Emperor's Reckoning

The group immediately garnered unnecessary attention from other potential buyers. Their eyes immediately sized up the clothes that Lyon and the others were wearing and could make of that they were a nobody. However, one woman that spark their interest was the tallest of them all. There was no mistaking that dominating bearing that the auburn lass exude.

Lyon was looking down at one pill and another. The fact that they used a bird's nest was something that even he didn't expect. For a level of Alchemy Union, he would have expected to treat the first level of the store to be more classy. "Then again, the aesthetic is not bad, though, if I didn't know that alchemy exists, I would have assumed these are eggs."

"Ah, do you see something that you like, dear cultivator?" a friendly tone from the store clerk was heard.

Lyon raised his brows as he looked at the young store clerk. The latter was wearing the same azure cloak that Renduval was wearing. "Are you here on a part-time job?"

"Part-time job? Yes, you can say that."

Lyon nodded, "Alchemy Union even goes to this extent, huh. Not bad."

The nearby customers frowned at the attitude that Lyon gave out. He looked like some high-born noble that never stepped out of the house for underestimating Alchemy Unions.

"Well, let's go upstairs then," said Lyon as he nodded before tapping the clerk's arm with a smile, "Keep up the good work."

It was a small gesture that belied his former image. The store clerk immediately turned slightly more radiant before nodding back with a smile, "Will do."

"Let's go, Renduval, hmm? Why are you squinting your eyes like that?" said Lyon with a smile before he put the first foot on the first stair.

"Let's proceed," said Renduval before he followed Lyon from behind. However, his eyes leered to the nest of pills that Lyon took particular interest in. (One, two, three, five... alright, he stole nothing).

Lyon was the first one to climb the u-shaped stairs but as soon as he turned around he found yet another alchemist with an azure cloak covering his figure.

"Ah please, welcome, customer is with Renduval right?" asked the one at the topmost. "Then let me  open this barrier for you."

"Barrier?" Lyon furrowed his eyebrows.

"Ah, it must be your first time right?" the alchemist smiled. "Don't worry, let me handle this."

He reached out for his pocket before putting a bronze medal on top of the nearby pedestal. A thin wisp of mana slowly dispersed. It was transparent but Lyon definitely could see a glimpse of it before it completely vanished.

"Please proceed," the alchemist nodded. "There are a plethora of ingredients that you might find rare to be found on the regular store. Please enjoy your shopping!"

Lyon smiled, "Wow I really feel welcome here, here take this, my courtesy."

He reached out for his pocket before giving him a small but familiar pouch. The alchemist gladly received it with open hands.

"Hahaha!" Lyon laughed as he entered the second floor before the rest followed.

(Wow, it's his first time here but he is already struck me as benevolent, rich or not, that guy is really likable) thought the alchemist as he watched Lyon's back.

"Ah, senior Renduval, long time no see," the alchemist grinned.

Renduval squinted his eyes before looking at what he received then back to his eyes. He opened his mouth and pointed his finger at him but no words came out. He let out a sigh before he shook his head and continued forward.

"What's with him? He seems exhausted," the alchemist shrugged. "What a weird man."

"So this is the second floor, huh," Lyon took a deep breath and tried to smell something. "Smells like nothing."

"This is where you can shop the higher tier pills," said Renduval. "And also some ingredients if you are into that."

Lyon sighed as he shook his head. "You should be more energetic like your fellow alchemists Renduval, try living up a bit."

"Gh!" Renduval gritted his teeth.  (I'm like this mostly because of you!).

"Then, let's see," said Lyon as he looked at how the items were displayed. "They still use nests? Really?"

Renduval immediately approached him and kept his eyes close to his hands.

"Hey, Renduval, I think I know what Alchemy Union's favorite animal is."

"Huh? What? What are you talking about?" Renduval frowned.

"It's probably griffin," said Lyon. "Though, Assid."

"Yes, young master?" answered Assid.

"Do griffins make their own nests?"

