"Give it to me!" Barbara ordered coldly. Since she couldn't order Maria, she looked at the petite servant by her.

After working for the Jenkins family for more than ten years, Isla was so used to following their orders that it was more than her to disobey.

With a scared shiver, she stepped forward to give the pill, then suddenly remembered Maria.

“Miss? Miss Maria." She looked at Maria in fear, asking for permission.

She had to constantly remind herself that Maria was her master right now. As such, the only person she ought to take orders from was Maria.

“Give it to her. It may teach her a thing or two." Maria nodded at her with a smile.

Barbara's frown deepened at this. The pill was obviously burnt. What was Maria trying to say?

Barbara took the pill from Isla, Looked at it carefully and smelled it. Then she gave it back to Isla with a smug Look on her face.

"Concentration Pill?" She scoffed. She had thought Maria had made some powerful superior pill, but it was just this Concentration Pill at the lowest grade. Worse, its potency was only about 60% of the standard pill.

Barbara had started making second grade pills for the first time yesterday. So, if this was the highest thing Maria could produce, it meant she wasn't even half as good as her. That ninth grade talent of hers turned out to be nothing impressive.

Satisfied and at peace now, Barbara completely changed her attitude “This Concentration Pill is only a semi-finished product, but it's still good for your Level. Keep up the good work.”

Maria stood there with a smile on her face like a doll.

Isla was the one that nodded and answered in a shy voice, “Thank you, Miss Barbara."

Barbara glared at the scared servant. Who gave her the right to talk? Decidedly, Maria's servants were so unruly.

Barbara shook her head and left the studio. Doris, who had brought the issue of Maria's presence in the studio, rushed to Barbara when she saw her come out.

"Miss Herrera, what happened? What is Maria doing in the studio?" she asked in a hushed tone like the gossip and spy that she was.

Barbara answered without even glancing at the eager woman, “She seems to be very outstanding, but that talent is useless."

“I don't understand, Miss Herrera," Doris said in confusion.

“With Maria's ability and the resources provided for her, she can never catch up with me, talk less of surpassing me. If she ever comes to the studio to clean up again, just let her be and don't come running to me either. I'm very busy.”

Maria's talent was ninth grade, but the pill she produced wasn't impressive at all. If she even managed to come up with that pill, it was only thanks to Barbara's leftover medicinal materials. If things went on this way, Maria would never progress.

Thinking about it now, Barbara even felt bad for Maria. Doris nodded reluctantly and said, “I understand, Miss Herrera. I won't bother you anymore."

After a short pause, she asked, “Should we report what happened today to Mrs. Jenkins? She isn't aware yet."

Barbara shook her head.

“She is busy contacting her friends and trying to make me an official member of the Pill Alchemist Association. Don't bother her with such Little things."