What is the likelihood that a faction leader would wait for their guest? Lawrence never imagined that Ephemeral Principle would already be inside the room! He was so surprised that he had too many words to curse the servant in his mind for not warning him beforehand.

  Lawrence quickly recovers and displays a warm smile, characteristic of a user of sacred magic.

  "That's right, this is the first time we've spoken."

  He closes the door and sits across from Ephemeral Principle. Adopting this relaxed demeanor is not easy, whether it's Ephemeral Principle or the two subordinates standing behind him, all of them possess unfathomable levels. Lawrence is unable to discern their true levels!

  Ephemeral Principle smiles and then points to the windows with his cigarette. "How about that? Isn't it a view that's hard to understand? I've been told so by more than one."

  The windows reflect the buildings, the smoke from the chimneys, and countless men working, setting aside the smell, which might be pleasant or unpleasant to some, Lawrence feels no particular emotion observing them. He lived in an evil sect, so it is not strange for him that everything the sect needs is done in the same place, it's much easier to deal with spies.

  Only mortals would have difficulties, because this particular aroma is harmful to those who do not practice the path of immortality.

  "No one has the right to criticize others' circumstances, success is the only one entitled to speak."

  Although Ephemeral Principle knows that Lawrence's words are mere courtesy, he does not dislike hearing them. He cheerfully lights his cigarette and begins to smoke. It goes without saying how strange it is to see a lion-man smoke, his hands filled with valuable rings.

  "You know, this business has brought me so many benefits. It's to the point of absurdity. I practically have no enemies, because it's a business with overwhelming demand. Outwardly, my competitors and I have bad relationships, but the truth is that occasionally we have meetings to agree on prices. We swap roles of good and bad, we've been doing this for a long time."

  He exhales the smoke and laughs, his laugh more than human, it's that of a feline.

  "Only the retail traders have some issues, but once the initial barrier is overcome, it's a very lucrative business."

  Given the good mood of this lion-man, Lawrence decides to satisfy a question that has been bothering him since he arrived.

  "Have you not wanted to enter the weapons business because of its disadvantages?"

  The lion man exhales the smoke in silence as he looks toward the window, then nods, this is his only response. An action that can easily be misinterpreted.

  Lawrence does not inquire further and then decides to bring up the main topic, he retrieves a glass container from his storage ring, inside which lies a medicinal pill. The cure for that malicious and unknown poison.

  "This is the medicinal pill for which I came to see you today."

  Ephemeral Principle sets aside his cigarette and reaches out to take the container from the table. He observes it from the outside, not daring to open the container, and then hands it to one of the men behind him.

  "He is a pill refiner, depending on his judgment, we'll do business."

  He introduces them, but instead of greeting each other, both simply nod their heads. The refiner examines the medicinal pill for a few seconds and then opens the container, the pill gently falls into his hand.

  As the pill refiner evaluates it, Lawrence maintains his act without being intimidated, but the truth is, if these guys try to scam him, he wouldn't have the strength to raise a hand.

  Time passes and the refiner reaches a conclusion.

  He seals the medicinal pill back in the container and says: "Epic grade, its purity is 100% or very close to it."

  Lawrence sighs after his statement, these guys really plan to do business.

  He is not the only one pleased, Ephemeral Principle also nods, satisfied with the response.

  "Our agreement has always been open Lawrence, tell me what you want. Gold? Artifacts for your refiner? If you have a special request just tell me, spiritual herbs or even some pill recipes, just speak up."

  Lawrence knows this is the moment he has been waiting for and does not hesitate to respond.

  "Let's finalize our agreement with a payment in gold."

  His words surprise both Ephemeral Principle and his pill refiner, both are able to understand the intention of Lawrence. By asking for money, he is demonstrating that he is not just a simple intermediary for the refiner Bearer of Light.

  "Very well." Ephemeral Principle gestures with his hand to the second subordinate and the latter hands him a storage ring. "Ten million gold and a sacred elemental ingot of divine purity. Go and create a weapon befitting your status."

