Transmigrated as an Extra: Awakening of The Ex‐Class'-Chapter 32 : Weekend part 5

The elevator came to a smooth stop on the fifth floor. The doors slid open, and the receptionist was immediately ushering me in. As we walked down the hall, we came to a room. The room I was in looked very luxurious, if I’m not mistaken, important guests are received here.

The private room had soft cream-colored walls that shimmered softly in the lamplight. The velvet armchairs, in shades of red and gold, contrasted with the cold sophistication of the place. On a table, bottles of wine and champagne were lined up with incredible precision.

After escorting me all the way to this luxurious room, the woman left and told me she wouldn’t be long.

A while later, the receptionist returned, this time accompanied by a man of imposing bearing. He was wearing a blue robe embroidered with the initials CE, and beneath these, letters embroidered in gold thread, VI, gave an account of his rank and position. The atmosphere in the room changed as soon as he entered; there was something about his presence, an energy that emanated like that of a scholar.

"This is the alchemy expert of our trading house," the receptionist explained to me in a low voice, as if she were trying to give more weight to the presentation.

The man observed me with sharp eyes, as if he were evaluating something more than just my appearance. Finally, he broke the silence with a deep, resonant voice.

"Are you the one who refined this pill?" he asked, his tone stern and resonant with authority. novelbuddy.cσ๓

I nodded silently. I knew I didn’t need to say anything else. What mattered was what was to come.

"It’s incredible, I’ve never seen a pill with such exceptional properties," the man commented, his eyes shining with interest.

"Do you know what the effects are?" I asked, now a little surprised by his familiarity with the situation.

The man gave a slight smile, reflecting the confidence of a man who has dedicated his entire life to a craft.

"Of course, I am a level 6 alchemist for a reason," he replied, his tone full of confidence. "The effects of this pill are not simple. By ingesting it, the mana of the body will be reinforced and you will experience a surprising temporary increase in your physical capabilities: at least three times more. But the most surprising thing is that it purifies the meridians and slightly improves vitality permanently. It is a pill that could help advance the path of alchemy by several decades.

My mind was on alert. Level 6 alchemist... This man was not someone ordinary. In this world, warriors, mercenaries or threats were given a rank, from G to SSS. The latter being the most dangerous, but for alchemists, the ability was classified differently. There are three major categories: Level 1 to 3 were beginners, Level 4 to 6 were master alchemists, and Level 7 to 9 were grandmasters. Beyond that, there were rumors of Level 10, a rank that no one had ever reached, but... if someone with such skills appeared, he would be considered a God.

For the trading house to have hired an alchemist of this level was an impressive fact. This man was not just a master, he was a quasi-grandmaster, an alchemist on the verge of reaching a higher rank. He was almost at the pinnacle, just one step away from being one of the most influential figures on the continent.

At that moment, a woman’s voice interrupted my thoughts...

– Then, Mr. Shen, what do you think would be a suitable price for this pill? – the receptionist asked in a soft voice, without losing her composure.

– Ah, Miss Aliana, my apologies, I didn’t pay attention to you – said the man, looking at the young woman with a bit of embarrassment and courtesy

The young woman, with long jet black hair and beautiful honey-colored eyes, looked at him calmly. There was not a single trace of discomfort on her face.

– No problem, Master Shen. The receptionist answered in a calm voice – I was just asking you, what do you think would be a price in line with the properties of this pill?

It was at that moment that the name Aliana resonated more strongly in my mind, like the sound of a bell at noon in the monastery, an idea soon formed. My eyes focused on her, trying to match the information in the novel. Aliana... the daughter of the most powerful magnate in the kingdom? The future queen of commerce. Who is said to control all the trade routes of the continent. The connection did not reach me immediately; the figure in front of me did not match the image I had in mind. She seemed calm, but her immaturity was also noticeable.

– Wait... you’re... Aliana? – I said, unable to avoid the surprise that filtered through my voice.

The receptionist raised an eyebrow, then a flash of amusement crossed her eyes, but she didn’t say anything. As if she expected this kind of reaction.

"Ah, sorry... I hadn’t introduced myself properly," she continued. "I’m Aliana Celta, owner of this trading house."

It was then. When I understood, how Aliana took over the continent. That receptionist, who seemed so simple at first glance, was not only linked to the most prosperous business in the kingdom. She was the business herself, a young woman who was not arrogant because of her position, but rather emanated a calm and shrewdness typical of someone who has experienced the vicissitudes of life.

"It’s a pleasure..." I murmured, still trying to process this whole situation.

Master Shen made a gesture to continue the conversation, but the price of the pill no longer mattered. He was thinking about the future. Aliana would be my best ally, I had to get closer to her, not only because she was the heiress to the largest commercial power on the continent, but she would be the key to something much bigger.

***

"There is no suitable price to be set for this product," the alchemist said, his firm tone and eyes on the pill denoting his respect for what he had in his hands. "Besides, even if I could get my hands on the recipe, I could never replicate this pill. The balance between the herbs is perfect, and the method used by this young man... although I don’t know its origin, has raised the efficiency surprisingly to one hundred percent. Just studying this pill has given me glimpses of what could lead me to grandmaster. That’s how precious this pill is. I suggest, then, that you auction it off."

The alchemist’s words were like a silent acknowledgement of the skill he had put into this creation. I was grateful for his consideration, for not trying to buy the recipe from me directly, which would have been an offense, but these things are normal for people of high status. I knew that each alchemist guards his secrets jealously, and passes on his knowledge only to those closest to him: faithful disciples or direct heirs of his lineage. Although the Alchemist Guild had opened up new possibilities with its vast library, where thousands of recipes were collected, this man must have known my situation well. He knew that I was not part of the guild. However, even without the recipe, the structure of the pill itself was so perfect that, although they did not know all the details, those with a little knowledge of alchemy could draw conclusions and give rise to ideas and breakthroughs. That alone made this pill a valuable asset, something that few alchemists would risk passing up.

After pondering for a moment, Aliana, without any qualms, asked directly if I was considering selling the recipe, even offering me a generous sum. However, I firmly refused. She remained silent for a few seconds, watching me intently. Her eyes, beautiful and penetrating, did not stop scrutinizing me as she considered her next move. For an instant, the atmosphere in the room felt awkward and tense. Finally, she spoke calmly again, her voice firm and persuasive:

– Do you have any other pills that you have refined? – she asked, completely forgetting my refusal, as if she was used to getting what she wanted.

I looked into her eyes, keeping my expression calm, although a slight smile appeared on my lips. As if the situation was taking the expected direction.

– In fact, there is a recipe that I was thinking of patenting. That is why I planned to carry out the test at the alchemy guild – I answered calmly.

Aliana did not seem surprised, instead her gaze remained fixed on me with an intensity that I could not deny. Then, her voice slipped in like a whisper.

– Well, may I ask... is the recipe similar to this one? Her curiosity was palpable, but there was also a hint of caution in her words.

I stared at her, the slight smile still present, as I pondered how to respond.

– Well... you could say it’s similar – I finally said. – Although with some variations. I have modified certain ingredients and the refining process so that instead of increasing physical capabilities, it stabilizes the mind and improves concentration.

Aliana was quick to react. Her gaze became sharper and a hint of interest appeared on her face, although her tone remained calm, almost calculating.