The items that were made by the Dark Magus had started to sell and were appearing on the market. This was with the help of Dame's fellow friends and Fixteen taking charge.
At the moment, there were two straight avenues for selling the pills, one of them was through direct contact with certain people. Those that were close to Dame, and in some cases those clans that had asked the Crimson Crane for a meeting.
This was because people were already starting to learn that the Dark Magus was under their protection. It was hard for them to draw a line though; they were unsure whether this legendary alchemist, as people were calling him, had hired them for protection or if he was part of their group.
Rumors of what had occurred with the Light Faction Elder started to die down as well. Reports were starting to come out that it was the Crimson Crane that had taken out the elder, with the help of the Dark Magus' items.
It was unsure where this rumor was spread; Fixteen thought it might have been the members of the Crimson Crane themselves, in order to get a bit of heat off the Dark Magus.
Either way, it did well for Fixteen, as the rumors of the powerful Qi pills that were marked with DM were growing even stronger.
The only place to get the items belonging to DM at the moment was by heading to Repton, and many clans in the Demonic Faction were now heading to Repton with the chance of getting their hands on one of these Qi pills.
Inside the usual red-roofed restaurant on the second floor, a small meeting was taking place. Kirk slammed a heavy sack onto the table. The sound of clinking was heard as it was clear to all of those around what was on the inside.
"This is a gold mine!" Kirk claimed. "The price of these pills, people keep wanting to buy more and more of them!"
"It's because people have actually been able to experience the pills for themselves," Fixteen said calmly, while keeping one eye open. He could see Carlson and Kirk, counting out the silver coins one by one over and over, making stacks of them.
"But surely this is too much even for the effect of the pills, right?" Carlson replied. "I mean, I know the effect is great, but not to the point where clans are emptying their fortunes for them."
"You are correct. Right now, the pills are in an inflationary period," Fixteen answered. "The effects of them have never been seen before. I predict that most of our buyers are actually clans trying to replicate the pills for themselves."
"The effects of the pills aren't so great, but they are compared to regular Qi pills. So if there is a way to mass-produce these in some ways, and then spread them out to the rest of the continent and other continents, then that clan can gain a fortune that can influence the kingdoms and empires around the world."
"Remember that the world of Pagna is just one half. No one has ever been able to completely conquer all the continents, because at one point or another the kingdoms and empires decide to get involved if things start to look too one-sided."
The other two were nodding along as if they understood everything, but it was clear that they didn't. Either way, they were fascinated by all of this.
"Then will the other clans figure out a way to make these pills, what happens then, won't this whole empire of the DM crumble?" Kirk said, as the pile of coins he had made had come crashing down right in front of him.
Fixteen had a big smile on his face. "I think the Dark Magus has thought this through quite a lot. My guess is one of two things; the first, it's just not possible to replicate his technique, since he uses something from another world compared to ours."
"Even if that isn't the case, we have seen the large variety of pills he can create. If someone is able to copy him, then he will just make something better. When the buzz starts to die down with his pills, we will also move before the others, and start to spread them all over the continents, in and out.
"The fact is, we are one step ahead of everyone. They will be able to finally replicate the lower-grade Qi pills, then we spread them all out to everyone, do you know what that means?" Fixteen asked.
"That everyone is on even ground?" Carlson replied.
"Exactly, if everyone can get their hands on the pills then they are no longer special, and that's when the Dark Magus will create the next product, making DM's items the best…" Fixteen's voice trailed off at the end, and it didn't go unnoticed by the others.
"I feel like there is a 'but,'" Kirk added.
"There is," Fixteen said. "Which is why we need to rely on the Crimson Crane and their help. Based on everything I said, the result will end up the same. Either clans will figure out they are unable to replicate the DM pills, or they will find out that we will always be one step ahead.
"Leaving them just one choice, to go after the Dark Magus. Clans will realize just how powerful of an alchemist he is, and the top clans from all over will do anything to get him on their side, even by force."
Judging by the Dark Magus' personality so far, they assumed that he would never do such a thing. Even while he is working with the Crimson Crane, it felt like he only accepted due to their unique set up.
Since all members were treated more like partners than anything.
Fixteen was right in many of his predictions, and there were some clans that had already attempted to replicate the Qi pills after buying them, yet found it near impossible for them to have the same effect.
It was quite clear that this Dark Magus was one heck of an alchemist. One that a certain group of people needed at all costs.
Inside the Neverfall Clan base, deep down in the abyss, the second most lower floor was where the Elders as well as the Clan Head currently resided. The very bottom of the floor was where the Clan Head would do his training most of the time, and rarely did he ascend even one floor above.
This time he had done so, since a particular person had called for a special meeting with him.
Belil Narfous, the Clan Head of the Neverfall Clan, had pushed wide open two large black double doors. They swung open with great strength and speed and looked as if they would slam against the door, but just before it did, it stopped suddenly.
The momentum of the doors had stopped as if time itself had been stopped.
Belil walked in, his body covered in beads of sweat that ran down his muscles. It was visible to all in the room since he wore no shirt.
Yet, when he sat down in the large seat that towered up high, almost reaching the ceiling, the beads of sweat didn't run off his body and onto the ground or table; they just stayed on his body as if attached.
"This matter seems quite important for you elders to come down here, and it seems you have invited some of my family as well," Belil commented.
The table he was sitting at was rectangular in shape, and it was incredibly long, a table that could seat fifty guests. At it, though, were four elders and his daughter Rayna. She wasn't sitting next to the Elders though.
If anything, her seating arrangement seemed out of place, since there were three empty seats, one to her left and two to her right.
"That is because I need your permission for something," a loud booming voice filled the room from the other end. A man that was nearly twice the size of everyone in the room in a thick black overcoat.
It was made of the same material of cloth as regular Pagna warriors, only around the hood, there was black fur that wrapped around one's neck. It was quite strange, as in the abyss, especially on the second floor, there was heat that regular people, even those from other clans, would find unbearable yet this man was fine, for he was one of the Demonic Faction clan heads.
Rayna eyed the large man up and down with his scruffy black hair that almost matched the fur of his coat. He looked more like the beasts they fought against rather than a human.
"This man, he is the leader of the Behemoth Clan, the largest clan in the Demonic Continent with over a thousand talented Pagna warriors. It's no wonder that the elders called father to come to this meeting. He is Sha Mo."
"You're asking permission for something, that's a bit odd? Is it to do with the Neverfall Clan?" Belil replied.
"No, as you know, the Behemoth Clan is in charge of Repton, and recently I have heard that there is this Dark Magus, a great alchemist that has been selling items. You see, I want this person, but from my research, I have gathered that you might have an interest in this person as well."
"An alchemist?" Belil replied. "When have I had an interest in such methods? I do not rely on such things as pills or borrowed strength, only one's own power."
This caused Sha to let out a loud laughter that shook the room once again. "I see, so you will not get involved in my plans to get this Dark Magus, that is good."
'Wait!' Rayna screamed inwardly. 'The Behemoth Clan after the Dark Magus, this is not good. I haven't even proposed to father about the idea of him becoming my partner, so he has no reason to protect him.'
With this in mind, she decided to speak up, saying the one thing that might help the Dark Magus.
"I heard that he is currently under the protection of the Crimson Crane, so this might cause some problems," Rayna stated.
"Do you think that matters?" Sha asked. "The only person I was worried about has just given me permission. So we, the Behemoth clan, shall snatch this weak alchemist over to our side!"
