Chapter 171 - Pack Up The Trash And Leave
"You want me to kowtow and hand over my title deed?" Leon repeated with a strange undertone. "Do you even have the strength to compel me?"
In the world, the strong cared little for the laws and only strength reigns supreme. Thus, the two merchant associations didn't think much about their actions. As long as they didn't go overboard, who would care about the life of a commoner?
Unfortunately, even at this present time, Vigo was still unaware that he had provoked the one family, no one in the Crawford Kingdom should provoke.
"This…"
When Vigo Primrose heard Leon's question, he retreated a step back in fear. That's right! Even if this brat was a commoner, he was a commoner that was stronger than him! Something doesn't add up! How can there be a commoner stronger than nobles? Without the resources and nurturing of a great noble family, it didn't make sense for someone so young to become so strong! It was impossible!
However, Vigo Primrose did not have time to think too deeply before a reassuring hand patted him on the shoulder.
"Teacher." Vigo uttered with surprise. Why was his teacher here? Did his teacher follow him secretly?
"Vigo, even though you are just a student under me, you are still the president of a merchant association. Where is the mental fortitude of one? How can you be so easily intimidated by a brat? Perhaps, it was wrong for your father to retire early and hand over his position to you. You're clearly not ready." Vigo's teacher shook his head with disappointment. He was a wizened old man, but his eyes carried wisdom. He was Grandmaster Cato, the second best alchemist in the Capital. "It was good that I came, otherwise you would have lost face for me. Stand to the side. I will deal with this."
"Yes, teacher." Vigo complied obediently with utmost respect.
His teacher wasn't just a grandmaster alchemist, he was a powerful awakener with the strength of seven stars. Not many knew about the star ranking system that exist between the Awakener Realm and the Transcendent Realm, but as a student of Grandmaster Cato, he was made aware while studying under his teacher.
Even Leon had to take the old man seriously as soon as the old man appeared. Others might not be able to gauge the cultivation of someone much more powerful than them, but Leon was able to with a simple sweep of his divine sense. Seven stars wasn't a level he could take lightly with his present strength.
As an alchemist, Grandmaster Cato dabbled with herbs on a daily routine. Over the years, his body developed a strong herbal scent. However, such herbal scent wasn't unique to him and was prominent among any named alchemists. As such, their status is easily recognized by their smell.
Grandmaster Cato scrutinized Leon, before he asked, "Are you the brazen brat that looked down on my alchemy?"
"If you are talking about the person that was outside the Primrose Merchant Association building a week ago, then indeed that person was I." Leon responded calmly. He gave the Old man a sweeping glance before he resumed browsing the pill store.
"Heh." Receiving his answer, Grandmaster Cato's expression was full of disdain. "You're just a kid still wet behind the ears. Do you think it is easy to become an alchemist? You don't even carry the herbal scent of one and yet you boast your alchemy is greater than mine? You're just a braggart, kid! Hmph!"
A strong wave of herbal scent washed over Leon and made him feel nauseous as he shook his head with a sickened expression.
One must know that even the strong herbal aroma of the second-floor treasury did not make his nauseous. There was no way, the herbal scent exuded from the Old man was on the same level. Thus, Leon had to be nauseous under a different reason.
However, Grandmaster Cato did not know this and didn't give him a chance to respond. Seeing Leon's nauseous expression and roaming eyes, he continued, "You can't even handle the herbal scent exuded from my body and you expect others to believe your alchemy is better than mine? Look at these pills and burn it into your eyes. They were all refined by me, something you will never be able to accomplish."
"I won't comment on the pill recipe's origin, but you are right. The pills are trash and the alchemist that refined it was an even bigger trash. There's no need for comparison. You win." Leon said with disgust.
So much good herbs had been wasted by this wastrel. How can Leon feel good knowing that? He already knew who refined the pills before the Grandmaster Cato even told him. He could smell the pill ingredients on the person's body.
Grandmaster Cato's expression became dark and immediately snarled, "Boy, do you believe that I won't slap you to death with this hand of mine!? What do you mean by those words? Don't think you can get out of this alive without explaining!"
"I meant exactly what I said. These pills might be good for healing, but its quality is so bad and contained too much pill toxin, it's not worth ingesting. Those who ingest it would only end up developing other illnesses. As such, it is no different to ingesting poison." Leon said calmly, before continuing in a condescending tone, "Do you think your alchemy skills are determined by the herbal scent you carry? That is the most ludicrous thing I've ever heard in my life. Listen well, Old man, you've gotten it completely wrong."
"A strong herbal scent does not represent the alchemist's success. It only represents their incompetence. The herbal scent on your body is a result of your poor pill refining skills, allowing a majority of herbal essence to escape during the pill coagulation step. Hence, there's nothing wrong saying trash pill and trashier alchemist."
Grandmaster Cato's disdain was replaced with solemnness. He could not refute Leon's words. What the boy said was completely true. His alchemy skills had hit a bottleneck and began to deteriorate to a point where it wasn't strange if he went from second best to second worse instead.
That's why he went out of his way to flaunt his status and prestige when he felt that it was being attacked by a nobody. How much could a kid possibly know about alchemy? However, he was now regretting his life's choice. Who knew the kid actually knew a thing or two and could point out the flaws in his pills?
