Chapter 518 - Thriving (1/2)

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The gift-giving went on, and the forces were continuously expressing their sincerity, after which they were faced with various obstacles. However, not everyone returned empty-handed.

It was said that the head of a small group of mercenary corps called the Red Army had sent several less hefty gifts, and did not request any pharmacist to join his army. Instead, he asked for two potions that would help with strengthening Combat Energy. With the help of Yuanli Elixir, both the father and the son broke through after plateauing in their Combat Energy practice and became level-15 Warriors.

For a small mercenary group that only consisted of hundreds of people and had a low status in the Breezy Plains, the appearance of two level-15 Warriors was equivalent to the strength of the entire mercenary group increasing several times over. However, such gains did not mean much to the middle-cla.s.s forces, for all they were coveting was the chance to recruit a pharmacist.

Gaget, the leader of the White Shadow, had been mercilessly rejected. However, despite the lesson he’d got, he was still as eager about recruiting the pharmacists. In the eyes of those forces, the failure of the White Shadow was because of overeagerness and a lack of sincerity. They believed that they would one day be able to convince the pharmacists as long as they expressed enough sincerity.

While the forces and factions of the Breezy Plains were dreaming about recruiting the pharmacists, the Tower of Dusk was using them to make a fortune.

Under Lin Li’s training, the bunch of young pharmacists advanced to senior pharmacist level, and although they were not exactly experienced veterans, they could be said to be familiar with concocting potions for sale and were highly efficient.

The pharmaceutical business of the Glittergold Trade Union and Gilded Rose had been facing issues regarding Lin Li’s supply due to the fact that they had a huge sales network throughout the entire Felan. Although it was said that things became more precious and valuable when they were scarce, there was still a limit. Things that were worth 10 yuan¹ might be sold for 1,000 yuan based on scarcity. However, it would be extortion if they were sold for 100,000 yuan. Absurdly high prices would just mar the reputation of the seller’s entire business. However, if prices were kept within the acceptable range, the items would often sell out too quickly, and there would then be a deficit in supply of goods. When demand outweighed supply, the business would be blamed for incompetence.

However, the leaders of the two trade unions could finally heave a sigh of relief because the production capacity and volume of the pharmacy of the Tower of Dusk had been greatly improved. It could now entirely fulfill the demand of the two trade unions. Under the operation of the two largest trade unions in the two Felan Kingdoms, the prices of medicine and potions had not decreased too drastically despite the increased production, thus maximizing the benefits.

As the supplier of the two trade unions, the position held by the Tower of Dusk in this partners.h.i.+p could not be compared to that of ordinary suppliers. The leaders of the two trade unions also knew that if they were to leave the Tower of Dusk, even the Pharmacist Guild would not be able to provide so many high-quality potions. Hence, they took the initiative to make a huge compromise in the collection of revenue from pharmaceutical sales even though Lin Li didn’t mention anything.

While business was at its peak in the Tower of Dusk, the manager of the Rosen Union of Doland was feeling smug about his decision.

Although the Rosen Union had claimed to control more than 80% of the ore transactions in Doland at the beginning, it was in fact only because of the low profit of the ore transaction and the many other miscellaneous and trivial matters that the other forces could not be bothered to vie with them. Even the r.e.t.a.r.ded son of the leader of Doland City could reprimand Kaman, the President, like a dog, let alone the rest of the Breezy Plains…

However, things were different now. Ever since Kaman had sucked up to the young President of the Tower of Dusk (Yeah, sucked up. Kaman didn’t dislike the term at all, because others might not even get the chance to do so. Those fools who’d tried desperately failed because they aimed for the wrong target, and choosing the wrong target resulted in a waste of efforts), he seemed to have struck a huge fortune, for the distributors.h.i.+p of magical equipment had brought him a ton of profits.

Now, the weapons and equipment partners.h.i.+p with the Tower of Dusk had begun to take off and was on a good track. Who would have thought that the Rosen Union, which did not have a great reputation in Doland, had now already established enough capital that would allow them to go against the Blacksmith Guild?

This did not only bring about monetary changes, it also gave Kaman a better reputation in Doland City and the Breezy Plains. Although Kaman was known as the tyrant of Doland, he’d not even been qualified to speak in front of Lord Anjay of Doland in the past. But now, Anjay would definitely send him an invitation to every banquet he held without fail. They were almost like brothers.

Kaman knew who the person who’d given him all of this was. Hence, despite being a money-grubber, he dared not be greedy at all during the cooperation with the Tower of Dusk. He knew very well that the young President Felic was not as difficult to serve and please as other n.o.bles. As long as Kaman was willing to do things seriously, he would definitely stand to gain some benefits without having to use any tricks.

Although Lin Li dealt in the weapons and equipment business, he did not come up with a blacksmith training course. However, that did not affect the development of the business. Although Smithing Masters and Gurus were rare finds in the blacksmithing industry, there were far more intermediate and advanced smiths than pharmacists. Moreover, unlike potions, magic weapons and equipment were not consumables. When a sophisticated magical weapon and equipment was in the hands of those who knew how to maintain it, it could practically remain pristine for the rest of the wielder’s life. Therefore, compared to potions, there was a lower demand for magical weapons and equipment. Given the abilities of Smithing Masters, they could create one piece at a time without wasting too much time.

Gerian claimed to be here for free food, but in fact, he barely enjoyed a few days of real leisure. First, he spent more than two months fighting the Syer Bandits in the Dragon Mountains, after which he headed back to Alanna to help Lin Li find the pharmacists. After sending the pharmacists to the Tower of Dusk, he took a break for two days before going to the Malfa Family again to discuss the pharmacy partners.h.i.+p.

Lin Li was very grateful to Gerian, the fat old man who had a b.i.t.c.hy character. Although he had never mentioned it explicitly, he was well aware that Gerian was the only other person in Anril who genuinely cared about him apart from his teacher Andoine. Gerian cared about him in a different way from Andoine, though. He was more like a big brother to Lin Li. Although he was not very competent or capable, he was genuinely concerned about him.