Alchemists do not need self-cultivation

Dalian: "It's rare that we agree. This chick is just annoying to look at."

"Well... he's my junior after all."

Hughie smiled to ease the awkward atmosphere, then turned to Aruman and asked:

"What kind of woman is she that could bewitch the eldest son of the Jeremiah family?"

"She was an ideal woman, not only exceptionally cultured and elegant, but also humble and kind to everyone. Her beauty was breathtaking. It was a beauty beyond words. Wherever she was, even the darkest room would become radiant..."

"You mentioning it reminds me of my adjutant..."

"What did you say, sir?"

"It's nothing, keep making things up, or rather, keep exaggerating."

"Although it is somewhat impolite, even Miss Dallian's beauty cannot compare to it."

Isaac: "I think you can find a better reference point, there's no need to find a little kid."

"Hey, you damn alchemist, what do you mean? Am I not beautiful enough to be considered a beauty?"

"I find it hard to imagine that a nasty brat could be beautiful."

"Hmph, that's because you're blind. An alchemist like you, destined to grow old alone and spending your days with flasks full of potions, is simply incapable of properly judging a young girl's appearance." Dalian turned her head away from Isaac.

"A skinny kid whose body shape is already set doesn't need any evaluation."

"What did you say!?"

"You two really don't get along," Hugh said with a wry smile.

Isaac and Dallian have been exchanging barbs for quite some time now.

Aruman, however, had no time to pay attention to the two of them, seemingly lost in his own memories.

"Ah, and her occasional radiant smile is so captivating. I would sell my soul to the devil if I could have that smile all to myself."

"Damn it, I can't take this anymore, I'm taking your soul right now."

Isaac placed his hand directly on the head of Aruman, who was basking in the ecstasy.

"Wait, wait, wait! At least he showed mercy to my junior." Hugh quickly stopped Isaac, who was about to teach Aruman a lesson.

"cut."

Isaac withdrew his hand and sat down, looking at Aruman, who was still in shock.

"Judging from your description, the woman you miss is probably a young lady from the upper class."

“Not a young lady,” Aruman retorted.

"what is that?"

"She's a prostitute."

"..."

Well, that's even more outrageous now.

Hugh: "...So, what you're longing for is a prostitute?"

“To be precise, she was a high-class prostitute in the social world, what is commonly known as a socialite.” Aruman nodded. “Her name was Viola Deplesi.”

“Viola Deplesi…I’ve heard that name again.” Hugh rummaged through his memory, recalling relevant information. “She seems to be a woman known as the ‘Mercury Craftswoman’.”

"You know, she is also known as the 'Moon Goddess of the Royal Capital' and the 'Young Lady of the Sixteen Roses'."

Dalian frowned at this moment.

"What? A woman with such an outrageous name?"

“She’s just a famous courtesan,” Hugh said with a wry smile. “She’s the most beautiful courtesan in the capital’s social circles. Her stunning beauty and intelligence are well-known in social circles, and many noble families want to get close to her.”

"You know this kind of woman so well."

"I've only heard about it."

“So here’s the question,” Isaac suddenly said, “what does your longing for this woman have to do with me? I don’t even know her.”

“It’s like this, because of her status, there are dozens of people who have proposed to her, and only five people have the money to redeem her. The person who sponsored her also agreed that one of us could take her away,” Aruman said quickly. “But Viola didn’t choose anyone. Instead, she gave us a condition.”

"Ok?"

"If we provide the prescribed magical book, or bring the 'alchemist of the early 20th century,' namely Lord Isaac, before her, she will accept our marriage proposal."

"...What kind of bizarre conditions are these?"

"So my happiness depends on you! Lord Isaac! Just one meeting will suffice!"

Aruman immediately fell to the ground and grabbed Isaac's feet, refusing to let go.

"Get out of here."

Chapter 990: I'm afraid you'll feel inferior

"Not to mention sending that bastard alchemist over, which illusion book did that woman let you choose?"

Before Dalian lay Aruman, whom Isaac had already thrown to the ground.

He quickly got up from the ground and dusted himself off.

"It is a phantom book called the Book of the Salamander's Mark."

"Why did that woman make the suitor hand over the illusion book? And it's this kind of illusion book again."

"Huh? Is this magical book so hard to obtain?"

