NOVEL NEXT Chapter 343: Guild Name
"Is it time to start rolling out the announcements?" Zach asked Derot, who was by his side, as he looked out over the field of people. They had taken this opportunity to further promote their guild by turning the celebration party into an event that was more like a festival by opening it to the people. They had stalls and tents with various games and prizes, most of which were related to what they sold at their guild.
"You're the boss." Derot shrugged. He had seen people start glancing toward the stage at the front of the field for quite a while now. They were curious about the banner hidden behind a large sheet as well as what other announcements they had promised to make.
"Perfect. Let's do it." Zach strode toward the stage. Instantly, attendants started preparing it for his speech. A minute later, the stage lit up, and Zach stood on it with Derot slightly behind him.
Since his familiars and Nora would only take attention away from him and his announcements, they stood by the side out of sight. But he had his barriers up, and his familiars were ready to act at less than a moment's notice if someone decided to get rid of the competition or get revenge.
People had already noticed the stage lighting up and started focusing on it, but Zach cleared his throat to make sure everyone was listening.
It was a crowd of a few hundred people at least, and he didn't know magic, nor could he use his energy to amplify his voice. What he did have, however, was incredibly strong lungs from using his barriers to restrict his breathing just like he did with his other movements. When he cleared his throat, it was like someone dropped a wooden box of rusty nails in an empty warehouse.
People heard it.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen! I hope it's a good one, at least. We spent a lot of money to make it so for everyone who came to partake in the celebration of our guild's official launch into the capital. One could also say that we invested in this night to make it memorable for all of you.
"Speaking of investments, that brings me to the first announcement we have tonight.
"These past few months of us testing the waters in the capital have shown great promise. Now that we've had a taste of success, we're naturally planning to expand. To make that process as smooth and as gentle for the capital as possible, we will begin accepting investments." Zach pointed at Derot.
"All of that will be handled by the great Derot Gaville. Seek him out if you're interested in becoming a part of this magnificent project and the future, because that is what our guild represents. We are confident that we will become the future of alchemy. At the very least, we will lead the way there.
"But we won't do it alone. There would have been no need to make this such a big event if we were just looking for investors or announcing our official name. We have a partner in our search for the heights of alchemy." Zach gestured at the representative of the Imperial Palace's alchemists who was taking the stage. It was a middle-aged man with salt-and-pepper hair and a clean-shaven face.
Not many recognized him, but those who did dropped their jaws.
He was the head of the Imperial Alchemist Department. He was in charge of all things alchemy-related in the Palace and, by extension, heavily involved in all things alchemy-related in the capital if he wished to be. But more than that, he was the Emperor's uncle.
He was a highly influential person who represented the Imperial Palace whether it be personally or professionally. His presence on the stage could only mean one thing.
The nameless alchemist guild's partner was the Imperial Palace. And it was a decent partnership if they were willing to go along with this parade. It wasn't just that the guild had made a deal with the Palace to sell them a few potions a year.
It was a true partnership if both leaders of the respective parties appeared on stage together.
Zach's first announcement about investments suddenly sounded a lot more interesting.
Lusel ju Kiantier introduced himself and gave a brief introduction over their partnership and what they hoped to accomplish together before standing next to Derot. His gaze kept wandering over to Alzara, though.
He might have been a member of the Imperial Family, but he would willingly throw it all aside for the sake of alchemy. It was the only thing he found interesting in life, which he had devoted the majority of to alchemy.
Yet he hadn't even heard so much as a rumor about many of the things Alzara had introduced to them since the day the guild first showed off their products and recipes. He was the one who had been the most eager to secure a partnership, even if only to get closer to the alchemical knowledge inside Alzara's head.
If he had been in charge of the negotiations instead of the Palace's money people, it would not have taken several days to finish them. He would have agreed to anything Derot said as long as he could get his hands on more alchemical knowledge. Naturally, he took the stage if it meant he could have a discussion with Alzara about this new potion he was making.
After he had finished his part, it was Zach's turn again.
"A partnership between two parties. One party is the Imperial Palace, and I'm ever so grateful for their willingness to take on this endeavor with us. But what about the other party? What about us? Who are we?"
Zach smiled and slowly raised his hand to point at the banner above his back.
"We are…" He dragged it out, intentionally building up anticipation for the grand reveal of the name of the guild that would overturn the status quo in the capital.
The sheet covering the banner dropped.
"The Nyasm Desert Guild."