Big G, Coffee Machine and Goblin

Chapter 20 The Solar System in the Hall

The receptionist waited until the master and apprentice finished arguing before cautiously asking, "Master Levi, could you tell me exactly where in the cursed items collection room you found this item?"

"I don't know, maybe in a gray box?"

“Crate number thirty-three,” Renee read out the number accurately.

“Okay, let me check the records.” The receptionist took out a notebook and flipped through it from back to front. As soon as she opened it, she found something. “Oh, the things in there were delivered by the city guards last night. They said they saw a strangely dressed foreigner and found many strange things they had never seen before in his luggage.”

"They couldn't determine whether these things were dangerous, so they picked out three and sent them to us, hoping that an alchemist could help examine them."

"City guards?" The old alchemist was delighted. "They shouldn't have been so rude. This isn't some dangerous item; it's the culmination of ancient alchemy, the most dazzling pearl in the crown of magical civilization. I'll go correct their mistake and return these things to their rightful owner. Renee, give me the hat, let's go."

“Okay,” the alchemy apprentice said helplessly.

Levi walked briskly, nearly bumping into someone as he left. He didn't even have time to see the person's face; the old alchemist's mind was entirely focused on the creator of the ancient alchemical artifacts, leaving no room for anything else.

Renee glanced at her teacher a few more times, her lips moving as if she wanted to say something, but she only wasted a short while before her teacher was almost gone.

Seeing this, Renee quickly chased after them again.

Ma Li arrived outside the Alchemist's Guild and looked at the street-facing section. It was a pointed-roof building, about four stories high, and the white tower behind it was all made of marble. Even in the old town full of rich people and nobles, it was still very eye-catching.

The extended outer edge is also engraved with a ring, which is divided into three equal parts. The top part is engraved with a heart, the lower left is a crucible, and the lower right is a six-pointed star.

Just as Ma Li was looking up at the mysterious pattern, an old man with white hair and beard, wearing a pointed hat and leaning on a wooden cane, rushed out from behind the door, and the two almost bumped into each other.

Fortunately, at the crucial moment, Ma Li took a half step back because the other party's attire resembled that of a mage from fantasy novels and movies. He couldn't help but take a few more glances. However, the old mage must have some urgent business, because he kept walking and soon walked away.

Behind him followed a girl with braided hair, also leaning on a wooden cane and carrying a large stack of books. The girl gave Ma Li an apologetic smile, seemingly apologizing for the teacher's rudeness earlier.

But soon a look of doubt appeared on her face. She looked at the old monk's back, hesitated, and finally ran after him.

It was just a minor incident, and Ma Li didn't think much of it. After the two left, he stepped into the Alchemist's Association.

The hall here is very spacious, with a height of over five meters between the floor and the ceiling, reminding Ma Li of the cathedrals he had seen online in his previous life.
In the center of the hall, there is a complex-looking metal instrument that appears to be simulating the movement of celestial bodies, with many copper spheres of varying sizes rotating around a large sphere.

Ma Li immediately recognized it as the sun and its eight planets.

This gave him another huge shock.

A somewhat hoarse and deep voice came from behind him, "This is an astrolabe, a work by the alchemist Theodore in his later years. Do you see the fourth sphere from the inside out? Master Theodore firmly believed that we live on this small sphere. Do you know what the largest sphere is?"

“The sun,” Ma Li replied.

This time, it was the person behind him who was speechless. Ma Li turned around and saw a woman wearing a purple robe and a black veil.

“I didn’t know you knew so much about Theodore and his heliocentric theory. Many people say that it was just his ramblings before he died.”

The veiled woman paused here, then changed the subject, “You don’t seem to be a local. I speak seven languages, including goblin, but the language you speak is still very unfamiliar to me. Yet, amazingly, we seem to have no problem communicating.”

“I just drank a bottle of animal communication potion,” Ma Li said without hiding anything.

"Interesting. I didn't know that animal communication drugs could have this effect."

"There's none?"

"I haven't seen any relevant literature, but my grandfather often said that potions do indeed hide many secrets that we don't know, and our research on alchemy is still in its infancy."

The veiled woman extended her hand. "Oh, I seem to have forgotten to introduce myself. I am Jia Anda, the granddaughter of Master Colin, the master of the White Tower. What brings you here from afar?"

Ma Li shook hands with her. "I am Ma Li, from... Luoyang. Are you the administrator of this place?"

Jia Anda searched his mind for information related to Luoyang, but found nothing.

She had never heard of this place before.

“You mean the Alchemists’ Guild in Eagle’s Beak City? No, the president of the guild is Master Colin. My grandfather is currently focused on an important research project and hasn’t left the White Tower for a long time. As his granddaughter, I will handle some of his daily chores. So… in a sense, you’re not wrong. I’m also in charge of the guild’s affairs now.”

"I want to know how to register as an alchemist," Ma Li said, getting straight to the point.

"You're an alchemist?" Jia Anda asked, somewhat surprised.

"I do not know either."

"What do you mean?"

“In my homeland, I would certainly be considered an alchemist. But on this continent, I don’t know how you define an alchemist.”

“I see.” Jia Anda nodded, then patiently explained, “Most alchemists come from magic academies. Each school has a complete examination process, and those who pass the examination can register as alchemists with the Alchemist Association. This is the simplest and most direct method.”

"Of course, considering that there is a small number of alchemists who are not from the academy, the association's doors will also be open to them, and the association has also developed a set of assessment standards for these people. Those who meet the requirements can become alchemists recognized by the association."

"How will we assess you?" Ma Li asked.

“You really don’t want to waste a single moment, alright. You’re in luck. Councilor Is is currently on tour in Eagle Beak City, and he’s qualified to be the chief examiner. For the remaining two seats, I can represent my grandfather, and then we just need to find an alchemist.”

　Thank you to the following users for their generous donations: Sina's Underwear, Anglerfish from the Mountain, Hibernating in Summer, and Longquan Treasure Shovel!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)