Alchemists do not need self-cultivation

"Try to think positively. The real Avril didn't distance herself from you like other classmates treated you as a ghost story."

On the streets of Suvar, Isaac happened to run into Asen, who was out strolling on the weekend.

"The reason why the first generation Quayana, Maxim, who died eight years ago, returns to the academy every spring is probably to hide the treasures he has acquired in the academy, just like pirates hide their treasures in caves."

Isaac said.

"It's the ghost story that makes you suffer in the academy: the traveler who comes in spring will bring death to the academy. The Grim Reaper refers to Maxim. Maxim, as the first generation of Quaiana, does indeed return to the academy every spring. Of course, it's to hide stolen goods, but he really is an ominous man. Perhaps, including Millie Maru, people die whenever he returns. The ominous impression of the Grim Reaper that accompanies spring was caused by the first generation of Quaiana, I think that's the case."

"This is a disaster..."

"It's rare to see you out on the street today. I thought you would be holed up in your dorm reading books on the weekend."

"I heard today is the monthly 'flea market,' and I want to buy some things to send home."

"I see."

"Why did you come here today, young master?"

"Just strolling around."

Originally, Isaac planned to come out with Hugh and the others, but Hugh and Dalian seemed to be going to investigate a case related to the Phantom Book nearby, so they didn't go with Isaac. As for Fran... she simply felt that she wouldn't be able to get anything done outside for a while, so she simply stayed at home.

The market was filled with all sorts of stalls. At the stalls of antique dealers who had come specifically for the market, there were antique dolls that looked like they were made in the last century, as well as cute sets of tableware; a country girl who looked to be about the same age as Ah Sheng and his friends was smiling as she promoted soaps made of herbs and dried bouquets; and an old woman with a kind smile was tending to a stall full of scarves dyed with various colors of herbs and plants.

"Is there anything you need to buy, young master?"

"No, I just came to take a look."

Isaac looked around in the bustling market.

Suddenly, he sensed that someone hidden in the crowd was watching him.

He turned his head and saw a red-haired man wearing a black top hat and a tailcoat hiding behind an alley.

The man's eyes were somewhat fierce, as if his target had been Isaac, who had just entered the market.

"What's wrong, young master?"

"Someone is watching me."

"Huh? Where is it?"

"There."

Isaac pointed in the direction of the alley, and Ah Sheng looked over but found no one there.

There's nothing there.

"You stay here for a while, I'll go take care of something and be right back."

After saying that, Isaac quickly walked towards the alley he had just been in.

"Wait……"

Before Ah Sheng could finish speaking, Isaac's figure had already disappeared before his eyes.

------

The red-haired youth who appeared earlier reappeared at the corner of another alley after Isaac walked into the alley, glanced at Isaac, and then disappeared again.

When Isaac arrived there, he appeared in other places.

It seemed that he always managed to get Isaac to see him, and then immediately slip away.

"Are you trying to hide where I'm going?" Isaac laughed.

He wasn't in a hurry, but instead leisurely followed behind the red-haired youth.

After walking through the various buildings, Isaac came to a warehouse.

After opening the door and going inside, there were many things inside: a large cutting machine, boxes with pictures, and models of various weapons. It seemed to be a storage site for magic props.

"You can come out now, right? What's your purpose in leading me here?"

The red-haired man from before was standing not far from him.

"Excuse me."

The red-haired man removed his hat and smiled as he gave Isaac a gentlemanly bow.

"I heard you came to the Kingdom of Suvar and have been looking for an opportunity to greet you—Lord Isaac, the alchemist from the early 20th century."

As he uttered the last few words, his eyes sharpened.

"Oh, are you one of my fans? You've come all this way to see me, do you want my autograph?"

"I just want to ask a few questions, and I hope you can answer them."

"Go ahead and tell me, I'll answer depending on the situation."

"Regarding the Marquis of Blois, I heard that he went to England more than a month ago to seek the help of an alchemist and seems to have gained extraordinary powers. After returning to Suvar, the Department of the Supernatural, which he leads, is thriving in the kingdom."