"Yes."

"Alright," Lyon nodded. "Then griffins is their favorite animal."

Renduval twitched his mouth. (What the hell is he talking about?!).

"Ah, Renduval, what is that called?" asked Lyon as he pointed at an item that was displayed. It was not a pill but a type of root. The color was unpleasingly brown and had an earthly scent on it.

"That's a fifty years old root of Vezina Flower," explained Renduval. "This one cost about three million Top Beads."

"Wow, I thought it was shit," Lyon chuckled.

"You! Please show some respect to the ingredient!" said Renduval.

"Alright alright alchemist, chill," said Lyon as he rolled his eyes. "What's up with this anyway, why are they selling ingredients?"

"Because, young master Lyon," Cherie stepped in. "We can buy the ingredients and then give them to an alchemist for a fee. In return, we would get the pills that we wanted."

"Oh, that does make sense," said Lyon as he nodded. "But then, this is not a reward, this is just a tour."

"Oh no," Cherie chuckled. "The reward is that you can pick three items on the second floor, regardless of its ingredients or pills that interest you, for free."

"Really?" Lyon raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Then that means, me, Pore, Zet, and the gorgeous Ivy over here got three each?"

(Po..re..) Porealus's eyebrows twitch.

Hilde nodded with a smile, "Exactly, you guys may pick whatever you want."

Cherie then added, "This is possible due to the winners of the tournament are only the four of you."

"See, isn't that great, haha!" Lyon laughed wholeheartedly and brought frowned faces from the other customers.

"Cecile, Lumina, go pick up whatever you want, my treat, haha~," said Lyon proudly as he strode forward.

Cecile chuckled before she looked at Lumina whom sighed, "Don't want the prince charming waiting now.

The two ladies walked closely behind him and look at the various items that were on sale.

"You guys are free to take a look and took the items that interest you," said Renduval to the rest of the group before he squinted his eyes as he followed Lyon.

"What's with him," Porealus snorted with a smile.

"Yeah, I think he is very suspicious of big brother for some reason. I wonder why," said Zet before he added. "I'm going to follow him."

Porealus quickly grabbed Zet's shoulder. "No, you're not."

"What? Why not?" asked Zet with furrowed brows.

"Look over there," said Porealus as he cued with his glance.

"Woah, Carius, look here, a dragon's tail!" said Tael as he waved at his friend.

"What are you talking about? That doesn't look anything like a tail!" said Carius as he crossed his arms.

"You think so?" asked Tael.

"I know so," he nodded. "If you want a dragon tail that would be the one over there."

"Ermm, excuse me, but that is the bud of Tangen Flower," said the nearby clerk with a wry smile.

Porealus sighed. (Why are we the ones that are going to be babysitting these old bastards, I thought we are the ones that won the damn tournament, for the FIRST TIME!).

"C'mon, let's go," Porealus sighed once more. "There is something that we must do in the meantime."

"Eeehh..." Zet slouched his shoulders but followed along.

After browsing and looping around a few times. Lyon was quickly bored. His eyes found nothing that interest him and the one that had the same feeling as he was, was Kesya. The both of them chose to sit this one out pretty quickly.

"This is boring," said Lyon as his hand pushed his cheek before letting out a sigh.

"Me too, young master, me too," complained Kesya before both of them sighed.

Lyon looked at Lumina that was whispering something to Cecile before the latter shook her head. "Heh, what are they talking about."

Renduval couldn't believe his eyes. People would usually get elated being invited to the second floor. So far in his career, he had never met a single person that was 'bored' by the items that they had displayed, furthermore, the items were free to boot.

"Oh look, it's Renduval," a bullish tone was heard before Renduval frowned.

He looked over to see a golden-cloaked alchemist smirking at him. He had dark short hair and looked the same age as him.

Lyon noticed that Renduval's face turned a bit grim and a contempt gaze lay inside those eyes of his. "There we go..." Lyon muttered with a smile.