The Glorious Evolution

Levi grinned inwardly, but it was short-lived.

’You kept bitching about reading Alzhukar’s books...’ Ash’Kral clicked his tongue. ’I told you... don’t dismiss other alchemists’ works, especially decent ones like Alzhukar. Even I didn’t know about this other use for the material.’

He always told him that alchemy was a universe of its own... countless alchemists had spent their lives exploring it, and their findings deserved more than a dismissive glance.

If Levi truly wanted to learn, he needed to start with their books, understand their discoveries, and put some of that knowledge into practice.

Yet Levi kept calling him lazy and accusing him of using that as an excuse to avoid mentoring him... now, he began to understand that it might not be so bad to learn alchemy under others until he reached a level where Ash’Kral could actually mentor him on more advanced matters.

Especially now that his two latest Taste Sense abilities promised to help him immensely in this field.

”I’d be willing to trade the glands for it,” Levi said. ”Though they’re worth more... what else could you offer to make up the difference?”

There was never a rule that enforced materials to be traded one for one... it was all about their perceived value.

Oswin accepted the proposal and briefly examined the glands, finding nothing wrong with them... Once he finished, they discussed whether Levi would prefer extra credits or another material of lesser value to complete the trade.

Levi chose a material the Titan requested for his brother’s eventual Solarbound breakthrough... as the consciousness behind Arthur’s future Origin Seed, the Titan could provide the Perfect Evolution formulas best suited to his path.

In Levi’s case... Ash’Kral’s research into his evolutionary path only covered him up to Warden rank.

Ding!

An attendant beside their table lifted a small silver bell and rang it once.

”Congratulations on your successful exchange.”

The clear chime rang out across the surrounding tables... many nobles turned toward them, their attention settling on the box of glands Oswin had yet to put away. Since the glands came from a Leviathan, the box wasn’t small at all.

Levi stored the two materials while the Baron examined his new acquisitions with a satisfied smile.

”You’ve saved me years of searching.”

”I’m glad we both found something useful.”

A nobleman from a nearby table approached before Oswin could reply.

”Forgive the interruption... did I hear that you deal in Leviathan materials?”

”You did.” Levi brought up his trading list. ”Would you like to have a look?”

”I certainly would.”

Two more nobles joined him, drawn by the bell and the mention of Leviathan materials... Levi shared the list with them, answering a few questions about the materials he brought.

The bell had done more than announce a successful trade... seeing Oswin purchase something gave the others a reason to take an interest.

Levi was speaking with one of them when Melisande raised her hand slightly.

”Baron, I’ve just received a reply.”

He turned toward her, a bit confused.

”One of my contacts has brought some Thousandflavor Orchid Nectar tonight... He’s willing to discuss a trade.”

Levi’s attention immediately left the list as he realized that she had gone out of her way to help him... whether she wanted to curry favor with him or not, he appreciated the gesture.

”Where can I find him?”

”That table near the garden entrance.” She indicated a nobleman seated with a small group, then forwarded his profile. ”I’ve told him you’ll be coming.”

”Thank you, Viscountess.”

”You’re welcome. Let’s exchange contacts before you leave... I’d hate for that transport offer to be forgotten.”

”At thirty percent off? I doubt I’ll forget it.”

Her husband chuckled as Levi accepted their contact details... Oswin added his own, reminding Levi to send him any future lists of materials that might interest him.

With the introductions finished, Levi rose from his seat and left copies of his trading list with the others, telling them to come find him at that table if they liked anything.

Jasmine stood beside him, smoothing the folds of her gown... before they left, Levi remembered his other reason for coming here.

He reached into his wallet and pulled out a few black tickets... then he passed them around the table, including the nobles who had only just joined them.

Melisande turned hers over between her fingers. Silver lettering stood out against the black surface, accompanied by a date.

Dark Sun’s Leviathan Wonderland.

She checked the reverse and found a separate invitation.

The Dark Sun Convergence.

Both shared the same date, with neither revealing a destination... that field remained blank since the location was the former Targon territory, and Levi didn’t want to be exposed as Mr. Problem at the gathering.

”The Dark Sun Convergence...” Oswin read aloud, then turned his ticket over. ”And Leviathan Wonderland?”

Melisande’s husband leaned closer to inspect hers.

”Is this another business of yours?” he asked curiously.

Levi smiled as he finished handing out the invitations.

”Mark the date in your calendars... if you’re interested in my private collection, you won’t want to miss either.”

”Ooh? Surely you can tell us a little more than...”

”And bring your children and grandchildren to the Wonderland,” Levi added with a faint smile as he turned to leave. ”I think they’ll enjoy it even more than you will.”

