Chapter 538
Two young Russells escorted Rose to the 6th floor in a room that resembled a small palace in its sophistication and size. In the guest room, the guy saw his older brother sitting in an armchair… And his appearance now inspired uncontrollable horror.
Stein's face, pale with rage, was trembling with tension. His eyes were frowning. His fists were clenched. It seemed that he was about to snap and tear his brother into small pieces. And his frightening aura of the imperial phaser at the middle stage suggested that he would easily do it.
«E-elder brother, I didn't want to…» – Rose began to justify himself in a weak voice.
«So it's true that you… Shit yourself at the tournament… That you, a bald clown, were beaten like a punching bag for the amusement of the whole empire?..» – Stein began to speak ominously, shaking with rage.
«Brother, understand, I am very sick! I had an attack at the most crucial moment! If only Dick hadn't mocked me while I was defenseless… If he hadn't made a mockery of me in front of everyone, then everything would have been different!» – Rose whispered.
«You've disgraced my name. Now everyone will treat me like the big brother of a stinking piece of clown shit. But most importantly, you humiliated me in front of her majesty… In front of the empress Lanatelle!» – at that moment, an insane glint flashed in Stein's eyes, and he instantly disappeared from his place to powerfully hit his brother in the stomach.
«He-eee-e-ee-ee-e…» – all the air was knocked out of Rose's lungs, and his face twisted in pain.
Stein mercilessly beat his brother, like an angry hog: he broke his ribs, threw him against walls and kicked him. His rage seemed to be boundless, and its reason lay not even in the fact of humiliating the family, but in the fact that his younger brother had tarnished his reputation.
Rose didn't even have the strength to scream. And he didn't want to. The guy was in such physical and emotional agony that he dreamed of dying… Finally, the desired darkness came, but he only lost consciousness. The guy will wake up after a long time, completely broken and mutilated. Such injuries are not a verdict for a practitioner of his level, however, given his condition, as well as Albert's help, he is not destined to recover.
Letting out his anger, Stein gave the two servants such a look that they shuddered and straightened up, like soldiers in front of the commander. He said sternly: «Bring this damned Dick to me, now!»
«It will be done!» … «Yes, sir!» – the two Russells did not have the courage to remind him that Elsa patronizes Dick. Well, it's unlikely that she would dare to go against the will of the empress' strongest disciple.
…
Midday.
Kyon proceeded to the 2nd floor to the alchemy room to take the exam to become a high-ranking imperial alchemist in the near future and meet with the empress.
Lovr was a little surprised to find a small crowd of disciples at the entrance, among whom he recognized Clementine, Seraphima and Elsa. Everyone else seems to have come here because of these three girls, otherwise how else to explain such a sudden interest in alchemy.
Noticing the fat man approaching, the young people raised their eyebrows in disbelief and whispered. News of yesterday's tournament spread throughout the empire like a fire in a dry field in windy weather, and now even the laziest one was aware of the latest events.
{«How are you?»} – the blonde asked, charmingly tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.
{«Everything is finе. How are you? You don't seem upset about the Valentines' humiliation yesterday. Don't you care about your boyfriend's family?»}
{«I don't want to talk about it…»} – Elsa frowned.
{«I see. How do you like the new title?»}
{«I have no words… Everyone is very nice to me! And the attitude of others… I feel like a princess… And it's all thanks to you, Kyon.»} – Elsa said gently and added meaningfully. – {«How can I thank you?»}
{«Do you want me so much?»} – Kyon asked, as if seeing through the girl.
Elsa couldn't believe her ears: {«What? No! What did you just say?!»}
{«You know very well that I can demand anything from you, except for sex… And now you're talking about gratitude. Horny stupid girl, first think, then speak.»} – Kyon grinned and turned away.
The blonde only now realized that she really could not offer the messenger of the goddess anything that he could not take himself, except for what he called. The girl's cheeks turned rosy, and the lady looked away from him in embarrassment. She constantly makes a fool of herself next to him! How does he do it?!
