Zanis exhaled softly, stepping deeper into the large receiving room. The floor was tiled in a neat geometric pattern, and the late-afternoon sun filtering through the tall, glass-paneled windows cast elongated shadows against the walls.
Heavy curtains were partially drawn, allowing enough light to give the space a warm, mellow glow. Several plush couches formed a horseshoe around a low, glass-topped coffee table at the room's center—no grand wooden desk here, just a casual setup meant for informal visits.
"Please, my lord," Zanis said, gesturing toward one of the couches, his smile polite but not quite reaching his eyes. "Make yourself comfortable."
"FU-HA-HA-HA, I certainly shall," Dian Cecht boomed, crossing the room with a swagger that suggested he owned it. He selected the largest couch, sinking into its cushions as though it were a throne. The small, doll-like girl quietly positioned herself nearby, hands folded in front of her. "Let us speak as equals—at least for a moment."
Zanis tried not to bristle, instead choosing one of the couches opposite the god. Rex, still playing the role of bodyguard, stationed himself just behind the couches, arms folded behind his back, keeping a close eye on their guest.
"You mentioned a proposition." Zanis spoke first. "May I ask what kind of—"
"Yes, yes, yes!" Dian Cecht cut in, leaning back on the couch, a grin stretching across his face. "I have it on good authority that you've been supplying a certain… dust… to the Panacea Familia. One might say your 'Blue Papilio dust' has become essential to some new, shall we say, groundbreaking concoctions. Care to confirm?"
"I've heard rumors, my lord." Zanis gave a measured nod. "Such talk is hardly proof. The Panacea Familia hasn't officially confirmed anything of that sort."
"Oh, but the eyes and ears of a god reach far, boy." Dian Cecht's tone was smug, his grin sharpening.
"And how can we be so sure it was our dust that made the difference?" Zanis furrowed his brow. "Couldn't it have been another ingredient? Or some new refinement in their process?"
"FU-HA-HA! You really are slow, boy!" Dian Cecht let out a deep, booming laugh, shaking his head. "I've got everything Panacea has—every last reagent, every rare herb, every precious catalyst, and even more! Save for one. Your dust."
Zanis opened his mouth to question further, but Dian Cecht waved a hand in the air, cutting him off. "Ah, ah, ah! Let's not waste time on trivial things, yes?" He chuckled. "Now, back to business."
Dian Cecht leaned forward slightly. "So here's what I propose." He spread his hands theatrically. "Supply me with the same dust—no, supply me exclusively—and I will ensure that your Familia never wants for coin again."
"Exclusivity?" Zanis repeated slowly before clearing his throat. "I can't agree to any deals just yet, my lord. The truth is, I don't even know if the dust is worth anything."
He shook his head slightly. "I don't know its effects, its value, or even if the Panacea Familia actually used it in their potion. For all we know, it could have just been a coincidence—something they bought in passing while discovering something else entirely."
He spread his hands in a measured gesture. "And if it turns out to be a fluke? A worthless ingredient that happened to be in the right place at the right time? What then?"
Dian Cecht's grin widened into something almost manic, his eyes alight with excitement. "FU-HA-HA-HA! That's a risk I'm more than willing to take! So, what do you say, boy? Why don't we form the contract and make history together?"
Before Zanis could respond, Rex's gaze flickered toward the door as it was pushed open. 'They just walk in like they own the place…' he thought as he watched the new arrivals stride in with an air of entitlement.
A tall, handsom male elf held the door open, his demeanor exuding effortless elegance. Behind him followed a fair-skinned woman, her presence commanding yet gentle.
'...Mommy?' Rex blinked her appearance.
She stood 5'8", her softly curvaceous and matronly figure exuding warmth and grace. Her honey-blonde hair was tied into a loose, elegant bun, a few tendrils escaping to frame her beautiful face. She wore a flowing robe in shades of cream and soft green, embroidered with intricate patterns of vines and flowers, that draped gracefully in a slightly loose fit, and atop her head sat a circlet of woven silver leaves.
As she entered, her emerald-green gaze settled on Dian Cecht. "It is no surprise to find you here, Dian Cecht," she said in a smooth, measured tone. "Where there is profit to be made, a god like you is never far behind."