“This is a ‘Lost Book of Illusions,’ and these ancient books are extremely difficult to obtain,” Darian said. “Do you remember what that woman asked of the other five people?”

“I remember that, besides asking Lord Isaac to come over, they also made requests for the Phantom Book to them,” Aruman recalled. “Lord Moschino received the Phantom Book, the Stone Tablet of the Wise. Mr. Balboa received the Collection of Burning Golden Pearls. The Grandville brothers received the Divine Mirror of King Yin and the Jade Manuscript of the Dragon Tree, respectively. And mine is the Book of the Salamander’s Imprint.”

"……I see."

Not only did Dalian know what happened, but Isaac and Hugh also learned the general situation.

The other four people Aruman mentioned had visited the place a week and three days ago, respectively, all wanting to invite Isaac to their home and for Vincent to borrow the books he had mentioned.

"So you're not just treating me like a circus clown, you're also using me as a wedding dowry?"

“No, no, no, I absolutely did not have such a rude idea. Miss Viola of the Book wishes to see you.”

“If she simply wanted to see this damn alchemist, that would be understandable, given that he’s already a well-known figure in the field,” Dalian said. “But the question is, why does she want the Book of Illusions, and how does she know their names?”

The lost phantom books are different from ordinary phantom books. The names of these books are definitely not known to outsiders. As the manager of the bookshelves, Dalian certainly knows them, but how could a social butterfly know the names of these books?

"Could it be that he simply wanted to reject you, so he made such an impossible request?" Hugh asked curiously.

Why is it conditional on the possibility of me being rejected?

Hearing Hugh say that, Aruman was clearly indignant.

“I think that’s impossible. If they wanted to refuse, they could just make up the names of a few non-existent fantasy books and let them search for them for a lifetime. However, these books do exist.”

In Dalian's view, that socialite clearly had some unspeakable secret.

"Hey, chick."

"Ah... are you talking about me?" Aruman pointed to himself in confusion.

“I’m calling you,” Dalian said. “The Book of the Salamander’s Mark is in the basement. Once you find it, it’s yours.”

"Oh, thank you so much!!"

The legend of Lord Diswald, the bibliophile, is widespread. Tens of thousands of books slumber in the basement of this very house. While finding the exact book among them is a daunting task, he is at least certain he will obtain that phantom book.

"But there's a prerequisite."

"what?"

"I need to see that woman."

"Huh?"

"I'm just asking you whether you agree or not. If you don't agree, you won't be able to take anything with you, whether it's that bastard alchemist or the illusion book."

"Yes, yes."

Having agreed to Dalian's conditions, Aruman skipped and hopped towards the basement, eager to find the Book of Illusions and win Viola's affections.

Hugh: "...Dalian, is it really okay to give him the Illusion Book?"

"It doesn't matter."

“Then you guys handle this,” Isaac yawned. “I won’t get involved.”

"You're coming too."

"Why should I? It's that man who's going to find his wife, not me. What am I supposed to do there?"

"There must be a reason why that ** specifically asked you to go."

"Anyway, you're going, so just ask for me. Of course, it's okay if you don't ask, I'm not interested anyway."

"What if it's the whereabouts of your lost textbooks?"

"..."

-

On a road in the capital, a carriage is traveling in the middle of the road.

Four people were sitting in the carriage: Isaac and Aruman sat in one row, and Hugh and Darian sat opposite them.

The carriage was piled with luggage, but most of it belonged to Dalian.

"Ah...how lucky! I didn't expect Lord Isaac to come with me. Was he moved by the tragic love story between Viola and me?"

“I’ll kill you now and scatter your ashes in front of her to praise your ‘tragic’ love,” Isaac said, annoyed.

If it weren't for the possibility of finding out the whereabouts of the teaching materials, he wouldn't want to go out and meet a socialite.

However, what Dalia said did make sense. On the one hand, she wanted to invite Isaac over, and on the other hand, she wanted the Book of Illusions. It was obvious that this woman, whom he had never met, possessed certain information, and perhaps he could really find out something from her.

"Anyway, you and Hugh are probably both very excited to meet a high-class woman. Honestly, men are all the same no matter the era."

Hugh: "Why bring me up?"

Isaac: "I'm not interested in that woman. No matter how pretty she is, she won't be as pretty as my adjutant."