"Young man, wait a moment." Just as Ethan Moore was about to leave the guild hall, a slightly hoarse yet dignified voice called out behind him.
Turning, Ethan saw it was a middle-aged man—his face looked far younger than his voice suggested.
"You're talking to me?" Ethan studied the man, noting his sharp, almost piercing gaze, as if nothing could be hidden from him.
"That's right, I'm calling you. If you don't mind, shall we find a quiet place to talk?" The man gestured casually to the tea room at the edge of the guild hall.
Ethan laughed lightly. "Sure, I don't mind."
—
As Ethan and the man walked toward the tea room, whispers rippled through the guild.
"That was Lucas Lu from Danhan Alchemy, wasn't it? Everyone knows that kid's a fake alchemy assistant—could Lucas actually be hiring that lunatic? Isn't he afraid his workshop will go under again? He sure isn't the sharpest tool in the shed."
"Heh, you're right. If Lucas Lu had a whiff of business sense, Danhan Alchemy wouldn't have tanked. The guy looks clever at first, but just look at how his workshop's fared—all smoke and no fire."
"The whole city knows Lucas Lu's not right in the head. It's a shame, really. Danhan Alchemy used to be one of our premier workshops—one of the best even in the Hanstar Empire. Now it's nothing but a shadow of its former self, soon to vanish for good..."
"Still, you've got to admit he was lucky, inheriting the place. Even ruined, he's had his moment. At least he's not here like us, scrambling for a job."
Their chattering faded behind as Ethan entered the tea room with Lucas Lu, who ordered a pot of Raozhou's famous Spring Dawn tea.
A faint, grassy aroma drifted from the pale green tea, soothing and fresh. Ethan couldn't help himself; he picked up his cup and took a sip. The gentle fragrance lingered on his palate, suffusing his body with a subtle vitality. "Excellent tea," he praised reflexively.
Back in his former life, Ethan had never been much for tea—he'd tasted the finest brands, but few rivaled this simple cup. And by the look of it, Lucas Lu wasn't even particular about how it was brewed; if he had been, the flavor would have soared higher still.
Lucas smiled. "Spring Dawn from Rao City is one of the three great teas of Chenyu. A batch is sent to the imperial family every year. What we're drinking is just the aged leaf—still, not something most folks can afford. Let me introduce myself properly. I am Lucas Lu, current head of Danhan Alchemy..."
He paused, as if expecting Ethan to chime in: Ah, Danhan Alchemy—I know of it.
Catching the hint, Ethan nodded, but admitted with a trace of apology, "I'm sorry, Master Lu—can't say I've heard of Danhan Alchemy before."
Lucas's jaw dropped. He could hardly believe anyone in Raozhou hadn't heard of Danhan, even after its decline and takeover by rivals in recent years. Its name shouldn't have faded that quickly.
After a moment's surprise, Lucas managed a self-deprecating laugh. "Clearly, I overestimated myself. The stories say the Prince of Moore cares for nothing beyond his lost kingdom—hardly surprising he'd miss the world of business."
Ethan saw there was no need to play games. "You know my background, Master Lu. You're not here to offer me a job as an alchemist, are you?"
He knew—his bluster back in the guild was just that. No one would take it seriously.
Lucas raised his cup and sipped leisurely, never losing his smile. "Actually, you're spot on. I'm here to invite you to become Danhan Alchemy's chief alchemist."
Now it was Ethan's turn to be surprised. He froze, cup halfway to his mouth. "Are you sure you've heard my story, Master Lu? Aren't you worried I was bluffing just now? Or that I might not be in my right mind?"
Lucas remained as calm as ever. "I'm no master at alchemy," he admitted, "but I trust these eyes of mine. The confidence and focus you showed just now cannot be faked—they're not the traits of a liar or a madman. Besides, your words only reinforced my belief. So, I'm willing to take a gamble. Well, what do you say, Mr. Moore? Care to cooperate?"
He added, matter-of-factly, "People even call me 'Crazy Lu.' Danhan collapsed so quickly because I took some bold chances few dared to try."
Even Lucas himself didn't truly believe it was Ethan's confidence that convinced him. There was a deeper reason, one only he knew. Ethan's grandfather, Theodore Moore, had been a master alchemist—an inside truth, unknown to most. The only reason Danhan rose to prominence in Raozhou was Theodore's influence and expertise. The Lu family had paid dearly for his partnership, pouring most of their profits into securing his support.
If they hadn't funneled so much into Theodore, Danhan's decline would have been slower, if it happened at all. So, for Lucas, Ethan's claim wasn't as wild as it seemed. After all, what's more natural than an alchemist passing their craft to their bloodline?
Ethan, meanwhile, stayed cool. He didn't buy that Lucas was hiring him based solely on a gut feeling. He knew better than to believe in free lunches; Danhan wouldn't be here if Lucas were truly reckless.
Lucas prodded, "What's the matter—were you just boasting after all? Got cold feet when someone took your words seriously?"
Ethan didn't flinch. He took his time sipping tea before posing his own question: "All right, I'm willing to join. But what will you pay me?"
"Fifty gold coins a month, full board at Danhan. And as long as your requests aren't outrageous, we'll do our best to accommodate you." Lucas watched Ethan closely. He expected excitement—fifty a month easily outstripped any assistant's pay several times over, though it was still a step below a true master's wage.
But Ethan barely reacted, just kept sipping tea. When Lucas began to fidget, Ethan finally spoke, seemingly off topic: "I hear opening one's spirit root is expensive. What's the real cost?"
Ethan was no stranger to money. He'd shown excitement for ten gold coins only because, at the time, no one had recognized his abilities and he was simply desperate for temporary work to feed himself and Luna Yates. But Lucas would want a longer commitment—a contract, at the very least.
Lucas was baffled by the question. Rumor was Ethan had already undergone spirit root testing—so why bring it up again?
Still, Lucas answered, "There are three methods for awakening spirit roots. The first is using spirit herbs—the cheapest ones start at ten thousand gold and the prices rise with quality. The second—"
Ethan politely cut him off, "If that's the lowest, what about the highest? Is there an upper limit?"
Lucas chuckled. "The sky's the limit. The rarest spirit herbs are basically priceless—selling the entire country wouldn't cover the cost."
Ethan mused—who knows how much Xavier Moore's parents had spent on his own failed awakening? Clearly, the cheaper the herb, the poorer the result.
Lucas went on, "The second method is to ask a powerful cultivator to awaken your roots for you. The fee depends on their mood—rarely below a hundred thousand gold, sometimes running into the millions. Third, there are special awakening arrays, but those only exist in the Hanstar Empire and are reserved for the especially talented."
Ethan fell silent. No matter which option, even earning hundreds a month would never be fast enough to afford awakening.
"Have you tried it yourself, Master Lu? If testing alone is hundreds of gold, surely not many can even dream of it. For regular folks, isn't awakening totally out of reach?" Ethan asked after a long moment.
Lucas shook his head, "I tested, yes, but I'm a Mortal Root. Practicing cultivation never appealed to me, so I left it at that."
"And the test—that costs money, too?"
"Of course. About five hundred gold on average. Even if you have the right roots, there are no guarantees you'll actually gain the power to cultivate."
"And if you're Mortal Root, is awakening possible?"
Lucas grinned. "I'm no expert, but the odds for Mortal Roots are one in a million, if that. Still, some people refuse to accept their fate—they keep spending, even knowing it's hopeless."
Ethan finally understood—his own father must have blown their last hope on that slim chance, even after knowing he was a Mortal Root.