Earth's Greatest Magus
chapter-1978

The journey back to Golden City consumed three days for Emery, and upon his arrival, he was immediately confronted with a pressing issue at his Merlin shop.

What had initially begun as a seemingly minor delay in the delivery of apothecary materials had rapidly escalated into a crisis. The specific ingredient crucial for the production of his highly sought-after [Celestial Booster Pills] had become increasingly scarce, and even alternative components were in short supply. As a consequence, the production of their flagship product had come to a halt, leading loyal customers to seek substitutes from rival establishments.

The situation took an absurd turn as other Merlin shops's specialty products faced similar challenges, resulting in a flurry of complaints from disgruntled customers. The domino effect of shortages had caused a ripple through the community, with a growing sense of frustration and impatience among consumers.

Upon Emery's return, the tension at his Merlin shop reached a new height. Cedric, visibly concerned and pale, explained the gravity of the situation. The scarcity of the crucial ingredient had also affected the tier 4 poison resistance pills that he needed to supply for the Magus Alliance contract.

Cedric's words hung heavily in the air "They said, if we can't provide the items by tomorrow, they will consider it as a breach of contract," he added, his voice trembling under the weight of the revelation. "Then... they want us to pay for the project's daily losses, 5 million per day."

The news sparked a quick shift in the usually calm Karin, her irritation cutting through the tension. "That's outrageous! They can't do that with such short notice!"

The dire scenario was exacerbated by the fact that this particular contract was with the Magus Alliance, making the consequences all the more devastating.

Emery sought counsel from Tessa, who had been a steady presence amidst the unfolding chaos. With a deep breath, she spoke, "This is a massive and coordinated attack on the shop." She added "Give me time to check who was trying to mess with you. In the meantime, you should quickly deal with the Magus Alliance contract."

Emery wasted no time in addressing the impending crisis with the Magus Alliance contract. Returning to the Magus Alliance Outpost, he threw himself into a renewed round of experiments. This time, determination fueled his efforts, and he devised three alternative recipes, each possessing comparable effectiveness to his original formulation, albeit slightly more expensive.

With the alternative recipes in hand, Emery promptly mobilized his team, instructing them to produce the items in large batches. The goal was to stockpile enough inventory to last for the next three months, thereby safeguarding against any potential disruptions that might threaten the shop's contractual obligations. However, the extensive production and procurement of materials came at a substantial cost, with the shop incurring a loss of 70 million spirit stones, a significant dent in their financial resources.

The next day, Emery extended his assistance to each of the other apothecaries—Cedric, Karin, Helena, and Winri. Recognizing the potential scope of the orchestrated attacks, Emery felt a heightened sense of responsibility. Given the recent events and the suspicions lingering over Nephilim involvement, Emery couldn't dismiss the possibility that he was the primary target of these deliberate challenges.

After days of diligent investigation, Tessa sent a message to Emery requesting a meeting. The evidence she had uncovered shed light on the systematic manipulation of ingredient supplies by major suppliers, specifically targeting Emery's shop. Moreover, concerning the Magus Alliance contract, Tessa discovered that external pressure had been applied, leading to the critical situation the shop now faced.

In a shocking revelation, Tessa disclosed that the evidence pointed back to the Golden City Council itself. The gravity of this revelation led to a summons for Emery and Tessa to attend a meeting at the Golden City Council building. Before entering, Tessa issued a solemn warning, "I am sorry, this is much bigger than I expected."

As Emery entered one of the exclusive rooms within the Golden City Council building, he found 10 of the 16 council representatives already awaiting him. The bulk were elders from prominent families in Golden City, each representing significant influence and power. Even Tessa, an heiress to the Karat family and a member of the council, could only attend as a spectator. However, amidst the assembled elders, Emery's attention was drawn to two familiar figures—Eugene Houten and Victoria Qin.

The atmosphere in the room carried a weight of formality and tension as Emery prepared to face the council. The revelations hinted at a deeper conspiracy, and the involvement of such influential figures raised questions about the motives behind the orchestrated attacks on his business.

Victoria Qin, the heiress of the Qin family, greeted him with a seemingly warm smile that thinly veiled her sarcasm. "Ah, Master Merlin, it's great to see you. I am happy that you are not busy today," she remarked, the underlying tone not lost on Emery.

Undeterred, Emery remained polite and calm as he took his place before the council. The elder of the Karat family, a prominent figure among the council, took charge of the proceedings. "Master Merlin, you stand here, claiming injustice on the trades of your shop. Is this correct?" he inquired, his tone betraying an air of formality.

Knowing that the evidence already presented to the council supported his claims, Emery responded calmly, "Yes, I am."

A ripple of disapproval circulated through the council chambers, and another elder, seated with an threatening stance, couldn't help but chuckle. "What an arrogant young man… the audacity that he dares to make," he remarked, his disdain evident.

VIA swiftly identified the elderly man as Barry Croft, the uncle to the Croft brothers whom Emery had brawled with in the street of Golden City. The disclosure hinted that Emery had more enemies than allies among the council members. Despite this realization, he maintained his calm demeanor and respectfully requested an explanation.

It was Victoria Qin, the beautiful woman from the Qin family, who chose to provide the explanation. "Master Merlin, the truth is... Not only did the council reject your claim, we, in fact, called you here to discuss revoking your trading permit," she revealed.

Emery couldn't hide his surprise; the revocation of his trading permit would mean the imminent closure of his shop. Composing himself, he took a deep breath and asked,

"Please tell me, what is it that I did wrong?"

Victoria Qin's smile persisted as she responded, "For starters... You even lie about your identity. Aren't you? ...Mister Emery Ambrose?"

The atmosphere in the council chambers grew tenser as Emery prepared to address the allegations against him.