Parallel World Pharmacy Vol 4 Chapter 9.4

Published at 6th of September 2022 10:03:29 AM

“It seems that the alchemist that gathered the other alchemists around Imperial City held a weekly gathering. About 10% of the previous pharmacologists are also alchemists, and these pharmacologists are still devoted to the field of alchemy studies. Oh, by the way, I happen to be an alchemist.”

Pierre boasts about himself as he displays his alchemist badge.

“What were you doing at that meeting?”

“I wanted to see the alchemist’s demonstration of the Philosopher’s Stone that led to the success in alchemy. After that demonstration, he displayed the homunculus, then he sold his discovered mysteries at such high prices that the pharmacologists and alchemists would go bankrupt.”

“I wonder if anyone else had succeeded in selling the technology. If there were many people who failed, it would likely be noticed.”

Ellen frowns with a distorted face.

“That was the reason for it becoming successful with so many people.”

“With just through demonstrations?”

Ellen suspects there is a possibility. One of the successful people is probably Sakura.

“Do you know where the meeting will be held?”

A picture is worth a thousand words, so Falma is interested.

“Yes I do. I’ve checked it out, but only alchemists and their disciples can attend the meeting.”

“If that’s so, why don’t you acknowledge that I’m the disciple of the alchemist Pierre and let me go with you?”

“Isn’t it dangerous? Falmsan’s name is known throughout the Imperial City, probably also in appearance.”

“I can disguise myself.”

Falma proclaims without any concerns.

“I’m worried for Falma and Pierre. I’ll attend with you.”

“The Eleonor’s name is also known throughout the Imperial City.”

“Are you sure?”

Ellen is unaware of her position as the most dignified and respected disciple of the Court Pharmacologist, Bruno.

“Then how about I will dress as a man and Falma as a woman? That way we will not get caught.”

Ellen is going to become a cross-dresser. Since she is usually required to behave as a noble, she yearns to cosplay as a beautiful man in appearance.

“Even if you want to do that, why don’t you just cover yourself with a hood?”

She wants to pity Falma, who doesn’t fancy a hobby.

“If I’m going to go incognito, I want to do it perfectly and dress up as a man! Falma can dress as a woman!”

“You can do it if you like, Ellen. I’m definitely not dressing up as a woman.”

So, Falma and Ellen strategize to infiltrate the suspicious alchemist’s gathering with Pierre.

“By the way, what will you do when you finally sneak in?” Pierre asks.

“If I uncover the alchemy’s gimmicks, I can ban them from the industry. I’ll show you how.”

“If there is circumstantial evidence of them being a scammer, they won’t be able to do business. But as the alchemist’s gathering is getting bigger each time, there’s something worth about the field to believe in again. I heard that they synthesized gold using mercury and sulfur. Do you have a chance to expose that?”

“Is it appropriate to use mercury for synthesizing?”

“What do you mean?”

Ellen doubts her hearing. Cedric and other pharmacists that are working hard at the pharmacy decide to eavesdrop.

“With alchemy, it is possible to synthesize gold. However, since gold is an atom, it cannot be made into a compound. Mercury, that is, is an atom with atomic number 80. By irradiating the nucleus to disintegrate the atomic nuclei and strip off the protons, it will eventually yield gold as an atom with atomic number 79.”

“Eh?!”

“What!? Doesn’t it mean that under alchemy, it is impossible?”

Ellen and Pierre stand up from their chairs and shout out. Ellen hastily grabs Falma while she drops her glasses and nearly step on them.

“You drop it again! Stop dropping your glasses.”

Falma suspects that he has made too many promises and is still doing it on purpose. He thinks it’s better to make plastic glasses so that Ellen can’t break them. Lotte and Pierre’s daughter, as they are having a tea party upstairs, come down from the third floor because they hear loud shouts.

“What’s wrong?”

“Oh, nothing. Continue on with your tea party.”

Falma dismissively waves his hands to them. Lotte embarrassedly wipes the cake powder around her mouth and goes back to the third floor.

“Both of you need to stay calm. At this moment, it’s impossible for the technology in this world and it requires a huge amount of energy for the process.”

There is no reason that gold cannot be synthesized, but there only are few gold atoms that can be formed in a single reaction, so it could be said that it would even be unrealistic to synthesize one teaspoonful of gold with modern Earth science and technology. It would take a huge amount of power, time and budget.

“Yeah, I was surprised. I wondered if Falma can synthesize gold with divine power.”

Ellen calmly sits down and wears her glasses again.

“Even if I try to use my divine power to convert mercury, it’s probably impossible due to my lack of energy.”

“Haha, if only I can do that. If so, I can create huge profit, after having you teach me the secret technique.”

Pierre jokes and laughs heartily.

“Hahaha … I surely can’t do that.”

Falma has cold sweat while laughing with Pierre, because he remembers something.

(Oh, no, I can synthesize gold by using material creation)

Falma, who has the power to create all substances with the ability [Substance Creation] on his left hand, is able to synthesize not only gold but also all metals and jewelries. Even so, he has abundant amount of capital from the profits generated at the Different World Pharmacy, so he doesn’t have to think about gold creation as he current has no need for money.

(… I believe I’m an alchemist if I use that logic.)

In a sense, Falma is the only one in the world who can be called a true alchemist.

“No — I’m looking forward to studying alchemy. How do you perform alchemy?”

Falma displays a fearless smile.

“You look like an evil alchemist, Falmsan.”

As she’s looking at his expression, Ellen is fearful of his enthusiasm in becoming an evil alchemist.

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Footnotes:

[1] A heart-attack, common in modern society. There are different degrees of a heart-attack that is explained in the chapter

[2] Red means “death is imminent”

[3] Imagine using a defibrillator (AED), as Sophie’s hands and feet are the electrical delivery pads

[4] Imagine how many kids in the past just got tossed away, waiting for their deaths during their abandonments, such as post-delivery terminations/abandonment, which is quite common in today’s societies

[5] Crude medicines refers to traditional herbal medicine, or medical herbalism. Many parts of the world are furthering the studies in this field, and remains strong to this very day.

Chapter end