Chapter 88: Creator Hestia

“Creator?”

Mel's eyes widened, surprised by the rank of the person before her.

Before coming, she had specifically looked into the details of the Hermes Workshop.

The craftsmen of the Hermes Workshop used a special ranking system, just as the Staff Bearers used the elements of alchemy for their ranks.

The craftsmen's ranks also adopted the elements of alchemy.

From lowest to highest, they were: Orichalcum, Refined Iron, Silver, Stibnite, Golden.

And craftsmen above Golden were bestowed with the title of 【Creator】.

This almost meant that this craftsman had reached the pinnacle of alchemy and forging.

Mel had not expected Count Michel to find a Creator to help her right off the bat.

However, this Creator was somewhat beyond her expectations.

She originally thought they would be more composed.

Hestia looked at Mel's dazed face, the corners of her mouth slightly turning up.

“What, am I a disappointment?”

“No... of course not!”

Mel shook her head, “Lady Hestia.... please help me.”

“Tell me the specifics, what is it?”

Hestia asked.

“Not many people can make Charles Michel personally come to ask me for a favor.”

“It’s like this....”

Mel took a deep breath, then roughly recounted the matter concerning herself and Veronica.

As she spoke, she also showed Hestia the Ring of the Nibelungen in her hand.

After hearing Mel's description, Hestia was silent for a moment, then pressed the cigarette in her hand onto the tabletop to extinguish it.

“Interesting.”

After pondering for a moment, she suddenly laughed.

“It seems that old fellow really didn't lie to me.”

Hestia's gaze moved back and forth between Mel and Charlotte, a playful smile on her lips.

“You two are certainly interesting. One, a dual divine selection of 【Knowledge】 and 【Red Moon】, and the other, a living person without a heartbeat.... Let me guess, is this child one of your Flock?”

Hestia looked at Charlotte, who was examining the various mechanical devices on the side.

Hearing someone talk about her, Charlotte turned her head and looked at Hestia.

“Tell me about her too.”

Hearing this, Mel and Charlotte exchanged a look, and then she recounted Charlotte's story once more.

After listening to Mel's account, Hestia's eyes suddenly lit up, and she couldn't help but clap in praise.

“Proving existence with death, this is the first time I've heard of such a method of argumentation. It seems you were not only chosen by 【Knowledge】 and 【Red Moon】, but even 【Chaos】 and 【Order】 have taken a liking to you, little girl.”

Hestia looked at Mel meaningfully and couldn't help but say.

“One might not meet someone like you in two hundred years—I'll take your commission.”

Hearing this, Mel's eyes instantly brightened.

“Really? Thank you so much—”

“Don't be so quick to thank me.”

Hestia waved her hand, interrupting Mel.

“I never do business at a loss. I have my conditions.”

“Mr. Charles Michel said he would cover all the expenses....”

“Come on, do you think a Creator like me would be short on that little bit of money from you?”

Hestia waved her hand dismissively.

“Any one of my patents could sell for enough to keep me fed and watered for a hundred years. It’s only you young folks who are still thinking about that stuff.”

“Then what do you want?”

Mel asked.

“What I want is very simple.”

Hestia casually picked up a lighter from the side of the table and began to fiddle with it in her hands.

“I don't currently have the spiritual materials to create a body for your sister. These things are very rare and hard to buy through both legal and illegal channels. I want you to go with me to collect them, it's that simple. This is also for your own good. The final product made from those spiritual materials needs to house your sister's soul. Therefore, during the collection process, it's best for you to let your sister's soul have some contact with them. This will also increase the synchronization rate between them.”

“Do we need to go to a faraway place?”

Mel asked.

“I haven't decided on the specific materials needed yet, but traveling far is definitely unavoidable. You wouldn't find many of them even if you turned all of Ireland upside down.”

Hestia said, “What, never traveled far?”

“It's not that....”

“Don't worry, if we really encounter danger, I won't just stand by and watch.”

