At Lunagal Academy, he had only met the other person a few times, yet they were enough to become friends.
In the other person's dark eyes, Sid saw wisdom, a kind of pure wisdom that made him feel comfortable.
That is the purity of being free from calculation, far removed from filth, isolated from the stench of fame and fortune, and focused solely on the mystery.
This friendship was a rare gain from his trip to the Red Moon.
but……
He didn't even have time to consider why the other person was there.
Seeing the naive Claude and his companion surrounded by swarming merchants, Sid's mind was instantly filled with many terrifying legends about Alchemy City.
For example, there is a mage with exceptional talent who, unable to pay off debts he incurred in a muddled way, is imprisoned in the dark underground of an alchemy workshop, where he is forced to exhaust every bit of his magic power day after day, hunched over the workbench to inscribe magical runes.
For example, a gifted warrior might be tempted by a specially made enchanted armor, only to fall into the trap of a cunning and ruthless merchant, and be forced to be locked inside the armor, becoming the merchant's personal bodyguard.
Alchemy City may look glamorous, but it is actually a city that devours people without spitting out their bones.
Everyone in this city is incredibly busy, yet it's hard to say that anyone in this city can be considered happy.
Leaving aside the laborers toiling day and night, the apprentices constantly being beaten and scolded, forced to repeatedly draw monotonous magic runes, even the master craftsmen who possessed alchemical laboratories—for example, himself—
He was also firmly trapped at his workbench, worrying day after day about the source of funding for the laboratory.
Perhaps only Luna knows where all the wealth created and generated by this city has gone.
Sid could almost picture the fate of the naive Claude, who would be swindled out of his last gold coin, stripped naked, and thrown out of the city gates.
See? The other party is already dizzy and ready to open their wallets to buy thirty-six different kinds of licenses from Alchemy City.
He downed the remaining wine in his glass, put on a hypocritical aristocratic smile, and said to Mark, who was still engrossed in his speech, "Master, to be honest, I know absolutely nothing about mechanical puppets. However, you can send any extra samples to my laboratory—"
"Of course, please note that it must be done in a private capacity. After all, you should know that my surname is Liujin."
Having said that, Sid ignored the string of compliments and pleasantries the other person offered, picked up the mage's hat beside him, and walked toward the crowd of people at the tavern entrance.
“Claude.” Sid spoke calmly, through the layers upon layers of merchants pouncing on him like vicious dogs.
The aura of a level 5 lightning mage was suddenly released, instantly silencing the noisy crowd. This was a unique characteristic of the lightning element, capable of making everyone clear-headed and quiet.
"Who dares to steal my business?!"
A fat, big-eared merchant turned around, about to lash out, but stopped himself when he saw those emerald green eyes.
Even though the Gilded Family is not what it used to be, in Alchemy City, their signature emerald green eyes still outshine any dazzling license.
A scornful sneer curled at the corners of Sid's lips. As he continued forward, the crowd quietly parted to the sides.
“Sid!”
The young man, surrounded by the crowd and seemingly waiting to be slaughtered, paused for a moment when he saw him, but then shouted out happily.
Sid knew in his heart that something was wrong.
He quickly spoke up, saying only, "Come with me, Claude!"
Seeing that the other person was following, he hurriedly left the tavern.
The Alchemy City has countless workshops, but only four alchemy laboratories. Only those who own their own alchemy laboratory can be called masters.
Every item they designed was capable of leading a new product trend, bringing in massive wealth and countless profits.
Sid Ryuk is the youngest alchemist in history, having already established his own alchemy laboratory at the tender age of twenty-eight!
After he left, the merchants suddenly realized what was happening. Their eyes lit up, and they shouted respectful titles as they chased after the departing alchemist and his companions.
...
Panting, Sid led the two across two whole blocks before slowing down.
He glanced behind him with lingering fear, relieved that no one was chasing him, and couldn't help but feel a little regretful, thinking that he would probably have to find another tavern in the future.
“I’m sorry, Sid,” Claude said.
"It's alright, those people are just too crazy," Sid waved his hand dismissively.
He always sneaks in, has a drink, and then leaves.
He glanced at the other person and the tall, pale-faced man behind him, and asked curiously, "Who is this?"
“This is Isaac. He’s my boyfriend.” Claude seemed a little shy, but his tone was solemn and firm when he introduced him.
Sid nodded to the other person and introduced himself, "It's a pleasure to meet you, sir. I am Sid."
"Hello, I'm Isaac." The brown-haired man smiled politely at him, his face bearing the perfect fake smile that Sid was familiar with.
"..." Very good, they are still warriors among the nobles.
Sid shrugged silently to himself, then looked away and said to Claude, "Let's talk as we walk. What did you guys do in Alchemy City?"
"Well... this is a long story..." Claude stammered, seemingly hesitant.
Upon hearing this, Sid blinked and said understandingly, "I'm free tomorrow morning, so I'll tell you the details then. You should settle in at my place first; it's not far from here, just one block away."
"Oh? Wouldn't that be a bit too much of a bother..."
Seeing that the dark-eyed youth was about to refuse, Sid said calmly, "Oh? If you're willing to stay at that shady inn those merchants were trying to sell you, where you'd have to pay fifty gold coins for a night, have your spatial ring stolen in the middle of the night, and wake up the next day to find a ridiculously high bill signed on your registration form—"
"Then I won't say any more."
As he vividly and truthfully described the scene, the exceptionally adorable magician couldn't help but exchange bewildered glances with her boyfriend before honestly saying to him, "Then we'll have to trouble you, Sid."
Sid nodded in satisfaction and led the two toward his residence in the East District.
It was a small three-story house with a courtyard, and it was Sid's most satisfying investment in recent years. It wasn't because of the rising land price, but because he had finally moved out of the oppressive manor of the Liujin family.
The entire building is constructed of brick and stone, but he personally inscribed magic runes on it from the foundation, making it almost a simplified version of a mage tower.
The first floor houses the living room, dining room, and alchemy laboratory; the second floor serves as a guest room and library; the third floor is his bedroom and meditation room; and the basement contains a workshop, warehouse, and cellar.
The kitchen, bathroom, and toilet are set up separately in a corner of the courtyard.
This was a birthday gift that Sid gave himself on the day he came of age, using up all the inheritance left to him by his parents and the wealth he had accumulated over the years.
This house was his ideal home, which he began designing for himself in his childhood, and it carries a great deal of commemorative significance.
For example, his silent resistance against the Liujin family.
For example, his longing and sorrow for his deceased parents.
Because he loved that house so much, he had never made up his mind to move out of Alchemy City.
But when Sid, in a good mood, led his two guests from afar to his mansion, he saw a tall, thin young man waiting pitifully in the bleak autumn wind.
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