The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 874: Volume 27: The Sudden Gust, - 13: The Great Alchemist?

After more than two years of arduous digging, the canal that connected Leon and the heartlands of Caucasus had finally been pierced through. From now on, the ore and coal from the heartlands of Leon could easily be transported through the Lake Niall water system into this canal, then navigate the treacherous and narrow waterways of the Volt Mountain isthmus to arrive at Santiago. After reaching Santiago, goods would head south, passing through Mattdam to the sea or upstream into the middle and upper reaches of the Catania River region. Conversely, all the materials needed in the Leon region could be continuously brought in through this waterway, bringing tremendous benefits to the regions along its course.

Komer could clearly see the waterline on both banks rising swiftly. The abundant water from Lake Niall had evidently deepened the canal, which was good, as it could effectively meet the requirements of large cargo ships. The waterway had been highly anticipated by many, and those merchants who had previously been reluctant to invest in this canal were now regretting their decision. They could only watch as the endless profits potentially generated by this waterway fell into the hands of others.

Komer thought to himself that the heartlands of Leon would welcome an unprecedented surge in development. Izmir, the previously inconspicuous little town, might suddenly become a jewel of the entire Caucasus region. Rich and high-quality iron ore, along with a large amount of magic metal ore, each was enough to make profit-hungry merchants drool. The preliminary preparations had been quite thorough. The Gran family’s performance was indeed commendable. Having neglected these Gisa people for so long, perhaps now was the time to have a proper discussion with these folks.

This thought merely flashed through Komer’s mind; no, it was not the right time yet. He knew the true nature of these Gisa people all too well; give them an inch, and they would take a mile. Only by maximally making them feel the pressure would they obediently comply.

"Lord, Mr. Karmani’s ship has caught up. He requests to board and report a matter to you," the Half-Beastman Guard reported, his resonant voice echoing in the cabin, causing some reverberation in Komer’s ears. Perhaps it was time to get a secretary, Komer thought idly. Eve would be the most suitable, but she might not be willing, and that little girl Finitz seemed pretty good as well, even though she was an Elf, which didn’t seem to make much difference.

"Hmm, let him come over," said Komer indifferently.

"He says he has brought an important guest to meet you, someone you have always wished to see."

"Someone I have always wished to see?" Komer was somewhat surprised.

"Yes, he says he has brought a great Alchemist for you."

"An alchemist? Oh, I understand now, yes, I indeed commissioned him. Very well, hurry and invite them aboard."

Komer smacked his forehead as if he’d just had a revelation. Alchemists were a niche yet mysteriously enigmatic profession. Not exactly full-time mages, they still needed to deal with magic regularly. It seemed the Gran family indeed had exceptional capabilities, able to recruit such talent so swiftly.

The survey of Izmir’s magic metal-associated ore had been undeniably confirmed, and not just one or two types of magic metal either. Their reserves and varieties were exceptionally rich, a fact that was temporarily kept secret. Komer did not want this news to attract outsiders’ prying eyes. The reserves of magic metal-associated ore on the Blue Continent were quite scarce, and the refining process was complex and difficult, with a high failure rate. Fire mages either disdained to engage in this profession or had no clue about smelting and purification techniques, which is why the production of magic metal on the Continent was extremely limited.

The demand for magic metal on the Continent, however, was an abyss that could never be satisfied. Knights and assassin warriors alike took pride in owning a weapon made of magic metal; Magicians also needed a large amount of magic metal to enhance the effectiveness of many magical instruments and apparatus. And not to mention, those pretentious Nobles who liked to flaunt their wealth and taste by showcasing various handicrafts made of magic metal.

Tedious beyond endurance! That was Komer’s first impression upon seeing this so-called great alchemist. Birds of a feather flock together, as the saying goes, and it seemed quite accurate. The Gisa People consider wealth as vital as life itself, amassing fortunes, and this alchemist appeared to have adopted their foul traits, which greatly diminished Komer’s fleeting good impression of Karmani.

Adorned in a broad, extravagant robe, one could tell it was crafted from a costly blend of ice silk and high-grade woolen textile. However, it was filthy and greasy. The six-pointed metal star that hung on the chest shone with an ocean blue sheen, even Komer couldn’t identify the metal it was made of. His thick fingers were adorned with rings of various colors, flamboyant and gleaming, making his hands appear like the clawed paws of a bird inside a crystal coffin.

The face above the goat beard looked like that of a ram, gaunt and scarred. If it weren’t for the somewhat spirited eyes, Komer would have mistaken him for a beggar who had crawled out of a trash heap. Was this the great alchemist?

"Lord Komer, please allow me to introduce the great Alchemist Feuerbach, the greatest alchemist I have ever seen. I believe his arrival will add unparalleled wealth and luster to your territory," Karmani said, sparing no effort in using the most nauseatingly flattering language to praise this visually repulsive fellow. This nauseated Komer, but he also strove to regard the man with equanimity. There weren’t many who could live up to such praise from Karmani, who knew his own temperament. If the situation wasn’t as expected, he was well aware of the consequences.

Feuerbach? Komer strained to search his memory for this seemingly familiar term. In his recollection, this seemed like a figure associated more with negative connotations and unlikely to be connected with the word ’great.’ But he couldn’t recall the specifics for the moment. (To be continued. If you would like to know what happens next, please visit www.qidian.com for more Chapters and support the author by reading the authorized version!)