Outside Border City, at the alchemy workshop.
Led by Anke, Hannah and the others arrived outside the workshop.
The first thing they saw was a conspicuous sign standing next to the entrance.
Hote read out the name written on the sign in both the Common Language and the Black Cross Kingdom Language.
“First Alchemy Research Institute of Hanover Province, Black Cross Kingdom?”
“Yes, this is the alchemy workshop I established in Border City,” Anke explained as they walked.
“Did you come up with that strange name, Fourth Prince?” Hannah asked.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen a name in that format. Country, region, number, and purpose… While it sounds odd when put together, it feels unexpectedly good,” Sola commented with praise.
“I chose it. I thought it would sound more imposing,” Anke admitted.
He then gestured for Vera to have the guards let them through.
Once the group passed the gate and entered the workshop, they were immediately stunned by the facilities.
Over a dozen alchemists and assistants hurried back and forth wearing strange white robes.
Experimental tables were covered with transparent crystal vessels of various odd shapes.
Some crystal flasks were even being heated over fires, the liquids inside bubbling loudly.
Everything looked so novel that the young nobles, like Hannah, felt like country folk entering a city for the first time.
Hannah was curious about what the potions in those beautiful transparent crystal bottles did, but the witch stories she had heard since childhood forced her to suppress her curiosity.
Her gaze swept from one end of the table to the other.
While Hannah was observing the potion bottles, Sola noticed the alchemists moving about.
These young people in their strange white robes gave Sola a peculiar scholarly vibe.
They didn’t seem like alchemists, but rather like old professors from the Royal Academy.
‘This isn’t right. Everything here is abnormal! What on earth is this Fourth Prince up to?’ Hote’s heart sank.
The better Anke performed, the more uneasy he felt.
‘Is this what Anke has been doing these past few days? Still, looking at how shocked Hannah and the others are, he’s really fooled them.’
Vera thought silently as she looked at the transformed alchemy workshop.
“My deepest apologies, Your Highness. A few apprentice alchemists and I were busy organizing the extended formulas for our newly discovered alchemy creations. We failed to greet Your Highness and your guests in a timely manner.”
An alchemist with a monocle and messy white hair that looked like a bird’s nest hurried over with an assistant to greet them.
“There is no need for that, Doctor Einstein. Developing new alchemy formulas is far more important than greeting us.” Anke grabbed Einstein’s hands and shook them vigorously.
“My Lord, is this Doctor Einstein the manager of the alchemy workshop?” Sola looked at the plain-looking old man with a doubtful gaze.
“That’s right. Doctor Einstein is the manager of this workshop. He’s responsible for experiments and developing various alchemy formulas. Currently, we already have several, including perfumes and alchemy crystals,” Anke answered Sola, while inconspicuously nudging Einstein with his elbow.
“Yes, beautiful lady. As His Highness said, I, Einstein Newton, am the manager and primary researcher of the Fourth Prince’s alchemy workshop.”
Receiving Anke’s signal, Einstein immediately introduced himself.
“Pardon me, My Lord, but is Doctor Einstein not a citizen of our Black Cross Kingdom? In my memory, there is no Doctor Einstein in the Alchemists Association of the Royal Capital,” Hote asked as he observed the little old man.
“Correct. Doctor Einstein is not from our kingdom. He is an outstanding talent I invited from the Oros Empire,” Anke replied smoothly, as if he had rehearsed the line many times.
“From the Oros Empire? Your charm is truly powerful, My Lord, to be able to make such a talent travel ten thousand miles to Hanover Province.”
Hote studied Einstein more closely.
Beneath the unkempt appearance, there did seem to be the temperament of an alchemy master.
How did the Fourth Prince get someone like this to come from the Oros Empire to this dilapidated Border City?
“Grandfather, you actually came from the Oros Empire! Fourth Prince, you’re amazing to get an alchemist to come from so far away to serve you!”
After learning of Einstein’s origins, Hannah looked at Anke with eyes full of admiration.
“It’s only because Doctor Einstein was willing to believe in me. Let’s not waste any more time; let’s continue the tour of the alchemy workshop,” Anke said modestly.
He then led the three count’s envoys, who were already intimidated by Einstein’s reputation, further into the facility.