Dian Cecht's grin only widened, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "FU-HA-HA-HA! Well, well, Panacea, it's been too long! Still pretending virtue alone can change the world? While you coddle the sick, the rest of us are making real progress!" His voice dripped with mockery, his posture lounging as though he owned the room.
Panacea did not rise to his bait, merely offering a patient smile as if dealing with a stubborn child before her gaze shifted to Zanis and Rex. "I apologize for our abrupt arrival. I hope we are not imposing."
"Not at all, my lady." Zanis let out a strained chuckle, gesturing toward the couch opposite Dian Cecht. "Please, have a seat."
'You can sit on my face, mommy.' Rex thought before clearing his mind. 'What the fuck is wrong with me?'
Panacea moved to the offered seat, gracefully settling herself on the large couch, now seated directly across from Dian Cecht, leaving Zanis caught between the two gods.
'Two gods are hear just for my dust.' Rex glanced at the two. 'Sheehs, they even brought their captains.' One was Airmid Teasanare of Dian Cecht, a level 2 healer, and the elf is Durlan Herric of Panacea, a level 4 alchemist. 'Zanis, do your thing. Ask why the fuck my dust is important.'
Dian Cecht chuckled, leaning forward with a self-satisfied grin. "See, boy? Even Panacea has come running—doesn't that confirm the importance of your product? Now, let's get back—"
Panacea raised a hand slightly, calmly cutting him off. "I must apologize, Captain Zanis, for acquiring your purified Blue Papilio dust at such a low price. We did not recognize its full significance until one of our Familia members tested it." Her emerald eyes softened as she continued. "I would hate for such an oversight to be seen as deception."
She gestured slightly, and her captine beside her stepped forward, placing a heavy pouch on the table. "Here is the full payment, adjusted to its true worth. Seven million valis, as compensation."
Taking this moment, Zanis cleared his throat and eyed the pouch on the table. "I appreciate the payment, but before I accept, I need to know something." His tone was careful. "Why is this dust so important? All I know is that it's a purified form of Blue Papilio powder that can be used as-is to heal instead of being turned into a potion. But beyond that? I don't know its real worth."
Dian Cecht smirked, leaning back into the couch, his golden-threaded sleeve catching the light. "Well then, let's hear it. Since you've gone through the trouble of making this little show, enlighten us," he said, waving his hand toward Panacea with an exaggerated flourish.
Panacea, unconcerned with his theatrics, gave a graceful nod toward her captain. "Durlan, please."
"Blue Papilio dust is invaluable because it seamlessly interacts with reactive agents, acting as a stabilizing bridge between volatile ingredients." He begun, "It prevents corrosion and preserves potency throughout the brewing process. Simply put, it stops ingredients from canceling each other out or breaking down before they take effect and each grain disperses restorative energy evenly, keeping potions from surging unpredictably or losing potency."
He paused, glancing at Zanis to ensure he was following. "This means higher quality results in advanced regenerative potions, stamina restoratives, and even detoxification potions. Unlike most stabilizers, it enhances without overpowering, making it one of the best Core Bases available."
He paused once more. "To put it plainly, your Blue Papilio dust surpasses Luminara Arborea in almost every way as a core base—nearly twice over in effectiveness."
Airmid's purple eyes widned slightly as she glanced at Dian Cecht, the shift barely noticeable. Rex and Zanis both turned to Dian Cecht, watching his reaction. For a brief second, there was silence. Then, the god erupted into laughter.
"FU-HA-HA-HA! Worthier than I thought!" Dian Cecht boomed, slapping his knee. "A fine surprise indeed! HA-HA"
'He wasn't capping!' Rex shouted in his mind.
He didn't fully grasp the alchemic implications, but he sure as hell knew what Luminara Arborea was. It was the flower the Panacea Familia had been searching for—the one in the largest three labyrinths. He'd seen the commission on the board, its reward increasing multiple times, reaching thirteen million before it was removed just a few days ago.
'So why did they buy mine for only eight million?' He thought, glancing at the goddess and her captain then back at Zanis. 'I can't just blurt that out. I am a guard dog...' So he lightly kicked the back of Zanis chair.
