Emery and Belin surprised the two brothers by following Dyon's words without a hint of hesitation.
"Please." Emery showed the Rock brother's out. "Deliver us the list of needed pills and we will return the completed order to you once they are done. The Venerable is busy."
Hearing Emery describe Dyon as 'busy' while he was very clearly just a few feet from them smiling and chatting with Saru and Lilith practically made steam come out from their ears.
However, though these pair of brothers dared to disrespect Dyon due to their overblown biases, what they didn't dare to do was slight an alchemist. They had no concept of the difference between Venerables and apprentices. They could barely afford the pills of apprentices every once in a while, so how could they dare to disrespect Emery and Belin?
They could only glare in Dyon's direction and be shut out of the camp.
Dyon himself had long since thrown them to the back of his mind. He was instead focusing on the battle situation, occasionally saying a few words to Saru and Lilith.
It seemed that this gang was going all out, clashing with the armored guards of Zaneta City. The battle itself was completely disorganized. Dyon couldn't be bothered to count how many times they randomly swapped opponents, he couldn't even find where the line of defense was supposed to be or even where it actually was.
'They're not taking advantage of the fact they're the defending party at all, how ridiculous. On the bright side though, maybe in only such a battle could the concept of 'Runners' actually work.'
"Venerable Sacharro, the first order is in. This one isn't from our border, but it's rather from a station a few ways down asking for support. They need 20 half-immortal essence gathering pills and 10 half-immortal bone mending pills."
"Half-immortal? So we won't be concocting Venerable pills?"
Belin smiled politely. "For a talent like Venerable Sacharro, it's possible. But the battle could be finished before anyone else succeeded in refining just one Venerable pill. Plus, Venerable pills are far too precious, and the herbs they're concocted from far too rare, to be used like this."
"Alright." Dyon nodded, this made sense. It seemed he brought out Chibi for no reason, then. "We can get started then."
"Uh…"
Seeing Belin and Emery hesitating, Dyon looked over with a curious eye.
"… Something seems to be wrong with this order." Emery finally said. "… The battle is too young for other posts to be swamped already. And…"
Emery placed down a box that contained the ingredients Dyon was meant to use. However, without even opening the lid, Dyon could already smell the rancid odor.
...
In a pill concoction station about 20 miles away, the sounds of snicker and laughter could be heard. One would think that instead of being at war, they were all in the middle of a cocktail party.
This station was controlled by a member of the northern guild, a woman who went by the name of Venerable Greene.
"For me to share a wall with a mortal? What a joke the central guild has become." She snorted, her high-bridged nose surprisingly arcing somewhat elegantly.
Her two assistants and Runners fawned over her like lap dogs. They didn't particularly care about the consequences of their actions as long as they could please her. Plus, it wasn't like Zaneta City would really fall, right? The City Lord was too powerful.
"A brilliant move, Venerable Greene." An apprentice bowed. If one looked closely, it was almost possible to see her tongue hanging out just like any other dog's would. "That mortal rat is unaware that the herb resources of this northern wall is provided by our northern guild. He can forget about meeting his quotas."
Venerable Greene smiled to herself, feeling quite pleased.
"Passing off an official request for help was especially brilliant! Once he fails, he'll have to answer to the City Lord himself. At that time, his status as an alchemist won't protect him in the slightest. And as a mere mortal, his leash is especially short."
"Greene!"
At that moment, another voice came from the outside. It obviously hadn't come from the five of them, so they all simultaneously turned to the source.
Seeing that it was another Venerable, the two apprentices and the two Runners lowered their heads respectfully.
"What are you doing at my post, Vargas?" Greene replied emotionlessly.
"Do you think I wouldn't be able to find out what you did? Why did you order the servants to gather up the disposed herbs and deliver them to you? Are you trying to provoke the central guild?"
"Do you think that the central guild would fight it out with us over a mortal?! The difference between us isn't so large!"
"No, they won't fight it out with you."
Before Greene could complacently smile at these words, Vargas continued.
"But, that doesn't mean he won't."
Greene was stunned before she burst into a fit of laughter. "You want me to be afraid of a mortal rat? Is that what you travelled all this way to tell me?"
"That sense of superiority is exactly why you'll never enter the Immortal Saint realm. For those without much talent like us, we should be reserved and humble. Unlike you who disdained to do so, I personally watched the recording of his certification exam. He's better than us by a large margin. And Pill Sword Mountain will reward him as such.
"Not to mention you, he doesn't have to fear even the City Lord because his standing has been recognized by a Hegemon.
"You know nothing of the outside world because it hurts your pride too much to step out of this small bubble. But I know well what kind of impact his performance has had on the whole Immortal Plane. There are Immortal Gods who know the name Dyon Sacharro right now. How many know the name of Venerable Greene?!"
Greene's face shifted through all sorts of shades. Blacks, whites, even greens and reds. Vargas' words enraged her so much that she felt her throat swelling.
Eventually, she took several deep breaths, calming herself.
