Chapter 19: The Poison Alchemist’s Apprentice

Upon hearing Dutaine’s introduction, the assembled apprentices immediately erupted into a flurry of whispers.

After all, Lei Yin’s infamous moniker, ‘Poison Alchemist,’ was simply too renowned. Nearly every alchemist in Usutal City had heard tales of his deeds.

He was a prodigious grand alchemist at twenty years old, yet also the ‘Poison Alchemist’ capable of transforming healing elixirs into deadly toxins. Either title alone would be striking, but their combination had birthed Usutal City’s most notorious disgraced alchemist.

Merlin, the young girl standing nearby, had already flushed crimson with indignation.

She loudly declared, “My uncle isn’t a Poison Alchemist!”

“Oh? A grand alchemist who can refine holy healing potions into bone-rotting elixirs—what else would you call them if not a Poison Alchemist?” Dutaine couldn’t help but chuckle aloud.

“My uncle was framed!”

“Framed? Hahahaha. That’s the funniest joke I’ve heard all day.” The derision on Dutaine’s face was utterly undisguised.

Merlin was about to retort further when Lu Yuan gently restrained her.

She looked up at him, her gaze filled with confusion.

“Are you finished speaking?”

Lu Yuan asked calmly. He felt no anger despite the whispers circulating among the crowd.

According to Lei Yin’s own memories, the healing potions he had refined had indeed transformed into poisons. It was a fact even Lei Yin himself couldn’t refute.

As an outsider, Lu Yuan had even less reason to feel provoked by it.

Yet, Dutaine’s gloating, clownish demeanor, adding insult to injury, was undeniably grating.

Lu Yuan waved a dismissive hand. “If you’re quite done, please step aside. I’m taking my apprentice to be assessed for the Alchemist title.”

Dutaine paused, momentarily stunned. “Did I hear that correctly? You intend for this little girl to take the alchemist qualification exam? How old is she even?”

Only then did everyone present turn their gaze toward the young girl beside Lu Yuan.

Little Merlin was barely twelve years old, and her frame was frail. Due to years of malnutrition, she appeared even smaller than other children her age.

“This little girl? Are you certain?” Dutaine feigned a look of disbelief, turning to ask those beside him. “What’s the youngest age recorded in our guild for someone who passed the Alchemist Apprentice examination?”

“The branch records show two at fifteen, and one at thirteen. Uh… the thirteen-year-old was Lei Yin,” a nearby person replied.

Dutaine glared at the person, clearly displeased. ‘Damn it, just state the age! Why bring up that the thirteen-year-old record holder was Lei Yin, of all things?’ he thought, annoyed.

The person quickly added, “The headquarters record for the youngest is nine years old, held by Her Royal Highness, Princess Daelothys.”

Dutaine finally relaxed a little. “Princess Daelothys is a prodigy, a favored child of heaven, and she benefits from the guidance of numerous esteemed royal alchemists. Does this little girl beside you truly compare to Princess Daelothys?”

Lu Yuan furrowed his brow. ‘Was this Dutaine truly an imbecile?’ he wondered. “Alchemist Dutaine, are you in charge of the alchemist examination?”

“Naturally, I am not.”

“Then what business is it of yours whether my apprentice passes the alchemist examination?” Lu Yuan cast a look at Dutaine, as if he were an utter idiot. Without waiting for a response, he took Merlin by the hand and, guided by Lei Yin’s memories of the layout, walked directly past Dutaine towards the counter for alchemist assessments.

Little Merlin, meanwhile, stuck out her tongue and made a face at Dutaine.

Dutaine was so incensed by Lu Yuan’s blatant disregard that he stomped his foot.

He had intended to assert his superiority and make his presence known before Lei Yin! Instead, he had failed to establish any sense of dominance and had been rebuffed by Lei Yin, causing his face to flush crimson.

“Hmph! What a disgraceful fellow, so stubborn. I’m eager to see how you’ll humiliate yourself later.”

Dutaine simply refused to believe that some random young girl Lei Yin had pulled from who-knew-where could possibly pass the Alchemist Guild’s examination.