Chapter 127: Exchange

Hughes was not embarrassed at being called out directly; after all, he was not familiar with the man.

"Hey, have you heard? A lot of dark wizards have snuck into Holy Round City lately!" Seeing that Hughes remained silent, the shopkeeper took the initiative to strike up a conversation.

"Let them come. It’s not our place to worry about it," Hughes said dismissively. Since the city authorities weren't making a move, it meant the governing wizards were turning a blind eye, so why should he bother? Besides, wasn't it normal for there to be dark wizards in Holy Round City? Hughes was certain that the origins of many resources within the city were linked to dark wizards. Perhaps this was one reason why the city maintained a neutral stance toward their infiltration.

"You! And you call yourself a resident of Holy Round City!" The shopkeeper stared at him, clearly incensed by Hughes' attitude.

"There are plenty of wizards in Holy Round City. If they really wanted to stop them, do you think dark wizards could get in? Anyway, why are you so concerned about them? You aren't one of their accomplices, are you?" Hughes looked at the elderly wizard with a puzzled expression.

"Nonsense! I’ve lived here for many years and have grown attached to this city, is that a crime?" The shopkeeper turned his head away, seemingly unwilling to speak with him further.

"Kid, do you want some lightning elemental energy crystals?" After hesitating for a long time, the shopkeeper finally spoke.

"You have them?" Hughes narrowed his eyes, looking the old man up and down. He knew they had only met once; he couldn't imagine what he had that the man would covet.

"Of course I have them. Well, do you want them or not?" The shopkeeper looked at Hughes with a smug expression.

"What are your conditions?" Hughes didn't hesitate. He asked directly, not wanting to let the opportunity slip away.

"Straightforward!" The old man’s eyes lit up. He was a businessman and loved dealing with people like Hughes. "Come inside!" he signaled.

Hughes hesitated for a moment before stepping in. Lightning elemental energy crystals were extremely rare and nearly impossible to find. Even though he didn't know how many the man possessed, he couldn't walk away from this chance.

"Just call me Gutt," the man said, closing his shop once Hughes was seated.

"I’m Hughes." Looking at his surroundings, Hughes felt the man was no simple person. If he truly wanted to cause trouble, it would be difficult to escape.

"Relax, kid. While caution is a good trait, you need to show some sincerity when doing business, don't you think?" Gutt watched the slightly tense Hughes; the old, wily man understood his feelings perfectly.

Gutt seemed to live alone, as Hughes saw no subordinates. He slowly brewed a cup of tea for Hughes before sitting down across from him.

"Alright, Hughes, I think we can talk properly now." Gutt’s expression turned serious, as if business was a matter of great importance. "I have five hundred grams of lightning elemental energy crystals. That is enough to advance your elemental spiritualization by a quarter!"

"What do you want?" Hughes was stunned. He hadn't expected the man to have such a large quantity, though he wondered how he had acquired them.

"Natural energy. I want to know how you obtained such a large amount of natural energy, and how it was so remarkably pure!" Gutt looked at Hughes with a desperate longing. He was old and frail, merely a first-tier wizard. It took him a long time just to recover his spiritual power, and his long life was coming to an end. He could sense that Hughes’ body had been washed by a vast amount of pure natural energy. If he could possess that energy, he might have a chance to break through to the second tier.

"Natural energy? What natural energy?" Hughes looked at him blankly. He had a chip in his body; if there were any such energy, he would have detected it long ago.

"You’re lying! You know the way, don't you? Tell me! Tell me!" Upon hearing this, Gutt stood up, grabbed Hughes by the wrist, and stared at him with bloodshot eyes.

*This old man is a semi-elementalized wizard,* Hughes thought, sensing the energy fluctuations around Gutt and immediately gauging his strength.

"Do you know? For a wizard, time is a curse that no one can escape," Gutt said after staring at him for a while. He slumped back into his sofa, silent.

"How did you know there were traces of natural energy on me?" Hughes suddenly recalled that when he passed out during his promotion to a first-tier wizard, the chip had indeed reported that natural energy had entered his body. He had never found the source, so the matter had been pushed aside.

"I’ve conducted biological transformation experiments. I am extremely sensitive to energy. Even though it is very faint, I can clearly feel the traces in your body," Gutt said weakly. "Go! Since you won't talk, so be it. I’m too old for a fight anyway," he added with a self-deprecating laugh.

"Actually, I have a potion that might help you," Hughes said, looking at the dejected old wizard and unwilling to give up on the energy crystals.

"What potion?" Gutt perked up, thinking Hughes had changed his mind.

"A high-level potion called 'Nature's Whisper'." Hughes described the potion recipe Gagali had given him. He had studied it, and it did indeed have the same effect as pure natural energy, though he hadn't brewed it yet and wasn't sure of the exact potency.

"Nature’s Whisper! Give it to me! If you give me the potion, I’ll give you the energy crystals, how’s that?" Gutt was convinced that the traces in Hughes’ body were caused by this very potion.

"I’m sorry, I don't have the materials. I can't brew it right now. If you want it, you’ll have to wait until I join the Silver Rose and find a way." Seeing the longing in Gutt’s eyes, Hughes shook his head. He knew time was terrifying for an old man, but he couldn't help.

"You’re an alchemist?" Gutt asked immediately.

"I am." Hughes suddenly realized that Gutt might just have the materials for Nature's Whisper in his shop.

"Follow me!" True to his guess, Gutt led him to a secret chamber.

"These are all the materials I’ve hoarded over the years. Take whatever you need. If it’s not enough, I’ll find a way!" It was clear Gutt’s condition was dire; otherwise, he wouldn't have brought a stranger into his private storage.

Hughes didn't hesitate. He walked to the shelves, carefully selecting his materials. "These are Nightmare Beast teeth, and here is a Six-Horned Blue Starfish..." The more he looked, the more shocked he became. *This is truly the accumulation of a lifetime,* he thought. He even found core materials for the three mental potions in his own bloodline heritage. *I must find a way to get my hands on these,* he thought, though he knew it wouldn't be easy.

Following the recipe, he found everything he needed, managing to gather two full sets of ingredients.

"I need a quiet place," Hughes said. He had decided to try brewing it; after all, it was for those five hundred grams of energy crystals.

"No problem!" Gutt was surprised his collection could satisfy Hughes' needs.

Gutt took him to his laboratory. "You know, we alchemists, when brewing..." Hughes didn't want to brew in front of him, fearing his secrets might be revealed.

"Oh, I understand! Don't worry, I won't be here. I’ll even activate the sound-dampening settings so you won't be disturbed," Gutt said, respecting the habits of a fellow practitioner.