AK - The Alchemy Kingdom

Chapter 145: Attempt

Year 4, Fall, Second Month, First Week.

Rachel took the boiling water out of the stove and moved the LQ crystal to deactivate the tool. She carefully poured the hot water into the clay pots before adding the herbs and flowers. In her opinion, the basic tools like the stove were the most useful ones, the minutes she saved every time she had to heat or boil something would add up to many hours in a week, and what was more precious than time?

She placed two stuffed breads into the tray and dashed out of the kitchen to deliver the first breakfast of the day. The marvelous idea of stuffing bread came all the way from their Capital through one of the aides sent to help them. As soon as they put the option on the menu and someone dared to taste it, nobody ever asked for the common soup and bread again. Fortunately, the stuffed bread cost about the same to prepare as its predecessor, so they could keep charging one crystal for regular stuffing and three crystals for a meat stuffing.

Rachel put on a nice smile and walked to the robed couple to deliver the breakfast trail. Although she would use the smile for all customers, with the couple, she wasnt just being professional.

Good morning, Sir and Lady Mage.

Good morning, Rachel. I can already smell how good the bread is without even touching it One day you have to tell me how you prepare this

Usually, Mages were arrogant or silent at least, however, the couple was a pleasant oddity, always treating Rachel and Ben politely. Although she couldnt really say if they have always been like this or if the pleasantries started after they help them. Four months ago, their group was attacked on the forests border and the two Mages only survived because Lew sent a team to retrieve them and allowed the healers to help them. Since then, practically everybody from the group started to treat staff with utter respect.

Rachel wouldnt let the fine treatment go unanswered, so she always added some extra stuffing when she was serving their group. After serving the lovely couple, she went back to the kitchen to prepare for when the less pleasant customers came. Soon, her aide appeared from the backroom apologizing for being late. The boy, who should be around 17 years old, was a little lazy in the morning but his diligence through the rest of the day would compensate for it.

Even late, she was grateful for the assistance, after all, if it wasnt for the aide she would be dealing with the customers alone. Ben would be free in few hours, after he trained, but these first morning hours would be enough to drive her crazy. Her husband wouldnt fare better when it was his day to prepare breakfast while she trained. Fortunately now, they have help, and struggling to serve the meal alone was a thing of the past.

The hours passed, she served another ten groups, probably more than 60 Adventurers, and breakfast was finally over. She finished cleaning the kitchen and sent the boy to check on the huts that became vacant this morning. Aside from serving breakfast, she also had to deal with check-ins and checkouts. Fortunately, they didnt have a lot of those, at most, someone would leave in a week and someone else would arrive in the other.

Rachel was looking for some rags to clean the tables when she heard someone calling for her. She left the kitchen and found one of the Adventurers who came two days ago waiting for her behind the counter.

Miss, I came to see if you could prepare an extra meal for me. Im leaving in an hour and I might come back too late for the evening meal

Sure What would you like?

The man suddenly dashed towards Rachel while taking out a knife from his pocket. The smile over the mans face sent shivers through her body, but it didnt prevent her from responding. Training kicked in and she instinctively jumped back into the kitchen barely escaping the mans grasp. But the Adventurer wasnt discouraged, on the contrary, he laughed and walked forward while circling energy through his body.

The apparently ordinary Inn manager reached over the doorframe and pulled a dagger and a wooden chip before dashing towards the attacker with unnatural speed. The man was surprised and failed to block her attack, but still dodged it in time to only receive a cut on his arm.

Ill kill you, bitch!

The man hissed and dashed forward empowering his hand that aimed to cut Rachels throat. The woman flinched causing the man to become even more confident, but before the knife touched her fragile neck, a blue barrier materialized between them. The assailant crashed against the barrier creating sounds of breaking bones. Then, he fell back wailing in pain.

Rachel gripped the dagger and moved to finish the suffering haggard man.

Thats enough, Rachel!

She stopped midway and looked towards the salons door.

Boss Ben.

Ben passed through Lew and ran to hug his wife, who just now realized the attacker had fainted. Lew nodded to Rachel before kneeling to check on the attacker. He knew the Kingdom would send someone disguised as an Adventurer eventually, thats why he insisted on training everyone and reinforced the importance of having emergency equipment in arms reach at all times. Of course, he could have prepared better equipment, but how would they learn without having some trouble.

Lew and Ben hadnt just dropped by coincidently. Once she took the emergency equipment, he was warned immediately through the upgraded communication tool. Now that the Kingdom has appeared, they would need to step up their game.

***

Wake up!

The man was pulled out of his protective sleep, which was preventing him from feeling the excruciating pain of having all of his hand and arms bones broken. He screamed and cursed until Lew finally got his attention.

Whore you? How did she

No, you only need to tell us who sent you and who else was sent.

The man seemed to finally understand what was happening.

Just kill me already I wont talk It wouldnt matter even if I did. Youre already doomed Hahaha Urgh

The man attempted to laugh, but the pain reminded him of his condition soon enough. But Lew wasnt angry, on the contrary, he pitted the mans choice.

I tried to get it nicely Anya

The girl suddenly appeared from a dark area behind Lew. She walked to the tied man and stared back at Lew for confirmation. The Minister of Defense looked at her with concern, then he asked:

Are you sure you can do it? Do you want to do it?

I can Would the Kingdom hesitate?

Do it.

Anya pressed something on the ground and the Array below the man started to shine. She closed her eyes and said:

I swear to obey Lew.

The Spiritual Gate shined as the energy left her. Then, she pressed another activator to power the rest of the drawing. Everybody took a step back and the man stared at them confused. Suddenly, he started to scream and struggle until he finally stopped. Lew stepped forward and raised the mans head.

Who sent you?

The man started to mumble, almost incomprehensible.

The Win Lod