The Human Emperor (1-200)

C116: Change in the Royal Court!

“I truly don’t understand why gongzi is so persistent on this matter. Given the Wang Clan’s standing, aren’t you taking too big of a risk?”

Six-fingered Zhang took a deep breath. For a person like Wang Chong who knew of their secret, it wasn’t an option to simply let him go, and killing him was out of the question. The only solution was to bring him into the organization.

Even though the secret alchemist organization wasn’t open to strangers, and outsiders were rarely inducted, the situation wasn’t completely hopeless.

“Wang Chong, I don’t have any way for you to join the organization. However, if you only wish to obtain a few pills, there’s an opportunity for you. However, the price will be slightly expensive, so the choice is up to you.”

Six-fingered Zhang sighed.

“What opportunity is it?”

Wang Chong’s eyes lit up, and he spoke almost instantaneously.

At the very least, he didn’t waste so much time and money for nothing, having earned himself a shot at this matter.

“The alchemist organization always has some slots reserved for outsiders. However, these slots aren’t for true collaborators so the holders of these slots won’t be considered as members of our organization, and at the very most, they can only be thought of as external partners.”

“We call these slots ‘Shadows’. The number of Shadows is always fixed but a vacancy has appeared recently. I can find a way to put you in, but the price for the slot of a Shadow is expensive, and very possibly, the price may be beyond your expectations. Are you sure that you want it?”

Six-fingered Zhang asked doubtfully.

“How much does it cost?”

Wang Chong asked.

“Two hundred thousand taels! Gold taels!”

Six-fingered Zhang answered seriously.

At this moment, Wang Chong’s face slightly darkened. He knew that there was a steep threshold to enter the organization but he didn’t expect for it to be that high.

Two hundred thousand gold taels was a huge sum for most powers. Even for some of the prestigious clans, it was a price they were unable to bear.

Even if an alchemist was willing to induct them, most people wouldn’t be able to afford the entrance fee of two hundred thousand gold taels.

If not for Wang Chong earning a huge sum of money off the Hyderabad ores, he would have never been able to utilize the organization.

This was something way beyond the reach of ordinary people.

The threshold of this organization consisting of alchemists from the royal palace and the kings’ residences was so high that most could only look at it from afar.

“… Furthermore, this two hundred thousand gold taels only grants you the right to purchase pills. It won’t make you a member, and if you wish to purchase pills, you will have to fork out more money.”

Six-fingered Zhang said.

“Furthermore, if you were to buy pills as a Shadow, the price will be significantly higher than the market price. Even so, do you wish to go ahead with it?”

The secret alchemist organization had much stricter rules than anyone could have expected. Just like the royal palace, every single pill forged had an initial number, and as such, even Six-fingered Zhang wasn’t able to circumvent the system.

If he was caught trying to play the system, what would await him was a plight worse than death. The powerful influence that these alchemists were connected to was more than sufficient to make him die a thousand times over.