Anfalen may be warm, welcoming, and friendly, but he was still a merchant in blood. So Michael and Gaya weren't surprised to see him asking for something in return and negotiating for more. But, to be honest, they were both expecting.

"Please," Michael gestured at Anfalen to continue.

"The Aqua Palace wants to help you distribute the cure throughout the continent, Master Ghost,"

Michael's smile disappeared as he creased his brows,

"What do you mean throughout the continent Lord Anfalen? The last time I heard, only Thera has this plague,"

Anfalen leaned forward and talked in a low-pitched voice,

"Can I trust that you won't tell a soul what I am about to tell you?"

"Of course, Lord Anfalen. You have my word," Michael nodded.

"The plague isn't restricted to Thera. A village has been put under lockdown in Sill Alari. We heard the news that people are also turning up with the same plague symptoms in other kingdoms. Each kingdom is doing its best to contain the news but eventually, the news will spread across the continent. Soon, the molten plague will affect the entire continent,"

"Molten Plague. That's what they named the plague?"

Anfalen nodded at Gaya and turned his gaze back at Michael,

"So basically I am sitting on a gold mine?" Anfalen saw a cold opportunistic grin on Ghost's face that showed his other side.

"A gold mine that puts a target on your back," Anfalen said in a grave voice.

"I know you've been using the Rainshade merchant guild to distribute your products. No offense to them, but they won't be able to handle this. Because the moment the molten plague breaks out, the continent will be turned upside down. Those who weren't affected will run around like rabid dogs, and if they heard there's a cure, they would go to any length to get their hands on it. Forget about the cure, the rogues will target the source. The Rainshade guild's strongest is a Soul Refiner. How could they fight against Fusion Stage cultivators?"

The news was simply too shocking to Gaya. If what Anfalen said was true, even the empress isn't safe anymore. No matter how big of an army she had, no one could fight the plague. She wouldn't be surprised if the Aqua Palace itself sabotaged their supply lines and blamed it on the rogue cultivators. But, as far as she was concerned, Anfalen was a good guy to extend a helping hand instead of sabotaging them or simply killing them.

"So let's negotiate Lord Anfalen. What's the Aqua Palace's cut?"

"Thirty percent,"

Gaya immediately shook her head,

"Twenty-five percent, and you will provide us with ingredients," Gaya gave Anfalen her counteroffer, and surprisingly, he considered it for a few moments. Yet, he didn't simply agree to Gaya's terms. Instead, the both of them began to negotiate for almost thirty minutes. Their negotiation felt like a battle. But, to Michael's surprise, it was quite entertaining to see Gaya negotiate. She would have been a successful CEO of a major enterprise if she was born on earth. Anfalen had the experience, but Gaya had talent, pure natural talent for business.

When they ended their negotiation, Anfalen agreed to take a twenty percent cut and supply them with all the ingredients. In return, Michael had to give them exclusivity to the cure. That meant the Aqua place would get twenty percent wherever he sells the cure. Even if he sells the cure in Majestic, a twenty percent cut had to be paid to the Aqua Palace.

On top of getting free ingredients, Michael would get the protection of the Aqua Palace. In addition, Anfalen would help Ghost get a VIP card in Aqua Palace. Gaya tried to get a VIP card as a part of the deal, but it wasn't in the hands of Anfalen. So instead, the Arctic hall would decide who to give the VIP card to every five years. Unfortunately, they offered new VIP cards last year, so Michael had to wait for four more years.

"Where should I send the contract to?"

"To the Voldigards mansion. I'll be staying there," said Michael as Anflane made a mental note.

"When can we expect the first batch of cure Master Ghost?"

"Let the molten plague spread more Lord Anfalen," Anfalen's jaw dropped a couple of inches when he heard Michael. Not that Anfalen hadn't seen ruthless people, but he didn't expect Ghost to be this cruel. He looked like such a warm, gentle young man, but his words made Anfalen think Ghost was more brutal than he seemed.

"We can start distributing the cure after the auction. That'd be enough for everyone to panic and feel desperate for the cure,"

"Meanwhile, we will provide the people with healing potions. It will keep the people alive," Gaya leaned back and said to Anfalen,

"Speaking of healing potions, I heard someone is hoarding my potions and selling them for a high price Lord Anfalen. Do you have any idea where I could find such a person?"

Michael was right to ask Lord Anfalen because the black market was a huge headache for the merchants in Awor. What they do is buy a particular product in bulk and hoard it until the product is not available for the consumers. By doing this, they raised the demand too high, and when the people were desperate, they would sell it for a high price. As a result, black marketers made millions. It was really unfortunate Michael's healing potions drew the attention of these black marketers.