The red-haired man put his hat back on, stared into Isaac's eyes, and asked, "That alchemist must be you, sir."

You mean that person?

Isaac knew that Albert de Blois had come to England to return the Book of Illusions and, incidentally, asked him for the power of the Homunculus. Before recouping the cost, he had also asked the other party for some favors during his time in Suvar.

"Yes, it was me. It seems a man named Albert came to me asking for power, and I gave it to him. What? Do you have a grudge against that man?"

"Deep-seated hatred".

"Oh, then you should go find him. It's no use looking for me."

“Albert de Blois, who possesses power, and his rapidly growing supernatural department are extremely difficult to deal with. I hope you can reclaim his power,” the red-haired man said solemnly. “He is definitely not a good person. The things he does after gaining power are devastating to this country and even the world.”

"Oh."

"That……"

"I refuse."

"what?"

"Whether that guy is a good person or not has nothing to do with me. Since I'm providing him with power, I expect him to give me something in return. That's the same whether he's a good person or a bad person," Isaac laughed.

"What conditions did he...promise you?"

"The benefits brought by war."

"……I see."

The red-haired man lowered his head, and his eyes, once again fixed on Isaac, held a hint of anger.

"It seems you and him are the same kind of people."

"Don't label people so easily, you idiot."

Isaac smiled, and the shadows beneath his feet began to surge.

Swish!

In an instant, the shadow transformed into a sharp spike that pierced to its right, embedding itself in a black curtain.

"you……"

The red-haired man in front of her opened his eyes wide, and red blood slowly flowed from the pierced black curtain.

Chapter 1093: Have I gotten weaker?

"It seems you really are a magician."

The magician Isaac was referring to wasn't the kind of sorcerer he'd encountered before who was skilled in magic; he was just a magician who performed tricks.

Pulling the shadow out, a person fell out from behind the black curtain. This person looked exactly like the red-haired man in front of Isaac, and he was holding a small pistol in his hand.

“You’re still too green to ambush me,” Isaac laughed. “This must be the stunt double you usually use in your magic shows. It’s said that for the sake of realism in magic tricks, if the stunt double gets injured, the real person also needs to create the same wound.”

"What was that just now...?"

The blade that had transformed from a shadow was something he had never seen before, shattering all his previous common sense.

"Well……"

The guy who looked exactly like the red-haired man who had just come out was lying on the ground covered in blood, uttering a weak sound. He hadn't died immediately; instead, he had been pierced through the abdomen by Isaac's attack.

“I don’t care what your relationship with Blois is. At least he’s been my tool until he pays the price. And someone like you who can’t offer any value shouldn’t have anything to say about my deal.”

"..."

The red-haired man calmed down and carefully walked to the side to check on his stand-in.

"Hey, are you alright... Damn it, the bleeding won't stop."

Isaac looked around the huge warehouse and found something interesting in front of him.

A machine resembling a chessboard, with white pieces on one end and black pieces on the other. On the white side, there is a strange wooden puppet that looks like it was made by Indians. In appearance, it looks like an automatic chess-playing device.

"Oh...interesting."

Isaac smiled and walked up to the machine.

"Wait, what's that...?"

"Shut up."

The black shadow beneath his feet flew out again, transforming into a whip in the air that lashed at the red-haired man, sending him flying.

Ignoring the two men, Isaac walked up to the machine, sat down, picked up the black pawn, and moved it up one square.

After walking down one step, the puppet in front of him remained motionless.

"Madam, would you mind if I played a game of chess with you?" Isaac said with a smile to the unassuming puppet in front of him.

"How is this possible..."

The red-haired man stopped the bleeding of the person on the ground who looked exactly like him, while also keeping a watchful eye on Isaac's situation.

Isaac's eyes widened as soon as he said "this lady".

"You discovered it?"

“This thing looks like an automatic chess set, but the energy inside this puppet can’t be hidden.” Isaac said, looking at the puppet in front of him again. “Well, ma’am, are you interested in a match with me?”

"..."

The puppet remained motionless, as if it were just a cold machine.