The Golem Mage

732: A Deal With The Academy.

732: A Deal With The Academy.

Alec and the Dean made their way toward the highest peak in the mountains, this peak, is said to house only the old Dean and his loyal retainers, and It stood far above the others, offering an ethereal view as it was shrouded in clouds that seemed to guard its serenity.

When they landed, Alec was surprised to see two figures already waiting there at the front yard for them.

“Old man Alderic, what are you doing here?” Alec called out immediately, recognizing one of the few High Rank mages he truly respected, among the academy’s powerful figures, Alderic stood out as someone Alec felt gratitude toward.

Before Alec and his group ventured into the Second Dimension for the first time, Alderic had offered invaluable advice and provided them with a map that revealed hidden truths about the dimension, knowledge they wouldn’t have gained by simply following an adventure group.

That gesture had been instrumental in their survival during their first journey into the Abyss.

“Hahaha…

You’ve grown quite a lot since I last saw you,” Alderic said with a laugh.

“Don’t be too surprised—I’m the one who asked this little boy to bring you here.” He gestured at the Dean, causing Alec to raise an eyebrow at the unexpected remark.

Referring to the Dean as a “little boy” hinted at Alderic’s seniority, a rarity in itself, and left Alec curious about just who Alderic truly was.

“No problem.

If it’s you, I’m more than willing to listen,” Alec replied with a faint smile.

“Ignatius, Peter, excuse us for a moment,” Alderic said, addressing the Dean and the Disciplinary Hall Elder, both cupped their hands in respectful acknowledgment before leaving without question, further fuelling Alec’s suspicions.

Could Alderic really be the old Dean?

Alec wondered but kept his thoughts to himself, waiting for Alderic to speak first.

“Walk with me, little punk,” Alderic said, leading Alec along a path lined with cultivated flowers on both sides, the area radiated a serene aura, untouched by the chaos of the outside world.

As Alec followed, he couldn’t help but observe the flowers, though gentle in appearance, they emanated a spiritual energy that hinted at their profound nature.

“Tell me, Alec, what is it that you desire most from the academy?” Alderic asked, his tone calm but probing.

The question caused Alec to furrow his brows in confusion as he trailed behind.

“I don’t know,” Alec replied casually after a moment’s thought.

“I guess I came to the academy to learn about the things I’m ignorant of on my path to becoming a powerful Mage.” His answer was simple but sincere, drawing a light chuckle from Alderic.

“Such confidence and simplicity, you’re the only Mage I’ve seen so nonchalant about the path ahead of you and that’s what I like about you, but that’s not quite what I meant.” Alderic remarked, a smile tugging at his lips.

He paused before continuing, his voice adopting a more serious tone.

“Let me put it this way: I’d like you to help the War God Mage Academy, you seem to have access to mid rank pills, which are exceedingly rare not just in top academies, but even more so here”.

“Our academy lacks sufficient expert alchemists, and even when we manage to gather resources, the production process is slow and inefficient, most of our alchemists aren’t skilled enough to produce top-grade pills, and there are also significant losses during the pill refinement.

“With this limitation, we’re also struggling to preserve even a single genius in the alchemy path.

It’s become nearly impossible to improve our students’ realms with pills, as the few cultivation and healing pills we can produce are quickly consumed by a handful of students with connections.”

“I’m not asking for much, I just need your help in connecting us with an alchemist from your clan.

We’re willing to pay double the price, as long as they can provide us with a batch of mid-rank pills.” Alderic concluded.

Alec listened carefully, his mind processing the old man’s words.

Then, without missing a beat, he asked,

“Are you the old Dean?”

The tension of the moment dissipated, replaced by Alderic’s hearty laughter.

“Yes, I am,” Alderic admitted.

“Though, at the moment, you can’t call me that, this isn’t my real body.

It’s just another part of me I left here to cultivate on its own, but rest assured, my thoughts and memories are fully in sync with my main body.”

Alec nodded, his suspicions confirmed, but Alderic’s next words brought him back to the matter at hand.

“Now that this is clear, let me ask again, can you help me?”

“I can help you, but as for your first question, I don’t want much, not even money…

yet.

If I were to become a pill supplier for the academy, I’d need time to think it over.

I’ll have to discuss it with my grandfather, the patriarch, however, one thing I’ll need for sure is corpses, demonic beast corpses,” Alec said, his gaze fixed on the sky as if deep in thought.

“For every corpse delivered to me, I’ll supply three top-grade pills matching that corpse’s realm,” Alec added, calculating his share mentally.

He had already decided on a 70-30 split in his favour, keeping the lion’s share for himself.

What Alec didn’t expect was Alderic’s immediate response.

“Deal!” the old man said without hesitation.

Alec blinked in surprise.

“Eh?

Old man, how can you just agree like that?

Aren’t you even going to negotiate?

If you fold this easily, won’t it look like I’m taking advantage of the academy’s situation?”

Alderic chuckled, his laughter echoing across the serene peak.

“You silly boy.

For every demonic beast corpse we hand over to our alchemists, along with additional materials for the refinement, we barely get two pills in return, and those aren’t even top quality, yet here you are, confidently promising three top-grade pills.”

“Even two top-grade pills would’ve been enough for me to seal the deal, the fact that you’ve added an extra one, and with such certainty, makes me wonder if you’re actually the one behind these pills, but, of course, you’re too young to have such mastery.

Still, I’ll take the gamble.”

Alderic’s expression grew serious as he continued,

“Before you return to your clan, I’ll supply you with one hundred Tier 6 demonic beast corpses, as compensation for the trouble, I’ll throw in an additional one hundred Tier 5 corpses as payment.”

“That’s too much,” Alec interjected, shaking his head.

“No, it’s not,” Alderic said firmly.

“In return for three hundred Tier 6 top-quality cultivation pills, I’m taking a massive gamble on you.

If you can even deliver half what you’re promising, then the value of what I’m giving you won’t come close to matching the worth of what you’re providing the academy.”

“But with the academy’s current financial state, I can only repay you little by little with resources like this, and I’ve noticed you seem to have a specific need for demonic beast corpses, so take these for now, once you’ve finalized what you truly want as payment, we can adjust accordingly,” Old Man Alderic said, his tone calm yet firm.

Alec nodded in agreement.

They briefly reviewed the details of the arrangement before the Dean called Ignatius back, instructing him to bring a spatial ring with a far greater capacity than Alec’s own.

When Ignatius handed it over and Alec inspected it, he was stunned by the sheer number and size of the demonic beast corpses stored inside.

“We might lack money, but we certainly don’t lack slain beasts.

It’s what we do best,” the Dean said with a chuckle.

“Too bad we don’t have a skilled forger.

Or…

do you happen to know one?”

It seemed the Dean was ready to propose yet another business venture, but Alec quickly shook his head, politely declining to pursue the topic further.

“I’ll take my leave now,” he said firmly, cutting the conversation short as he disappeared from their front swiftly.