A few minutes later, right on schedule, the doors to the office opened. The disciples went inside. Kyon got there last. Before he had even taken two steps, the two Russells grabbed him by the arms and dragged him back.
«And I will ask you to stay, man-pig!» … «Mr. Stein wants to see you.» – one of the duo said it matter-of-factly, deliberately loudly to make Elsa hear it, hinting that he was just fulfilling the will of the very important person, which means no one would dare to interfere with it.
However, the girl still intervened, contrary to the Russells' expectation: «Did you misunderstand me last time? Or are you looking for problems?!»
The two guys looked like they were facing the most absurd situation of their lives: «B-but, lady, Stein wants to see him! You know who he is, right? He is the future patriarch of the Valentines, the empress' senior disciple! Even you shouldn't contradict him!» … «We are friends of the young master, and now we are fulfilling his request: to bring Dick to him… Please, do not prevent us from fulfilling the will of Mr. Stein!»
«Stein is not my boss. If he wants to see Baker so much, he should come himself, and not send his lousy stooges for him!» – said Elsa venomously.
The two Russells were breathless in outrage and humiliation. No one has called them Stein's stooges yet. They prefer to consider themselves his friends. But how can they object to the empress' senior disciple, who is also the imperial phaser at the beginning stage?
Gritting their teeth and throwing unkind glances like: "You will regret it", they went to their master disappointed.
Once again, Elsa proved to everyone that Dick is under her reliable protection, even despite the fact that at yesterday's tournament he dragged the dignity of her boyfriend through the mud. No one could understand the reason for her behavior. And does she really think she can protect Baker from Stein's retribution?
Kyon felt that he finally occupied a truly privileged status. His sister helped him without unnecessary orders, which indicated her good attitude towards him, which meant that everything was going according to plan. Of course, his ego was not hurt, because the blonde knew perfectly well that he would have coped without her.
In the alchemy room, old master Schultz told the young people that to become an imperial alchemist, it is usually necessary to complete training in the order, thereby proving one's devotion to the homeland, but for the empress's disciples this requirement is not mandatory. There is only one thing left: to qualify as an alchemist of a certain rank. Today he is conducting an exam to confirm the qualifications of the disciples. If they are not satisfied with the result, they can try again in a month.
Elsa raised her hand to ask a question.
Schultz looked at the blonde with a slight smile: «Oh, dear lady, I know you… You are a fourth-rank alchemist, Ms. Elsa Stone! Master Feng told me a lot about your success… You are his pride! If you can confirm your qualifications as a rank four alchemist today, then I will gladly give you permission to become an imperial alchemist. Do you have any other questions for me?»
When he said about master Feng, the girl frowned: «Sir, have you seen my master? He disappeared somewhere a month ago, and I haven't been able to contact him…»
«I'm sorry, Miss Elsa, but I don't know anything…» – the old man sadly threw up his hands.
Kyon had a heavy heart. Alas, but her beloved master was already dead.
Elsa closed her eyes sadly, but soon asked the next question: «How can I qualify for an alchemist of the third or even second rank?»
The old master raised his bushy eyebrows in surprise, and the disciples whispered excitedly. Alchemists of the 3rd rank appear in Rosarrio exceptionally rarely, and of the 2nd rank even less often! If the girl becomes an alchemist of the 3rd rank, then she will become a very important person! If they had known that she could claim the 1st rank, they would have been speechless, and the old master would have fainted.
Schultz thoughtfully chuckled and replied: «Lady Elsa, the rules established by the alchemist guild state that the qualification for an alchemist of the third and higher ranks can only be passed in their guild located in Saturn… Alternatively, you can invite an authorized master to our palace to take the exam here. Since you are the empress's senior disciple, we will cover the costs, but first you must prove to me that this is necessary. Still, it's not cheap.»
«I'll try.» – Elsa nodded and gently sat back down.
«Any other questions? No? Well, good luck to you.» – Schultz turned the hourglass over.
The young people took the ingredients from the shelves and started making medicine. The task is simple: to prepare 10 different types of medicine of the highest quality and rank that they are capable of. The alchemist will make all the necessary conclusions based on the results.
