Chapter 2417

Andrew let out a cold snort. "Madam Baxter, if you don’t want to hear this, then I’ll stop talking about it. After all, you have deep ties with Julius."

Brielle shook her head firmly. "Andrew, you’re mistaken. My connection to the Divine Alchemists isn’t particularly deep; rather, I’ve remained with them all these years because of a promise I made. That’s why I’ve kept to myself and remained uninvolved in their affairs.

"Julius has obviously grown tired of me, and honestly, I have no reason to stay either. When it’s time to go, I’ll go."

Andrew frowned. "I can understand Julius wanting to drive me out. Titus said my father once injured him badly in a duel, and he never fully recovered. Holding a grudge makes sense. But you? That’s another story. The rumors say you’re his beloved junior. By right, he should be protecting you, not pushing you away."

Brielle let out a bitter laugh. "I am his junior, that’s true. But if he truly cared about me, he wouldn’t have sent me away to manage Sovereign’s Apothecary in the first place. When our mentor passed away years ago, he was worried I’d be mistreated, so he sent me here to run this place. It was his way of giving me a stable life and a safe position for the rest of my years.

"As for me, I’ve been managing Sovereign’s Apothecary with dedication and without the slightest negligence, all to repay his kindness in raising and teaching me. Over the years, I’ve recruited countless talented alchemists, including Amari and you. Especially you… I knew from the start that investing heavily in you would pay off."

Andrew burst out laughing, feeling his face flush slightly with embarrassment. Brielle clearly valued him highly, but he honestly had little sense of belonging to Sovereign’s Apothecary. In fact, he had really only come here to take advantage of free access to rare herbs and materials.

Brielle glanced at him, her eyes showing both annoyance and an inexplicable fondness. "Stop laughing! I know exactly what tricks you’ve been pulling behind the scenes. The premium materials from the warehouse have been disappearing in batches lately, and besides you, no one else would have the audacity to pull something like that under my nose."

Then, she redirected the conversation and added, "Anyway, Titus came this time under Julius’s orders. Honestly, this isn’t just about you and Amari. It’s also about giving me a graceful exit. Sovereign’s Apothecary’s influence in Chetvine’s high circles is no less than that of a major sect. In terms of wealth and social connections, we’re practically on par with the major ruling families.

"Every day, top martial masters and powerful leaders come here to trade, and Julius has finally realized just how useful this place is. So, instead of letting it stay under my control, he’s been quietly replacing my people with his own. He’s pulled ambitious ones like Theon to the Divine Alchemists’ headquarters under the guise of advanced training.

"If things keep going this way, it won’t be long before Sovereign’s Apothecary has nothing to do with me. It’ll just become another pawn in Julius’s hand."

She finished with a weary sigh and stared out the window again.

Andrew grew thoughtful, then spoke in a slow, deliberate manner. "Madam Baxter, you just said it yourself. You’ve never cared about owning Sovereign’s Apothecary, and you’ve just been keeping a promise. But now that Julius has shown no loyalty, why should you keep yours? Walk away with us. We’ll start fresh somewhere else, and I promise we’ll build something even greater than this place."