Chapter 33

Winnie's laboratory.

"It seems that your mentor left you a substantial inheritance."

The magical lighting turned on, and Xarlan looked around the room, which was spacious and bright.

Three long workbenches were lined with various alchemical tools, and the corners of the room were neatly stacked with all sorts of items, arranged in an orderly manner.

The room was large, so the clutter did not make it feel cramped. Xarlan casually surveyed the room, seemingly impressed by the young girl's laboratory.

"Because my teacher was a member of the Royal Capital Alchemists' Association, I inherited this laboratory from him." Winnie was rummaging through something in a corner and turned to smile, "What do you think? Surprised?"

"A little," Xarlan nodded.

His gaze lingered on the intricate and numerous alchemical tools on one of the workbenches. He could understand the pride in the girl's voice, as it would take ordinary apprentices or low-level alchemists many years to fully equip their own laboratories.

The girl, still an apprentice, had inherited a fully equipped and well-furnished laboratory. This was the benefit of having a wealthy mentor.

In the years to come, she wouldn't have to worry about alchemical tools, and all she needed to do was to continuously experiment and improve her own abilities.

Different starting points led to different futures.

But behind the seemingly beautiful inheritance, she had also lost her mentor's guidance. In the future, she would have to rely on herself to explore and advance.

There were gains and losses.

"I found it." Winnie suddenly held up something from the clutter, looking relaxed and pleased.

Xarlan looked over and saw that it seemed to be a mirror. He was a bit puzzled, "What is that?"

"It's a透视镜..." The girl turned to Xarlan, shaking the palm-sized mirror, "This is a special mirror used to examine the inside of the body. Through its observation, one can gain a detailed understanding of the internal condition of the body."

"It's a remarkable alchemical product," Xarlan nodded.

"Right... I forgot something." Winnie, playing with the透视镜, seemed to remember something and exclaimed, facing Xarlan with a shy expression, "Could you please step out for a moment?"

Xarlan didn't ask why, as he knew that alchemists' laboratories always had some secrets, and these secrets were their most cherished possessions.

"Thank you, thank you. No one else can come in without me."

As he closed the door, he heard the girl's apologetic reminder.

The corridor was quiet. It was sometimes hard to imagine that the underground of the Royal Capital Alchemists' Association would look like this, but it wasn't strange. In Eldoran, the underground of every alchemists' association was basically the same.

Alchemy was an extremely expensive profession.

Most alchemists were not wealthy, as most of the money they earned was invested in their academic research and experiments.

The initial purpose of the alchemists' association was mutual assistance, but with the passage of time, each association had formed its own territory. To ensure the growth of their own association, they would build laboratories underground to provide for the alchemists affiliated with them.

So, despite the large and numerous alchemists' associations, they were actually very loosely organized. Different interests always prevented them from truly uniting.

Winnie's mentor was a senior member of the Royal Capital Alchemists' Association. With his status, he could have had an independent laboratory outside, but he didn't. Perhaps he was already accustomed to the laboratory underground in the association.

One must understand that alchemists have deep feelings for their laboratories.

When they achieve something, it also means they have money and status, and they can seek higher development and leave. But Winnie's mentor didn't, perhaps out of attachment to this place or for other reasons.

The door creaked open, and Winnie poked her head out and whispered, "You can come in now."

When he returned to the laboratory, he didn't notice any changes, except that the透视镜 in Winnie's hand was faintly glowing with a white light.

"Is there something different?" Xarlan pointed to the透视镜, puzzled. The originally plain mirror glowing was indeed strange.

"Because it has an activated magic stone installed on it." Winnie caressed the透视镜, her face showing a hint of pain, "This was the last magic stone my teacher left me, and I used it on this."

Understanding this, Xarlan nodded, "Perhaps you will have more in the future."

"Really?" Winnie asked with a hopeful smile, "You know, magic stones are very expensive."

"Really."

The term "magic stone" was not unfamiliar to him. In many of the things alchemists created, magic stones were an important source of energy.

"Alright, now turn around. I need to check the extent of the internal damage to your body." Winnie, still excited, gestured.

When Xarlan turned around, he felt a gentle and comfortable sensation on his back.

"Ouch..."

Through the mirror, Winnie seemed to sense something incredible.

"What's wrong?" Xarlan turned his head to ask.

"What kind of damage caused your current internal condition?" Winnie's hand, gripping the透视镜, trembled, "Seeing them slowly erode is truly fascinating and exciting."

Exciting?

Indeed, many alchemists, when deeply engrossed in academic research, would have thoughts different from ordinary people. Was she one of them?

He turned his head and looked at the excited girl with a flushed face, "You want to know?"

"Of course! Such a good experimental subject, I can't let it go." Winnie said, "And if I know what kind of damage it is, it will greatly help in your treatment."

"Do you know about dark magic?" Xarlan turned his head, his voice calm.

Winnie paused her observation of the透视镜, leaned forward, and looked surprised, "Could this be—"

"Yes." Xarlan turned his head to look at the girl, his gaze cold, "Will you keep it a secret?"

Again, being looked at with that frightening gaze, Winnie shrank back and said carefully, "Of course."

She didn't know why he had been harmed by dark magic. Everyone had their secrets, and when you heard someone's secret, you also had to bear the consequences of knowing it.

"Do you think your current situation is a bit difficult?" Xarlan suddenly asked, seemingly off-topic.

Winnie tugged at her large cloak, as if trying to hide her small body inside, and answered in a low voice, "Yes."

"If my satisfaction with your confidentiality and treatment is high, I will sponsor you with a large sum of money." Xarlan said, turning to look down at the girl, "Otherwise, you will know the consequences."

Winnie took a step back, looking up with a pitiful and tearful expression, "Please don't bully me anymore, okay?"

Xarlan turned around; he didn't like seeing women with such expressions.

"I'm just telling you a fact. Whatever you do, you must bear the responsibility for the consequences."

"I know," the girl's voice behind him was choked and soft.

"Let me ask you again, are you sure you can treat it?" Xarlan said.

"I should be able to. My teacher's notes have the formula for the potion to treat this kind of injury. I think if I have enough funds for the experiment, I should be able to make it." Winnie lowered her head, wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes.

Xarlan raised his hand, and a pouch jingled as it appeared.

He placed the pouch on a nearby workbench and said, "There are about 500 gold tols here. I think it should be enough for your experiments for now. The body has been examined. When can I expect an answer from you?"

Winnie bit her lip, hesitating, and then said, "I should have results within a week."

"Then I'll come back in a week." Xarlan nodded, and as he walked to the door, he turned to look at the girl, who was still standing in the same spot with her head down, "I hope there's good news."

With that, the door opened and closed.

In the laboratory, Winnie silently walked to the workbench, picked up the pouch the young man had given her, and opened it.

She turned the pouch upside down, and the gold tols fell to the ground with a jingling sound. Winnie squatted down and picked up a gold tol with her small hand.

A light, tinkling laugh, and the girl murmured, "Finally, I have money."

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