Pushing open the metal door, Bai Yi stepped into the empty shop, a feeling of bewilderment washing over him.
*Is this really my pharmacy? Where did all the models go?*
"Boss, you're finally here! This is Mr. Sunu. He just bought all the models in the store." Irene's voice broke his train of thought.
Turning to face her, Bai Yi saw Irene and Luo Ning standing with complex expressions. In front of them stood a middle-aged dwarf with a kindly face.
The dwarf was about 1.3 meters tall, his brown beard reaching his knees. Seven sparkling rings adorned his hands, each one gleaming with considerable value.
When his gaze met Bai Yi's, his eyes lit up with excitement. He hurried over, offering a broad smile. "Ah, you must be Bai Yi! I've heard so much about you. My name's Sunu. I work for the Koman family, and I've come to discuss the *Alchemy Magic Network* with you."
His eyes gleamed brighter as he spoke. "You've done something remarkable with the network! I've been working on my own version, almost identical to yours. Your inspiration came from the Sage Network that the Star Federation adventurers mentioned, didn't it? I'd love to compare notes, see if we can come to some kind of mutual understanding."
Bai Yi's heart skipped a beat as he processed the introduction. The *Alchemy Magic Network* had gained widespread attention after Sunu's discussions with players in the capital. His ideas had revolutionized the networks across the three federations, and now even the Alchemist Sage had embraced his concepts, replacing the Federation's old system.
Bai Yi's mind clicked into place. He'd essentially plagiarized Sunu's work, presenting it as his own innovation. Now, fate had brought Sunu to his doorstep, and Bai Yi couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed, as if he had unwittingly stepped into someone else's shoes.
"Senior, you're too kind. I only have a few superficial ideas to contribute. I'm not on your level." Bai Yi's words were humble, but he quickly added, "Please, come this way. I'd be honored to discuss this further."
He led Sunu toward the reception room, turning to Irene, who was holding the Dawn Badge in her hand. "Go to Shengwu Winery and bring back a few bottles of your best wine. We need to entertain our distinguished guest."
Irene blinked, surprised. The finest wine was priced in the thousands of gold coins a bottle. *Is the boss really going all out?*
"No need to go to such lengths," Sunu said quickly, waving his hand. "I only wish to discuss my research with you. If it's inconvenient now, I'm happy to wait a few weeks for a better time."
Bai Yi smiled. "No need to worry, Senior. To be honest, besides the two legends, you're the one I admire most. I grew up reading about your work in my textbooks. You've been a guide for me, and I truly hope we can share this drink together."
With that, Bai Yi guided Sunu to the reception room. As they passed through, he nodded toward Luo Ning, who promptly turned off the neon lights and locked the door. She put up a sign that read, *Temporarily Closed*.
Luo Ning turned back toward the two of them, her eyes flicking to the milk bottles she had pulled from behind the counter. She quickly grabbed two glasses and poured the milk before carrying them into the reception room. Bai Yi's eyes brightened slightly—though he had just eaten a delicious soul crystal core, he still couldn't resist his favorite drink.
"Mr. Sunu, please, allow me," Bai Yi said, placing a glass of milk in front of him. "It's surprising, isn't it? To think that, in such a vast field of alchemical knowledge, we'd end up studying the same topic. It must be fate."
Sunu chuckled, his face beaming with warmth. "Indeed, I couldn't agree more. You and I... no, I should say, we both share the same ideas. It's a pleasure to meet you. Though you're younger, I'm happy to see such success. I do hope we can become friends."
Bai Yi smiled and glanced at Luo Ning, who quickly excused herself to give them space.
"Let's get to it, shall we?" Bai Yi asked, genuinely intrigued. "I have a basic understanding of your work, but I'd like to hear the details. If possible, there's something I'd like to ask you as well."
Sunu's eyes lit up, clearly thrilled by the prospect of their ideas aligning so closely. "Of course, no problem. As I mentioned, the concept of the magic network is simple, though its execution is complex. We create a terminal that radiates a special force outward, using the ambient magic in the air as a conduit. This force connects to another terminal's network, and together, we weave a large-scale, interconnected web."
"This network allows any pre-approved devices to link to the system, no matter where they are, creating an expansive regional network."
He spoke with passion, clearly eager to share his ideas. "The production process is somewhat intricate, but once you understand the principle, it's surprisingly straightforward."
Sunu spoke openly, offering the full scope of his research. He had no intention of hiding his findings; after all, his work was already well-known, and the magic network concept had been widely publicized.
As the upcoming auction was poised to draw attention from the highest echelons of the Federation, no one would dare engage in dishonesty—it would be a reckless move, risking everything.
Bai Yi listened closely, nodding along. Some of Sunu's ideas were familiar to him, while others were new or redundant. Since Bai Yi's *Alchemy Magic Network* had already been optimized by the Alchemist Sage, certain aspects of Sunu's approach felt superfluous.
It was clear that Sunu was an exceptional technologist—his rings, for example, included three space rings, a symbol of mastery in spatial alchemy, a discipline rarer and more expensive than even forbidden knowledge.
While Bai Yi couldn't produce such high-end items himself, he knew that with the right connections, everything would be within reach.