This necromancer is going to seduce the beautiful girls who are already dead.

"As for the Nightmare Spirits sent by the Lord of Nightmares, I will keep an eye out for them for you." Abyss stuffed the notebook into his pocket. "I also want to find Lanis, so I'll leave that to Your Highness."

Having someone going the same way is convenient, and Abyss really likes this feeling. With the help of the princess's subordinates, he doesn't even need to summon his undead and bother them to do things.

“Let’s help each other.” Gylvia smiled at Abyss and opened the door. Abyss followed her out of the room.

As the two stepped out of the room, they saw several guards already standing in the corridor. Santos, dressed as a merchant, was also waiting outside. They were somewhat surprised to see Abyss and Gylvia emerge from the room together, but neither of them said a word.

"You! You! You! Why did you come out of... Veronica's room?!"

The fact that the guards were silent did not mean that Leona, who had just come out of the room, would remain silent.

Flora followed closely behind Leona and immediately spotted Abyss following behind Gylvia. Her golden eyes widened as she looked at Abyss with a hint of inquiry.

Leona became even more anxious for no apparent reason: "Tell me quickly! Why did you come out of her room!"

Abis was puzzled by everyone's reaction. He scratched his head and said, "I didn't do anything strange. I just talked to her about family things in the room..."

The family Abyss was referring to was Gylvia's brother, Kevin. Those present who understood Common Tongue immediately understood.

However, Leona didn't understand; unsurprisingly, she misunderstood.

"You want to start a family with her?! Do you know who she is, and who you are?! You are simply! You are simply!" Leona blushed and couldn't think of an adjective for a long time. Then she suddenly remembered that she was also a princess. The second half of her sentence was completely stuck in her throat and she didn't know how to say it.

“Leona…Abyss might be referring to Prince Kevin…” Flora tugged at Leona’s sleeve.

"Huh? Really?" Leona was taken aback. "Huh? Ah! I... I'm not in a hurry! Don't look at me like that! You stinky ABC!"

……

Just as Abyss had thought, neither the guards who were sleeping in the room, nor Leona and Flora, who were resting with their eyes closed, heard any sound when the Nightmare Spirits entered Princess Gylvia's room. These creatures might have the ability to walk silently or teleport, or perhaps they affected everyone's minds, making them unaware of their presence.

When the guards discovered that the names of several dead people were on their watch roster from the previous night, they were terrified. Santos even knelt down and begged Gylvia to punish him, but Gylvia said it was beyond their power and therefore she would not pursue the matter.

After packing their luggage, the group had a simple breakfast at the inn to replenish the food they had eaten on the road that day. Then, they urged the horses, which had rested overnight and were well-fed, to lead the caravan on their journey.

Their next stop was their destination: Lavoisier, the most futuristic city in the entire Eastern Empire and on the entire continent, a city renowned for its high-quality potions. Not only was it a great place to buy potions, but it was also the former residence of Rebecca, the genius alchemist the Abyss was searching for, and the headquarters of the explosives-loving Lanis—Lavoisier!

Chapter 112 He Changed Alchemy

The name Lavoisier does not exist in any of Hay-Tver's languages. The person who named the city was Baron Botel Vepera, an alchemical genius from three hundred years ago, who is now hailed as the "father of modern alchemy."

This great alchemist was none other than one of the transmigrators from another world that Abyss had previously seen in the journal of the gods. The name Lavoisier was obviously also from the world that this transmigrator came from, but Abyss didn't quite understand its specific meaning. He could only guess that Lavoisier was a tribute to someone who had a close relationship with alchemy.

Baron Botel Vepera's deeds weren't as dramatic as those of the other four transmigrators—one was the strongest paladin in the history of the Papacy, another a legendary general, a former ace druid of the elven kingdoms, and the third a male dark elf who had achieved the greatest success in shadow magic in history. This Mr. Botel, however, simply quietly did what he loved, immersing himself in his laboratory from his youth until his death.

He completely denied the set of seemingly serious theories "summarized" by the primitive and ignorant alchemists of the time who "throw something into the pot to see if they can refine gold." He also published articles to sternly refute several alchemists who were famous at the time and claimed that they could use alchemy to change people's luck or even obtain divine power. He became the public enemy of all charlatans on the continent and was even despised by some uninformed people.

However, he quickly proved through experiments that the medicines used by those charlatans had no positive effects whatsoever, and some even contained toxins that ruined people's health, making it easier for the charlatans to sell the next fake medicine. Next, he analyzed the ingredients used by these charlatans, published the proportions and preparation process, proving that they were simply throwing some garbage into a pot and boiling it before starting to swindle money.

