Chapter 697 The Alchemy department (1)
The Alchemy production building was a hive of activity—a labyrinth of glass beakers and cauldrons. The air was thick with the scent of herbs and chemicals, punctuated by the occasional whiff of something less identifiable.
Rows of machines hummed and whirred, their mechanical arms mixing ingredients in vats or measuring out liquids into tiny vials.
Despite the involvement of mana in the production process, the machinery seemed to handle it with ease, as if it had been designed for the purpose.
Alchemists in white lab coats scurried from station to station, monitoring the reactions and jotting down notes in their journals.
Erik and Noah, both masked to conceal their identities, walked through the facility, their eyes scanning the operations.
Workers, also masked and wearing protective gear, moved from station to station, monitoring the machines and occasionally adjusting settings on the control panels.
"As you can see, we've already got a good number of people working here," Noah said, gesturing to the bustling room. "The scale isn't at Haven Market levels yet, but we're getting there."
Erik nodded, impressed but not surprised. "The machinery seems to handle the mana-infused processes well. That is good to see. And you did all of this in 7 days?"
"Yes, master. We had to spend a lot of money to make everything productive within days, but we managed. Of course, we still have much to do before we could start producing at full capacity."
Just then, Jabir approached them, recognizing Erik's mask. "Jabir, good to see you," Erik said, extending a hand.
"Yes, Mr. Kay," Jabir replied, shaking Erik's hand. "It's an honor to meet you again. Are you pleased with what you are seeing?"
"Yes, honestly. I have to thank Noah for his help, since he set everything up. But I also have to thank you since you started producing items just three days after our meeting. This is Noah, by the way," Erik gestured to his clone. "He's been overseeing the setup here."
Jabir nodded at Noah. "Pleasure to meet you."
"So, how are things coming along? What do you think about the setup?" Erik asked.
Jabir bluntly talked to Erik, saying what he had in mind. "Well. There is much to do, to be honest. We still need some equipment to make other products, and the production scale is still not that much. However, considering everything had been set up in a week, I can't complain." He turned to look at Noah.
"Your helper here is a very capable person." Then Jabir smiled.
"You are too generous," Noah said. Jabir replied with a nod, but then turned to Erik again.
"We've already started production on several types of potions. The machines are handling the mana components better than I expected. We're also working on some experimental projects I had in mind that could be game-changers if they pan out."
"That's excellent to hear. I trust you've also reviewed the production goals?" Erik asked.
"Yes, I have," Jabir said. "They're ambitious but achievable. I've already put together a team to focus on R&D. We're aiming to innovate, not just produce."
"Good. That was what I was hoping to hear," Erik said, pleased with Jabir's proactive approach. However, he noticed Jabir had something more to say.
"As for the scale, we're ramping up," Jabir said. "I've been in talks with suppliers to ensure a steady flow of raw materials, but I have yet to talk to the guild's person in charge of the supplies. We should be able to increase production rates significantly in the coming weeks if everything works well."
Erik nodded. "That's what I like to hear. Keep up the good work, Jabir. You're playing a crucial role in the guild's future."
"I'm honored, Mr. Kay, but while we've started with the production of common potions, I believe we need a flagship product if we want to make a significant impact on the market."
Erik nodded, his eyes narrowing behind his mask. "I've been considering that as well. A unique product could set us apart from competitors and give us an edge."
"Indeed." Jabir's eyes lit up at Erik's response. "Do you have any experience in alchemy yourself, Mr. Kay? Any ideas for what this flagship product could be?"
Erik paused for a moment before answering. "I don't dabble in alchemy, but I have some friends who are quite skilled in the field. They've been working on something that could be revolutionary." Erik talked about friends, and not 'friend' as he didn't want to give any kind of hint about who he was, the biological supercomputer.
Jabir's interest was piqued. "Really? That's intriguing. Would these friends be willing to collaborate with us?"
Erik shook his head. "They prefer to remain anonymous for now, but they've agreed to share their research and findings with me. I'll be the intermediary between them and this facility."
Jabir looked disappointed, but nodded in understanding. "Anonymity in our line of work is often a wise choice. As long as we can benefit from their expertise, I have no objections."
"Good," Erik said, pleased that Jabir was flexible and open to unconventional arrangements. "I'll make sure to keep you updated on any developments. Once we have something concrete, we can start the production trials."
Jabir seemed eager by the prospect. A new product was something he always looked forward to. Even if he joined the Haven Market and mostly worked for money, the passion he put in his work was clear. "I look forward to it, Mr. Kay. A flagship product could be the key to establishing our reputation and securing a foothold in the market."
Erik nodded in agreement. Jabir bowed his head, pleased by the compliment. "I'll do my best to live up to your expectations, Mr. Kay."
Jabir gestured for Erik and Noah to follow him as they left the secluded corner. "Let me give you a tour of our current operations," he said, leading them through the maze of machinery and workstations.
As they walked, Jabir pointed to a large vat filled with a luminescent liquid. "Over here, we're producing basic healing potions. They're always in high demand, especially since healers are a rarity."
Erik nodded, observing the workers who were monitoring the vat's contents. "Healers are indeed hard to come by. It's a wise choice to focus on something that can ease that shortage."
Jabir led them to another section where several machines were whirring, their mechanical arms filling small vials with various colored liquids. "These potions focus on healing bones; they are quite effective as they halve the process."
Erik nodded and observed the surroundings. Several intricate machines hummed and whirred in a rhythmic dance, their metallic arms moving with precision.
Each arm, like a skilled artisan, filled small glass vials with liquids that sparkled in a kaleidoscope of colors — vibrant reds, deep blues, luminescent greens, and shimmering golds.
The liquids themselves seemed to glow from within. Some bubbled, while others remained still. Each vial, once filled, was sealed and whisked away along a conveyor belt for further processing. The atmosphere in this section was one of controlled chaos, where science and artistry melded, guided by Jabir's expert hand.
"Impressive."
"Thank you, Mr. Kay," Jabir said, leading them to the last section of the facility. Here, workers were manually combining ingredients in small cauldrons, following complex alchemical recipes.
"And this area is for our more specialized concoctions—
antidotes, elixirs for temporary strength boosts, and so on. These require a more hands-on approach because of their complexity."
The size and effectiveness of the operation impressed Erik. "You've done an excellent job starting using the equipment in such a short time, Jabir."
"Thank you, Mr. Kay," Jabir said, pleased. "We're still fine-tuning some processes, but overall, things are running smoothly."
Erik then turned to Noah. "You too, Noah. You've made a great job coordinating the others and supervising things. I can't wait to see what you did with the other departments."
"Thank you, Master."
Noah contemplated the idea of adding that he was present to serve him, but opted not to, acknowledging the potential awkwardness it could create. The thing that he absolutely did not want was for Jabir to get the impression that something strange was happening behind the scenes, which could cause trouble for Erik.
Erik looked around one last time, taking in the organized chaos of the facility. Workers were still tending to their tasks, machines were operating without a hitch, and the air was filled with the scent of herbs and alchemical reagents. "This is a good start," he said.
Jabir smiled, his eyes filled with a mixture of pride and anticipation. "I share your optimism, Mr. Kay. I'm looking forward to what the future holds for us."
As the tour came to a close, Erik's confidence in the alchemy department's progress grew stronger than ever before. With Jabir leading the way and he on his way to make a new product, the achievement of success not only appeared possible but also seemed destined to happen.
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