Chapter 146 - 148:

Chapter 146: Chapter 148:

Ivy’s Point of View

After resting at the border for two full days and finally getting rid of the exhaustion from our journey, Dominic and I did not waste any more time because we both knew that finding Boran would not be easy, and if we wanted to stay here without raising suspicion, we needed a proper reason.

We immediately began buying shops in the busiest parts of Lilypine Pack, leasing several workshops where medicinal herbs could be dried and processed, and hiring people who could help us turn the empty buildings into a proper business.

I stood behind a large desk, looking through the applications of the people we had gathered from the nearby towns while Dominic stood beside me.

“We need someone who is clever enough to manage this place without being easily deceived,” I said, putting one of the applications aside. “The merchants here are not simple people, and I don’t want someone who will sell our medicine cheaply or allow strangers to walk into our production rooms whenever they want.”

Dominic nodded. “That is why I suggested Marc. He has managed businesses in Lilypine Pack for years, and from everything I have learned about him, he knows the merchants, understands the local taxes, and is not the kind of man who can be easily bribed.”

I looked toward the middle-aged man standing a short distance away. “Marc, you understand what this position requires?”

Marc immediately bowed his head. “Yes, Physician Lin. I understand that Azure Pharmacy is not just any shop, and I will treat everything you teach me as a serious responsibility.”

“Good,” I replied, studying his face. “You will be responsible for the daily running of the pharmacy, but you will never make changes to the medicine without speaking to me first. If you notice anything strange about the workers, the customers, or the merchants who visit us, you will report it immediately.”

“I will, Physician Lin.”

I nodded before turning toward the young woman standing beside him. “And you must be Ophelia.”

The young maid quickly stepped forward. “Yes, Physician Lin.”

“I was told you can read medicinal texts and understand different herbs.”

“I can read the names of most medicinal materials, and I know how several common herbs are prepared,” she answered. “I spent years helping prepare medicine for my previous mistress, so I am familiar with their smell, appearance, and basic uses.”

That answer pleased me. I walked toward the table and placed several bottles in front of her. “Then tell me what these are.”

Ophelia picked up the first bottle and carefully examined it. “This is a fever-reducing pill.”

“And this one?” I gave her another bottle.

“A pain-relieving pill.” She answered.

I pointed toward another bottle. Abd she stared at it. “That one helps with stomach pain, while the small green pills beside it can be used to treat minor wounds and reduce swelling.”

Dominic looked at me with a smile. “She knows what she is doing.”

“She knows enough to begin learning,” I replied before turning back to Ophelia. “I am going to teach you how to make these medicines, but you need to understand something before we begin. The measurements must never be changed because someone thinks adding more herbs will make the medicine stronger.”

Ophelia nodded immediately. “I understand.”

“For example, when making the fever pills, you will use these three herbs in these exact amounts,” I continued, pointing toward the ingredients I had arranged on the table. “You will grind them into powder, mix them properly, and then shape them into pills. The same process must be followed every time, because if the ingredients are not measured correctly, the medicine could become dangerous.”

“I will remember every measurement,” Ophelia promised.

“And you will teach the other workers only what they need to know,” I added. “The complete formulas will remain under your supervision and mine. We are going to mass-produce the commonly used medicines every morning, so Azure Pharmacy will never run out of the pills people need most.”

Ophelia lowered her head respectfully. “I understand, Physician Lin. I will make sure the production rooms never run out of medicine, and I will protect the formulas as if they were my own life.”

A satisfied smile touched my lips. “Then we can begin.”

FEW DAYS LATER:

The pharmacy needed more than ordinary workers, especially because our real reason for staying at the border was not simply to sell medicine. A few days after we settled in, a group of warriors arrived from Evernight Kingdom.

Dominic was waiting outside when they entered the courtyard. “My father sent them,” he told me.

I looked at the warriors carefully. “How many?”

“He sent twenty.” Dominic said.

My eyes widened slightly. “Twenty elite warriors just to protect a pharmacy?”

Dominic gave me an amused look. “They are not only here to protect the pharmacy. They will also help us search for Boran.”

That immediately wiped the smile from my face. “Have they found anything?”