"I see..." Zanis mumbled with a nod, then turned, eyeing Rex with a questioning glance. "Do you by any chance know about the… flower?" Zanis asked, bringing Rex into the conversation.
He nodded. "I saw it on the commission board for thirteen million valis."
Before Zanis could speak, Durlan interjected. "The dust becomes truly effective only in high dosages, with a single bottle worth about as much as a high potion—five hundred thousand valis."
"A rare find indeed." Dian Cecht mumbled as he glanced at Zanis. "Now tell me, who was the genius behind its purification? Surely you didn't stumble upon it by accident."
All eyes turned to Zanis, who suddenly felt as if he were caught between two storms waiting to clash. He shifted slightly in his seat before answering. "I'm sorry, my lord, but if the dust is truly worth as much as you say, I simply cannot say who made it."
"FU-HA-HA!" Dian Cecht let out a theatrical sigh, shaking his head. "Are you afraid I'll steal them from you, boy? Come now, don't be so cautious. If they are truly this skilled, they deserve to be recognized, don't they?"
Zanis held firm, knowing that any misstep here could bring unwanted consequences. These two Familias weren't just influential in Orario—they supplied potions across kingdoms, making them indispensable to adventurers and nobility alike. Annoying one, let alone both, was not an option.
Panacea remained serene, but her emerald eyes gleamed with understanding. "No need to push him, Dian Cecht. Some knowledge is earned, not given." She turned to Zanis, her voice as soothing as ever. "But I would like to assure you, Captain Zanis, that I hold no ill will in this matter. If the dust's creator wishes to remain hidden, so be it."
"Fine, fine." Dian Cecht clicked his tongue but remained grinning.
'Hidden in plain sight, lol.' Rex felt like a side character in this matter. As the conversation dragged on, he found himself growing more disinterested by the minute. 'I should have just gone to sleep.'
He glanced at the two other attendants who were occasionally chiming in, unlike him, and decided to use Scavenger to glance at their stats again. Durlan, being a Level 4, had his Mixing Development Ability at G, along with two other DAs: Abnormal Resistance and Escape. He also had one magic and one skill, the magic being a single-target shield and heal, while his skill boosted the effectiveness of all potions he created.
'I guess that's what helped in creating that DA potion,' Rex thought, shifting his gaze to Airmid. She had the DA Mystery and two overpowered healing magics. 'If I remember correctly, she's said to be the best healer in the world?' It wouldn't be a bad idea to form a relationship with her based on that alone, but he wasn't too sure how to go about it. 'Speaking of magic...'
In the past few days, he had acquired a few new abilities. One was the physical property Sharp Teeth, which he got from the Dungeon Worm. It was a passive ability that made his teeth sharper. It wasn't particularly notable, but you'd notice it if he smiled widely, especially his canines, which were now slightly more prominent.
Then there was Tremor Sense, which he also got from the Dungeon Worm. This skill allowed the monster to 'see' while digging, despite having no eyes or any other senses. It sensed vibrations in the ground to perceive objects, people, and other aspects of its environment, essentially acting as sonar but through the earth. Others might know this as Seismic Sense from Avatar.
However, the skill was only effective when a body part was directly touching some form of earth structure, like sand, soil, bedrock, or whatever. He couldn't use it through his boots—his bare feet had to touch the ground. He couldn't even use it on metal, only minerals.
'Will I have to go into the dungeon barefoot like those uncivilized Amazonesses?' he wondered, trying to activate the skill through his feet but feeling nothing. 'I can't really let this skill go to waste, so...' He'd consider it later, or maybe getting a shoe made out of rocks.
Next were the two abilities marked with a '+.'
[Author's Note: Chapter was supposed to be 3800 word but I cut it in the middle where I thought it would be good to end. Next chapter would have also been posted today but its only 1500 words and I don't like posting chapters below 2200 so I will add some more shit and post it tomorrow. Chapter 28 would hopefully be the start of the Black Goliath event as I don't want it to start later as it will feel dragged on. Mainly because I also want to write the event, especially the raid battle against the Black Goliath.
Anyway, thanks for reading and have a good day~(^_^)]