CH51: Reunion? 

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CH51: Reunion?

I set the bait, then I waited for the two big fish to bite.

And bite they did.

"What are your plans for the future?" The Alchemy Head asked.

"I plan to build my lab where I can work on researching my interest." I said. "I plan on continuing on my research into the combination of both Alchemy and Herbology. I'm also looking into improving some low grade formulas to build my experience, before tackling creating my own unique formulas."

"That's quite the ambition you have." The Herbology Head said.

"I have to find some way to make my parents proud of me. I feel this is the way I can do it."

The two heads looked at each other. They gestured with their heads.

"Excuse us for a moment."

The two of them moved to the side and discussed something. They soon returned to me.

"We have an offer for you." The Herbology Head said. "From the research note you've shown us, we can see that you have a promising future in research. We would like to help harness your potential and build your future."

"The Alchemy and Herbology Association will jointly build a scalable modular lab for you for free. At the same time, we'll also offer you a 100,000 UC grant to fund your next research." The Alchemy Head revealed.

I was stunned.

The other Association Heads waiting for their turn to speak to me were also stunned.

A scalable modular lab was a dream foundational lab. Such a lab could easily be upgraded as the craftsman's skill level increased without having to damage anything or change the configuration of the lab.

This was especially important because the mana circle used to build such a lab was of the highest grade. Such labs were built only for the richest protégés with high potential. The number of such labs for individuals in Bayveth Republic can be counted on one hand.

"This... I can't accept it. This is too much."

I'm an opportunist, sure. But even I know not to bite more than I can swallow. Such a lab was an immense responsibility. Plus, my future would be tied to both Associations.

"Nonsense. With what you've shown us, only this kind of work environment won't stifle your potential." The Alchemy Head said boisterously.

The man had made up his mind to shove the gift own my throat even if I refused. The effect of my Charm Stats might be more dangerous than I thought.

"I know this gift from our two associations seems like a huge responsibility." – Herbology Head.

"It is, sir." I said.

The man smiled and continued, "However, only something like this can keep you on your toes. With great power comes great responsibility. The Alchemy Head and I see great potential in you. The huge responsibility is now on you to harness that potential. There will be no excuse from you with this lab."

"Yes, sir." I could only nod wryly.

"If the gift is too much for you, how about a deal?" – Alchemy Head.

"A deal?"

"You'll give us the exclusive right to license your research on your behalf. We'll make money from it while we protect your interest."

"I'd like that."

"Good. How about a 50-50 split?"

"No, let's make it 70-30. 30 for me, 70 for you. Your Associations are big entities. Sharing the profits equally after the efforts you'll put in, plus the lab you're giving me, is too much for little ol' me."

"Nonsense, if we do it like that, won't it seem like we're bullying you?" – Herbology Head.

"How about this? I'd like to request some favours from you to 'level up' the agreement."

"What kind of favour?"

"I'd like access to buy from your association's stash of special ingredients. I'll also like access to peruse your libraries and possibly view a high-rank alchemist or herbalist in action even if only once."

"Ho-ho. You're quite the crafty one, aren't you? Our special stash contains rare ingredients that can't be found normally on the open market." – Alchemy Head. "At least, you're tactful and only asked for access. That means you'll be willing to pay the price for them, right?"

"Of course."

"I heard you're seen a lot at the academy library. You are now turning your sight to our Association Libraries, I see." – Herbology head.

"Books are sources of knowledge and wisdom. Many of the ideas I've gotten were from reading the works of my predecessors. As the saying goes, why do we have to start from the bottom when we can stand on the shoulders of giants."

"Well said." The man nodded. "The only issue will be getting a high-rank professional to let you watch them work. You know the smallest mistake can mean the ruination of high rank products."

"I know. I don't need to see them making a high rank product. A low rank one is good enough."

"I see... what you're interested in is their methods."

"And how they differ from the methods of us lower ranks." I said.

"Very well. I don't see why not."

"Then, you agree?"

"The Herbology Association will accept your proposal as long as you grant us paid access to license your research for the next five years as well as giving us access to act as your license agents for the next three years. We can negotiate renewals afterwards."

"The Alchemy Association also offer you the same terms."

"I accept."

I was sure I could get a better deal if I push for it, but that might make things awkward between us. I had future use for the two Associations. So I decided to keep the goodwill I earned for use later.

It might seem like the two associations offered me a lot, but I knew my potential, they'll earn a lot from my research in the next few years.

The two Association Heads stepped back and it was the turn of the Enchanting and Mana Engineering Association Heads.

"We've heard about your passion in our two fields as well." The Enchanting Association Head said.

The woman seemed to share a good relationship with her colleague from the Mana Enchanting Association.

"I was looking for ways to improve the quality of potions and concoction so my first idea was in mana circles. I took a keen interest in Enchanting because it has the best and most extensive use of mana circles. I'm proud to reveal I figured out a way to extend the efficacy of low level potions."

"What?!"

It was the turn of the Enchanting Head to be stunned as I showed her the mana gathering circle I reworked to be etched on storage containers to improve the storage life and efficacy of medicine stored in it.

