Chapter 132
Chapter 132
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 132
Chapter Title: Plastic Surgery Potion (2)
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3.
Most adventurers didn't hold Magatia's alchemy in high regard.
"What's the point of alchemy that can only be used in Magatia?"
And for good reason. Magatia's alchemy was essentially meaningless without the special power of the underground labs.
But not everything was like that.
"Except for the potions."
The potions made by Magatia's alchemists received rave reviews.
"Magatia potions are a great value, first off."
The price was right.
Making potions required expensive tools, facilities, and materials.
But Magatia's alchemists had all those in their personal labs.
Not for potions specifically, but it meant they could make anything they wanted.
So the production costs were inevitably low.
"And the quality is top-notch."
Plus, they spent their lives researching, so their potion-making skills were exceptional.
"And the cash-strapped alchemists of Magatia churn them out like crazy."
Most importantly, the output was massive.
From the alchemists' perspective, they needed money to hire adventurers, and adventurers to explore the underground labs.
That's why potions were Magatia's specialty.
Which meant there were plenty of special ones.
And that's exactly what El Pam was after.
'Umar's level means he must have some special potion recipes.'
Potions were best made by alchemists of the Zenumist school, who pursued life alchemy over mechanical.
In fact, only they could make them.
And Umar was a disciple of the school's leader.
'If he can make chimeras.'
Making chimeras was no small feat.
Figuring out the recipe was hard enough, but even knowing it didn't make production easy.
Alchemists themselves said that even if you gave Magatia's alchemists the chimera recipe, fewer than twenty could actually make one.
Of course, they added that since so few could, the Maple Alliance should allow chimera production—but it was still no easy task.
El Pam knew even more.
'Becoming the king of chimeras isn't for just anyone.'
Among living life alchemists, Umar had the greatest talent and skill.
He was useful in many ways.
Of course, it didn't matter if he wasn't.
'If he's no good, just hand him over to the knights.'
They'd take care of it.
At El Pam's words, Umar's eyes darted around rapidly.
Naturally, he caught on.
'He wants a deal.'
A chance to save his life.
In truth, it was a miscalculation.
There was no trustworthiness in anything El Pam said.
He could just take everything and kill Umar without issue.
'He's a Cygnus Knights secret agent, so he'd do this stuff.'
Even so, the quick-witted Umar believed El Pam because he thought he was with the Cygnus Knights.
That was exactly El Pam's intention.
This whole setup and conversation were to get Umar's full cooperation.
It worked. Umar said,
"What do you need?"
"Anything I need."
Umar's eyes spun again at the question.
El Pam, watching him, recalled a few potions in his mind.
He didn't have high hopes.
'Nothing special.'
Umar was an impressive alchemist, but potions were just consumables to aid battle.
A few extra potions wouldn't change El Pam's party's fate.
'But even the smallest thing is useful now.'
He just couldn't pass up even the most modest help, considering what lay ahead.
But those thoughts didn't last.
Umar spoke.
"Have you heard of the plastic surgery potion?"
4.
Plastic surgery potion.
At those words, Dibo and the others tilted their heads.
But El Pam was different.
His eyes twitched at the mention.
A sign of genuine surprise.
'No way he made that?'
In other words, El Pam knew of the plastic surgery potion.
'Did he get the polymorph juice recipe?'
Precisely, he knew its origins.
Maple World had polymorph juice, a potion that let you become someone else.
But not just anyone could make it.
'It used Onyx Dragon magic?'
It was made by the Onyx Dragons, now extinct.
Dragon magic!
Of course, knowing the recipe didn't make production possible.
El Pam had never seen polymorph juice made even once.
He knew why.
Without Onyx Dragon power, no method worked.
Instead, some had interpreted the recipe to create a potion.
That was the plastic surgery potion.
Not a full body change like polymorph juice, but it altered face and hair.
Even that was incredibly hard to make.
'Aldin and Mazra made it.'
Historically, only a handful had succeeded, and that was long ago.
'They died ten years back.'
No one made it now.
Few even knew it existed.
Dibo was one.
"What kinda nonsense is that? Plastic surgery potion? No such thing."
He didn't buy it.
It was that rare—and now Umar claimed to have made it?
"It's real. Drink it, and your appearance changes. Not drastically, but hair color, facial lines, eye color. And your hair grows."
Umar spoke earnestly, but no one believed him.
