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A conference meeting somewhere...
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In a dark room lies a large circular table in the middle. Several chairs are surrounding the table with people sitting it. All of them are wearing a red robes with a hood covering their head. The robe has a yellow lining on the exterior edge.
The only light source comes from a single chandelier above the table.
A hologram lights up in the middle of the table. It shows two pictures, Julius and Mina.
One of them stands up. "Without further ado, let's start. Both of them have shown fabulous potential and may be a threat to our plan in the future. Should we attempt to get them to our side or exterminate them?" The mysterious man says.
...
"How about brainwashing the girl? Brainwash seems to be impossible for the guy judging by his background as he has a deep hatred for nobles." Another one says.
"We can try that. Having her strength on our side will greatly accelerate our plan. Any suggestions for extermination?"
They think for a while.
"Bandits." Says another man.
"Hm?"
The man who suggested bandits takes off his hood to reveal himself. It's Orland. "The first division is going to be sent out on an expedition to patrol nearby villages, from the Village of Exodia to the Kenin Village. Division thirty-first will also follow them. Currently, Julius is very weak, we can commission the Tiger Bandits to get rid of them." Says Orland.
"Oh? You are using those infamous barbarians? Where will you get the money to do so?"
Orlando looks to his left. The person on his left taps her finger on the table and smiles. Although her face can only be seen from the lower half, her purple nails and lips are very recognisable.
"You are... Mideus of the Nelson family?"
"That's right." She says. "Together with Julius, why don't we get rid of that Loi, the commoner who shamed my family?"
Enough light is shone on Mideus to allow people to vaguely make out her features. A lady in her 40's with wrinkles. Her white hair has vague silver strands and her blue eyes have no light in them.
"My exact thoughts ma'am." Says Orland.
The man who started the meeting frowns. "Loi... I assume you have heard of the rumours. Former trash who hid his skills, are you sure those bandits are good enough to deal with him?"
Orland starts to laugh. "Hahahaha! You are worrying too much. He is a brat who has not experienced the true fear of life and death. Not to mention, the tiger bandit has slaughtered countless geniuses; this will be a piece of cake for them. Don't worry too much, even if the bandits fail to kill Loi and Julius, I have a secret Core Formation spy who is on our side in Division thirty-first."
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Alchemist Association Tower
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I enter a room at the top of the tower. I never would have thought I'd climb those long stairs without collapsing.
Inside the room, there are two bookshelves on both sides with only a few windows directly opposite the door. There's a desk and chair in front of the window, someone is sitting on the chair, facing the window.
"Headmaster, I bought him." The woman says.
"Alright, you may leave."
...wait... This voice sounds familiar.
The chair turns around to reveal a boy, the person I met on the counter on the ground floor.
!!!
"It's you!?!" The both of us simultaneously blurt out.
"Y-You are the one who made a perfect pill? What the fuck are you? Some sort of alien monster?" The boy says.
"That's my question..."
"..."
I sigh as he sighs.
"My name is Allen. You are Loi right?"
I nod.
"Let's cut the chase. I want to make a deal with you."
?
Allen sighs. "I heard that you joined the army."
"Yeah, why?"
"I wanted to strike a deal of investing in you, allowing you to access our top-tier library and teach you to make better pills. That is if you are confident you can make more perfect pills."
"So what's the problem?" I ask.
"I've heard that a squire schedule is very packed."
"Oh, that. You do not need to worry too much, I am in a division that slacks. I will come whenever I have the time." I say.
Allen stares at me. "Alright. So here's the thing, I will provide you with resources to make whatever pills or potion you want. But the potions and pills created must be shared with us. I will also provide you with learning materials to further your study on alchemists if you want to."
...
This is a good deal but...
"What is the share ratio?" I ask.
"1:4. You are the latter." Allen says.
Hmm... So if I make 5 pills, I have to give 1 to Allen...
Alright.
"Deal. But you won't mind if I sell the pills I make from your materials right?" I ask.
"Sure, the ownership of the pills is yours. However, I will only accept perfect pills and potions."
"No problem."
Allen places a scroll on the table. "This is the contract."
I walk up to the desk to read it. After a while, I sign the scroll. The scroll floats up once signed and disappears into blue dust.
"Good. You can contact me through this when you want to start, you should go for your army appointment. I heard that the monthly expedition is about to begin." Allen says.
Expedition? I have a bad feeling...
"Alright. See you."
I left the tower in a hurry. I check my watch to see the time.
!!!
Shit, I've spent too much time at the tower, I only have 40 minutes left.
I quickly sprint to the army base.
-------------
I arrive at the dormitory all sweaty and panting.
Mason is leaning against the gate to the Dormitory. A large wall is surrounding the dormitory with barb wires imbued with magic at the top. Only one gate facing the west allows entry into the Dormitory.
"Oh! It's you. Why the rush?"
"I...huff huff...40 minutes."
Mason laughs. "Pfft! Haha! Don't worry about it. Nobody cares even if the Thirty-first Brigade doesn't arrive on time. Come on, the briefing and stuff are boring, let's go meet the others. There's only a few of us after all, it will be quick."
I follow him to the back of the dormitory, there's a large shack beside the dumpster area.
Wait...
"Haha... Sorry to crush your expectations, but this is where we reside." Says Mason, pointing at a wooden shack.
...
"Don't be so down. At least we have a roof above our head, haha..."
I sigh. "Doesn't matter. Let's go in."
"Nice, I like people like you."
Mason opens the shaky wooden door to reveal a somewhat tidy place in the shack. Three mattresses are laid neatly beside one another at an interval. There is one shelf of books, a shelf of can food, and finally another shelf of board games, all
"Oh! It's the new guy!" Says a man laying on one of the mattresses in the middle. Another woman sitting on the edge of the Shack looks at me.
Both of them have brown hair and greens, siblings probably.
The woman has shoulder-length hair and the man has a shaved head. Both of them are wearing navy blue coats with jeans, the official uniform of a knight without their armour.
"Sup everyone! This is Loi, our new member."
"And this is Harper!" Says Mason, pointing at the man.
"And the other one is Edith!"
...
"Uh...Hello." I scratch my head. Usually, a brigade consists of more than 50 people...
"Well... Believe it or not, it's just us." Says Mason. "But don't sweat the small details."
...
The door to our shack was suddenly kicked down.
"Hey! Open the door by using your hands, damn it. I just fixed that yesterday!" Says Harper.
"Shut up, trash. The briefing is already over, get the fuck out and join the formation." Says a knight fully armoured. He then leaves afterwards.
Mason sighs. "Sorry about that. Let's gear up and set off."
Edith and Harper sigh. Mason passed to me an army uniform and some armour. All of us wear a rusty chest plate, shoulder guard and knee guard.
Afterwards, we set off to the area in front of the dormitory, where the first Division is already gathered.
I look around. The first division is wearing shiny full-iron armour. I click my tongue, the difference is a bit too big.
I see a guy standing at the front of the formation. He stands out as he is shorter than the rest of the knights in his Division, it is Julius. Signs of Malnutrition are gone and his pale skin is now healthy, probably healed by magic.
Our eyes meet but Julius glares at me.
?
I follow Mason to the back of the formation to see Mina as part of the expedition as well.
Mina sees me but quickly looked away.
???
What is wrong with all these protagonists?
Wait... Mina and Julius in an expedition. This expedition might be my chance to complete Mina's quest to save Julius from the bandit.