A middle-aged man stepped up from his seat with clasped hands as he slightly bowed. Like all the Elders and Grand Elders who were present the last time in the Grand Welcoming Hall but possessed a change of clothes today representing their affiliations as alchemists, he also wore a white robe with seven stars embedded over his chest.
The seventh star glowed with a bronze hue, highlighting his alchemist level.
A Mid-Level King Grade Alchemist!
"Zeno Alstreim greets the Dragon Queen!" He bowed ninety degrees once before he raised his head, "Grand Elder Valdrey Alstreim instructed me to treat the Dragon Queen as how I would treat him. This lowly Elder is at your service."
Princess Isabella smiled a bit, "There's no need to go that far. Respect can be seen within your attitude, and you have all given me the utmost respect that I can receive."
She sat like an Empress, a haughty smile hung over her face, but her graceful movements and polite speech gave people a favorable impression that made them subconsciously fantasize about the possible relationships with the Dragon Queen in their own imaginations.
The other Elders also praised her to the heavens, making her some sort of grand existence, who is worthy enough to be seated above their heads. They felt that they could be content if they were to at least become acknowledged by the Dragon Queen, and perhaps, taken to her power to be trained to an ultimate expert!
However, with their ages, it was bound to be difficult to obtain a good impression. That's why they tried to impress her with the intent of wanting to take care of their juniors. With the Dragon Queen being this polite and not scary, almost everyone was intent on trying to curry favor that they forgot about the Alchemy Exchange for the time being.
Grand Elder Lloyd Alstreim looked abnormally proud at the scene. After all, the achievement of successfully inviting the Dragon Queen to the Alchemy Exchange belonged to him. However, it was too bad that he had already reached the heights capable of achieving with his strength in the Alstreim Family. If there was a position that was above the one he owned, then it might surely belong to him.
Nevertheless, the monetary or territorial reward would be his in due time for this achievement! He was elated that he managed to accomplish what any other Grand Elder did not accomplish! This way, his influence in the Alstreim Family's internal affairs would also increase!
"Hahaha! Everyone! I am elated that we invited the Dragon Queen to witness the Alchemy Exchange held two decades! This exchange can also be treated like a competition and a grand opportunity!" Grand Elder Lloyd Alstreim cut them short and looked at the juniors.
"That's right, Grand Elder Lloyd Alstreim! With her eminence present in this place, I'm sure that the younger generation alchemists are excited and eager to prove themselves on the battlefield. We must not waste any more time and start with it." Zeno Alstreim abruptly spoke up.
Grand Elder Lloyd Alstreim rubbed his blonde beard in amusement, wondering why Zeno Alstreim, a subordinate, would try to start the Alchemy Exchange when there were only a few main participants, especially his 'master's' favored were still missing. If they started now, wouldn't Zeno Alstreim be disappointing his master?
He smiled, "What you are saying is also correct. With the Dragon Queen present, it is obvious that these brats who haven't even crossed a hundred years are going to abnormally give their best to prove themselves. However, when I said that it is a grand opportunity, I didn't mean it that way.
"Oh? That means?" One of the Elders who was silent all this time probed.
Grand Elder Lloyd Alstreim displayed a teasing smile, but even his gaze was flushed red in excitement, "The Dragon Queen has given her word that she will reward the winner of this Alchemy Exchange a vial of the Million Emerald Vines Calamity's nectar!"
"..."
"What!?"
There was a momentary lapse of time where everyone became silent before the first shocked voice echoed out! It came right from the direction of the hall's entrance!
Clamor instantly erupted in the hall while everyone turned to look at the loud yet melodious voice with shock already encroaching their mind. They noticed that it was Young Mistress Nora Alstreim, who was the source of the loud voice of disbelief! However, they were mistaken!
It was not Young Mistress Nora Alstreim who had just seemed to enter and raise her voice, but it was also another woman who walked beside her. They both had their mouths agape, making people confused as to who interrupted the grand characters on the platform when they found out that it was the purple-robed woman beside Young Mistress Nora Alstreim, who spoke.
Her lips moved as her melodious voice of disbelief still echoed in their ears before it continued.
"Did I hear it, right? Did a Grand Elder of your family just say that the rewards include the Million Emerald Vines Calamity's nectar?"
Nora Alstreim nodded her head slowly as if she also couldn't believe the announcement. She possessed an incredulous expression on her face that said that are was still reeling in disbelief.
Just two weeks ago, she needed the Million Emerald Vines Calamity's nectar to make Grand Elder Elise Alstreim breakthrough to the Martial Master Stage, but now, it seemed that it is readily available to the person who wins in this Alchemy Exchange.
Is there such a good deal in this world? Just when she thought that they would be continuously suppressed until there was nothing remaining of them?
'I must win this Alchemy Exchange no matter what!' Nora Alstreim's eyes flashed with a desiring expression before her face flushed with a crimson hue.
If she could obtain the nectar, perhaps, not only could she make her grandma's vitality rejuvenate but can also try to negotiate with the Ancestor to make things right! Even with this little tiny bit of nectar to provide, she still held some hope that the Ancestor would absolve Grand Elder Elise Alstreim of her crimes using this achievement.
Although she knew that she was daydreaming, she felt that her plan should work as a first step to clear 'her' family's name!
She cast a look around and saw that there were many sneering, casting hateful looks at her. She promptly ignored them as she knew that her family wasn't in the wrong. She didn't have time to care about them as only the treasure occupied her mind this time.
She noticed that the Dragon Queen, along with her subordinate Alchemist Davis, was present, but became vaguely disappointed that it wasn't the person she expected to appear by the Dragon Queen's side. She frowned and shook her head before she promptly informed her friend about the grand characters and their deeds.
"Mhm... I've already heard, Nora. Your Alstreim Family is blessed by the heavens for such a character to have visited your Alstreim Family during this calamitous era. This character's presence made you all avert a disaster!" The purple-robed woman's eyes gleamed in interest and excitement.
The crowd made boisterous noise, praising the Dragon Queen for her generosity, and she felt that she also became a part of it, feeling desire over the nectar!