Earth's Greatest Magus

"This is the 1000 questions room, announced a man who had just entered the circular hall where Emery was engrossed in studying the notes.

Dressed in elaborate robes that bore the intricate insignias signifying him master in apothecary, the middle-aged man held the distinguished rank of 7. His attire, a rich tapestry of deep blues and golden embroidery, hinted at the years of experience and knowledge that adorned him as a seasoned Apothecary master. Alongside him, a younger individual, equally adorned in the symbolic attire of a senior artisan, donned the robe of a rank 6 – a testament to his rank in the alchemical craft.

Curious about Emery's presence in the room, the younger man inquired, "Senior, who is that person? Why is he here?"

Amused by the unexpected visitor, the Apothecary Master approached Emery with a stern inquiry, "This hall is restricted to Apothecary Masters only. Who granted you access?"

Unperturbed by their questioning, Emery shot them a glance of annoyance. "I need more time; please do not disturb me," he asserted, refocusing on the notes and dismissing their intrusion.

Witnessing such a reaction, the younger man heightened his tone, declaring, "Who are you to speak that way to Master Frainser! Begone!!"

Interrupted once again, Emery felt irritation rising within him. He turned toward the two and retorted, "You say this is for Master Apothecaries only?!" Pointing at the younger man, he continued, "You are not a master aren't you?! Why are you allowed to be here?!"

Growing increasingly irritated, the younger man raised his voice once more, declaring, "I am following my master here! And I am a Senior Artisan! What about you? Are you even an apothecarist?"

Emery, who had just used his artisan badge to access the shop, displayed it to the two, prompting the younger man to laugh mockingly. "Haha, only a Junior Artisan! You dare to speak this way! Now leave!"

Taking a deep sigh, Emery responded, "Alright, but only after I get my pay!"

Hearing this, the two realized that Emery had, in fact, written words on the notes—more than one. Witnessing this, the Master apothecary was visibly shaken. "You!! You are not supposed to write on those!! Such insolence!!"

Enraged, the younger man swiftly called out the guards to apprehend Emery. Realizing that Emery was, in fact, a magus, he summoned several Golden City guards, escalating the commotion and drawing the attention of curious onlookers.

Half a dozen uniformed guards, their golden insignias gleaming on polished armor, brandished sharp spears aimed at Emery, creating a tense atmosphere in the room.

Emery had no intention of causing trouble in such a respected place, but he also didn't want to suffer a loss. Therefore, he casually cast a spell, trying to erase the notes he had just written. This action, however, only fueled the anger of the younger man. "How dare you!! You are going to ruin it!! Guards, catch him! Put him in prison for destruction of property!"

It was at that moment when an older figure entered the room, an imposing presence draped in the robes of a highly respected and feared Apothecary grandmaster. His arrival halted the commotion like a sudden calm in a storm, and all eyes turned towards him. The grandmaster's gaze, piercing and authoritative, scanned the scene as he demanded, "What is happening here?!"

The arrival of such a formidable figure brought a smug smile to the senior artisan's face. However, much to his shock, the typically cold grandmaster's expression transformed into a cheerful smile upon seeing Emery.

"Master Emery!! It is you!! What a pleasant surprise!!"

Caught off guard by the unexpected turn of events, Emery respectfully acknowledged, "Grandmaster Hazard, I am happy to see you too."

The sudden change in atmosphere left the room in stunned silence, with the two apothecaries turning pale as they processed the unexpected encounter.

Grand Master Hazard was the apothecary grandmaster who had been following Emery since his artisan exams and then again at the elven planet; he was fully impressed by Emery's accomplishments.

"Master Emery, what is happening here? Did these people bother you?" inquired Grandmaster Hazard.

"No… no.. please, Grandmaster, don't call me with such a prestigious title," Emery responded, glancing at the pale apothecaries. "I am, after all, just an artisan…"

"What!! You? An artisan?! You have made us all proud winning that Vanyar Apothecary Forum!! Even Grand Maestro Fein Althor praises you. If you are not a master, then no one in this center can be called one!"

The words delivered a swift blow to the two apothecaries, making them even paler. In a hurry, they summoned the guards to leave the hall. The younger artisan tried to quietly leave when Emery called him back, teasingly saying, "Heii.. leaving already?"

The younger magus promptly executed a 90-degree bow, offering a sincere apology. Even his master followed suit. Emery, wearing a satisfied smile, casually asked, "So, can I get my reward now?"

"That... we need ...to check it first" said the apothecary Master.

Realizing what Emery was doing, Grand Master Hazard stepped in and began reading Emery's written solutions on the notes one by one. He nodded and smiled continuously, expressing approval. "Yes... This is a great solution… and this… yes, this is also brilliant."

Emery, while not an expert in all areas of apothecary, had mastered two specific categories; restoration and destruction. The former focused on healing and body enhancement, while the latter dealt with creating harmful substances.

Among the dozens of apothecary problems, Emery chose five that fell into categories where he wouldn't need costly experiments to solve. In just one hour of dedicated work, Emery received a substantial sum of spirit stones.

[9,200,000 spirit stones received].

This windfall promptly resolved his immediate need to pay for the construction of the moon base.

However, Grand Master Hazard wasn't ready to let Emery leave just yet, insisting on engaging in a conversation with him. Recognizing the opportunity presented, Emery thought, "Might as well ask him to help me."