This chapter is not yet ready. Please check back by December 30. I believe I will have this replaced by then. I am so sorry for the inconvenience caused.

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Stories about immortals have shaped human history since the beginning of time.

Zeus and other gods of Olympus were immortals. Adam and other early human ancestors were written in religious books as humans who lived up to 900 years old. Adam (930), Set (912), Enos (905), Kenan (910), Yared (962), and the longest-living human in the world which was Methuselah who died at the age of 969.

In the scripture, following the epoch of Noah and the Great Flood, was a period of time where humans, as punished by God because of their evil ways, could no longer live past 120 years old. This had been my basis for writing the story of 'The Alchemists'.

Alchemy is a pseudoscience (considered as not real science) believing that the entire universe is moving toward a perfect state where gold, a metal known for its indestructible properties, is the most perfect substance.

With this principle, alchemists believe that by understanding the secrets of the unchanging gold, they would eventually grasp the key to warding off diseases and organic decay, thus creating humans with physical perfection: the immortals.

The Alchemists tried to find or come up with the chemical formula for the Philosopher's Stone which functions to convert metals into gold and make the Elixir of Life/Youth, a drug that cures all kinds of and allows them to live longer than humans in general.

Topics about chemistry, spirituality, and astrology became the focus of medieval alchemy. Until the 18th century, alchemy was considered a serious branch of science in Europe. Isaac Newton devoted much of his time to this field of study.

Other prominent alchemists from the Western world are Roger Bacon, St. Thomas Aquinas, Tycho Brahe, Thomas Browne, and Parmigianino. It was this alchemy that later became the foundation of 18th-century modern Chemistry.

WHAT IF, the alchemists actually succeeded in finding the formula for the immortality potion and restoring the human bodies into their original perfection, so they could be like their ancestors who used to live past 900 years?

Because time was in their hands, these immortals or semi immortals did not rush to find partners and only bore children when they were already hundreds of years old. In their long lives, they learned and gathered so much wisdom and knowledge that no modern humans, who only have dozens of years to do so, could compare.

Because time is in their hands, these perfect humans acquired a different outlook on life and society than today's regular people who tend to rush and pursue temporary p.l.e.a.s.u.r.es in the modern world.

They became people who have finally found a way to manipulate the elements and make themselves perfect. They now have all the time in the world to do whatever they want, learn whatever they want, and explore wherever their feet could take them.

To conceal themselves from the general public, Alchemists spread rumors that alchemy is a failed science and that all fables about immortal humans are nothing but mere fairy tales. Yet in reality... they are among us, living with us, and ruling the world from the shadows.

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Caspar's cellphone beeped and the name Stanis appeared on his screen. He immediately picked up the phone.

Wow... that was fast, thought Finland. It's only been 15 minutes.

"It's all done? Alright. You take care of everything needed for the transfer process and find a new Marketing Manager."

"What happened?" Finland asked.

"Meet the new Atlas Corp owner," Caspar reached out and shook Finland's hand gently. He was in a good mood. "Tomorrow Atlas Corp will sign a cooperation contract with LTX, you don't have to worry."

"Oh really?"

"Have I ever lied to you?"

"No." Finland shook her head. She then smiled a little and wiped the tears from her eyes, "Thank you."

"I did this for myself," Caspar grasped Finland's hand and squeezed it softly, "If anyone hurt you, it means they hurt me. I am only protecting myself."

Caspar signaled to the waiter and said something. The waiter nodded and walked to Noah and his friends' table.

"What are you doing?" Finland asked.

"I will fire the man right before your eyes, so he knows why he lost his job and learns to respect women next time."

Noah, Jonathan, and William came to their table with questioning looks. Earlier, the waiter said that they were summoned to Caspar's table because there was an important matter to discuss.

They did not know the man at the table, so they thought it was Finland who called them. Their faces seemed unhappy because they thought Finland was being rude by calling them to her table like this.

"What's wrong, Finland? The waiter said we should come to this table?" Noah asked, snorting, "If you have something to say, then you should come to us."

Caspar cleared his throat and cut off Noah's words.

"What is your name?" he asked,

Noah turned to Caspar and frowned, "I'm Noah Janssen. Who wants to know?"

"Are you Atlas Corp's Marketing Manager?" Caspar asked again.

"I am." Noah looked at Caspar and Finland in turn. "What's with all this?"

"I am the new owner of Atlas Corp, and I don't like the way you treated Finland." Caspar stared sharply at Noah. "You have to learn to respect women. As a business owner, I don't like to see my employees s.e.x.u.a.lly harass women, especially by threatening to cancel contracts to force clients to comply with your demands."

Noah and his two friends were shocked to hear that. They looked at each other. A moment later Noah shook his head and laughed contemptuously.

"I did nothing to her. Don't believe this woman's rubbish talk." He shrugged, "Besides you're not the owner of Atlas Corp. I know my boss. Don't talk carelessly..."

Caspar didn't care about Noah. He pointed to Jonathan and told him to come closer.

"Who are you? Assistant to Marketing Manager?"

Jonathan nodded. "Yes."

"Tomorrow, on behalf of the Marketing Manager, you will sign a cooperation contract with LTX because Noah is fired. Until Stanis appoints a new marketing manager, you have to take care of all his work."

Jonathan was amazed. He did not know what to answer. He and William exchanged glances. It seemed crazy because they knew that the owner of Atlas Corp, their boss, was a technology-savvy middle-aged entrepreneur named Sam Atlas.

He would never sell his company. But this young man in front of them seemed very serious.

Noah burst out laughing.

"Very funny..." he said in a mocking tone.

William Chan, the Director of Engineering, frowned and called the office in Seattle. His voice sounded rather shocked when he heard the answer from the other end. He then handed his cellphone to Noah.

"This is Boss Sam..." He said softly.

Noah accepted the cellphone with a frown. "Hello, Boss..."

His face immediately turned pale. He then looked at Caspar, fear clearly visible in his eyes. William's cellphone fell from his hand.

"You... you..." He shook his head in disbelief, "Who are you?!"

Caspar gave a sign and the waiter returned to fill his glass with champagne.

"I told you, I am the new owner of Atlas Corp, and you are fired. Tomorrow you will fly straight to Seattle. There's no need for you to go back to the office. Severance pay and dismissal letters will be taken care of by HR."

He then signaled for the three men to go away. William and Jonathan bowed before pulling Noah away. They had to drag him because Noah was frozen in his place like a statue. He didn't expect this to happen...

Finland witnessed what happened and stared at Caspar with eyes full of gratitude. Noah's actions hurt her greatly, and Caspar made her feel safe, protected and defended...

She slowly felt the defensive wall around her heart collapse...

"Thank you..." She whispered.

Caspar smiled mischievously, "Are you grateful enough to give me a kiss?"

Finland smiled back and nodded.

"Yeah..." The girl hurriedly added, "but not here. This is a public place and too many people are watching.."

Caspar smiled even wider. Earlier Finland didn't mind kissing him quickly in front of many people when he translated the menu into English.

If now Finland didn't want to kiss him in front of other people...

"I told you, I am the new owner of Atlas Corp, and you are fired. Tomorrow you will fly straight to Seattle. There's no need for you to go back to the office. Severance pay and dismissal letters will be taken care of by HR."