Leon stepped into the shop and immediately noticed the old man wiping down the counter.
"Oh... Kid, you're here again? And so early too. Is something urgent or are you a early bird ?" the old man asked, giving him a curious smile.
"I need these ingredients as soon as possible. I'm already running late for the monthly duels, old man." Leon replied with a neutral expression, placing a folded piece of parchment on the counter.
"Monthly duels? But no academy is—wait... Which academy are you from again?" the old man asked, tilting his head.
"Velthorne Academy," Leon answered with a faint smile.
"Oh my... Another alchemist from Velthorne, huh? Very well then, I'll get your ingredients right away," the old man said, taking the list. But as his eyes scanned the contents written over the piece of paper, his brows slowly furrowed.
"This last item... Redleaf Plant extract... Kid, this plant has been extinct for years. You won't find it anywhere." The old man spoke with a obvious expression.
'Well... Let's see if this trick works. I used to do this with the dope dealers back on earth to get some.' Leon thought with a neutral expression.
"Nothing ever truly goes extinct, old man. You know what I mean," Leon replied with a knowing smirk.
"Hah... You kids and your curiosity.
Still, since you're from Velthorne and I've had good relations with alchemists from there, I'll let you in on something.
There's a hidden place called the 'Black Market'—a ruthless, underground exchange where illegal and extinct items are sold. Beasts, potions, plants... you name it. But it comes at a heavy price, and that's all I can say. I don't know where it is, and I never told you about it. Understood?" the old man asked with a serious expression as he looked at Leon.
"Told me about what?" Leon asked with a straight face pretending to not know anything about what he just heard.
"Good... That's how it should be. Now, remember—you owe this old man one for the tip. I'll fetch your ingredients now." The old man spoke as he went back.
'I do owe you one, old man... And if the Redleaf Plant is in that Black Market, then I might just find succubus sweat there too and maybe the moonleaf as well.' Leon thought as he turned his eyes toward the rest of the shop, looking at old potions racked in shelfs and ingredients floating in some kind of liquid inside big jars.
Suddenly, Something caught his attention.
"Hmm...?" In the right corner of the shop stood a wooden dummy draped in a long brown coat, with a pair of gloves and black goggles hanging neatly beside it.
Leon immediately used his skill on instinct.
[Name: Gura's Alchemy Clothes]
[Description: Gura Grandom, one of the greatest alchemists in human history, crafted this alchemy set.
After his death, his possessions were stolen and sold across the world. This particular set includes a coat made from a rough yet durable fiber capable of resisting burns during potion-making. It contains hidden pockets that can store up to fifty potions inside them, accessible only while wearing the matching gloves. The gloves themselves increase the user's crafting speed and weight sensitivity.
The enchanted goggles are made with special glass and magical runes that reveal rare alchemy ingredients otherwise hidden by magic or undetectable to the naked eye—but they only function when the full set is worn.]
'Holy shit... What the hell is an overpowered item like that doing in this run-down shop?' Leon thought, holding back his excitement.
"Kid, I got everything you need," the old man called, stepping out with a large basket full of herbs and ingredients.
"I have double checked every item in this basket but you can-" Before the old man could've completed his sentence, Leon interrupted him.
"Hey, old man... that coat," Leon said, pointing toward the set.
"What about it? Just some old decoration I picked up at a sale. Tried it once—itches like hell," the old man replied casually.
'He really thinks it's just some itchy old coat... I'm seriously in luck today,' Leon thought, keeping his poker face intact.
"How much for it? I'll buy it along with the ingredients," he said calmly.
"Hmm...? You actually want that ragged old thing? It looks terrible and it's uncomfortable to wear—what good can a decoration—"
"One silver for the coat, goggles, and gloves," Leon interrupted with a deadpan tone.
"Sold! That makes it six silver total. Want me to pack the suit for you, kid ?" the old man asked with a wide smile, clearly pleased with the sweet deal.
"No need. I'll take it as it is," Leon replied, walking over to the dummy and removing the gear.
"Looks like you're planning to brew quite a few potions, huh ?
These are some really expensive and odd herbs you have asked for. No one has used timber flower's extract in years. Since it can be replaced with some cheap burnsalt ash.
Should I replace it ? Because this alone will cost you 50 coppers." the old man asked, glancing at the basket of supplies.
"Don't remove anything, old man. Here—I'm running late for the Academy. I'll see you later," Leon said, handing over six silver coins, grabbing the basket, and heading out.
"Kids these days are always in a rush. Still, I got a great deal out of that crappy old coat. Bought it for 30 coppers, sold it for a silver. That's today's profit secured—I might just close the shop early and rest,
Or... I can go to the windgrass brothel and have some fun time there hehehehe." the old man chuckled, counting his coins.
Leon exited the shop with a wide grin and immediately stashed the coat and ingredients into his inventory.
"Now I just need a wagon to get back to the academy," he muttered, scanning the street.
Just then, a wagon rolled into view from the far side of the kingdom, heading straight toward the academy's direction.
"Lady Luck really is shining on me today," Leon smiled, raising his hand.
"What do you need, kid?" the wagon driver asked with a puzzled look.
"Are you heading toward Velthorne Academy?" Leon asked, hopeful.
"I am, but I'll stop just before it. This is a transport wagon, not a passanger carrier. Are you a student at the academy?" the driver asked, eyeing him.
"Yeah, and I'm running late. Can you take me as far as you go?" Leon asked.
"Hop in. I'll take you all the way before heading to my actual stop," the driver said, motioning him in.
"Thanks," Leon replied, climbing aboard. The wagon was loaded with large wooden crates.
The driver snapped the reins, and the horses charged forward.
"My daughter goes to that academy too. She got in with help from the noble family I work for. I'm proud of her, once she gets out... Maybe we can have a good life." the driver said, smiling warmly.
"Good for you," Leon replied, pulling out the ingredients from his inventory and laying them out on the wagon floor.
'Pray that some Royal prick doesn't rape her and throw her body aside.' Leon thought for a split second before returning to his work.
"Instant Craft..." he whispered.
[Minor Glomar Aphrodisiac Potion]
A long list of options appeared in front of him.
"Make them all," Leon muttered, grinning.
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The wagon came to a stop at the Velthorne Academy's gates.
"Alright, kid. We're here," the driver said with a smile.
"Thanks..." Leon jumped down, now fully dressed in Gura's Alchemy Set. The coat's long belts swayed behind him, the high collars partially blocked his peripheral vision from both sides, the gloves hung slightly loose on his hands and the goggles were resting over his head.
"Well, well... Look at you. When did you even change into that old thing ?" the driver asked, chuckling.
"Thanks for the ride, sir. Here's a little—" Leon began, pulling out a few copper coins.
"I don't want money, kid. Remember I told you about my daughter?" the driver asked.
"Yeah. What about her?" Leon asked curiously.
"Her name is Debbie, she is a mage. Brown hair, black eyes... She's a sweet girl but gets scared easily. Look out for her, would you ? At last we commoners will need to have each other's back," the driver said with a warm smile.
"I'll try. Thanks again," Leon nodded and headed toward the academy gates.
As soon as he entered inside the academy—
Every eye turned toward him.
"What is that clown wearing?"
"What kind of idiot wears something like that?"
The crowd of students filled with tension of the duels, burst into mocking laughter as they pointed and snickered.
Leon walked forward, completely unfazed, his eyes focused straight ahead.
"Laugh all you want, fuckers."