That only left them with more questions.

Children? Grandchildren?

What exactly did he intend to show them in a place called Leviathan Wonderland? What about the Convergence? Was it some secret, exclusive gathering?

Many questions ran through their minds as they checked the cards again... for wealthy nobles accustomed to having almost anything they wanted, the promise of something new was enough to make them mark the date.

Meanwhile, the other nobles had no clue who Levi was yet... but they could see that Oswin and Melisande treated the cards with great care.

”Thank you for the company.”

Before anyone could ask anything else, Levi excused himself with a polite nod.

Jasmine slipped her hand around his arm, and the two left the table together, leaving behind a storm of murmurs about the invitations.

As he moved away, the small ruckus continued to attract interested gazes from nearby nobles.

The growing commotion drew the attention of a couple standing on a nearby balcony.

Both were scarlet-scaled humanoid dragons... the male stood close to three meters tall, his broad frame fitted into a dark formal coat with gold clasps. Openings at the back left room for his folded wings, while his long tail rested along the base of the railing.

Beside him, his companion wore a wine-colored gown fastened around her neck with a golden collar... fine chains decorated her backward-curving horns, swaying as she turned toward the garden.

Neither wore a mask, too proud to hide their identities in public.

Levi would never forget that face... the Scarlet Dracara gave him one of the bloodiest fights of his life before finally surrendering in the Joker Game.

Drayven!

”Dray... what’s going on down there? Seems interesting.”

Drayven followed her gaze lazily and saw the small ruckus... rather than guess, he stopped a passing attendant.

”What are they trading?”

”Leviathan-grade materials, sir. Baron Dark Sun just completed an exchange with Baron Oswin... though it seems the attention is focused on something else.”

”Dark Sun?” His girlfriend searched the group. ”Which one?”

”The gentleman leaving with that gorgeous white-haired lady.”

The attendant pointed at a couple stepping away from the table, their matching black-and-silver outfits distinguishing them from the surrounding guests.

Drayven looked at the young man in the black mask... and his heart missed a beat

His body urged him back from the railing instinctively before he understood why.

’What the hell was that?’

He resisted the strange impulse and stared at the young man in the black mask with a deep frown... Drayven searched the exposed part of his face, then checked the name floating above him.

Baron Dark Sun.

It meant nothing to him.

Yet something about watching that man made his instincts restless... an unpleasant feeling that irritated him more than it frightened him.

”Do you know him?” his girlfriend asked.

”No.”

The answer came out harsher than he intended.

She glanced between them, curious now, but Drayven continued watching the couple as they approached another table near the garden entrance.

That was when he noticed the last treasure on the Baron’s display.

Ancient Scarlet Dragon Scale.

Beast Grade: Leviathan.

Drayven stopped caring about the strange feeling.

He opened the entry, bringing the scale’s image and preservation details onto his own screen.

’An entire scale... with its root intact!’

He sucked in a deep breath. This scale belonged to one of the extinct Leviathan-grade Scarlet Dragons that lived during the age of his ascended Ancestor!

Some Trueborn lineages shared their ancestral blood with these ancient beasts... much like the Sandwitch’s House Sharath and the Sandscale Leviathans.

The old belief held that both descended from the same Ancestor... the Trueborn inherited flawless Shadowlife Seeds and developed intelligence, while their beast kin inherited damaged versions, growing immensely powerful without the same intellectual development.

Much of that ancient history remained uncertain, but the bloodline connections were very real... the Sandwitch’s ability to communicate with and command Sandscale Leviathans was one such example.

Other lineages revered their enormous relatives as guardians, sometimes even worshiping them.

To Drayven, the scale represented a surviving piece of that shared ancestry... a remnant of his people’s ancient kin, now sitting on a stranger’s list of alchemical materials.

His initial excitement soured as he read the trading details... offered alongside marrow and venom glands for anyone with a suitable payment.

Drayven knew what an alchemist could do with such a scale. Its excellent preservation would only make them more eager to grind it down, extract its essence, and use whatever remained in an evolutionary formula.

The thought offended him... greatly.

’They can find something else for their damned formulas.’

Drayven refused to watch a piece of his people’s heritage disappear into someone’s cauldron when he could still prevent it... even though he was here to do the same, which was hypocritical at its finest degree, he couldn’t care less.

Down below, Levi and Jasmine reached their destination... the seated nobleman welcomed them, then opened his trading list.

Drayven’s expression turned cold at once as he watched them hit it off.

”We’re going down.”

His girlfriend didn’t object and started moving toward the balcony entrance, but his arm caught her around the waist and pulled her against his side.

”Drayven, the stairs are...”

He vaulted over the railing without an ounce of hesitation!