Chapter 233 233:Let's Get Down To Buisness[2]
"Did you get these potions from the Church?"Aaron asked in bewilderment.
"Yes, it was personally handed to me by Luna. I even had a photo." Lucas answered, trying to control his smile.
During the crisis of the church, when Luna got out of the chest, Lucas offered a potion to her to which she refused but with the camera fit in his button recording it, he can just edit the picture a bit with Luna and use it as a proof if he got asked by the auction house.
Seeing their surprised look, Lucas started to explain.
Moreover, Luna had the power to increase a potion's efficiency.
During the connotations phase of the potion, the effects of the material are either wasted due to the refinement or its full medicinal value being exerted.
Connotation technique, fire temperature and refinement process had been improved over the generations but it still fell short.
Luna can use her blessing power to stimulate the ingredients during the process to release all their medicinal effects.
"It feels like a dream." Aaron rubbed his bald head while Reynold glanced at Lucas with an inexplicable gaze and asked.
"Why do I feel that you had a personal beef with the Saintess?"
"There is none. She is just like a Senior sister to me." Lucas shrugged his shoulders thinking that he might be going overboard.
"Okay, let's cut to the chase. Since we still haven't formed an alchemist team we will limit the sales of the potions. First, let's get rid of the current batch and then hire a team."
Lucas remembered a few names who were going to be part of Linda's workshop in the future.
'I have to handle things for her until she graduates. Since she will be working for me, I can at least set the stage for her.'
"I will give you a list of people. Ask Scotch to look for them and hire them. They are trustworthy as long as you can make them sign a contract and help them out of their misery. Also, ask Scotch to create a website for Salus and God Elixir." Lucas ordered.
"We'll take care of the hiring part as per the website, I have already asked him to do that and it's already done." Reynold replied and as he was about to speak further, his phone rang.
"I need to go now. I think we discussed everything we needed to."
"Hmm!"
Aaron sighed in relief and wiped his sweat.
'Thank God, it's over. I thought my mind would be fried if they kept on talking business. I am a layman for god's sake.'
After Reynold moved out to attend the call, Lucas stretched his back a little and then stared at Aaron sternly.
"Huh!" Aaron caressed his face.
"Is there something on my face?"
Lucas shook his head while taking out two cards.
"Brother Aaron, I am entrusting you to do something important." Lucas placed two cards on the table.
Aaron stared at a black bank card and another white card of national identity.
"This card contains a million and this is an identity. I want you to register it for a mercenary group."
Question marks appeared over Aaron's head wondering what was going on.
lightsΝοvεl ?οm "You plan to create your mercenary group. Do you want to move out of Skies now?"
"Yes and No."Lucas folded his legs and tapped on the table.
Aaron squinted his eyes seeing an aura of nobility around Lucas like that of noble heirs.
'He...He had grown a lot. Previously, he looked quite frail and like someone who needed other's protection but now he can be compared to other geniuses both in aura and strength.'
Aaron didn't know why but he felt proud in his heart.
"Brother Aaron, you should know what kind of mess happened in the Tournament. In a way, I was in the centre of the storm which is going to greatly restrict my freedom in the future so I wanted to create a diversion."
Aaron rubbed his chin with a faint realization.
"You want to disguise yourself. So, that's why you bought so many masks."
"Yeah, and secondly I want to hire you in my team."
"You want to hire me huh? But that's not gonna be cheap." Aaron gave me Lucas a playful smile.
"Don't worry. I will pay you well."Lucas pointed at the black card.
"So, what's the job?"Aaron asked seriously.
As much as he knew Lucas, he was sure that he was cooking something that might be dangerous.
Lucas unfolded his legs and bent a bit.
"Northeast. The mission will be in the Northeast in Winter. I have got some inside information, something crucial is gonna happen there. If possible we can also take Sister Morgana but all of us must be in disguise."
Aaron asked Lucas for more information but Lucas just shook his head refusing to reveal anything.
Discussing a few important things, Lucas got up to leave.
"Oh! I forgot about one thing. Brother Aaron, I want you to start training Jay to awaken. I don't want him to waste any more time so please guide him. Also, strengthen James if possible."
"Just leave that to me. I am gonna grow him into a fine ass man. And as per James, leave him to me!" Aaron shouted resolutely beating his chest which instead of assuring Lucas made him worry so for further assurance, Lucas also asked Morgana to supervise them.