  This time it is Lawrence who is surprised. Because if he has just demonstrated his intention, then Ephemeral Principle has done the same.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  It may be mere courtesy, but both have shown their interest in continuing to do business.

  After finalizing the sale of the medicinal pill, Lawrence and Ephemeral Principle converse on no particular topic, just courtesy to deepen their business relationship. When Lawrence rises from his seat with the intention of saying goodbye, Ephemeral Principle asks for a way to communicate with him.

  Lawrence hesitates for a few moments before giving the address of his home in the capital.

  +++

  "How should we proceed with him sir?"

  After he leaves, the subordinate coldly asks how to deal with Lawrence. Ephemeral Principle continues smoking, not giving much importance to his words.

  "Leave him be. Although my original intent was to steal his pill refiner, I changed my mind after talking with him."

  He doesn't continue speaking until he finishes his cigarette and leaves it in the ashtray.

  "I appreciate intelligent people. I prefer dealing with this kind of person over an eccentric pill refiner."

  Ephemeral Principle stands up and exits the room, his two subordinates following behind. As they walk, he asks,: "Were you able to discover his level?"

  The second subordinate shakes his head, "I'm not sure..."

  Although he could predict the response, Ephemeral Principle can't help but sigh. He's not the only one who wants to know the true level of Lawrence, the item owners at the auction house are also interested. Depending on this, they can discern some aspects of his origins and the provenance of his refiner.

  That Lawrence has survived the probes of all of them so far means he's either hiding his level or... he's receiving external help.

  The three of them descend to the basement of the mansion. At first glance, it appears to be a wine cellar and other valuable items requiring isolation, but everything changes when Ephemeral Principle injects his mana into a wall.

  The next moment a hidden passage is revealed and the three walk through it. Dozens of cells line their path, all of them empty, but a thorough examination would show that they have been used at some point.

  They stop in front of the only cell still holding a prisoner inside. He appears to be a 50-year-old man lying on a bed, practically bald, with all his veins bulging in a malicious shade of black.

  Ephemeral Principle snorts and opens the cell door, as soon as the door opens, a magic formation subtly glows and then disappears. Almost immediately, the prisoner begins to tremble, his black veins spreading to his face, if left alone he would die within minutes.

  "I have been waiting for this moment for a long time..."

  He approaches the prisoner and forcefully opens his mouth, then forces him to swallow the medicinal pill. The changes don't take long to manifest.

  "Aaagh, Aaah!"

  The veins of black recede, and the prisoner groans in pain. The malicious poison within his body is being eradicated, but it has been rooted for so long that its cure causes him unimaginable pain. Moreover, if the medicinal pill had even a degree of impurity, rather than curing him, this pill would have been his doom.

  Minutes later, the prisoner is successfully cured and regains consciousness.

  As soon as he opens his eyes, he immediately recognizes Ephemeral Principle.

  Regardless of his weakened state, Ephemeral Principle approaches him and strangles him. From the start, his health was of least concern to him, he was only...

  "Who killed my wife and children? Answer!"

  He was only seeking answers.

  +++

  Two days pass, and the information about the meeting between Lawrence and Ephemeral Principle reaches the ears of a certain woman.

  "Ever since his subordinate met with him, I knew this could happen."

  The owner of these words is none other than Eminent Greed, the fox-woman with seven long white tails, leader of a faction in the Violet Twilight auction house.

  "In the past, that lion-man spent a considerable amount of resources establishing good relations with some pill refiners, he must have had someone gravely ill to make such a sacrifice. That he hasn't made a move recently led everyone to believe the problem was solved, but it wasn't..."

  She destroys the sheet of paper in her hand, which superficially narrates that man's visit to Ephemeral Principle's mansion, only she and her informant know about this.

  "I must act quickly, even if I offend the auction house in the process."

  Throughout her life, she has sought important characters, hoping to find in them the answers she so desires to hear. She thought the item owners might have what she was looking for, but after speaking with them all, she has only found disappointment.

  If what happened on the first day Lawrence entered that auction house is true, perhaps he could be the one.

  Eminent Greed sighs, because all this is nothing more than a blind search.

  "If his life is lost in the process, I will have been mistaken once more."