“Nothing reliable yet, but they have already started searching the roads, inns, forests, and nearby villages.”

I looked toward the warriors again. “Then we need to make sure they do not attract attention. Boran is hiding because he knows people are looking for him.”

Dominic nodded. “That is why most of them will work around the pharmacy. To everyone else, they will simply look like ordinary guards and workers. And secretly, they will be searching for him.”

*

*

*

A few days later, the doors of Azure Pharmacy in Lilypine Pack officially opened. The moment the doors were unlocked, a crowd had already gathered outside. People had heard about Azure Pharmacy long before we arrived because every pharmacy I had opened carried the exact same name, and the reputation of the brand had spread across several territories.

A large caravan driver pushed his way toward the entrance. “Is it true that Azure Pharmacy sells ready-made medicine?”

Marcus smiled as he opened the doors. “It is true, but if you want to buy something, you will have to enter instead of blocking the entrance.”

The man laughed. “I have traveled in different places, and I have heard that Azure medicine can save someone from a serious fever before the illness becomes dangerous.”

Marcus proudly gestured toward the shelves. “Then you have heard correctly. Come inside and see for yourself.”

Within minutes, the pharmacy became crowded. Businessmen who regularly traveled between the two kingdoms were especially interested because ready-made medicine was easier to carry during long journeys than raw herbs that still needed to be prepared.

By midday, almost every shelf had customers standing around it. I watched the scene from the back room with Dominic beside me.

“This is much bigger than I expected,” I admitted.

“You should have expected it. Your reputation reached this place before you did.” Dominic said proudly.

I shook my head. “I still did not expect this many people on the first day.”

“Then perhaps you should prepare yourself for even more tomorrow.”

By the afternoon, several merchants had begun coming directly to the back room because they wanted to purchase our medicines in bulk.

One wealthy merchant placed a box of gold on the table. “I want enough medicine to fill ten wagons,” he announced. “I travel regularly to both Evernight, and Kingdom of Howling Ashes, and there are nobles there who are willing to pay a great deal for Azure medicine.”

I looked at Dominic before answering. “You want ten wagons?”

“Yes, Physician Lin. If you can provide that much medicine, I can guarantee that I will return every month.”

“We can provide the medicine, but we want something else from you.” Dominic said.

The merchant looked confused. “Gold is not enough?”

“Not this time,” Dominic replied calmly. “Our problem is not money. Our problem is medicinal materials.”

I nodded. “We are producing thousands of pills, but if we continue selling them at this rate, our supply of herbs will eventually become too small. Therefore, we will exchange medicine for medicinal materials.”

The merchant’s eyes brightened. “You mean I bring you the herbs, and you give me finished medicine?”

“Exactly,” I answered. “The better the quality and quantity of the medicinal materials you provide, the more medicine you will receive.”

The merchant immediately nodded. “That is a good deal. I can obtain large quantities of herbs, so I believe we can work together.”

Dominic extended his hand. “Then we have an agreement.”

The merchant shook his hand firmly. “I look forward to doing business with Azure Pharmacy.”

After he left, I turned toward Dominic. “That solved one of our biggest problems.”

He nodded. “And it gives us another reason to keep merchants coming through this border.”

I smiled. “Which means more information, more people, and more chances of hearing something about Boran.”

The sun had already begun disappearing behind the mountains when the pharmacy finally became quiet. Marcus and the workers were preparing to close for the night when the bell above the entrance suddenly rang.

I looked up. A young woman entered the pharmacy with a maid following closely behind her.

Marcus approached her with a polite smile. “Good evening, miss. We are almost closing, but if you need medicine, I can still help you.”

The looked directly at him. “My name is Gigi, and I’m looking for the Divine Doctor. Is he here?”

“I’m Physician Lin,” I answered, stepping forward. “What do you need?”

“I need you to treat someone.” She said.

I glanced at the time. “It’s already late. Come back tomorrow, and I’ll attend to you then.”

“But...” she tried to talk.

“Tomorrow, Gigi.” I cut her shut. I didn’t mean too, but tomorrow would be preferable.

She nodded reluctantly before leaving with her maid.