Master Of None

Chapter 3006. Illegal, but Talented

’Aero cactus

This is a rare and very fickle herb that grows in the northern tundra.

It enjoys the dry cold and will use a special sap that allows for water to defrost and flow through it at a very slow rate. Due to this it actually has a very unique wind, water, and fire affinity that many people do not realize it possesses in separate parts of its plant body.

The larger flat sections hold the wind affinity that it uses to capture nutrients within the air and blizzard winds. The larger central step holds the fire affinity allowing for it to produce sap that melts the water within it. The roots hold the water affinity which allows it to freeze its older roots and anchor itself in to the rocky tundra lands.

While this is the case for its multiple affinities, this is also why it has more value as an herb. It can be used to produce various potions without causing damage to them due to mixed affinities. It is also able to be used as an ingredient that helps mix other manas together due to the flexibility of its three affinities.

The challenge in growing it is due to the need for a dry tundra environment similar to the other herbs and plants that may need to grow within a sandy desert. Growing smaller seedlings is also much tougher due to their weakness in the earlier stage of their lives...’

Midnight sniffed the air again and Remey grew a bit less happy. Not because she was angry, but because she knew for a fact that this aero cactus was nearly impossible to grow even in isolated greenhouses right now.

Yet, right in front of them was a merchant selling over thirty seedlings?

That just didn’t have any sense to it.

”How did you come to possess this many seedlings of the aero cactus?” She didn’t mince words, just asked the man selling them outright.

As the man focused he put on a well rehearsed smile and began spouting a description and benefits of the herbs. Remey held up a hand and glared at him.

She knew this dance. One that came when someone didn’t want to give away the secrets and sources they had. However, she also knew that the answer could come about through various sources.

”If you are found to be selling dying seedlings, improperly cared for herbs that had adverse effects, or altered plants grown with magic farming skills causing the herbs to perish and have lacking effects then you understand you will be held accountable. The trial will be with both Genesis and the merchant guild pressing the law toward you.”

This would be the case for anyone. The guilds and the Genesis alliance would hold the person accountable on both sides. That was the only way that the guilds could ensure that they represented what the alliance needed them to represent without causing there to be a loss of respect and trust between them.

Not to mention the fact that both needed to hold such people accountable because the people needed to see them holding everyone accountable regardless of standing. If not, the people could lose trust and that would be the day Genesis fell and the guilds lost it all.

The merchant began to sweat and it was clear that he did not wish to tell anyone how he ended up with these seedling herbs or why he was able to sell them. But now, a few more people had been attracted to the clean and cool air around them.

It wasn’t just Midnight who had a sharp nose.

Plenty of different races came looking for new things because of their sense helping them spot deals or new products in the market. Using one’s senses to track down good deals for their professional life just made sense.

Why would anyone ignore something that gave them a natural advantage? Especially merchants or herbalists?

Some alchemists entirely utilized scent as a way to determine the quality of herbs they wished to use within a potion or to create teas. It was just their methods.

With more people being attracted to the stall and no sales happening, the merchant found themselves entirely trapped. They needed to sell these seedling herbs to make a profit or else they would finish the day at a loss and be unable to purchase any more goods to sell tomorrow.

”They come from a specialized provider and carer for unique and rare herb seedlings. I can give you a method of communication or a location. However, they do prefer privacy-”

”Good! Point us in the direction. We will have a few guards remain nearby and document the sales you make today so we can ensure safety and satisfaction within the market.”

That was that. Remey landed the final blow and Midnight made a mental note of how the herbs smelled. She could easily track the source once she caught the trial. Her skill in tracking had advanced more than Gil or the others realized.

Her growth as a dragon directly gave her innate talents related to tracking prey with scent and sight. Adding in the mana senses she developed better because of her bonds with Walker just made all that easier too.

As Remey followed the streets as she was given, Midnight only took a few minutes to track down the scent. She was quickly following the streets in to the warehouse district where many merchants saved their goods for later distribution.

The warehouse was small. It was also built with a glass roof similar to how some other herbal storage warehouses were.

What stood out though, as that Remey smelled the herbal scent much more strongly and Midnight did as well. They both understood that just storing herbs would not be this specific and this potent of a scent.

”There is a lot of warmth coming from inside too. I believe they have turned this warehouse in to a greenhouse to make more gold flow in to their pockets.” Remey cracking her knuckles caused Midnight to grow excited.

Their arrival had not gone unnoticed. Several guards had somewhat changed their patrol to follow the two. Remey and Midnight hadn’t hidden their actions. They were clearly tracking someone or something.

”Surround this warehouse!” Midnight excitedly shouted an order and the guards began yelling orders and calling for me.

Remey and Midnight were already on the move though.

As they moved to open the door, they found it locked with rune formation. Nothing unusual, only in the case that someone was working inside. Then it would beg the question of why it was locked, especially since people wouldn’t need to lock themselves inside.

But even a magical rune formation lock was nothing to Remey. A single quick punch and the door broke, easily slid open exposing rows of mallet isolated greenhouses.

”Midnight, I would say this is a growing area for rare herbs. This is not registered properly. It’s against the laws set for safety in the herbs grown within Genesis territory. It also bypasses the taxes that greenhouses pay to ensure that they are guarded by the city guard and affirmed by guilds and Genesis as a whole.”

”So we arrest the boss!” Midnight chided before stepping forward and grabbing an herbalist standing in utter shock. She didn’t use force to harm them, just used a single hand to strongly make them sit on the floor and wait as guards started to arrive and move inside behind them.

In a dash, Remey made her way forward and found a smaller group of herbalists, one with a few more rings and golden accented robes. ”I take it you are a hybrid merchant herbalists class? Smart but you chose the wrong merchants to sell your herbs.” Remey clicked her tongue, making it clear she did not approve.

The more guards that arrived the faster the twenty herbalists and one leading hybrid merchant and herbalist were gathered and chained to be brought in to custody.

This left Remey calling for herbalists and others who could make sense of this place.

She was amazed at the turn formations used to isolate each section of the warehouse. The small room used for the aero cactus was the same as a frozen tundra in a box to say the least.

It was a very careful set of rune formations that made Remey desire to find who made them. She would have to stay hands on and speak to that merchant herbalist hybrid class user. It was the only way to ensure she could find who was this talented in herbalism and rune formations.

Midnight on the other hand had just discovered a room full of strawberries. High quality and very very ripe. Perfect for snacking and selling at higher prices.

She didn’t steal them, but everyone was sure that with the way she seemed to guard them that they would be purchased from Genesis by her.

.....

....

....

Repent now and go here,

Drop those golden tickets!