56 Trade (1/2)

But Bassoro was now being very polite to Lin Yun...

It was because the leader of the Alchemist Guild, Lys, had sent someone to give an order.

'Ask Mage Merlin if he would be willing to give the rest of the alchemy formula in exchange for a chance to study in the Mercury Tower for three months.'

Bassoro's expression became strange when he heard this.

The Mercury Tower was essentially the kingdom's holy land of alchemy. Every alchemist dreamt of going there because it not only had the best atmosphere, but also had the most comprehensive and profound stores of alchemy-related knowledge. With enough luck, one might be able to get pointers from a Master Alchemist.

But the Mercury Tower rarely got in contact with the outside world, and it wouldn't recruit disciples externally. The alchemists there were like monks, immersing themselves in their studies day after day, year after year. To some extent, the Mercury Tower could be considered an independent kingdom, one that only existed for the advancement of alchemy.

That independent kingdom was practically isolated from the rest of the world. Only when the legendary Masters needed to replace their assistants would outsiders get an opportunity to enter the Mercury Tower.

These opportunities were very rare...

At the very most, only ten people would have this opportunity in a given year, and every major Alchemist Guild like the one in Thousand Sails City would obtain one spot every few years. Bassoro himself had been applying for over ten years, and although he hadn't been chosen yet, he never gave up.

After all, Bassoro knew that due to his innate level of talent, he had already approached the limit of his path of alchemy. If he only relied on hard work, he could end up stuck at his current level for years. If he wanted to progress further, he had to enter the Mercury Tower and gain access to the profound knowledge and the help of those legendary Master Alchemists.

But that opportunity was too difficult to obtain...

Even though Bassoro's status in the Alchemist Guild wasn't low at all, getting a chance to enter the Mercury Tower was based on luck.

But now, this kind of opportunity was actually being offered in exchange for an alchemy formula!

Bassoro's expression became quite strange as he thought about it...

It wasn't because of him missing out on the opportunity to go the Mercury Tower, but rather because of the implied value of that alchemy formula.

Although Lys' reputation in Thousand Sails City wasn't as awe-inspiring as that of someone like Solomon, his prestige within the Alchemist Guild wasn't something that an outsider could imagine. His status here was nearly that of a god. For complicated and important decisions, as long as Lys said something, the rest of the Alchemist Guild wouldn't dare to go against it.

This wasn't the same as Solomon in the Sage Tower...

Although Solomon might have power that shook the entire Thousand Sails City, he was only one of the three members of a council in the Sage Tower. For important decisions, they would have to convene a meeting and the three of them would come to a decision together.

But Lys reigned supreme in the Alchemist Guild, every final decision depending on his word, like a dictatorship.

Just like now, with the precious opportunity to go to the Mercury Tower being decided in a word by Lys, and no one questioning it.

Even Bassoro, who had been continuously applying for ten years, could only look at Lin Yun with envy…

”Great Alchemist Bassoro, this question isn't very appropriate…” Lin Yun looked at Bassoro with a smile that didn't quite look like a smile. Although he didn't say it outright, the ridicule contained in his smile was obvious.

”This…” Bassoro's expression became awkward when he heard Lin Yun's answer.

That question indeed wasn't very proper...

For alchemy shops, their formulas were everything. Whoever had better alchemy formulas, whoever could craft better items, those shops would occupy a bigger share of the market.

Even a small shop like the Gilded Rose, whose sales were on the scale of a few hundred thousand gold, would become the focus of Thousand Sails city after the appearance of the Hope Potion. Once the hearing was over, the business would inevitably become very prosperous. As long as they didn't make any mistakes, it would only be a matter of time before they became the number one alchemy shop of Thousand Sails City.

The kind of core knowledge that could decide between success and failure… It truly wasn't appropriate to ask about it...

But disregarding it was out of the question...

”That… Mage Merlin, our Alchemist Guild isn't asking for your formula for free. We wish to trade for it…”

”Oh?”

”How about one million gold?”

”Haha…” How could Lin Yun not understand the value of the missing part of the formula? Any alchemist that was worth their salt wouldn't be willing to part with something like this.

Thus, Bassoro's offer of one million gold only earned a chuckle from Lin Yun...

”How about this!” Bassoro became immediately worried when he heard Lin Yun's reaction and immediately changed the offer. ”Formulas for your formula. As long as you are willing to let us know this formula, our Alchemist Guild will trade you three… no, five unique formulas. We guarantee that these five formulas are unique to the Alchemist Guild and you won't find them anywhere else in Thousand Sails City!”