"Interesting."
El Pam excepted.
He believed.
"That sounds incredibly helpful."
He felt a strong pull toward it.
Naturally.
"I often need to hide my face for work."
Nothing beat it for concealing identity.
And that's why Umar thought of it.
Truthfully, he had little interest in the plastic surgery potion.
It wasn't profitable, and his mind was fixed on the day monsters burst from the Mystic Gate—the apocalypse.
It would be useless then.
But for El Pam's party, he figured it was more helpful than most potions or items, so he brought it up.
"Yes, it would be very helpful."
His gambit paid off.
El Pam nodded.
"Good."
He chin-nodded at Dibo, who grinned and sat Umar upright in his chair.
Then neatly placed the knife that had just severed Umar's fingers in front.
He'd set the table for a meal.
Not that it felt like mealtime.
Umar wanted to bolt right then.
So he planned to wrap up the negotiation fast.
"How does the potion work?"
"One dose lasts about ten days. After that, the effect fades quickly."
"Good."
No need for a long negotiation.
Everything was on the table.
One thing left.
"But there are issues with production. The costs are higher than expected."
"Expensive materials?"
"Yes."
"How much?"
"Materials alone for one vial run nearly 500,000 mesos."
"What? How much?"
Dibo and the others gaped in shock.
500,000 mesos for one potion? Just to change looks—not even save your life?
And it lasted only ten days?
"Sounds like he's peddling snake oil."
"Hey, you joking? 500,000 mesos ain't pocket change!"
Dibo and Miner reacted fiercely, as expected.
Ralph reacted most fiercely.
Thud!
He slammed the table with his fist.
"Play games with money, and you die by my hand."
Umar stayed calm.
He'd expected it.
Even he thought 500,000 mesos was outrageous.
That was another reason he ignored it.
If costs were low, he'd mass-produce for profit, but this lost money.
So he'd shelved it.
'500,000 is still a loss for me.'
Even this price was discounted.
'One takes at least 700,000 mesos. Factor in opportunity cost, it's a million.'
A price that lost money with every batch.
Still, he offered 500,000. A million would kill the deal.
'Cheap for my life.'
This was life-or-death.
"Fine. Expensive, but I'll order it."
'Thank goodness.'
Relief washed over Umar inwardly as his ploy worked.
"Yes. How many do you need?"
'Take the hit, whatever.'
El Pam raised one finger at the question. Umar said,
"Ten, then."
'Five million meso loss. Damn.'
El Pam smiled at the pained Umar.
"No, prepare a hundred."
"Pardon? H-how many?"
Instead of answering, El Pam pulled out five 10-million-meso checks.
Then said,
"A hundred for now. More if needed."
5.
"Looking forward to it."
The deal was done.
"……Yes."
Umar trudged to his lab, shoulders slumped more than ever.
Clear who won the deal.
But watching him, Dibo felt uneasy.
"Boss, what makes you trust him with 50 million mesos? I'd bolt."
No matter how he thought, Dibo doubted Umar would follow through.
Everyone felt the same.
"He won't run."
El Pam spoke with conviction.
"He can never leave Magatia."
'Magatia is his safest haven.'
For Umar, the world outside was death.
That's why he built his castle there, ruling as chimera king.
Even if he ran, he'd stay in Magatia, easy to find.
'Catch him again if he does.'
And if they caught a fleeing Umar, the reward would be different now.
The Cygnus Knights would pay handsomely—50 million mesos wouldn't faze them.
'But he won't run.'
El Pam trusted Umar's cooperation.
A man obsessed with life, making chimeras to survive—would he break the deal and flee?
Not right away, at least.
'Even ten vials are worth his life.'
For El Pam, the plastic surgery potion was invaluable, beyond any other.
'From now on, the Black Mage's legions will pull every trick to kill us.'
Their hunters were the Black Mage's followers.
Without that, El Pam wouldn't waste such effort, energy, and—most crucially—time on a false identity.
'Now finish with Oz and move.'
It was almost time.
He planned to set up the Oz meeting immediately.
Not possible right away.
Meeting Oz, Fire Knight Captain, wasn't for just anyone, anytime.
El Pam figured three days.
But he was wrong.
That very night, after the deal, news spread through Magatia.
"A trace of Aran found in the Elnas Mountains! The polearm hero Aran's items have appeared!"