Chapter 69: Searching for the Fat Pharmacist
As the gathering was drawing to a close, a man sitting quietly in the corner spoke up: "I want to sell a potion formula - 'Corpse Collector', 230 pounds."
Alice glanced at the man, intrigued by the church's potion formula. Unfortunately, she couldn't make out any details through his hood and mask.
However, it wasn't unusual for a Sequence 9 formula to be circulating outside the church. Alice shook her head and turned her attention elsewhere.
The potion formula sold quickly, followed by a few more transactions.
About 15 minutes later, Klein asked: "Does anyone have the full spinal fluid of a striped black panther?"
Silence fell over the room. No one spoke up, so Klein added: "I'll offer a reward that no extraordinary being could refuse."
This caught Alice's attention. She understood what kind of reward Klein was referring to. Realizing how difficult it was for non-church members to advance, Alice suddenly had another theory about why the church kept this knowledge secret - a reason unrelated to the gods, but more relevant to lower-ranked extraordinary individuals.
If all low-level extraordinary individuals knew about the acting method and the indestructibility of extraordinary characteristics, they would become nothing more than walking potion ingredients! Just like she was now.
Alice lowered her eyes and sighed inwardly. Perhaps the gods' concealment of this knowledge was partly selfish, but wasn't it also a form of protection for lower-ranked extraordinary individuals? Alice understood that true altruism was rare in this world. She had long ago realized that every gift from fate came with a price. It would be strange if this benevolence had no benefit attached.
She never believed in purely good people. Even in the past, she only believed that such people would be good to her.
Klein's offer received no response. He shrugged and said, "Alright, next."
The fat pharmacist cleared his throat and began his sales pitch: "I've brought quite a few potions. See if there's anything you want. The prices are reasonable - just a few pounds, or even a few soli."
Alice looked over in surprise and asked curiously, "Wasn't 'Black Snake' dead? Did he perish along with the beast in the sewers?"
Her question caused a sudden pause in the atmosphere. After a few seconds of silence, the fat pharmacist asked, "You weren't here last time?"
Alice immediately realized her question had given her away. She remained quiet, waiting for the pharmacist's answer.
The fat pharmacist fell silent. The elderly "Eye of Wisdom" broke the tension: "How did you know 'Black Snake' was dead, young lady?"
"I saw it," Alice paused, realizing they suspected her involvement in Black Snake's death. "Fate told me."
While others were still pondering Alice's words, the fat pharmacist had already breathed a sigh of relief. "I see. I must say, your tone just now sounded very much like my teacher's."
"Your teacher?" Alice raised an eyebrow.
"Yes," the fat pharmacist didn't elaborate. "Would you like some potions? You should be familiar with them."
*He assumes I understand potions... He thinks I'm from the Life School? Though it doesn't matter if I'm not, he probably thinks he can't be traced...* Alice raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Do you have any potions that can quickly heal wounds?"
The fat pharmacist immediately produced two vials, promoting them: "Can be used externally or internally. 10 soli each, effective for up to six months."
Alice purchased the two vials with a 1-pound note, then asked, "So, has the beast in the sewers been dealt with?"
The pharmacist chuckled and shrugged, "I don't know. At the last gathering, some lucky fellow suggested I report it to the police. After doing so, I haven't been back to the sewers."
Alice silently mourned Black Snake for a second before falling quiet. As the fat pharmacist finished selling his odd assortment of potions, the gathering came to an end.
Back home, Alice looked at the potions in her hand with a smile. A normal person would never be able to divine the pharmacist's location from his potions, but Alice was far from normal.
Sure enough, Alice once again saw in her dream the recently relocated herb shop in Backlund.
...
The next day, after her usual prayers at the church, Alice went to the address she had seen in her dream.
This time, Alice had the foresight to alter her appearance - she wouldn't make the mistake of doing strange things with Brier Rose's face again.
She still appeared somewhat youthful, so when Alice pushed open the door, the pharmacist greeted her with familiar words: "Welcome... Uh, miss, are you of age?"
Alice smiled as she closed the door behind her, removed her necklace, and revealed her true face.
Alice watched as the pharmacist's small features rearranged themselves into an expression of terror.
"Be quiet," Alice commanded coldly before he could make a sound.
The fat pharmacist immediately shut his mouth, even covering it with his hand to prevent any accidental noise.
This submissive behavior made Alice pause. For a moment, she felt that bullying such a pitiful fellow wasn't right.
*Blame it on that Mercury Snake...* she grumbled inwardly. Maintaining her cold expression, Alice raised her chin and said, "I'll ask, you answer. Understood?"
This attitude seemed to have a unique intimidating effect on the fat pharmacist. He hurriedly nodded and said, "Don't kill me, I'll tell you everything."
Then he quickly covered his mouth again under Alice's gaze.
For a moment, Alice wasn't sure what to say, but that wouldn't do - it would reveal her true thoughts. The well-rehearsed Alice quickly regained her composure and asked, "Did you contact the Life School back then?"
The fat pharmacist's eyes darted around evasively.
"It seems you didn't do as I said and just ran away on your own?" Alice asked with a sardonic smile.
The fat pharmacist hastily explained, "No, no, I was already planning to leave at that time..."
"Oh∽" Alice drawled sarcastically, then continued, "So you followed your original plan and completely ignored me, right?"
The fat pharmacist's flab quivered.
"But I suppose it's understandable. You had no reason to help me in the first place. That's normal, isn't it?" Alice asked with a sweet smile.
The fat pharmacist collapsed fearfully into the chair behind him.
Such an honest reaction convinced Alice that this man couldn't possibly be connected to the Mercury Snake - she believed that snake wouldn't have such a useless subordinate.
"Don't tell anyone you've seen me," Alice said coldly. Observing his trembling figure, she thought for a moment and added, "Don't worry, I'm not interested in the 'Pharmacist' extraordinary characteristic... Hmm, I'd quite like to have a place to continue buying potions in the future."
Noticing the fat pharmacist's obvious relief, Alice put on her necklace, adjusted her appearance, and left.