<b>Chapter </b><b>558 </b>


    Niki refilled his coffee cup, the rich aroma of freshly brewed java filling the air. “He’s back at the Riverdale Pharmacists‘ Guild,” he said. “He’s preparing for the annual promotion assessment.”


    Johnny wasn’t surprised. He had heard the guy was gunning for a Senior Pharmacist title thest time they talked.


    With a chuckle, he offered apliment, “Given his talents, climbing the ranks should be a walk in the park.”


    Niki shook his head. “The Guild’s got only a spot or two for promotions each year. This time, it’s all in his hands.”


    “It’s not just luck, though. Skill’s the real deal,” Owen mused, joining in the conversation after a few seconds of thought.


    Seeing Owen toss out a rarepliment, Johnny breathed a little easier. He had been given strict orders to cozy up to <b>the </b>Reeves family–especially Dane. Unfortunately, Dane had already returned to the capital. While it was a bummer, Johnny nced at the youngdy sitting across from him and suddenly felt Dane’s absence might be a blessing in disguise. Without him, they could avoid the potentially awkward conversation about the medicine swap. After all, Johnny hadn’t mentioned his second request for Mirabe to re–examine Owen to the Reeves family.


    He refocused on the conversation, nodding <b>in </b>agreement, “Anyone who makes it into the Pharmacists‘


    Guild is one in a million.”


    Hearing this, Mirabe, who had been sitting quietly, perked up. She had some recollection of the Pharmacists‘ Guild<b>. </b>Its standards, as far as she remembered, were pretty average. She scoffed silently


    At that moment, Niki turned to her. “Mirabe, would you be interested in joining the Pharmacists Guild? With your skills in potion making…”


    Before he could finish, Mirabe bluntly cut him off, “I’m not interested.” Her fingers danced idly on the tabletop, her entire demeanor nonchnt.


    Johnny looked up at Mirabe, perplexed. How could she refuse so tly? Was she unaware of what the Pharmacists‘ Guild represented?


    And what was that about potion–making skills that Niki had hinted at before being interrupted? Could she be a pharmacist? A pharmacist in herte teens<b>? </b>


    The thought shed through Johnny’s mind, but he quickly shook it off. It seemed improbable.


    Niki, seeing Mirabe’s disinterest, felt a twinge of regret. But then he remembered her medical expertise and potion–making prowess and figured perhaps the Guild was no <b>big </b>deal after all. Aside from the Guild President<b>, </b>who could hold a candle to her? The others… probably not.


    Whether she joined the Guild or not didn’t really matter. She had the backing of the Shepherd family, and with such protection, even with amon background, she had nothing to fear from the prying eyes of other families.


    Before long, Asher strolled <b>into </b>the room and took a seat beside Niki. He had initially wanted to sit closer to James but thought better of it after the little incident downstairs. Despite his opportunistic


    <b>1/2 </b>


    10:20


    nature, he knew that if it wasn’t for his father’s sake, James might not have bothered to show up today.


    Pouring himself a cup of coffee, Asher settled in quietly, choosing <b>to </b>remain silent.


    Meanwhile, Johnny kept ncing at his watch, his attention elsewhere, as if he had pressing matters to


    attend to.


    Owen noticed his distraction and leaned in, a questioning look in his eyes, “Something up?”


    Johnny nced at Mirabe across the table and lowered his voice, “Mind if I step <b>out </b>for a bit?”