This result surprised people at the time. At that time, Botel was just a young man who had just started out. Everyone was skeptical, but many people who valued their lives hesitated and stopped buying the "potion".

But simply exposing the swindlers' tricks wouldn't truly change anything for Botel. The swindlers quickly launched a new potion, this time using superior ingredients and being non-toxic, claiming that the previous potion was merely a forgery by Botel. These swindlers were wealthy, and through their maneuvering, they made Botel the one who had spread falsehoods and was despised by everyone.

A month later, just when the alchemists thought that Botel would be defeated by the harsh reality and slink out of the alchemical circle, he appeared with a book.

This book systematically explains the principles of alchemy, how magic works in potions, how to correctly use various materials to achieve different effects, and the properties, functions, and compatibility of various materials. This incredibly detailed "Elements of Alchemy" records the correct methods for concocting several magical potions, some formulas, and a complete and powerful theory that refutes the currently popular notions of "alchemy."

Some people, out of curiosity, created the potion according to the method he recorded, and it actually worked after they took it.

These magical potions can make people react several times faster, make injuries heal quickly, or make people see clearly in the dark. Moreover, they are dozens of times cheaper than those swindlers who sell "cure-all" magical potions!

Botel's book spread rapidly across the continent. The upper class and mages took this epoch-making theoretical system seriously. Under the impact of this theory, even the most foolish person realized that the so-called "alchemists" of the past were just a group of swindlers who used inferior marketing tactics to fool the nobles.

The nobles were willing to spend money, but they would never agree to be treated like idiots after spending their money. They quickly took action and made contact with the Papacy. Half of the alchemists who used to swindle and make money with fake medicines disappeared without a trace, while the other half were sent to the stake, burned to ashes along with the potions in their hands that bankrupted the poor and killed the rich with slow-acting poisons.

Subsequently, Botel, who had made outstanding contributions, was granted the title of baron for life by the Imperial Emperor and was awarded a small city as his territory.

Afterward, Botel devoted himself to education, cultivating a new generation of alchemists who were no longer cunning and treacherous villains seeking to swindle money, but rather highly skilled individuals making tangible contributions to the world's medical, agricultural, and other fields. He also developed the continent's mechanics based on potions; some of his potion-powered machines were epoch-making, though their high cost prevented widespread adoption. Decades later, his small town had grown into a large metropolis representing the highest achievements in alchemy. The strangely named academy Botel founded within the city, the Mendeleev Alchemy Academy, remains a sacred place for all young people on the continent aspiring to achieve success in alchemy.

This is the story of Rebecca's ancestor, a genius alchemist girl. It's not particularly dramatic or epic, but it's one of Abyss's favorites.

The sun was setting in the west, and its brilliant rays shone on the buildings of a huge city in front of the convoy, reflecting a mesmerizing glow.

“This place embodies the highest level of technology on the entire continent. I’ve heard that you can see the continent ten years from now from this city.” Sitting in the wagon, Jivia lifted the curtain and pointed to the city of Lavoisier outside, saying excitedly, “Now I’ve finally seen this city with my own eyes. Sure enough, even the architectural style here is very different from other places on the continent.”

“Unfortunately, this place has now fallen under the control of gangs. Your Highness, please be very discreet once we go in.” Santos earnestly reminded him, “The gangs of the Eastern Empire are all incredibly audacious. If our identities are exposed, they might use it to blackmail us.”

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." Jivia didn't seem disappointed; she smiled and nodded. "Is that person you contacted in the city who can connect with the gangs ready?"

“He should be ready by now and has given me a signal.” Santos nodded. “However, he is not a very reliable person, and I cannot fully trust him. Therefore, I will test him first. Your Highness needs to remain hidden for the time being.”

Abyss, who was listening nearby, laughed—he suddenly realized that it had been a long time since he had dealt with villains, and this situation made him somewhat look forward to it.

Chapter 113 The Contact

Lavoisier is a large city, though it cannot compare to the commercial metropolis of the Golden Griffin. Considering that it was once just an insignificant border town, its current development is truly astonishing.

The city air wasn't fresh; it was filled with a sweet, magical potion-like smell. Streetlights and signs fueled by potions emitted thin plumes of smoke, which, illuminated by the lights, created a mesmerizing atmosphere.

The sights of the city streets delighted Abyss; the residents here, in both their clothing and lifestyle, were vastly different from those elsewhere on the continent. Many novel machines lined the roads for people to purchase, but Abyss didn't recognize them. Frankly, his mechanical skills were only at an apprentice level, and while he knew a little more about alchemy, most of his alchemical knowledge wasn't applied to living people. He decided that when he had the time and money, he would definitely buy some interesting things here.

