Chapter 640 Pirated <TOC> Change 642 David's Change
Translator: SumTLMan
“Come, have some tea.” Iron Armor Granny gestured for Angel to drink tea.
Angel took a sip, and the bitter taste lingered in his mouth. This was his first time drinking this type of tea at Iron Armor Fortress; usually, Iron Armor Granny preferred rose tea.
This tea was somewhat similar to Morning Dew After Rain cultivated by Mentor Jon, but it was more bitter and obviously ordinary tea.
“This is tea grown by a wizard from Laboratory 13 in his own tea garden. Since he left the Savage Grottoes, I’ve been taking care of that tea garden,” Iron Armor Granny said, her eyes filled with nostalgia as she smelled the curling tea fragrance. “I used to dislike this bitter tea, but lately, I’ve been growing more and more fond of it. Perhaps it’s because I’m getting older, and my taste is changing.”
Iron Armor Granny chatted about the tea garden for a while, and Angel didn’t interrupt. With the music and tea, his body and mind were both calmed.
According to Iron Armor Granny’s account, Angel had a rough idea of the wizard from Laboratory 13, who seemed to be a tea enthusiast.
After a while, Iron Armor Granny finally finished talking about the tea garden.
She pondered for a moment, and then suddenly seemed to remember something. She said to Angel: “It’s quite a coincidence that the wizard from Laboratory 13 has some connection with you.”
A questioning expression appeared on Angel’s face.
Iron Armor Granny smiled, her wrinkles gathering together: “He was one of Sanders’ earliest students, named Sumesh. There was news recently that he has stepped onto the Path of True Knowledge. Perhaps, before long, he will return.”
“The moment he comes back, the first thing he will do is visit the tea garden. He’s quite obsessed with tea.”
So it was Sumesh… Angel’s eyes showed a sudden realization. According to their relationship, Sumesh indeed had some connection with him. However, although he had heard of the other party’s name, Sumesh might not know him.
“Thank you, Granny.” Angel took another sip of tea and smiled.
Iron Armor Granny seemed to mention Sumesh casually, but Angel felt that she might be hinting at something. Particularly since she intentionally mentioned Sumesh’s love for tea leaves, it was like she was reminding him to prepare some tea when meeting Sumesh.
Iron Armor Granny sniffed the tea aroma, and the curling tea mist hid her expression: “Why thank me? Everyone knows these things. I’m not hinting at anything.”
Whether Iron Armor Granny was hinting at something or not didn’t really matter. Angel didn’t actually care about the opinion of his returning senior brother, Sumesh, whom he had never met. However, if he could maintain a good relationship within the sect, he was willing to put in the effort.
“At least I don’t know,” Angel shrugged.
Iron Armor Granny sighed: “Ah, you alchemists, you like to focus on your own research, not paying attention to the outside world.”
“From what you’re saying, Granny, you seem quite familiar with alchemists?”
As soon as Angel finished speaking, he heard a “chirping” sound coming from outside the window, along with a rhythmic “ding, ding, ding” sound.
Angel turned around and looked at the tightly closed window, only to see Toby, who had woken up at some point, flapping its wings and perching on the edge of the hanging orchid outside the window, tapping the glass with its sharp beak.
“You little guy,” Angel chuckled, walking to the window.
Because he was paying attention to Toby, he didn’t notice that Iron Armor Granny’s movements paused for a moment behind him.
When Angel turned back, Iron Armor Granny was already sipping tea, looking no different than before. “Granny, can I let it in?”
“Of course, I’m quite fond of little Toby,” Iron Armor Granny put down her delicate porcelain teacup and smiled at Angel.
Angel opened the window, and Toby flew in immediately, not treating itself as a stranger. It circled around the room for a while and finally landed next to the music box, its eyes curving with laughter.
“I don’t know why, but Toby loves listening to music. When I came out, it was still asleep. Now it’s full of energy; I guess it heard the music you were playing here,” Angel laughed, sitting back at the table and explaining to Iron Armor Granny.
“So, little Toby likes music. You can come by more often, and I can prepare some instruments or sheet music for you,” Granny offered.
Angel shook his head, laughing: “Toby may like music, but it’s tone-deaf. What it sings is no different than noise.”
Toby squawked a few times in protest, but the high-quality music playing from the music box quickly captured its attention again.
“By the way, Granny, you seem quite familiar with alchemists?” Angel recalled the question he asked earlier.
Iron Armor Granny lowered her head to pour tea, a trace of nostalgia flashing in her eyes. After filling the cup, she pushed it in front of Toby. Then, she answered Angel: “Not really.”
Angel paused, as his actual intention in asking this question was to suggest that throughout the many years Iron Armor Granny had been at the Flowing Source, there should have been quite a few alchemists in the different labs.
However, Iron Armor Granny gave him an unexpected answer.
Angel nodded and did not continue on this topic, as he could tell Iron Armor Granny did not want to discuss it.
He sat in the iron house for a while before getting up to leave. Although he had been relatively free these past two days, there were still some things he needed to do, such as delivering the “Dream Twins” to Gloria, and then preparing to craft illusions for Mirror Lady.
