Zeke's words made Melissa's eyes widen.
"A new Alchemistsʼ Association?"
"Yes. The current Alchemistsʼ Union has maintained a monopoly for far too long. Stagnant water always turns foul. Because of that, countless people in need of medicine are suffering greatly."
In his previous life, Zeke remembered how the Alchemistsʼ Union had failed to produce a proper cure for Red Flower Disease, yet dismissed the treatment created by the twins as worthless.
Later, the twins had revealed the whole process. At first, the Union had approached them, offering to handle the sales of their cure.
Al and Jeff had agreed, but when they discovered the Union planned to sell it at exorbitant prices for massive profits, they publicly disclosed the formula across the continent.
Toying with the lives of desperate people like that showed that the Alchemistsʼ Union was rotten to the core, beyond any hope of reform—that was Zeke's judgment.
So, he had devised a plan to establish a new Alchemistsʼ Association altogether, breaking the monopoly and eradicating those unjust profits.
Melissa's expression turned conflicted at Zeke's words, and she cautiously opened her mouth.
"I understand Sir Zeke's intentions fully. But... forming an Alchemistsʼ Association requires alchemists. The continent's alchemists are all under the Union's influence. I'm not sure if it's possible to create another group outside of them." Zeke nodded at Princess Melissa's words.
"Of course. If we're only looking at the Central Continent's situation."
"Pardon? What do you mean by that? Are there alchemists outside the Central Continent?"
Zeke pulled out the potions and medicines he had prepared in advance and handed them to Princess Melissa.
"Take a look."
After personally examining the potions and medicines Zeke gave her, Princess Melissa exclaimed in surprise.
"This... it's clearly different from what the Union sells. The scent and texture seem better. What about the efficacy?" Zeke nodded.
"It matches or exceeds what the Union sells now. Recently, we discovered a new Naga city in the Southern Continent. There are many Naga alchemists there with skills surpassing the Alchemistsʼ Union. What I brought is just a small sample of their work. There are many items that are cheaper and more effective than the Union's." Melissa's eyes widened at Zeke's words.
"There are more potions and medicines like this? And even cheaper?"
"Yes. If we establish a new Alchemistsʼ Association and sell our new medicines along with imports from the Naga city, what do you think would happen?" It went without saying.
The monopolized market for potions and medicines would collapse immediately.
The reason the Alchemistsʼ Union held such power was the funding from their exorbitant profits.
If competition eroded their market share and their funds dwindled, their influence would naturally fade.
As Melissa inspected the potion, she said to Zeke,
"If we can sell these, then yes, as you say. But practically, without the Union's authorization and certification, sales are impossible, right? In Alencia, I can use my influence, but in other countries, it would be difficult."
Zeke nodded at her words and replied,
"I've thought about that too. We'll grant the authorization and certification authority directly to the association."
Melissa looked puzzled at Zeke's words.
"Pardon? Is that possible?"
"The entity that granted them the authorization and certification authority in the first place is the Principality of Vadoka."
"Ah!"
Zeke had shifted his thinking to simply extend the authorization and certification authority to the new association as well.
Unlike before, Melissa's eyes sparkled with interest.
"That changes everything."
With the authorization and certification authority, a sufficient supply of products, the Reinhart Trading Company's distribution network, and alchemists to back it up, it was a viable plan.
Seeing Princess Melissa's approval, Zeke nodded.
"Good. Then, let's discuss it with the Union side this afternoon."
*
The Alchemistsʼ Union was in a state of emergency.
Kunrad Mason, the chairman of the Alchemistsʼ Union, tore at his hair in the topfloor conference room of the Red Tower, the Union's headquarters, along with the other executives.
"Damn it, so one of the major shareholders of Feynen Pharmaceuticals is Zeke Draker." He ground his teeth in frustration.
He had scurried about trying to block Feynen Pharmaceuticals' new medicine, only to learn that one of its major shareholders was Zeke Draker, the most renowned knight on the continent.
As he vented irritably, the vice chairman beside him spoke up.
"That's true, but from what we've investigated, it's only Zeke Draker's personal stake, with no connection to the Draker Family." Kunrad slammed his fist on the desk.
"You call that an excuse? Don't you know Zeke Draker is the guardian knight of the
Draker Family and a black knight? Do you think those ruthless direct descendants of Draker will just let it slide?"
It was Kunrad who had blocked Feynen Pharmaceuticals' certification this time.
Yet, with the situation worsening, he lashed out at the other executives, shouting loudly.
At that moment, another alchemist executive spoke up.
"Chairman, this isn't the time to just get angry. We need to devise a plan for what comes next."
Kunrad clamped his mouth shut and scowled deeply.
Then, with a sharp gaze sweeping over the executives, he said,
"You all know this. If that new medicine hits the market, it cuts off our livelihoods." The executives swallowed hard at the chairman's words.
Alchemy was an expensive profession.
Mages were known for needing vast funds for research, but becoming an alchemist cost even more.
Acquiring the necessary equipment and materials was a major hurdle from the start.
That's why alchemists were always sensitive to money.
Then, a hundred years ago, Jabir Ibn Hassan had patented a method to refine troll blood into potions, popularizing recovery potions and changing alchemists' fortunes.
They realized potions and medicines could be profitable, so they shifted from truthseeking research to producing and selling lucrative items.
