Chapter 18

Alkimas Workshop (4)

Bak gripped his blood-soaked chest with trembling hands.

Valia, who had been watching the situation unfold, finally regained her composure and spoke.

"Please forgive my rudeness and show mercy, Sir Akin."

The atmosphere was so tense that it wouldn't be surprising if someone's head rolled if they didn't bow.

Even Valia, who wielded significant influence over the entire northern region, was nothing in the face of the power of the royal castle.

Moreover, the knight who had just beheaded Bak in one stroke was Akin Kraudel, the deputy commander of the Iron Blood Knights.

From the moment this major figure appeared, she had a premonition that something was seriously amiss, but what he said was beyond her imagination.

'The order of the ruler, why... why...'

Why was the newly enthroned 7th Ruler looking for her and the Scarlet Workshop's head? Especially since he had just arrived in the city yesterday?

What was even more incomprehensible was the deputy commander's attitude.

Anyone could see that he was being high-handed with them but polite to Scarlet.

Valia couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding and confusion.

The deputy commander, sheathing his sword, ignored the fallen Bak and approached Scarlet.

"Then we shall depart immediately."

Scarlet, taken aback by this, looked around at Tain and the elders.

"Sir, why are you taking the head...?"

One of the elders spoke up involuntarily but quickly clamped his mouth shut in fear.

After all, Bak had just been punished for a single word of protest.

However, the deputy commander replied in a courteous voice this time.

"Do not worry. The Ruler himself has ordered that the head of the workshop be treated with the utmost respect, so it must not be a bad thing."

"......"

The elders could only nod in silent agreement.

They had no idea why the 7th Ruler was looking for the head, but they couldn't stand in the way of the knights.

"Big sister."

Tain, holding his arm, struggled to stand.

Scarlet, about to speak to the deputy commander, was interrupted by another elder.

"Head, don't worry, just go. We will treat Tain's arm immediately..."

She hesitated for a moment before nodding.

Knights flanked Scarlet on both sides, and others approached Valia.

Valia sighed softly and looked at Bak, who was staggering to his feet.

"Get your wounds treated."

With that, the two were led by the knights directly to the royal castle.

***

Scarlet, entering the inner castle through the main gate, looked around with a tense expression.

The sight of knights on guard throughout the castle exuded a sense of sternness and unfamiliarity.

As an outsider, she had never had a reason to enter the royal castle.

Reaching the massive central building, an elderly butler waited at the entrance.

He bowed to Scarlet.

"I am the butler, Floto. The Ruler is waiting, so I will lead you in."

He glanced at Valia and then led the way.

They passed through wide corridors and stairs to reach the highest floor of the building.

Upon entering the central hall on the top floor, they saw a man sitting in a chair, looking at something, and a knight standing behind him.

"......?"

Scarlet's face showed confusion and bewilderment.

It was understandable. The faces of the two men were familiar.

The mysterious customer who had visited the workshop in the morning, paying 3 platinum coins for the Scarlet Potion as if it were pocket change.

What were they doing here now?

"Ruler."

Floto bowed.

Scarlet, still dazed, looked at the man.

Suddenly, the conversation with Tain about the newly enthroned 7th Ruler flashed through her mind.

"Following your orders, I have brought the head of the Scarlet Workshop and the head of the Valia Trading Company."

The man, putting down what he was holding, slowly turned his head and looked at Scarlet.

"We meet again so soon, head of the workshop."

Realizing the situation, Scarlet, after a moment of shock, bowed.

"Meeting the 7th Ruler is... an honor."

He then turned his gaze to her side.

Valia, not daring to meet his eyes, hurriedly bowed.

"Meeting the 7th Ruler is the greatest honor of my life..."

"Why do you think I called you here?"

The cold, indifferent voice made Valia feel as if her heart had frozen.

He had now figured out why the 7th Ruler had called her and Scarlet.

The courteous treatment by the knights and the familiar response now made sense.

Valia, feeling a sense of unprecedented crisis and fear, desperately tried to think of the best answer.

