200 Suyass (1/2)

At that moment, Nolan, who was in the middle of doing data calculations in a study room at the top floor of the Mercury Tower, suddenly frowned before chanting a spell. A piece of paper appeared out of nowhere and softly fell on his desk.

'Vaughn's laboratory?' Nolan quickly read through the magic letter, and his frown deepened.

Fran would have never expected that the random excuse he had found would actually be the truth. He was just trying to trick his teacher and hadn't really thought things through.

But who was Nolan?

He was one of the three Artisans of the kingdom. Not only had he reached the peak in alchemy, but he was also far more knowledgeable than Master Alchemist Lys when it came to understanding the hidden history of alchemists. The Vaughn Treasury was a good example. Nolan had many sources that Lys couldn't possibly have access to.

In fact, Nolan already had some clues...

He was certain that the true Vaughn Treasury was most likely at sea, because when going through historical materials, he found out a very interesting piece of information. In Vaughn's last twenty years of life, he went out to sea four times, and every time he didn't return for an entire year. How precious would the last twenty years of life be for an Artisan? If not for some crucial matter, how could Vaughn take four long trips to sea?

Moreover...

The naval fleet of the 3rd Dynasty had been mobilized intensively during that time, advancing without an apparent goal in the endless sea to do some military exercises.

Coincidentally, Robinson, the commanding officer of the naval fleet, was a close friend of Vaughn's. The two of them walked out from a small village and kept helping each other through countless dangers before one of them gained command over the naval fleet while the other became an Artisan and the court's Chief Alchemist. Their friendship could be described as deep enough to trust each other with their lives.

A single doubtful point could be said to be a coincidence, but a few doubts together would point out a path. The Vaughn Treasury was most likely in the sea...

This was why Nolan sent only Fran after being contacted by Lys for help about the Vaughn Treasury.

Because Nolan didn't believe that Vaughn Treasury was buried in the Four Seasons Canyon.

But what if it was a laboratory?

That was quite possible. In those days, Vaughn had lived in seclusion in many places before he became the court's Chief Alchemist. The Four Seasons Canyon was one of these places. With Vaughn's habits, it wouldn't be strange for him to leave a laboratory there.

But whether it would contain Spiritual Magic Tools was uncertain...

Those were treasures that every alchemist yearned for. Nolan doubted that the short-tempered Vaughn, the mage that would casually blow up a whole region, wouldn't bury that Spiritual Magic Tool with himself.

But it was still necessary to dispatch someone to check.

”Tell Karon…” Nolan originally wanted to send Karon, but he just remembered that Karon had left for the Golden Forest Plane to suppress a rebellion. It would take another two days for him to come back, so Nolan had no choice but to change his words, ”Tell Suyass to come.”

”Yes.”

A Great Alchemist who was attending to him in the study promptly bowed and left. It didn't take long before a knock resounded on the door.

”Come in.” A tall middle-aged man entered. It could be seen from the trace of graying hair at his temples that he was in his fifties, yet there was not a single wrinkle on his handsome face. His dazzling blonde hair and mysterious grey irises gave him a dashing appearance that didn't fit well with his age.

”Teacher, you looked for me?” Those who knew Suyass knew that he would only show such a respectful attitude in front of Nolan.

”Yes, read this letter first.” Nolan nodded and the letter slowly flew out to the middle-aged man.

”Fran?” After reading that letter, Suyass frowned.

Of Solan's five disciples, the most outstanding one was undoubtedly Karon, who had been sent to quell the rebellion in the Golden Forest Plane. A dozen years ago, Karon had already entered the peak Master Alchemist realm. Nolan himself predicted that within ten years, Karon would inevitably become the 2nd Artisan of the Mercury Tower. On the magic side, Karon was already a 5th Rank Archmage, and in the entire Mercury Tower, his strength was only inferior to Nolan's.