Lucas after winding things on his end, finally returned to Horizon through the forest path.
At the back gate, with Scotch's help, Lucas moved the camera focus away from him and entered safely.
Passing through the garden, he was about to go back to his dorm when he saw the sad lonely desolate back of a person that had gone through countless sorrows.
The image of the person sighing again and again startled him.
"Isn't that Axel? Why does he look so sad?"
Lucas was startled by the sight because Axel was similar to a block of wood and generally didn't show much emotions.
Lucas had hardly seen him angry, sad or laugh. His expression had always been blank.
On walking closer, Lucas activated [Insight].
===============
Name:Axel Steel.
Species: Human
Bloodline Grade: Golden
Realm: 3-Star
Combat Ability: E+
Strength: 4-Star-
Agility: 3-Star-
Stamina: 4-Star-
Perception: 3-Star
Magic Power: 3-Star-
===============
"So, Axel had a golden bloodline. I thought he had platinum."
Except for students with Diamond or Platinum bloodlines who are very much highlighted, other bloodlines were rarely talked about.
There is a school form with the data and rank of students but with so many students, one would hardly take the pain of looking at superficial data which had been way outdated.
"Moreover his strength and stamina is quite high. If he works on his speed a bit, bringing it closer to his strength, he would become more terrifying."
According to Harris, the disparity between strength and agility shouldn't be too much otherwise the body balance would be messed up.
"I should take a look. Maybe, I can rope him into my squad, who knows?''
Taking a moment to decide, Lucas finally made his decision, and walked towards Axel.
......
"Hush!"
Staring at the vast starry sky, Axel sighed heavily.
His shoulders were dropped and a dark gloomy aura surrounded his visage.
He didn't know how many times he had sighed in the span of a few moments.
"Life is not a bed of roses. Is this what depression feels like?"
At that time, Axel felt a tight hold on his shoulder blade that startled him for a moment
On turning his head, he saw a pair of golden eyes staring at him with curiosity.
Though shocked for a moment, Axel composed himself and his expression turned normal with the sad gloomy face turning blank as fast as lightning.
However, this subtle change in his expression didn't go unnoticed in Lucas' eyes.
"Axel, why are you so sad?'' Lucas said overbearingly.
"S...Sad?...I am not sad. I was just enjoying the peaceful time here." Axel's voice stuttered.
Lucas raised his brows, sat across Axel on the bench and looked across the beautiful orchids with leaves scattering around creating a beautiful sight of autumn.
"I don't know what is going on but sad and difficult times are just like the withered leaves of trees. The old leaves give way for new ones to sprout in full glory. Like them, once we pass through this difficult phase, what awaits us is a future of our glory."
It may sound like bullshit but Lucas always holds this firm belief.
He knew what lay in front of him was a huge ocean of suffering and a future filled with chaos and war but what lay after that was eternal peace.
A place that he dreams to make a reality.
Axel's eyes trembled a bit for a moment and he sighed deeply with melancholy.
"You surprised me today. I never thought Axel, the block of steel that was said to have low EQ, showed this expression. If others see you now, they would be startled as well." Lucas chuckled.
"You don't have to hit my weak spot. I know people think I have a low IQ and EQ. I might be a little bit slow to catch things but in the end, I am also a human after all." Axel answered bluntly, shedding the pretense.
Lucas glanced at Axel's stern look and fell into deep thought.
Axel wasn't a major side character. His presence can be said to be only to bring some comedic scenes in the play.
Just like others, there were not many background details about him and the only memorable scene about him was during the war, where he fought against many demons to stop them from crossing the border alone and probably died.
Lucas used the word probably because his death wasn't mentioned so who knows if he survived and played a critical role later.
"So, have you been pretending to be a muscle headed fool?"
Axel's lips twitched.
"I never pretended to be a fool. I just try to mask my expression to show that my worries don't show up on my face. Since many had gone home I thought no one was going to come to the garden but who knew you were still here." Axel rubbed his forehead.
"Most of the commoners' homes are quite far away. We can't leave and come back during this 5-day holiday, can we?" Lucas spoke and asked further.
"So, Axel, what is the thing troubling you? Is it the tournament or something else? And why haven't you gone home?"
"Tournament is one of the reasons." Axel answered and then glancing at Lucas, he gave a bitter smile.
"However, the main problem lies with my family. I don't think I have something to call home to enjoy as it seems my family is soon gonna fall apart."
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