Kevin Balo sat inside his workshop, looking through all the letters with red envelopes he had received. At some letters, he laughed, so much that tears crawled out from under his eyelids, and at others he merely snorted in anger or annoyance. Heck, they sure know how to flatter, don’t they, he thought, and threw all the letters into the the bin that he normally used for failed products.

After showing of the completed pill to the alchemist association, and gaining the evaluation of Master Jack, a famous and independent alchemist in the capital of Kalamora, old Kevin’s name was spread across the whole city like wildfire. After all, his pill was the emergence of a pill of unprecedented quality, and it even had the approval and testimony of an alchemist such as Jack!

“I guess they should come soon. Hehe, I’d better get myself ready,” the old man muttered with a devilish smile.

Kevin walked over to the table and picked up the glass cage that contained the pill. It’s green exterior was dull but inside a great, bustling vitality could be felt for those who had opened the mind’s eye. Not a speck of dust tainted the green surface of the pill or the glass of the case.

“You see, everyone wants you, my little, little friend,” he said, the green pill reflecting in his gentle, oak-brown eyes. “But will they get you? Will they take you from me? take away the product of these countless of years of labor?”

“We’ll see who takes what from who, won’t we,” the old man snickered and put the box into his pocket. “Now, let’s go meet our precious guests.”

Robert Balo swiftly made his way through the masses. He wore a black outfit and hid his face with a hood to make sure that there would be no unexpected accidents along the way. It was raining outside, and what poured down from the heavens was nothing but merciless and indifferent. The water mixed with soil, and the cobblestone main road was running with brown mud. Some beggars tried to protect themselves from the constant assault by hiding under the shit holes of houses, as those places were in fact quite safe from the rain.

“Disgusting,” scowled the black-clothed commander as he saw the sight of beggars hiding in the shit and piss. He wanted to quickly get the matter with the clan head’s son done so that he could get out of the outer areas and back to the clan headquarters in the inner city. Only the poor and the beggars lived out here. Once upon a time, he had been one of them, as a child, living in the slums not far from here. But he had by the years begun to be repulsed by slum people even though he knew they had no choice than to do what they did.

Finally, drenched from top to toe, with mud covered boots, he knocked on the door which belonged to Kevin Balo’s house.

“Who is it?” answered a voice by pulling up the small hatch in the middle of the door.

“I come from the Balo clan, on behalf of your father,” Robert said politely. “Do you mind letting me in? The weather isn’t too nice out here you know.”

The hatch closed and several seconds passed in silence.

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“Hello?”

A couple of mechanical sounds were heard. The door opened and the face of an old man with white hair was revealed. Robert wrinkled his nose. A son of John Balo and still can’t get past the second level of Energy Condensation, thought Robert, what a waste of a good bloodline.

As he inspected the old man’s shallow cultivation, Kevin did the same to the drenched man.

He’s looks just like he did when I was a kid, thought Kevin as water rolled down the young man in front of him, the power of cultivation really is frightening indeed.

“Do come in, Commander Robert,” the old man said, watching the young man as he entered the worn down house and removed his soaked coat.

“I see you remember me, Kevin,” the young man smiled and removed his boots.

“How could I forget?” asked the old man. “You were a person I worshiped and admired back then.”

“Not anymore?”

“Time changes a man, Commander Robert,” laughed Kevin. “I’ve grown old and you’re still as young as you were back then. Ironic, isn’t it?

Kevin Balo. 53rd son of John Balo, clan head of the Balo Clan.” said the young man, skipping the small talk. “I assume you know why I’ve come today.”

“I do, I do.” the old man nodded several times. “Old me finally did something worthy of the clan’s attention, and now you want to take me back. Right?”

“I see old age hasn’t clouded your mind.” replied Robert.

“So," Kevin returned. "how do you want to do it? Do you want the sole rights to the pill recipe for free? Do you want me to slave away the last years I have… for you?” His brown eyes were not as gentle anymore.

Robert cleared his throat. This man, he thought, must feel immense hatred for the clan. Can we really win him over to our side?

“So how's it going to be my dear commander?"

“Fifty-fifty.”

“Continue.”

“Your father, the clan head, proposed that we’ll split the profits fifty-fifty. We will, of course, stand for the material cost, and the selling of the product.” Robert explained.

“That sounds… reasonable.” the old man nodded. “Then will you procure me sufficient space and high-quality tools for maximum efficiency as well?

“Yes.” Robert was stunned. He never thought it would be so easy. I see, thought robert, he must really miss the clan. Hate can drive the kindest people to do unspeakable things, but love can drive the most devilish into kind once again.

“I see.” Kevin nodded with a smile.

“Come, let’s get seated. My old legs are tired.”

“Great, I have the documents here. You just have to sign and the deal is as good as done.”

Robert hurried to his coat on the racket by the door and fumbled with some papers before coming back. “Here you go.”

Kevin took the papers and put them on the table, carefully reading through them. He nodded several times as he read. “Everything in order. Just as you said.”

“Fantastic!” Robert rejoiced. “I can’t wait to bring back the good news to your father. He will be overjoyed!”

The old man wrinkled his nose. “Good news? What good news?”

“What do you mean?” asked Robert. “Obviously that you signed the papers.”

“I didn’t though.” Kevin laughed. “Who said I did that?”

“You…” Robert’s eyes darkened.

“You see, Commander Robert,” the old man thumped the table with his fingers. “I’m the kind of man who likes freedom and the option of choice. Go tell my dear father, that I will properly look through all offers that arrives to my doorstep before I make a decision.”

“I hope you understand that this is probably your only chance to return to the clan. Why waste it?” the young man said angrily.

“Waste it? Hah! I think you’re the one who’s mistaken. I mean, you are the ones who made the mistake back then.” the old man retorted.

“So that’s what it’s all about?” snorted the commander. “You should well understand the clan head’s choice of sending you–”

“Understand? Understand?!” Kevin slammed his palm into the table. He then straightened his robe and said. “Commander Robert. I’d like for you to leave now. I have more… important matters to deal with.”

Robert fumed with anger and took his coat from the racket before leaving, saying. “Fine. Make sure you don’t regret it later.”