Kyon understood that the qualification of an alchemist of the 4th rank would not allow him to meet the empress. It is necessary, together with Elsa, to wait for the arrival of an authorized master from the alchemists guild and get a qualification from him. Easy! But first he needs to prove to Schultz that he is capable of becoming an alchemist of the 3rd and higher ranks.
Nodding to his thoughts, Lovr began to make medicine. Suddenly, at the most crucial moment of merging the ingredients, something went wrong: a chain reaction started, and the alchemy kit exploded with the power of a small grenade.
~BANG~
«Young man, maybe you came to the wrong place?!» – the old master raised his head from his notes with displeasure.
All those present who did not know about Dick's abilities in alchemy laughed mockingly.
The explosion of an alchemy kit means a critical error during the fusion of ingredients, and it happens only when the practitioner is trying to master a new recipe, but definitely not when he is preparing a medicine that is well known to him, moreover, in an exam!
Elsa raised her eyebrows in surprise: did he fail? How is this possible?!
{What's going on?} – Kyon took out another alchemy kit and tried again…
~BANG~
«What is this?! Two explosions in two minutes?! Get out of my room!» – the old alchemist was seriously angry.
«Mr. Schultz, please give him one more chance…» – Elsa kindly asked.
The old master hesitated and reluctantly agreed: «Since the empress' senior disciple is asking me, then I can't refuse her… Young man, you should be grateful to her!»
Kyon ignored everyone's chuckles and got to work, this time activating "The eyes of truth". Soon he realized what was the reason for all his failures…
{Bitches, you're fucked up!} – Lovr got angry. He saw that the twin girls sitting on the sides of him were emitting invisible energy. It spoils the filigree making process! These assholes are deliberately setting him up! Why are they doing this to him? He just poisoned them with narcotic gas once… Then he suffered even more than they did!
Clementine's snide smile especially exasperated him.
{You're going to pay for your smile now!} – Kyon promised gloatingly and released Synergy…
~BOOM~ ~BOOM~
The twins' alchemy kits exploded at the same time.
There was deathly silence in the alchemy room.
{How is this possible?!} – everyone was perplexed, looking in amazement at the two beautiful girls.
Clementine and Seraphima opened their mouths in shock, then looked at the fat man… This fat guy stared at them with theatrical surprise, putting his palm to his lips.
{It's him!} – the twins guessed instantly. Baker's feigned amazement made them gnash their teeth in rage. They really wanted to punch him in the brazen shiny muzzle! However, they understood that he just returned the favor. How could they have known that a toothless blind puppy would not only understand who was biting his tail, but would also be able to snap back in some incomprehensible way!
Elsa looked from him to the girls, and soon guessed what was happening. As expected, the reason for the failures of "The Legendary Lord of the Cauldron" was not in his mistakes, but in someone else's interference! And the fact that he rebuffed the offenders could not but please her.
«Is my exam some kind of joke for you?!» – the old master jumped up indignantly.
«I'm sorry, Mr. Schultz, this won't happen again…» – Seraphima meekly promised.
«Forgive me.» – asked Clementine, and helplessly and at the same time threateningly stared at Dick, as if offering a truce. If he is able to fight back, then she has no choice but to stop deliberately interfering with him in achieving his goals.
Kyon gave the girls a thumbs up, remembering the wise words of the master: {The strong are respected and feared, but the weak are despised and used.}
Lovr continued to make medicine, this time without incident.
When the exam time came to an end, the disciples handed in their works and headed towards the exit. Their samples will be checked by tomorrow, then they will know the result.
Suddenly, three people burst into the room: a well-known stocky, long-haired blond named Stein stood in front of everyone, and two maliciously grinning Russells were behind him, they resembled mischievous puppies cowardly hiding behind the pack leader.
The senior disciple of the empress looked at everyone with a stern look and fixed his gaze on the fat man. A dangerous light lit up in his eyes, and with a low roar he gave the order to everyone: «Everyone out of the room. Except you, Dick Baker.»
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