Yelt city. One of the most important strategic locations of the Moon Kingdom. Having both military and economic advantage, it's the safest and most populated city of the Moon Kingdom. Just second to the city where the King resided. A paradise for all personalities seeking fame and riches. Such people would usually be found going back and forth the main street of the city where Yelt was most bustling.

  Merchants of all colors could be seen selling their wares on the side of the roads, dwarves boasting about their crafts, elves proudly exhibiting their exquisite clothing, and even strange beings selling mysterious items of unknown origins. Such sight were the everydays of the citizens of Yelt.

  Commerce wasn't the only reason for the Yelt's blooming economy. Yelt city was known for its men for hire. More precisely, adventurers, mercenaries, and various other guilds and factions within the city.

  Warriors, mages, alchemists..., going out of the city to accomplish whatever task they were given and coming back to claim their reward, that is, if they didn't die trying to. It was a bustling city indeed, both in a good and bad way.

  Such activities would usually be most frequent inside the Adventurer's Guild. The largest guild in every city of the Moon Kingdom. Each subscribed member of the Guild would be ranked according to their accomplishments during quests and be rewarded suitably. It was as simple as that. As long as a person was strong enough fame and riches would never be out of reach. And such people would all be gathered around either solo or in parties in the Adventurer's Guild.

  Within the Guild's main hall was a tavern like space where members could sit around. They either came back from a long draining quest and took the moment to take a cool cold drink with their party member or just waiting on new quests to be posted. It was a slightly loud place with a lot of parties talking to each other. No one would ever notice a peculiar man entering the Guild. A man way too old to be an adventurer. However, it wasn't uncommon sight for old people to still go on quests, such as mages and priests would still venture out despite their age, and this one person didn't look like either. It was hard to know whether the old man was such a person since his entire body was clad in a dark cloak, hiding his features.

  Only his height and facial features were left on display. Unlike old people who appeared shorter because of their arched spines, the old man still stood straight and tall, as if old age didn't hinder him at all. With his ashen white hair, full beard, piercing eyes, broad shoulders he looked just as big as a typical strong warrior of the Guild.

  The old man coolly walking inside the guild without catching anyone's attention. Most of the guild members were all busy anyway. They wouldn't watch every random person entering the guild.

  After looking left and right, he finally found the person he's been searching for. A middle-aged man nervously sitting alone on one of the many tables. An alchemist. It could be easily told from attire. Long robe, glasses, a potion kit hanging from his belt.

  The old man approached him and immediately took a seat without any warning. The alchemist got slightly surprised by his sudden appearance. But he slowly took a deep breath and calmed his heart.

  -"Wolf right? I'm Walt by the way." The alchemist extended his hand.

  -"The potions." The surnamed Wolf left him hanging.

  It seemed like he preferred to immediately go down to business, his actions mirroring the way he dressed: bland and straightforward.

  Walt's nervousness grew more and more apparent after he heard the word "potions" from Wolf's mouth. He slowly went for the bag near his leg but he stopped doing so when Wolf interrupted him with a small hand gesture.

  The reason for that was soon apparent as a young man was approaching their table.

  "What would you like good sirs?" He asked with a slight smile on his face.

  "We're good." Wolf immediately replied.

  "I'll leave you to your business then." The waiter smiled professionally before taking his leave.

  Now that barriers were out of the way, Wolf and the alchemist could now go down to business. Walt still hesitated on taking out the bag but with a small nod from Wolf, he carefully placed it on the table. Despite how careful he was, the sound of small audible clanking glass could be heard.

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  Wolf carefully examined the contents of the bag. Inside was filled with round glass flasks filled with an unknown greyish colored liquid. Wolf nodded after seeing that the numbers were good.

  "The boss sends his regards." He said as he threw a pouch at Walt.

  It landed right in front of him. From the sound it made upon impact, it could easily be said that it was quite the sum. With just a small glimpse Walt could notice that something was off with the amount. It was way more than agreed. Seeing his reaction Wolf spoke before Walt could mention anything.

  -"Consider the rest as a welcoming gift. Always keep a good job and the Black Snakes will offer more support to your family."

  -"We'll keep in touch." These were his last words before standing up and leaving the adventurer's guild.