The last time Gloria had given him the “Mermaid Shell Soup,” the inspiration it brought him through that delicacy allowed him to gain some insights into the illusions on Mirror Lady’s side. He wanted to complete the task Mirror Lady had given him before leaving the Savage Grottoes.
As Angel stood up, Toby seemed reluctant to part with the music box, looking back at it with every step.
Iron Armor Granny laughed: “If little Toby likes it, take it with you. I’m not an expert in music. I just enjoy having some music while drinking tea.”
Toby’s eyes lit up, but Angel smacked its head and quickly refused: “Granny, there’s no need, I can buy one at the Twilight Deep Well, or even craft one myself. Toby is just being greedy, so please don’t spoil it, or it will become arrogant, and that would harm it.”
Iron Armor Granny thought about it and agreed. This wasn’t something valuable, and as an alchemist like Angel, whether crafting it himself or buying it, there would be no problem.
Therefore, Iron Armor Granny did not insist any further.
Before leaving, Angel suddenly paused at the door, turned back to Iron Armor Granny, and took out a delicate wooden box from his bracelet.
The wooden box was carved from ordinary cedar, not even considered a magical material, just an ordinary wood carving.
The outside of the box was carved with “Bat Pattern” and “Flowing Cloud Pattern,” both quite different from the civilization of the Wizarding World. The combination of these two patterns symbolized: great fortune.
This wooden box was carved by Jon before his hands and feet had become disabled.
“Inside are some tea leaves from my hometown. Granny, if you like tea, you might want to give it a try,” Angel pushed the box in front of Iron Armor Granny.
Iron Armor Granny did not refuse. Although she did not have a passion for tea like Sumesh, she herself enjoyed good tea. This could be seen from her willingness to help Sumesh take care of the tea garden.
“Eh, it’s a magical plant I’ve never seen before!” Iron Armor Granny opened the box, smelling the odd dried tea with a faint energy aura, and asked: “What kind of tea is this?”
“Morning Dew After Rain.”
…
The reason he gave Morning Dew After Rain to Iron Armor Granny was that he had plenty of stock, and also to repay her for telling him about Sumesh’s preferences. Although, as Iron Armor Granny said, Sumesh’s preferences were well known, Angel had never thought of inquiring about Sumesh’s information. If Iron Armor Granny hadn’t mentioned it, he might not have known it in the future.
Finally, he wanted to see what kind of evaluation someone like Iron Armor Granny, who was knowledgeable about tea, would give to Morning Dew After Rain. If the evaluation was good, he could consider giving the tea as a gift to Sumesh.
Returning to the Alternate Dimension Laboratory, Angel cleaned up and left the Flowing Source with Toby.
He didn’t head to Phantom Island right away, but instead activated the special effect of his bracelet—Boundless Silence, weakening his presence, and headed towards the underground market.
Angel was still somewhat concerned about the pirated music box. Since Iron Armor Granny said that the music box was quite popular in the Twilight Deep Well recently, David should be aware of it, so he planned to go and ask about the situation. Moreover, since Nausica and Shalem were no longer in the Savage Grottoes, David was the only friend among his peers, so Angel also planned to catch up with David.
Along the way, Angel often heard people mention his name, either because of the Purification Garden incident or because of his alchemy talent. It could be said that even though Angel had returned for almost two months, his fame had not completely subsided and was still being praised among the apprentices.
However, what these people didn’t know was that when they were discussing Angel’s name, Angel himself confidently passed by them without anyone noticing his presence.
When Angel arrived at the Promi Alchemy Shop, he found a group of people standing at the entrance.
On ordinary days, there were very few people who came to the Promi Alchemy Shop. With the sudden influx of so many people, Angel guessed that Master Promi’s alchemical works must have been put on the shelves.
However, what he didn’t expect was that his guess was wrong. Today was not the day when Master Promi’s works were put on the shelves, but…
“Mr. David, is there any more?” A chubby man with a fat face took a disposable space capsule, checked it with a mental touch, and immediately showed a bitter melon-like expression on his face.
David, wearing goggles, raised his little face: “No more, no more. I’ve been studying new standard weapons recently and don’t have that much time to craft these little things.”
“Mr. David…” someone pleaded: “Our alchemy team is counting on your goods this time. With just these three knives, I can’t explain it…”
“That’s your problem. I can only craft this much, take it or leave it.”
Although David kept a straight face, it was not difficult to see the pride in his exposed eyes.
David waved his hand: “Disperse, disperse, hurry up and leave. I want to close the shop early today. Even if you stay here, there will be no more goods.”
Seeing that David had made up his mind, the many people who had come for the goods dispersed amidst wailing.
When everyone left, David finally showed his smug expression, humming a little tune, preparing to go back to the shop to close the door and enjoy a good meal at the Butterfly Bar.
Just then, David suddenly heard a familiar voice in his ear.
Although it was a clear and elegant voice, David could hear a hint of teasing.
“Mr. David, your skills have improved quite a bit lately, haven’t they?”