An Understated Dominance by Marina Vittori

"Do you smell that, Max?" Brooke seemed to sense something, and he took a deep breath.

"You mean the herbal scent?" Maximus tilted his head curiously. "It's been there all along, hasn't it? What's wrong?"

"No, it's different now. It's quite special." Brooke went up to the door of the alchemy room. Then, he crouched down to catch a whiff of the scent wafting out from the gap under the door.

He spent most of his time around herbs. Thus, he could easily detect the slightest change in scent.

All of a sudden, the door creaked open.

Dustin was just about to step out of the room when he spotted Brooke crouching on the ground in a weird position. "Dr. Busch, what's wrong? Are you having a stomachache?"

"Uhh ..." Brooke smiled sheepishly before quickly reacting. He promptly asked, "Dustin, how is it? Did you succeed in producing Sanctifix?"

Dustin sighed and put on a dejected expression when he heard that.

Brooke froze and paled. "You f-failed?" he asked with

the herbs were wasted, and nobody

that I intended to produce a top-grade Sanctifix, but I only managed to come up with

Brooke's lips twitched involuntarily. He

did it matter what quality the pill was

wasn't young anymore, so couldn't take such false

... You've succeeded?" Brooke

I'd succeed." Dustin nodded with a smile and took

was elated. "This is great! This is amazing!

waiting. He had waited for an entire day

Busch, let's not waste any more time. Give Mr. Shaffer the pill," Dustin

right, right! We must save him first!" Brooke dared not waste another moment. Holding the pill carefully in both hands, he jogged

pale. His breathing was also light and shallow. He looked

for consuming Sanctifix?" Brooke