It was a derivative circle of the gathering circle I drew with my blood on the Beast egg Zora got me.

Suffice to say the Enchanting Association head also looked at me fondly.

I turned to the Mana Engineering Head.

"Unfortunately I have nothing to present to you ma'am. My study into Mana Engineering focus on understanding its functioning basics. Since I'm mana-inept and work by using mana stones, I wanted to understand the basis of use of mana stones to power lab equipment. As you know, higher rank lab equipment run on mana supplied by the user. Since the reason for this is because it gives a higher control over the equipment. No one is looking into how to make those equipment run on the stones so I figured I had to do it myself."

"Even then, your effort is admirable, considering what you've achieved in the other fields." The woman said. "Actually, you don't have to go through so much effort. A high rank Mana Engineer can repurpose your lab equipment to run on mana stones."

"Really?"

"Yes. It's not too difficult. The only problem is that the efficiency of the equipment might drop a little."

"That's better than the alternative. This is good news."

The Mana Engineering Head smiled.

"You remind me of the genius the Mana Engineering and Enchanting Association got five years ago."

"You are right. The lass was also as bright as he is." The Enchanting head agreed. "She proposed new ways of combining Enchanting and Mana Engineering field together."

"The so-called Mechanics?"

"Yes. It seemed so obvious when she proposed it that it makes me wonder why we never thought about it beforehand. Now, you are proposing combining Alchemy and Herbology. You're even throwing in Enchanting into the mix. It's like I'm having Deja vu."

"Come to think of it, the lass is supposed to be here today, why isn't she?" – Mana Engineering Head.

"I heard some guest from the Union are at the Rose Palace. She probably has to greet them first before coming."

I heard about the guest from the Hunters Union. It seems a bigwig from the Union was touring nations in the Human Domain to 'strengthen the bonds' between the Union and the nations.

This was another way of saying, 'to ensure the superior-subordinate relationship was maintained'.

The impromptu visit was the reason why Rowland wasn't present at the Graduation party and instead sent Ingrid and Jarrett ahead. He was at the Rose Palace, Bayveth Republic's Presidential Palace, to meet the Union bigwig with other high-ranking Hunters and Professional of the Republic with the President.

Just then, a commotion sounded as someone arrived at the party.

The Association heads looked over.

"Oh, she arrived just as we were talking about her. Come, let's introduce you." – Mana Engineering Head.

The Association Heads brought me along to meet the person that just arrived.

I froze when I saw the person.

"Leo Xander, meet Anastasia Armstrong, the discoverer of Mechanics." .

"Teacher, I told you to stop introducing me with weird titles." The person said.

"Oh by the way, she's also the President's daughter." The Enchanting Head added.

At this point, I was barely listening to the conversation around me, for the person... the woman they introduce felt so familiar.

A tear almost dropped from my eye but I was able to stop it in time.

It was Annabelle.

The love of my first life.

This woman before me resembled her so much that I could barely hold myself back from pulling her into my embrace and not letting go.

Fortunately, my brain still had control over my body and I resolutely held myself back.

But even then, I couldn't help falling into memory lane.

I recalled the first time we met, when my team found her after she had been kidnapped by that radical group. The tied up and bruised woman smiled and said 'Thank you' to us as we freed her from her bounds.

I remembered the unreachable princess who descended down and dressed like a commoner while we were on the run, and yet still look so beautiful.

And then, I remembered the same woman looking tired a few years later, begging me to take her from an unwanted marriage, only for me to turn her down out of loyalty to a man who deserved none.

Those three memories overlapped with this beautiful blonde-haired woman before me. Her blue eyes were just as soft-looking as the woman I remembered.

'Is it her?' I remember wondering. 'Has fate given me another chance to write my wrongs?'

'Is it just a look alike? Is fate playing a cruel joke on me?'

"Is something the matter?" I heard the early-twenties lady say to me.

"No, nothing. Sorry, I was thinking about something." I said.

The lady, Anastasia looked at me sceptically.

"Did you have an epiphany, by chance?" The Alchemy head said, fortunately saving me from an embarrassing moment.

"How could that be? Do you think epiphanies are that easy? Go away. Don't pressure my genius." The Herbology Head said.

The other Heads chipped in to stop their bickering.

That managed to change the topic of discussion, giving me the chance to recollect myself. The few of us chatted for a while, before I managed to find a way to excuse myself.

I moved to the balcony to get some fresh air and steady my thoughts.

"It can't be, can't it?" I wondered aloud.

Suddenly, I head footsteps behind me and quickly turned around.

To my surprise, it was the subject of my dilemma, Anastasia.

"Sorry to startle you. I saw you come here and I followed for some reason." She said. "May I join you?"

"No problem." I said as calmly as I could before resting back on the balcony.

She came beside me and did the same.

We looked out at the city quietly for a few moments.

"I know this is going to sound strange, but... Have we... met before?" Anastasia suddenly asked.

"No. I don't think I've had the honour of meeting you, my lady." I said with a little surprise.

"I thought as much." She muttered.

