Published: July 3, 2025
This is the final part of the continuous intermission.
Today, I will post two chapters.
"Hah~"
Kenneth Hayward, the chief researcher from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and a baron, let out a deep, heavy sigh.
"Welcome back."
Immediately, his subordinate Raden prepared tea for him.
"Ah, sorry about that."
Kenneth said this as he sat down and took a sip of the tea.
"The development of Vaidra is still frozen this month."
He said bitterly.
"I see…"
Raden also sighed deeply.
This was the Royal Alchemy Workshop.
Here, various alchemy tools were being produced and researched, and Kenneth was one of the central figures.
Therefore, he was advancing various research and development projects aside from Vaidra, so he was never short of work.
Of course, he was also progressing those projects, but Kenneth believed that the development of Vaidra, which was crucial for the survival of the country, was an urgent issue.
He understood that the functions of the royal capital, which had been thrown into chaos by the "royal capital turmoil," had not yet recovered.
However, that was precisely why it needed to be advanced.
The world is never kind.
If there are weaknesses, they will be attacked head-on… that is how neighboring countries operate.
Even though he was a baron, Kenneth was merely a researcher and an alchemist, so there was little he could do about it…
Suddenly, Kenneth glanced to the seat on his left.
That seat was empty.
It was the seat where a man who had once developed numerous alchemy tools alongside Kenneth and shared the title of genius alchemist had sat.
Kenneth was still in his twenties, but the man who had occupied that seat was already over sixty.
With his accumulated achievements and creativity that rivaled Kenneth's, Kenneth had admired him deeply and regarded him as a mentor in his heart.
Having his main affiliation at the Magical University, he was posted to this alchemy workshop, but Kenneth had often been treated with kindness by him.
Despite being of a generation much younger, the way he looked at Kenneth, absorbing knowledge and experience like sand soaking up water, was very gentle.
However...
"It’s already been two years since Frank is gone..."
Frank de Verde.
That was the name of the man who had once been called a genius alchemist alongside Kenneth.
In the next chapter "0165," a new arc titled "Chapter Ten: The Duchy of Inberri Again" will begin.
This chapter, 0164, serves as its prologue.
"0165" will be posted at 9 PM as usual.