The Refinement Hall in Dongcheng District is Lightnin's favorite place to stay on weekdays.
The apprentices and disciples carried the required materials back and forth, the hot air from the utensils, the lingering smell of sulfur and sour water in the room, as well as the occasional sound of broken glass bottles and the alchemist's loud cursing, It's always full of life here.
Although he has been promoted to one of the three chiefs two years ago and has his own independent alchemy room, it is easier for him to burst into inspiration in the crowded, noisy and chaotic hall. Alchemy is like this busy scene. All kinds of substances are mixed together, and most of them will become more turbid. Only a few can stand out. This is the case with the brilliant crystal glass that blooms, and the same is true for the strong snow powder.
After burning, melting, and mixing, no one knew that gray-white fine sand and pitch-black charcoal could be transformed into such wonderful things. This is the charm of alchemy. People are no exception. Every year, a large number of new apprentices join the Alchemy Association, but in the end, only a few can get rid of their rough and dull appearance and become a dazzling pearl in the association. Lightning is one of them. It took thirty-four years to be promoted from apprentice to chief, and now he is approaching fifty years old, and he is about to reach the end of his life. But being able to comprehend the beauty of the sage's learning, he felt that his life was complete.
It's just that what happened in the capital recently made Laitning a little uneasy.
The biggest change is the replacement of the throne... After the fourth prince hangs Timothy, he has become the undisputed successor. This had nothing to do with the Alchemy Association. No matter who the king was, they only needed to be responsible for providing alchemy products. But can they stay out of the way as usual when the strong snow powder is handed over to Thifeko as war supplies
Now that the capital has gradually returned to calm, the fourth prince has not come to visit the Alchemy Association for a long time. Instead, he went to the Astrology Station first. This seems to be a bad sign.
"Are you still thinking about the astrology association?" Someone suddenly said, "You're sitting by the window with a wrinkled face in a daze, this is not like you."
The one who can speak to him without hesitation must also be the chief. He turned his head and looked at Rayleigh, who was also white-haired.
"I think those guys who stare at the stars all day are a waste of money, what else can they mean," Rayleigh said indifferently, "It's a pity that he didn't insist on his own opinion, those people are not worthy of sages at all. The name should have been dismissed long ago."
As one of the two great sages, the Alchemy Association has its own eyeliner in the star-gazing association. I have heard a little about Roland's purpose in going to the astrological platform, but it is not clear what the chief astrologer and the fourth prince have secretly talked about. He dismissed the idea of shutting down the horoscope.
"Why, are you worried that the Alchemy Association will also fall to this point?" He patted Laitning's shoulder hard, "Don't forget how much profit our products can bring to the capital! Crystal glass and perfume only need to be put With limited production, the golden dragons earned in one or two years are enough to fill the prince’s bedroom, so he would be willing to close the association?”
"But the association extracts strong snow powder for Tifeco..."
"So what, can we disobey the king's orders?" Rayleigh sneered, "If he had some common sense in his head, he wouldn't use this excuse to accuse us. Besides, he also has a lot of snow powder weapons. The formula obtained by the fugitive Boer? The successful capture of the capital can also be regarded as the credit of our Alchemy Association, maybe we will give him a better mixed formula and get a reward.”
"I hope so," Lightning nodded, feeling a little more at ease. As Rayleigh said, the Alchemy Association is a big producer of gold after all, and His Royal Highness the Prince was not able to come in the first time, probably because he was entangled in trivial matters.
Just when he was about to go off to give instructions to the rest of the alchemists, a disciple rushed into the hall out of breath and shouted at him, "Sir, Chief, Your Majesty, Your Majesty is here!"
"What? Where is he?"
With Laitning's exclamation, the noise in the hall instantly quieted down, and everyone's eyes were turned on the comer.
"On the top of the courtyard," the disciple swallowed, "Your Majesty is from the sky!"
Laitning and Rayleigh looked at each other, and both saw the surprise in each other's eyes, "Go and call Chief Archer, and the others will come with me to meet His Majesty."
"Yes!"
…
Outside the Alchemy Association, the huge floating ball almost occupied half of the sky. Soldiers armed with snow powder weapons had already surrounded the courtyard. After they searched inside and outside the association, the ball began to slowly descend.
"That should be the witch-carrying device that the fourth prince used when he went to the astrologer," Rayleigh whispered to Laitning's ear, "I didn't expect to actually be able to fly with people."
"Anyway, it's finally here," Lightning breathed a sigh of relief, then grabbed Rayleigh's arm and said, "It doesn't matter if we call him a prince in private, but we still have to show respect when we meet formally, even if he doesn't. Holding the enthronement ceremony is also the king of Greycastle, so don’t be too casual.”
"Don't worry, I've always been measured," the latter laughed.
The hanging basket landed smoothly, and a bright gray-haired man stepped forward under the protection of the guards. He did not wear gorgeous clothes, nor did he wear a crown or a scepter, but there was a certain majesty in his gestures, which was completely different from the incompetent fourth prince in the previous wind commentary. There was also an old man in a robe beside him, and Laitning found himself unexpectedly familiar.
"Your Majesty Wimbledon, welcome to the Alchemy Association." Under the leadership of the three chiefs, many alchemists bowed and saluted together.
His Majesty smiled and said, "When I was still in the capital, I often heard my father mention you. Whether it is crystal glass or perfume, they are extremely popular alchemy products, and they are even exported to the fjords and islands, bringing great wealth to the palace. In return. So after my father sent me to Border Town, I also established an alchemy workshop in the town."
"Pfft" this made Rayleigh almost stop laughing. Although Laitning was also trying his best to endure, he never revealed it on his face, "That's not easy, Your Majesty. There is an old saying that any alchemy workshop is made of equal parts of golden dragons."
"Really? But I didn't invest a lot of golden dragons... You should know how barren the place is. At first I could only set up a few wooden sheds as a refining room, and now it also produces many products, including glass and Perfume," His Majesty said lightly, "so I'm curious where the golden dragons you spend every year are spent."
"You... what do you mean?" Lightning's heart sank.
"This is my chief alchemist, Mr. Kemer Strell," Roland pointed to the old man beside him, "he will examine your alchemy results. If there are no innovative products in the past few years, I will I think it’s better that the Alchemy Association is closed. After all, the capital has just experienced a war, and many streets and residential buildings need to be repaired with golden dragons.”
This sentence caused an uproar among the alchemists!
"Your Majesty, I disagree!" Rayleigh couldn't help but stood up first.