Alex was in an exceptionally good mood.
The kind of good mood where the world felt light, the sky seed bluer, and even the air tasted expensive.
"Okay kid, co here next month.", Nolan said with a lazzy look.
"Alright old man.", Alex nodded and looked at Anna and others.
Then he noticed sothing strange.
Anna, Darion, and every single child of the Celestus family had suddenly dropped to one knee.
Their expressions were solemn. Reverent.
"It is an honor to et His Majesty, Alchemy Emperor Nolan Magnus," they said in perfect unison.
Alex blinked.
"...What?"
He looked left. Then right. Then back at Nolan, who was still holding barbecue skewers like a street vendor.
He was a perfect actor. He wouldn’t let anyone think that he had already learned about him.
"Brother Darion, Anna... maybe there’s a misunderstanding here. He’s just an old man who sells barbecue. How can he be the Alchemy Emperor?"
Darion’s eye twitched.
"Alex. Please stop talking for a mont," he muttered under his breath. "We are in the presence of the first pioneer of humanity. The master of every emperor on Earth. Including the Alliance President. Including our ancestor. And his students are here too."
He lowered his voice further.
"A casual breath from any of them could erase us from existence."
The surrounding emperors stood quietly, watching the drama.
Alex slowly turned his head toward Nolan with a suspicious look, as if asking silently, Is this true?
Nolan stroked his beard.
There was a smug smile forming. Slowly but proudly.
"Well?" Nolan asked. "Are you afraid now, kid?"
The surrounding emperors leaned in slightly.
They all knew about Alex. The ultimate genius of earth who reached 100 th stair and gained a title from the tower too.p
They were curious.
Would he panic? Tremble? Collapse?
But Alex did sothing they didn’t even think in their imagination.
Alex jumped off the table.
Then he lunged forward and hugged Nolan tightly.
"Grandmaster! Where were you?" he cried dramatically. "Why didn’t you co see when I ca out of the tower?"
He tilted his head up with exaggerated puppy eyes.
The courtyard fell silent.
He even sniffled for effect.
"I missed you so much."
Everyone felt their faces twitch.
Anna’s soul nearly left her body. She wanted to dig a hole and bury herself permanently.
Darion turned slightly and muttered, "Don’t look at . I don’t know this shaless bastard."
Even the emperors, who had cultivated their emotions for centuries until their skin was thicker than city walls, felt heat rising to their faces.
Nolan’s expression stiffened.
He had intended to tease the boy.
Not adopt him but he had no idea that the boy was this shamless.
"Grandmaster," Alex continued, clinging shalessly, "after this reunion, won’t you feed three tonnes of barbecue?"
The surrounding emperors nearly choked.
Nolan’s old face twitched.
"Three tonnes?"
"Yes! I’ve been starving for affection," Alex replied sincerely. "And protein."
Nolan narrowed his eyes.
"How am I your grandmaster?"
Alex released him and stood upright instantly, answering without hesitation.
"I am the disciple of Master Elyndros Celestus. You are his master. Therefore, you are my grandmaster. Simple."
There was no flaw in the logic.
Nolan paused.
"...That is technically correct."
He stroked his beard again.
"Fine. I will make three tonnes of barbecue for you."
Alex’s eyes sparkled.
"But," Nolan continued, smiling slightly, "you must eat it here. Right now. All of it."
Alex froze.
The emperors leaned forward again to know what he would say next.
Instead, Alex stepped behind Nolan and began massaging his shoulders with surprisingly precise pressure.
"Grandmaster," he said earnestly, "you are already old. You shouldn’t work too hard."
His hands worked with expert accuracy.
"Just make ten kilograms per day for . That will be sufficient."
Nolan burst out laughing.
"You brat! You are more shaless than !"
All the emperors nodded imdiately.
Alex just grinned foolishly, completely unbothered.
But then sothing shifted.
His smile faded.
His eyes beca serious.
"Grandmaster," he said quietly, "please allow to observe when you refine pills and serums. I want to learn."
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Nolan noticed it.
The emperors noticed it.
This was no longer a joke.
"Why?" Nolan asked calmly. "Resources are practically free for you."
Everyone watched Alex carefully.
He didn’t hesitate.
"Grandmaster, I have an extrely high cultivation talent. But I can feel it. You all are facing sothing big."
The emperors’ expressions grew solemn.
"I want to beco an emperor as early as possible," Alex continued. "But for that, I’ll need mountains of resources."
His voice was steady.
"I don’t want to burden anyone. If I learn alchemy, I can hunt outside and create my own pills. I can support myself."
Nolan looked at him deeply.
"This brat really does know when to beco serious," he thought.
"You do not need to worry about such matters yet," Nolan said softly. "When the sky falls, the tall trees will hold it up for you youngsters."
His voice carried the weight of centuries.
"Focus on becoming strong. And never walk a dark path."
He took out a card made of deep black tal etched with golden runes.
"Co to the Magnus Tower. You may enter any floor except restricted areas. Learning depends on you. But let tell you, it is very very hard. With an alchemy talent, the success rate would be 1%-5%."
Alex bowed respectfully.
"Thank you, Grandmaster. I’ll visit tomorrow."
He then turned toward the other emperors.
"I am sorry your majesties, if my behavior earlier offended you."
He bowed again.
The emperors laughed.
"No offense taken kid," Samuel said. "It was entertaining."
He studied Alex curiously.
"But tell , how did you make your skin this thick at such a young age?"
Alex paused.
For a mont, his mind drifted to another life.
To an orphanage.
To buttering up an elderly caretaker daily just to avoid being thrown out after growing up.
That was true cultivation.
Thick skin forged through survival.
He blinked and smiled innocently.
"I’m not sure what you an, sir."
Then he waved casually.
"Good night."
And left.
The mont he disappeared from sight, the atmosphere changed again.
The emperors looked at each other.
"Should we tell him about the upcoming calamity?" Samuel asked quietly.
Nolan shook his head.
"No. Not yet."
"He still has ti. Let him grow freely."
Then he left with his assistant.
Far away, Alex walked with Anna and Darion toward ho.
Anna tugged his sleeve shyly.
"Alex... when you visit the Magnus Tower tomorrow... can I co? I’m a big fan of his."
Alex agreed instantly.
"Sure."
Anna’s face brightened.
Alex turned toward Darion.
"Brother Darion, can you bring so beast cores for ?"
Darion nodded imdiately.
"How many? What rank?"
"Ten Beast Master level cores."
Darion handed over ten cores.
"I also have Grand Master level cores if you want."
Alex shook his head.
"Not need."
His eyes glead slightly.
Tonight, he was going to try sothing.
As they continued walking, Anna glanced at him.
"You really weren’t scared at all?"
Alex chuckled.
"Of what?"
"That was the Alchemy Emperor."
Alex looked at the night sky.
"When soone that powerful stands in front of you... you either fear them... or you cling to them."
He grinned.
"I prefer barbecue."
Anna burst into laughter.
Darion sighed.
"Sotis I genuinely can’t tell if you’re a genius or an idiot."
Alex placed his hands behind his head.
"Why not both?"
The moonlight stretched across the quiet streets as they returned ho.
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