The Alchemist of the Heavens

To The Holy Empire

Everyone in George's group couldn't believe their eyes. It was a natural reaction. After all, although they knew the person they had been accompanying was a nobleman, they didn't know he was the son of a duke.

“We---Welcome, sir!” shouted one of the border captains, who, of course, knew who the person in front of him was and was well aware of what a single wrong move could cost him.

“We need to prepare the documents for my crossing the border, please be as quick as possible,” said Desmond calmly.

Many people had gathered around. Desmond was already a handsome young man, but after the two procedures performed by the system, his muscles had become more defined, his hair had become silky, his gaze had deepened, and even his posture had improved.

“I can't believe it, Desmond Moon?” said one of the people.

Desmond turned to the group of hunters and shook George's hand, saying, “Thank you for not telling anyone.”

George smiled and replied, “We'll take you all the way to the capital, sir, please, it's no trouble at all.”

Desmond was no ordinary nobleman. He was the third child of a ducal family that could destroy even the imperial family, which held infinite power in the hands of a colossal empire, fifteen thousand years old, with just a few words.

When he was part of the family, a single word from him could grant him a city.

Even though he was no longer bound to the family and was no longer part of their political power, this did not change the fact that he still possessed blood power.

No one, absolutely no one, could touch him. It did not change whether he was in the family legally or was disowned by them. He still carried the blood of the Moon.

Shortly after the documents were prepared, Desmond signed each one and then began to prepare to cross the border and leave.

From this day forward, he would no longer exist in this empire.

While he was busy with these preparations, several nobles had already arrived at the border point to greet him.

“Mr Desmond!” said one of the noblemen. This person was Alfred Kafka himself, the man who guarded the city on the eastern border.

Within the Moon family, only his mother and father directly belittled Desmond. Although his brother and sister often did so too, his mother and father were the ones who did it directly in every way.

Those loyal to the Moon family did not belittle Desmond; on the contrary, they tried to do things according to his wishes.

After all, it was well known how kind-hearted Desmond was.

Many things, including orphanages built for orphaned children, clinics and small hospitals built in villages and towns, were ideas that had come from Desmond's mind.

No matter how badly his mother and father treated him, they were not like that towards their people. Desmond's ideas had, of course, been approved.

And naturally, this meant that a man like Alfred, who had truly served as a lord for many years, saw Desmond in the same light.

“Alfred,” Desmond said, in a voice that was as steady as possible, without much emotion.

Alfred immediately took off the bowler hat he was wearing and, after a respectful pause, said, “You've changed a lot, young master. It's been nearly six years since I last saw you…”

Desmond had last seen this old man at his grandmother's funeral.

“I'm eighteen now, Alfred. I've grown up, I've changed,” said Desmond, preparing to climb into the horse-drawn carriage.

Alfred shook his head and asked, “You're going to Seraphim, aren't you?”

The moment he heard this question, Desmond looked back at Alfred and replied, “Of course. I'll continue my alchemy training, professionally now. Who knows, maybe [the Empire's Good-for-Nothing] might have something useful after all.” Then he got into the carriage.

Before closing the carriage doors, he stuck his head out one last time and waved to Alfred, saying the same thing he had said six years ago:

"Goodbye, old man, take care of yourself, yeah?"

When he uttered these words, a sorrowful expression appeared on Alfred's face, but anyone looking into his eyes could understand.

Alfred looked as if he were seeing off his own child.

Desmond was someone who was valued far more than he realised.

With that, Desmond had completely left the eastern border.

Now, only a wooded area with dense, thick, but wide roads remained between Desmond and the Holy Empire. From here, he would travel nearly a thousand kilometres more and thus be able to enter the Holy Empire's borders.

This was a journey that would take almost twenty days, and likewise, a journey that would be over in the blink of an eye.

When the huge walls of the border came into clear view, Desmond could see the Holy Empire's coat of arms on the border walls very clearly.

When he arrived at the border entrance, Desmond got out of the carriage at the request of the guards.

Of course, there was no need for him to hide his identity now. The sole reason he removed his cloak before leaving the Empire and revealed himself to everyone was to make it clear that his parents could not follow him, knowing that no one would oppose the Holy Empire.

Upon handing his identity to the guards, each guard stepped back a few paces and indicated that there was no need to search the carriage.

Desmond was admitted across the border in almost three minutes. It was a very, very short time, surprisingly short.

He would not be leaving here immediately. This was the border city of Acheron. Visually quite rich, it was the city where, according to what Desmond had heard, the Seraphim Academy purchased its alchemy materials, special items for lessons on circle drawing, and even books for learning magic.

It had to be said that it was a rather large city. According to what he had read, it was nearly three thousand kilometres in diameter, large enough to be considered an imperial capital even in other empires.

Upon entering the border city, the first thing he did was take George with him and head straight to one of the nearby alchemist shops.

From this moment on, he would buy everything that came his way, absolutely everything.