chapter 116 puppet master laugh

The room was bathed in a golden glow, the flickering light from the chandelier casting long shadows over the velvet-lined walls. Cute Mist leaned back in her custom throne-like chair, one leg crossed over the other, a glass of deep crimson wine swirling lazily in her grip.

The air smelled of lavender incense, calming yet laced with an underlying sharpness—much like her personality.

Her expression?

Amused. Satisfied. Amused.

She stared at the translucent holographic screen hovering before her, its soft blue glow reflecting off her piercing emerald eyes.

At the top of the screen:

[Tracking: Frost Eye – Active]

Below, coordinates flickered, updating in real-time.

She had done it.

With a single trade, she had gained absolute control over Dark Solution's alchemy materials and secured the means to track Frost Eye's location—all without expending a single guild resource.

Sophie thought she had won.

How adorable.

A Web of Manipulation

She had played her cards flawlessly.

1. Dark Solution was a rising power, expanding aggressively. They had ambitions. They had momentum. But momentum could be redirected.

2. By offering Sophie the Search Radar, she had effectively weaponized Dark Solution's hatred toward Frost Eye.

3. And Frost Eye? He had no idea he was being tracked.

Sophie's Desperation – The True Power Play

She had watched the hunger in Sophie's eyes when she offered the deal.

Sophie wanted Frost Eye dead.

She wanted revenge for K's relentless assaults.

She wanted to destroy the man who had thrown Dark Solution into chaos.

And now?

She was dancing in Cute Mist's palm.

Cute Mist (muttering, smirking): "Sophie, Sophie, Sophie… you really thought I gave you the tracker out of kindness?"

The moment Sophie activated the tracker, she had unknowingly given Rainbow Solutions full access to it as well.

Frost Eye's location was no longer just Sophie's information—it was Cute Mist's too.

And that made all the difference.

Frost Eye – A Wild Card Worth Watching

Her fingers tapped rhythmically against the armrest, her expression shifting from amusement to thoughtful calculation.

Frost Eye was not an easy target.

He was an anomaly.

He had appeared out of nowhere, dominated the alchemy market, and remained untouchable despite being at war with multiple factions.

And what's worse?

He wasn't scared of Rainbow Solutions.

He wasn't scared of anyone.

She had met countless merchants, schemers, and business tycoons in this game.

Frost Eye was different.

He was unpredictable.

He was fearless.

He was not just a businessman—he was a predator.

And that made him dangerous.

But No One Is Untouchable

Cute Mist took another slow sip of wine, her eyes locked on the screen, watching the coordinates update.

She wasn't going to rush things.

She had time.

All she had to do was observe.

All she had to do was wait.

Frost Eye could play his little games, but the moment he let his guard down…

She would be there.

To strike.

To profit.

To dominate.

And when that moment came…

Frost Eye would finally understand—

Cute Mist Always Wins.

Frost Eye had no idea that both Cute Mist and Sophie were plotting behind the scenes.

He was focused on something else entirely—his next power move.

As he walked through the bustling streets of Viles Town, his cloak billowed slightly behind him. The streets were as lively as ever, with merchants shouting prices, players haggling over rare items, and newcomers gawking at the towering Auction House.

But Frost Eye didn't pay any attention.

His eyes were sharp, locked onto his destination

Frost Eye walked through the grand gates of the Alchemy Academy in Viles Town, a place untouched by the chaos of the outside world. Unlike the bustling markets and power-hungry guilds, the academy was a sanctuary of knowledge and research, where scholars and alchemists spent decades perfecting their craft.

The stone corridors were lined with ancient tomes, the scent of dried herbs and alchemical concoctions lingering in the air. Strange glowing liquids bubbled in flasks, and students in robes carefully studied formulas on parchment.

But Frost Eye wasn't here to admire the academy's beauty.

He had business with a man who was almost a legend in alchemical circles—Grandmaster Varian.

---

Grandmaster Varian – The Alchemy Genius

Varian was one of the strongest alchemists in Mortal Online, an NPC so crucial that most high-level players would be forced to seek him out later in the game. His knowledge of potion refinement, poison crafting, and high-tier alchemy was unmatched.

But what made him unique was his selectiveness—he only acknowledged those who had proven their worth.

A normal player wouldn't even get a meeting with him, let alone a reward.

But Frost Eye had cleared the Poison Cave, gathering materials that very few would have the patience or strength to obtain at this stage.

That alone had earned him a rare opportunity.

---

The Meeting

The doors to Varian's private laboratory opened with a slow creak.

Inside, the dimly lit room was filled with mystical energy—crystal vials emitting soft glows, intricate symbols carved into wooden desks, and walls lined with exotic herbs preserved in glass jars. The room smelled of burning incense mixed with the distinct scent of alchemical fumes.

At the center of it all sat Grandmaster Varian.

His long silver hair was tied back neatly, and his piercing blue eyes studied a small beaker filled with a deep purple liquid. He didn't even look up as Frost Eye entered, instead swirling the liquid thoughtfully.

"Hmm… so you've returned," Varian said, finally placing the beaker down. His voice was calm, but there was an undeniable weight behind it. "The Poison Cave… I expected it to claim more lives."

Frost Eye smirked. "It did. Just not mine."

Varian finally looked up, his gaze analyzing Frost Eye with interest.

"Interesting," he muttered. "Most would have perished attempting what you did. And yet, here you stand—alive and even prepared to collect your reward."

The Grandmaster waved his hand, and a small wooden box appeared on his desk.

"Take it."

Frost Eye stepped forward, slowly opening the lid, his eyes scanning the precious contents inside.

Nightshade Essence – An extremely toxic plant extract, used for both deadly poisons and high-grade antidotes.

Toxic Vine Extract – A rare ingredient that could enhance the potency of poison-based alchemical mixtures.

Refined Venom Blossom – A purified version of the poisonous plant found in the cave, incredibly rare at this stage of the game.

At a glance, it seemed like a generous reward.

But Frost Eye immediately noticed something.

Varian is Holding Back.

The list of Poison Cave materials should have been much longer.

There were certain high-tier ingredients that should have been included—Serpent Root, Alkahest Resin, and Midnight Petal Extract.

Yet… they were missing.

Frost Eye didn't react outwardly, but his mind was already racing.

'So, he kept the best ones for himself…'

It wasn't surprising. NPCs in Mortal Online weren't brainless.

If players thought they could just exploit quests, the game's intelligent NPCs would counter them in ways they wouldn't expect.

But the difference between Frost Eye and other players was simple—

He had lived through all this before.

And Varian thought he was the only one playing the game.

---

Frost Eye's Next Move

He closed the box and looked up at Varian with an unreadable expression.

"Thank you, Grandmaster."

His tone was polite, smooth—as if he hadn't noticed anything.

Varian's sharp eyes studied him, waiting for a reaction.

When none came, a slight smirk appeared on the alchemist's face.

"Alchemy is about patience and wisdom, young one," Varian said, leaning back in his chair. "Keep learning, and greater rewards will come your way."

Frost Eye nodded.

'Oh, I'll be patient,' he thought.

But he wasn't going to wait forever.