Chapter 3613: Recognized
Alex blinked in surprise at the new development. The last thing he had expected the caretaker to do was simply gift him the flower directly.
He stared at the man with the flower held out before him.
The others would have likely cried injustice had they been in any sane state of mind after witnessing the situation. The man they held in such high regard was now bowing before a mere Immortal.
"May I ask why you’re giving this to me?" Alex asked. A few possibilities were already forming in the back of his mind, but he still wanted to confirm.
"Because it is our store’s honor to have Alchemist Dawnblade visit us."
Alex sighed internally. He had thought that might be the case.
There were two possible reasons for them recognizing him. One was that the Divinities in the store had recognized him as the person the Storm God was searching for. The other was that they recognized him as the winner of the greatest alchemy tournament in recent history.
The former wouldn’t have created such a scene.
Given that he was in an alchemy store, the latter was the only possibility.
"Alchemist Dawnblade?"
"Who’s that?"
"I feel like I’ve heard that name before."
"Wasn’t he in some tournament?"
"Right, the alchemy tournament from two millennia ago. Was that him?"
As soon as one person figured it out, everyone else did as well.
Gasps and murmurs of awe immediately spread through the surroundings, causing Alex to sigh once again.
"Thank you for the gift, but I won’t be taking it. I don’t mean to be rude, but please return it to the auction so someone may purchase it fairly," Alex told the man.
The caretaker hesitated for a moment and looked toward Ronron.
Ronron tugged on Alex’s robe. "Shouldn’t I get it?" she asked.
Alex smiled. "It’s fine. I already have a pill recipe that does the same thing. I’ll make one for you. I was only bidding so you could have some fun, which I hope you’ve had by now."
Ronron thought for a moment before nodding.
There was no reason to hide that anymore.
"Very well."
Bearskin returned the flower and the auction resumed.
"My final bid is 3 million. I won’t increase it any further. If either of you wishes to continue bidding, please do," Alex said before no longer paying attention to the auction itself.
He turned toward the caretaker. "I imagine my ingredients are ready now, Senior."
The man shook his head. "I’m afraid not. I saw what you purchased, and it’s going to take some time for us to gather everything. You understand how it is. We have to process them through various formations before we can sell them."
"Ah! If you’re trying to increase the energy within the ingredients, you don’t need to. Just sell them to me as they are. I’m fine with that."
The caretaker hesitated. "But... we must do that. You should understand."
"I do. And I still want you not to. I won’t pay any less simply because the ingredients may not be in their best condition," Alex told him.
"The payment isn’t really the issue. I just don’t understand why..." He paused for a moment before shaking his head. "Never mind. If that is what you want, then I’ll inform the others. For now, would you mind coming with us? Our founder wishes to meet you."
Alex was more than willing. "Please, lead the way."
The man gestured for Alex to follow, so Alex and Ronron walked along behind him, moving through the hall under the gaze of what felt like a million eyes.
Whatever inconspicuousness Alex had hoped to maintain during this trip was completely gone now.
Hopefully, because he was merely an Immortal, the news of his arrival in the city wouldn’t spread too far. At the very least, he still wanted to roam around after they finished shopping.
They arrived at the corner of the hall where a door led to a spiral staircase that connected to another tower within the pavilion. Alex walked past the guards standing watch, each of whom looked toward them carefully.
Just as he was about to walk up the stairs, he heard a small commotion behind him.
Turning around, Alex saw the guards blocking Greensoul, who had been walking a little too far behind.
Greensoul barely reacted to the obstruction. "Let me through," was all he said in a controlled tone.
"Is he with you?" the caretaker asked Alex.
"Yes, he is. Please let him through."
The caretaker hesitated. "The founder isn’t expecting many people."
Greensoul sighed. He removed the large hat he had been wearing, which had obscured most of his face.
The moment he did, Bearskin let out a loud gasp.
"Senior Greensoul!" he nearly shouted. "Forgive my insolence. I failed to recognize you."
Greensoul rolled his eyes. "Can I come through now?"
"Idiots! Let him through already!" the man shouted at the guards.
The confused guards immediately moved aside, unable to understand why the caretaker of the pavilion was being so respectful toward another Immortal.
"I see. So you’re together," the man said as he looked at Greensoul. "You must be looking after him."
Greensoul shook his head. "I don’t care what happens to him. I’m only here for her."
The man nearly stumbled upon hearing that.
He looked toward Ronron, whose aura felt so weak and ordinary to his senses that he could discern nothing from it at all. But if Greensoul was personally guarding her, then she could only be someone extremely important.
Given Greensoul’s connection to the Sky God, the caretaker wondered if she was perhaps the child of some god or sage. That was the only explanation that made sense to him.
After climbing all the way to the fifth floor, they arrived before a massive pair of doors that opened into a lavishly decorated hall with enormous windows overlooking the entirety of the city.
"Please wait here for a moment," the caretaker said. "Senior Redstreak will be here shortly."