"It's not a single person Master Ghost but rather a shadow organization who simply calls themselves, the black marketers. They lack creativity, unlike wealth. Every merchant guild has been affected by them. Although we would like to track them down and bring them to justice, it's not an easy task. To be honest, it's pretty impossible,

"They weren't found because I haven't tried Lord Anfalen," Michael smirked. With the devices Michael had under his disposal, it would be a matter of time before Michael found the black marketers. They made a massive mistake by scalping Michael's healing potions.

Anfalen had a feeling the black marketers may have just made a nemesis they shouldn't have. Anyways, if Ghost somehow got rid of the black marketers, it would be profitable to all the merchant guilds, including the Aqua Palace.

"Then, we will see you next week?" Gaya stood up to leave the room,

"I'll be waiting," Anfalen shook both their hands firmly before walking them out as a courtesy.

After talking to Anfalen, Michael was glad he attended the alchemy competition and received the token to bid. According to Anfalen, even he couldn't give any more tokens. If Michael didn't get it from the alchemists guild, he couldn't have taken part in the bidding and depended on Eve to bid for him.

"You really embraced the darkness huh?' Gaya asked after Anfalen sent them away.

"I didn't create or spread the plague. I am just taking advantage of it," Michael didn't feel any remorse at all. He wasn't Noah to run around the continent and try to cure every single sick person. Instead, Michael decided to wait until Awor was pushed to the brink of destruction. Then, he would come up with the cure and earn millions.

The vampires spread the plague, but Michael was the one who will reap the benefits.

Michael and Gaya directly went to the counter and received another space ring with enough ingredients to brew the first batch of cures.

"We'd like to use the portal to Yeserius now Zentha," Michael took out his pay cube and handed it over to Zentha. Then, just like before, the number five thousand appeared in the form of a holograph above the pay cube.

*********************************************************

It was the middle of the day when Michael and Gaya appeared in the sky out of nowhere. Unlike the portals they've been using before, the portal in Aqua Palace teleported them to the sky above Yaserius instead of into a building. The drizzling clouds added an extra layer of gloominess to the already plague-stricken city. The air itself turned slightly palish green, giving the city a depressive look.

Michael and Gaya flew straight to the floating mountain without lingering around any longer. Finally, after almost five minutes of flying, the mountain appeared in their sight. Unlike before, they saw a few people gathered around Nightmare. When Michael and Gaya got closer to the island, Nightmare looked up to see them descending.

Surprisingly, the carriage was nowhere to be found. Instead, all the sick ones were laid on the ground facing the open sky. Among the people, Michael locked his gaze with Eve and Jennifer, who were in the embrace of Julien Voldigard, Eve's father.

"There they are," Eve pointed her finger at Michael and Gaya as they landed a couple of meters away from Eve.

As soon as they landed, a group of people surrounded Michael. Soon, Eve approached Michael with Jennifer, Julien, and a brown-haired lady with freckles. Undoubtedly Michael knew she was Eve's mother because she looked like the mature version of Jennifer. Eve resembled her father more than her mother. But all of them seemed extremely grateful to Michael. He could see it in their eyes.

Jennifer still looked a bit exhausted, just like most of them.

"Master Ghost and Miss Aelia. I have no words to tell how grateful I am to you," Julien grabbed Michael's hand and squeezed it, showing his gratitude. On the other hand, Eve's mother embraced Gaya before she could rebuke her.

"The Voldigards are forever in your debt," Julien stated as everyone around Michael bobbed their heads up and down.

"I just helped my friend," Michael smiled.

Meanwhile, Nightmare shrunk his size and flew onto Michael's shoulder.

"Let's cure the others and get back to the castle," Nightmare said to Julien.

"Nightmare is right. We can talk over a nice dinner, Lord Julien,"

Lord Julien and Eve's mother agreed with Michael with a nod. However, many soldiers and family members were still unconscious and waiting to be cured.

"Just give me fifteen minutes to brew the cure for all of them," Michael shot into the sky, flying towards the top of the hilt-shaped mountain to brew the cure in peace. Gaya wanted to get out of the crowd, but unfortunately, Eve grabbed her by her hand,

"Where are you going?" Eve smirked.

Gaya hated socializing with them, but Eve made sure Gaya met every single family member while Jennifer shadowed them behind. At that moment, Michael and Gaya had no idea what they were about to hear from Julien.