The Glorious Evolution

”It does.”

”Then you should know the value of having friends there.” He showed him the same collection and said calmly, ”Pick any two materials... and I’ll have my people find your nectar.”

”I appreciate the offer...”

Levis shook his head and started mixing lies with truth out loud to attract the nearby nobles’ attention.

”I need that nectar to create a potion that will save a loved one... he barely has two days to live, and this gathering is my final chance to claim it.”

As a master vocalist, he even added a slight tremor to his voice, selling the shameless lie well enough to draw sympathetic looks from the nearby guests.

Hearing this, Drayven wasn’t too happy... especially when he noticed that many nobles had switched their focus to their table and appeared to side with Levi.

”You doubt my people can find it?” He frowned.

”If they have some available right now, I’m happy to wait while you contact them.”

Drayven made no move to do so... he also knew that he wasn’t getting it any time soon and was making empty promises to secure the deal.

Realizing that Levi had no plans to budge, Drayven had had enough of being ’nice’... he leaned closer to Levi’s face until his hot breath hit the fox mask.

Then, he uttered in an indifferent tone, ”A little company like yours should be careful about making enemies in the Eighth Sky.”

Gasps rose from the nearby lounges... the nobles eavesdropping turned openly toward them, no longer bothering to hide their interest.

They knew Dracaras were brazen, but threatening a guest’s livelihood over a refused trade went well beyond poor manners.

Levi let out a weary sigh.

”I came here to save a family member and conduct some business, not to make enemies... especially not the formidable Scarlet Dracara Kingdom. How could a small barony like mine afford that?”

He did not attempt to lower his voice.

Drayven wanted to discuss their backgrounds? Fine... let everyone hear how helpless he was.

”All I asked for was the nectar. I even agreed to trade with you if you could provide it.” Levi smiled bitterly. ”Must I choose between my family and my livelihood?”

”...”

”...”

Drayven and his girlfriend noticed the increasing murmurs around them, mixed with deep, unappreciative frowns... most nobles around were Barons and Viscounts, while the upper nobles planned to attend the exclusive afterparty.

This meant his threat and Levi’s apparent helplessness weren’t pointed at Levi exclusively... but everyone around him!

”Don’t twist my words. I offered you...”

Drayven tried to backtrack a little, but Levi gave him no chance.

”A generous price,” Levi agreed at once. ”I never disputed that. But the Viscount needs the scale, and my family needs the nectar... what am I supposed to do?”

His helpless tone almost convinced him.

Around them, the murmurs grew louder until the noise disturbed the tranquility of the garden and the fish ponds, making them scatter into hiding.

Yet, Levi didn’t halt his shameless whining for a second.

”If I’ve offended you, I’m willing to apologize... but please... let me finish this trade.” He lowered his head, giving the watching nobles a moment to sympathize before continuing. ”You cannot expect me to return home and tell my family I found what we needed, but left it on the table to avoid offending the Great Scarlet Dracara Kingdom.”

He added a bit more bass at the end of his sentence, making Drayven’s expression grow heated at his family’s kingdom being thrown around in such a bad setting, like bullies.

Well, they were bullies, but still... no one liked to be told to be one.

Just as he was about to salvage the situation a bit, a soft, feminine voice reached the farthest balconies.

”Oh dear... who is frightening my sweet little fish?”

Hearing it, Drayven’s next words died in his throat... it wasn’t just him; the rowdy chatter went stale as no one dared to speak after they heard her sweet, enticing voice.

Everyone’s eyes moved to the garden’s far end, where a jade mist flowed down the broad stairs.

Madam Crowglass emerged in a deep green gown edged with gold while two servants supported its long train.

Nobles stood up along the galleries while those near the stairs bowed and moved aside, opening a path to the pond.

White hair swept up around black glass needles, exposing her finlike ears and the blue porcelain markings along her throat.

A small smile softened her narrow amber eyes, while the chambers of her Kettleheart glowed through translucent skin above an ivory neckline.

She moved with the grace of an empress... her beauty drew every gaze, while her presence reminded them not to stare for too long.

Even Levi instantly cut the act and rose beside Jasmine as his Harmonic Spine traced the approaching woman and her attendants... Drayven stepped away from their table before she reached it.

Crowglass paused by the water... her servants lifted her gown’s train while she lowered a hand toward a fish hiding among the roots.

”There you are.”

The fish crowded around her fingers, pressing against her palm like frightened children seeking shelter.

”Madam Crowglass, I was merely...”

”One moment, dear... also, lower your voice first.”

Crowglass let the little fish slip between her fingers, then turned toward Drayven with a pleasant smile.

”Are you threatening my guests, dear?”

