Chapter 164: Nanalie's Alchemy Workshop

  "Is this the pce?"

  Alex raised his head, looking at the building ahead while murmuring to himself.

  It was a two-story structure located in the southern part of the town. From the outside, it resembled a tavern. However, its dipidated exterior and a sign covered in cobwebs revealed its true identity—a ed alchemy workshop.

  To be precise, it was an alchemy workshop on the verge of closing down.

  "Yes, Master."

  The little aanding beside Alex nodded in firmation.

  "From what I’ve gathered, this alchemy workshop has no ine anymore. Nobody in the area visits it either… I heard the inal owner disappeared during an adventure, leaving her daughter to ma on her own…"

  And this is the result?

  Gng at the cracked gss windows, Alex shook his head before pushing the door open and stepping inside.

  The workshop was uedly spacious but surprisingly . The reception ter by the entrand the surrounding furniture had beeiculously ed. Even the brick floor otless. Yet the space was eerily empty, giving the impression of abando.

  But clearly, it wasn’t pletely uninhabited.

  "Ring, ring, ring!"

  Alex reached out and rang the bell on the reception ter a few times. Shortly after, a flustered voice sounded from inside.

  "Ah, please wait! I’m busy right now… Just a moment, please…!"

  As the hurried voice echoed, Alex and Nymph watched as a door oher side of the hall, previously shut tight, swung open. A girl with long brown hair dashed out, panting heavily. She wore a slightly worn-out robe, and her hair, still messy and curled from just waking up, gave her a disheveled appearance.

  After quickly tidying herself, she faced Alex and Nymph with a somewhat uneasy smile.

  "Wele to Nanalie's Alchemy Workshop… dear ers, how I assist you?"

  "…"

  Nanalie… your name feels like a bad omen. Are you destio end up a blind girl in a wheelchair?

  "Ahem… Hello, Miss Nanalie," Alex coughed lightly, masking his thoughts as he smiled and addressed the girl.

  "My name is Ezio. I’m a mert… I’ve e to discuss a business proposal with you."

  "Business?"

  Nailted her head in fusion.

  "Yes," Alex nodded, getting straight to the point.

  "This may sound abrupt, but… I’d like to purchase this alchemy workshop."

  "Purchase… purchase… huh? Huh?!"

  Nanalie was initially puzzled, but after a brief moment, her expression shifted, and she let out a startled cry.

  "Sir, are you saying… you want to buy this alchemy workshop?"

  "Exactly."

  "But… but… I’m not pnning to sell it. This is my home…"

  It seemed Nanalie had never imagined someone would approach her with an offer to buy her workshop. She struggled to find the right words to express herself.

  "However, the financial state of this workshop isn’t ideal, is it?"

  Alex wasn’t overly aggressive. He simply spoke matter-of-factly.

  "I’ve done my research. If you ’t make the necessary payments this month, the workshop’s lise will be revoked, isn’t that right?"

  "Uh… that… that’s…"

  Hearing this, Nanalie’s expression grew increasingly flustered.

  Acc to the w, every alchemy workshop is required to pay an annual fee to the Alchemists’ Guild to maintain its certification. While the fee is not exorbitant, it is signifit. First, paying the fee demonstrates that the workshop is self-suffit and capable of geing profit. Sed, the fee ehe validity of the workshop’s certification, which is essential for alchemists to legally purchase various raw materials. Theocratiations impose strict trol over resources—without a valid "business lise," you couldn’t even buy a cart of iron ore.

  However, judging by the state of this alchemy workshop, it was clear the girl couldn’t afford the "property fee."

  "Miss Nanalie, I have a proposal," Alex said, notig her growing unease. He quickly tio expin, fearing that any further dey might jeopardize the deal.

  "I am willing to fund the acquisition of this alchemy workshop, but I’m not looking to ge the ownership. This means you tinue living here, and I have no iion of repg your alchemist’s certification."

  "This… really?"

  Hearing this, Nanalie finally breathed a sigh of relief. Just moments ago, she had been dreading the possibility of being forced to wander aimlessly. Now it seemed things might not be as dire as she feared. However…

  "Sir, what be do you get from this?"

  Nanalie wasn’t naive. Alex’s expnation was clear, and she quickly uood his iions. But this only made her more puzzled. It was as if a failing pany was suddenly approached by someone willing to cover its debts but without demanding ownership or a leadership role. It was strange. Of course, if Alex had e alone, Nanalie might have been more wary. However…

  Gng at the harmless little aanding beside Alex, Nanalie felt this possibility was unlikely.

  "Here’s the situation," Alex said without attempting to ceal anything, knowing that what he nning couldn’t stay hidden for long.

  "I want to purchase some spirit crystals. Due to official regutions, I ’t acquire them on my own. While I have some knowledge of magid alchemy, I don’t hold a certification. Obtaining one would take a long time and be quite troublesome. Therefore, I hope to achieve this by acquiring your alchemy workshop."

  "So that’s it…"

  Hearing Alex’s expnation, Nanalie rexed a bit. Spirit crystals, to alchemists, were like diamonds old to a boratory—valuable, undoubtedly useful, and not particurly dangerous. However, obtaining them without proper credentials was indeed nearly impossible.

  "So, Miss Nanalie, what do you think?"

  "Uh…"

  Faced with Alex’s question, Nanalie hesitated. Truthfully, she wasn’t eager to agree. But she also khat if she couldn’t secure the necessary funds, the alchemy workshop her mother had left her would be pletely repossessed. If that happened, her dreams would be forever out of reach.

  "I uand."

  Making up her mind, Nanalie looked at Alex and nodded.

  "I’m willing to make this deal with you, Mr. Ezio."

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