  He just left the alchemist there, speechless, with a bitter aftertaste in his mouth. He used to be one of the people who despised the Black Snakes. Yet here he was, working for them.

  "See how low I've fallen Arlene..." He lamented to himself.

  There was no more backing out. Whether he liked it or not. He clearly knew what Wolf meant when mentioned his family. His words had hidden meanings. Were he to betray the gang, his family would be involved too.

  'There was no other way...' He reassured himself.

  He has already tried his best using every conventional way available to save him from his situation but it was all for naught. The only option left for him was shady jobs such as this.

  Still, Walt tried to look at things more positively. At least his pay was very high. Being a rogue alchemist wasn't such a good thing. But with a backer, all his problems would slowly disappear.

  'I'll get Suzy something.' He thought.

  Since it was still bright outside, Walt took the opportunity to buy a small gift. He got out of the guild and strolled around the streets, looking left and right trying to see if something might catch his eye.

  Walt was quite unlucky. The sun was already blazing hot above his head. At such time, most shops would temporarily close for a lunch pause. But as he thought of turning back, he happened to see a small stall selling all kinds of miscellaneous items.

  A certain doll caught his eyes. It was a small stuffed doll with curly ginger hair. It reminded him of Suzy.

  "How much for this?" Walt asked.

  "5000 kals" The old man nonchalantly answered, before turning his attention back to the newspaper he was reading.

  "1000" Walt bargained.

  5000 qals was enough money to feed his family for a day. The doll was surely not worth that. The vendor was obviously overcharging him.

  The old man slightly lowered the newspaper and observed the alchemist from head to toe. Walt's shoes were old and tattered. His clothes were clean but he could see some torn parts that have already been sewn. His scraggly beard and long unkempt hair even made him look less presentable.

  Only then did the vendor see that the alchemist in front of him was in a pitch. And here he thought he could get extra money. Since alchemists were highly paid, 5000 qals was nothing for them. But the one in front of him wasn't one of the kind.

  "1000 it is." The vendor took the money and gave the doll to the customer.

  Walt then continued on his way home, eager to surprise Suzy with the doll. Such feeling was ruined when he heard loud arguments behind him. He curiously turned his back and saw a burly man shouting at the old stall vendor.

  "Your stall's right in front of the 14 Ecstasies! Scram before I call the guards!" He shouted.

  It looked like the burly man was the security of the 14 Ecstasies building just right behind the old man's stall.

  "Alright alright, I'll go! Please just don't call the guar-"

  His words would never be finished as suddenly the 14 Ecstasies building exploded. The explosion was so strong the shockwave from it pushed the alchemist far away from where he originally stood. The vendor and the security obviously had it worse. They were both in the proximity of the explosion. And for whoever was still in the building...

  Walt was left stunned on the ground, confused about what has just happened. If not for a certain smell, he would still be left there dazed for a couple more minutes. It was a smell he was too familiar with.

  "Elpan root's essence..." He whispered with a grim expression on his face.

  Elpan roots were from trees located only within areas near a volcano. It had one peculiar property. It was extremely flammable. Legend even says that the dragons got their fire-breathing from eating it.

  "No, it can't be..." Walt's eyes widened in realization.

  The potions he made for the Black Snakes weren't meant to be drunk. The liquid was made to be smeared on weapons. When ignited, the weapon would lit up, giving it burning capabilities. The potion was simply called fire potion.

  But if the liquid was somehow contained within a sealed space and was somehow ignited from inside, an explosion would occur. With the amount of fire potion he gave to the Black Snakes, an explosion of this scale was possible.

  "H-Help!" He heard a small weak voice call out.

  Walt did his best to stand up and search for the person in need. It was the old man from earlier. He was crushed under the stall he worked in.

  He approached and was about to offer his help but then he could feel a part of his clothes fall off. A section on his chest's robe ripped when he fell from the shockwave and the head of a black snake was slightly revealed.

  Walt stopped his steps and quickly covered the tattoo with his hand. He totally forgot about the crushed dying old man. Other more pressing matters were on his mind. He was now scared if people saw that a Black Snake member was lingering around the explosion, he would immediately become a suspect. A small crowd was even starting to gather. An explosion of such scale wouldn't go unnoticed. Soon this place will be filled with city guards.

  The alchemist didn't waste any more time and ran away from the scene, leaving the old man to his fate.