Alchemists do not need self-cultivation

"Really?"

"Yes, the book I'm writing now is called the Outline of New National Martial Arts. After learning how to fight, we can officially begin the course on alchemy."

"...What exactly does your alchemy teach?"

Knock knock knock!

"It sounds like someone's knocking. Wait a moment." Hugh put down his teacup and walked towards the door.

The mansion's doors opened, and a blond, middle-aged man in a suit walked in with a gloomy expression.

The middle-aged man, wearing a monocle, put his cane aside after entering, took off his leather gloves and top hat, and bowed slightly to Hugh.

"Hello, the new guardian of the Dantalian bookshelf key."

"Um, who are you?"

“I’m quite familiar with the previous key guardian,” the man said with a smile.

"The previous one? Grandfather?"

“Marquis Albert de Blois.” Darian in the living room recognized the man. “He came to borrow books from Wesley thirteen years ago, and he has aged quite a bit.”

"It's been a long time, Princess Kuro no Yomi. You're still as young as ever."

Albert said, taking an old-fashioned book from his pocket.

"The illusory book I borrowed from Lord Diswald thirteen years ago is now due for return. I figured that Lord Reading Princess probably wouldn't be traveling abroad, so I took this opportunity to send it over."

"Ah."

Dalian nodded and gave Hugh a wink.

Hugh took the phantom book from Albert and walked up to Darian, handing it to her.

“Rodun Lingbao Yiyuan, it is indeed this one.” Dalian put the book away. “You came here to find that bastard alchemist, didn’t you?”

"Yes, I have long heard of Lord Isaac's illustrious reputation. I wonder if it is true..."

He's right here.

Dalian pointed to Isaac, who was writing furiously there.

Upon hearing this, Isaac put down his pen and looked up at Albert in front of him.

"Mr. Blois?"

“Yes, great alchemist, I heard of your deeds when I was in Suvar…”

“Oh, enough of that nonsense, let’s get down to business,” Isaac said. “You’ve traveled all the way from Souval to England to see me because of a rumor. What’s the matter?”

"Then I'll tell you..."

A sinister smile crept across Albert's face.

"I want... an artificial human."

"An artificial human?" Isaac frowned slightly.

Dalian had an "I knew it" look on her face.

“That’s right, androids!” Albert suddenly became excited and shouted, “Unkillable, incapable of betrayal, war machines that only obey orders, those are androids!”

“Mr. Blois, human transmutation is taboo,” Isaac said.

Although he himself is the least qualified to say this.

"Judging from your words, it seems you already know how to create androids. Rest assured, I will certainly pay you a satisfactory reward," Albert chuckled. "After all, I adhere to the principle of equivalent exchange..."

Swah——

Large shadows surged from Isaac's body.

The shadows enveloped the entire living room, startling both Hugh and Albert.

The ground where Albert stood, the ceiling above him, and the surrounding walls were all stained black, and a dense array of eerie glasses and sharp teeth suddenly appeared in the shadows.

"Your...Your Excellency..."

Albert was startled by the sudden scene and broke out in a cold sweat, while Isaac in front of him exuded a murderous aura that made it hard to breathe.

"Mr. Blois, you should think carefully before discussing matters of equivalent exchange, otherwise..."

"The price you can't afford."

Chapter 1026: I look forward to the day you pay the price

"Think carefully before you talk about things like equivalent exchange."

Isaac's gaze was fixed on Albert, who was now unable to move an inch.

"The price I'd have to pay to break the taboos of alchemy and create androids for you is definitely beyond your means."

The swirling shadows around him, and the palpable killing intent, made Albert want to open his mouth but he didn't know what to say.

“I know how to produce androids that only obey orders, and I know how to mass-produce them, but the price that comes with it is something that neither you nor the Kingdom of Suvar behind you can afford. If you agree, all you will face next is disaster.”

"..."

Albert had experienced many ups and downs, but when facing Isaac, he couldn't help but feel fear.

But beyond the fear, there was also an indescribable ecstasy.

This time he found the right person; it was definitely not a charlatan or a magician pretending to be an alchemist, but a real alchemist.

"Your Mightiness."

Albert lowered his head and knelt on the ground.

Please forgive my rudeness just now.

Seeing Albert's actions, Isaac tapped the table with his finger, and the terrifying shadow that filled the living room quickly receded, returning to Isaac's shadow.

"So, you've given up?"

No.

"Oh?"

Isaac rested his chin on his hand, looking at Albert, who was kneeling in front of him, with great interest.

Tell me your plans.

"Your Excellency," Albert raised his head slightly, "do you believe that war will break out someday?"

"Of course there will be war, and it won't be long."

"As expected, you also believe there will be war in the future! That's right. After the previous great war, almost everyone believed that the world would usher in true peace, but this is just an illusion. The greatest storm of this era is about to descend!"

Albert raised his hands, his eyes filled with fervor.

"I knew there would be a war, but what does that have to do with your unwillingness to give up the idea of ​​androids?"

“Once the war begins, the interests of all nations will be reshuffled, and the scale of the next war will be even greater than the last one,” Albert said excitedly. “If Suvar becomes the victor, the distribution of the spoils will increase its national strength several times over, several times the current Suvar Kingdom, which will definitely be enough to pay for your contribution.”

He finished speaking and waited for Isaac's reaction.

Isaac remained silent for a moment, then chuckled softly.

"Hmph, hahahahahaha... Not bad, you can offer such conditions. In other words, you want to tie me to your Suvar pirate ship, and then in order to obtain future benefits, I need to support you until you win the war. You've really played your cards well."

“I wouldn’t dare! I absolutely never thought of that!” Albert lowered his head once again.

"I must say, you are a very interesting person. It seems you have won the initiative for the country in the war..."

Isaac stood up from his seat and walked to Albert, who was kneeling in front of him.

"But you're not thinking about Suvar; what you really want is the thrill of participating in the war."

"!"

Albert's pupils contracted sharply after Isaac finished speaking.

He didn't expect that Isaac had already seen through his thoughts.

"Your Mightiness……"

"I agree to your request."

"what?"

He looked up in surprise at Isaac, who had a strange smile on his face.

"You... you agreed?"

"Yes, I admire people like you very much, but please remember the price you will have to pay."

Swish!

Suddenly, a sharp blade materialized from the shadow beneath Isaac's feet, slicing through Albert's cheek in an instant. A trickle of blood flowed from the wound.

"This……"

"I'll pay you a portion of the cost of the androids you need first."

A drop of scarlet liquid appeared on Isaac's fingertip. He flicked his finger, and the drop of red liquid landed on Albert's cheek, where a cut had been made.

The red liquid seemed to have its own consciousness, constantly seeping into the wound.

In that instant, Albert felt an intense pain, his veins and muscles bulging all over his body, and he clutched his neck and collapsed to the ground in agony.

"Aaaaaaaahh ...

He screamed in agony, and red lightning kept flashing across his body.

In Albert's consciousness, a tormented soul roared and howled at him. In this storm of souls, his soul was like a small boat sailing into a hurricane-swept sea, constantly being battered and ravaged.

The red liquid is the Philosopher's Stone, containing the resentment of souls turned into stone. Even the wails of just a few dozen souls are unbearable for ordinary people.

Gradually, an ouroboros symbol appeared on the back of Albert's hand as he knelt on the ground in pain.

The crimson lightning dissipated, and Albert's clothes were soaked with sweat.

"Hahaha……"

Clap clap clap clap!

Isaac's applause rang out in front of him.