Santos entered the city ahead of the convoy, and after the convoy waited for him for half an hour, he finally returned with one person.

The man was very thin, wearing a black baseball cap and tight-fitting clothes in the style popular in the Eastern Empire. However, unlike people in other parts of the Eastern Empire, the material of his clothes was some kind of material between leather and glue, which looked shiny and brightly colored, distinguishing him from ordinary people outside Lavoisier.

"You must be Miss Veronica. It's a pleasure to meet you. I am Winkle, a member of the Black Hat Gang here. I will be in charge of your potion business."

The man named Winkle obsequiously removed his hat and bowed to Gylvia, then glanced around furtively and said, "If you all want to finish your business and go home early, you might as well come with me to the place where we discuss business. I have prepared tea and snacks."

Gvia didn't follow immediately. She frowned slightly and said, "I thought... your gang would send more people to hand over to us."

"Sigh, Miss, you must know that our boss is always cautious. Because we don't know your background and network of connections, he won't come forward personally or make a big fuss. He sent me, his most shrewd and popular subordinate, to talk to you alone. After all, you don't want to make a big fuss, right?"

Gylvia was naturally unhappy, but her identity had to be kept secret. If her identity as a princess were exposed, then probably no gang would dare to do business with her—supporting a king's open enemy, even if that king was just an ineffective monarch, would have consequences that these gangs would absolutely not dare to bear.

“Okay, then you must guarantee that our deal will go smoothly,” Givia said.

“Of course, of course, my lady.” Winkler smiled obsequiously. “As long as you can come up with the appropriate amount of money, I will make sure you get all the potions you need.”

Abyss stared at the seemingly smooth and mercenary man for a while, shook his head slightly, and retreated to the back of the line.

Winkle noticed this too, but he didn't care. The green-eyed boy was clearly not the core of the team. You could tell from the eyes and positions of everyone in the team that the person who really had a say and could decide how the money was spent was the beautiful young lady with a very large chest in front of him.

Led by Winkle, the caravan moved forward. Lavoisier had gradually expanded from a small town into the potions capital it is today, and the signs of this expansion were very obvious. The streets and alleys were not neat. The group followed Winkle as they turned left and right through the city, passed through misty streets, walked up and down dirty slopes, and crossed several bridges before finally arriving at the place Winkle had mentioned for "business negotiations."

This is a small tavern. Under the dimly lit potion fuel sign, there is a footstool with a drowsy male halfling sitting on it.

Upon seeing Winkle, the halfling immediately opened his half-closed eyes and stood up from the stool. However, being only half the height of a human, he still required everyone to look down at him even when standing. He looked at Winkle and asked, "Hmm? We already have guests?"

“Oh, of course, this is a big client I found for the gang. They can buy a lot of potions.” Winkle pointed to Gylvia behind him. “See this young lady? Don’t be negligent, open the door quickly!”

The halfling seemed to have thought of something, slapped his forehead, and then quickly opened the tavern door: "Distinguished guests, if you want to discuss business, please go to the basement at the very back. You can park your cars in the backyard; no one will see you there. I can completely guarantee your privacy."

Gylvia certainly didn't like doing business in a tavern, but she couldn't put on airs like a princess or a rebel leader right now, so she could only follow Winkle, who kept giving her flirty looks, into the tavern.

The tavern was in a rather remote location, surrounded by only a few dilapidated shops with little business. The tavern itself was also quite deserted, with only a few dwarves and halflings drinking and puffing away on their pipes.

Leona followed behind the group, gently tugging at Abyss's clothes: "Abyss, I smell potions nearby, and quite a lot of them."

"They must have planted a lot of potions around here to sell," Abyss nodded. He could also smell a variety of herbs. It seemed that this guy named Winkle was planning to finish quickly, negotiate a price, load the potions onto the truck, and have Gylvia's caravan take them away overnight.

If it were just selling ordinary potions, there would be no need for this, but the potions that Gylvia wants to buy are for military use. This type of potion is controlled by the laws of the Eastern Empire and can only be obtained through underground means, so it is reasonable to be cautious.

There was a door in the back kitchen of the tavern. Winkle went ahead and opened the door, revealing a passage. He led everyone in and turned on a potion lamp in the basement. The bright white light immediately illuminated the entire basement.

The scene here is quite shocking: in the center of the basement is a large table with several chairs around it, while in other parts of the room there are crates, from which a strong smell of medicinal herbs wafts.