I raised an eyebrow.

"oh, sorry. I didn't mean to be disrespectful." She waved her hands wildly.

"It's okay. Calm down, miss." I said.

She nodded. Then, she took in and released a deep breath.

"I feel so embarrassed." She said after calming down. "I don't know why, but for some reason, I feel like we know each other."

An explosion went off in my head.

'Is it possible?' The question resurfaced in my mind.

"I'm sorry. I know how weird that sounds. Please don't be creeped out. I'm not trying to hit on you or anything like that."

"That's a shame. I'd have liked it if a beautiful woman like you was hitting on me."

"Flattery will get you nowhere." She said. She laughed even though she said that. After a while, "Thanks for not making me feel awkward."

I just smiled.

"Alright. Let's start over. I am Anastasia. You can call me Anna. Nice to meet you." She reached out for a handshake.

"Leo. You can call me, Leo." I shook her hand. "Nice to meet you too."

We smiled at each other.

"I heard you are the new genius the Academy is proud of. I never thought I'd see the Alchemy and Herbology Heads agree on something."

"I'm not a genius or anything. Everything I've done is for myself. I'm looking for a way to fix my condition. Even if I don't succeed, I can at least leave my mark on the world my own way."

"Even if you are doing it for yourself, as long as others can benefit from it, you are a genius in my book."

"Your words gladdens every corner of my heart, milady."

"Somehow I can tell you're teasing me." She glared at me.

"I dream no such thing. How dare little ol' me do something so rude before the genius of Enchanting and Mana Engineering, and the discoverer of Mechanics."

"Stop it, you're making me blush." The glare turned into a laugh.

After she stopped laughing, she said, "You know I never intended to 'discover' Mechanics or anything like that. I was just looking for a way to help people and I stumbled upon it."

"Help people?"

"Yeah. This world has little consideration for the little people. Let's take transport for example. The basic means of transportation is by carriage. However, the beast used to pull carriages are expensive to maintain for a small family. So, people on the poorer side have to resign themselves to walking. There's no means of transport catered to them."

"So, you thought of Mechanics to solve the problem?"

"Yes. I was thinking, what if I could invent a carriage that could move itself? Something powered by mana."

"That's why you studied Mana Engineering."

"Yes. But I soon discovered that I'd need to add many functionalities to the carriage that Mana Engineering alone couldn't solve. There was a need for new mana circles."

"Hence why you looked into Enchanting and eventually came up with mana circles geared for this purpose. Thus, the discoverer of Mechanics was born."

She pouted.

"What? Did I do something wrong?"

"You spoilt my big reveal." She hit my shoulder.

"Sorry. Force of habit."

"I'll forgive you. But only this time, ok?"

I nodded.

"Anyway, you're right." She admitted. Then, her mood fell a bit. "Unfortunately, I haven't been able to focus on this. My attention is being diverted elsewhere."

She turned to me.

"Have you heard of the Mechanised Beast Project?"

"The ambitious Mana Engineering project that aim to create machines similar to beasts?"

"That's it. As it turns out, Mechanics holds the key to push the project forward so I'm being pressured to focus on the project since I don't have a concrete plan for what I want to do. If only I could think of a way to complete my self-powered carriage." She sighed.

What she described sounded like a car from my previous life. If it was anything like my previous life, I knew a car wouldn't be affordable for everyone, so I thought of something that was.

A bicycle.

"Actually, making a four-wheeled carriage self-driving might be difficult. Why don't you start with two first?"

I went on to describe, vaguely of course, how a bicycle worked. Anastasia got my description quickly and an idea formed in her head.

I smiled watching her celebrate.

'It's the same. Her mannerism is the same as Annabelle's. She's also a princess who cares about those less-fortunate than herself. Plus, she's also "Anna". Is it okay for me to hope?' I wondered.

Just then, as the thought flashed through my mind, I noticed the stillness of our surrounding. I looked inside the hall and saw everyone on the floor except some powerful people like the principal and the Association Heads.

They stood on-guard like they were wary of someone.

A smell reached my nostrils.

'Sleep poison!'

My Blessing {Poison Master} nullified the effects on me, but Anna wasn't so lucky. She slowly felt drowsy.

Suddenly, I sensed some people rushing at our position... at Anna.

'Is she their target?'

I moved quickly and hugged her while pretending to fall asleep together.

The hostiles reached us. They tried to separate us, but my grip was strong.

"This bast*rd won't let go." – Hostile A.

"There's no time. Bring him along too. Since he's lusting after the princess, let him lust to the end. He must be worth something as well." - Hostile B.

Hostile A, who seemed to be physically strong, carried the two of us.

Then, Hostile B whistled and I felt a gust of wind caress my cheeks.

'This guys have a flying beast mount!'

They placed the two of us on the beast and quickly flew away while their comrades stalled the strongmen at the party.

They successfully kidnapped Anna and me.

Unknown to them, a cold smile made its way to my lips.

'I may have just reunited with Anna and you bast*rd think you can take her. Since you have a death wish, I will send you to Queen Hel!'

(To be continued...)