The crowd became busy once more when they saw Grandmaster Cato's silence and solemnness.
"Is it true? Had this place really been selling us such defective pills?"
"I think it is. I faintly recall one of my workers suffered a long gash after a simple fall in the mines. Although the wound healed up right away after he was treated, he said he didn't feel so good and began sick."
"Similar case happened over here too. I didn't think much about it, thinking it was due to the environment of the mines that made them fall sick, but now that I think about it, it must be due to the pills."
"Right, I didn't believe it either. I think it was the same for everyone. No one would believe that a pill that could heal so well would be so problematic."
Listening to the ongoing discussion, Grandmaster Cato no longer had the face to stay. He turned around and began to leave, but not after making one last ditch effort to save his face.
"I'm too lazy to deal with your nonsense, boy. However, it indeed wrong of the Primrose and Fischer Merchant Associations to seize your property as you are the legal owner of this establishment. As such, we'll be returning it to you."
…
"Teacher, we're leaving just like this?" Vigo Primrose followed and whispered. He was unreconciled with the turn of events. Does he have to give up on the prime location just like that?
"We can't deal with boy in front of so many people. It would only mean we are guilty. I will find a chance to deal with him in the future." Grandmaster Cato replied quietly.
"I'm afraid it might not be that easy. He doesn't seem to have a simple background. He seems very knowledgeable in alchemy and has high cultivation." Vigo said warily.
Grandmaster Cato sneered and linked his hands behind his back when he heard this. "What background could the brat have? In this era, you can gain all sorts of knowledge from the libraries; including alchemy. As long as you are willing to learn, instead of managing your merchant association all day, you would also be as knowledgeable as that brat. The only thing libraries don't have on alchemy are the pill recipes. Do you remember how the brat avoided the topic?"
Hearing his teacher's reminder, it really did seem to be the case. "But how do we explain his high cultivation?"
"That is the interesting part." Grandmaster Cato's lips rose into a cold smile. "I could smell traces of the mines on the boy's body. For a commoner from the mines to have such a high cultivation, it could only be one thing."
"The crystals?" Vigo was not stupid. Although, the news was suppressed and the Capital was on lockdown, allowing no one to leave, he was still able to get news of the gargantuan discovery through his wide network.
"Precisely. Stealing the crystals and secretly cultivating with it is capital offense. Wouldn't it be interesting if it was reported to the royal family?"
"So that was the case."
Vigo Primrose fell assured when he heard his teacher's explanation. He recalled that when he met the boy, the mining had already been underway. The boy must have been among the first, if not the first to discover the crystal's usage.
"Teacher, for this boy's matter, I hope you can let me deal with it." Vigo requested. He wanted to humiliate boy and see him suffer before ending his life.
"Well it doesn't matter." Grandmaster Cato no longer cared too much. The boy was already dead in his eyes. It was just a simple matter of when to report him to the royal family.
"Thank you, teacher."
Vigo Primrose quickly summoned a servant and sent the servant back to the pill store with an invitation. Vigo wanted to see the boy humiliated and despair before ending his insignificant life. He was after all the president of a merchant association. When had he ever been embarrassed by a brat before?
Considering the boy was wasting his time on the pill store instead of preparing to attend the birthday banquet, Vigo Primrose regained his confidence. It must be true that the Cromwell family didn't place any importance on the brat. Otherwise, how could he not know about such an upcoming important event? Not unless, the Cromwell family didn't inform him!
But how could this be blamed on Leon? It was natural for him to be unaware since he only just returned to the Capital not long ago. The Cromwell family had yet to receive news of his return, otherwise they would have sent someone to inform him.
…
"Everyone should stop buying these harmful pills and leave. The store is no longer open for business. However, it will be open a week later with genuine high-quality pills that will be effective to anyone. I can assure you with my title as Divine Doctor." Leon said after Vigo Primrose left with the grandmaster alchemist. He did not stop them. This was the best outcome possible. If a battle had erupted, it was hard to guess whether he could come out unscathed or not. It was only a pity that he couldn't deal with the two merchant associations right away.
"Then we will be bidding our farewell, your Highness." A minority of the nobles said respectfully with sweaty palms.
They had been filled with concerns when the powerful grandmaster alchemist appeared. If the grandmaster alchemist had decided to slap the prince to death, would the blame be on them for not stepping forward to defend the prince and announce his status? The Queen's rage would have easy to imagine but impossible to quell. They wouldn't be surprised if everyone present was slaughtered for it.
However, they were relieved that things did not take such a turn of events. They were slightly disappointed that they didn't get to see how the prince would deal with the two merchant associations thanks to the grandmaster alchemist's appearance.
The other nobles were shocked at the revelation when they heard the few nobles addressing the Leon as his highness and felt weak in the knees. Offending the prince was much worse than offending the Cromwell's son-in-law.
Carefully studying Leon's uncaring expression, they were relieved that the prince was not narrow-minded like the Primrose Merchant Association's president. After apologizing for their previously scornful remarks, they left one after another.
Soon all the customer left, leaving behind Leon and the uneasy store clerks, especially the clerk that talked Leon. He had been incredibly rude to the prince. What was going to become of him?
Leon made a sweeping glance at the pills on the shelves, before turning to them with an expressionless face.
"Your president already left. Why haven't you packed up the trash and leave yet?"