When Sakeer left the workshop, his coin pouch was heavier by another 100 gold coins.
With his previous earnings, his total wealth had once again reached 700 gold coins.
The herbs he had received from deep within the Great Forest of Tob had turned out to be far more valuable than he had initially expected.
This realization sparked a new idea in his mind—
If he could bring the Great Forest of Tob under his control, the potential wealth it could generate would be immense.
Just because the people of this world found it impossible didn't mean that he couldn't do it.
After all—
The only true obstacle was the presence of the three dominant beings that ruled the forest.
Meanwhile…
At the workshop, Grandmother Lizzie stood motionless, staring at the two bottles of alchemy potions sitting on the counter.
She was no stranger to geniuses—those whose talents exceeded the limits of ordinary comprehension.
Take, for example, the most famous prodigy in the kingdom right now:
Lakyus Alvein Dale Aindra—the daughter of a top noble family.
At just ten years old, she had already mastered second-tier magic.
By the time she was twelve, she had formed her own adventurer party, the "Roses", and begun traveling the world.
Even the president of the Royal Capital's Wizard Guild had once stated that she had the potential to reach the Hero Realm before turning twenty.
To ordinary people, such talent was simply unimaginable.
For most, mastering third-tier magic alone would be enough to be considered a genius.
And now…
Lizzie finally understood how the president of the Wizard Guild must have felt back then.
She had personally witnessed an incomprehensible genius—
Even if it was only in the field of alchemy, Sakeer's talent was beyond belief.
At that moment—
"Grandmother… Sakeer gone?"
Nfirea's somewhat dejected voice pulled Lizzie from her thoughts.
Her expression turned serious as she looked at him.
"Forget what I told you before," she said firmly.
"Huh?" Nfirea blinked, looking confused.
Grandmother Lizzie let out a long breath, as if gathering her thoughts.
Then, her eyes suddenly lit up.
"With your talent, you might actually be able to understand his methods one day…"
She hesitated for a moment before shaking her head.
"No—forget that for now. Focus on mastering what this old woman has taught you first."
Nfirea remained stunned, staring at his grandmother as she continued muttering to herself.
The Adventurer's Guild
At the registration counter, the guild receptionist smiled as she looked at Sakeer.
"Alright. Are you the only adventurer registering today?" she asked.
"And Kuro," Sakeer replied, pointing to the small, shadowy spirit dog at his feet.
The receptionist's smile stiffened slightly.
"Um…" she hesitated.
"There aren't any rules stating that monsters can't be part of an adventurer team, right?"
Sakeer's lips curled into a slight smile.
"Well… no, there's no such rule, but…"
"Then I'll leave it to you. Also—"
Sakeer casually pulled out a gold coin and placed it on the counter.
"Help me fill in the form."
His decision to register as an adventurer had been sudden—
But after receiving confirmation from Grandmother Lizzie, he had realized something he had previously overlooked.
The Kingdom of Re-Estize and the Baharuth Empire had been at war for years.
Every year, like clockwork, the Baharuth Empire launched an attack on Re-Estize during the autumn harvest season—a strategic move designed to weaken the kingdom's resources.
The Blood Emperor's objectives were clear:
To steadily erode the Kingdom of Re-Estize's national power.To suppress the influence of the nobility within his own empire and consolidate absolute control.
Over time, the gap in strength between the two nations had widened.
Anyone with a keen eye could see it—
Re-Estize was in decline.
And now—
For reasons still unclear, the war had been moved ahead of schedule.
The Baharuth Empire had already begun mobilizing its forces.
This was the reason behind the tense atmosphere that had suddenly gripped E-Rantel.
As for the sudden advancement of the war…?
Sakeer suspected that the cause lay in the recent "Imperial Trial Meeting."
The rise of Gazef Stronoff, a commoner who had been granted significant power, likely triggered the Blood Emperor's suspicion—perhaps he had sensed a shift in the balance of power.
"Alright."
At the Adventurer's Guild counter, the receptionist's expression brightened the moment she saw the gold coin.
Without hesitation, her demeanor shifted to one of warm professionalism.
Illiteracy was common among adventurers, and as part of the registration process, guild staff often offered ghostwriting services—for a price, of course.
And that fee?
It wasn't guild property—it was personal income for the staff.
"Excuse me, what name would you like for your adventurer team?"
Sakeer replied without hesitation—
"Free Will."
The receptionist's hand paused mid-stroke before looking up in admiration.
"What a refined name."
Most adventurers had little education, and the names they came up with were often a chaotic mess.
Hearing such a thoughtful and meaningful name was a rare occurrence.
"Alright—Free Will. And you're Sakeer, correct?"
"Wait just a moment."
After confirming the details, the receptionist quickly filed the registration form and disappeared into the back.
It didn't take long before she returned, holding a small copper nameplate.
"This is your adventurer's nameplate—your proof of identity. You are currently ranked Bronze, the lowest level. No matter where you go, as long as there is an Adventurer's Guild, this nameplate will verify your status."
The receptionist provided a brief but clear explanation of the basic rules adventurers needed to know.
Sakeer took the nameplate and examined it briefly.
This was what he had been waiting for—
Or rather, what he truly needed—the identity of an adventurer.
With war looming between the Kingdom of Re-Estize and the Baharuth Empire, traveling without a proper identity could bring countless problems.
By registering as an adventurer, he could move more freely and avoid unnecessary complications when entering the Baharuth Empire.
Of course, there were downsides as well.
While adventurers enjoyed certain privileges, they were also subject to restrictions.
For instance, most nations viewed adventurers with a degree of suspicion—some more than others.
Sakeer glanced at the nameplate once more before securing it to his waist belt.
"I've wasted enough time—it's time to move."
Still—
Something puzzled him.
Even now, "Eight Fingers" had yet to make a move.
After losing two key members, an underground organization of their caliber should have reacted by now.
Yet, there had been no response.
Sakeer couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
Year 4 of the New Calendar
Fire Moon—July 18
Sakeer departed from E-Rantel once more.
Nestled in the central-western region of the human-inhabited lands, the Baharuth Empire was strategically enclosed—
The sea to the north.
Mountains on the remaining three sides.
Unlike the Kingdom of Re-Estize, the Baharuth Empire had fewer natural resources and a less favorable terrain.
Although both nations had been founded around the same time, their paths diverged drastically after the Blood Emperor, Jircniv Rune Farlord El-Nix, took power.
With iron-fisted resolve, he purged the decadent nobility—eliminating the corrupt aristocracy that had been leeching off the empire.
And yet—
Rather than plunging into chaos and ruin, the Baharuth Empire flourished under his brutal yet effective rule.
Together with the Empire's Guardian, Fluder Paradyne, the Blood Emperor had ushered in an era of unprecedented prosperity.
Imperial Capital—Arwintar
Compared to the narrow, aging streets of the Kingdom's royal capital, Re-Estize, the imperial capital city of the Baharuth Empire, Arwintar was clean, vast, and thriving.
The city radiated an undeniable sense of prosperity.
And lately—
Something new had been stirring within its walls.
Half a month ago, a mysterious alchemy potion had suddenly taken the imperial capital by storm.
Traditionally, the most common healing potion—crafted using basic herbs and riddled with impurities—was sold for around one silver coin.
A price the general public could barely afford.
However—
A new alchemy potion had recently emerged.
Stronger. More potent.
Yet its price?
A mere eight copper coins.
This game-changing discovery had sparked an uproar throughout the entire capital.
(End of Chapter)