”Of course not, Madam Crowglass.” Drayven folded his wings close to his back. ”You know my people... our tempers sometimes get ahead of us. I hope you won’t hold a few heated words against me.”

He chose those words with much more care than anything he said to Levi.

Drayven might be arrogant, but he wasn’t stupid enough to offend one of the Twelve Living Alchemy Grandmasters in the entire Nine GreatRoot Realms!

Even his royal family’s upper echelons dealt with her privately... his father sent him here as a reward for finally earning his Baron title and to obtain materials for his evolutionary formula... returning with a complaint from their hostess wasn’t going to end pleasantly for him.

An attendant approached Crowglass and whispered in her ear.

Crowglass listened, then turned her gaze to him with a fond little smile as the attendant withdrew.

”My... you’ve grown. I remember when you used to fall asleep in my arms. Such a sweet little dragon.”

Drayven relaxed a little... he knew his parents were quite tight with Madam Crowglass, as she had helped them concoct their evolutionary formula to evolve to Tier 8.

Although they were Trueborns and had their evolutionary path completed with perfect evolutionary formulas to Tier 9, it didn’t mean that their evolutionary formulas were secured.

After all, the higher the grade of the materials, the more difficult to concoct the formula, which meant... it was far too easy to fail a concoction even if one had the recipe and the materials prepared!

Hence why Alchemists Grandmasters were treated with utmost respect... the more skilled an alchemist, the more trust they had in their success.

Unfortunately for Drayven, Madam Crowglass hadn’t finished reminiscing.

”You did piss on my gown every time, though. Your father kept promising me the next visit would be different.”

Someone in the nearby lounge failed to smother a laugh... while many nobles quickly turned away, and others ducked behind the curtains to hide their grins.

”Madam Crowglass...”

”Aunty,” she corrected gently. ”Or have you grown too important to call me that?”

”Of course not... Aunty.”

His girlfriend turned toward the pond... Drayven preferred not to investigate the small sound she made, as he was already pissed off.

”Then is this how you visit me? Frightening my fish and threatening my guests?”

”The scale is a remnant of our ancestors. I only wanted to preserve it.” Drayven defended his reaction.

”My attendant explained, dear. Including what you said when you couldn’t buy it.”

Drayven fell silent.

”If you wish to stay, make amends with my guest.”

Madam Crowglass said, her voice still soft, but Drayven knew that she meant every word of it.

If he were to get kicked out, his parents weren’t going to take his side at all, but their Grandmaster Alchemist’s... even if she was in the wrong!

So, using his family’s name meant nothing before someone like her.

Just as his mind was brewing on the best response to avoid accountability, Levi’s polite voice echoed across the garden.

”There’s no need for us to quarrel, Madam. I’ve already agreed to part with the scale if the nectar is provided... I understand why he wants to preserve his people’s heritage, and I respect it.”

Levi knew that forcing the prick to apologize in public might feel good for a few moments... but he still had two businesses to run afterward, and he couldn’t afford to humiliate Drayven, who was known to hold grudges for eternity.

But most importantly, he sought after the Afterparty invitation, and seeing how these two were chummy with each other, he felt like he had a better chance of getting in like this.

”But there must be a way for all three of us to leave satisfied.” He added.

Drayven stared at him in silence.

He had expected the Baron to demand an apology, perhaps even compensation, with Crowglass standing there to enforce it.

Plenty of nobles would have enjoyed making him bow his head before the entire hall... Instead, Levi had given him a way out.

’Maybe he isn’t so bad...’

Most of the hostility left his expression.

”I have no quarrel with you either, Baron,” He said, his tone less overbearing. ”I only wish to bring the scale home.”

”Then we have an understanding.”

Levi offered him a small smile and left it at that... making a show of his generosity would only remind everyone of the humiliation he had just spared him.

Crowglass watched the exchange with an amused smile.

”Much better... I would hate for either of you to leave my gathering at odds.”

She faced Levi.

”Now, dear... you mentioned a medicine for someone who has very little time left?”

Levi nodded, but inwardly, he had a bad feeling about this.

”Perhaps I can prepare it for you,” She offered. ”Free of charge... that should give us a little more freedom to settle this troublesome trade.”

Drayven nodded in appreciation, while Viscount Rust knew that there was no way he was getting the scarlet scale... and yet, he didn’t dare complain.

”Tell me about the illness,” Crowglass said. ”And this ’potion’ that requires unprocessed Thousandflavor Orchid Nectar... I don’t recall such a concoction.”

She showed Levi a gracious smile... but he caught the amusement in her voice.

The others might hear a generous hostess offering help. Levi heard a woman who suspected every word of his story... and wanted to see what kind of bullshit he was about to spew to get himself out of it next.

Unlike Drayven, she wasn’t easily tricked.

’Fuck...’