“As I thought… He really was that kind of man….”
After hearing that Ben had killed someone, the alchemist kept repeating the same words.
Because of that, Terlo had to call him several times before they could finally speak.
What Terlo learned was that the man was far more remarkable than he had expected.
The alchemist Raunz Murkowski.
Terlo had once read about him in a book.
‘Was the subsection titled “The Master of Development Who Vanished After an Unfortunate Accident”?’
To think the place he had disappeared to was the Doiten Kingdom.
That was quite unexpected.
‘How did Ben know where to find him?’
Raunz said he had never revealed his name or the existence of his daughter, Riley, to anyone.
He had left the management of the shop to his employees and devoted himself entirely to research.
He had gone outside so rarely that the number of people he had met over five years could be counted on one hand.
Yet Ben had come to him knowing everything and proceeded to threaten him.
Because of that, Raunz suspected Ben had some connection to the Empire.
He said that people from the Empire had been searching for him ever since he disappeared.
“So you never saw his face?”
“No…. He came wearing a robe like yours. How could I have seen it?”
“Did he ever return after that?”
“No. That was the last time…. He must be waiting for the development to succeed.”
“But is that potion really so extraordinary? Even if it allows permanent preservation, I’m not sure it justifies an operation on this scale.”
At Terlo’s question, Raunz gave a bitter smile.
“That would depend on how it is used…… He said it himself. He said that potion could change the world.”
‘Change the world.’
What did Ben intend to use it for that made him say such a thing?
Of course, it was a revolutionary potion and could change many things.
But Ben did not seem to have meant it in that sense.
Raunz, who had heard those words directly, feared the future that would follow the potion’s completion.
Because of that, Raunz said he found it difficult even to concentrate fully.
And this development was difficult enough that success was uncertain even with his complete focus.
“I truly do not know what I should do. I planned to escape once I completed the potion, but even that is impossible now…. All I can do is hope that people like you stop Ben before then.”
Raunz smiled faintly, then added that perhaps there would be no need, because he might fail forever.
Sadness filled his eyes.
Terlo watched him for a moment before asking,
“Then, if you succeed in developing the potion, could you give it to me?”
“…To you?”
“Yes.”
Raunz looked bewildered by Terlo’s sudden proposal.
“I do not quite understand…. Did you not say you had no interest in the herb or the potion?”
“That’s right. I think Ben will appear if I possess the potion.”
“They will take it from you before you even have the chance. I do not understand how you intend to keep it…. Unfortunately, the people outside are constantly watching for the result.”
Terlo did not want Ben to obtain the potion as things stood.
Once Ben secured the potion and finished his business in the shopping district, would he not simply disappear?
Then there would be nothing left connecting Terlo to him.
Ben would abandon that alias as well, making him even harder to locate.
If Terlo wanted to learn about the sphere, he needed something that could lead him to Ben.
That was why Terlo intended to bring Raunz over to his side.
With everything he had obtained through More, escaping from this place was entirely possible.
“If you promise me that, I’ll get you out of here.”
At the word escape, Raunz’s drooping eyes widened.
But only briefly.
He soon regained his composure and answered,
“I appreciate the offer, but I must refuse. You may have deceived their eyes and reached me, but I do not believe that you, my daughter, and I can all escape safely. If we are caught, my daughter’s life will be endangered. Would you attempt such a thing in my position?”
Raunz shook his head with a quiet sigh.
“Even if we succeeded, how could I trust someone I met for the first time today…? I told you my circumstances because you said you were searching for Ben, but my goodwill ends here. Please leave.”
Raunz spoke firmly and turned away from Terlo.
Terlo removed the hood of his robe.
His tousled silver hair and youthful face were revealed.
After shaking out his hair once, Terlo spoke to Raunz’s back.
“Then allow me to introduce myself properly.”
“Did you still fail to understand what I—!”
Raunz turned with a frown, only for surprise to fill his face.
“I am Terlo Krauber, Young Master of the Krauber Family.”
“Y-You…!”
“If there is a way for all three of us to escape safely, would you consider joining hands with me?”
Faced with an unexpected offer from an unexpected person, Raunz could not answer for some time.
He merely stared at Terlo in disbelief.
***
After Terlo revealed his identity, Raunz explained what he thought.
He trusted Terlo’s identity, but making the decision was difficult.
Raunz was consumed by guilt toward his daughter, Riley.
His previous wrong decision had left her in this state, and he feared that another decision of his might place her in danger again.
It was entirely understandable, but Terlo could not wait leisurely for his answer.
There was a limit to how long Basley could buy him time.
Since they had already delayed considerably, Terlo explained the escape plan and pressed Raunz for a quick decision.
And now—
‘It’s worse than I expected.’
After receiving Raunz’s agreement, they had come down to the first floor to collect Riley.
Riley lay on a bed, her entire body mottled red.
Blisters showed between the patches where her skin had peeled away.
It seemed Raunz had spoken the truth when he said that even a slight lapse in her care brought the pain back.
Despite her faint grimace, she smiled at Raunz.
“Fa…ther. You look… so tired.”
Raunz pressed his lips together, overcome by emotion at his daughter’s concern.
Then he softened his expression and picked up a container of potion beside her.
“I am fine. Let us apply it to your wounds once more and prepare to leave.”
