Chapter 10: A Debt Paid in Part
'If he can produce quality like this from something as insignificant as Blood-Staunching Powder, then there is no need to question what he could do with higher-grade medicines.'
The thought struck Arum with force.
Perhaps Elliott was a genius who had grown tired of the suffocating rules at the Celestial Light Consortium headquarters and left on his own.
Whatever the truth was, one thing had become certain.
The man before him was anything but ordinary.
"What do you think?"
Elliott's indifferent question brought Arum back to his senses. He nodded repeatedly.
"What is there to say? In all my years as a merchant, I have never seen a product of this quality."
"I see."
Arum believed Elliott was testing him.
He wanted to know whether Arum could properly recognize the value of such medicine, and whether he was prepared to offer treatment worthy of it.
Trying to save a few mana stones now might mean kicking away a fortune that had walked directly into his shop.
"I will purchase each packet of high-grade Blood-Staunching Powder for twenty mana stones, and each mid-grade packet for eight."
It was an extraordinary offer.
Mid-grade Blood-Staunching Powder usually sold for around eight mana stones at retail, while even high-grade powder rarely exceeded twenty. Arum was offering a price that left him little profit, perhaps even a loss.
Elliott did not react.
"You think a handful of coins will win my favor? Do I look as though I came here begging for charity?"
"What? No, of course not!"
Arum hurriedly waved his hands, startled.
He had tried to offer the best possible treatment, yet it seemed he had touched the man's pride instead.
Elliott leaned back against the chair and clicked his tongue.
"A merchant should think about earning a profit. What use is a trade that leaves you poorer? Watching you use such shallow tricks to flatter me is almost amusing."
"Then what price would you suggest?"
"Use the proper market price."
Elliott spoke without hesitation.
"Four mana stones for each mid-grade packet. Twelve for each high-grade packet. That should still leave you with a reasonable profit."
'Four mana stones.'
That was one mana stone below the usual wholesale price.
The price for the high-grade powder was equally reasonable.
Arum stared at him.
Generous.
An ordinary Alchemist would have argued until his throat went dry for even one additional mana stone.
This man was lowering his own share while lecturing a merchant about proper business.
'He cannot even be bothered to argue over a few mana stones.'
That must have been what Elliott meant.
"In exchange, we will trade exclusively."
Arum had no reason to refuse.
It was an offer he should welcome with both hands.
"Agreed. We will follow your wishes, sir."
"Then settle the payment first."
"Of course."
Arum immediately took a heavy leather pouch from beneath the counter.
"Eight high-grade packets and four mid-grade packets. Ninety-six mana stones for the high-grade powder and sixteen for the mid-grade. That makes one hundred and twelve mana stones in total."
Elliott accepted the leather pouch.
It had a satisfying weight.
An ordinary man would have been grinning so widely that his face began to ache, but Elliott turned away without the slightest change in expression.
He walked toward the Black Serpent Syndicate enforcers standing beside the entrance like pieces of furniture.
Elliott stopped in front of Acke and pressed the pouch of mana stones against his chest.
Acke instinctively caught it. His eyes widened as he felt its weight.
Before he could understand what was happening, Elliott spoke quietly.
"One hundred and twelve mana stones. You may count them."
There was no need.
Acke had watched Arum count every mana stone while bowing and scraping before Elliott.
'What exactly is this bastard?'
He had skill, money, and some unknown background.
"I will visit the Black Serpent Syndicate branch and pay the remainder before the deadline. There is no need to worry, so you may leave."
He had paid them.
Now they could get out.
The dismissal was obvious.
Acke, however, could not bring himself to object.
Under Elliott's calm pressure, he felt less like a creditor and more like a servant who had come to collect money on someone else's behalf.
"Fine."
Acke gave a short nod.
He signaled to the other enforcer, then quietly and quickly left the Hundred Herbs Apothecary.
To Arum, the scene looked entirely different.
It appeared as though Elliott had handed one of his subordinates operational funds before sending him away on some secret assignment.
While Arum silently marveled at what he had witnessed, Elliott slowly turned toward him.
"Now that we are alone, let us discuss the details."