"Welcome, everyone. I respect your freedom, so I won't waste your time. We'll quickly agree on a price, and you can take away the potions you need. I've already taken care of the city gate guards; they'll turn a blind eye to your goods."

"Okay, tell me your price."

"Here are a total of 1,000 bottles of Emergency Healing Potions, 3,000 bottles of Strength-Boosting Potions, 3,000 bottles of Skin Hardening Potions, and 3,000 bottles of Rapid Response Potions, 10,000 bottles in total. They are all military-grade. I'll charge you 2 million Imperial Coins." Winkle smiled and pointed to the mountain of boxes piled up in the basement. "We can't sell them separately, because if we do, we'll have a hard time finding buyers."

“This is four times the original price,” Santos said coldly, frowning.

Chapter 114 Bewitching Incense and Obedience Potion

Winkler seemed to have anticipated Santos's response. He calmly sat down and gestured for Givia and Santos to sit down as well.

Santos looked at Winkle with hostility. He had no real connection with this guy; he had only learned through various connections that this man had gang potions that he could sell to others without questioning their identities. He never expected that the guy would make such an outrageous demand as soon as they met, asking for two million Imperial Coins.

(Author's note: The value of Imperial Coins cannot be simply converted into the currency of our Earth, but it can be estimated based on purchasing power. One Imperial Coin can buy one or two bottles of Little Sister's Hot Sauce, invented by the time traveler and loved by everyone, or provide an adult with a day's food expenses if they cook for themselves.)

Gylvia and Santos sat at the table, while the three Abyss members, having played a crucial role in the previous counter-ambush, were also seated next to Gylvia as important members of the team.

A small incense burner sat on the table, its contents releasing a sweet aroma, while wisps of smoke separated the two people.

"Hehe, don't rush, the price is negotiable." Winkler chuckled, his gaunt face showing a series of smile lines. "You must have heard about it on your way here. Recently, a madman blew up the Sheep's Eye Gang's warehouse, causing a surge in the price of potions in the area. Naturally, our potions have also gone up in price. If you are sincere and can guarantee to leave the city immediately after receiving the goods to avoid unnecessary trouble, I can give you a 15% discount, which is 1.7 million Imperial Coins. How about it?"

“It’s still too expensive. It makes me doubt your sincerity.” Santos stared coldly at Winkler.

“My sincerity is more than enough. What price are you willing to accept?” Winkle wasn’t in a hurry. He leaned back comfortably in his chair, looking at Givia and Santos.

“One million Imperial Coins, that’s the most I can do,” Givia said.

Jivia's price cut was incredibly ruthless, reducing the price from 1.7 million to 1 million, which is double the normal retail price. This price even takes into account the soaring prices of potions in the Eastern Empire.

It wasn't that Gylvia was stingy or trying to get something for nothing; it was simply that she wasn't willing to pay such a high price for the greed and petty tricks of a gangster. The Restoration Army wasn't wealthy. Part of their funding came from looting in the Western Empire, and another part came from the money pooled together by the princess-affiliated ministers who joined the Restoration Army. If they were to spend 1.7 million Imperial Coins at once, the Restoration Army's financial situation could very well be thrown into a stalemate. At that point, let alone defeating Kevin and restoring the country, they might even have trouble feeding themselves.

One million Imperial Coins was a decision she made with gritted teeth; it couldn't go any higher.

When Winkler heard that his price had been so drastically reduced, he couldn't help but show some impatience: "I'm afraid this is not appropriate, Miss. If you lower the price so much, we won't make any money. Even if doing business is about making friends, you can't do it like this."

“One million Imperial Coins? I don’t believe you can’t make money.” Gylvia retorted without backing down. “The temporary price increase of your potions is only because the Sheep Eye Gang’s warehouse was destroyed, and not for any other reason. Please understand, the Sheep Eye Gang’s factory was not destroyed. If I don’t buy this batch of goods, as the Sheep Eye Gang’s production progresses, the value of your goods will gradually decrease, and that’s when you will truly not make any money.”

Winkle hadn't expected that Gylvia, who looked so young and seemed a bit big-breasted and brainless, would be so calm. He squinted and thought for a moment before saying, "One and a half million, one and a half million, I'll sell it to you."

“One million, not a penny more.” Gylvia shook her head decisively.

“Hehe…I see…” Winkler chuckled and stood up from his seat. “Everyone, please wait here for a moment. I’ll go out and discuss it with my friends. If they have no objections, I’ll sell it to you for one million.”