They started at reasonable prices, but over time, they jacked up costs and even controlled production to keep prices high.
After receiving authorization and certification authority from the Principality of Vadoka, they strengthened their monopoly by banning uncertified potions.
Low-grade potions were fine, but anything mid-grade or higher required Union certification to sell.
The rarer and more valuable the item, the higher the price they could demand, which boosted alchemists' status and profits.
In the past, they had been branded as fake mages, scraping by miserably due to high costs and low efficiency. But now, it was different.
Alchemists had become one of the wealthiest professions—a massive shift in profitability.
The Alchemistsʼ Union had played a huge role in this.
Over a century, the Union's original goal of protecting alchemists' rights had vanished, replaced by a profit-driven monster of capital.
In this situation, if Feynen Pharmaceuticals' cheap and effective new medicine flooded the market, it would shake the entire pharmaceuticals industry.
That was what Chairman Kunrad feared.
He addressed the executives.
"Listen up. Even if the Draker Family gets involved, we must stick to our guns consistently. Steel yourselves. If any traitor emerges from this room..." He trailed off, but everyone knew what he meant.
An alchemist who fell out of favor with the Alchemistsʼ Union could never return to its fold.
The vice chairman rubbed his palms together and said to the chairman,
"Don't worry too much, Chairman. Among the Central Continent's alchemists, who can source materials or tools without the Union's help? They'll come to negotiate with us anyway, so no need to fret..." It was then.
The conference room door opened, and the secretary entered, whispering something to the chairman.
Upon hearing the secretary's words, Kunrad's eyes widened in shock.
"Z-Zeke Draker and Princess Melissa have come here in person?"
The chairman hadn't expected Zeke Draker to visit the tower himself and panicked.
The vice chairman quickly leaned in and whispered urgently,
"Chairman, remember what you just said? You mustn't waver."
The chairman took a deep breath at the vice chairman's words.
Though he had said they couldn't yield, Zeke was the guardian knight of Draker.
His feet felt heavy.
"Damn it, but we can't just turn away the guardian knight of Draker and Alencia's princess at the door."
Then, Kunrad came up with a good idea.
'Right, let's bring them here instead. With the other executives pressuring them, it'll be better.'
He instructed the secretary,
"Bring Sir Zeke Draker and Princess Melissa here."
*
The grand conference room door opened, and Zeke Draker and Princess Melissa entered.
The chairman, seated in the center, put on a solemn expression and greeted Zeke and Melissa in a low voice.
"Knight of Salvation Zeke Draker, and Princess Melissa of Alencia. Welcome to the Red Tower..."
"Interesting. Is this how the Red Tower treats its guests?"
Zeke's single remark chilled the atmosphere in the conference room.
No one had expected Zeke to voice his displeasure so openly, leaving the chairman inwardly flustered.
'The Knight of Salvation is supposed to be mild-mannered and deeply faithful...?'
Zeke sauntered in, crossed his legs as he sat, scanned the Alchemistsʼ Union executives in the room, then turned his gaze back to the chairman.
He slowly opened his mouth.
"You know who I am, right, Kunrad Mason?"
At the mention of his name, the chairman startled, breaking into a cold sweat and glancing at the vice chairman without thinking.
The vice chairman, meeting his eyes, shook his head at the chairman.
Seeing that, the chairman forced a deep breath, then addressed Zeke in a stern voice once more.
"Sir Zeke Draker. This is the Red Tower, responsible for all alchemists on the continent. As their representative, I ask that you show some respect." Zeke smirked at his words.
"Should I show respect to someone who disrespected me first?" At that, the vice chairman stood abruptly and shouted at Zeke.
"Sir Zeke! How can you be so rude? Even as the guardian knight of the Draker Family, you can't treat the Red Tower like this. Leave now. The Red Tower will formally protest to the Draker Family about this!"
The chairman trembled inwardly at the vice chairman's sudden aggression without warning.
'Has this fool lost his mind?'
Arguing Zeke's rudeness wasn't wrong in principle, but few had the guts to say it to the guardian knight of Draker to his face.
Yet the vice chairman had just done it.
Zeke nodded calmly at the vice chairman's outburst.
"I see. A formal protest to the family."
Muttering softly, Zeke pulled out a document.
He flipped through the pages one by one, scrutinizing each executive's face.
The executives shrank under Zeke's sharp gaze.
Only after examining the document for a while did Zeke speak again.
"Well. I came here thinking of giving you a heads-up out of goodwill, but if you're refusing, there's nothing to be done."
The chairman panicked at Zeke's words.
'Wasn't he here about the new medicine?'
As Zeke started to stand, the chairman waved his hands in haste.
"W-Wait, Sir Zeke!"
Zeke looked at the chairman and said,
"What is it? Do you have something to say?"
Sweat beading on his forehead, the chairman said to Zeke,
"W-What brings you here? Since you've come all this way, shouldn't we at least talk?"
"You told me to leave, and now you ask why I'm here."
The chairman shot a glare at the vice chairman, then adopted a softer tone.
"H-Ha ha. The vice chairman has such strong pride in the Union. With all the recent issues, his nerves are frayed, making emotional control a bit difficult. Please understand." Zeke stared silently at the chairman's excuses, then sat back down.
He spread the document again, pondered for a moment, then looked up at the chairman and said,
"It seems the Alchemistsʼ Union is implicated in demon summoning."