Soon, Valia knelt and said,

"I have committed a grave sin, Ruler."

The room fell silent.

Valia, with her head bowed to the floor, waited for a response.

After a moment, the 7th Ruler spoke again.

"What did you do?"

"I coveted the secrets and labor of the Alkimas Workshop and engaged in various dirty schemes. I blocked the circulation of materials, bribed the workshop's clients one by one, and even threatened the head and the elders, as today."

Valia confessed her sins smoothly.

He had built the trading company from nothing with his shrewdness and financial acumen.

This was the best way to survive here. The Ruler must already know everything.

Scarlet, standing beside him, looked at him with a slightly incredulous expression.

The 7th Ruler then asked her,

"Is that true, head of the workshop?"

"Yes... yes."

"What do you want from the trading company?"

Scarlet and Valia's eyes met.

Valia, with a desperate look, pleaded,

"Head of the workshop, please forgive me. I will formally apologize for everything and compensate you thoroughly as you wish. I also swear that I will never again be blinded by greed and engage in dirty schemes against the workshop."

Scarlet, with a complex expression, sighed and nodded.

"......I understand."

She was just as confused and bewildered by the situation. What else could she say?

While the head of the trading company was despicable, she didn't want to see him lose his life.

The conversation ended anticlimactically, and the 7th Ruler looked at Valia.

"I hope I don't have to call you again."

"......"

"Go now."

Valia, trembling, bowed and followed Floto out of the hall with a drained expression.

Scarlet, left alone, stood there, still dazed.

The 7th Ruler looked at her and said,

"You must be wondering why I am helping the workshop."

"......Yes, I am."

The problem with the trading company, which had been so troublesome, was solved in an instant by the Ruler's word. It felt a bit unrealistic.

While she was extremely grateful, Scarlet couldn't understand his motives.

"The reason is simple. Your talent as an alchemist caught my eye."

"......?"

"The potions you made with the secrets were quite excellent. I hope you will delve deeper into your research and further develop your talent. That's why I resolved the issues around you."

Scarlet looked even more confused.

"So, you mean... you are offering me this favor without any expectations, simply because you value my abilities?"

"Yes."

"......"

"If you don't understand, think of it as a debt. There may come a time when I need your abilities. Consider this help as an investment for that time."

To Scarlet, this sounded even stranger.

Could the Ruler, of all people, ever need the help of a mere alchemist like her?

"If you have no more questions, you may go."

Scarlet, after a moment of silence, bowed deeply.

"I am truly grateful. If the time comes when you need my abilities, I will do my best to assist you."

Scarlet finished her bow and followed Floto out.

She thought to herself that the new 7th Ruler was truly an unpredictable person.

***

After sending the two away, I finished my tea.

'He's quick on the uptake.'

I chuckled at the image of Valia kneeling and confessing.

By coming in with such a low posture and confessing, the investigation I had done on the trading company became unnecessary. The conversation took only a few minutes.

In any case, the problem with the workshop was now resolved.

Since Valia knew I was connected to the workshop, he wouldn't dare show any more ambition, and I had also established a connection with Scarlet.

Of course, I didn't need her abilities right away.

But forming connections with NPCs who played significant roles in the game could be helpful in unexpected ways.

'Now, what's left is...'

I folded my arms and looked at the map on my desk.

There wasn't much time left until the next Ruler's meeting.

The sooner I left, the better, so I needed to find the next secret and leave the royal castle.

'The route is a bit of a dilemma.'

My top priority was to gather all the secrets within Caldrick's domain.

Among them, the most needed was a defensive ability.

So, obtaining 'Immovable Barrier' was a priority, but I hadn't decided on the next route yet. I needed to be cautious since I would have to travel throughout Caldrick.

"Ruler."

As I was deep in thought, the butler Floto returned and called me.

I thought there might be more to discuss about the workshop or the trading company, but his words were unexpected.

"A guest has arrived."

"......?"

"The 4th Ruler has visited the castle. He says he wants to see you for a moment."

I almost spat out my tea but managed to put down the cup slowly.

......Who just arrived?