Chapter 12: Three Sources of Income
Judging from Elliott's skill, Arum was certain that Blood-Staunching Powder could not be the only thing he knew how to produce.
If that remarkable talent were used to create more profitable medicines, the Hundred Herbs Apothecary's revenue might soar through the roof.
'Other products?'
Unfortunately, Elliott did not know many.
If Arum continued speaking vaguely, Elliott would have no idea what he meant.
Elliott idly turned the teacup between his fingers and asked as though the answer were obvious.
"For example?"
"The Mana Gathering Pill."
"The Mana Gathering Pill?"
"Yes. The Grade-One pill used by One-Star Adepts to recover Mana Energy and assist their cultivation."
Arum began explaining with growing enthusiasm.
Blood-Staunching Powder was an emergency medicine purchased only after someone was injured. The Mana Gathering Pill, however, was as essential to an Adept as food.
Demand was enormous, and the price was equally high.
'So the next step after Blood-Staunching Powder is the Mana Gathering Pill.'
Elliott felt troubled by Arum's suggestion.
'It isn't included in Introduction to Basic Alchemy.'
The book contained only the simplest methods for producing low-grade medicines such as Blood-Staunching Powder. It did not include the formula for a true cultivation medicine like the Mana Gathering Pill.
With the system's help, Elliott could probably create it eventually by failing over and over again.
But even blindly striking at a wall had limits. Without the minimum blueprint provided by an alchemical formula, he could not even begin experimenting.
'I can't admit that I don't know how to make it.'
The image of a hidden expert that he had built so carefully would collapse in an instant.
Elliott set down the teacup without changing his expression.
"The Mana Gathering Pill. Not a bad suggestion."
He spoke calmly, as though Arum had handed him a very simple assignment.
"However, my method is somewhat different from those commonly used here."
"Different in what way?"
"Every Adept Order and merchant consortium has its own inherited mixture and proportions. I first need to examine the standard of the Mana Gathering Pills normally handled by the Hundred Herbs Apothecary."
Elliott curled one finger toward himself.
"Show me the formula."
"The formula?"
"Yes."
"I apologize, but I do not possess it."
"You do not?"
"No. As you already know, the formulas for Grade-One pills such as the Mana Gathering Pill are closely guarded secrets belonging to the Adept Orders and merchant consortiums. How could a powerless branch owner like me possess something so valuable? Headquarters only sends me the finished products to sell. Surely you already know this."
Arum complained as though he had been wronged.
The Celestial Light Consortium headquarters maintained strict control.
The central Alchemists held exclusive access to the essential formulas, while the branches received only the right to sell the finished products.
In addition, every branch was forced to accept a monthly sales quota.
The prices set by headquarters were so high that Arum earned almost nothing even after selling the products.
He endured it only because the Celestial Light Consortium's name above his door brought customers and protection.
In the end, there was only one way for a branch owner to earn real money.
He had to fill the empty shelves beyond the mandatory quota with inexpensive, high-quality private products obtained through unofficial channels.
That was precisely why Arum was so desperate to secure Elliott.
He was a lifeline capable of providing profit margins that the goods from headquarters could never match.
Elliott had expected as much.
It would make no sense for the owner of a small local shop to possess one of a major organization's most important formulas.
Outwardly, however, he muttered as though the situation had surprised him.
"That is unfortunate."
Arum continued carefully.
"Someone who has reached your level should be able to produce other cultivation medicines with ease, even without making the Mana Gathering Pill. You may simply use your own methods. The Hundred Herbs Apothecary will purchase everything you produce."
'The problem is that I don't know how to make any of them.'
Elliott swallowed a bitter laugh.
His expression remained arrogant.
"My methods circulate Mana in a fundamentally different manner from the medicines sold here. Without a proper reference point, pills made according to my methods could be too powerful for the young One-Star Adepts who visit your shop. Their blood vessels might rupture before they could endure the medicinal effect."
"Their blood vessels would rupture?"
"The medicines I produce are customized pills. Their medicinal properties are compressed to match the user's blood and Mana condition. They sacrifice general usability in exchange for maximum effectiveness. If an unsuitable person consumed one, it might become poison rather than medicine."
"I see."
Elliott frightened Arum just enough to bury the subject of the Mana Gathering Pill.
"We can discuss it again when the opportunity arises. Either obtain the formula, or wait until I have enough time to adjust the medicinal properties."
"Understood. It is disappointing, but it cannot be helped."
Arum smacked his lips.
He felt as though an enormous opportunity had slipped from his grasp, but he could not press the matter any further.
Elliott then set down his teacup, changing the direction of the conversation.
"The Mana Gathering Pill will have to wait, but there are several other products I can supply immediately."
Arum's eyes lit up.
"What are they?"
Elliott quickly searched through the table of contents of Introduction to Basic Alchemy.
He needed products with a difficulty similar to Blood-Staunching Powder, ingredients that were easy to obtain, and steady demand.
"Antidote Pills and Vitality Pills."
Elliott raised two fingers.
Arcane Beast hunters and Mercenaries were frequently bitten by poisonous creatures, so Antidote Pills should be essential.
Vitality Pills were useful for Warriors practicing Warrior Path Arts, since they relieved fatigue and restored physical strength. Demand should be more than sufficient.
Arum silently calculated.
Neither product promised profits as explosive as the Mana Gathering Pill.
However, both were ideal products that could be sold steadily in large quantities.
"I will supply both at mid-grade and high-grade quality."
Elliott's offer was difficult to refuse.
No merchant would reject a steady supply of high-quality medicine at prices below the previous market rate.
Although Arum still deeply regretted failing to secure a cultivation medicine, he chose the practical profit before him.
"Excellent. Let us add the Antidote Pills and Vitality Pills to the contract. Can you supply the same quantity as the Blood-Staunching Powder?"
"That will not be difficult."
Elliott nodded.
With the proficiency system, producing large amounts would eventually become simple regardless of the medicine.
"Then let us add them to the agreement."
Elliott picked up the quill and wrote the additional products into the empty space on the contract.
Blood-Staunching Powder.
Antidote Pills.
Vitality Pills.
With that, Elliott secured three reliable sources of income at once.