Half an hourter, in the most luxurious reception room of Harmony Clinic in North City, Natalie helped an elderly man into the room.


    Though the old man''s hair was white, his steps were steady, and his face was lit with a warm smile. His demeanor alone exuded a vitality that many young people could only envy.


    "Is it just you? Where''s Delh?"


    "Please don''t be upset, Mr. Earnhart Senior. Madam Goddard is handling an urgent matter," Nellie said respectfully. Her tone was humble, as she was addressing Bern, the top alchemist of Martial City. She didn''t dare show even a hint of disrespect. It would be far too inappropriate.


    Besides, in all of Martial City, only a handful of people dared to call Delh by her first name, and Bern was one of them.


    "What could that woman possibly be doing that''s more important than meeting me?" Bern''s smile faded, reced by a clear look of displeasure. Natalie quickly tried to calm him.


    "Grandpa, maybe Madam Goddard really does have something very urgent to attend to."


    Indeed, Natalie, one of Martial City''s top ten prodigies, was one of Bern''s youngest grandchildren.


    The old man wasn''t one to act without purpose. While he could teach alchemy himself, he had insisted on having Natalie join Harmony Clinic. He knew that Delh had unique expertise, and no matter how much or how little Natalie learned from her, it would ultimately benefit her future.


    Interestingly enough, Bern had once pursued Delh in his younger days. Unfortunately for him, she had been entirely focused on her alchemy at the time, unwilling to spare even a moment''s thought on anything else.


    In the end, his efforts were fruitless. Bern eventually married someone else to continue his bloodline, but even after all these years, his feelings for Delh hadn''t changed.


    "Nellie, be honest with me. What exactly is Delh busy with? And don''t lie," Bern demanded, visibly restless. It was clear he''d never encountered this kind of situation before.


    Nellie was sweating bullets. She nced at Natalie, but even thetter looked helpless. She could usually offer some words of


    swnovel


    nothing she said would work lh,


    Left with no other choice, Nellie told the truth, "She''s in the alchemy room."


    The moment he heard that, Bern''s smile returned. "Oh, so she''s cultivating pills. I knew it. What else could be more important than meeting me?"


    As a fellow alchemist, he understood all too well that when inspiration struck, nothing could get in the way.


    "You all go about your business. I''ll just wait outside the alchemy room. Nattie, hand me the flowers."


    "Grandpa, I''ll stay with you. It''s rare for you to leave home, and I''ve really missed spending time with you," Natalie said with a smile.


    Nellie was on the verge of panicking. Delh had strictly forbidden anyone from stepping onto that floor, but how was she supposed to stop Bern? She couldn''t.


    At her wit''s end, Nellie ran to another room and made a phone call. "Mr. Marlow, are you still in North City? Pleasee to Harmony Clinic immediately. Something big has happened!"


    After listening to her exnation, Dickson chuckled. "Oh, Mr. Earnhart Senior is there? Nellie, you''re being unfair. Sure, I''m the deputy chief, but that doesn''t mean I can stop Mr. Earnhart Senior. Honestly, even the chief himself might struggle to do So. Good luck!"


    Nellie was so frustrated she nearly stomped her feet in anger. She had no solutions left. If Delh emerged and was upset, she would just have to ept the punishment.


    "Grandpa, would you like me to


    arrange something for dinner? I can prepare it right away," Natalie asked upstairs, already prepared for a long wait. After all, it wasn''t unusual for an alchemist of Delh''s level to take several days to finish refining a batch of pills.


    "No, thanks. I brought fasting pills. If you''re bored, you can go do your own thing," Bern replied.


    Natalie smiled. "What could be more important than chatting with you, Grandpa?"