“Leave…? Where… are we going?”
“This place is too dangerous. We are going somewhere safe. The Young Master here will help us.”
Riley’s gaze slowly shifted toward Terlo.
“H-Hello…. Thank… you.”
“There’s no need to thank me. Raunz, I should take everything here, correct?”
“I would appreciate it.”
Terlo transferred the regeneration potions filling the storage cabinets into his subspace.
Then he introduced the two skeletons standing beside him to Riley.
“These two will help move you. Carry her as carefully as possible. Understood?”
CLACK! CLACK!
Riley appeared slightly startled, but soon entrusted her body to the skeletons.
Together, they went upstairs.
The second floor had been cleared completely.
The desk that had once been crowded with experimental equipment now held only a communicator and a single note.
—Contact me when the potion is complete.
Raunz had left it at Terlo’s request.
They still needed a way to contact Ben later.
‘It would be useful to investigate the center a little more.’
Then he might learn more about what Ben was plotting.
But for the sake of their escape, leaving now was the correct choice.
Trying to look around carelessly could cause the entire escape to fail.
‘It can’t be helped. At least it’s certain that Ben wants the potion.’
Raunz stood before the window and pointed toward the middle of the alley.
“They truly cannot see the area in the middle? It does not appear any different to me….”
“That’s right. I placed illusions in front of and behind it, so they won’t notice unless we make a loud noise.”
“I see. So that is how it is.”
The escape plan was as follows.
They would first move to the safe zone Terlo had created before entering the shop, then examine the situation at the entrance of the alley.
That entrance was where the gang bosses had originally been standing.
If they headed left from there, they would reach a side road leading out of the shopping district.
If they could reach that side road without being discovered, their chances of escaping quietly would rise.
Even if the guards noticed later, they would not know for certain where the group had gone.
‘There are several side roads around here alone.’
The shopping district connected to several territories and occupied an enormous area.
Naturally, there were many long side roads leading from the shopping district into each territory.
If they forced the pursuers to search all of them, half the work would already be done.
It would reduce the number of people following them by that much.
“You have everything you need, correct?”
“We are fully prepared. Riley, do not worry. I will follow you shortly.”
“I’m… not worried.”
At Riley’s answer, Terlo nodded to Raunz and pulled his hood over his head.
Black energy gathered around them.
The moment it vanished, Terlo, Riley, and the skeletons appeared in the middle of the alley.
Raunz, suddenly left alone, checked the things he had placed inside his clothes one last time.
There were magic scrolls capable of short-range and medium-range teleportation, fire magic scrolls that could cause explosions, and several kinds of potions.
Some of the potions had been made by Raunz, but most had come from Terlo.
For some reason, the Young Master of the Krauber Family possessed all sorts of unusual items.
“It has been a long time since I went outside….”
Raunz looked outside and briefly became lost in sentiment.
Then he looked toward Terlo and Riley and tore a short-range teleportation magic scroll.
The torn parchment evaporated, and Raunz appeared beside Riley.
Sensing his presence, Terlo turned away from watching the alley entrance.
“They still haven’t returned. I think we can leave.”
At his whisper, Raunz and the skeletons carrying Riley began moving.
But Terlo quickly raised a hand, signaling them to stop.
Two of the four gang bosses who had chased Basley were returning.
‘Damn it.’
They walked back while kicking innocent stones across the ground.
“Where the hell did that rat bastard hide?”
“More importantly, isn’t it bullshit that they told us to guard this place because he might come here? They said there was another small bastard besides the expelled one. In that case, all of us should be searching!”
“Obviously, those two wanted all the credit and told us to stay out. We aren’t their damn lackeys. This is complete bullshit.”
“Huh? Where did the other bastard go? Don’t tell me he went off alone to catch them too.”
“Tch. Who knows? Let’s just rest. Even if we catch them, the others will try to take a cut, so why bother running around?”
Still cursing, they returned to their positions and dropped onto the ground.
Then they continued talking while insulting the other gang bosses.
Raunz’s expression grew grave at the sight of the blocked passage.
‘This will make it difficult to leave quietly.’
To escape, they could not allow anyone to discover which side road they entered.
That meant they could not be noticed by those two here either.
Judging by their conversation, the other two who had chased Basley would not return for some time.
‘This is the perfect time to go.’
But when they teleported toward the left, where the side road lay, no one would be there to draw those two men’s attention.
Raunz did possess a potion that could temporarily transform him into a rat….
But even if he transformed into a rat and teleported, it would all be over if those men happened to look toward the left.
They could not leave something this important to chance.
‘Besides, Raunz said they already know about transformation potions….’
If they spotted a rat, they would first check whether Raunz was still inside the shop.
‘They need to notice that Raunz is gone as late as possible.’
That would reduce the pursuit, even if only slightly.
What would be the best way to accomplish that?
After considering it, Terlo decided to use the fact that they were searching for him.
If he revealed himself, would those men not become obsessed with claiming the achievement?
Raunz and Riley could move toward the side road while their attention was elsewhere.
‘I can lose them and join the others afterward.’
Even if a moment came when shaking them proved difficult, Terlo had another method.
Having made his decision, he quietly spoke to the grim-faced Raunz.
“I’ll draw their attention and join you afterward. Let’s meet near the side road.”