Compared to Hannah and the other two, Vera was the most surprised.
She knew very well that this Doctor Einstein was actually a common gardener from Anke’s castle.
He had simply changed his clothes and suddenly became the manager of an alchemy workshop and an outstanding alchemist?
The key was that even Hote actually believed it!
‘Can humans really be this easy to deceive?’
With such doubts, Vera continued to accompany Anke silently, watching him continue to mislead the three envoys.
Anke led the group quickly through the experimental area to the warehouse where the alchemy products were stored.
On the shelves stood a large amount of semi-finished materials, while a few finished products were placed in prominent, easy-to-reach positions.
“Your Highness, these are the two products our First Alchemy Research Institute produces most at the moment: perfume and alchemy crystals.”
Einstein had his assistant bring over several bottles of perfume and a few colored crystal crafts for everyone to observe closely.
“Please, guests, experience them for yourselves. Tell me what you think,” Anke said, urging them not to be shy.
“It smells so good! It’s rose scented!”
After receiving Anke’s permission, Hannah was the first to pick up a rose-colored bottle.
She poured a little bit onto the back of her hand and sniffed it; the rich fragrance of roses immediately filled her nose.
“Violet.” Sola chose a bottle of purple perfume.
After uncorking it and catching the scent, she compared it to the perfume she was currently wearing.
“The quality is excellent. It’s not inferior at all to the perfumes made by the Royal Alchemy Workshop of the Iris Kingdom.”
“Exquisite. If I were to sell these, even at 3,000 Gold Markors, nobles would be fighting to buy them.”
Hote examined several colored crystal crafts and gave them high praise, but his internal worry grew.
The more powerful Anke’s alchemy workshop was, the greater the threat to his family.
“This item… is this the newly discovered alchemy formula you mentioned, Doctor?” Anke picked up a plain, grayish-white rectangular block.
Compared to the perfume and crystals nearby, this thing looked somewhat cheap.
“Yes, Your Highness. For now, we’ve named this item ‘soap.’ It can be used to clean the body and clothes. It’s a truly miraculous alchemy creation.” Einstein gave Anke a brief description of the soap’s use.
“That miraculous? I didn’t expect our kingdom’s alchemy development to have reached such a level! Truly amazing! Doctor Einstein, you and your team are the most patriotic people in our country!”
Anke set the soap down and praised Einstein earnestly, giving him a thumbs-up.
“You flatter me.” Einstein smiled and bowed to Anke, but then his expression slowly turned somber. “Your Highness, please come with me to the back to talk.”
Einstein glanced at the unfamiliar envoys and reported to Anke in a low voice.
“Whatever it is, you can say it here, Doctor Einstein. These envoys are not outsiders,” Anke said loudly on purpose.
“Very well, Your Highness. The development of the workshop has encountered some temporary issues. Specifically, the alchemy raw materials in our warehouse have been exhausted. We have no way to produce new alchemy products.”
Einstein looked troubled as he reported the current problem right in front of Hannah and the others.
“Tsk, that’s a significant problem. I don’t have much money left either, and these alchemy products can’t be turned into cash immediately… If it really comes down to it, should we stop production for a while? We can wait until the current stock is sold to recoup some funds.”
Anke “muttered” to himself, waiting for someone to speak up.
He believed that after seeing the perfumes and crystal crafts—the two most popular luxury items of the era—someone would definitely be tempted.
“Does My Lord require some assistance? The Rohak family can cooperate with Your Highness to manage the alchemy workshop together. I wonder what Your Highness thinks?”
Sola saw the mountain of gold behind the workshop and was the first to propose a partnership.
“I… I have to go back and ask for my mother’s opinion.” Hannah said she needed to ask her mother, but she was clearly leaning toward Anke as well.
“If My Lord requires it, the Oca family is willing to provide some support,” Hote promised verbally.
In his heart, however, he planned to provide only lip service or simply stall.
He couldn’t allow Anke to use this workshop to grow stronger.
“If I could have the support of three counts, that would naturally be for the best. However, I’m used to managing the workshop personally and isn’t quite accustomed to collaborating with others… How about this? I have an idea. What do you all think?”
What idea? The group looked at Anke with curiosity at the same time.