Hestia waved her hand, “Although I don't have the strength of a Crown Wearer, I am at least an Anointed One, so you can rest assured.”

“I understand.”

Mel nodded, “So, when do we leave?”

“Come back again at this time tomorrow. I need to pack some things.”

“Okay, see you tomorrow, Lady Hestia.”

Hestia nodded slightly, then watched the two leave.

After walking out of the workshop, the two prepared to leave the Hermes Workshop.

But soon, they discovered something:

This place was simply too confusing.

“Have we been here before?”

Mel and Charlotte stood before a corner, looking at each other in dismay.

“I think so....”

Charlotte nodded, “Last time, I think we turned left.”

“Then... turn right this time?”

The two exchanged a glance, then stepped in the direction to their right.

Ten minutes later.

When Mel and Charlotte stood at that seemingly fated fork in the road for the fifth time, both were numb.

It wasn't that they hadn't thought of turning back to ask Hestia for directions, but the problem was.... they couldn't figure out the way back either.

“We're not going to be lost here until tomorrow, are we...”

Mel couldn't help but say.

Just then, the two heard footsteps behind them.

Looking back, a young man wearing glasses walked out from around the corner behind them.

When he saw the two of them, he raised an eyebrow slightly, then stopped and carefully looked Mel and Charlotte over.

“You don't seem to be from the workshop, why are you here?”

“Sorry.... we're lost.”

Mel said, a bit embarrassed.

“Could you lead us out?”

“I can,” the man nodded, “but you have to answer me first, why are you here? Not just anyone can enter this place.”

“We were brought in by Lady Hestia.”

Mel said.

“We have something we want to ask for his help with....”

“Lady Hestia actually agreed to see you?”

Hearing Mel's explanation, the man seemed even more interested.

“Who are you?”

“We're just.... ordinary people.”

Mel tried to be vague.

“Ordinary people can't get in here.”

The man smiled and shook his head, “Forget it, since you won't say, I won't ask any more. But next time you come in, it's best to have someone guide you. This time you were lucky, just going around in circles. If you were unlucky, you might have just stumbled into some craftsman's workshop. Although the craftsmen might not care, or wouldn't do anything to you, the machines in the workshops are very dangerous.”

After a pause, he voluntarily walked in front of Mel and Charlotte.

“Come with me, I'll take you out.”

“Thank you.”

Charlotte said politely.

The man led the two through the maze-like corridors.

Along the way, the three of them naturally chatted a bit, and the other person introduced himself as Victor.

“I see.... if it's forging a body to contain a soul, then that is indeed an area Lady Hestia excels in.”

Victor nodded thoughtfully.

“I'm afraid you don't know, besides being a Creator, Lady Hestia also serves as the Chief Soul Surgeon at Cixin Hospital.”

“But I don't think I've ever seen her on the list of physicians at Cixin Hospital.”

Mel said subconsciously.

“Because Lady Hestia hasn't seen patients in decades.”

Victor explained.

“The current Mr. Alexander Holman is actually her apprentice.”

Hearing this, Mel could hardly hide her surprise.

“So amazing.... Lady Hestia only looks to be around sixty, but she's already reached the peak in two fields.”

“Sixty years old...?”

Hearing Mel's words, Victor smiled.

“As far as I know, Lady Hestia—”

Before he could finish his sentence, Victor suddenly felt an inexplicable chill from behind him.

Immediately after, a steam pipe on the right suddenly sprayed out a jet of hot steam, scalding the back of Victor's right hand.

“Hiss.... let's not talk about it, we're almost at the exit.”

Soon, the three of them arrived at the main entrance of the workshop.

“Thank you very much, Mr. Victor.”

Mel stood at the entrance and thanked him sincerely.

“You're welcome,” Victor smiled, then looked down at the wound on his right hand, shook his head helplessly, and turned back inside the workshop.

“That old lady's temper is really a bit too bad...”