable.
After Mond's death, his apprentice took over the workshop, showing remarkable talent by developing many new medicines and improving numerous recipes.
Sebas would never question the authority of the Mond Workshop.
Moreover, alchemists were known for their unity; offending one alchemist could result in being blacklisted by the entire alchemist guild, making future dealings extremely costly.
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