Chapter 370: An Unusual Condition (1/2)
”I can't believe that actually worked,” Argentum could not help but mutter to himself, thinking that it was actually easier than he initially thought to make Helios agree in becoming one of the benefactors of Verdant Breeze Town. Even Rosalia, who knew how Helios acted, could not help but look at Argentum and give him a thumbs up due to the flowery words he used to flatter Helios.
Nevertheless, Argentum was quite unsure how to proceed from there onwards, so he hastily sent a strand of energy to Rosalia, connecting the two as he asked her, ”If I compliment him, should I stay at the same level, or do I just gradually increase the level of compliments?”
Rosalia, who looked at Helios and noticed that there was still an indifferent expression on his face, soon replied to Argentum's query, advising him, ”I'd go with the first one. Although Helios may be narcissistic, he'll eventually find out that your compliments towards him are fake if you gradually increase the flattery in your words. Of course, I'm not saying that you have to be sincere in your words while complimenting him, just saying to compliment him in moderation.”
”Alright, then.” Argentum inwardly nodded before cutting off the connection between them as he looked at Helios once more. At this moment, the hint of interest Helios had towards Argentum was close to disappearing, prompting the former to say to the latter, ”Did you just attract my attention to compliment this divine being? Well, I shall give my thanks. But if you have nothing else to say, then leave me be. I still need to have my proper beauty sleep.”
”Please wait, Sir Helios,” Argentum soon said, prompting a look of slight interest to appear on Helios's face once more as he waited for Argentum to talk. ”I do have something to talk with you. I want you, the most handsome and most talented person I've met so far, to become a benefactor of my lowly Verdant Breeze Town.”
”Become the benefactor of a town? Are you asking this divine being right here to spare your lowly self a small amount of monetary resources?” Helios raised his eyebrow as the offer was brought up once more, though this time he did not refuse it outright. ”Well, if it is an amount that is still within this divine being's level of tolerance, then I would not mind being magnanimous and bring a bit of prosperity to a lowly town.”
Knowing very well that the offer he was giving Helios was that of a long-term partnership, Argentum hastily clarified as he shook his head, ”I dare not to ask for your own financial assets, oh Great Tempest King. All I would like to request from your esteemed self is for you to concoct a potion that I shall give the recipe to. The profit from the selling of these potions would then go towards the town to help bolster its economy. I truly dare not to ask for your financial assets, Sir Helios.”
He then continued, adding a bit more flattery to his words, ”I have heard from my good friend Rosalia here that you excel in the arts of alchemy, even surpassing the proficiency of my other friend Felix. I believe that with your mastery over the arts of alchemy, as well as the arts of business, you would create a great profit with the potions, greatly boosting the economy of the lowly town this lowly self governs.”
”Felix?” Hearing that name, Helios could not help but look at Argentum once more before turning his head to look at Rosalia. ”Rosalia, he also knows Felix?”
”And Eleanor,” Rosalia said as she shrugged her shoulders. ”Oh, and Melzarin as well.”
”Even that thick-headed Melzarin?” Seeing as to how Argentum knew some of his closest friends, Helios could not help but think that Argentum was his stalker of some sort. Though, instead of feeling immense disgust, he instead felt immense delight as he thought to himself, 'To think I would actually have a fan.'
With that, his opinion of Argentum had improved as he soon responded to Argentum's request, saying after a bit of contemplation, ”You do speak the truth right there. This divine being is indeed a master of alchemy, as well as business. Alright, then. You are worthy of being able to enlist my, the great Helios Gustav's help.”
Hearing that Helios had accepted his offer, the expression on Argentum's face turned into that of a smile as an aura of delight surrounded him. Though, this happiness of his was dampened shortly after as Helios said, ”Though, if the potion you request of this divine being to concoct is not up to my standards, then I would have to decline the offer and give you a part of my monetary assets instead. I would not let you go empty-handed for I am a magnanimous being.”
Although he was unsure as to whether or not such a potion would be up to Helios's standards, he did know that the effect of the Heaven's Wind Potion would be enough to entice even an Animate like Rosalia. In his mind, if Helios was uninterested in the Heaven's Wind Potion, then that meant that the two of them working together was just not fated to happen.
Taking in a deep breath, Argentum then sent Helios a strand of energy that contained the ingredients and instructions regarding the concoction of the Heaven's Wind Potion, lightly bowing with respect as he said, ”I may not be certain if this inferior potion of mine piques the interest of an incredibly talented being like you, but if it does catch your eye, I would be incredibly grateful.”
And so, the recipe to concoct the Heaven's Wind Potion was soon sent to Helios as an indifferent expression was seen on his face. Though, not long after, this expression turned into that of slight interest as his breathing turned slightly raucous. ”Hmm?”
”This is…” As he continued to read through the recipe given by Argentum, the arrogance and pride that came from his narcissistic nature gradually disappeared, being replaced with surprise and satisfaction from his love for alchemy. Eventually, he muttered, ”Although the effect of the potion is multiple levels subpar compared to other potions that do the same thing, the materials needed to concoct this potion are quite easy to procure…”
”Argentum…was it?” After Helios was finished looking through the recipe, he looked at Argentum and asked, ”This Heaven's Wind Potion of yours…are you sure you would want this divine being to be the one responsible for the concoction and distribution of the potion? I am highly certain that if you were to offer others this recipe, they would immediately become subservient to you.”
”Subservience is not what I need, Sir Helios. All I need is a large enough profit that would speed up the development of my humble Verdant Breeze Town,” Argentum replied before letting out a chuckle. ”Although it would be great to have the protection of a strong being as the town is developing, I would not like my citizens to become so complacent as to forget polishing their own individual power.”
Listening to Argentum's words, Helios's impression of him had improved, thinking that he was quite sincere in his offer. Not only that, but it felt like he even wanted to form a long-term partnership with Helios, which Helios did not have much of a problem with.
Of course, due to the sheer scarcity of such potions like this in the market, Helios thought that Argentum was allowing him to take advantage of his weaker strength. With that, he decided that it was no problem for him to accept Argentum's offer, and even help him out a little bit.